Sandia Peak Tramway, Albq.Zoo and Thanksgiving

Yesterday Leonore, Nancy and I toodled up to the Sandia Peak Tramway for the view. All I can say is WOW!! Pictures yes, when I get home and reduce them. While you couldn't quite see the usual 100+ mile view from the 10,400 foot top of the mountain, you could see over 75 miles away , it was spectacular. It is the longest tramway of it's kind in the world and well worth the $17.50 to ride it up. Someday I'll come back and do some hiking about the top but not in hot weather, snakes and black bears would make it not the best choice plus I like cool weather better. We got some great photos and also saw a completely crazy couple of young men riding on TOP of the other tramcar. How do you get to do that we asked? You have to work here said the tramcar chick. Leonore and I agreed that with a safety harness hell yeah we would do it. Weather would have to be a might warmer though as it was around 35-39 at the top of the mountain but no wind so not bad. Where the two tramcars pass each other coming up and going down they are around 1000 feet above the ground or 7 seconds above the ground depending on how you look at it.

Then we headed to the Albq. zoo and just had a great time taking photos and admiring the animals. They have some magnificent specimens there most noteworthy the white rhinos, cougars, lions, and polar bears, the most arrogant wicked trio of bald eagles too. They also have the very rare Mexican wolf, some snow leopards (including a BABY one that was way too cute) and a lot of really interesting birds. We got to watch a kookaboora eating his dinner ( a mouse) and go through a freeflight cage with a huge flock of budgies to get to the koalas. We didn't make it to the aquarium so entranced were we at the zoo but that was OK, I really loved it. A rather weird thing kept occuring at the zoo though ( and I suspect it was because Leonore and I must be innudated in the smell of large predatory canines). The really big predators all took distinct notice of us within moments of our arrival at their exhibit especially the lions and polar bears. The golden tamarind primate thingies all got agitated and ran over and postured and chattered at us, and the poor red river hog ran to its barn door and "squealed like a pig " with ear splitting decibels looking over its shoulder ever so often at us. It must have realized how much I love pork tenderloin and bacon. We even had a large ornamental crane go complete beserk posturing, flinging its wings and running back and forth in its enclosure. Note to self, wear clothes fresh out of a dryer and just step right out of a shower before you go to another zoo.

Today was Thanksgiving and what a feast, fire rubbed turkey breast, brown sugar coated baked ham, roasted medley potatoes (red,yellow,blue) a casserole made of corn, grits, green chilies and lots of cheese, a salad and for desert Leonore's son Anthony made neat little individual chocolate volcano cakes. I took a taste of everything, it was yummy, managed to exercise self control and not eat enough to regret it though. Leonore's sister and her husband came over and after dinner they played several rounds of rousing, competitive dominoes ( I know nothing about the game), and our friend Susan Van De Water was also here from TX for Thanksgiving so it was really very very fun for me, I greatly enjoyed spending time with all of them.

Now we are praying that the weather front doesn't dump any significant water in Roswell tomorrow or Saturday or those of use with two wheel drive (even frontwheel) will not be able to get our vehicles on the back dirt roads to the coursing event. I am just not willing to sink my Caravan up to its axle for this when I could just drive elsewhere and free course on BLM land. The forecast has improved though and the chance for rain has dropped from 30% to 10% with great temperatures only in the upper 50s. Great for the dogs. The entry is huge for a Thanksgiving one day breed event (12) so I sure hope that rain holds off. We are heading out earlyish tomorrow morning to maybe drive down and see the VLA and the Bosque del Apache NWR.

Oh yeah it snowed like mad here for about two hours, just enough for me to get cute pictures of Vger in the snow. Tried for cute CJ photos but he would not cooperate.

Don't Ask Questions You Don't Want the Answer To

So yesterday Leonore and I are talking about our involvement in "corrections" (Leonore is involved in working with some juveniles, and I have spent 20 years working with adults)and I was showing her this neat little feature of the TN Dept of Correction website that allows you to look and see where the sex offenders are within a 10 mile radius of any address. So I entered my address as the example and wow 50 of them within that radius. You can also view their names, addresses and photos there if you are so inclined, youch. Jeeze is there something in the water there in White County TN, there are only a few thousand people in the entire county? A whole lot of attempted rapes and attempted sexual batteries so I am suspecting a whole lot of frustration going on.

These folks are feeding me so well I may be looking for property out here. Man, this deliciously seasoned chicken Sunday night, FIRE shrimp Tuesday night and last night went over to Steve and Joan's and had a perfectly seasoned chicken dish with asparagus (YUM), onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. Of course I did sneak in two small glasses of Yellowtail Shiraz ( couldn't let Steve and Rick drink alone) and then after we segregated to the men's room and the ladies room I proceeded to tell off color stories (Steve said I could just blame it on him so that's exactly what I'm doing ......bah haha).

This morning I am feeling great despite having hiked a lot of miles at some altitude yesterday, not sore at all. We will be tramming it and zooing it today.

Best Layed Plans of Mice and Men and Redneck Girls

OK Sunday we did the Salt Mission scenic trail and the 3 mission ruins. My God Abo is still magnificent. Even though I'm not Catholic I can appreciate the devotion to spreading God's word that these monks had to have to sail halfway around the world then do horseback almost across this continent to build mini cities truly in the middle of nowhere. Amazing at least to me.

Monday was Taos scenic drive up there, stopped at the Sanctuario de Francis of Asisi in Rancho Taos ( just South of Taos) a spectacular adobe church from the early 1800s. Did some shopping, took a bunch of artsy photos of some buildings. Then drove out to the Gorge bridge just West of Taos , WOW what a big hole in the ground. There was shopping to be had there too with Indians from Taos Pueblo there with their wares and offering great deals. So bought a little more silver there. Drove back on the scenic "High Road To Taos" hit the Sanctuario de Chimayo, that was very intense more on that when I am home and can reduce and post photos here.

Today Chaco Canyon was planned but a run in with a log and ruined rim on thefront of the van gave me a late start so I went to Petroglyph National Monument just West of Albeq. and hiked somewhere between 5-7 miles or so between all the canyons and the two volcanoes so I "ain't" mad or feeling sorry for myself. I had a great time keeping myself amused today. Tomorrow more local stuff like the Sandia Tramway and the Albeq zoo/aquarium. More later
Peace man
Sandra at around 6500 feet tonight again.

American Southwest Look Out

Here I am in Sandia Park at my friend Leonore's having spent two days on the road shopping and sightseeing (saw the OKC memorial and Palo Duro Canyon TX). Got a great leather belt and a few Native American Silver pieces. My friend Nancy who is traveling with me has outdone herself shopping though and has gotten great stuff also for her family and friends. I'm not like a big shopper myself but I have enjoyed finding a few things. Looking forward to the rest of the week and sightseeing here in NM (Chaco Canyon, Salt Missions Trail, Turquoise Trail,several other highlights). Try and see Mr. Rabbit a bit here and then the long drive home.

I'm not sure why the strange stalker I seem to have continues to try and harass me into some weird my dog is better than your dog exchanges because I haven't said a word about them or their little pooches in months. In fact until someone recently mentioned them to me I really had not thought of them. I hate to tell them that I have zero interest in whatever it is they are doing and burst their bubble but hey it is just the truth. Have fun, ignore what people are saying about you ( I do) and don't worry about where I drive to or how I get there. As a judge, I accept a fair number of judging assignments and driving to them ( since unlike many I live in an area that is hours from any events) is just part of the deal but I don't know why that would interest you little stalker. I've never gotten into any my dog is better than your dog arguments with you, nor have I ever claimed your little doggie wasn't a nice little doggie so get over yourself and look at the people who are trying to start some problem where one doesn't exist. I have traveled less in the last couple of years than ever, and find there are many things that I will change a dog event for including travel to watch other events, and have human fun. I'd suggest you try it yourself instead of worrying what someone else is doing with their dogs or their spare time. Hugs and kisses babe.

Next updates will hopefully be after more sightseeing. On the OKC monument, very sad, definitely something all Americans should see if they are in that town. Palo Duro Canyon, well worth the time and drive. Beautiful colors truly a work of God's art.

Ocala FL

The weekend after the PBR finals I flew down to FL, spent the weekend with my mother (we went to a Vince Gill concert and had too much fun). Anyway on Saturday I judged a supported entry sweeps there at the dogshow. My mother took these photos of me while I was judging. The suit is a cross between midnight and bright navy blue with harem pants, a beaded tank and a jacket with sheer sleeves. It's one my mother picked out, we apparently share a very similar taste in clothing and some other funny quirks like loving peanut butter with coffee and not eating the yellow parts of eggs. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Cowboy Petting Zoo

On Saturday in Las Vegas they had a PBR meet and greet where you could get an autograph(s) from your favorite rider. Yeehaw, if confining cowboys to an area where they must sit still, sign autographs, have their photos taken with fans and endure being touched (mauled) is not a cowboy petting zoo then I don't know what is. There were two photos and autographs I HAD TO HAVE. One was Guilherme Marchi who won the top PBR title this year after finishing 2nd the last 3 years, so that was the first line I hit. Wahoo! Jackpot! ChahChing! That's Marchi above and me, he is 5'9" 180 and a walking advertisement for Brazil and cowboy jeans. Holy mackerel. More photos of him later.

Then there is Adriano Moraes who retired this year the only bullrider to ever win the championship 3 years. 37 years old, Brazilian, 5'10" 185, boy did I get lucky, I was the last autograph he signed or rather my book was and only because this nice lady from ND shoved me physically into him and shoved the book in his hand and said PLEASE PLEASE she has waited forever. She also took this photo boy do I owe her. I can tell you being shoved into Adriano was no hardship, it was however kind of like walking into a tree, talk about firm and muscular. Egads be still my beating heart

OK OK you have caught me, I just happen to have some more photos of Marchi. OK OK I confess, I have a lot more than just these other two photos here, but heck it might look like I was a stalker.

I did manage to snap a few more of Adriano too or at least a few is all I am going to cop to. So here enjoy these too. I KNOW I enjoyed getting close enough to take them. Talk about dark and handsome. Yes I already have tickets for next year even though they are the same weekend as several pretty fun doggie events. Hard to imagine but some things are even better than supported entries and field trials. Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Nevada trip

OK I may be the only person who has ever been to Las Vegas and not spent a nickel on a slot machine however I did have a great 3 days out there. The afternoon of the first day was spent at Red Rock Desert National Recreation Area.

It is just a spectacular place and only about 20 minutes north west of Vegas. I won't tell you my tale of horror and my 4 hour flight to Vegas where a woman 5 feet from me puked for 4 hours, fainted and had paramedics waiting on her when we landed. No, let's NOT talk about that.
Instead lets talk about the bullriding I went out to watch. This first photo on the left the cowboy is upside down in the air on the left about to land on his left hand. The two bull fighters are distracting Mr. Bull to take him in a direction away from the cowboy landing zone. Below to the right is another cowboy doing that crazy thing of even considering sitting on 3/4 ton of hopping hamburger. Considering we were in the nosebleed section my camera got some really good photos of the action. Extendable lense cameras were not allowed and they did check your bags for them. Below left another bullrider is atop some big mean roan bull that is channeling a Lippizaner doing a capriole or some such airs above ground. These animals are so athletic and in tremendous condition. They were in pens for we fans/tourists to see and they don't have a hair knocked off of them by this sport. I would be rather remiss not to include one of the only two photos I got of Guilherme Marchi ( who was top PBR rider for 2008) riding on that Friday night. It isn't as clear as many of the other shots I got but perhaps I was so excited to see him ride that I wasn't at my best. You'll understand why when I put up some cowboy petting zoo photos.

A great time had in Louisiana

Have been busier than a one legged man in an @$$ kicking contest lately. Last weekend judged at a 3 day AKC trial in Bush Louisiana. Man, great folks, great field and great hospitality. They sure know how to do it in the deep South. Sherita my friend from Santa Anna TX was also judging and we stayed with a friend of hers in Covington who has the most lovely aviary with finches, and all sorts of hookbills big and little. I fell in love with the umbrella cockatoo they had. If I am ever retired and home more I would love to have one for all the company they are. They love people. Saturday night they had a ROAST HOG IN THE PIT there and it was FINE eating man. Oh my my, let me sing the praises of the pig. Yummy yummy yummy I got pig in my tummy. Anyway, they also had wicked red beans and sausage for lunch Saturday ( and rice of course for those rice eaters) Sunday they had turkey and shrimp gumbo and man oh man whoever made that roux, wow. Sherita had a good weekend with one of her boys picking up majors two days and a different boy picking up a major on Sunday. I can't complain either , CJ was BOB on Sat lost the Best in Field run by one point, on Sunday though Vger was BOB and won the Best in Field run. I really really love that little goofy dog. He is so sweet. You can see him at the bottom of my blog behind his cousin Tory "running wilder". So a nice big gaudy ribbon ( which is how I think ALL Best in Field ribbons should be) for the Vee dog, a 40 pound bag of Pro Plan and his name engraved as the first dog on a perpetual trophy for a deceased club member.

Counting down the days to Las Vegas, only 3 more. I'm excited but of course dread the flight and I'm not a big city girl at all.

Oh yeah, my big news is I am down to a size 12 which ain't bad for someone who is 5'10"