A Walk In The Park

TUESDAY. Tomorrow night, God willing, I shall retire the rabbit ears, or maybe just return them to Radio Shack. Tracy, a Comcast supervisor who claims she talks to me more than her own mother, phoned this morning to advise me that an installer would be here next Tuesday. I insisted this wasn't good enough. Several hours later Tracy phoned again and said someone would be here tomorrow afternoon. She apologized profusely for the inexcusable delays, whittled our monthly bill down to something more manageable, waived all installation charges, and told me I won't have to pay the first month up front. Perhaps the Comcast saga will have a happy ending after all.

This afternoon I brought my camera to Columbus Park, just a few blocks from the house. Even though he must remain on lead, Murphy has grown fond of our daily walks in the park. He's usually good for two laps around the perimeter. I'm finding our trips to the park to be very calming and restorative--the perfect antidote to a stressful day at the computer. Murphy takes frequent breaks during our walks, lying in the grass, sniffing the fresh air. I prefer a bench.


I never get tired of looking at the Sandias in the distance.


Flowering shrubs decorate the paths that weave through the park.


A charming playground occupies one end of the park, as well as tennis courts. (Murphy sees this as a wonderful opportunity to replace his worn out tennis balls.) Here we see a New Mexican palm tree (arecaceae nuevo mexicanus). A typical desert plant, it requires very little water.


We were lucky enough to glimpse a rare (and much-feared) Desert Green Alligator (alligator albuquerquiensis). Fortunately they don't move very quickly. In fact, they hardly move at all.


And so, as another desert day draws to an end, I wonder what surprises tomorrow may bring.