My Triumphant Arrival in Albuquerque

RANT:  It was cloudy and threatening rain again this morning.  Still cool -- about 64 degrees. I stayed at my usual Econolodge in Tucumcari. I have made this trip so many times the motels seem to be  blur. I've been here before and decided I wouldn't stay here again....but I forgot.  Last time it was run by an (east) Indian family who ate curry three times a day so the place had a certain smell.  When I checked in this time, it was somebody different...maybe Palestinian or Syrian...anyway, the smell was different.  I went to my room and decided to open the window but the window fell into the room when I tried to slide it up. I put that back together and turned on the AC even though it was pretty cool outside.

I stopped off on my way back to the motel after supper and got some snacks so I could park in front of the TV and watch baseball's All Star game.  Well, guess what....the motel doesn't get that channel on it's subscribed stations. Bummer....so there I was with my snacks and nothing to watch....nothing that I wanted to watch.  So I drank my wine and ate my Pringles and went to bed.

Morning arrived so I went down to get my free breakfast. Not good. I wound up at McDonald's. So...I need to remember not to stay at the Tucumcari Econolodge. (I'm writing this so I remember.)  END OF RANT

The drive to Albuquerque is only 2 1/2 hours so I took my time. I stopped off at the Cline's Corners for some gas and to look over the fine selection of southwestern decor they stock there for tourists. I was tempted but passed up some great stuff.

It was sunny when I got to Albuquerque before noon and, of course, my room was not ready at the motel. I headed up to my favorite brewpub and had a beer and a brat and watched the first half of a soccer game. I drove up to Bernalillo and stopped off at the bank I'll be using to see what I need to do to change from my local Jefferson City bank. Apparently, nothing other than put in a change of address. They are both branches of the same bank (US Bank) so no big deal.

I drove past the house on my way back to the motel and it is still there. We have some ongoing confusion about the well. The well is fine but the pressure tank is borderline. It's a long story but the lender can't finalize the loan without a new pressure tank. The sellers agreed to replace the tank but it is taking a while and the lender needs a written report before we can close. So maybe we close on Friday and maybe we don't.

The sellers have moved to Georgia and the house is vacant. They gave me access today so I unloaded the car.  I met my nearest neighbor. His name is Rod and he has been taking care of the fish twice a day.  Apparently, I have about 40 fish in my pond and they need to be tended to every morning and evening. WHAT???  Holy Crap! They are having babies in the pond and the population is growing.  I have dependents I hadn't planned on. This is in addition to the chipmunks, hummingbirds and quail.  This is going to be like the scene in Disney's Cinderella when the critters are all singing and dancing. Watson will have a conniption.

Rod is great...I'm going to like him. He knows the neighborhood and also knows my house. He can tell me where the switches are and what the access code for the garage door. He was hoping I play golf...but no, I don't.  He can play bocce. He pointed out that we have a "friendly gate" between our two yards. He is also watching the house on the other side where the people are away for a month.

The landscaping looks good. We've been getting rain so stuff that is usually brown is very green. I have sweeping patches of blooming Russian Sage around the fish pond. There is something blooming that looks like Four-o-clocks.  It is all bushier than what I remembered. Most of it is native plants.

The house is almost spotless. The sellers cleaned up everything and left me a three-ring binder with all sorts of information.  I don't have any new pictures today. I'll take some tomorrow.

I'm back in my usual motel here while I'm waiting for closing. I complained the last two times I stayed here so they know me by sight and know my name and make sure I have what I complained about. I have pots and I have a chair. I hold them to a higher standard than the old Econolodge. It is an extended stay motel and people are trying to live here for long periods...months, sometimes. Just call me the Squeaky Wheel. They even gave me some free coffee packets....anything to shut me up.