This has been a very trying couple of weeks... but... these things make us stronger, right?
I will expand on that sometime... but right now it is still fresh and somewhat painful
... and so I don't want to muddle it all with my emotions.

Tonight... we (BAJ, the daughter, and I) went out for dinner... and then we stopped at the most fabulous book shop EVER! ... right here in downtown ABQ. It was amazing... and I am delighted to have found it open and waiting for me to browse amongst the glorious stacks of books.

These last 3 photos were taken at Saggio's Restaurant here on Central Ave. We had a fabulous dinner (as always... the food is awesome!)... and I got to take a couple photos of the food (there is a shot of the canoli above) and the cacti that are right out front of the restaurant. It always amazes me that people will "graffiti" the cacti... but then... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...

This one (above) became my photo for the day. I altered it slightly ...

changed some of the color a bit... added some flavor/grunge a little...

... and this one (below) was taken of those same cacti from inside the restaurant. It was getting quite dark outside, and the lights from inside the restaurant were being reflected in the window... making the cacti look like they were having their own little party going on right there...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell