Family, Friends, Fish

Lots of good times this past week. Matt and Lupita and Ricky visited, and we got to hang out with the 'Beek kids for the weekend.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas. We had enough snow one morning for a miniature snowman.

A trip to the aquarium and botanic gardens was a hit with kids and adults alike.

Abigail was off building her gingerbread house, so she didn't get in any pictures. Sorry, Abigail! To make up for it, here's a picture of your hat -- I finished it today.

Ricky wasn't sure about tio Chad at first (tio Chad does have some scary facial hair right now), but soon they were fist-bumping like old pals. We found it amusing that Ricky's fist-bump could be interpreted as an insult:

Merry Christmas to all!

Stripes

I've been into stripes lately.

In the living room:

In the dining room:

On Chad's face:

Streaky bleached stripes in my hair:

with blue stripes underneath:

Well, we were going for blue, but it turned out a sort of blueish-green. And I only got to enjoy my mod fairy-princess look for a few days before it faded to a barely noticeable greenish blonde. Pink next time?

Merry Baking

We had a merry bakefest last weekend. 3 kitchens, 7 bakers, 6 kinds of Christmas cookies, and hot cocoa with marshmallows! Thanks so much to Susie, Katie and Kristin for opening their kitchens.


That was Saturday. It's Wednesday now, and Chad and I have already eaten all our cookies!

ufo sighting

I saw a ufo above ABQ tonight at 5:45 pm (Dec 4). It was a pretty bright light that flew northwards very fast (if a plane travels at 1 velocity unit, it was probably 10 velocity units). Before it reached the horizon, the light vanished. I heard no sounds associated with it, and it seemed to be flying at about the same height as airplanes do in the area. At the time a large helicopter was hovering near the Sandia mountains. At 8:20 pm, a helicopter was flying in the area again.

Three other people have confirmed what I saw.

Sorry, no pictures as I was on my commute home.

That is all.

enjoying cyclocross racing

Did my second cyclocross race yesterday. It was much more successful than my first of one week ago. Last week's race was at night in the cold on the snow. Here's a photo from my buddy Moscaline. See his blog from Nov 25th for a nice report and pictures from his race.
I'm running on the wrong side of the bike, but at least I'm staying warm enough.

Yesterday, Jill had errands to run, so she wasn't there to photograph me. I stayed for the first lap of the A race. Here's how it's supposed to be done.

On the first short hill of my first race, my chain got jammed on my frame. It took a minute or two to get it fixed, at which time my fellow racers were nowhere to be seen. I had hoped to learn a few tricks from them by watching them go first, but didn't get this chance until after a few laps.

In the second race, I had no bike troubles and slightly better skills. Also there was daylight and warmth. As a result, I did much better. Results are found here: http://www.nmcross.com/nmcs7.htm

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving festivities for us included a big, delicious dinner at the Polkadot house. I made pie.

And on the day after Thanksgiving I got to hang out more with the Polkadot extended family, while Chad had to work. Poor Chad. We went to see "Enchanted" (looks like if your biking in NYC, it's best to keep an eye out for rogue fairy tale characters), and the Polkadot kids and cousins came over to play racquetball and pool at our place.

This reminded me so much of fun times with my cousins when I was a kid. Amy, Beth, Paul, John, Tim, Christina, Kath, Matt and me -- playing tag on top of the hay bales, or getting pulled by Uncle Mike on a long line of sleds behind the tractor. I miss you guys!

As you can see, there's fun to be done at our new crib. Do stop by!

Soundtrack

Mrs. Polkadot tagged me for a song, so I give her two that I can never quite get out of my head.

If you click on the links, I recommend just listening and not watching the videos (even Steve Taylor himself would probably recommend this for his song).

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed Be Your name


Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name


Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be' Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name


Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name


Jesus Is For Losers
Steve Taylor

If I was driven, Driven ahead by some noble ideal
Who took the wheel?
If I was given, Given a glimpse of some glorious road
When was it sold?

So caught up in the chase, I keep forgetting my place

Just as I am. I am stiff-necked and proud
Jesus is for losers. Why do I still play to the crowd?
Just as I am. Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers. I'm off about a hundred degrees

If I was groping, Groping around for some ladder to fame
I am ashamed
If I was hoping, Hoping respect would make a sturdy footstool
I am a fool

Bone-weary every climb. Blindsided every time

Just as I am. I am needy and dry
Jesus is for losers. The self-made need not apply
Just as I am. In a desert crawl
Lord, I'm so thirsty. Take me to the waterfall

And if you're certain, Certain your life is some cosmic mistake
Why do you shake?
And if you're certain, Certain that faith is some know-nothing mask
Why do you still ask?

They don't grade here on the curve
We both know what we deserve

Just as you are. Just a wretch like me
Jesus is for losers. Grace from the blood of a tree

Just as we are. At a total loss
Jesus is for losers, Broken at the foot of the cross