New Mexico by Highway and Byway

We woke up this morning in Early, Texas. I woke up at about five to a very rumbly tumbly and spewed the last of my Stubb's BBQ into the shower. Sad day for the BBQ.
Luckily we made it to a much better place. A REAL hotel in Albuquerque.
Today was amazing! New Mexico is pretty gorgeous, even when it is flat as a pan. We stopped in Rosewell, land of aliens and government
Conspiracies. We saw lots of pretty horse farms, along with lots of aliens either painted on the windows at Arby's, or 15 foot tall wood carvings painted neon green sitting in random fields.
We also went to the grand International UFO Museum and Research Center. I am more confused about how I feel about aliens now than ever. We did learn that throwing a hub cap in the air and taking a picture was a solid enough hoax to get published nationwide. Oh how far we have come.
The most interesting part of the day can when we visited out great-great aunt Mary. So, my grandma Diana's aunt. Aunt Mary is a lovely, talkative, beautiful 97 year old who has been living in a rest home for the last 10 years or so. Robert played Danny Boy, God Bless America,, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Silent Night. Aunt Mary sang along as best as she could, and was very moved by Silent Night. One of the nurses had to leave because she was crying so much. After hearing Rob play at church, and now for Aunt Mary, I am convinced his time at Rice was well spent. His playing is more elegant, clear, and moving than ever before. And I thought he couldn't get any better, psha! She was a very sweet woman and it was nice to visit with her and very hard I leave that tiny body and crying eyes alone in her room.