Secret

I am plotting. As always. I never give up applying for things. So I am applying for a super-competitive thing for next summer, but because chances are slim, I am not revealing the thing. I may reveal the thing if I achieve it. If not, you will all have forgotten about it by then anyway. So no worries. In theory, the thing will provide a transition to a new career. Or more school. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps I will leave you, my few readers, with just a clue: it involves science and the public. That is all for now.

greendimes

I found this new company called greendimes, on the web at http://www.greendimes.com. For a dime a day, or $3/month, they stop your junk mail and plant or save a tree a month for you. You can also opt out of catalogs. I signed up, so I will see how well it works. I get ridiculous amounts of junk mail at my house. Also, included in the fee is as many names as live at your address. It sounds good, and I hope it works. This saves so many trees and so much water. Long live the environment!

Afterthought

Since I mentioned the Catholics in my previous post, I think I better offer this up (no pun intended). I went to Mass to see the oldest Catholic Church in the country, and because my Mom wanted to go. Shortly after said Mass, I discovered that the US Bishops recently wrote a declaration:

"Anyone who knowingly persists in sinful behavior, such as gay sex or using artificial birth control, should refrain from taking Communion."

"To be a Catholic is a challenge," said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J., chairman of the bishops' doctrine committee. "To be a Catholic requires a certain choice."

I have been a lapsed Catholic for about 3 years now, and this is precisely why. The word Catholic should not be attached to this church, as Catholic means universal and welcoming. The Church has demonstrated firmly that it is anything but. I no longer feel compelled to associate myself in any way. I will be taking suggestions for new religions, spiritualities, or other faiths and institutions. Thank you.

A Visit from the Parents

This past weekend, my parents came to Socorro for a very brief visit. They arrived about 2:30pm on Saturday and left around 1pm on Sunday. It is about enough time to checkout Socorro though. We went to the Bosque del Apache NWR to see the sandhill cranes and snowgeese during their annual migration. We also went to Mass at San Miguel Mission, which claims to be the oldest Catholic Church in the country. And we checked out the Plaza, where the picture of my parents was taken.

On another note, since I haven't written in awhile, Go Democrats! What a phenomenal election. I hope everybody voted!

And Good Work Tigers! Although they didn't win the World Series, getting there was more than most of us expected. We are looking forward to another good season next year. And here's to the Red Wings current streak of 9 wins. D-Town is making a comeback in a big way!

Santa Fe

Matt and I decided to spend this past weekend at perhaps the most-hyped city in New Mexico, Santa Fe. Yes, there was lovely adobe architecture, as demonstrated in this photo. Yes, there were lots of pretty things to look at. But the scenery wasn't any better than other places in New Mexico, and the pretty things get boring if you aren't rich and/or an art freak. Needless to say, Matt and I got bored. The Georgia O'Keefe Museum was great, and we did buy some prints there. I also bought a few small items for Christmas presents at some other stores. Luckily, we didn't leave our house until nearly noon on Saturday, and two World Series games took up much of the rest of the weekend, so we didn't have all that much time to kill. Now, we didn't get a chance to head farther north to Taos, which might be the better bet for people like us, and Santa Fe might make a nice stop on the road north, but that is about all I have to say for it. I doubt we will be going back. Bottom line: make sure you plan a trip to somewhere that actually fits your interests, not the best drawing tourist destination in your state.

Socorro

I really didn't expect New Mexico to be very different from Arizona. But one day alone can really sum it up. In the morning, two days ago, there was ice on our windshields. In the middle of October. Later in the day after it had melted, I decided that I should drive to the hardware store to acquire an ice scraper. Alas, the ice scrapers were still in the attic and no one offered to go get one for me.

Next, I went to the local bank to close my account because of the awful, awful service. I am selling out to Bank of America because at least they are professional and help out the environment. At any rate, the local bank charged me $3 for the cashier's check. I was tempted to ask for my thousands of dollars in cash and carry it across the plaza to the other bank, but I decided to be good. The customer service agent at the local bank, whom I shall call Gabe, was wearing a polo shirt and jeans that were falling off his behind. The desktop background on his computer was an Ultimate Fighter. It took him well over 10 minutes to close my account.

As I look out my office window, I see an old rusty bed frame hanging on our fence. Why? I have no idea. The landlord keeps moving it around but never removing it, as if we enjoy the decoration.

There are street lights, also known as 'security' lights, in the back yards rather than on the street.

Our manufactured home is one of the nicest residences on our block.

Tonight, I am excited because the one screen movie theater is actually showing a movie I want to see. Luckily the only showing of said movie is at a good time for us. The tickets will be cheaper than the popcorn, and the popcorn won't be very good at all, but I will buy some because there is no where better to eat.

And that, my friends, is Socorro in a nutshell.

Party Like It's 1984!

I think this says it all.
(Just to be clear, I did steal both the picture
and the title from ESPN and Duane Burleson/AP.)