Red or Green?

"Red or green?" Wow. Sometimes when confronted with these three words it becomes a little hard to focus and find an answer because your mind is being assaulted by all its implications. What a beautiful question, though. Especially when it signals that a Frontier fiesta burger will soon be entering your mouth. Green is the obvious answer to the question is this situation, red chile just doesn't quite have the same effect as green chile when it comes to the fiesta burger (the red still does provide a gastronomic experience from Heaven, only a little less intensive one than that of the green). I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was absolutely great to be able to spend a little over a week in New Mexico during the Christmas break! And for those of you that don't know, "Red or green?" is the state question of New Mexico.

I landed in Albuquerque on the 29th around 21:00, and had the pleasure of being able to stay until the 6th of January. The time was spent as a family enjoying each other's company, and doing all possible to avoid any type of athletic activity (on my part). You can't really appreciate how remarkably in shape the Pavlik family is until you spend 4 months eating Bratwursts and drinking beer in Germany and then visit them. 

New Year's Eve was a blast: a few friends, a lot of games, and even more finger food to keep us occupied while waiting for 0:00 to roll around. We did all make it, although only barely! I'm getting old. 21 New Year's Eves behind me and I just don't know how many more I am going to be able to stay up to welcome. Other highlights included: 

• a meal at Redbrick Pizza
• multiple delicious family breakfasts and dinners
• dominating Nathaniel in 3 strait games of bowling
• a nice soup and bread outing with Nathaniel at Great Harvest Bread Co. 
• countless games of Bananagrams 
• a couple games of 7s
• reading, card playing, and talking in front of the wood stove
• a family outing to see the new Les Misérables movie
• a family walk down by the river at Berg Park
• a breakfast with Fr. Tim Farrell 
• some ping-pong at the San Juan College fitness center
• a couple hangout/study sessions with the family at Durango Joe's and Starbucks
• watching Joyeaux Noël with the family and the dogs
• many, many hottub sessions
• a few kisses from Scampi and Nacho

Needless to say, I didn't do a single bit of studying during the Christmas holiday, and so I am now having to play a little catch up before the final exams, the first of which is the 30th of January. On that note, I'm off to hit the books for a tad before bed.