Spring Break breakdown - 7

Closure

Saturday, March 21: We had spent the previous night in Midland. (One of my traveling companions was craving IHOP, and we believed Midland would have the nearest one). I woke up early on Saturday and went out to take a few photos...

Eastbound UP train passes downtown Midland, TX

Eastbound stack train (left) passes a freight east of Midland at Chub siding.

Our trip home was generally uneventful, although we stopped several times to take train photos. We dragged our feet so much, in fact, that Mom, L and M (who left from Ruidoso that morning) caught up to us near Abilene, despite Miss C, C and I having more than a 200-mile head start!

An ominous sign? Passing a casket truck on I-20. They must have been stocking up for all the Swine Flu casualties...

That completes the Spring Break trip. Check back soon for April activities.

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np: Rage Against the Machine - "Wake Up"

Spring Break breakdown - 3

Spring skiing

Tuesday, March 17 - time for some skiing at Ruidoso's Ski Apache. L was ready to tear it up; M attempted to do the same but quickly decided he'd do better if he took another beginner lesson. After lunch, Mom, Miss C, and C arrived and invited M on a gondola ride to the top of the mountain.

Heading up the mountain, hoping it's still ski-able...

"Let's do this."

Part of our happy group, ready for a ride on the Ski Apache gondola.

Heading toward the summit.

Enjoying the 70-degree weather in our short sleeves (and I in shorts), L and I had a great afternoon skiing the few runs that were actually open. We were lucky though; Ski Apache closed for the season just five days after our visit.

L says: "What's up, people?"

This seems more like water skiing...

A great day on the slopes!

That night, we went to dinner and treated M to an early celebration for his 8th birthday.

At Alto Lakes, they do things a bit differently (birthday candles in key-lime cheesecake) but M didn't care...

Tear it up, duuuuuuuude... and happy 8th birthday.

Coming next... El Camino Real and the Albuquerque Rail Runners...

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np: Anthrax - "Got the time"

Spring Break breakdown - 2

March 16: tire swings and snow tubes

Monday was a relaxed day around the house. I fixed up the tire swing and then we took the kids snow-tubing in the afternoon.

Pine trees and clear skies

Wasn't there a Kimya Dawson song about this...

L catches air on the snow tube

M - Superman impersonation

Coming next: a day at Ski Apache.

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np: R.E.M. "Sitting still"