Random

Jess and I left Enid last Saturday, driving west. We gained an hour when we crossed into New Mexico. Of course, that was the day we kicked into DST, so we were supposed to spring ahead that night. We were so cocky about the fact that DST was not, for once, going to affect us, because we just got back our hour by being in a different time zone. Yeah, that was all well and good. Except that yesterday, we continued driving west into Arizona, where they don't fart around with the whole DST thing, so we gained another hour. Very cool. Until we drive home this weekend and LOSE TWO HOURS. We're screwed.

Anyway, this was yesterday. I had heard about this place, La Posada, on NPR, long story, but it was a fancy hotel during the depression where a lot of celebrities stayed because it was right on the railroad tracks. It was a Harvey hotel. At some point it was gutted and used for the railroad offices. Then someone bought it cheap and restored it close to its original self. We ate lunch in The Turquoise Room and it was fabulous. We are having such good food on this trip, I don't know what I'm going to do when I get home. Hamburger Helper ain't going to cut it.



La Posada is in Winslow, Arizona, and you know what you have to do if you are in Winslow, Arizona. That's right. You stand on the corner.



It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat bed Ford.



On the way up to the Grand Canyon we passed Fred's diner (as in Flintstone) and had to take some pics. Such kitsch.



Then we did sunset at the GC.



All in all a wonderful day. When Sleeping Beauty wakes up (the altitude is kicking her butt) we are headed back to the GC for sight seeing and hiking. Then home tomorrow where we will surely feel the full effects of DST and time travel!

Santa Fe and OMG

Jess and I headed up to Santa Fe this morning and had a wonderful day. We saw some beautiful things, bought some beautiful things and enjoyed a beautiful spring day in northern New Mexico. We also had a fantastic lunch at La Fonda.

This is the miraculous staircase at the Loretto Chapel.



This is (purportedly, I don't know how to prove it) the oldest church in the country. That is a classic New Mexico sky color.



But by far, the most beautiful thing we saw today was my three day old grand-niece, Mallory.





Men can make chapels and staircases, but only God can make something as wonderful as this precious infant. It was a joy to hold her!

Road Trip, Days 2 and 3

Yesterday we picked up my BFF Mary, who was my matron of honor a bunch of years ago, and went to El Paso. El Paso is where I met Mary and hubby, we bought our first house and both of our children were born. Lots of wonderful memories there.

Here is Jess celebrating the fact that she's home - she's a native Texan, after all!



Where hubby and I had our first 'date.' We just hung out, had a couple of beers, played some pool and Frogger and Tron.



Today we left Las Cruces and headed to White Sands. The Organ Mountains were really striking with snow and clouds.



Then on to White Sands. It wasn't the best day for White Sands, what with the wind and chilly temps, but still fun.



Back on the road to Albuquerque, we stopped to see some petroglyphs and took some pictures of different mountains with clouds and snow.





Tomorrow we are off to Santa Fe where there are lots of fun things to see, lots more pictures!

Road Trip!

Spring break, so Jess and I are headed west. Spring break this year is Grand Canyon. Here are some pics from our first (long) day on the road. Hubby and I drive by this place on some of our travels for my job. This has to be the most evil chili I have ever seen.



Here is a giant windmill farm. I love these things. They kind of look like they are dancing.



Then we stopped in Amarillo for lunch. This is the place where you can get a 72 ounce steak, small salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll free if you can eat it in an hour. While we were there they had three guys from Cushing, Oklahoma, attempting this feat. I think they came close, but no cigar. This actually draws quite a crowd around the glutton wannabes. I don't know if people think they are going to actually witness someone accomplishing it, but I would be afraid I would see projectile . . . well, you get the picture.



And then in Tucumcari (which creeped hubby and me out a couple of years ago) I got to see the Route 66 sculpture.



Now we are chilling in Las Cruces and going to pick up my friend, Mary, in the morning. Then we're going to El Paso to show Jess where she was born, her first house, and all that cool stuff. After that, on to Albuquerque where we will get to see my nephew's new baby (who hasn't arrived yet, but is, after 30 something hours making her mother wish she would). Then on down Route 66 to Winslow, Arizona, where we will be taking pictures on the corner.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Just a few pictures from my recent travels.

A giant pistachio sculpture from the pistachio farm near Alamogordo, NM.



Where I worked today, Kay Covnty courthouse. A wonderful, if quite disturbing, sculpture.




And for all of you who are doing something 'until the cows come home'. . . you can stop now.