Jumping Frogs, Part 4 (Albuquerque)

The nephew and niece had to go to drama camp and swimming lesson, respectively. K recommended Skip Maisel's if I wanted any artsy stuff, plus I had some errands to do after five six days camping and riding. Off I went. Put sixty miles on the bike just riding around Albuquerque. A wonderful Starbuck's in Nob Hill district which has a beautifully apportioned and shaded patio so sat there in the shade drinking coffee, reading my book, and watching the traffic and pedestrians.

Let's see. Over two days:

Bought new cowboy boots (my feet are getting wider as I age and my old ones are hard to pull off at the end of the day). Ended up getting virtually identical boots at Hillson's Western Wear. Justins, because I love my old ones, just in a wider size. Could have got boots at home, but there aren't a lot of boot stores up where I live so the selection isn't quite as good. Plus it just seemed right to buy cowboy boots in New Mexico.

Bought K&N air filter cleaner and helped Kristy do a little maintenance to her BMW. Mostly just cleaned the air filter, topped up the power steering fluid (the light went off, yay!), and recommended Jiffy Lube for an oil change.

Bought a mug at Starbuck's, a couple t-shirts at the HD dealer.

Made tacos Wednesday night and took the family out to dinner Thursday at a pizza place they like. Unfortunately my rising star brother was in Nebraska for work (sorry, Geoff, not only missing my visit but having to go to Nebraska) but I didn't get the word til after I had left. (I didn't actually plan ahead with the family, just assumed they would be home since they just had a vacation. :) )

Speaking of my brother, it finally paid off being his older sibling. Went to Skip Maisel's Indian Jewelry and Craft shop and introduced myself as Geoff Armerding's brother, he from the Hyatt. Not only were they super helpful and nice, but they gave me his discount which, it turns out, was substantial enough that I was able to buy myself some things that I otherwise would never have considered due to price. Thanks Geoff. Really cool shop if you get to Albuquerque. Opened in 1937 by his grandfather, Morris Maisel, they used to have hundreds of Native American craftsmen working on the premises. Closed in the '60s after Morris died, Skip reopened in 1980 and has been running it ever since. I highly recommend you go and make sure you mention that Geoff Armerding sent you. You won't get the family discount (unless you are family, of course) but it helps out Geoff.

The touristy highlight of the visit (other than authentic native american art) was The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Didn't even know there was one (although don't know why I wouldn't have, there's a museum for everything else) but just happened to see a sign on I-40 as I rode downtown so stopped and visited. Having a bit of a background I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bought a t-shirt, a placemat to be framed and hung in my classroom (picture to follow as it got shipped home and won't be here til later this week), and an awesome tie to amaze and astound my students as they contemplate how really cool I am.

The museum, other than the gift shop, was interesting. Nothing much I didn't know but it was well laid out and had some good exhibits, including a whole section on nuclear related pop culture. Comics, games, protest posters and t-shirts, etc. The section on radiation, radioactivity, and how nuclear power works was informative and there was a section on history of nuclear power plants (including a reactor I worked on over at the Idaho National Engineering Labs (all gone now)), and future prospects. The only really disappointing part was the big thing about global warming, which really had nothing to do with nuclear science and technology and was pretty politically correct as far as its stated assumptions. I did not know that there was a nuclear powered passenger/cargo ship at one point called the Savannah. Operated for about ten years, mostly as a showcase for nuclear power.