Bye bye Bowlin

Am now safely ensconced in Gabi's driveway in Albuquerque. Left the Bowlin store about 11am yesterday, in the teeth of 25mph winds with gusts to 40 -- I didn't care, I was gone. Went up to Carrizozo, turned left on Hwy 380 and went to the Valley of Fires, a huge lava flow. Held my interest for about an hour. Went on to I-25 intersection. At that point, I needed gas and Socorro was 8 miles north, or I could chance it and go straight into the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. I went for the gas. Then I thought about backtracking but was now fully in "driving" mode so went on and arrived at a Walmart about 6.30.

Got a roast chicken and ate about a third of it with some potato chips. Fell into bed about 8pm. Got up at 4am -- cold cold, about 40 deg. inside -- went back to bed about 5am and dozed until about 6.30. Went into WM and into MacDonald's (first time in about 30 years) and had a coffee and an egg mcmuffin. Later went to a Barnes & Noble as my crossword puzzle book is nearly finished. Got a new 300-puzzle book.

Wasn't due at Gabi's until about 1.30 so decided to go ride the tram up the mountain and take some panorama pictures. But -- it was down for maintenance all this week. I had seen Page One Books, both new and used, so wound up there. Found a couple of goodies for B.

My new printer has arrived here and I'm hoping to get Greg to help me get it set up. Then I can print out the forms, fill them out, and mail them off. And hope I get the job.

Gabi's busy with a play she's directed which opens this weekend, so tonight she's off for the preview performance.

I have wifi in my rig!!! It's so nice to sit on my couch and do stuff instead of having to drive to a cafe, which I've had to do since last August.

RIP Wilma Mankiller, principal chief of the Eastern Cherokee.