Albuquerque, How I Love You!!!

Well Folks...

I apologize for it being quite awhile since my last post! This has been due in large part to major computer malfunctions, storms, Wi-Fi in hotels that should have worked but were not working and then the fact that some days I did not have time to rest and couldn't find a place to sit down and write! Ok, excuses, excuses, what can I say!? But that's what happened! Anyways...

After rolling into Albuquerque, I was able to connect with fellow Brother Jessica Mc Queston who is finishing up her studies at the University of New Mexico. We met up at the University where I toured around a bit by myself and got to see some of the main campus areas! Beautiful place, very large and very spread out but the Architecture was cool and the Student Union Building or S.U.B. was really nice and high tech as well! This was where I first got to taste MAGNIFICENTNESS that is SONIC!!! I've always seen commercials for this food chain in the Northwest but couldn't ever find any of them around until I was told that recently they have opened a few down in Southern Washington state! The drinks are amazing, the food is pretty good and might I say a much needed and welcomed change from the likes of McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, etc!!! ;)

After chowing on some good grub, we set off for Old Town, Albuquerque, where there were a ton of little shops in buildings from yester-year! We shopped around and Jess told me stories about t area including ghosts, etc and had a blast! After that we headed back to her and her roomate, Stacey's place in a suburb outside of Albuquerque called Rancho Rio, I believe!

From there it was on to some dinner and drinks with several members of the UNM Chapter of AKPSI before heading out on the town in some professional "duds" to do Albquerque right! My tour guides/beautiful ladies showed me the town, taking me to one club with a beautiful open upstairs where we sampled some fine liquer. The next evening there apparently was to be a Playboy Playmate's birthday there! Next we walked along a strip of local establishments and shops giving me a taste of the area before heading into downtown, downtown and the club scene!

We hit up several clubs there. One, Maloney's reminded me of that old bar from "CHEERS" but this was more of a HIGH CLASS sports bar kind of establishment! Then we hit Club "RAW" where the ladies escorting me for the evening, knew the bartender there! We pretty much danced the night away before hitting a late night food joint for some grease and then came home and relaxed and stayed up way too late talking about life and all things Albuquerque and AKPSI!

After this particular evening, we were all a little exhausted so we went to a fantastic authentic Mexican restaurant where I had a "Christmas Tree" burrito with all of the fixings! I had never heard of ordering this particular plate as a "Christmas Tree" but trusted my new friends and their judgement! In the end, they were right it was amazing! This type of meal basically meant the combination of red and green chile on your burrito and though it can often times be quite hot, this was just right and I still salivate thinking about that meal, today!!!

After some more severe nappage and chill-axing, we decided to meet up with some of my "temporary" roomates friends at Papdeaux's which is another amazing upscale restaurant chain here in the south! I had a sample platter of everything seafood you can eat fried-up in one ridiculous caloric intake that will come back to haunt me later but was rather tasty overall! As soon as dinner was done, Jess and I separated from the others and she took me on a tour of the Sandia Mountains where they have a Tramway that takes you thousands of feet up to the top of the mountains where they have restaurants and shops and amazing views of the city! It was here that I decided to "FLASH" Albuquerque and show them what the Mack is all about! Funny picture in my Facebook pics section if anyone is interested! Like I say in the comments though, I could "Professionally" cut glass for about a half hour afterwards, but it was well worth it! We did the trip up while the sun was setting which was amazing and it was about 20 degrees cooler at the top! I actually saw my first snow since the day I left Redmond, WA! It was beautiful! Don't get me wrong I love the snow but not when it occurs in a state like WA where no one knows how to handle it or drive in it! The simple fact that I would hear that it snowed again on the first day of April about a week and a half after this postings activities in WA makes me oh-so appreciative that I left when I did! Despite the recent storms in Texas which you will hear about in later posts, it has been ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S. down here!

Well after a weekend of amazing times, and meeting local brothers it was off to Roswell to see some UFO's and the Carlsbad Caverns to dwell in some caves and knock a few more activities off my Bucket List!!! Big Props and Much Professional Luv to my Brother Jess and Roomate Stacey for their kindness and hospitality! I came away LOVING New Mexico and will definitely consider it in all future Nationwide job searches!!! There will DEFINITELY be a Return Of The Mack!!! ; )