Albu to the Querque

My half asleep guy, wrapped in covers, is nearly enough to make me forgo all pretenses of productivity and hop back into bed to play fort all day long.

Particularly so when the rain is insistently pitter-pattering at my roof.

That tangled mass of blankets, skin, and tousled hair, tied together with one of those lazy but genuine grins crossing his face as he opens his eyes when I kiss his forehead goodbye is pretty much destined to be my downfall.

But I manage to pull myself away from the bed's siren song, and prepare myself for the deluge outside.

My pretty boots tends to absorb water, rather than repel it, so I strap on the hideous, incredibly solid and toasty black boots that I have resorted to after one too many puddle mishaps. I transfer my clipboard, agenda and books from my cute tote to a juvenile looking (but rain-resistant) knapsack that appears to have me near toppling state once it is tethered to my back. I slip a hood over my head, completely ruining any semblance of peripheral vision, and clutch a beat-up, sagging, tines-exposed umbrella above my head-- for it is the curse of the constant pedestrian to have each one of their many umbrellas display some sort of terminal defect upon the return of the rain after a sunny week. And, thus, I hop out the door, preparing for splash-dodging and sodden pants cuffs.

I buy an indigo-coloured umbrella from the dollar store in an attempt to distinguish myself as a little colourful and feminine, despite my wind whipped hair.

Even worse, campus is doused in slush, which is infinitely worse than rain in its ability to sneak into clothing crevices before it melts into a watery pool.

My bed is approximately a million times better than slush.

But bright and early I am leaving that bed behind for a cheap hotel room shared double bed.... in exciting Albuquerque, New Mexico!

*cue Price is Right prize music*


Which, today, ironically, is colder than my Canadian city of residence.

Yep, it's conferencing time again. So I've got my bags packed for plenty of schmoozing and learning and so forth.

Okay, and maybe a little drinking (because it is my reunion with all the folks I met in Austin this summer).

And hot-air ballooning!

A few of us decided to take advantage of Albuquerque's famed pastime bright and early one morning-- excitement!

Unfortunately, the exciting airplane diaries (and Skymall updates) may be a little restricted, as I have a travel companion for the prolonged trip (bus to the US, 3 hour airport wait, 2 flights) both there and back. Actually, any attempts at blogging with have to be particularly covert, especially with my roommate's noted tendency to read my emails over my shoulders. I'll be back with tales of any worthwhile hijinks with associated photo evidence!