Albuquerque at Night

I lived in Albuquerque as a child, I had the best room with the best view of the city in the entire house, perhaps the entire neighborhood. I was particularly proud of my view. My parents often brought guests upstairs to look out my window so they could ooohh and awww.

I've never had a view quite like it since then, though I guess the view from my terrace in Sicily came close. (You could see both the Mediterranean Ocean and the volcano, Mt. Etna from there.) Albuquerque has grown a ton since then as well.

But the lights still draw me, reminding me of a poster my cousin once had, an illustration of Albuquerque depicted at night with it's lights in a swirl, much like the milky way, a universe of gorgeous stars. I'd kill to have a copy of that poster now. ;)

These aren't as good, but I though I'd share anyway. :)

The Bosque of Albuquerque

It's easy to take for granted what you see every day.

I know, because I live around people who no longer, if they ever did, notice the lovely blue of the Sandia Mountains which rise above the city, the tranquil meandering of the Rio Grande or the gorgeous wildlife which we are so fortunate to find all around us, especially in the bosque down at the river.

These are some photos of the Sandhill Cranes I photographed last year right about this time. I still find it stunning (the bosque, not my photos). There is so much to see here. Take a moment to enjoy your surroundings. They are beautiful.

A Culture of Bones

My friend and photography assistant, Crystal, recently abandoned me to move to Idaho with her boyfriend, Joey. ::sniffle::

Joey is originally from Virginia, a place where I have also lived. Though we both are from the same country, it is hard to appreciate the differences in cultures of the south and the west when you first examine the little things like clothing styles and culinary dishes.

It wasn't until Joey came for a visit last summer and remarked (in a purely horrified fashion) about my bleached cow skull I had in my garden that I truly began to see how far removed we are from a great many places. I tried to explain to Joey that skulls and bones were not unusual here. As a matter of fact you see decorated skulls everywhere, painted, adorned with gems and rocks and material, in gardens on fences, and as a part of jewelery (Native Americans have used bones in jewelry forever. It's not garish to us. It's... using what we have I guess.

Quaint and cute to me, a possible sign that we are mass murders to him.

Just another example of how diverse we all are in the huge country we call home :)

Remember When?

There is an old gas station on the corner near my home, no longer operational, just a part of someones front yard.



He hasn't torn down the fuel pumps or removed the cars, so it makes for great pictures. Also is a grim reminder of fuel prices these days.

Day of the Dead

Otherwise known as "Dia De Los Muertos" in Spanish, a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated also in some parts of the U.S. is a three-day Mexican holiday to honor occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November, in connection with the Catholic holy days of All Saint's Day and All Souls' Day which take place on those days. Day of the Dead celebrates loved ones who have passed away, and is not a morbid but a joyful holiday.

Colorful and celebratory, it is a fun holiday filled with flowers, food, images of skeletons and family get together.

I didn't make it to any festivities this year due to my surgery, however, my friend Crystal humored me and let me paint her up and do photographs.

Enjoy.