Ok, alright. Sorry about the long blog hiatus! Here is what I have done with my non-blogging time:

1. Returned from Europe
2. Washed clothes
3. Flew to Colorado, spent a few days with the Lanes and some Austin folks in Durango
4. Drove to New Mexico with the Lanes
5. Spent a week in ABQ with the whole family
6. Flew to Salt Lake City for Holly and Michael Pierre's wedding
7. Flew to State College
8. Washed clothes
9. Drove to New York City, picked up Sam, spent night in McLean, VA
10. Drove to Southeastern North Carolina
11. Ate BBQ
12. Took a census of wild horses
13. Ate BBQ
14. Ate BBQ
15. Attended a Durham Bulls game
16. Ate BBQ
17. Ate BBQ
18. Drove through Asheville, was underwhelmed
19. Ate BBQ
20. Drove back to New York City, hung out for an evening with Columbia gals at the Heights
21. Drove back to State College
22. Piled dirty clothes on floor, as yet unwashed

I have been busy! And I actually under-reported the amount of BBQ that I ate, how you like that? There will be lots of blog updates to follow about all of that insane traveling that I have done, and for now I'll share pictures from the first trip: DEN-ABQ.

First stop, Garden of the Gods in Colorado. That was some kind of landscape! We were there just in time for sunset: great for viewing, not so great for photographing.

Next, a week in Albuquerque with the whole family. We ate at Frontier Restaurant again, one of my ABQ favorite spots. Yum, huevos Rancheros. Yum, John Wayne.

What's up with the unattended buns in the middle of the street? I'll watch those, sir.

You know, I've never really had any interest in owning/ displaying a cow skull on my wall, but maybe that's because I had never seen one that was BEDAZZLED. Talk about classy!

And, of course, I spent some quality time with the family. Simon is always a hoot, and Mom and Dad aren't far behind.

Check out the size of the zucchinis that Maria grows! This one is almost as big as sweet lil Si!

To further illustrate the giantness of the zucchini, and to test blogspot's new video feature (that's right, you better prepare yourself for some fantastic videos), for your viewing pleasure, I present Simon Versus The Zucchini, a film that reflects on the genius of miraclegro, home gardening, and the impending terrible twos. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.