Pants

Last night I picked Boyfriend up from the airport and the first words out of my mouth when we walked in the house were "I have got to get out of these pants". Boyfriend just laughed and said "I was wondering how long it would take you". This is something he has gotten used to. The first three months that we lived here I worked from home and did not have many occasions where I have had to wear pants or jeans. That is not to say that I am wandering around the house pant-less, because I do wear pants, they are just of the yoga persuasion. I would have to say that they are about the most comfortable things on earth. If I could go through the rest of my life wearing no other pants than yoga pants, I would. Now that I am unemployed I have no reason to wear pants EVER! On the rare occasions that we go out to dinner or meet up with friends I do begrudgingly put on my favorite pair of jeans. While out I find myself repeatedly thinking about how once we get home I will get to slide out of these rough and confining jeans and into my comfy ol' yoga pants. Sometimes the thought of them gets so overwhelming that I want to cut the evening short just to get home to them. Sometime soon the day will come that I am going to be back in the workplace wearing a pair of khakis. All though necessary, I rue that day. My addiction to my yoga pants is quite crippling. I know it is not a healthy relationship we have, but it is one I am going to hold onto as long as I can.

well hello there...

On our last day in El Paso in an attempt to get out of the house and into the sun, Boyfriend and I went to the zoo.

Presidio Chapel of San Elizario

San Elizario is on of the oldest communities in the El Paso area, with a fort or presidio established to protect the Camino Real (Royal Road) and the area settlements. The original chapel was built in 1935 for Mexican troops stationed in the valley in the 1770s. US troops were assigned to the Presidio in 1850 and during the Civil War volunteers from California were stationed there to prevent a reoccupation of the area by Confederate forces. The present Presidio Chapel of San Elizario was constructed in 1877 to replace the earlier chapel which had been destroyed by a flood. In 1935 a fire destroyed the original interior. The current interior dates back to the 1944. Visiting these old churches has sparked an inerest in the history surrounding the El Paso area. I can't wait until we return so that I can learn even more.

Mission Socorro

Mission Nuestra Senora da la Limpia Concepcion del Socorro was established in 1682. From that point forward, the mission would undergo a series of relocations, moving to five different places in the El Paso area over the years. The first mission was occupied only from 1682 until 1684, when it had to relocate for protection due to the Manso uprising. The second mission was known as the Old Socorro Mission. It was occupied from 1684 until about 1740. The third mission was occupied from 1740 to 1795, when the fourth mission was constructed. The locations of the first four missions are not known. In 1829 a devastating flood changed the course of the Rio Grande, destroying both the fourth mission and the nearby Socorro Pueblo. The present Socorro mission was completed in 1843 and reused the roof support beams and furnishings of the previous mission. While in this church we were told a story about they acquired their statue of Saint Michael. The statue was made of cork in Mexico and weighed only 110lbs. It was originally made for the Socorro mission in New Mexico. The men transporting the statue stopped at the Socorro mission in El Paso and asked for lodging for the night. They moved the statue into the chapel for safe keeping. The next morning when they went to load up the statue the men found it too heavy to move. They enlisted the help of ten men and still could not move the statue. After many failed attempts it was decided the the statue was meant for this Socorro mission and not the one in New Mexico. The gentleman telling the story went on to tell us that the Saint Michael statue had a habit of moving around the church until it was given its own alcove to the left of the pulpit. He also told us a few ghost stories of hearing people praying or singing in the church when no one was there. It is a beautiful old mission, I can see why spirits would want to stay.

Chico's Tacos

Every time I would tell someone who used to live in El Paso that I was heading down they would always ask if I was going to go to Chico's Tacos. Boyfriend has talked this place up to me a millions times...yet we would never seem to make it there when in town. So yesterday while out looking a wedding venues Lupe took us to Chico's Tacos. Their tacos are basically a fried flauta. Us white folk call them taquitos and buy them frozen in large boxes at Costso when we have parties. You get three tacos per order smothered in a red chili sauce and cheese with a side of jalapeno sauce to pour over the top. Add a side of fries and an icy coke and you are set. They were pretty good...but not something I could eat everyday. I think they would best hit the spot after a night at the bar. I am glad to get yet another El Paso institution under my belt.

Mission Ysleta del Sur

We arrived in El Paso on Thursday afternoon and man was it nice to feel the sun on my face yesterday. Boyfriend's brother are in town as well and his mom is happy to have a full house. One of Boyfriend's younger brothers Abe had recently proposed to his girlfriend Christy. They have decided to have the wedding in El Paso so today me, Christy and Boyfriend's mom Lupe were scouting out wedding venues. The last place we looked at was the Mission Ysleta del Sur. This is one of the three churches on the Mission Trail. Mission Ysleta was founded in 1692. The mission was washed away by floods in 1744 and 1829. The mission was reopened in 1851 only to be destroyed again by fire in 1907. Only the sacristy remained and the mission was rebuilt using the remaining adobe walls updating the facade with Mission Revival details. the bell tower was also altered adding the large silver dome, capping 3 centuries of natural disasters. The second I walked in this little church took my breath away. Christy is planning the wedding I would want for myself if Boyfriend and I were headed down that road. I have had fun helping her in the begining stages of her planning.

Headed down to cool ol' El Paso

Weather is Seattle...cold, wet, and shitty Weather in El Paso...sunny, warm, and did I mention sunny? Boyfriend and I are leaving the dreariness of Seattle for the warm sunny goodness that is El Paso Texas. YEAH!!!