Taos, NM

Last week was eventful for me. After the house purchasing went down on Monday, I rode with my museum class instructor to Taos, New Mexico for the 2006 Mountain-Plains Museum Conference. I had a wonderful time.

Previously, I had only been through the four-corners area of New Mexico so it was nice to see some more of the state (northeast and north central). It was much more mountainous and less desert-like than I thought it would be - very beautiful. I kept saying "wow, this is so pretty" on the way to Taos, I hope I didn't annoy Jerry. He goes to the Santa Fe Taos area at least once a year so it was all old hat for him.

The information at the conference was great. I love all that exchange of knowledge, it really gets one excited about the museum field. Going to the conference gave me two other opportunities. I got to see an old coworker, April Woodside, and her husband, Matt. We went out for drinks one night and it was nice to catch up with them. At the end of the week Sarah drove up to Taos and we spent Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon together. I had such a blast with you, Sarah. I am glad you made it back alive considering all the night driving you probably ended up doing.

Sarah drove me to Trinidad, CO so I could pick up an Amtrak train back to Newton, KS. Waiting for the train was an experience because the station was unstaffed and the lounge area door locked so I had to wait outside in the gravel parking lot right next to a permanently closed Pizza Hut and some other abandoned buildings. But the weather was nice and I had an anthropological theory tome to read. Closer to the train arrival time I heard some keys jingling around the corner. I looked over and this lady was unlocking the lounge. She said some crazy guy keeps hanging around the station locking the door. She gave me a description and 50 cents for the pay phone and told me to call her if I saw him. She would bring the cops. Obviously, that scared me. I couldn't believe I was just waiting outside for the train with this creepy guy hanging around. Good thing the train came 5 minutes later.

When I got to Newton, I completely missed Jeremy (and he missed me) waiting for me at the station. I walked three or four blocks to Nick's house, ate part of a terrible hot dog in his fridge (I gave the rest to the dog), and was just getting into bed when Javers walks into the room. For the second time that night I got a little freaked out, but it was nice that he came so I could go home. I also want to mention that I believe the bite of hot dog I had gave me food poisoning. My stmoach and intestines were not at their best Sunday. Nick, DON'T EAT THE HOT DOGS and I hope that minature Collie didn't get sick, too.