Shame On Me

Judy has put me to shame with her many interesting blog posts lately. She's already issued a mandate that I post something before she stops reading my blog altogether. In spite of her threats, I continue to spend night after night plopped in front of the TV, too lazy (or uninspired) to write.

OK, I lied. She didn't threaten me. But I do worry I've lost my blog readers because of my protracted written silence.

Turnabout is fair play. I put Judy to shame this evening with the elaborate vegan dinner I prepared. Her dinner, apparently, was a sticky bun. I've decided after several months of general malaise it's time to make some changes in my life, starting with diet and exercise. It's never too late to get healthy again. My sedentary lifestyle has caught up with me. I am becoming one with the sofa.

The dogs are enjoying the cooler weather in Albuquerque. It seems to energize them, and their rough play has taken an almost aggressive edge, as if they're pushing their wrestling to the edge just to see how far they can go before one of them complains. Telly is beginning to show signs of growing out of puppyhood, though she's nowhere near abandoning her puppy ways. She still jumps, wags her tail incessantly, and climbs in any available lap - all 60 pounds of her - whenever she feels cuddly, which is most of the time. Telly sleeps soundly at my side right now, her wet nose resting at my elbow.

Thanksgiving was spent with siblings who flew to New Mexico for a week. It was nice to spend time with my brothers and their significant others. The last time we gathered for Thanksgiving was eight or nine years ago.

David and Telly

David and Jennifer posing on the banks of the Rio Grande

Ginger - what a cutie!

Jim and Ginger catch up on their reading

We dined one evening at the High Noon Saloon and Restaurant in Old Town, and were served the largest slab of chocolate cake I've ever seen. It weighed in at one pound. (The waiter brought 6 forks.)

One serious piece of cake

The desert is chilly these days, though only the mountains are frosted with snow. Nights are cold and days sunny. Albuquerque winters are short. By February our days will be warm again. It's a great time of year to hike.


Unfortunately, hiking seems like too much work these days. (There are signs that this attitude may soon change.) Instead of fresh air and exercise, I've become addicted to eBay. The dining room is bursting with pottery I've won in online auctions during the past month. But that's another post.