Hey Now   His Hankness

We just got back from the holiday in Santa Fe. Had a great time rediscovering the fun of a white christmas. SF was pretty well blanketed all week, and i’m deeply embarrassed that i never removed our pair of x-country skis from the roof rack. Even more embarrassed that i went nuts building my own ski carriers for the car. I guess i was so proud of them i just couldn’t bear to remove the skis.  C did graciously allow me a day off to go downhill skiing, which remarkably was injury-free.

We did, however, enjoy a train ride on the Santa Fe Southern railway. The SFSR does private tourists trips on the 120 year old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line. This excursion had a children’s story hour theme, which was made tolerable by the wise inclusion of a restored 1920’s era bar and cocktail car. The trip was a lot of fun if a little chaotic since we shared the line with the new Rail Runner commuter line between SF and Belen, NM. This meant long pauses on the tracks as scheduled Rail Runner lines routed through. This would have been okay, except that the cars were unheated (we did find some musty blankets in the baggage loft). The general air of amtrak-style entropy was completed by the apparent Art School refugees who were manning the bar and other critical services. The MFA candidate manning the bar was dressed like a cross between Arlo Guthrie and one of the characters that pops up in the cornfield on Hee Haw. Still, it was a lot of fun and the kids all appeared happy.

So, if you have time, take a look at the Winter 2008 gallery for more pics of the Snow Miser.