Another Week

Last Saturday (04/12), Deb took me to Albuquerque's best casino. I'd never been to a casino, and I've always been curious. It took about $60 worth of curiousity to determine that gambling's not for me. We stayed just a couple of hours and had a beer each while we played quarter, dime or penny slot machines, then left in disgust. We wandered around the north valley area looking for the old Robin Hood Inn, where Jerry and I met, but I think the placed must have been razed because we couldn't find it. The north valley, especially the Guadalupe Trail and Rio Grande Blvd. in Corrales has become the haven of the wealthy. There are some huge, beautiful houses there, most of them in southwestern architecture. There's still a little farming there, and horses and other livestock are allowed in the area.

We came close to going to Old Town, but I was just there a year ago and didn't see the attraction. We drove on to the University area (much changed; remember Galles Oldsmobile on Central? UNM bought 'em out; the university area's huge now) and stopped to peek in the shops at Nob Hill, always one of my favorite parts of Albuquerque. I found an art paper shop and picked up some card-making supplies. We stopped at a dessert shop and had some of their wares; delicious! The shop must be doing very well: it was pretty crowded.

Sunday, we fooled around all day, not doing much. We had both been in the mood for a steak so went to a Texas Steak House, or something like that, which I won't recommend. They tried, twice, to pass off a ribeye for a filet mignon and I ended up getting them both free after pointing out their error. The dogs loved it.

The start of this week has been spent doing a few small chores, making some cards and trying to figure out how to entertain Marc, Elaine and the kids this Saturday. Temperatures here are very mild and the humidity is non-existant, but the wind is kicking up and we're in for a cold spell starting tonight. It's been blowing for a couple days now, and I noticed this afternoon that most street curbs are about three inches deep in elm tree seeds. It's around 7:PM now and already the temp's dropped about 20 degrees. Tomorrow's high is predicted in the 50's, so I feel another "stay-in-and-keep-warm" day coming on.

I must admit that if it weren't for the fact that I haven't yet gotten to see Elaine and the kids, I'm ready to move on to Grand Junction. I understand that area's still suffering some pretty cold weather and even an occasional snow, so I'll stick around here 'til April 28.

Just glanced out the back bedroom window; yep: the clouds are moving in from the north.

Later,