New Home?

In case you didn't know, Torben may actually acquire a place where he can put some roots down and a backyard to call his own. Things are progressing, and recently Torben was contemplating the cost /benefit analysis of such a purchase. In a true Zen moment, he was ruminating on this in the company of some cherry trees while munching an apple. He wasn't happy about being bothered.

Torben Misses Judy's glasses

Torben has always had a fascination with glasses, especially Judy's. Pretty much from day 1 they were entertaining to him - but - no matter how much he tried he could never make glasses a source of food. Torben's getting older now, and he graduating to wearing glasses instead of eating them.

Did I mention train fanatic?

So Torben bought a box of toys from a rummage sale, 5$ for a bin of little cars, trains and farm animals. Whats the first thing he did with them? Line them up into a train of course. Ta Daaa!

Trains, there everywhere!

In case you didn't know, Torben is a train fanatic. Luckily, there are oodles of train opportunities here in ABQ (that's short for, wait for it, Albuquerque). There is a zoo train, a train which takes you between the zoo and botanical garden and a garden in train in the garden, a real triple threat. A typical outing for us: Step 1 - walk to zoo at 9am see some animals and wait for first Rio Line train (train departs 10:15. Step 2 - Ride the Rio Line to the botanical garden (putting hands in the air to hold up the two tunnels on this route - and KEEP YOUR ARMS AND HEAD INSIDE THE TRAIN AT ALL TIMES TORBEN, how many times do I....). Step 3 - Run to garden train, talk about the worker guys who fix the trains and the little ladder leading up to the house for the Keebler elves). Step 4 - Press every button which operates the three trains on the three separate mini loops. Step 5 - Return to zoo on Rio Line while enjoying a nice tasty snack. Step 5 - Walk home, crash for four hour nap.

Albuquerque First Impressions

Well, we have been in Albuquerque for little over a month at this point. So far we have found that this city is very much like the cactus pictured above. The city at first seems a little plain and a little prickly, but it possesses a hidden beauty which emerges once you really start to look. We have discovered the city has a wonderful zoo, aquarium, botanical park, several trains of varying size and disposition, weekend farmer's markets, many quaint places to eat, several brewpubs, parks galore, and more! The people here seem to be generally warm and friendly. They call this the land of enchantment, we are feeling the attraction and are slowly falling for the place.