And now...

Welcome to New Mexico!!!
(and I mean it...come visit us!)

So, I copied my friend April and took a few pictures during my run yesterday which I will be posting below so you can see what it looks like here. I'd also like to share a few things I've noticed about New Mexico (Albuquerque) and the people who live here...differences, if you will, that I have noticed from growing up in Utah.

#1) EVERYONE has dogs. Oh, you think people have dogs in Utah? No, you're WRONG...There are WAY WAY more dogs here and their owners walk them religiously...on a leash and pick up the poop! Now I can handle that! When I go out to run in the mornings, I see people everywhere walking their dog(s). Yes, I have seen up to 4 dogs with ONE person. Is that even allowed? I have this secret fear of dogs I see running around free and not on a leash. I'm scared that a dog will run up and attack me and bite my ankles causing damage preventing me from ever running again. It's a total phobia, I tell ya! But I can rest easy here because I have yet to see one unleashed.

#2) In addition to all the dogs being waked, I've noticed that the HUMANS here are really quite out doorsy and active. In so much more of a way than the people in Utah are. When I say that I mean, that MUCH more of the population than I ever noticed in Utah spend time actively doing something outside. For example: There is this place called the Academy. It's this HUGE square block of property (3.34 miles all the way around to be exact. Yes, I clocked it, thanks to the GPS watch) that is owned by a private school. The school actually takes up a very very very small corner of all this property. They have fenced it off but allow anyone to use the land. Don't be fooled, we're in New Mexico people, there is no GRASS there, it's all natural...but there are trails that go all over this way and that and then a gravel trail that actually goes all the way around the outside of the fence. Gary and I have ran there a few times and no kidding, there are always at least 75 other people there walking, running, biking, etc. around too! It's crazy!

#3) The people here are friendly. On my runs in Provo, I made it a point to say "Good Morning" to EVERY SINGLE PERSON I passed. It was a little game I'd play with myself and I'd guess the average of how many people would actually respond back...well, let's just say that very few would actually say Hi back and NO ONE would ever say Hi first...yes, I tried that too. Strange eh? Well, I pass way more people when I run here (see #2 as to why) so I have more opportunity and HONESTLY, I get 100% responses and a lot of these friendly people even manage to say Hi before I do! :)

#4) I just noticed that all three of the points mentioned above have to do with things I've noticed while I've been out running. I need to get out more.

I'm sure there will be more in other posts but right now I'm excited to show you my pictures...

This is by far my most favorite run I've discovered since being here. There are trails just like this EVERYWHERE, it's so cool! Now, don't get me wrong, it's no Provo river trail...the water and shade (trees) are desperately missing, but I'm getting over it...slowly. Brown eh? Big shocker to me too.

I run on this trail for about a mile and then through a little bit of residential to get to another trail that takes me back home. I thought I'd take a few pictures of the houses I ran by to show you what the yards and houses look like here. If you can't quite make it out (I know, it all sort of blends together in some sort of BROWN-NESS), it's brown rocks, brown gravel, and brown bushes, and a brown house...with a FEW green plants. There are actually very strict laws here in Albuquerque that let you have only a certain percentage of your property as grass. Of course, if I had to choose, the grass would be in the backyard, which is probably what these people (and the entire city) did. It is pretty in it's own brown sort of way though. I actually kind of like it. Definitely LOW maintenance, true?

Here are a couple pictures of the homes. I have to honestly admit, I LOVE them! They just fit here...and I can't wait to buy one someday!

And then, JUST as I'm about finished with my 'residential' route and about to hit another trail, I see THIS....How lucky am I?! I honestly NEVER thought I'd EVER live closer to a Temple than I did in Provo, well...I was wrong! This beauty is less than TWO miles away and actually even resides on the very same street as I! So, it's always a highlight and worth the small part of residential running, to be able to run by this in the mornings.

And then, after I get home from my run, I eat this. I know I've posted about Autumn Wheat before, but I just wanted to let you all know, it's still yummy...and SO delicious when you top if off with from fresh fruit! And SO totally healthy for a quick breakfast after a good sweaty run! Then I change my clothing...and go HERE...yes, EVERY DAY thankyouverymuch. OK, I need a job. And here is the cozy place...
More cozy kitchen...just LOVIN those cabinets, aren't you? We actually really like our apartment. It's in a really great area and our ward is devine!
Sticking along with the theme of #2 above, there are tons of camping, hikes and walking paths etc. around here. Last weekend we hiked with a bunch of people from Gary's work up to a place called Tent Peaks. It reminded me a lot of Lake Powell (without the water, of course) There were these slot canyons you had to crawl through. I kept reminding myself that we're in MONSOON season, one big rain fall and we're all swimming for our lives! :) It was really a lot of fun...

Now you see why it's called Tent Peaks eh? There were these cool rock formations ALL over the place. So, the slot canyons were created by water (I guess) and the tent peaks high in the air were created by wind...I'm going to have to research this a little further.As you may or may not know, there are quite a few Indian reservations surrounding Albuquerque. We drove through this town on our way back to Albuquerque from hiking and EVERY single house had these outdoor stone ovens in their back yards I'm pretty sure this was a Navajo community. (Sorry, the picture is not so good, I took from the car as we were driving by) They use these ovens to cook their bread in. Cool eh? I'm thinking I need to get my hands on some of this bread one of these days.
One of Gary's FAVORITE things about New Mexico is the "New Mexican" food. This is different from the regular delicious Mexican food we're all used to. If you look closely, you can see the RED and the GREEN Chili Sauce on this plate. This is NOT like the sauce you get at other Mexican places, I've never had it before in my life, but it's yummy...and totally worth a visit to the Fears residence in Albuquerque (Hint Hint). Everywhere you go, they will ALWAYS ask you if you'd like 'red or green' Gary's answer is: Both and mine is: Green.And, the BEST part about living in Albuquerque is:

Some of you know I'm a bit obsessed with checking out cooking/recipe blogs. MANY of them have all talked about Trader Joe's and I've just had this burning desire to visit one but there is not one in Utah. Well, you can imagine the JOY that filled my bosom when I spotted this baby on a drive not two miles from our home. Needless to say, I've been there a few times this week and will definitely be posting another post dedicated to this this store alone!:)

We love and miss you all! I'm jealous you all got Pioneer Day off...It was another day at the pool for me and a day at work for Gary! :)