Uncle Buck!

Emma Ann Ryerse was born on August 31st, 2006 at 1:53 PM. She weighed 7 lbs. and was 18 1/2 inches long. Congrats to Melanie and Dave for having their first child and giving me the proverbial title I have affixed to this post!

How We Won The Cold War

Ronald Raygun.

El Pinto Is The La Bamba

Today we went to eat at El Pinto as a send-off for Steve. The customer that recommended it to Jeremy and Corn Derek wasn't kidding--it's the bomb. Green chile stew, red chile enchiladas, and gorditas! Oh my! It's by far the best Mexican food I've eaten here in Albuquerque. The lunch buffet was only $8.99 and the selection and atmosphere were phenomenal. The service was also excellent. La falla that we found it right before we're headed home... Need further proof? Just look at the smiles on our faces.

Just How Familiar Are We With Our Product You Ask?

This is Dishie--my best friend this summer.

We even take naps together sometimes.

We also read stories together!

This Tram Is Bound For Glory

Yesterday we finally rode the Sandia Peak Tram--supposedly the world's longest aerial tramway. Good thing we got our tickets free from the complex realtor--it ain't worth $15 (especially at night).

Boarding the BOX OF DEATH (aka the "tram car").

Quirky at night from Sandia Peak.

The visitor's center at the top is anticlimatic... just little displays about the local climate, animals, and plants. The coolest thing there? The large mouse you see above my head. As of the publishing of this post, his name is Rupert.

Take That, Ya Lobos

Corn Derek, Joseph, and me visited the University of New Mexico campus and fanned the flames of their rivalry with BYU by mocking their on-campus statues.

GQ Bukran Says...

This fall, it's all about the accessories.

¡Lucha Libre!

On Monday we went and saw Nacho Libre at the dollar theater with our sweet masks and blankets we'd just purchased in Mother Mexico a few days before. I do enjoy going to movies in costume.

Road Trip!

Last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we made good on our south-of-the-border intentions and road tripped it to Mexico. Along the way we stopped at White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Roswell. The following photos are highlights of our journey that was very much motivated by end-of-summer fatigue.

It's like surfing, except on sand and with a dish instead of a board...

The original Atlas satellite!

Corn Derek truly is an angel...

Rachel wouldn't stop tickling me. A pox on her!

Behold, the bare Satchel midriff!

Eatin' peaches.

We camped out in the back lawn of the LDS chapel in Alamogordo. It rained all night and the sprinklers added to the mayhem... But the price couldn't be beat!

Saints with a saint in front of the main cathedral in Juarez!

With his Crocodile Dundee hat and Camelbak, Tyler was by far the uber-tourist.

Joseph wrapped in a brightly colored blanket blending in among the natives.

Only $3 for these direct Italian imports!

Steve looking rather bewildered at what the Me-hee-canos are eating.

Only $1 for four sweet, sweet tacos de higado (liver)! They were tasty, and Fanta in a glass bottle can't be beat!

Our bread got smashed so our sandwiches were fantastically ghetto.

Who needs Subway when you've got a cooler full of foodstuffs in the back of Rachel's truck?

Our posse in front of the mouth of Carlsbad.

I'm goin' deeper underground...

Corn Derek with a very large melted ice cream cone-lookin' something something.

A bat tried to bite Joseph so he bit it back in an Alice Cooper-esque fashion.

This is the most luvin' Corn Derek got this summer--from a stalagmite!

Restrooms 755 feet underground!

Corn Derek playing third wheel to the Walkers and a cave formation.

These formations are called Lion Tails, but they also function as maces.

Who could resist a bite to eat in a cave?

I don't want to detail what went on here.

We got here just 15 min. too late to see the actual museum, but we still got some out-of-this world photos!

Even the vending machines are extraterrestrial-related in Roswell!

No, it's not a Provo establishment promoting modesty, it's the Cover-Up Cafe. Only in Roswell.

If it's made in China and can be imprinted with an alien logo, you can buy it here.

A classic Joseph handstand in front of one of the alien street lights.

Oh yeah! Rubbernecking at its finest! The accident that slowed us down on the way home on I-40.