Friends!

Party-Patty has made a lot of new friends in New Mexico. Here are a few of them. :)


These are some of my classmates: Sandeep and Andy. We study (and party) together. Our favorite thing to do is get PBR Specials at Brickyard Pizza (PBR & slice of pizza for $3.75!).


These are my some of my crazy work friends: Delilah and Josh. Here we're at Burt's downtown watching a one-man-electronic-band. It was alright but I wished I had my Devo costume. I apparently didn't get the joke because I was too busy posing for the picture. We also like to hang out at Delilah's pad and make music at Josh's. :) We definitely like to have cocktails.

Thanksgiving in Durango, CO

For Thanksgiving we invited our friends over for dessert and mulled wine. Everyone got to draw their own Turkey. It was really fun, until everyone left. The next day we left for Durango, Colorado! About 3 hours north, the drive was pretty uneventful. It is amazing, however, how the scenery seems to immediately change once you cross the New Mexico/Colorado border. The best part was when Emily treated us to Starbucks Coffee and breakfast burritos! YUM! Also, we think the lady who worked at La Hacienda may have been the nicest lady we have ever encountered.

Upon our arrival, Emily's grandparents (Earl & Dorothy) offered to keep an eye on Zane while we hitched a ride on The Polar Express! Emily's uncle David was kind enough to arrange tickets for us, as he has worked at the Durango/Silverton train station since Emily was a little girl. I don't think Zane minded one bit- he thoroughly enjoyed relaxing by the fire in good company. He was right at home and grandpa loved him, although it took him about 2 hours to remember his name. For a long time grandpa called him 'Jane'. Grandma put a stop to that real quick!!! And then he said "Oh, with a Z!!!! Like zebra?" We thought it was pretty funny he thought of Z for zebra before he thought of Z for Zook!!! Patty and I shared a good laugh upstairs while eavesdropping on this particular conversation.

Here's a funny picture of Patty trying to kiss the giant blow up Polar bear. :) Obviously Emily needs to take some photography classes....This is Emily and Patty enjoying their ride on The Polar Express. It was extremely fun: hot chocolate, the most amazing chocolate-covered graham crackers from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Facotry, Santa, caroling, kids... THE WORKS!! We had a very nice time. Next time we will wear our PJ's!!! dThe next day we went shopping in Durango. It was a nice little town. It was good to see snow on the ground! On the ride home we got extremely bored. Emily was so bored she took out her make-up and painted a black eye on her face! hahaha. Looks real, huh?! Toward the end of the drive, we decided to stop in Cuba and get some snacks to tide us over. We got some coffee, junk food and scratchers.... Patty won $5 and Emily won another scratcher! Totally worth it. We did just get some white stuff of our own here in abq! The day before Patty's finals were due, it snowed allll day. Patty spent the day in her room writing a million pages and watching Zane watch the snow from her bedroom window. It was sooo cozy! Emily was so nice and made Patty scrambled eggs and coffee so she could study right through meal-time! Afterwards, Patty took a long study break and went to Gecko's with Tammie. Albuquerque in a snow storm seems so quaint! And it was extremely funny how everything shut down and I think we barely got 2 inches!! hahahah! Silly Southwesterners.

In five days we both leave to go home for Christmas. It's amazing how time flies!! Seems like just yesterday Patty and Billy pulled into the drive at 444 Carlisle for the first time. Now we will be apart for two whole weeks!! I'll miss you, roommate!!!!

All work and no play!!! (For Steve and Todd-- Sorry!!)

It's been over a month since we last updated you all on what's been going on at the Zent Residence. And we truly apologize... but trust us, it hasn't been that exciting.

On top of finishing 2 group projects for her Community & Regional Planning course (that's a picture of the new architecture building), Patty has been working on campus helping to compile a book detailing the history of Chile (the country adjacent to Argentina!). She's also been considering applying to the dual degree program which would add another year to her studies! What!? And working in historic Old Town at the High Noon Restaurant & Saloon. She hasn't had much time for anything other than sleeping.

Emily has also been working a lot! She's been running the show at Gecko's Bar & Tapas right down the street from home! It's so convenient that sometimes Patty walks Zane down there and sits on the patio and watches Emily work. Sometimes she gets free coffee, burritos, and Zane gets bacon. Yum!

In her spare time, Emily volunteers at UNM Hospital in the Child Life Department. She spends 2 hours a week coloring and playing with children, some more sick than others. She brings home all her creations for Patty to hang up around the house. As a volunteer, she is currently at the bottom of the totem pole, but she aspires to be like one of these ladies in the near future.

Additionally, Emily spends time at the AA Central Office answering phones as part of her service work for her 12-step program. She celebrated 10 months of sobriety on Nov. 23 and is looking forward to 10 more!

Admist all of our work, we finally found the time to winterize our single pane windows with some good old plastic from Lowes Hardware. Please keep in mind this was our first time.Despite purchasing 2 packages that were supposed to cover 8 windows each, we ran out. For the small windows in the yoga room, the laundry room, and the bathroom, we became very resourceful and taped small scraps of plastic together to cover them all! It was amazing. But not as amazing as the nest of spider eggs we found! Complete with Charolette!

At one point, Patty called her Dad for help. He said he was too busy to come over and that we would have to do it ourselves. Yuck! Emily had to scrape it off while Patty shrieked in terror. Surprise, surprise.

After covering all of the windows, we thought we were experts and even considered going professional. We spoke to soon. The following day the plastic started coming off in our bedrooms. I think we might have blowdryed for too long. But who knows.

Throughout all of our hard work this past month, Linda and Zane have been of no help at all although they do lighten the mood with their antics. Patty left raw hamburg on the counter to thaw so that she could make shepard's pie. When she came back from walking Zane, Linda had thrown the hamburg onto the floor, torn open the plastic, shredded the styrofoam packaging and eaten a generous chunk of the still-frozen meat! We think it's in protest of her new diet.

Zane is a nervous wreck, himself. On Thursday nights we tend to have company over to watch TV and relax. Zane doesn't really like company; it gives him anxiety. And anxiety makes him fart... a lot. He stinks so bad he literally clears a room. If you don't believe us, come try it for yourself. You can keep your coat on because you won't be here long. Because Patty is so embarrassed of her smelly pet, she is currently giving him a digestive aid in the hopes that our Thanksgiving Get-Together won't be ruined. Wish us luck!

Bienvenidos, Zane!!

Zane is the newest addition to the Zent Residence.  He was adopted from the New Mexico Animal Humane Society on October 15, 2008.  He's a 2 year old, red and white merle (that's his coloring) Australian Cattle Dog (also known as a Queensland Heeler).  He knows "sit" but he won't "lay down."  He's learning frisbee and fast!  And he's extremely loyal.  

(He's also petrified of a life-sized bronze statue of a pig down at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History... but don't tell him I told you that).  

He's inZane!  Cuuuute!!

Phillips Academy, Non Sibi Day New Mexico 2008

Non Sibi; Not for one's self.

Patty and 2 Alumn from her high school helped to build a house in Santa Fe on September 27th.

For more pictures check out Karen's, the photographer's, website: here. 

"Let me show you how to use the saw."

Emily's mom, Terry comes to town!!!

So, Patty went to a rodeo a couple of weekends ago at the State Fair with Kiera and Seth. It was really really fun but none of her pictures came out so you'll have to use your imaginations. Her favorite part was when they put 5-year old kids, girls and boys with hockey helmets on, onto large female sheep and made them ride like real cowboys! It was HILARIOUS.

On Saturday, September 27th, Emily, Patty, Emily's Mom Terry, Grammy, and friend Deborah all went to dinner and to see a play produced by a local theatre company called Mother Road. Terry and Patty really hit it off, not only did they share a meal at dinner and eat off the same plate, they were even finishing each other's sentences! The play was held in an old gas station/garage that has been transformed into a performing space called "The Filling Station." The set was an Irish Pub in Ireland and all of the actors did a great job faking their accents! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After the play we went to Emily's favorite Gelato place and kept Grammy out almost until midnight!!

You can check out the history of The Filling Station here: http://www.fillingstationabq.com/Site/Welcome.html

On Monday, September 27th we took a trip to Wagner's Farm in Corrales, NM. It was a beautiful Fall day but it was extremely warm out!

This is a picture of chile ristras, long strings of chiles made for decoration. Green chile is a less ripe, and sweeter tasting, red chile. Yum!
















We bought a half bushel of green chile's and they roasted them right there for us. They use propane and these metal barrels to keep the chiles moving so they don't burn.


It smelled sooo good! This is a GREAT part of Fall that I had no idea about until now! Then they put the warm chiles into a large trashbag and you take them home, peel them, and put them into ziploc bags and freeze them. Now we can have fresh green chile all winter long because chile season only comes once a year!!

Me, Terry, and Grammy waiting for our chile!

Terry had to leave Thursday, October 2nd and neither of us wanted her to go. We had so much fun during her visit! Bye, Terry! Come back soon!!

We extend an inivtation to anyone who wants to come visit. We get lonely. :)

A little bit of New Mexico in Massachusetts

I sent a little bit of New Mexico home with Todd after his visit.  Along with a sobbing Indian nightlight, a couple of Mexican wrestling masks, and some Pinon incense, Tsunami also got her souvenir.  

This is Tsunami-Mexicana.

(I think George likes the sombrero more than she does... but that's OK!)

"Take it off... pleeease..."

A short tour of 444

Herbert and Hannah in the Duck Pond.

Gnome Garden in the Yoga Oasis/Room.

(The one lounging only has one leg.

We rescued him from Walgreens for $.032.

He's happier now.)

Fruit for Brains

(sustaining our health)

Worst roommate ever....

She doesn't have a job and mooches all the time. She wakes up at the crack of dawn and makes lots of noise. She rolls in the dirt and tracks it in the house. When it is time to clean, she goes outside and sits in the sun. She gets high on catnip and sleeps all day. She snores. She invites her boyfriend over whenever she feels like it. She doesn't excuse herself when she sneezes. She begs for food but doesn't take it because she is a picky eater! She doesn't like any of the treats we buy for her. She kicks her kitty litter everywhere. She drinks out of the bathtub. She's a bed hog. She can't figure out how to open half-shut doors to let herself out. She's rude to company. She's the messiest eater ever! She interrupts yoga time. We should kick her out! But she's too cute.

It's gonna be a good year!

It's been one week since Patty and I watched Zozobra go up in flames, taking all our trials from last year with him. It was an amazing adventure that I will never forget. I have watched Zozobra burn many times in my life, but this year was particularly special. This year I watched him through sober eyes.

One week after giving away our troubles, we invited Patty's new friends over for a BBQ. Kiera and Seth are both new to NM as well and joined us last week in our adventure to Santa Fe. Patty is quite the grille master and is well on her way to perfecting chicken fajitas. MMMMMM! My favorite! After dinner Patty was kind enough to stack the dishes in an organized manner and fill the sink with water and soap so Seth could do the dishes! What a good sport he was. Thanks Seth! And then we all enjoyed an episode of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'. After Kiera and Seth went home for the night, we both decided we were exhausted and it was time for bed. I made my way to the bathroom while Patty and Linda admired Patty's new wall art (yes, they're 1$ placemats from Wal-Mart). I sat down on the toilet and, luckily before I started going, reached over to the toilet paper. As I was ripping off a couple squares, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye and felt something touch my fingers. I immediately threw the TP on the ground and screamed. I pulled up my pants and ran into the hallway, where Patty met me wondering what the heck I was screaming about. There, looking up at Patty and Emily with his big, black, scared eyes was Mr. Mantis. He must've crawled through the window. After about 5 minutes of figuring out how to get him outside safely and without injuring him, we were able to relocate him to his natural habitat. Patty made me close the window in the bathroom so no more bugs can get in. For those of you who don't know, Patty is not a bug person. Neither am I. However, I don't believe Mr. Mantis posed a threat. In fact, just the opposite.....

The word mantis is a Greek word meaning 'prophet' or 'fortune teller'. Many people believe that encounters with a praying mantis are good luck, myself included. As startling as it was to see Mr. Mantis, I am happy he stopped by and believe he came to let me know Patty and I are both on the right path and this is a safe and healthy home for us to be in during this time of our lives.

AHHHHH-Mazing!!!  Zozobra, the fiesta, centers around the ritual burning of Old Man Gloom, or Zozobra, to dispel the hardships and travails of the past year.  It was a huge spectacular with fireworks, dancers, chanting, and moaning coming from the 50-foot marionette!  As thousands of people in the crowd taunted, "Burn him, burn him, burn him," I thought about everything that Emily and I have been through in the past year.  As my mouth fell open in awe, I began to feel renewed.  And as he went up in flames, along with all of our trials, I screamed.  It felt good.  And now I'm ready to start anew.

Meep Meep!!!

I saw my first real roadrunner today.  The fact that I KNEW it was a roadrunner was the more amazing part.  Pulling away from our street onto Lomas I spotted it and correctly identified it before Emily could even blink.  I was so proud.  It was awesome.

Emily laughed.

Re-united and it Feels so Goood

It's been four years since we've seen each other. It seems like no time has passed, though. We've done so many fun things since Patty's arrival three weeks ago! We went to an Isotopes game, Zozobra, Sadie's, a pig roast..... the fun never ends! Plus, we have a lot more to do. Stay tuned for a rodeo, pumpkin patch maze and a tour of 444 Carlisle.