American Roast

This Really Is, The Last California Blog

2008-08-23T13:20:00.006-06:00

OK, this really is it. The last blog post before I leave California and fly with my Grandparents back to their home in Alabama.

Haha, okay, so this picture isn't beautiful, but this place brought me so much pleasure I had to share it with you. Every Monday at this restaurant you can get two taco's for a dollar, and they are really good! We ate them every Monday and I was always very satisfied.

This is my Cousin Douglas.

OK! And that's it, we are ready to fly to Birmingham, Alabama. Here you can see my Grandparents looking as sharp as ever.

I love flying. Looking out the window, the free drinks, the entire experience is really something else. I often imagine what it would be like for someone flying for their first time, and how much we take a thing like flying for granted.

It's funny how small these mountains look, when you know they are huge! They look like you could just step over them... or be a really short hike.

Last Hike In California

2008-08-13T12:19:00.005-06:00

I went on one last hike with my Grandfather before our time in California was up. It was a nice hike, albeit hotter then when we had that fog to protect us. Still, it was interesting seeing the same area without the fog.

There are supposed to be some woodpeckers in these trees. There was a whole family of them hopping around, they were really cute.

I'll miss this country when I'm gone.

My Grandfather had a name for this, I forgot it. Something to do with Africa. He said in Africa there are things that look just like this, a small hill of dirt with a few tree's on them.

Uncle David's House

2008-08-10T09:53:00.000-06:00

Recently, on my trip to California, I got the chance to visit my Uncle David. David has recently had a stroke, and that has not been easy, but he has been recovering quickly and we all really have a lot of hope for him. He is committed to getting better so we have a lot of hope for a speedy recovery.

Uncle David has a beautiful home. He has lemon trees and a number of other plants that he grows in a farm next to his house.

This is the driveway leading to David's home.

And here is a shot of the front gate and his front yard. Wonderful gardening!

When this is in bloom it is a sea of purple flowers.

Here is the entrance to David's home.

This is my Aunt Gene, looking very beautiful.

And my Uncle David.

A brother and his two sisters!

One more shot of their fabulous front yard.

My Grandad liked this tree, he called it a "Banana Tree". I like it too.

Lizard-On-A-Rock

2008-08-07T16:36:00.003-06:00

OK this is probably the least exciting picture in awhile. But hey, it's my blog and I want to post it! I'm sure this lizard could be anywhere a lot of lizards look like that. And, I'm sure it could be on any rock, because a lot of rocks look like that! (Well, I guess it is more of a slab of concrete but I like calling it a rock)

Hey, at least it ain't Lizard-On-A-Stick!

Ants Attack!

2008-08-05T14:13:00.000-06:00

My Grandfather and I went to go hiking close by my Aunt's place. He went one direction, and I went the other. Well, I really was supposed to go with him, but I went the wrong direction. I was supposed to hike down into a nice shadowy gorge to follow along a stream and go ahead of my Granddad while he birded. But instead I got a little confused and went UP instead of DOWN. And boy did I go up! I climbed and climbed up a very steep hill, it was great, and boy was I surprised when I got to the top.

Looking out over the land behind me. I'm not quite up the hill yet. That row of tree's you can see past the road, is where my Grandfather is.

When I got to the top, I got this great view of my Aunt Betties neighborhood! Yeah, you can easily tell all those houses look the same.

But the biggest surprise happened when I tried to climb up to the top of a rock to get an even more panoramic view of everything around me. I went to climb, and I saw that there was something on top of the rock. It was kinda moving around, I thought to myself, "What is that?" and I realized; "Holy -_-! Those are ANTS!"

Covering the top of this rock (and others around it) was a swarm of flying ants! Imagine all their bodies swarming around in one mass, the sun glinting off their carapace, and they didn't just stay on top of the rock; they were swarming all around.

I took as many pictures as I dared (I tried to get closer but they kept landing on me, and I wasn't sure if they would swarm or not so I kept my distance) before running away.

An Enchanting Hike Through "The Plateau"

2008-08-01T14:54:00.000-06:00

In California my grandfather and I went hiking. And what a hike it was! It was one of the most memorable and enchanting hikes I have ever been on. We left early in the morning to catch the cool part of the day. The fog was out thick this morning, and that is what really made this hike something special. I have always liked weather that changes the entire atmosphere and look of a place, I like to look out into my backyard when it rains or snows, and now I find a new form of weather that radically alters the environment: fog. It lie like a thick blanket, protecting us from the heat of the sun.

This place reminds me of somewhere in New Mexico. A lot of this environment is similar to New Mexico, just thicker.

I like trees and natural things; they are always beautiful and never get old. Often art can be beautiful as well, but sometimes it isn’t, but a tree can never get ugly or cliché.

My Grandfather walking among the more shrubby parts of this trail. California seems to have a lot of these shrubs, and they grow pretty thickly. I can really see how those Californian fires get going, this stuff would burn really easily and spread quickly.

These trees are really something.

This is terrible, but to us this looked like a hanging tree. Awful, I know.

It's great how thick the fog is!

More trees.

I really like this shot. Simple, but elegant, and has a great use of space in it.

More of that shrubby stuff.

At first I thought this ball of spikes (filled with big seeds) was some sort of plant. Then I realized it was a vine (and therefor probably some sort of parasite).

I like this picture for obvious reasons. Almost seems like someone planted these flowers on purpose. A very nice hike! It really makes you appreciate the natural world. Sometimes you really have to get away from the city to do something like this, you forget what it is like, being in nature. You get used to the noise of the city too. It's very nice listening to... nothing, or the chirp of birds and the crunch of your own feet, but nothing else.

Californian Fog

2008-07-28T14:33:00.007-06:00

I'm sure you have heard of the famous California fog, and I am here to tell you that it really does exist! One morning I woke up and the fog had rolled in thick and good. It was really enchanting and I quickly went to go explore it.

This is the house right across from my Aunt Betty's. They have kind of a cactus thing going on in front of their house. It doesn't look too bad, though I am not really into suburbs.

This is the forest-y area next to my Aunt's house.

We have snails just like this in Albuquerque. But hey, it's a Californian Snail!

Looking up the street you can see the fog better.

I walked around in that woody area and explored the fog more. The strangest thing started to happen though. First one pest control truck came by, then another, then another! Then I walked further down the trail, and I saw about four more pest control trucks parked in front of a house! I wondered if it was like, their main staging area or something like that, but it seemed like a regular home. I would have taken pictures but I suspected they might have been mafia or something. Wouldn't want to get this nice new camera broken! (Though it would be a good test of just how strong it really is.)

Yeah these are the same bunny rabbits we have in New Mexico. I have a friend in New Mexico who says he would eat them if it wasn't illegal! Though, now that I think of it, perhaps it is not illegal to kill rabbits in your home city? Could it be they are a pest, and it would be like squashing a cockroach? I don't know. You couldn't shoot them, or use an arrow, but maybe you could club 'em. Legally.

There are some nice working farms around here.

Made it to California

2008-07-27T08:53:00.000-06:00

I have arrived to California. The trip was different. It wasn't fantastic, but hey I can't complain really. I took the Greyhound bus from New Mexico to California. I will be here visiting my family! Unfortunately, I didn't think of getting pictures of the bus. I'm still getting used to this camera. The weather is nice here in California. I like it here, but I am not sure I would want to live here. People seem to be rude here in California and just have a mean sort of attitude that I am not used to. In New Mexico strangers talk to each other on the bus, and I don't think Cali is like that. Still, it's great seeing my Aunt Betty!

This is my aunt's pool, and some of her backyard. I don't think she uses the pool at all, so she was glad to have us over and using it. I swam every day! The plants behind the pool are dying, but while we are here my grandfather is going to try and fix the sprinklers to get them watered better. (My Aunt turned the sprinklers off because the neighbor was complaining water was getting in her yard, but I think we are going to try again, hehe)

While we were here we had a garage sale! My uncle died oh, a year and a half ago, and so we are having the sale to clear out some of the things he collected. The sale went very well and we sold the best stuff, the rest we then gave to charity.

This is my cousins truck. He drove it for a number of years. I'm not sure what kinds of repairs it needs. I think it is a '68 or a '69. Something like that, I don't know much about trucks! It sure is pretty though! Hehe, we got about 5 offers on the truck during the garage sale.

This is my Grandma enjoying the pool! Doesn't she still look great in a swimsuit?

Last New Mexican Post Before California

2008-07-24T11:24:00.006-06:00

Well, this is my last New Mexico post before I go to California. It's not much, but it is not nothing either! So... let's just get into the pictures.

I was riding my bike to my friends house and I ran across this guy. I noticed he was holding something green and I knew it would be something interesting, but I passed by so quickly that I couldn't tell what it was at a glance. Well I came back and I was rewarded with this great shot! Look how long that iguana's tail is! I like how it matches his shirt too.

This is a fountain in downtown Albuquerque. Usually it is not running (to save water I assume) but today it was. I like it, I really do.

One of my granddad's paintings, one of my favorites too.

Well that is it for today! Next week: California! (Or maybe sooner, we'll see how much time I have to write more.) Thanks for reading.

I voted for the first time.

2008-07-19T16:33:00.000-06:00

Woot! ^^ Just the local election, but I will definitely vote in the first presidential election. For those of you who don't vote: just remember, there are a lot of countires that either don't let you vote at all or absolutely are corrupt. There might be a few fishy things with our system, and those ain't right, but we still should vote. (If only as a fight against anti-liberalism) But ah... this isn't a political blog...

OK that hat totally doesn't suit me.

Hiking in New Mexico, some Native American ruins, yay!

2008-07-19T12:05:00.006-06:00

Before I started my trip to California and Alabama this summer, I went hiking with my dad. We drove quite a ways into northern New Mexico and then followed an oil road up into an area where there was supposed to be a short (but steep) trail to some old Indian ruins. I forget the name of this tribe, but it is a tribe that has disappeared. Archaeologists know that this tribe is unique and not from around here (New Mexico and Arizona) from the pottery. At many sites of this new tribe, there is evidence of the buildings having been burned down and even cannibalism in some places. So the theory is that these people where attacked by native peoples for some reason, possibly they were blamed for a drout that would have happened around the same time they moved in.

Anywho these are mysteries to be solved, and may never be solved, but it's great that you can go and check out these ruins today!

Here we start out adventure!

Lichen on a rock, and I am pretty sure those are agave. Did you know lichen is not one creature but two? Lichen is a symbiotic relationship between fungus and either green algae or cyanobacteria.

I just love New Mexico!

OK we are starting to get into the ruins.

Can you imagine living here? I kind of can, but food would be hard to get. (I think) There is a stream down below where you would be able to get water.

Closer in to the ruins (sorry about the glare) you can see a layer of plaster that has been turned black from the fires. If you look at the plaster closely you can see that there are multiple layers of it.

Grafitti? Or ancient art? Hard to tell. Still, this is a great adventure!

Some more walls.

Rock on!

I like this picture, very epic.

But I like this picture too. Hard to tell which one is better, so I'm posting them both!

More great rock! I dunno why I got that glare, I'll have to figure that out. But nonetheless it is a great picture.

Maybe you can see the butterfly! Maybe not.

Back from vacation! Well, sort of...

2008-07-04T12:51:00.000-06:00

I am back, but not really from vacation. I am however once again with internet access! I have been in sunny California and I am now sitting in my grandparents kitchen in Alabama. But, I will get to all that later. For now I have some adventures and things from New Mexico to show and talk about, before I start on the California and the new Alabama stuff.

I normally wouldn't post a picture like this, because I don't like cars. But I liked how this tree hung over this persons driveway.

Weather in New Mexico can be very unpredictable, but that's not really a bad thing because if you get some weather you don't like just wait 30 minutes and it will be something else.

A great shot, typical of New Mexico.

You may have seen a cat do this before! I think it's so funny. Hehe, I love cats...

Clouds coming over the Sandias.

Sandia translates to watermelon in spandish. This is because... well I think you can figure it out.

Neighborhood Shots

2008-06-10T11:38:00.000-06:00

Today I will show you some pictures taken around my neighborhood. Most of the pictures are of plants, because I believe in taking pictures of true beauty and things I like, and plants are the easiest place to find true beauty. (Much harder to find it in other places, places with cars, signs, etc) I just don't want to take kitschy or tacky pictures, and I hope this blog's audience appreciates that. However, this is a travel blog not some artsy fartsy blog, so maybe there is a middle ground that I can meet.

An empty lot down the street from my house. I like this single tree in it.

A tree in my backyard, fresh with the buds of spring!

When a house is marked "not safe for residence" this is what it looks like. Sometimes houses are marked like this because they are in disrepair or are unfit for sale, other times its because meth was used or made in them. (Meth is such a dangerous and poisonous chemical that it gets into the walls and there is noway to make it safe to live in but to knock the place down.) In my opinion though I think this house was just unfit to live in.

My neighbors tree.

Our honeysuckles are in bloom.

What? The sky doesn't bleed where you live?

2008-05-21T08:21:00.006-06:00

Continuing my adventures from the last blog, Chris and I pushed onwards riding our bikes further into the foothills of the Sandia mountains.

The rocks in New Mexico are always interesting and colorful.

I think these are the same kind of rocks, but the light makes them very different colors.

After climbing up to the top, we got this great view!
Hey, it wouldn't be a New Mexico blog without at least some cactus.

Looking out into the distance, it seems we have a wonderful sunset brewing.

As Chris and I start to go home, the sunset begins to develop...

Just wait it gets better!

Wow!

Rocks and Stuff

2008-05-15T10:47:00.009-06:00

As you may have gathered, I love New Mexico. One of my favourite parts of it, is the natural enviroment. It is a semi-arid desert. Additionally, due to our high elevation, you can find some interesting plants. Well, the area I am going to show you is the foothills of the Sandia mountains. The rock there is really interesting, because it is very ancient. If you go to the top of the Sandias you can find rocks with trilobites and ancient algae in the rock.

But, all adventures must start somewhere, and this one starts at the Alvarado Transfer Center. (In the last blog, I posted a picture of this from the outside)

Here is the bus I catch to my friends house.

Well, when I got there, I just had to take a picture of my friends cat. ^^ Doesn't he just have the cutest face?

Well, our adventure started, I got this great shot. This really is just the archetype of what New Mexico looks like. Personally, I like it!

Nothing beats a good ride in the dirt!
And with that, I actually am going to leave it for the next blog! I have a lot of pictures to show you, and there is no reason to go through them all in one day is there?

Downtown Albuquerque, and some cactus!

2008-04-26T09:49:00.000-06:00

Yup, can't have New Mexico without cactus and blue skies. Well, the cactus are in our greenhouse, but the skies are all New Mexican! Hehe, sorry if I'm not making much sense, lets just get to the pictures...
Yup, greenhouse, like I said!
These are probably the two most distinctive buildings on the Albuquerque skyline.
I know, this isn't a terribly exciting picture, but I would like to live in a condo like these someday.
This is the Alvarado Transfer Station in downtown Albuquerque, it is the hub of the cities public transportation system. The terribly ironic thing about this building, is that it used to be a historic building, but then the government knocked it down. Then, the public outcry was so great, that they rebuilt it in the same design!

Hanging out at the duckpond

2008-04-22T07:43:00.000-06:00

On my way to class I took a couple pictures at the duckpond, I think they turned out pretty well. The duckpond is this great spot to relax and hang out in the middle of campus (My school is the University of New Mexico)
Ahh, spring!
Here is a small example of what the duckpond itself looks like.
On my way home I took this picture to show off some traditional New Mexican architecture. Notice the stuccoed walls, and the flat roof! Also note, the sky is blue, like always. :P Well, most of the time anyways. Personally I find it a very nice shade of blue.

More backyard

2008-04-19T08:33:00.000-06:00

Due to popular request, well actually just because one person said they liked it, I have taken more pictures of my backyard.
This is the shade that gives our hottub a bit more privacy. I would have taken a picture of the hottub, but it's not very exciting to look at.
A closer up of those vines on the shade. The little yellow flowers don't seem too clear... I think my camera had some problems focusing on things that where really close to it. (But I took a similar picture of those flowers on the cherry tree, and it turned out great, so I'm not sure)
This strange looking plant is onions, not sure what kind.
This is on the side of our house. Notice the stuccoed wall! In New Mexico a lot of houses and buildings have stucco, it's a great New Mexican style of architecture.
A close-up of that vine.

My turtle, more flowers, and more chicken.

2008-04-17T18:39:00.000-06:00

The camera I am using is a Olympus Stylus 850SW. This next picture is my tortise, isn't he awesome? This is such a great picture, except uhm, I think I have something on my teeth. Pay no attention to that.
I got a great picture of those flowers on the cherry tree.And finally, my camera has a video mode! This is just a test, both to see what it looks like uploaded to youtube, and to see how the camera performed! I think it did pretty good, but youtube definitly lowered the quality.

First post, raised beds, chicken!

2008-04-17T17:06:00.000-06:00

Well, I just got this new camera, so I'm starting this blog to show where I have been and who possibly tell a story or two. Well see! Today in Albuquerque, New Mexico was grey and cloudy but I managed to get some decent pictures! This is my first time using the new camera.
To start off with, just a simple picture of some flowers in one of our raised beds.
Our apple tree is in bloom, I hope to get a better picture of this in better light!
Our cherry tree is in bloom too.
It wasn't long before our chicken came to investigate what was going on.

A closer view of these flowers. Again, it was pretty cloudy today, I will show you a New Mexican sunset soon I promise!