Life at the "Beach" continues...

We tried linking the VCR to the new cable box. This was after a phone call to Comcast, who sent additional parts. A long telephone call on June 28th to their cable company's techncial adviser (A.J.) did not help. Someone was sent on July 3rd (although they would have actually come on a Sunday, July 1st!). So, no VCR until then, but that task was completed. The repairman was later than scheduled; Mike W. had $20 creditted on his next bill (actually, all Mike W. wanted was the ability to see TV; specifically, the Pretender movie). The saviour came at 3; the problems were solved (?), and the desired programs were watched (the other was Witchblade). It was still a problem of how to program the TV to tape (specifically, the Mists of Avalon), and to verify if it worked! So, we finally disconnected the cable box, fed the TV into the VCR, and everything works the way it should. July 22nd: called Comcast to cancel HBO, persuaded to try Showtime. July 23rd: cancelled Showtime, just the basics. The second TV could not have cable access unless the manager approved the drilling of an additional line. This line could not appear in the front of the building, per the manager's request. First idea: watch VHS tapes on one TV; tape & watch VHS (and eventually DVD) movies on the other. Second & final idea: buy a DVD player (which we did on July 7th) and hook it into the downstairs TV.

The washer kept shaking, and the control panel came apart from the rest of the machine. Again, a call to Mike. He did what he could, including some good swear words, then said he would request a new washer since it was beyond repair. However since it's near the end of the budget year, this purchase is placed on hold. Actually, we couldn't open the doors to the W/D unit because the washer had moved against the doors which prevented them from opening. Note: since that day, the washer has not shaken and actually remains in one place. However, on 11/14/01, it kept tripping the circuit breaker. Told Mike & Nancy, should get new one on 11/29/01. The problem may be linked to electrical work done on the complex, since for the next two weeks there were no problems. Then it happened twice in one day. That same day a PNM truck drove away from our parking lot. 12/04/01: Warning! The washer will not drain nor function on the spin cycles. Told Nancy & Mike about problem; may suggest using washer in an empty apartment. The morning of 12/05/01, about 10 AM, Nancy called for a new washer; by 3:00 PM it was installed and working.

What's next? Who knows? Hopefully...nothing.

Welll...nothing bcame something. August 24, 2001: per letter, called Direct Merchants. Someone had charged over $1300 on that credit card! The necessary paperwork was completed and a new account was started. But it may take months before this problem is finally settled. However, on 9/27/01, a letter arrived saying that the incorrect charges were removed from the account. However, upon the receipt of the October bill, the $1000 charge had not been credited. Another phone call on 10/19 & 10/22/01 to the Dispute Dept., account should be corrected by Wednesday, 10/24/01. When asked if there was any other matters to discuss, I asked for a $1000 credit increase to make up for the inconvenience. 10/30/01 I received a letter denying the increase since my limit was increased by $1000 a few months ago; and, finally, on 10/30/01 my outstanding balance had been reduced by $1000. And, last, but not least, they sent a check to Mike for $500, but no one had signed it. Thus it could not be cashed or deposited into an account.

And, during the first week of September (9/4/01), we purchased a blender...whose motor burned out during the third week of the same month! We returned it to TARGET on 9/18/01 and received a credit on the purchase. On 9/22/01, we purchased another one from MACY's. We shall see what happens to this one.

It seems to have taken three months to adjust to Albuquerque living, and feel comfortable about this city. The same was true for Captain.

Trash is picked up daily, mail is also picked up & delivered, both with the exception of Sunday.

Exercise is a given; there are at least three, usually four, flights of steps to go up & down when performing these tasks. Plus we are always walking up an down the stairs in the apartment itself. There are also stairs that lead from the kitchen to Brad's studio. And we walk to the drug store, out to eat, go to the bank, get groceries...you know the routine.

Remember: the bedrooms are on the first floor; the kitchen, living & dining areas are on the second.

Right now, there appears to be an Old Town, Old Downtown, New Downtown, Midtown & Uptown as well as the University area, Nob Hill, the Bosque, Rio Rancho, the West End, the Airport, the Foothills, the Valley (North, South & Paradise) plus the Northeast Heights. A definite change: all you have to do is tell a cab driver that you want to go to "the airport". All cab drivers charge the same fare to SunPort (no wild rides, and now we know the route). They are friendly & courteous, and want to share stories about themselves & Albuquerque with their passengers. Next step...to learn how to travel through Albuquerque by bus!

Currently we know Nancy, the apartment manager; Mike, the maintenance man, Lee, the guy with the small hands who repairs the A/C & Richard, the plumber.

July 4, 2001: we had a 360-degree view of fireworks! Getting to the top of the outside stairs (6 floors high), you could see the pyrotechnics from the various locations. There were fireworks shot from Sandia Peak!

There are many barber shops in Albuquerque. So on July 5, 2001 we both got clipped at the Old Town Barber Shop. We repeated this event at the end of the month, and since then on a regular basis. In late September we were told that one of the staff retired, at the age of 75.

July 6, 2001: opened a bank account at Wells Fargo. It has a parking lot in which you get an entry ticket but there is no one to pay the fee since the booth is empty (?). July 9, 2001: Mike W. expanded his "sphere of influence" by walking downtown to make a bank deposit. The A/C in the building was broken; it was very humid. Note: people in New Mexico think that 40% humidity or higher is unbearable! August 15, 2001: requested 18 additional checks because package not received. Was told that a reorder will be placed, and it should arrive within 5-7 business days. No fee was applied to the additional checks. August 29, 2001: returned again to request additional checks. These were received on Saturday, September 1, 2001.

Finally, July 31, 2001: a real downpour, with wind, lightning & thunder! And the rain continued off & on during the following week and beyond. It's the monsoon season.

So far, the favorite places to eat are: Casa Grande, May Cafe, the Beijing Palace (great dim sum!), Chen's Palace, China Star (a fantastic buffet!) & the Owl Cafe (after trying it again in November and finding the food & service had improved) the tuna sandwiches at Subway. There is a list of others to visit. When traveling, try the Ranch Kitchen in Gallup, NM, Teresa's in Las Vegas, NM or the Navajo Nation Inn at Window Rock, AZ.

The places to shop: Cottonwood, Coronado & Winrock.

August 23, 2001: because the POWERBALL lottery jackpot was estimated at $280 million, two tickets were purchased. Neither won anything.

August 25, 2001: gym equipment received on day & time promised. However, it was not the item we purchased, it was a larger set. However, on second thought, the extra equipment will & has been used. Additonal weights were needed & bought.

August 27-28, 2001: the studio is now the gym area; the front area of the second floor is Brad's studio. Boxes from the porch were moved to the shelves in the gym.

September 18, 2001: went to New Mexico State Fair.

September 22, 2001: discovered great (and huge!) Oriental market on Louisiana south of Central.

September 29, 2001: started subscription program at comic book shop.

October 5, 2001: Brad makes necklaces for both of us. They consist of garnet & silver.

October 6, 2001: morning temperatures remain in the forties. Bake pineapple upside down cake.
At this time, Captain is sleeping with us in bed, or alone during daylight hours. If we take a nap in the afternoon, he may join us.

October 19, 2001 was the death of the old printer. It became too picky, eating or refusing paper most of the time. A new H/P printer was purchased and hooked into the system that same day.

October 21, 2001 and Brad baked two pumpkin pies.

New Mexico is the "Land of Enchantment", it is also the "Land of Classic Cars". At any time of day on well traveled Albuquerque streets you can see cars from the 30's to the 80's in mint condition! These vehicles wear the paint color(s) that were popular when it rolled off the assembly line (such as the salmon/grey & aqua/white combinations of the 50's).

August 15, 2001: the first day of school in Albuquerque, and the day President Bush arrived. The previous week Central AVE was repaved, although its "before" condition was better than many streets in Northern Virginia! President Bush arrived, traveled, read, dined, spoke, exercised, raised money & left. No big deal.