One of my favorite Albuquerque memories is walking along the luminaria-lined streets of Barelas through a light snowfall, following the Las Posadas de Barelas nativity and enjoying the sounds of Christmas carols sung in Spanish and English. My two children, dressed up as an angel and a shepherd, were old enough to carry their candles without setting themselves on fire, and young enough to take heed of mom’s words about the dangers of…

On Jan. 7, the Albuquerque City Council will decide whether to preserve a nearly 70-year-old part of its Route 66 heritage, or let a local developer tear it down to make way for luxury townhouses.

I'm talking about El Vado Motel, on Central…

• ABQ has a lot to learn about classroom maintenance and infrastructure.
• State decides against pursuing federal funds for abstinence-only sex ed.
• Environmental groups sue feds for not protecting four animal…

I love beads. I live for beads. I string beads. I know lots about them and know where to get the steals and deals. My favorites are vintage Swarovski crystals and Venetian glass. I was thinking about my obsession with beads and where it came from.

Here in 'Burque we have great bead stores. But the one place I miss buying them was a store on…

NOB HILL--Bike touring partner Mike Moye attended yesterday's memorial for the homeless dead. Here is his email report and cellphone picture.

• ABQ apartment fire claims resident.
• The state's two nuclear labs are poised to lose one-fifth of their workforces over the next decade. Cuts come as President Bush…

Here is a link to an article in the NY Times about buying handmade. I received it in an email from the Handmade Consortium, the group that started the Handmade Pledge for this holiday season. If you are interested in taking the Handmade pledge (not just for the Holiday season after all), click HERE to go to the Buy Handmade website.…

MOUNTAIN RD. & 1ST ST. NW--Two days ago the woman known as Cherokee came walking up Central Ave. It was early Sunday morning. She was dressed as she usually is...with dirty blankets wrapped around her, black boots, and bare legs. She crossed the street and headed towards the newspaper boxes in front of the…

• Layoffs at Sandia, Los Alamos national labs could be less severe than was once projected.
  
  
• Meanwhile, LANL settles with National Nuclear Security Administration for $2.8 million, accepting responsibility for recent security problems.
• Not only is N.M. working toward tougher auto emission standards,…

So, it was suggested by a post in my last blog that I write a blog about Asshole Neighbors, I guess I should just breakdown and write a whole series on these, which I am more than likely to do. When the suggestion was made, I didn't really have any grips or complaints about my neighbors, they all seem like really nice people for the most part, although, the neighbors to the north of me think my roommate and I are gay, while the ones to the South of me think I have a small family, I guess…

• El Vado woman found dead in home. Investigators looking at exposure, saying power supplier could have cut off electricity.
• One of those yarns about illicit-drugs-in-food goes no where.
• Intersections of Death band-aid…

I must thank Susan for the invite. This is a nice place you all have here. I have posted photos through Flickr to a group for Duke City Fix, but I had not been here, that I remember. Although, I have slept since then!

So... let the exploration begin! I'm still figuring out the customization options, but it's coming along. I figure even though I do have another blog elsewhere ( Paula's Butterfly Mind ), that I started back in 2005, I really…

I have traveled far this Holiday…

A paper bag with a little sand at the bottom, then add a votive candle.

Place outside and light on Christmas Eve.

For one Christmas Evening of Simple Beauty.…