It's A Book

There is a great children's book by Lane Smith, just released called "It's A Book". Should that be underlined or "apostrophed"? Maybe italics. I can never remember. Anyway, a bit of scandal about the book because of one of the characters in it. Do a search for "It's a Book Trailer".

So we checked out the book, and we love it. Of course, we have had several conversations with Owen about what another name for a donkey is, but we love the story, and the illustrations are fantastic.

So I feel like we have a good handle on when it is appropriate to say the word "jackass". Like, if we are at the zoo, and we walk by the donkeys, it is ok for Owen to say "Momma, there's a jackass." Or, when he is playing with the donkey stuffed animal from the Democratic National Convention, he can say to Willett, "give me back my jackass." Cautiously, I agree that that is acceptable.

With that said, we read the book last night at bedtime. That and a Dr. Seuss, a constant in our house. Owen seemed satisfied with his books, also being exhausted from the Parade of Lights. With that, it's lights out, hugs and kisses all around and a tuck-in routine for the night. As I turn off the light, Owen says to me, "goodnight, jackass."

Lesson learned.

Zoo Lights

One of our favorite activities this time of year is to check out Zoo Lights. It's not about the animals, it's about the lights!! And most of the animals are sleeping. I mean, why not? There's only a million electric lights all over their habitat and thousands of obnoxious people drinking hot chocolate and screaming kids banging on the glass. Sounds peaceful and relaxing to me too. So, we stay away from the animals and just enjoy the lights, which there aren't any pictures of because it's dark outside and photos don't turn out right. This is as close as I get: After taking all the photos above, I was exhausted, so I gave the camera to Owen. He took care of the rest for me.

It was amazing. At this point, Owen captured the beauty of the not often seen Bald Sloth. The photos are captivating.

I never said it was going to be pretty.

Thanksgiving

Nana and her youngest grandkids

Sarah clearly having the time of her life and Owen playing with kids. Where do kids learn that?

Papa and Geri

Willett and Luke

Troy was there too.

Seriously? The Stay-Puft marshallow man meets Cornholio

randomness. Prepping for winter.

Rooster and Spiderman

They go together like peas and carrots. I'm not explaining to the rooster where eggs come from just yet.

What the hall...oween are you supposed to be?

We had a few friends over for Halloween chili and trick-or-treating. Some of the "adults," and I use that term loosely, didn't wear costumes. How dare they?!?! Never fear, geeky Jeff is here, with his magic box of costumes. Lo and behold, crazy party ensues, dorks rule, and libations are consumed.

Most are self explanatory (but I will explain them anyway). From right to left, dinosaur, cowboy, nun, go-go dancer, princess, gaucho (cabellero? something), chicken, ladybug, half-hearted witch, spiderman, barbie princess, frog, grim reaper in flip-flops, and... clown pimp? Nice try dumbass, nice try.

Santa Fe Post Script

Dinner at Cafe Pasquals. Great food, but the place seemed pretty damn pretentious. Maybe we were getting a weird vibe from the owner because Cody name dropped to get us a reservation. He had just bought wine from Derek and asked him about a good dinner spot. Derek said, "Cafe Pasqual's, tell them Derek sent you." So, Cody did. The owner was none too impressed when she found out we had just met Derek 15 minutes earlier. If she spit in our food, I couldn't tell. It was delicious.

On a totally separate and completely unrelated note, how freaking high does a urinal really need to be? I almost pissed in the sink and washed my hands in the urinal.

One final note. There are no pictures of our day at Ten Thousand Waves, and that is for good reason. WAY too many old, naked guys. Seriously, nothing wrong with being naked, but to quote Cody, "a little modesty goes a long way." We don't need to be sitting in the hot tub, with you, creepy, washed up massage therapist to the stars, sitting on the edge of the tub with your legs s p r e a d open. Nor do we need to watch you, old guy about to have a heart attack, as you rearrange the deck furniture in your birthday suit. Again, nudity is fine, but this ain't a nudist colony, why are you milling around in the nude? Walk with a purpose, get where you are going, or grab a towel for your stroll.

Otherwise, the cold plunge, foot soak, relaxation room, massages and salt glows were unequaled. 4.5 out of 5 stars for TTW. The half-star miss is because of the sausage party that broke out at the communal pool. Seriously, a bunch of naked guys passed their prime should hang out in one of the men's pool, and leave us others to soak without having to divert our eyes.

Santa Fe

We went to Santa Fe (New Mexico, for the geographically challenged) for a mini-vacation with our friends Cody and Mary Ann. We let them show us around because A) they have been there several times before and B) we're lazy. They were great tour guides and I'd hire them again. They work cheap. Anyway, this typing stuff is exhausting, show some pictures will ya?

Outside our haunted room in Chimayo. Oh wait, that was the room next door. Thanks for the scare Cody. We slept like shit that night.

Senior photos relived!

Dinner at the Hacienda. Would someone keep those damn kids quiet?

The Sanctuario de Chimayo, and the holy dirt.

Judi loves gift shops.

Tecolote in Santa Fe had amazing breakfast. The green chile biscuits were amazing.





The oldest church in the country! Ok, I can't back that up, but it was beautiful.

France? Nope, beautiful courtyard winery and restaurant in the Plaza. We got cut off here. I think that was my first time.

The river walk statues. Nice form, Jeff.

Nice catch!So, this is the miraculous staircase. The story goes that the church was hurting for money and had an incomplete staircase to get to the choir balcony. One night, a mysterious carpenter (Jesus perhaps?) came into the church (breaking and entering) and finished this elaborate staircase (trespassing) in one night using only a small hammer, a nail file, and some bent spikes. He left in the morning before breakast biscuits were put on the table, and lo and behold the miraculous staircase was the only evidence that he was there (that and the plate of cookies and glass of milk on the mantel were empty). At least that was the story before we entered the church.

...After paying the wallet-scraping entrance fee of $3 per person, we learned through the voice of James Earl Jones over a loud speaker (ok, maybe not Darth Vader himself, but a damn good wannabe) that an unknown carpenter answered a plea from the church to finish the staircase. He was there for 6 months, had his own basic tools, and was quite the charmer in town. Once his project was finished, he left town without being paid. Several years later, the church commissioned another carpenter to build a bannister for the unsafe spiral staircase. And reality set in.

That's all for now.