Fun With Friends

This was an interesting day on several fronts. This morning I could hear people shouting - actually sort of a rhythmic chant but I couldn't make out what it was. For a minute I thought that the Hari Krishnas had found me again after all these years. But no, it was a labor dispute at the building being renovated across the street. There was about forty people marching and carrying signs and shouting out a cadence with various slogans. The local nit-witness news people were there so they marched pretty tall and shouted pretty loud. I had to run an errand and came back at 11:00 and it was all over...they were dispersing to wherever they go and the news truck was gone. Later in the day, about 5:00, I got back from my daily rounds of apartment hunting and there was another scene, about a half-block away of some guy trying to get in his car and he was surrounded by a swarm of paparazzi and news guys taking his picture and pictures of people in the car.  I have no idea who the guy was but I can see why some of those paparazzi guys get punched. This was happening outside a local highway patrol substation office but with no cops in attendance. I'm probably in the background of both news stories tonight.

Today I continued my quest for the perfect apartment. My head is spinning and I can''t keep it all straight. I did see some...both yesterday and today...that would be fine for a short while.

A couple places I visited were "Adult Only" apartments. I thought I knew what that was. The first one looked nice and there were two old guys sitting out in front of the leasing office conversing in Spanish. It is still a novelty to me to see folks speaking Spanish around town and sometimes I can figure out some of what is being said. They also drift back and forth between English and Spanish without any effort - sometimes in a single sentence. Turns out that I was too rich to qualify for that apartment complex. They referred me to another place. When I found that place I was a little taken aback because it was an "over 55" apartment complex...not just adults. When I opened the heavy doors and went in there was a pronounced smell of pine sol and two ancient guys sitting on a couch greeting folks as they came in. Of course the leasing office was not open (what was I thinking?) but was due to reopen in about five minutes. I took a seat on a second couch and tried to look inconspicuous.  Several folks staggered by on walkers or rolling contraptions and a then couple wheel chairs went by. I was getting more and more concerned by the minute. Finally a couple came by who were ambulatory and seemed to be reasonably healthy. Everyone had something to say to the guys on the other couch and then turned to speak to me only to realize they didn't know me from Adam (mucho awkward). The leasing office reopened just as I was getting ready to make a break for the parking lot. I got a nickel tour of the place and saw an apartment. It has all interior corridors with apartments opening off the hallway. They explained that all doors were locked and that I would be safe inside so long as no one let any bad guys in. I personally couldn't get out fast enough...my joints were starting to freeze up.

I had lunch at the brewery-slash-bistro in Corrales. I've been there a couple times before. Seems like I keep going back to my usual places on this trip. This time I visited with a guy named Steve who is a few years older than me. He was sitting at the bar drinking a white wine and eating his lunch. I ordered a beer and a Mediterranean wrap. Turns out that Steve was born in Mexico Missouri and spent many years in Columbia. He gave me a short family tree overview and it turns out he was going to school at Kirksville the same time Joie was there. He couldn't remember her. We had a pleasant visit while we ate our lunch. He gave me a few tips on apartments and neighborhoods.

Bro. George, Donna, Karia & Me

All this time, today, Karia and Donna had been driving to Albuquerque from Phoenix. We made contact by phone and planned to have supper in the evening. Donna and Karia were staying at a Franciscan guest house where Brother George, one of Karia's friends lives. We met at one restaurant only to find that it went out of business so we went to another Mexican restaurant and were joined by Eileen, another of Karia's friends. Karia, George and Eileen have a long common history of verious religious projects in New Mexico and Arizona. We had a good meal with lots of conversation. This was the first time Donna, Karia and I have been together since the wedding in Bra (Oksana and Damiano) so several Italy stories were shared.

After supper Donna and I went top a Flying Star cafe and spent some time talking and then we managed to find the way to get her back to the Franciscan guest house.

Today was a good day seeing friends and tomorrow I'll get to visit with my builder for a while to talk about house plans.