Yesterday

Yesterday, I took pictures.

Matt Romero at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market

Our friends JC and Rae

The press was out covering the March Against Monsanto

Santa Fe's March Against Monsanto

Congregating at the Roundhouse for
Santa Fe's March Against Monsanto

At home in the afternoon

Nick is always my photography subject

Sunset hike to Castle Rock, Santa Fe

Sunset over Santa Fe

Watching the sunset from Castle Rock

My favorite photo of the day: Clouds after sunset from Castle Rock

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Feeling Stagnant and Book List Update

Yesterday I had the post-vacation blues. Nick and I did a very fun cross-state adventure over the holidays... it was something I had been looking forward to for a few weeks (really, I had wanted to do this trip for a couple of years).  It was so much fun!

Then, yesterday, I hadn't packed a lunch and therefore needed to buy something from a nearby restaurant. In that moment, I felt as if I had already tried everything I could eat with my "different" (not restrictive!) diet.

I expressed this to Nick via a text message.  A couple hours later, he showed up at work.  I still hadn't eaten lunch (because I couldn't pick anything I wanted to eat).  We took a walk, I ordered a vegan burger from The Shed, and we talked about how I was feeling.

During the walk, I remembered that Nick was playing an open mic at Second Street that evening.  I remembered that he is going to L.A. this weekend and I am going next week.  I remembered that there's actually a lot to look forward to in life.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

Such as:

- Next weekend is one of my best friend's birthdays and we'll be going to Ojo Caliente, Gabriel's, and snowshoeing to San Antonio Hot Springs 
- My parents are coming to visit next month and we will be skiing, hiking and visiting breweries
- My sister is coming to visit in March and we will be going to Ojo Caliente again
- My sister is getting married this year and I will be able to see my entire extended family on both sides
- Nick and I will be visiting my dear friend Ally later this year in Whidbey Island, Washington

And there's so much more.

"It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves." -Andre Gide

Also, a book list update:

1.  Wind, Sand & Stars, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
2. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
3. The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway*
4. A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway*
5. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien*
6. Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
7. The Nigger of the 'Narcissus': A Tale of the Sea, Joseph Conrad
8. Afterwards, You're a Genius, Chip Brown
9. Fire in the Mind: Science, Faith, and the Search for Order, George Johnson
10. The God Theory: Universes, Zero-Point Fields and What's Behind It All, Bernard Haisch
11. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Barbara Kingsolver
12. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
13. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez*

Monster Battle

I love living in Santa Fe, and have become especially fond of the art group Meow Wolf.  Meow Wolf makes art an interactive experience.

On Sunday, July 22nd, Meow Wolf hosted their fifth annual Monster Battle. Anyone in Santa Fe was invited to dress up as a monster, ninja, alien, zombie etc. and battle on the Santa Fe Plaza.  Even though the weapons were not harmful (mostly pool noodles and water guns), the Santa Fe Police Department didn't allow the battle to take place, due to the lack of the proper permit.

I thought it was cool that the police didn't prohibit the event altogether, which I think would have happened in my home town.  Instead, the battle was moved to the Santa Fe River.

I didn't dress up - I thought my costume wouldn't be good enough.  I definitely wish I had, though, because I would have loved to be part of the battle! However, I did bring my camera, so I got some cool pictures. 

Most of the participants were in their 20's, but ages ranged from about 6-years-old to ??  Those kids were sneaky, too!

The best part about the battle was the huge variety of costumes... Like this housewife vs. the kid from Lord of the Flies (I don't know if that was his costume, but it was definitely his character.)

I had almost as much fun as the participants, just watching the battle unfold.

I think art groups like Meow Wolf make Santa Fe awesome and contribute to its reputation as "The City Different."  It's definitely the right place for me at this stage in my life.