Despite delays in flights and an unexpected overnight stay in Sioux Falls because of the icy, zero-visibility treacherous roads, I made it home from Albuquerque on Saturday. All in all, an enjoyable time. The reading went well, although it was a small crowd (as usual, it seems). I think I'm taking a break from conferences though--I've presented at three this year, and that's enough.
After our reading, Sean is looking bemused and Courtney thinks she's hiding.
Albuquerque itself was fun, although we didn't get out much to explore. That's too bad. They had snow the day we came. Two inches, and New Mexicans were proclaiming it a "winter storm advisory." Ha! They should come to South Dakota. We spent time in the hotel bar, where Melissa and Sean enjoyed our company before ditching us to watch "American Idol." We also had live entertainment that night, which was Valentine's Day, when a rooster-ponytail and high-top-sporting woman with missing teeth had several loud unromantic shouting matches with her lanky, bad-tempered male companion (an example: "With you, it's always been rock 'n roll! Always rock 'n roll! Where do I fit in? Where do I fit in with the rock 'n roll??")
(this photo is of Melissa and Sean, not the shouting couple)
We went to Old Town, which is the original downtown of Albuquerque, before the railroad came through town and relocated the new downtown elsewhere (according to our cab driver). This church in Old Town was built in 17-something-or-other (I think).
It was fun to see snow, desert vegetation, and the typical sandstone-coloured buildings.
On our last night, we went to a fondue restaurant. The Melting Pot. Yes, fondue is back! This was our dessert fondue, after our large meal. In the pot is a Yin-Yang fondue, which happens to be a delicious combination of white and dark chocolate, into which we dipped strawberries, pineapple, cheesecake, and other horribly decadent items.
Marcia and Annie enjoying themselves, especially after Annie won an award for her poetry! Congratulations, Annie!
And that was Albuquerque. It is so good to be back though. I missed Josh a lot while I was gone. When I came home, the apartment was clean, there was Moroccan lamb stew cooking, and hazelnut truffles in the fridge. I love my husband! Now it is back to work and I don't feel like it! The weather has finally warmed up a bit, and consequently I have a severe case of spring fever....
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9 comments:
boy. i'm really craving sugar right now. specifically the cheesecakes at barnes & noble, a mere 3 min. drive from my desk.
spring fever huh? it's still cold up here, highs in the teens, but the sun bouncing off the snow makes anchorage feel warm. i too feel a little bit of spring fever, only because my hairline fractured left ankle prevents me from skiing, which was a daily happening before i got injured.
and now that you're curious, my ankle incident involved a winter nighttime solo climb of a majestic peak, a freak moose attack, a bear charge, and a shorter-than-my-mom girl kicking my ankle during soccer.
I didn't know there was more than one melting pot... I've also enjoyed the ying yang dessert- but in Omaha.
maybe it's a chain?
and, do i know you?
gabe--
isn't that a story you would tell on your own blog?
I don't know if I can handle any more conferences this school year, either (unless, of course, I can go along).
We may have to investigate the Melting Pot in Omaha to see if it is, in fact, a chain.
I only now noticed you turned into a vase of peacock feathers (your comment picure). When did that happen? I'm afraid to go in the other room again, as I may find a laptop leaning against a vase of peacock feathers. I would still love you if you did turn into a vase of peacock feathers. I could put you to bed, and when we wake up I could polish you, and rearrange your feathers with a spritz of hairspray or a curl from the iron, and try to put contacts in two of the feather eyes, and set you on the potty if you needed it, and talk to you, and show you peoples' blogs. Did I mention I'm still sick?
maybe, sarah, maybe. but putting stories on other people's comments feels more like a conversation... i might have to fight that, accept the anonymousness of the blogosphere, and post stories on MINE for a change.
mmmm...fondue!
I was in one of your classes last year at USD, went to a poetry reading and really liked your poems so I googled your name looking for more of your writings and found this.
I have since transfered schools to Iowa so its nice to get caught up on some of the happenings in Vermillion.
The Melting Pot must be a chain:
http://www.meltingpot.com/
=)
Happy Blogging.
Ah, the good old days in Albuquerque . . .
Thanks for posting on my blog!
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