Ruins, an owl, and a rare elevated view

These are from a trip to Chihuahua, Mexico, I took at the end of June/early July. I liked having a more realistic view of what that part of Mexico looks like. (I think it just gets painted as a desert with nothing there, which is obviously not the case). Chihuahua is the home of Paquimé, an archaeological zone that was home to the Mogollon. And no, I had never heard of them, but the ruins are very different from others I've seen (and I've seen a few in the last year).  Very labyrinthine. 

We also visited a couple of cemeteries, which might sound weird, but cemeteries (or panteones) are really interesting places. I enjoy a good cemeteries. These ones were sparse on the shade, but really interesting, and I made the acquaintance of an owl who missed the memo that it was his bedtime.

Finally, we drove up to the tops of the hills and got a great not-quite-aerial-but definitely-an-elevated view of the area. I don't get chances to take shots like that often, so I loved it. 

Chihuahua reminded me very much of home. Which just goes to show that national borders are really arbitrary compared to the actual terrain they cross. That definitely stuck out a lot on this trip. But I enjoyed Chihuahua, and enjoyed seeing a different part of Mexico. 

Different kinds of smart

I just survived buying a new car, an accomplishment on par with climbing Everest. It was seriously a process, and I feel like I had to navigate the 3 dangers of the car dealership*.The final stage was having a concierge walk me through all the bells and whistles--aka buttons and tech--on the vehicle. And I just have to say that I miss the good old days of when a car was neither smart nor dumb. It was just a car. 

My new vehicle is essentially a bunch of computer chips held together by a frame and wheels. Given that the basic function of a vehicle is to move a person from point A to point B, it really seems like overkill. For example, it has a 'smart glass' windshield. Why does my windshield need to be 'smart'? It's a windshield, not a rocket scientist. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, really.

Anyway, it got me thinking about how we define smart. In the society I live in, smart is understood in a fairly one-dimensional, non-inclusive way (primarily defined by a gpa). And I think now that same society is applying a one-dimensional understanding to objects, too. Like "smart cars" and other smart appliances. Yep, I guess it's one kind of smart. But there's also a kind of smart where you have a windshield that is just a piece of glass and doesn't require a computer technician and deep pockets to repair or replace. Or the smart that is a washing machine that does what you tell it instead of it sassing you and doing whatever the heck it wants. 

Technology does a lot of good things, and I always enjoy finding the ways it can intelligently improve my life. I really like my car, perhaps in spite of the tech (although there are a couple of  features hat make a lot of sense and I will enjoy using).

But maybe there's more than one way an object can be smart. 

*akin to the dangers of the Fire Swamp in Princess Bride, in case the reference didn't make sense.

Something suspicious

I like fruit snacks. It wasn't a thing I had when I was a kid (maybe that novelty is part of their attraction?) but I have definitely made up for the lost years of my childhood and have even discovered which ones I prefer. But when I eat them, I can't completely escape the niggling in my mind that tells me they are just softer gummy bears with a smaller serving size. But one is a candy and one is a "snack", and they get to go in different aisles of the grocery store. 

Same with muffins. They are basically undercover cupcakes, but one is a breakfast food and the other dessert. Once you start to think about it, most of the breakfast aisle  has been invaded by desserts. Pop tarts?  Fake pie that you put in the toaster. Cereal bars? Closer to candy bars trying to keep a low profile. And there's a whole line of "snacks" that are desserts in disguise. Someone is definitely trying to subvert my breakfast (and snack) diet!

On the bright side, it does make me feel slightly less horrible about how often I skip breakfast. 

Travel conundrums

I can travel for 2 weeks to another country with a backpack, a 22 inch duffel bag, and my camera bag. 

But when I travel 2 hours to visit family for a weekend, I end up with a trunkful of luggage. Which seemingly makes no sense. 

Here's the thing though. When I travel to visit family, there are kids involved. Which means I gotta pack their favorite books and their favorite games. 

And who knows what else.

Being a favorite aunt has its costs, my friends.