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?!