Aah! This is the life, I think.

Global warming? Not here in Santa Fe. If you don’t mind mild temps and low humidity, this is the place to live.

Right now we are in our afternoon showers mode. Low 80’s and occasional showers by four or five PM. Yes, I know it’s hard to work with. No sweat. Just wet now and then.

Open all the windows and just sit at the kitchen table in the afternoon with a tall glass of something. Something tall and frosty along with a full bowl of spicy hummus and pita chips and listen to the rain splat and drip. What more could a guy ask for. Don’t answer that! I already have an iPhone.

If the truth be known. Online food reviews are baloney.

My Consumer Report:

Here is the dirty little secret about restaurant reviews. Especially reviews offered Online. Either on a restaurant’s own website or on the hundreds of restaurant review sites. Most of which are placed online just to sell Google ads.

What potential eaters may not know is, most reviews are placed there by the restaurant’s own employees. Sometimes placed under duress. “Say this or else!” Creating a silk purse from a sows ear. Perhaps stretching the truth a bit. A review analogous more like too much MSG on a 3.5-ounce grisly steak. “Our best six ounce premium New York cut grilled to perfection.”

Now here is a real stretch. In my little town of less than 80-thousand dwellers you can rate a restaurant up to Five-Stars. Five Stars?? This is NOT New York or Paris. Our little town would be lucky to have a two and a half star restaurant. Don’t get me wrong. There are a couple eateries here that has passable food. Sometimes cooked fresh. Ingredience used from local growers. Sometimes using some organic “Free-range” meats. But that’s it. Certainly not five stars worth.

Cooking fresh and local does not a great restaurant make. A great restaurant does not exist in a casual eating town like I live in. There is no one here willing to pay the cost of a five star meal. For example, a hundred bucks just for an appetizer? Plus a five star restaurant would not accommodate people showing up in bib overalls or wearing their PJs as they do here. Aloha shirts and faded jeans would be turned away. “No shirt, no shoes, no service.” Simple as that.

Then all of this is to not mention an inviting comfortable and clean dining atmosphere, smiling attentive wait staff, professionally trained chess, eye pleasing table settings and dining ware, live music, nearby adjacent parking accommodations, and other items most customers and casual dining restaurateurs seldom think about here. Not in this little town.

The best you could hope for here is, food prepared in kitchens that have passed health inspection. And for the most part, I’m sure most eateries here have. So, happy dining and Bon Apatite senor.

PS, if you are looking for any style of Asian Cuisine here (raw or cooked) in this little town , forget it. What you will find is American food made with snow peas and cashews. However, people most likely don’t come here for Asian. Southwest is what we have. “We got Southwest senor.”

Just a lovely visit in New Mexico

Coming back home to Tulsa makes me appreciate the calm and peacefulness back in New Mexico. Yes, it’s noisy here in Tulsa. Back in Los Alamos it’s was quiet with pleasant weather. Really nice. No screaming jets streaking across the sky. No rumbling Harleys. No stereo boom cars. Just stillness and pine scented air. You should visit Los Alamos. The historic home of American rocket science and the atom bomb.

On vacation and it's quiet here

Away from the craziness of the so-called real world. Visiting in the Land of Enchantment; sometimes called New Mexico. We are in a small town outside Santa Fe with fresh air and blue skies. Just enjoying the total escape.

I wish all could enjoy this as well. But, there is nothing I can do to make that happen. So, just enjoy the vicarious experience. And believe what I say is real.

My favorite part of being here is little or no noise. No nearby international airport. No jets taking off. No jets landing. No screaming jets passing overhead. No Harleys rumbling up and down the streets. No stereo Boom cars thumping and banging. Just kids outside laughing and yelling. Dogs barking. Kitties meowing and frogs croaking.

And, as you probably have surmised, yes, I am an old person and proud of it. Deserving of a little bit of quiet. Happy Weekend.

Fairy Godmother calling me home

Sunday, August 07, 2011, 11:26:25 AM | Chuck Ayers

It’s amazing how one’s mood improves when away from the nightly news and newspapers. One has a tendency to think about one’s own life and what one has accomplished or fail to accomplished. And more of the latter.

Signifying one spends way too much time analyzing others failures and not one’s own failings. Are you following me? Judge not less you be judged by your own judgments. Hmm? You lost me.

But anyway, I am away in the Land of Enchantment otherwise known as New Mexico. Reading no newspapers. Watching no TV news. Have no cell phone reception. All possibly a pretty good thing. At least for the moment. But must return to harsh reality on Monday.

Reality meaning triple digit temps, humidity, and TV with newspapers.

How can I forestall this return to pumpkinland. Win the lottery I guess. Anyone have a couple of bucks to spare?