An unfortunate marquee (only in New Mexico...)

Magic Juggler on Duke City Fix shared this photo, and I just had to share. This is the McDonald's sign at a location here in Albuquerque.




Read his account of what happened when he brought it to the staff's attention here. All I can say is "wow!"

I've been tagged!

Jamie Poore tagged me, so here goes!

1. 8 TV shows I watch: How I Met Your Mother; Grey's Anatomy; Iron Chef America; the Simpsons; The Big Bang Theory; Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives; Paula's Best Dishes; Samantha Brown

2. 8 favorite restaurants: Sadie's, Rudy's BBQ, Tucanos, Weck's (all in Albuquerque); El Charro Cafe, Pat's Drive-In, La Parrilla Suiza, Caruso's (all in Tucson)

3. 8 things that happened today: My alarm went off. I put on a blue argyle sweater. I drove to work in the dark. I ate yogurt for breakfast. I drank decaf chai tea, which I kept hot at my desk with a sweet little gadget that Aaron got me for Christmas. I processed a few news releases. The president of Somalia resigned. An underground explosion knocked out the power in downtown Savannah, Georgia.

4. 8 things I look forward to: Aaron and I being finished with grad school; getting a playmate for Max; owning a home (with a fireplace!); being able to entertain more often; traveling the world with Aaron; spending more time with friends and family; becoming a more confident skier; growing closer to Jesus

5. 8 things I wish for: more patience; more time; to be a better cook; coordination/athletic ability; world peace; salvation for those who don't yet know Christ; to be able to eat whatever I want without gaining weight; a self-cleaning house

I tag:
Candice Barnard
April Barreiro
Greg & Shannon Qualls
Jamie Armer
Cheryl Samaha

Just copy my post, erase my answers and fill in your own. I'm looking forward to learning more about you!

Warm & Cozy

Max: Livin' the good life!

O Holy Night

I learned the Christmas story as a small child, and up until a few years ago I was experiencing it backwards, as John Frye so well puts it. I'd been focusing so much on the end of the story-- Jesus having died on a cross for our sins-- that I was missing the incredibility and awe of its beginning: God, the Creator of everything, having chosen to come into the world and dwell among us. I was celebrating Easter at Christmas.

As God continues to grow my understanding of the miracle of Christmas, the holiday song that has been my favorite for years -- O Holy Night -- has become more of a worship song to me than just a traditional carol. It is my prayer that we will all continue to be amazed, year after year, by the momentous event that was Christmas -- that we will always take the time, in the middle of the busiest season of the year, to fall on our knees and praise our Creator for joining us here on Earth over two thousand years ago.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
*Recommended reading this season: Mangerology: Jesus' First Bed (John Frye)

Dreaming of a White Christmas in Albuquerque

Yesterday, here in Albuquerque, we experienced light snowfall throughout most of the day. (The official precip. was 0.17".) It was beautiful! This afternoon, we're expecting more. While I'm thankful for the winter weather we're having now, I also remain hopeful that we will be blessed with a white Christmas this year. My family, who lives in Arizona, does not get to enjoy snow, and it would make their visit to Albuquerque even more special and festive. There is nothing quite like the sight of snow-covered trees.

Apparently, the probability of snow on Christmas is slim, but there is a chance -- and I believe in miracles! Click here to read an interesting report from the National Weather Service on our chances for a white Christmas in Albuquerque, and please join me in keeping your fingers crossed. ;-)

In Loving Memory of Casper

I intended to write my next blog post about the canine bundle of joy that joined our family on Saturday, and despite really tough circumstances, I am still going to do so. So, here goes-- the story from beginning to end.

Aaron and I searched far and wide for the right dog to join our family. We spent hours scouring craigslist, rescue organization Web sites, and shelters. We typed, we clicked, we emailed, we called. We visited Animal Humane, three different shelters, and an adoption fair.

On Saturday, our search ended. While I toiled away on finance homework, Aaron went back to the adoption fair we had visited together the day before, in case more dogs would be there. That is where he found Casper, who would not live long enough to hear his name spoken aloud.

Casper was a soft, cream-colored puppy with big brown eyes who loved to cuddle just as much as he loved to play. Aaron was told that he'd been a stray in Gallup before living at the shelter there. Shelter staff guessed he was about four months old and initially called him a golden retriever mix, though we suspected he was probably more like a blonde lab/white German shepherd mix. He was 15 1/2 lbs. the day Aaron brought him home-- the perfect size to cuddle in my lap while I sat cross-legged on the floor.

On Sunday, we went shopping for Casper. We got him his own food bowl and some chew toys to help him cope with teething. We also made a leash coupler so that we could walk both him and Max together. Max's first collar fit Casper perfectly, and when we hooked the two of them up together, they looked adorable walking/running alongside each other, with Max showing Casper how it was done. And speaking of togetherness, Max and Casper bonded quickly. When I gave Max a bone that I had stuffed with peanut butter at both ends, he shared; Casper licked one end of the bone while Max licked at the other. Casper loved to climb in Max's bed, and they even started to cuddle a little bit. I just wish I had taken more pictures.

The entire time, Casper did not have a name. Aaron and I just couldn't seem to agree on one that fit his unique personality. In the meantime, he was called "Little One," "Little Dude," and "Little Guy" -- because boy did he seem little next to 84-lb. Max.

As we started to fall in love with Little One, we also grew concerned. He had diarrhea and not much of an appetite. However, he would still drink lots of water, play with Max, cuddle and run clumsily up and down the stairs (which he seemed to love doing!) as though nothing was wrong. Nonetheless, we resolved to take him to the vet on Monday -- both to make sure he didn't have a disease and also to check an odd lump we found behind his front leg.

This morning (Monday), I could tell that Little One was not doing very well. He looked like he had lost weight, and he seemed tired. After I left for work, Aaron told me that Little One was spitting up any water he would drink. And now, he only weighed 12 lbs. I knew what was wrong, but I refused to believe it. While I was at work, I finally came up with a name for the puppy -- Casper (because of his white coloring & friendly nature). I guess I felt like finally giving him a name would give him something for which to live-- that it would mean he just had a minor disease that could be treated with antibiotics and would be ok. I didn't realize at the time how fitting the "ghost" part of the name would be.

While I was at home on my lunch break, Aaron called from the vet's office and, in a choked-up voice, confirmed my worst fear. Casper had severe parvo. We could pay $900 per day to hospitalize him, whereby he would be stuck with IVs and probably wouldn't survive anyway, or we could have him put to sleep and delivered from pain. It was a tough decision. Aaron had to bear the worst of the situation, delivering Casper to Animal Control wrapped in a blanket, just like a dead body.

Reflecting on what has happened through my tears, I am happy that we were able to give Casper love during his last few days on this earth and save him from some of the pain he may otherwise have experienced. In just two days, he brought us a great deal of joy, and he showed us that Max will make a great big brother someday to the next dog we bring into the family.

Max has been vaccinated against parvo, but please pray that he remains healthy, as a small chance of contraction still exists. (The incubation period is about three weeks.)

In loving memory of Casper,

Christina

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It's beginning to look, and feel, a lot like Christmas here in Albuquerque. It actually snowed today -- several times. (I'm constantly amazed by God's creativity; the beauty of snowflakes falling just puts me in awe of Him!) The radio in my car is permanently set to the local station that has chosen to play Christmas music nonstop, and I'm getting to pass by more and more beautiful light displays during my daily runs with Max. Our church, City on a Hill, has begun celebrating Advent, complete with symbolic lighting of candles and some Christmas carols thrown into the worship mix. Plus, I've even been able to watch a few cheesy Christmas specials/movies on tv. I LOVE it. If one could say that I'm obsessed with any time of year, it's this one. The only element that's missing is our own decorations. This weekend, Aaron will put up some lights, and we're going to get a tree. I can't wait for our house to smell of pine. Mmmm. This will be Max's first Christmas (well, technically, his second...he was born on Dec. 19), and I'm hosting my family this year, so it's just exciting all the way around.

What else is new? Let's see... Well, Max has finally acclimated to his dog house (no, that's not a new white marking on his forehead -- it's dirt/dust). In fact, he likes it so much that he chooses to be outside instead of inside the house with us sometimes. We were a little hurt but also relieved that, after all the work Aaron did, Max has finally realized it's warm and cozy in there.

The bok choy experiment that I mentioned was upcoming in a previous post ended up tasting ok, but I'm still working on perfecting the way I prepare it before I share anything to that end. I have, however, become obsessed with an unhealthy food -- pizza. Homemade pizza, that is. It's funny because I've never been much of a pizza eater; it's not something I usually crave.

However, inspired by our visit to Farquahrt's in Durango this summer, I searched for a whole wheat pizza crust recipe a few weeks ago. Per Aaron's suggestion, I have also made a cornmeal crust for a Mexican pizza. This is our favorite pizza so far:

It's topped with fresh basil, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, and a few other choice ingredients. It's even better with a small glass of shiraz. Great, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

And last but not least, Aaron and I have determined that all Max wants for Christmas is a friend with whom to play! Therefore, we are looking for a second dog to add to the family. We are trying to be patient and selective, so we're not sure if our family will grow before Christmas or not (it may take longer), but we will post pictures as soon as it happens!

I hope you're enjoying the holidays as much as I am and remembering the reason for season -- God having sent his one and only Son, Christ, to Earth to walk among us and save humanity from the punishment we deserve. How amazing is that?!

Aaron and Christina's Awesome Adventures... With Veggies

Part of developing a healthy lifestyle has involved incorporating more vegetables into my family's diet. Last night, we bravely went where we've never been before -- to turnip land. Yes, it's true -- last night's dinner came with a side of mashed turnips. I'm trying to cut down on the starches I cook, and I thought turnips might work well as an alternative to mashed potatoes. One cup of mashed turnips (before adding the butter and seasonings) has only about 50 calories and 12 grams of carbs (7 grams of net carbs when the fiber is factored in), plus two grams of protein. I don't know about the rest of you, but I definitely find that impressive. If you know me very well at all, you'll laugh at where I found the recipe.

Mashed Turnips -- from HillbillyHousewife.com*
2 large turnips
1 quart water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Smart Balance spread
1/8 cup milk
salt & pepper to taste

Cut off the tops of the turnips in a thin layer. Peel the turnips with a vegetable peeler. Don't bother cutting off the root end; instead, peel it clean with the vegetable peeler. Cut the turnips into medium sized chunks. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot on the stove. Add the salt and sugar. When the water boils, add the turnips. Boil for about 20 minutes, or until the turnips are tender. Drain well. Add the margarine and milk. Mash the turnips until smooth. Taste, and add salt and pepper as needed. Makes 2-3 servings.

*I modified the recipe slightly.

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So, you're probably wondering how the turnips turned out. Well, the taste kind of reminded me of boiled cabbage; Aaron said the turnips tasted like cauliflower to him. We were both able to finish our servings, and Aaron was agreeable when I asked if I should cook this again. I don't think it will be part of our regular rotation, but it's a good option to have when veggie boredom strikes.

My next veggie experiment? Bok choy. I will keep you posted.

What other unique veggies do you like to eat, and how do you prepare them? Inquiring minds want to know!

Grey's Anatomy Gossip

On Saturday, when I visited Lisa at the Blue Door Salon for a trim, the topic of the day was Grey's Anatomy. Despite my crazy-busy schedule, I always make sure to carve out an hour for Grey's every Thursday night (well, and also the CBS Monday night lineup -- I'm particularly hooked on How I Met Your Mother!). Anyway, I have been particularly frustrated with recent story developments surrounding Izzie's love life. I mean, just as Alex is finally starting to get his act together, Denny reappears?! WHY? The current Grey's gossip at my salon is that Izzie's recent encounters with Denny are symptoms of a brain tumor and that this is the show's way of allowing Katherine Heigl to gracefully exit in order to pursue more acting in movies. I guess that makes sense, and I would much rather that be the case than to watch the show take a strange sci-fi turn. I am not sure the show would be able to retain its slot in my weekly schedule if ghosts and such become a regular plot element. Another girl at the salon shared her prediction that Meredith will discover, through reading her mother's stacks of diaries, that the Chief is actually her father. I think that theory is pretty far-fetched, but the Grey's writers do have a way of always keeping us guessing, don't they? What direction do you think the story will take next?

The Lincoln Log cabin dog house is finished!

The day of the Doggie Dash & Dawdle, Aaron finished Max's dog house. It looks awesome -- just like a Lincoln log cabin. Now Aaron's talking about adding bells and whistles to it, like a heater and little red chimney. I think he just likes having a project going. ;-)

We did it!

Max & I finished our very first 5K yesterday -- and we didn't place last! Woohoo. Our official time was 33:10; we placed 112th. Yes, it's a pretty slow time, but considering the chaos and the huge hill we had to climb at the beginning of the course, we're pretty proud. I'm just happy we finished, and injury-free at that!

What I learned for next time:

(1) Don't wear black if it's a sunny day. (I don't know what I was thinking!)

(2) Don't stop at the water stations -- it's too time-consuming (especially with a very social dog by your side).

(3) Race etiquette is unique. (For example: Apparently, you don't have to throw your water cup in the trash can; it's not rude to drop it on the ground and keep running. Who knew?!)

Special thanks to my mom & mom-in-law for helping us raise $70 for AHANM. You're the best!

The Integrity of Our Voting System

This was too funny not to share. In all seriousness, though, I will be at the polls tomorrow, hoping that my vote really counts this election. I hope you'll cast your ballot, too, if you haven't already.

Happy Halloween!

Credit: Jeff Mackay / Copyright: sxc.hu/jnmontario

Happy Halloween! This evening should be beautiful in Albuquerque -- enjoy, and stay safe, everyone!

Also, I wanted to share with you some photos of pumpkins carved by my coworker Amanda Malherbe's hubby, Kimball. He's incredibly talented!

Oh, and for those of you who think Christians are (or should be) anti-Halloween, check out how a pastor approaches the holiday (http://www.jonathanbow.com/carry_the_light/2007/10/the-big-questio.html)-- I think it's a pretty cool idea and wish I would have read about it sooner so that I could steal a page out of his book. What a great way to get to know the neighbors. Maybe next year!

The leaves are changing...

... and I am so happy! I love the fall. Here in New Mexico, the trees are becoming bright with reds, oranges, and yellows, and the mornings are crisp. Recent evening sunsets have taken my breath away. Soon, trick-or-treaters decked out in adorable costumes will be ringing the doorbell, and before we know it, we'll be sharing the holidays with family and friends.

As graduate students, Aaron and I often talk about the future. We dream about what life will be like when we have both completed school and are not trying to juggle so many responsibilities. It seems so far away sometimes, and yet, as the leaves change, I'm realizing that this season of our lives will be over before we know it. I'm thankful to God for His creative design and for being our constant through times of change.

"Eternal God, unchanging

Mysterious and unknown

Your boundless love, unfailing

In grace and mercy shown...

Hallelujah -- Glory be to our great God!"

(Todd Agnew, "Our Great God")

^The tree beside our

driveway -- the leaves

look even more red in

person!

How stupid do they think we are??

Photo courtesy of Aaron

Wal-Mart Gets Involved in the Presidential Election

Today, I came across a news release announcing Wal-Mart's launch of a video-based "voter guide" through which Obama and McCain will be able to present their platforms to Wal-Mart shoppers and associates. Available on the company's Web site and advertised on its in-store television network, the video program was reportedly designed to "educate... customers and assocates about the upcoming election." Am I the only one who finds this-- I mean, private enterprise getting involved in politics in such a supposedly balanced fashion-- kind of weird? I have to wonder about Wal-Mart's motivation...

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Disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent my company's positions, strategies or opinions.

The Humorous Side of Obama (Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner)

Doggie Dash & Dawdle

Lately, Max and I have been gearing up for the Doggie Dash & Dawdle that will happen on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Balloon Fiesta Park. The event raises funds for the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico, which operates the shelter from which Max was adopted. We're really excited and hope you'll consider supporting us by making a donation to the cause. I've set up a Web site for your contributions that's quick, easy to use, and secure. Please check it out, and thank you in advance for your anticipated generosity!

Top 5 Reasons to Vote

1. Because you can.
2. You'll get to sport a cheesy "I Voted" sticker the entire day.
3. You might get to escape the office for a few minutes to hit the polls.
4. You'll actually have a right to whine when you're bugged by what's happening in Washington.
5. You get to cancel out someone else's vote.

As of yesterday, my husband and I are official-- we have the cards and everything. If you live in New Mexico, just recently registered, and are wondering where your card is, don't despair. It took us about a month to receive ours. Remember, this is the land of mañana.

Doghouse Construction Update

Last week, I shared photos of Aaron's latest project, building an awesome doghouse for our spoiled puppy Max. He's made a great deal of progress since then; I think it's really starting to look like a Lincoln Log cabin. Just wait until we get the green roof on! Check out the photos from the build:

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Even the bottom is insulated!

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The Great Quilt Giveaway

Lizzy Anne is giving away a beautiful, one-of-a-kind quilt that is perfect for Fall. Enter to win by clicking the icon below. The contest ends this Friday, Oct. 17. Good luck!

Aaron's Latest Project

A couple of weeks ago:

Framing

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Last night:

The roof is on!

(Looks like Max will have plenty of

room to share with a brother/sister.)

Attention all dog lovers-- check this out!

Because Max is such a lovable puppy, or maybe because we don't have any kiddos yet, Aaron and I spoil him to no end. First, there were those spontaneous trips to PetSmart after work to bring home new toys, which seem destined for destruction within minutes of crossing our threshold; then, the purchase of an elevated Coolaroo dog bed to keep Max cool outside; and finally, construction of a doggie cabana complete with Max-sized stairs. We've put Max up at the local Canine Country Club and enrolled him in doggie daycare, which even included a report card telling us how social he was and that he was the teacher's pet. We took him on vacation with us to Colorado Springs. I wish I could say our indulgence ended there, but it hasn't. Aaron spent hours searching the Web for the perfect dog bed for Max, at a price we could afford-- he finally settled on this one, which arrived yesterday. (Max slept so soundly that we didn't even hear him stir all night.) And currently, Aaron is building an awesome doghouse for the little guy, which should resemble a Lincoln Log cabin when complete (pictures to come). He has even insulated it!

So, I was thrilled when my friend Amanda decided to pour all her energy into her growing business, which focuses on pampering dogs. Amanda is so inspiring; she was brave enough to leave her day (err, night... she did work the night shift, after all, haha) job to go out on a limb and pursue a passion. And guess what?! Her business is seriously taking off. Amanda's company, Mimi Green, sells stylish handmade dog collars and leashes, plus other great dog accessories like yummy-looking treats and doggie wash. I can't wait to surprise Max with some fabulous goodies this Christmas-- that is, if I can wait that long! If you love your dog as much as I do, stop by Mimi Green and see how you can reward him/her next.

Current State of Our Economy

This image, forwarded to me by my mom, says it all:

Pericos Acapulco Chillys: A Diamond in the Rough

If you live in Albuquerque and enjoy Mexican food (I mean real Mexican food, not the Americanized versions we're fed at most chain restaurants), you absolutely have to visit a tiny Mexican joint called Pericos Acapulco Chillys. We heard about it from one of Aaron's colleagues at Presbyterian Hospital; otherwise, we never would have known it existed. Located in an unpretentious building in the heart of Nob Hill, across from UNM, this small gem offers fresh-tasting salsa and authentic shredded beef and chicken tacos. Aaron & I ordered the taco six-pack-- a great value. The menu has a variety of other options, too, including burritos and chimichangas, all at reasonable prices.

How to get there: Take Central to Yale and turn south. Pericos will be on your immediate right (the west side of the street).

It's Balloon Fiesta already?

I can't believe the Balloon Fiesta is here again already. How time flies! This time last year, we were standing out on the back patio of our new house drinking coffee with our helpful movers-- the White clan-- and watching the colorful balloons fly right over our heads. While it feels like yesterday, much has happened over the last year. My company moved to a new building, I was promoted, Aaron and I adopted the best puppy in the whole world from a local shelter, and Aaron finished the didactic portion of his PA program. Plus, we survived his two (out-of-town) rural rotations. We even squeezed in some time to create some great memories with family and friends, like hunting for a Christmas tree, ringing in the New Year with local Gruet champagne, experiencing our first traditional Passover dinner, celebrating birthdays, hosting a barbecue, roasting marshmallows, and even chasing hot air balloons to Corrales because the wind didn't send them our way this year (that's how we got these great photos!). In the midst of a gloomy economy and the stress of overpacked schedules, it feels good to remember just how blessed we really are and how much we have for which to be thankful -- most of all, the wonderful people in our lives. I'm looking forward to sharing the holidays with all of you!

Visiting Colorado Springs

Life has been crazy lately and shows no signs of slowing down. Aaron finished his ER stint in Espanola last week and is starting a new rotation today-- general surgery. Some major operational changes at my company are keeping me very busy, and it seems as though I am always writing discussion postings and papers for my current class, strategic management. Focused primarily on case studies of successful companies, it is an interesting class, but I am definitely looking forward to finishing my program next year. Add to that trying to cook healthier, stay fit, and keep our puppy Max occupied, and we definitely have a packed schedule on our hands. So, I was thrilled that we had an opportunity this weekend to get away from everyday chaos for a little while.

We decided to check out Colorado Springs, another city on our list of places to potentially call home someday. If you follow my blog, you may recall that we opted to leave Max at home when we visited Durango in early August. Actually, we put him up in the swanky Canine Country Club here in Albuquerque's North Valley. Based upon the activities we did during that trip, we were glad that we left him behind, but we also missed him terribly. So for this mini vacation, I was determined to bring him along.

The challenge was finding a hotel that would welcome our sweet Max, who-- despite being very social-- does not bark at all and is quite well behaved, especially for a 9-month-old puppy. Colorado Springs has been voted the most dog-friendly city in the U.S., and many of its hotels are purported to allow pets. My advice to other travelers, however, is to do your research. Carefully reading pet policies and calling about any ambiguity, I found myself on a bit of a rollercoaster. I kept getting excited when I'd find a nice hotel, such as the Doubletree, that appeared to allow dogs, and then my hopes would be dashed when I realized that Max was too overweight to join us there. I'm not sure how much Max weighs (70 pounds, maybe?), but I know he is more than 10, 25, or 50-- the weight restrictions I consistently encountered. I still can't figure out why large dogs are perceived as problematic. From my observations, a dog's behavior is more about personality and training than size. Anyway, we ended up staying at the Ramada by the airport; Max was a perfect angel even while several small dogs yapped obnoxiously in rooms nearby ours.

We fell in love with Colorado Springs. Highlights of our short trip include hiking at Garden of the Gods, enjoying a picturesque view of the city from Inspiration Point at Seven Falls, driving through tree-lined historic neighborhoods, and eating brunch (twice!) at King's Chef Diner, about which I intend to write a glowing review very soon. Oh, and Max wants me to add that he made a new friend at Palmer's dog park and enjoyed all of the compliments he received from strangers.

Check out my travel reviews of Blue Lake Ranch, Old Tymer's Cafe, and Farquahrt's

Sorry I haven't posted any blog content in a while. Work, school, and Max have all been keeping me pretty busy lately! I did, however, write some travel reviews from our recent trip to Colorado, just like I promised. Click here to check out my review of Blue Lake Ranch in Hesperus, or read about our dining experiences at Old Tymer's Cafe and Farquahrt's () on historic Main Street in Durango. Thanks for visiting!

In case you're curious...

Last week, I wrote about my family's aspirations to eat healthier and shared some of my meal ideas. I'm happy to report that both my husband and I have lost several pounds already and are getting tantalizingly close to our goal weights. Aaron is resisting carbs, while I'm just trying to eat a balanced diet to fuel my newly active lifestyle. Aaron has shared that he feels healthier without sugar in his diet. This isn't to say that he hasn't craved carbs at all, because he definitely has, but the trick has been to stay busy so that he doesn't have time to think about food. And luckily, BBQ fits within his diet, so we were able to splurge on Rudy's last night. Mmmmm.

On the fitness front, I have a new Polar heart rate monitor and am trying a different training approach to prepare myself for an upcoming 5K. I'm doing target heart rate training for cardiovascular/aerobic fitness, using the monitor to keep my heart rate between 70 and 80 percent of its max. A couple days a week I will push to 80-90% for an interval workout. So far, I've found that I can't see progress as easily as I did when I just pushed myself as hard as I could, and I tend to get frustrated when my heart rate forces me to slow down. However, I think this approach will have a more significant benefit in the long run than pushing myself too hard and exercising at an anaerobic level that produces lactic acid, etc. I also appreciate being able to see how many calories I'm burning-- it's pretty motivating!

I'll try to remember to keep you posted on our progress.

Church-related humor

Today's post is simply a reminder that Christians can, and do, have a sense of humor. We are messed-up people (thank God for His incredible grace!), and it's good to be reminded sometimes that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.

During some downtime at the office this morning, I decided to browse some of my favorite blogs and found myself having to stifle a real "laugh out loud" at Jon's humorous observations about the communion process. (My church does communion in the "Come as God leads" style that Jon describes.) You just have to read it for yourself; it's too hilarious to miss!

Just admit it, 'Big Oil'

A key service that my company offers is the distribution of news releases to the media and financial disclosure points. As such, we process many earnings releases for public companies. I've noticed that all the releases I've edited for companies within the energy industry have reported solid profits, and I am not exaggerating. At the same time, popular media coverage seems to suggest that a limited supply of oil and rising oil prices-- not corporate greed-- are to blame for high U.S. gas prices.

I have to admit that, having observed how well companies in the energy industry are faring in the midst of tough economic conditions, I'm growing quite tired of hearing these excuses. The reality is that the oil industry is taking advantage of the demand created by our American dependence on gasoline. To the extent that we are willing to pay the higher prices, they will charge them. It's simple economics, and yet it makes my stomach turn. A company has a social responsibility to maximize its positive impact and minimize its negative impact on its stakeholders, which include its shareholders, customers, community, etc. Are the interests of these stakeholder groups of equivalent importance? If so, isn't price gouging socially irresponsible? On the other hand, if stakeholder groups are not created equal-- if, in fact, shareholders are an energy company's primary stakeholder, with priority over all others-- can we really blame the company for trying to maximize returns?

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Disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent my company's positions, strategies or opinions.

Food & Eating: Time to Get Back to the Basics

I grew up on mostly chicken and veggies. Then, when I went away to college, salads and whole wheat pasta were what kept me going. Actually, I was not particularly fond of steak or BBQ until I met Aaron. Raised on a farm in southeastern Arizona, Aaron is definitely a meat-and-potatoes guy. After we got married, I realized pretty quickly that healthy cooking was not the quickest way to his heart, and I learned to adjust. Ground beef or Italian sausage were added to my spaghetti sauce, fries or tater tots had to accompany every hot sandwich or burger, and whole wheat flour and applesauce were no longer appropriate baking substitutions. After all, as a newlywed, making sure that my husband knew I could cook well was of the utmost importance -- and toned-down versions of tasty recipes were just not going to cut it. And so the pounds crept onto both of us...

After a year or so of marriage, I was finally comfortable enough with my husband's confidence in my cooking that I could start sneaking in some healthier options. I introduced grilled salmon into my repertoire, started substituting potatoes with whole grain brown & wild rice, replaced pork Italian sausage with turkey Italian sausage in my pasta sauces, and experimented with roasting, grilling, and sauteeing more varieties of veggies. His response was surprisingly positive, but we still couldn't seem to eliminate some culprits, like tortilla chips, from our diets (we REALLY love salsa).

But now, I'm proud to report, we've decided to try healthier eating

-- at least for a few weeks. As Aaron's uncle James, the founder of Weightless Fitness, has pointed out, the most efficient way to lose extra weight (in addition to being active, of course!) is to train one's body to burn stored fat instead of sugar -- which means cutting carbs. So, I've built some menus that rely on lean proteins, like chicken and fish, and veggies, while still looking appetizing and delivering some degree of flavor. And in case anyone reading this might want to trim down, too, I thought I'd share some of what I've come up with, based on my family's tastes.

Breakfast:

Egg white omelette with diced ham, onions, and bell peppers

Light yogurt

Lunch/snacks:

Sliced smoked chicken or turkey breast
Baby carrots

Sliced bell pepper

Raw sugar snap peas

String cheese

Almonds

Dinner:

Marinated grilled salmon with grilled sweet corn

Jalapeño-lemon tilapia (cooked in foil packet) with roasted veggies

Grilled chicken kabobs

Cuban burgers (sans buns) with black beans and side salad

Grilled chicken salad

Green chile turkey burgers (sans buns) with grilled veggies

Hopefully we can stick with it, at least for a while!

Southwestern Colorado Vacation

My husband and I just returned from a short trip to southwestern Colorado that was filled with exploration, beautiful scenery, and plenty of relaxation. While I was most taken with the scenery in Telluride and Ouray, Durango stood out as a friendly community that I could actually imagine as being "home" someday. I fell in love with several tree-lined neighborhoods of cottage- and bungalow-style homes and was impressed by the active lifestyles of Durango's residents. As we checked out the Animas River trail during our first afternoon in Durango, we saw people floating lazily down the river in tubes and fly-fishing. People cheered from their inflatables as others were baptized beside the river bank, and the sprinkles of rain falling did not seem to deter anyone from enjoying his/her Sunday afternoon. Throughout our trip, we watched in awe as bikers powered their ways up mountains and as runners clipped along well-groomed trails at healthy paces. All of this at an elevation of 6,500 feet! Wow. Some highlights of our trip were driving the San Juan Skyway (a loop that includes Durango, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, and quaint rural communities in between) and taking a "ducky"-- an inflatable kayak-- down the Animas River. We actually opted for the two-person ducky, which we later found out has been dubbed the "Divorce Double." Oops! Well, we did survive, and now we have some pretty awesome pictures of us going backwards over Class III rapids to show for it. I've included some of our photos from the trip below, for your viewing pleasure. I just can't wait to go back!

NOTE: All images copyright © Aaron and Christina White, 2008.

Images may not be used without permission.

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Coming soon:

Stay tuned for Colorado travel reviews including: Blue Lake Ranch in Hesperus; Old Tymer's Cafe in Durango; Farquahrt's in Durango; and Durango Rafting Company.

Best places to live

My husband and I are experiencing an exciting time in our lives. If all goes smoothly, both of us will be finished with grad school in less than a year. In anticipation, we have started exploring where we might want to live. Having grown up in sunny and warm southern California and Arizona, I have been surprised to find that I prefer cooler weather. When the temperature reaches 94 here in New Mexico, I feel overwhelmed by the heat. Granted, the air is more humid here, but still-- having lived where it tends to be 120 degrees for most of the summer, who would have thought... ? I have even enjoyed the bits of snow we've experienced the last couple of winters.

Consequently, Colorado seems to rank pretty high on my list of the top places I'd like to live someday. And interestingly enough, when I took one of those silly Internet self-quizzes to identify my best places to live, several Colorado communities popped up in my top 25: Boulder/Longmont, Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado Springs, and Greeley. California (e.g. Santa Barbara, Ventura), Washington, and Oregon also made a good showing.

Soon, we'll be checking out Durango, CO, and hopefully the San Juan Skyway.

If you have any other suggestions for fabulous places to live, please let me know!

Dreaming about where we might end up is fun and exciting, but of course it's all in God's hands! We have to remember to move forward prayerfully, as God's plans are far superior to anything we could dream up. (Maybe sometime I'll share the story about how we ended up here in Albuquerque. It is pretty incredible, really-- and not at all of our own doing!)

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"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." (Proverbs 19:21).

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" (James 4:13-15)

Puppy Update

As of July 19, Max is officially 7 months old. On Sunday, he was thrilled to experience his first visit to our local dog park. At first, he was fascinated by the other dogs, running along beside them and looking for new ones to meet. Whether big dog or little dog, it didn't seem to matter; he loved them all. After just a few minutes, however, all Max cared about was greeting each of the people at the dog park. He seemed to enjoy being petted and having his reddish coat admired by these new people so much that we almost wondered if he would try going home with someone else! At the end of the day, though, he was still ours... And he sure slept well that night. (On a side note, I never realized that Albuquerque had a social network revolving around the dog park. People seemed to know the names of dogs that weren't their own -- the "regulars", they called them. They even discussed the dogs' backgrounds and personality traits. Hmm.)

Then, yesterday, we discovered that Max is a hunter. We had a summer monsoon that dumped large raindrops for roughly an hour. Afterward, Max wanted to run around outside and explore the puddles. All of a sudden, I heard a disturbing chirping/squeaking noise. I ran outside, and Max pranced by me with a feather sticking out the side of his mouth. To my dismay, he'd captured a bird and given it a terminal prognosis. While I was able to convince Aaron to take the poor creature away from Max and put it out of its misery, I think he was a little proud that our puppy actually caught something. I suppose that is pretty impressive for a city dog.

Stay tuned for Max's next adventure -- doggie daycare.

Don't blame docs for problems with U.S. healthcare

This week, I've been involved in a debate in my business ethics class about healthcare that I wanted to share because I think it reflects many common misconceptions and illustrates the impact the media can have on people's perception of reality.

Using the Kings County Hospital death as an example, my classmate argued that many physicians have compromised ethical behavior for the pursuit of money. She contended that they have lost their allegiance to the Hippocratic Oath (which she spelled Hypocratic; ha!). As I shared with her and the class, I think it's dangerous to make broad generalizations about whether certain groups or categories of people behave ethically or not. Decisions about both personal and professional ethical behavior may be influenced by environmental factors, such as the culture of the organization within which one works, but these decisions are ultimately up to the individual.

My classmate wrote, "They [physicians] certainly take no thought of how partnering with pharmaceutical companies and providers of healthcare insurance can and sometimes do adversely affect the care they are able to provide to the have-nots." [!!! ] With a husband, sister-in-law, and best friend who all work in healthcare and regularly share their experiences, I've learned that the relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical reps can actually produce positive outcomes such as increasing doctors' knowledge about new treatment options. And as far as health insurance is concerned, many doctors are just as frustrated with insurance companies as patients are, but they choose to maintain those relationships so that they can provide more patients with access to care (most people rely on insurance-- whether government- or employer-provided-- and can't afford to see a doctor on a cash-only basis). My instructor shared that his child's pediatrician left private practice and became certified as a middle school teacher because, though she was an excellent doctor, she had to fight each insurance claim and couldn't seem to get ahead. "She was in medicine to help kids," he said, "and decided teaching was a better way."

Another classmate expressed that doctors seem to donate time in other countries but not here in the U.S. That is another huge misconception. My husband has observed that every doctor with whom he has completed a clinical rotation (all of whom have different specialties) has quietly provided free medical services to certain patients who can't afford them because they know these individuals wouldn't seek needed care otherwise. My husband and I also know many physicians who donate their time at free local clinics. The overseas services provided by physicians are just more publicized, which is why we're more aware of them. Personally, I have more admiration for those who quietly care for the less fortunate, without any recognition or glory for doing so. That's humility.

My point: The vast majority of physicians haven't dedicated roughly a decade of their lives to completing a medical education and residency (and in many cases gone into signficant student loan debt) just because they're out to make money. While it's true that we can find examples of unethical behavior in healthcare (such as the highly publicized NY hospital situation), I could point out just as many examples in almost every other industry, too, from banking (e.g. predatory lending) to retail (e.g. sweat shops). Shame on the media for only reporting on negative events and keeping people in the dark about the good that physicians are doing for their patients and communities.

Forgive... but also forget?

You know the old adage "forgive and forget"? Christians are clearly called to forgive, and sometimes it's definitely a struggle for me. For the most part, though, simply thinking about my own screw-ups and the ultimate forgiveness I've received through Christ is enough to make it happen. What's more difficult for me is the "forgetting" part. When someone hurts or disappoints me, I can typically forgive that individual and move on, but I do lose some degree of respect for him/her -- which affects the way I interact moving forward. "Once bitten, twice shy," I guess...

My running odyssey: What I've learned so far

In the spirit of being healthier, I've been running for over a week now, and this is what I've observed so far:

1. The shoes matter. Fashion aside, today's running shoes are equipped with functional features like mesh to encourage air flow and special structuring that prevents overpronation.

2. No matter what happens, stopping is not an option. It's too tough to get going again! (So even if Aaron trips and falls behind me-- yeah, I have to keep going.)

3. Music, especially the kind with strong beats, is incredibly helpful with breathing rhythms.

4. Chewing gum can curb "dry mouth."

5. Water can be a suitable substitute for sweat.

6. Dogs make great running partners when they've been leash-trained.

7. Never underestimate the importance of distraction.

8. Goals should be set high. I'm always able to make it further than I thought I could.

9. Having to run in wind and rain is actually easier than skipping a day of running.

10. (Route) variety is the spice of life.

I'm drowning...

... in marketing homework. I have to write a full product marketing plan, which I should have started two weeks ago, by Sunday (don't judge me-- remember, procrastinators are the leaders of tomorrow). I also have a paper on Blockbuster's entire strategic plan due the same day, which should be interesting in light of this being the Netflix era and because Blockbuster's corporate Web site is a very poor information resource. In terms of my workload, the next few weeks do not look promising, either. [Side note: Yes, a Christian university has decided to make its assignments due at 11:59 p.m. on the Sabbath. Hmmm.]

So, that means you-- the one person who might actually read this blog-- are not likely to see any new content here for a while. Advance apologies!

At the dogg-ie, doggie cabana...

Nails: $10

Two-by-fours: $20

Bamboo-style fencing: $20

Our puppy's happiness: Priceless

Best Recipe Web Sites for Foodies

While I'm hesitant to reveal my cooking secrets (hey, I need all the help I can get!), I have found two recipe Web sites that are just too wonderful to keep to myself. AllRecipes.com and Recipezaar are recipe sharing Web sites that allow users to rate and comment on recipes. That means that if a recipe needs more salt, or a cheaper cut of meat can be successfully substituted, you don't have to go through the grief of discovering that on your own.

I've become so infatuated with these Web sites that I hardly use tangible cookbooks anymore. I've created a bookmark file labeled "Recipes" (within which are subfiles of food categories, like "meat" and "desserts") that I use for saving all my great finds, and I just skim through it when I'm planning meals each week (after, of course, skimming the supermarket sale ads!).

Other Web sites that are really cool include:
* Copy Kat Recipes: My sister-in-law Denise shared this one with me. It contains recipes for recreating restaurant favorites such as Red Lobster's biscuits and PF Chang's lettuce wraps.
* Food Network: I watch the Food Network all the time, and I love that I can go to its Web site to find the recipes I've seen. I've also enrolled for an e-newsletter that gives recipe suggestions for entertaining.

If you use any others I should know about, please share!

Happy eating. :-)

Hershey's Bliss Product Launch: Great idea, but poorly executed

Shortly after I finished writing a paper for my graduate-level marketing class about how Hershey's should reposition its product in order to capture market share from low-price competitors like Mars and Nestlè, I was surprised to see a t.v. commercial for a new Hershey's line of chocolates called Bliss. Wrapped in richly colored foil and priced higher than similar Hershey's products, these bite-size chocolates have been marketed as a "premium" addition to the brand's product mix.

In tough economic times like these, when discretionary income may be more limited, items that consumers perceive as luxuries, such as chocolate, are often the first for which they cut spending. Fighting for fewer consumer dollars, chocolate companies are under greater pressure to achieve the competitive advantage of differentiation. In Hershey's case, the brand has failed to stand out from other low-cost, basic-flavor chocolate producers like Mars and Nestlè, and the launch of Bliss is an attempt to change that.

While the company is wise to try moving higher on the flavor spectrum with Bliss, it doesn't appear to have changed its product substantially enough to achieve a more gourmet status. Victoria at the Candy Addict blog says, "The most appealing thing about Bliss chocolates is probably their tasteful packaging... If you want to actually eat your Bliss... find [it] someplace else." Cybele at Candy Blog echoes Victoria's sentiments, "[Bliss chocolates] might have a great texture but lack the chocolate punch that would really make them a rich indulgence." At the same time, Hershey's has priced the Bliss chocolates higher than other options in its product mix. Generally, customers don't respond well when the price of a product increases without any improvement in quality (different packaging usually isn't enough to fool us!). Further, the higher price puts the chocolate into the realm of competing with higher-end options like Ghirardelli, which have a much more gourmet flavor. My outlook for Bliss, therefore, is not a rosy one. I think Hershey's was trying to take the easy way out by introducing a new product to get in on the premium market instead of initiating the branding overhaul* that may really be needed. (I mean, how many of you actually knew that Hershey's is made with whole milk from local farms in Pennsylvania? I rest my case.) Oh yeah, I almost forgot-- I've heard that Hershey's is partnering with Starbucks on a premium chocolate-- now that's a wise move, if you ask me!

* Please note: I am in no way suggesting that the Hershey's brand is weak because it has, in fact, build a very strong reputation as an American classic with a rich history, but its brand is definitely not associated with premium/gourmet chocolate at this time.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Change is tough, but it's a part of life. I was forced to realize that when my parents pulled me away from my elementary school friends to go live in the middle of a ridiculously hot desert... and when, at 10 years old, it became clear that I'd never be able to hug my grandma again... and again, when I moved away for college. It was weird when I went home to visit, and "home" was suddenly a different house. Today is one of those moments. Today, I found out that the dog I grew up with has an aggressive malignant tumor. Since she is probably experiencing a great deal of pain, my family made the heart-wrenching decision to have her put to sleep. Tomorrow. Since I live hundreds of miles away from my family (and have for more than half a decade now), I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet. I can't begin to imagine Buffy's sweet little face not being there to greet me at the end of each long trip to my parents' house. It's truly the end of an era. Please keep my family in your prayers as we grieve over the loss of a dog who became like a part of our family.

Ethanol... A Sweet Solution

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, our country imported an average of 9.4 million barrels of crude oil per day, primarily from Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria, in March of this year (the most current data available). At the same time, the national average price of gasoline per gallon, $3.79, is up over 57 cents from a year ago. While ethanol is a viable alternative, many have expressed concern about the implications of corn-based ethanol production on our food supply. Well, Brazil has figured out how to produce ethanol from sugarcane instead. Read this article from The Dallas Morning News for more information. Instead of continuing to protect "big oil" interests, Congress needs to act in the best interest of Americans and either lift the 54-cents-a-gallon tariff on Brazilian ethanol or invest in r&d to find another innovative solution to the energy crisis. Until then, we're clearly behind the times.

The Blame Game

Image credit: Andrew Beierle

Image copyright: sxc.hu/andrewatla

I've noticed that, in our culture, personal responsibility seems to be an increasingly rare attribute these days. We have become incredibly skilled at making excuses for our behavior or shifting blame on others. As much as I hate to admit it, that's definitely my tendency, and I struggle with it constantly. The litigious nature of our society offers evidence of this attitude as well. I'm convinced that the root of the problem is pride, which all of us have at some level, combined with a lack of grace for others. To protect our image and keep from being humiliated, we instinctively try to deflect any negative attention away from ourselves. It's just easier to say, "It's not my fault because of X, Y, and Z" than to admit we actually messed up. Further, because of our love affairs with ourselves, we become sensitive and defensive when we perceive that someone else has wronged us. Rather than extending grace, we want to hold them accountable for what they've done, to punish them somehow, even if we might have played a role in the problem, too.

The Bible tells us multiple times that this attitude is sinful. We're called to be humble, to hold others in higher regard than ourselves. A major aspect of that is admitting when we've made a mistake, taking ownership of it, and learning from it. I find Proverbs 15:32-33 particularly convicting: "He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility" (NASB). Similarly, Proverbs 16:19 reads, "It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud" (NASB). In Matthew 23:12 (NASB), Jesus even says, "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." That's pretty clear, I think. I have always loved how Jesus doesn't sugarcoat the truth; He tells it just like it is! Oh, and the Bible has this to say about placing blame on someone else whom we feel has wronged us: "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person" (Colossians 4:6, NASB). Just imagine what our world would be like if everyone interacted this way!

My prayer this week is that God will continue humbling me and helping me respond to others with at least a little bit of the grace He's shown me.

Best... Onion Rings... Ever

(Partially Consumed) Beer Battered Onion Rings from O'Niell's Irish Pub

They looked so tasty, we couldn't even wait to take the photo before diving in!

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I decided to try O'Niell's Irish Pub on Central, in Nob Hill. As we approached the entrance of the pub, we noticed that a row of tomato plants were lined up neatly beside a sign inviting patrons to take one home for free. Inside, the atmosphere was loud, lively, and anything but pretentious, complete with a super-long bar. With the pub being close to Aaron's school, some of his classmates have become regulars, and apparently those who drink so many beers (I'm not sure what the magic number actually is) are rewarded with a beer stein engraved with their name and kept on a display shelf behind the counter for repeat use. A few tables were available outside, but since it was fairly windy, we opted to sit inside. After just a few minutes, we were escorted to a window table. We started off with some "Brew City Onion Rings", which were the best I have ever had. Not only was the beer batter delicious, but the rings were fried to perfection-- crispy, but not at all overdone. Aaron's main course was O'Niell's Irish Red, a Happy Hour special custom brewed by the Tractor Brewing Co., and a St. Patty Melt with fries, both of which he enjoyed. I ordered the "award winning" O'Niell's Burger in Paradise with a side salad. While my side salad was excellent, I was not that impressed by the burger. I was, however, very pleased with the service we received.

Overall, O'Niell's seems like a fun place to go for drinks and appetizers with friends, and its onion rings shouldn't be missed!

Reasons to Celebrate

I have many reasons to celebrate today:

8. It's Thursday. In other words, it's almost Friday.
7. It's rainy and overcast, which is actually kind of special here in New Mexico
6. It's payday.
5. Max is mellow.
4. Aaron was able to come home for the weekend from his clinical rotation in Deming.
3. Aaron fixed grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup (the perfect warm weather fare) for me for lunch.
2. My new notebook computer just arrived via my favorite carrier, DHL, and it appears to be in one piece.

And the #1 reason I have to celebrate is...

(Insert dramatic pause here to preface nauseatingly sappy moment.)

Today marks three wonderful years of marriage with Aaron.

Happy anniversary, sweetheart! I love you.

Globalization and Customer Loyalty

Globalization has increased the relevance of corporate reputation exponentially. With more companies competing for the American dollar, we have more options as consumers than ever before; close substitutes for most products are highly available. Further, the Internet has given us more convenient access to information than consumers ever had in years past. In a matter of moments, we're able to peruse product reviews or read about how a company is being socially responsible. To remain economically profitable, therefore, companies must understand how to develop strong reputations, and I'm convinced that long-term customer relationships are key.

Bed Bath & Beyond is a company that "gets it". Keeping sight of the big picture, the retailer consistently delivers superior customer service, and the "20% off" coupons it regularly sends me don't hurt, either. One of my earliest experiences with Bed Bath & Beyond involved setting up my wedding registry. As many couples do, my husband and I established registries at a few different stores, and the customer service we received at Bed Bath & Beyond really stood apart from the rest. The associate spent time with us, made suggestions, and even checked in on us periodically to see if we had any questions. We really felt valued.

A couple of years later, the pedal mechanism on our simplehuman® stainless steel trash can broke. We'd purchased it at Bed Bath & Beyond in Tucson, and it was still under warranty, but we couldn't find our receipt. We'd moved, so we took the broken trash can into an Albuquerque location, and they told us to pick out a new one, no questions asked.

This week, our Cuisinart® "Coffee on Demand" coffeemaker stopped working. We knew it was still under warranty (we'd had it for less than two years), but once again, we couldn't find the receipt. If we'd ship it to Cuisinart, they'd send us a new one, but we're caffeine addicts and really didn't want to wait for a new unit to arrive. So, we took the inoperable unit to a (different) Albuquerque location. Guess what? The manager told us to go ahead and pick out a new one. She even pointed out that we may want to try a different model since the one we had did, after all, stop working. (For the record, we did get the same model. We think we just worked the first one to death.)

So, kudos to you, Bed Bath & Beyond. You've got it right. You may even end up in my portfolio.

Freeze(r), You're "It"

When my husband and I were dating, he decided to use a Best Buy gift card from his parents to purchase an upright freezer, and I made fun of him for it. I mean, why would a single guy need that much freezer space? Plus, at the time, my husband lived on the third floor of an apartment building (no joke... getting that unit up the stairs proved to be quite interesting).

Ok, fast forward four years. By now, I've grown used to my husband being right about everything, so I'm not surprised to have to eat my words. We still have that freezer today. It sits quietly in the corner of our garage and gets more use than I ever imagined it would. We're able to save a ton of money by buying in bulk. We usually can't afford to eat steak, for example, but just last week Smith's had a deal on "value packs" of ribeye steak. Thanks to our freezer and the way it allows us to split up and save that value pack, I was able to splurge.

So, if any of you are wondering how to spend your federal tax rebates, help stimulate the economy by purchasing a freezer. With the tough economic times that are probably ahead, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Dude, I'm Getting a Dell!

The other day, I was sitting in my favorite armchair in the living room, toiling away at my accounting homework, when my puppy Max suddenly decided he would enjoy tearing around the house. At warp speed, it seemed, he ran up the stairs, down the stairs, under the table, around the couch, and ultimately landed in my lap, where my laptop unfortunately rest. Apparently, Max thinks the "G" and "H" keys are overrated. As I sit here typing this on my middle-less keyboard, I have to thank him, really. This notebook computer and I have been through a lot together. Two moves, repair of the motherboard (while my urge is to rant, I will simply advise you never to purchase a warranty from Staples), several power cords, a battery that lasts only 15 minutes on a full charge... Well, you get the idea. So, we've come to the end of the road. It's time to demote the old Compaq Presario 2200 to "backup" status.

If you've been in the market for a notebook computer recently, you realize just how overwhelming the options can be. At first, I thought I wanted an Apple. I grew up with a Mac, and I love the simplicity of the operating system. However, the only MacBook I could afford would lack most of the software I need, and then what's the point? Much to my dismay, I had to set my sights back on a Windows system. My only criteria was that I didn't want a computer with Windows Vista. (According to my brother (a programmer), Vista demands a great deal of memory, and it has compatibility issues with some older software. Plus, I think almost everyone knows someone with a Windows Vista horror story. ) As it turned out, finding a Vista-less notebook computer proved to be quite a challenge. Nearly all the laptops carried by the big-box retailers come preloaded with Windows Vista. The only units I found that still pack XP are Compaq's V6700TX series and Dell's Inspiron 1520.

Ultimately, I went with the Dell, mainly because I wanted Microsoft Office Small Business, which costs significantly less than retail price when purchased through Dell as part of the bundle. The order process went smoothly, except that I was irritated by the fact that Dell's Web site doesn't provide estimated arrival dates before the consumer completes the transaction (which makes selecting a shipping method difficult). Only when Dell sends the email confirming the order does the company provide an estimated ship date. I ordered my Dell last night, and the estimated ship date is 5/14. Oy vey!

Obeying Your Thirst*

Next week is National Drinking Water Week (here's to a century of chlorination!), which got me started thinking about water. For one, I never drink enough of it. Two, I never give my plants the right amounts of it, so thank goodness I married a "farm boy". More importantly, though, I think water is probably the most precious resource we have. Sure, we might be able to survive for a while without food, clothing, or shelter, but our bodies demand water to live.

Just as God designed us to thirst physically, He also created us with a spiritual thirst. I think many of us go through life trying to quench our spiritual thirst in the wrong ways. We try to fill that emptiness with sex, wealth, popularity, the newest cell phone on the market-- whatever it is that we think will make us feel better. Then we always find ourselves thirsty again. For some reason, it reminds me of the latest Dos Equis ad campaign. At the end of the t.v. commercial, the "most interesting man in the world" tells us, "Stay thirsty, my friends." The things of this world will always leave us dry, exactly like Jesus tells us in John 4:13: "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again..."

Everyone's deepest need is a relationship with God; He is the only One who can quench our thirst. He offers us living water that won't just satisfy us for a day but instead will refresh and renew us for eternity. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink," Jesus says (John 7:37). "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst... The water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14). Wow. I'll drink to that!
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* Yes, I know, I'm an advertiser's dream.

Cinco de Mayo

Monday is Cinco de Mayo, which is pretty heavily celebrated here in the Southwest. In addition to commemorating Mexico's victory over the French in the four-hour Battle of Puebla (1862), the holiday offers a great excuse to indulge in spicy Mexican food and margaritas as we honor Mexican heritage and culture. For the last couple days, I've been contemplating what I should bring to my office potluck, so I was delighted when one of our clients (Wholly Guacamole) offered up an easy, festive recipe that I've modified a little to suit my tastes.

Cinco de Guaco Flag Dip

Ingredients:
-- 14 oz. package of Wholly Guacamole (usually in the refrigerated area of the produce section)
-- reduced fat sour cream
-- salsa (Sadie's, El Pinto, and Pedro's are my favorites)
-- rosemary sprigs
-- black beans
-- olives
-- tortilla chips

Instructions:
1. Divide a rectangular pan into thirds. Spread guacamole and salsa on outer bands, putting sour cream in the center.
2. Top center with an "eagle" of olives, beans and sprigs of rosemary.

I'm also considering serving up pinto beans fresh from my in-laws' farm, White Bros. Grain., or (if I find myself really short on time) green chile stew from Rudy's, the best barbecue restaurant ever. Decisions, decisions!

Check out the Food Network's Web site for other ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.