A Bigger, Better Yellow Springs

So, Albuquerque in general is an interesting place. I haven’t been all over the city yet, I think it would take years just to get to know Nob Hill. The University of New Mexico is right here and Route 66 is Central Avenue, the heart of Nob Hill and one block from where I’m staying. I’ve counted no less than 5 vegan restaurants, lost count of the number of tattoo parlours, have yet to go in one of the largest comic stores I’ve ever seen, and I’m still trying to figure out how to afford to go out to eat enough to try even 1% of the types of cuisine available in a mile radius. Not 1% of the restaurants, just of the types of food available!

There are murals everywhere, almost every blank brick wall has something beautiful or profound or an attempt at something on it. I guess this climate probably means things outdoors last longer. There are also bugs everywhere. A cockroach was hanging out in the kitchen sink for several days. I wasn’t sure what to do with him, squishing seemed like it would make a bigger mess and he was too fast to kill; catch and release seemed far too humane an option. Then, one night, Sam drained his pasta in the sink. Turns out that boiling water will kill a cockroach! There are grasshoppers and spiders everywhere as well. Iliya found a black widow in his bathroom when he moved in and Sam says there’s also one hanging out on our porch. In short, Hailey, if you ever read this, know that you would not like it here :-)

There is also an abundance of second hand stores and organic food markets. I got a great satchel for work and a little desk and chair for my room, so now I can stop always sitting on the bed to get on the computer! Of course, now that the AC is working again, my room stays really cold, so I’m typing this from beneath the blankets of my bed. Oh well.

I could go on and on but I’m sure little details about here will pop up in other posts. Now to figure out dinner…any bets on whether Vegan Sushi is any good or not?

BEST. BOOK. COLLECTION. EVER.

The house. There is no such thing as grass out here.

My rather pathetic little desk and chair. Though the fountain pen keeps motivating me to write more!