Where is everybody???

Cedar Crest trail, Sandia Mountains

The view from Cedar Crest

Flowering pines

Keeping a strong grip on the cliff's edge

Not all the trees have leafed out yet

Alien life forms? ha ha ha

For us, Sunday morning is lazy......for awhile.  This is when I most often write a post, and try to catch up on my reading.  Lately, I've noticed a lag in postings, and why not?  It's summer, and the trails (or chores) call to us.  Our gardens need watering, the dog is begging for an early walk.   

As far as the letter to UNM, the words are still floating around in my head.  I've yet to feel motivated to put them down on paper.  I plan to outline the points this afternoon.  Exercise always helps me organize my thoughts.....at 9am I'll get dressed and head on out to the racquetball court.  It's easy, because I go no matter how crappy my hair looks.  No makeup.  Although to be fair, I do try to tame the locks so as to avoid gasps of horror.  I hope that "wailing on the ball" ~ as my friend Denise puts it ~ will help me separate the wheat from the chaff.

Enjoy your Sunday ~ and Happy July 4th, Americans!

Love, 365

Wimbeldon, Santa Fe, and why I'm so freaking far behind on my chores....

This photo was taken just outside the Santa Fe Convention Center.

Fishy Garden.

Romeo and I went to Santa Fe & stayed the nite in a nice hotel near the city square.....we had lots of nice walks, and saw parts of Santa Fe we were unfamiliar with ~ like the area pictured above.  I was charmed & wanted to do something really silly, but Romeo wasn't really into it.  I wanted to ride the fish.  Next time I'll take a cowboy hat and do that.....

We stayed at the Inn at Loretto ~ very nice touch on the kiva fireplace even if it can't be used.

View from our balcony.

It was funny that the front desk staff mentioned that we've been "upgraded" to include a balcony.  I was (& still am) wondering if they do that to eveyone who walks in.  We were there on a Thursday night, which wasn't terribly busy, so perhaps that is why.  I still think it's just a marketing ploy to make us feel better/special.  

Crab cake appetizer at Geronimo's in Santa Fe.

It was OMG fabulous, as was all of the food ~ and the service was incredible. 

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Novak lost in the opening games at Wimbledon....holy cow.

I didn't get a chance to watch all of the game between Djokovic and Querrey, only bits and pieces.  Just goes to show you that the #41 men's player can have a very good day and beat the world #1 player.  Never give up!  Right now I'm watching the Tsonga~Isner match.  It's very close right now....I would love to see Isner win!

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We didn't sleep very well in Santa Fe ~ I attribute that to their noisy air conditioner, and the occasional door slam from neighbors.  When we arrived home yesterday, I was tired and unmotivated to unpack and put things away.  I even took a short nap, which I rarely do.  I have so much to do, it's interfering with my enjoyment of watching Wimbledon.  I really need to go to Costco and do some shopping, but I keep telling myself that I should wait a little longer to go since it's probably at it's busiest right about now.  

In fact, I need to stop now and check the clothes in the dryer.  

Love, 365

And.......here we go.......

(Bing images)

Week in review:

~I am (once again) accepted into the anthropology honors program at UNM.

~I have (once again) discovered that I can't take the class ~ that would make me eligible to graduate suma cum laude ~ because of the time of day the class is held.  My coworkers were unable to help me make it happen.  I understand - it's a lot to ask.  But I won't say I'm not disappointed.

Now I have to decide if I want to wage a campaign to "encourage" the powers that be that honors classes should be available to everyone.  I am planning on writing to the head of the department, but really, that's probably as far as I will go.  I'm not a big fan of banging my head on a wall repeatedly.  

Then I had to explain to one of my coworkers why it's not financially feasible to quit UNM and go to an online college for my degree.  (Long story short, you must have a certain amount of credit hours with the college before they will issue you a degree.  For example, it's 92 hours at UNM.  Typical # of credit hours for a typical class ~ 3.  That's around 10 classes.  Cost of a typical 3 credit hour class is over $800)  I still don't know if she gets it.

Ha ha...

Otherwise, all is going well, Romeo is working on his class and will begin teaching in August, when the charter school begins the school year.  

It's summer, and I can happily run around in tee shirts, shorts and flip flops all I want.

I have a few vacation days coming up next week, and Romeo and I are planning a few days in Santa Fe, including spending the night at La Fonda ~ a really nice hotel that I've always wanted to stay in.

Did I mention it's summer?

Have a wonderful week...

Love, 365

Happy Father's Day!

For all you Dad's....

Romeo, oh Romeo......Such a great Dad, Husband and Best Friend....

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In other news, the Dogs Head fire is only 9% contained and has burned over 16,000 acres.

This is south of where we live.

This is 5 hours ago....note that the bottom one is magnified.

Not sure when this photo was taken.  

Apparently the fire was not started by lightening, but probably man made.  One of my coworkers might be impacted if the fire is not brought under control.  Shelters have been designated for people to bring their animals in case they need to evacuate.  I was so happy to hear they had done this....when you have to go, what would you do with your horse, cow, llama?  I'm sure it's a relief to people who are being impacted by this fire.  Luckily we don't have big wind right now, but the heat is not helping.  

Well, gotta run!  Have a great week ahead....

Love, 365

Good news comes our way.......

New Mexico sunset

Romeo has accepted a teaching position with a charter school teaching 9th grade algebra!  On Monday he meets with HR to complete the details.  I assume the pay/benefits will begin in July, when they begin their training twoard the end of July.  Although there may be a 30 day wait period.  

In other news.....

Holy crap, it's gonna get really hot around here......I'm really glad I don't live in Arizona.

And........

We had a retirement party for one of our hygienists at work, who has been working with our Doc for over 20 years.  She's always upbeat and fun, and we're going to miss her!  Her last day of work is next Friday, so I'm going to have to figure out what to make for snacks that day.  

Well, gotta run....enjoy your weekend!

Love, 365

Research brings out my ADD......

Thanks, Albert....

I suppose Einstein got it because.......wait for it.........he was one smart cookie.  

Oh, did you guess that I'm on summer research?  ha ha   This will be my last individual study course with Prof. Stewart, so I gotta pull some rabbits out.  I've already found a few.  But if you think for one stinking minute that I want to rewrite that damn paper and stick in some new data, you're mistaken.  I really really don't want to rewrite the paper.  Two is relatively reasonable, going past that is just plain cockamamie.

However, I will have to.  Which means that I must again go through and re-organize and polish up some of the stuff I currently have in there.  Prof. Stewart is a writer (he has written 3 or 4 books already) so he is rather stiff with praise and generous with criticism.  I suppose I should be glad that he's a stickler, so he doesn't let me off with some stupid piece of crap that a later Prof. will look at and think "what the hell".  

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Romeo has been complaining about the homework/study workload in his ONE class.....so I snicker about it behind his back.  

He does have an interview with a charter school on Tuesday.  I am hoping it goes well.  Mama needs some frackin' insurance.  This fall I have some routine tests I will need done, and some other medical appointments I am putting off until I'm covered.  My gynecologist office said I could make payments, but what if they find something?  I might as well wait, although I know that's a really dumb ass statement.  Still.........

Well, gotta go and organize thoughts and data.  Have a great week!

Love, 365

The bloom is off the rose.........

Letting go, Facebook style.....

Recently my eldest let me know that he and his wife were having some problems...rather serious ones.  Then he let me know he was moving into an apartment.  Then this past weekend I was scrolling though Facebook and noticed a thinly veiled rant against my son by his wife.  My first thought was how I could respond, but realized quickly that I should stay out of it.  I also didn't want to see anymore of these nasty rants ~ after all, I'm only human, and could be swayed to engage.  Bad, bad idea.  So I texted my son to let him know that I intended to "unfriend" her on Facebook and why.  He understood, and agreed that it was for the best.  

It wasn't an easy thing to do....but I told myself that if they do work things out, I could simply "friend" her again.  I doubt this will happen.  And truthfully she was always throwing out long bible passages to promote whatever message she wanted to spread.  And although I don't have anything against religion, I have always felt that Facebook isn't really the place for that type of rant anyway.  Funny, because based on the crap I see on Facebook, I suppose there is no holding back....people post their workouts, sleep patterns, crazy cat videos, etc.  So, I suppose that religion might as well be in the mix too.

I receive friend requests all the time ~ doesn't mean I accept any of them.  I'm sure anyone who has been on Facebook for awhile would agree that they sometimes have a friend request, and you have no idea where it came from.  I usually investigate a little bit (in case it is the friend of a friend, or perhaps someone I'm related to ~ Mom has a really large family), and if they aren't from a geographic area I live or lived in, or we don't share any friends, I just delete the request.

Last week I had a friend request from a cousin, and I quickly accepted it, which I shouldn't have because it turns out her account was hacked.  This became obvious quickly when I began receiving Messenger requests and that involve money.  Yeah.  So, I just as quickly reported it to Facebook & unfriended them.  So, oddly enough I "unfriended" two people in one week.   Worse, I realized she was already one of my "friends", so I should have checked before accepting it.  What can I say?  I was at work and just goofing off.

Does anyone simply use Facebook to keep in touch and share family photos anymore?  I'm not so sure.  Social media has a lot more power these days.  I just skip the ones I don't want to read....the whole point of choice.

Love, 365

Thoughts that roam......

In the news

A piece of cloth from Pope John Paul II, which happened to have 

a drop of his blood on it, was stolen from Cologne Cathedral

I like this photo 'cause of the dove in the foreground

Just a tad bit of propaganda, yeah?

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Oh, how graffiti has changed!

These are etched into the stone inside England's Medieval churches...

One of the most common motifs found, these are thought to trap "malevolent spirits". 

These examples of ships are meant to send travelers safely on their way....

I don't know about you, but I figured these would have been the most popular designs,

not only because duh, they're crosses

but also because it could have been done quickly.

However, apparently church officials encouraged it....and apparently they (archaeologists) believe that women were responsible for most of the images.  Admittedly only a theory...the thought is that the etchings were done with this tool:

which women tended to carry in their pockets.  

***If you want to read more, go here.  Because the story is pretty cool.  

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Otherwise, I don't have a lot of news, or happenings, or events.......ha ha, life is on the slow and steady these days, although Romeo is stressing out about his class (which he needs in order to obtain his teaching certificate).  Because it is in the summer, it has been condensed, so you rarely get out of class early, and the requirements each week are pretty intense.  

I start my last "individual study" class with Prof. Stuart today...I suppose we will be setting parameters for research.  I already know what I need ~ the problem is finding it.  I am hoping he will give me some ideas today.  

The past 3 weeks have been nice, I've had 3 four day weekends in a row.  The last two weeks I've only worked 3 days a week.....it would be so easy to get used to that!

Enjoy your week!

Love, 365

A teeny tiny break.....

Aztec ruins site, New Mexico

If this photo seems a bit weird, it's because I took a panoramic photo with my i phone, so the perspective is compressed in the background.  Or something.  Fun trip though, and one we might need to take again.  

Is anyone else tired of politics?

Clowns......

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A man after my own heart.....this morning on "Sunday Morning" they interviewed a blogger who posts about road rage, idiocy, etc.  Go here if ya wanna see more.....

On that note, I must finish up and get ready for racquetball with the lovely Sunday Morning Ladies group.  

Love, 365

The looking glass....

Me & my sis

This was probably 10 years or so ago....back in my more "blond" days, ha ha.  We look a lot alike, and not alike at all.  Funny.  

While listening to NPR on the way to work, part of the discussion concerned how our own self image  is reflected back to us from our friends, co-workers and family.  I tried to visualize that and failed miserably!  It has been on my mind though.  How do others see me?  Do I come across as quiet and introspective?  Or snobby and self absorbed?  Ugh....hopefully not the latter.  I've never been boisterous.  I think I've always been watchful and careful ~ something I would like to change.

The semester is finally over, and I turned in my final paper almost two weeks ago...both nerve wracking and relief!  I did receive my final grade this week, and was relieved to see I have an A.  I plan to pick up my paper today to see her comments.  I'm sure there were other classes that I was happy to see the end of...like statistics which was very difficult!  I'm glad this one is over for some distance from the depressive nature of the material, even though I learned quite a bit of how difficult each and every day is for some, and how thankful I am for all the blessings of family, friends, work and working on my degree.

Yes.....

ha ha ha

Well, gotta get going!  Enjoy your weekend!
Love 365

Windy weather.....and s-l-o-w writing

Yeah, this is how some of it looks.....pretty awful, I'd say.

Bing images.

So, I bet you decided not to come here in the spring, eh? This photo shows the southern area of Albuquerque, along I40....there's not much out there, trust me.  

So, I have a few pages written of my final paper.  It's due on Monday.  But I am determined to finish it tomorrow (?) or at the latest on Sunday afternoon.  I really don't want to be writing on Monday.....I've done that before and know that I don't do my best if I'm scrambling to finish on the due date.  Nerves.  

It was really nice to take a day off Thursday, and no one complained or gave me any shit about it.  Isn't it funny that over a year later, I still have expectations from my previous workplace?   

On Monday I ordered peonies to be delivered to my Mom for Mother's Day, and they were supposed to arrive today (because the delivery price on Friday was a lot cheaper), but I didn't hear anything from Mom about them, so I called the place I ordered them from and discovered they are going to be late one day.  I suppose that's not terribly surprising.  Mother's Day is a big flower day after all.....but I hope they come in good condition.  Mom's caregiver will tell me if they look good or are all wilted from being delayed.  I'll be getting my money back if they look like crap.

I finally scored a Canon digital camera body from Ebay.  I had received a "second chance" offer on a camera I had bid on ~ & lost ~ but after making arrangements with the seller on a agreed upon price, he sent me a message that he had already sold it to the original winning bidder.  I was rather ticked off because it was obvious to me that he used  me to pressure the original winning bidder to pay.  According to Ebay, if a second chance bid is offered, the original offer must be cancelled.  Obviously he didn't do that.  But all I could do was file a complaint, as they can't force him/her to sell to me.  A little lesson learned, huh?  I will still need to purchase a lens, but I know I'll find one soon.  Maybe I won't go on Ebay to find it though.

Love, 365