11.28.2008

Drink till you feel alright.

This Thanksgiving was one of the best I think I've ever had. I started celebrating early on Wednesday night, by hanging out with friend-family at the Anderbenmans. It was a small group, but it's safe to say I loved every person in that room. It felt very Holiday-like and it got me in a great mood. On actual Thanksgiving, I went to my mom's, where the two of us made all the usual sides, along with turkey and green chile pizza, which was a quite successful experiment. So hey, if you're looking for something awesome to do with leftover bird, I'd do that.

On the level of things I'm thankful for, I think the award goes to this little one:


Her name is Olive.


Oliver still hasn't come home and Mom decided it would be good to get another cat. Originally named Daisy, she's five months old and was surrendered to the Westside animal shelter. I picked her out because as soon as she climbed into my arms, she started purring. In fact, I don't think she's stopped purring since. Really, she is the sweetest kitten. She adapted to my mom and her house in under five minutes, like she was always supposed to be there. She might win prizes in cuteness, but her real award is for making my mom smile.




I've been in crazy cleaning mode lately. Room's clean, I scrubbed down the bar on Monday, and I attacked my bathroom last night. Not quite sure why...

11.23.2008

Burning thing.

Just so you know,

The rest of that gel stuff they shoved into my thumb fell off today.

You're welcome.

11.22.2008

Hands back to the Ground.


San Jon, New Mexico.


I sort of love that some of the oldest technology in the world will become the savior of the energy crisis.


It comes in threes. First, Annie, then Mohammad, now Oliver Twist, my mother's dear fat cat has gone missing in Edgewood. This is not the place you want to loose a cat. He'd been roaming around a little outside, in an effort to curb the heartbreak of losing his brother Mohammad a few months ago. He didn't come home Thursday night. Both Kyle (who earns immense bonus points for his efforts in Operation Oliver) and I combed the land around my mom's on Friday and today, no trace of him at all. We also posted fliers all over town and the neighborhood. Fingers and toes are crossed.

When my family moved to Raton from Edgewood, my beloved dogs Fred and Sally escaped from a kennel by gnawing through chainlink fencing. Fred, our wild black lab, was found a week and a half later, skinny and begging for food. Sally, my malamute/german shepherd cross, was found six weeks later, waiting patiently for us to come home, in front of a gate that looked exactly like that of our former home.

So, the point is, my family is capable of pet recovery miracles. I hope most that somehow, Oliver will make his way back to my mom's house. But, a lot of my hope has turned to him not suffering, where ever he is. I'm glad it's warmer tonight.

My body's crying for a road trip. Being paid for not going to work and low gas prices make it very possible that I will next update my blog in Oklahoma. Or Kentucky. Or Michigan. Or Wyoming.

(Oh yeah, thumb's healing up okay. It's sort of gross and smells pretty bad. You try not washing your thumb for 8 days and see how awesome it looks.)

11.18.2008

This isn't happening.


brb, taking pictures of abandoned water sheds.


Actually. brb, In Tucumcari. Mostly on a photographic mission, but it looks like I'll crank out some high quality job hunting while I'm here. I spent today in Clovis, exploring the Norman & Vi Petty Rock 'N' Roll Museum. In case you didn't know, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison recorded in Clovis, New Mexico. You can't make this up. After museum, I wandered about town and clicked away at run down grain elevators and sprinkler systems. I love D80. So much.

Also, love this one.

11.17.2008

Riding fast, living slow.


The problem with owning a D80 and having too much free time (ha, there's a problem if I've ever heard one...) is that I have far, far too many pretty pictures to post. I guess I'll get around to it, but I'm mostly thinking I think I need to devote to a flickr account instead of being photonerd on blogger ("Seeee? Do you see the way the light hits the dirt and the way lens flare..."). So, look for that in the coming days.

Regardless, have TEMPE!


We (Ashley, Joel, Casey, Myself. Which shouldn't be capitalized, but it looks odd if I don't) went to Tempe for the sole purpose of seeing Ben Folds. Really, we drove straight to the venue, then hotel, did a little playing, then turned around and went home. BUT. Do not dare think that we did not have fun.


FOR STARTERS, look at the dang bathroom key in Gallup. How is that not fun?!?


Well, I guess Casey didn't think it was fun. But I certainly did.


For ADDED FUN, I brought the Fountain Hat, purchased in Fountain, Colorado back in August. (It's important to note that I was a little confused to be going... west instead of.... north. Also confusing was not having Marky with me.)



DAMMIT, CASEY. HAVE SOME FREAKING FUN.


We ate at Jack in the Box in Flagstaff. Even though I'm not informed that there's a way to Phoenix that's actually an hour shorter if you don't go through Flagstaff, Sourdough Jacks are probably worth the trip.


Like I said, we went straight to the venue. The venue's website scared us because it told us to allow an hour to park. AN HOUR? Where is the show? SAN DIEGO?!? But, since it was at ASU's performing arts building and since it's impossible to park at UNM, we took the website on its word. It took us less than a minute to park. And we were within 50 feet of the front door. WHAT. But, it gave us time to explore ASU just a bit, find a bathroom and a Starbucks.

Now, the show itself also started at 6:30, which still makes no sense to me. The openers were called Rueben's Accomplice, a local Tempe who are also opening for Jimmy Eat World (a Mesa favorite) on their Clarity x 10 tour (complete side note: SHOOT ME NOW, I'm so excited about that). Now, okay, I think whoever the college promoter went, "These guys play piano. Ben Folds plays piano. They will sound good together." No, college promoter, no. INCORRECT. While the band gets bonus points for having luminarias as stage lighting, they lose just as many for bringing their own bedroom lamp. Sup, Danny Winn.

And Ben, oh, Ben was spectacular. He's the king of doing exactly what you don't expect. A few weeks before Way to Normal was released, he leaked fake versions of the songs, that he spent a weekend recording. As a joke. And as he explained, he ended up really liking them. So, he played quite a few of them. He also played about half of Way to Normal, then took a promised short break, came back, and played some good, old stuff. Casey FINALLY started having fun when Ben broke out Underground. He also played Kate (since I am, in fact, a lady, I was quite happy) and directed us for Not the Same.

In the words of Joel, he knows how to play the fuck out of a show. When I saw him back in January, he was still finishing the new album and still working it out on stage. He talked a lot more, so it seemed more personal, but this time, he let his music talk for him. Seeing a performer like that, who just oozes talent, is always so inspiring. You can't help but feed off him, regardless of the circumstances. You could tell that he was having the time of his life. I think it would be easy for music like Bens, being heard in a performance hall, to take a snotty turn. But he's always nothing but pure fun. And he wants everyone else to have fun, too. And we all certainly did.

We got a motel room for the night and slept in. The next morning held wondrous treasures.



Animal fries.


There's something so fulfilling about eating at In N Out Burger. I know half of the appeal is the fact that it's not in New Mexico. But, it's probably the only fast food in the country that you actually feel good after you eat it. Almost like you're proud of yourself.


Oh no, Casey's having fun.


And by Casey having fun, that means shopping for action figures. In his quest for Red Hulk, we hit up a Tempe Target (and later, a Mesa Target, where I became convinced I'd run into Jim Adkins buying the same Red Hulk). Sadly, no Red Hulk, but Casey found a new bed.


And a new executive office.


He fired Ashley.


We went to Starbucks in the Target and the girl working there was nice. I mean, oddly nice. First, she complemented Ashley's hair, then my camera, then she started giving us free Odwalla.


Apparently, this is the face I make when someone gives me free Odwalla.


Now, I don't actually like Odwalla. Blasphemy, I know, but it makes me feel like I'm drinking a little bit of puke. And I KNOW, boba's a way worse vomit-esqe sensation, but I'm not here to make excuses for my drink preferences. I think the face was moreso a reaction to actually getting something for free at Starbucks. Really. When does that ever happen?


This is Joel's reaction to free things from Starbucks, buuuut...


I personally think this brings the rofls.


SO. Kyle told me this story about Casey knowing how to climb a palm tree. Guess what they have in the parking lot of the Tempe Target?


Pre-game.


Launch.


Conquistador.


After Target, Ashley and I convinced Joel and Casey that they really wanted to go pedal-boating in the Tempe town lake.


So, we did that.


I clearly, had the time of my life. But, pedalboating is actually a little exhausting. I wasn't expecting that.




We got to pedal through and around three bridges.


Ashley left a permanent signature from us: "I <3 Jesus".


Swallows nests were all over the bridges. They sort of gross me out.


After that and another Target, we had the grandest intentions of checking out a local arcade, but we decided to head home instead. Pedaling's haaaaard.


We stopped at a majestic cacti north of Tempe. Only so I could take its picture.


Flipping postcard! I luff D80.


Bonus mini cacti with large cacti stop.


Magestic Highway Whale.


Now, a curious thing started happening about half an hour outside of Flagstaff. Casey, our trip DJ, started playing the sort of songs that require a singalong. Oh, you know, the sort of songs that you pour your heart out on when you're alone in your car. But, we weren't alone this time around.


Flagstaff Jack in the Box, again. It's important to note that Joel bought another order of curly fries SOLELY for that picture.


By the time we left Flagstaff and were headed directly east, car singalong took over. It became EPIC CAR ROCK OUT '08. It sort of started out of no where, but every song Casey played became more and more epic. And while you would think the later it got, the slower things got, you would be absolutely wrong. The later it got, the more committed we got. Around Acoma, Casey broke out the DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL and we all about lost our minds during "Hands Down". While I wished I had bought a D90 so I could record the merriment, sometimes it's best that certain things stay in the car. I'm sure reviewing our EPIC CAR ROCK OUT when we weren't so tired and roaded, would take away the magic.


The last time I was in Phoenix-metro was three and a half years ago. I was so fresh off heartbreak, still feeling daggers. It was a little sour to go back there. But, I had such a great time with such great people. It's amazing the difference a few years can make. You're okay, Arizona. Just learn to cool down once in a while. And take back John McCain. Thanks.

11.15.2008

Lordy, don't you know?


Best/worst story ever. I cut off the tip of my finger at the El Rey last night. I was cutting limes, not paying attention, and whaaaack. The actual act didn't hurt at all, but a few seconds later was pretty brutal. Thanks, citrus. It bled. A lot. Marky went into manager mode and ran down to the Central Market for Tylenol and bandages and Daniel went into security mode with first, making me clean it (mother of GOD, that hurt, too) and wrapping it up for me. I decided to not go to the emergency room mostly because it wasn't that severe. I went to Urgent Care this morning and they shoved gel foam in my thumb and cleaned it, told me to take Tylenol. It'll grow back eventually, so I hear.

But, for a while, I'll a have a thumb mummy. If you're interested in carnage, I'd click here. Tempe blog is up and coming, but this was too awesome to not post about.

11.10.2008

The sky is no longer the limit.



Ladies and gentleman, welcome Mr. Tim Barry, the Nikon D80 into my life.

11.07.2008

Gonna wash up on the black rocks one day.

Last day of work. Here it is, the last time I'll sit at this desk, stare at the wall, and talk to crazies on the phone. I can honestly say, I'm not sad about leaving. I'll miss certain parts of this job, but as a whole... Nope. Not in a million.

Revival Tour was last night. It left my heart full of possibility. It, and Tim Barry, certainly made it seem just fine to be umemployed. It gave me this wave of "it'll all be okay". I do believe it. Mrs. Manfredi told me it was good that I stayed with this job as long as I did, even though it made me miserable. She said young people today are too spoiled, demanding awesome jobs when they enter the work force. But, you know, I don't want an awesome job. I just want a job I can be proud of. I don't mind working. But, working without purpose or drive is the worst thing I can imagine. I'd work an 80 hour week for the worst boss in the world if I felt like what I was doing meant something.

I'm going to keep looking, regardles of how it takes, to find a job with purpose. Maybe this is just the Lucero talking... It all sounds pretty simple. But, I feel like it's a personal revolution.

I'm looking at this little paid vacation, until January 5th, as an excuse to dive head-first into creative projects. I think finally, I'll let myself buy the expensive camera I've been lusting over for a year and a half. I've been sitting on the money for 6 months, too scared to spend it. But, I've finally come to the realization that there's really nothing left to wait for.

Now... that's the Lucero talking.

Anyway, goodbye office job, goodbye crazies, goodbye blank walls, goodbye 8am, goodbye power lunches, goodbye MSNBC. I appreciate all you've taught me. But really, it's time to get the hell out of here.

11.06.2008

If it's ever gonna get any better...

Stolen directly from Slate, which is fine since none of you read Slate.

Nebraska recently passed legislation that allows parents to abandon unwanted children at a hospital—no questions asked—without threat of prosecution. The measure is intended to prevent mothers (and, occasionally, fathers) from leaving infants in public places where they risk death from exposure to the elements... Unlike the laws passed in the other 49 states, where typically the child must be one month old or less, Nebraska's measure imposes no age limit; infant and strapping teenager alike may be forfeited. As a result, Nebraska is turning into a national dumping ground for unwanted kids. Since the safe-haven law went into effect on July 18, 27 children have been handed over to the Cornhusker State. In one busy 24-hour period in September, 11 children were deposited at local hospitals, including nine siblings left by a single father. One 16-year-old girl didn't even know she was being abandoned.

So, note to self, when parenting gets really hard, drive to Nebraska.

Tomorrow's my last day in Office Land. Thankfully, I have a busy weekend and a mini break next week to keep me busy, so I don't have to think about how scary it is that I don't have a job.

11.05.2008

Lifting me higher and higher

The Amazing:




The Bad:
"95 percent of California precincts reporting, the anti-same sex marriage ballot initiative known as Proposition 8 had 52 percent of the vote but was still considered too close to call. Arizona and Florida voters approved similar proposals to enshrine a ban on same sex marriage in their state constitutions... Early results showed voters in Arkansas supporting a proposal to bar unmarried couples from adopting or acting as foster parents, which critics said was unfairly aimed at gays."

The Ugly:
If you know where I work, you can only imagine. But I'm so full of hope, it can't bother me.