Documenting Zombies = Guaranteed Death

This is the kind of stuff I like to see. People getting creative in really outlandish, extensive and (oh yes) public ways.

On Friday, San Francisco had a surprise visit from a rather large plague of zombies (other fun collective nouns here). It appears they were able to create quite a uproar as they stumbled through town, transforming innocent onlookers into their own kind, leaving blood smears as they went and even managing to piss off a few Scientologists. Not a bad day if you ask me.
Check out the awesome photo journal of the entire event.

For those of us who don't follow the tenets of Vodoun or come from the Middle Ages, I think we can agree it's fair to conclude that zombies are a big fat myth.

So what was the real reason behind the invasion? Honestly, I doubt you would ever guess this one. A wedding. Awesome right? For some reason, when I found out this was actually a wedding, it just made me smile.

The zombies even got to take a short break from the killing spree and show off their moves on the dance floor.

Spelunking and Spookiness

It's quite a boast to say you've been in an authentic haunted house on Friday the 13th, but it is a statement I can now claim.
Anybody who knows anything about the student ghetto in Albuquerque, knows about the haunted house on Cornell and Silver. Interesting historical fact: Also known as the Werner-Gilchrist House, it was built circa 1908 and was apparently on Albuquerque's eastern most border at the time.
Until recently, the house had been concealed behind a forest of trees, weeds and chain link fences. But now, after truckloads of crap were cleared away by the city, we all could finally see the face of the haunted house.

Definitely a fixer upper. But with the house so exposed, I realized it didn't seem creepy anymore. Just sad. Unquestionably, this house needs some love.
Luckily, someone did decide to be just that person to give the house what it needs. And to my personal benefit, that person was a friend of a friend of a... whatever. In other words, I got to go inside! And on Friday the 13th! Check out the pictures here.

That was the spookiness, now for the spelunking.
It's amazing what bored weekend afternoons can turn into. In our case, it turned into a short day trip to Sandia Man Cave. Discovered in 1936, it is believed a man - the "Sandia Man" - lived periodically in the cave 10,000-12,000 years ago. Cool fact to know, but it was unfortunate to notice how vandalized the cave is now.
Besides that, the cave was really quite thrilling. It goes 300 feet in, with most of it requiring visitors to crawl and get really dirty, which I think just added to the fun.

Lots more pictures here. I would definitely recommend it. If nothing else, it's a fun way to take up a free afternoon. Plus you'll be able to say you've been spelunking.

Spring into It

It is always an exciting time, nearing the end of the Spring semester. With approaching Summer weather, longer days and the realization of the dearly needed 3-month break from school (unless that is, you're doing the whole Summer school thing...) life starts to feel a bit more productive. Like today!
We finally got our little garden all planted today and ready to grow, even though Albuquerque's current weather is not what I would consider Spring weather as I listen to the thunder. Anyway, we went for a new mix of vegetables this year: eggplant, okra, tomatoes (including yellow and purple - I know, purple! Weird right?) and lots of green chili (two types: Santa Fe and Española, represent). It should prove to be an interesting crop.


We also got our herb garden going, with basil, chives and tons of spearmint. Sadly we had to sacrifice our beloved cactus which occupied this bed previously... however! We were able to replant most of it.

Another interesting thing I did today: I transformed my face! Go here to do it yourself. I first heard about it on Rocketboom and then saw my friend Katie's transformed faces on Facebook. I had to do it.
Check it out! Starting top left: Old HBop, Asian HBop, chimp HBop, Artsy HBop, East Indian HBop, Man HBop (this one kinda creeps me out) and finally normal HBop!

You can do other transformations too, but these came out best for me.
What else... Oh! I recently discovered a new artist I really like, Audrey Kawasaki. She's amazing. I think I love every single one of her paintings. All of her paintings are done on wood, which gives them a really rich, mystical feel.


My banana bread just came out of the oven and it smells so good, I'm going to have a fresh slice.
And that's great... it's pouring outside. I hope my little plants survive the night...