Friday 12/4

Friday 12-4 8am

Today is the end of my 3-month trial period. I've taken the test ("module" 1); if I pass, I'll get keys and alarm codes etc and will be able to open and close for real. Guess I'll stay with the company and see how it goes. Looks my Kenn wants my schedule will be two long days, Mon & Tue at 8.5 hrs with a 1/2-hr break, for 16 hrs. Then I'll have five days off. I can handle that.

I'm actually eager to stay in this area a while (not southern NM but Alamogordo). I want to go to Ruidoso and check it out, and the Mescalero Apache reservation, and the racetrack etc etc. And the Three Rivers Petroglyphs Rec. Area is only about 30 miles away, but no paved roads so will have to walk around. Then there's the Valley of Fires State Park, a 1500-yr-old lava flow 4-6 miles wide and 44 miles long. Of course, White Sands Natl Monument is just 15 miles south of Alamogordo, 275 sq. miles of moving gypsum dunes.

Those mountains on the northern edge of town are the Sacramentos and up in them is the Natl Solar Observatory, in the Lincoln Natl Forest. Cloudcroft is a village up in the mtns at 9000 ft with the worlds 2nd highest golf course at 9200 ft. I probably won't try to get up there until spring, not with my little 4-banger. I think the highest I've been in my rig is that pass the other day at 5700 ft.

It's kind of fun looking at maps and seeing names out of Louis L'amour books (whose research was impeccable). The Malpais. Chaves Canyon. Hondo. There's also a Billy the Kid Casino, and a Billy the Kid Natl Scenic Byway.

It did snow last night, starting about 5pm, and we got a couple of inches. However, it's now 9am and the sun is out and most of the clouds are gone. However, it's still really cold; my little heater has managed to get the interior up to 58 deg. The floor is cold but I do have a rug in front of the couch, so that helps. I'm going to get plastic up on the kitchen window and two of the vents today, and that will help, too. But it'll be warmer tomorrow so I'll take myself out for a spin.

Didn't go out today at all so will feed the cats again tomorrow morning.