It’s been quite a while since I’ve put pen to paper, or in this case fingers to keyboard, to update you on my adventures. That’s probably been because there haven’t been many over these past couple of years. I think there were trips to Las Vegas and DC for business, and my favorite beach in Florida strictly for pleasure, in there somewhere. Other than that, there hasn’t been much traveling otherwise until this month.
On July 5th, with the car overpacked as usual, we set out to the annual GCLS conference in Albuquerque, NM. There were graffiti-painted VW Bugs and Cadillacs to be seen along the way, which we endured 100-plus-degree weather to see. These weren’t new sights for us since we’ve made this journey across I-40 several times before.
The highlight of our drive, however, was our stop at The Big Texan Steak Ranch. Although, we didn’t take time to shoot ducks in the mechanical shooting gallery, we did have the opportunity to watch an adventurous podcaster attempt to eat a 72oz. steak. The rules state that to receive the meal free, you have to eat the entire steak along with three shrimp, a baked potato, a salad, and a roll within sixty minutes or less of when they are served. When we left, he was thirty minutes in and hadn’t made a dent, so our hopes weren’t high for the podcaster’s success. Did I forget to mention the table is on a pedestal higher than the rest of the diners to give everyone a clear view of his progress? Such pressure…
There was also the purchase of several different types of fudge for the road. Crème Brule, turtle, butter pecan, and chocolate. I won’t go into details on the actual amount purchased but, needless to say, it was gone by the time we headed back home.
We had the opportunity to travel to Santa Fe to see the Barber of Seville at the Santa Fe Opera. We opted for the pre-dinner and got acquainted with a couple of cousins on a girls’ trip. We enjoyed listening to their adventures in Santa Fe. It was a fabulous show in a fabulous setting.
The conference was a breath of fresh air, reminding me that I have been cooped up for far too long. It was great connecting with old friends and making new ones. Waking up to the view of hot air balloons daily was a fantastic perk. I miss you already, and can’t wait to see everyone again next year in Denver!
Peace, love, and light to you all.
Dena
