365:365

Today, I was fortunate enough to be able to see Bodies: The Exhibition here at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The show is continuing on thru January 9th, so if you happen to be able to go... GO.

This is not a show for the faint of heart... as it shows several dozen bodies in various states of dismemberment and scientific preservation... in order to highlight different body systems, organs, and functions. As a former nurse, this was obviously not a factor for me... or for the people I went to see the show with. For me, it was glorious... and stupendous... and awesome... and definitely a work of art. Each figure was displayed with dignity and grace. Docents gave tons of information, as well as the Exhibit providing audio guides, and having knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.

So... here are some "Sneak Peaks" into the Exhibit... courtesy of some pics I found on the Internet...

364:365

Life is full of irony...

I went out and about in the late afternoon to pick up an item off of Freecycle... and had to stop and get some dog food and such... so I stopped at a small "catch-all" type of Mart in a somewhat seedy part of town. Walking in... it was a visual feast... especially compared to the very drab and grey-with-barred-windows.. and door-only-slightly ajar... exterior.

Inside... were brightly colored pinatas... next to canned food... next to cheap Barbie knock-offs... which were next to the pot pipes and various tobaccos...

As I was getting my items (and chatting with the very nice clerk)... a gangster wanna-be looking youth came in... sheepishly carrying a dozen beautiful roses ("for my moms" he said)... while he casually asked another guy about buying a small machine gun. Yes... machine gun. I will assume a toy one.

Life is strange... and wonderful. Like today... when I went to get some chicken wings for dinner... picked up my weekly ALIBI newspaper... and discovered I was the "Shutterbug" photo winner for the week... this always surprises me... but really makes me happy :)

And tomorrow... I am going to see the BODIES Exhibit here in ABQ. It was commented to me that it was interesting how I was going to see an exhibit full of dead bodies... at the dead end of the year... and how ironic it was that those bodies lived on... past their time... and how things are beginning again soon with the new year... and it was all so ironic ... and interesting... and strange... and wonderful.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell