Killer Zombie Full Moon?

Tonight's commute home was a nightmare.  It got me to wondering if the full moon had some sort of vendetta against Albuquerque area commuters.

It started out smoothly enough.  Then I got onto I-40 westbound.  Around the Wyoming exit, traffic started to really slow down/come to a stop.  One car didn't slow down fast enough because there was a rear ender that had obviously just happened moments before I drove by.

Things only got worse.  It turns out there was one wreck on southbound I-25 at Rio Bravo that had the highway shut down and traffic rerouted onto the frontage road.  According to the traffic reports, there was a car on fire on northbound I-25.  Then, there was an older wreck on westbound I-40 at University. 

Needless to say, traffic was all backed up.  My normal commute takes 45-60 minutes.  Tonight, it took 75 minutes. 

I am SO glad to finally be at home.

Papillon

Hot Air Balloon in the Afternoon

It's been a lazy Thanksgiving weekend.  This afternoon I was napping on the couch.  When I first heard the noise, I thought it was the furnace firing up.  When it didn't, I wondered if it was someone taking a hot air balloon.

This is unusual, simply because most balloon rides take place in the mornings.  I'm not 100% sure of the reasons why, but it's traditionally the time of day when balloons go up.

After I heard a couple more bursts of propane firing up, I wandered outside and sure enough, there went a balloon headed off to the north.

The trees reside in my neighbors' yard.

I've been listening to the reports about Black Thursday/Friday shopping.  I like my weekend plans/non-plans better. 

I did go to the Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival this morning.  I had a fun time looking around at all the creative endeavors.  I even bought a few things, including some pasta/orzo in fun flavors.  Yummy!

Papillon

We had our first fall storm roll through.  We received rain yesterday, the first time in 50+ days.

It looks like the Sandia mountains east of town might actually be getting some snow.  I don't know if it'll provide any measurable amounts or if they'll stay for more than a day or so.  I'm just glad we're getting some moisture.

Here's what the mountains looked like this afternoon.

A bit further south, you can actually see some moisture headed down.  I don't know if it was actually hitting the ground.

It's supposed to be chilly and windy for most of the rest of the weekend.  It's supposed to warm up a bit early next week.

Papillon

I ran across this today.  I thought it interesting.

American Indian Heritage Month factoid:

Something very much like basketball (ca. 1000 B.C.) was played by American Indians about 3,000 years ago. The Olmec, who lived in what is now southern Mexico/Central America from about 1700 B.C. to 400 B.C., originated the game because latex-producing trees grew in their area and they had developed the technology to create balls made from rubber. Because this game is the first one known to have used a rubber ball, anthropologists consider it to be the forerunner of all modern games that use bouncing balls, including basketball, soccer and football.


Papillon

Autumn in NM

Most of the trees that are native to New Mexico turn yellow in the fall.  It's been fun and certainly makes for a very cheerful display.

It's especially fun at sunset with the sunlight coming through the trees.

Enjoying the loveliness while it's still here.

Papillon

This past Saturday (10/20) I drove up to the Sandia Crest.  Lots of lovely views to be seen.

On the way back down, I decided to stop at the Tinkertown Museum.  I'd heard about it, but had never gone.

It's a fun way to spend a very kitschy half hour or so.  The admission is $3.50 (adult) and allows you to wander around as much and as long as you like. 

The museum was assembled over numerous years by a local couple (last name Ross).  He died in 2002, but she continues to run things.

Among other things you've got walls assembled using something like 50,000 bottles embedded in them.  (I didn't get a photo).  They've also put together a number of dioramas using lots of miniatures.  One very long one is a spoof of a western town.  Here's a section involving the Pharmacy.

And here's what happened after the Pharmacy couldn't help -- an angel and devil fighting over a man at the graveyard.

Each of the sections of the western town had a button you could push to cause portions of the display to move, like the little girl who skipped rope.

There are some non-western town dioramas, including an elaborate circus.

They've even got an automated fortune teller, Grandmother Esmeralda.  My fortune card said, among other things, that "You have chosen the path of righteousness and you will be very happy."  Also, "....you have a keen mind and an understanding nature."  Fun!

If you're looking for sophisticated humor, this is not the place for you.  However, I had a darn good time and won't hesitate to recommend it.

Papillon

Bosque Fire

This afternoon a large plume of smoke came to our attention.

I'm not sure how it started, but it sure has covered some ground.  It's located in Corrales which is east of where I live.

It was supposedly started by the electronic 'cigarette' discarded/dropped/whatever by a village worker.  A bit ironic, that.