Baby Needs a New Pair of Snowshoes

Ali came to visit us from upstate New York. She spent the week and although I had to head out for work each day, the evenings and the weekend gave us all time to catch up. It was great to see her and talk about life, good food, politics, etc.

I didn't want Ali to think that winter doesn't come to New Mexico so I suggested we take a trip up the mountain and do some hiking. Didn't have to talk her into it (although I did have to convince her that sneakers would not be comfortable - I don't think she believed me that the snow would be more than a dusting.)


Although it was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, Sandia Peak had roughly 3 1/2 feet of snow on it and the trail was only visible because of previous intrepid hikers/skiers.


The skiers had the right idea.

This is actually a 4-foot high fence.


Now it looks like a landscaping border.

And right about this time as I was trying to pull my leg out, it occurred to me that yes, snowshoes were invented for just this situation.



Ain't nothing getting by me.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

“I’ll shine up the old brown shoes, put on a brand new shirt…”

It’s time.

After three years, three months, and nineteen days, I’m heading out the door tomorrow morning to begin a new job and embark upon a new career path.

Lawyer.

Me.

Pinch me baby!

Catching Hoops and Reconnecting

Headed to Chicago for a long weekend catching up with my good friends Craig and Tracy. Although Tracy had to then catch a flight on Saturday morning for work, Craig and I were able to compare notes over the remaining weekend.

It didn’t hurt that the Big Ten Conference was taking place in Chicago. Although we didn’t actually go to see the games in person, we did spend some quality time in several sports bars/brewpubs; sampling not only Wisconsin’s inability to overcome the psychological hump of winning a game against Ohio State, but also some oh, so fine brews.

In addition to beer, basketball and boiling in da’ hot tub, I spent most of Monday at the Art Institute of Chicago.


The Art Institute is my favorite museum. (Although I’ve spent numerous wonderful hours perusing the Cloisters as well). When staying more than a night in Chicago, I always go for a few hours.

The permanent collection is simply fantastic. I think I most enjoy the pre-renaissance artists (circa 1100-1400). The religious imagery, while not inspiring to me personally, is simply spectacular in terms of how the artist’s developed their abilities to convey the human form. I like walking from gallery to gallery, observing how the paintings evolve.


Also, while I’m not really much into contemporary art, I do enjoy Jackson Pollock’s work.

Or maybe it’s just the 8 x 10 foot canvas’.

It's Not Just Me... Is It?

Libby’s guilty.
We are not surprised.
Is it just me, or could any Vice President as organized as this one fail to know what his chief of staff was doing?

US Attorneys, appointed for political reasons, are fired for political reasons.
We are surprised.
Is it just me, or aren’t political hacks (of any persuasion) supposed to operate on behalf of their benefactor’s political agenda?

Ann Coulter called former Senator John Edwards a faggot.
But only in jest.
Is it just me, or am I the only one who never credited her with having a sense of humor in the first place?

US orders for durable goods continue to fall.
Even while production costs are revised upwards.
Is it just me, or is gold really the smart buy going forward into 2007?

North Korea came to the table and the parties worked out a deal.
Rhetoric and posturing was left at the door by the United States.
Is it just me, or does talk and negotiation create a more effective resolution than sending in the 1st Armored Division?

What? Oh... I see...

Sorry about that. I've just been informed that yes indeed, it is just me.

Eat More and Think Less

Dining options remain robust in Albuquerque not only for good New Mexican and Mexican food but also Chinese and American fare.

I’ve not been going out to eat much lately. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or not. True, we're saving money, but if I sit quietly, the carne adovada seems to whisper in my mind. “We’re here, simmering under a slow heat and with nothing but a tortilla between us and you big boy.”

Uh, or something like that.

Maybe what I’m hearing are the coyotes running in the arroyo across the street? Hmmm… bring the cat in, they sound hungry too.

Owl Café
800 Eubank Blvd NE
A 1950’s diner experience that hasn’t lost its comfortable feel in lieu of appealing to every yuppie and soccer mom it can shove in a booth. The meal opens with a bowl of green chile and beans (in place of say, chips or bread). The burgers were small and nothing to write about. The cheese fries (with green chile) kept me occupied for a while but truthfully, I left wondering what all the hype is based upon.

Blake’s Lotaburger
1801 Juan Tabo Blvd NE
This local New Mexico burger joint does it well with cooked to order burgers and excellent service (at least at this location over several visits). Nothing fancy here, just great burgers with green chile, nicely done fries and one of the better vanilla milkshakes I’ve had the pleasure to consume. Now, Blake’s is certainly not up to the standards of In-N-Out, but as I can’t get to the nearest store in Kingman, Arizona very often, I must to visit the local’s also-excellent offering.

China Garden
12611 Montgomery Blvd NE
We like good Chinese food. It would be better if they delivered. They don’t. Still, the garlic shrimp is spicy and overflowing with shrimp. No uh.. scrimping on the shrimp. (Try saying that three times fast!!) While not a very original name for a Chinese restaurant, China Garden does make up for it each and every time we order. The sweet and sour chicken comes with the sauce on the side and the steamed dumplings taste like they were made ten minutes before. I highly recommend the Orange shrimp, beef or chicken (and don’t tell me it’s the same sauce, it’s not!).

Horse & Angel Tavern
5809 Juan Tabo Blvd NE
Since moving to Albuquerque, I haven’t spent much time in the local watering holes. This, of course is in sharp contrast to when I was in Madison, where most nights after the law library closed, you’d find me curled up with my Guinness (or my Pabst’s depending on the lo-cal). The few times I’ve needed a serious tavern atmosphere, however, the Horse & Angel fit exceptionally well. The food is strictly pub fare but the beer selection is excellent with more than 40 taps and another 70 or so bottled selections. Yes, they’ve got the microbrews lined up, but they also import a variety of English and Scottish ales for their more um, refined-palette clientele.

Ok... I was already hungry, now I'm thirsty as well.

Nary a Scar; so to Speak

I survived the bar exam. I have no idea if I’ve passed, but am never-the-less relatively unscathed.

Although… traffic on Wednesday nearly made me late for the Multistate portion. I had to pull what's become known in Boston as the "Tommy Butler" method of dropping off a rental car (after a former boss of mine once left one too many rental cars parked in front of baggage claim at Logan.)

Picture a guy booking down 3rd street at 8:24 a.m. (exam to begin at 8:30 sharp!) with briefcase in tow, his car abandoned, engine running, keys now with a person who the aforesaid wannabe lawyer hopes is a bellhop at the Doubletree Hotel.

I squealed my tires turning into the driveway and came to a stop in front of the closest hotel to the convention center, then tossed my keys in the general direction of a guy in uniform and ran like hell.

Lucky for me, he actually worked at that hotel!

Picked up the car during my lunch break. All he said was, “Boy you sure were in a hurry this morning. That’ll be 12 bucks.”

Seems a fair price to pay.