Hot Chilis are Better than Hot Fevers

Although I'm sorry that Little One and I weren't the best company for the NM partying, I'm glad we were there. And I'm glad that She felt a little better on the day my mom and I had designated for visiting old haunts in Santa Fe. Because, for one thing, the Plaza in summer looks like this:

and the air feels warm, fresh and familiar. But another thing I am really glad of, is that Puke-o-rama 2010 hadn't kicked off yet. Because, Peanuts, the best food in the WORLD, yep, the whole planet, is in New Mexico. And I don't care how hard you look, how well you cook, or what anyone says or advertises, it absolutely and utterly cannot be found any. where. else.
So, seeing as how I don't get to visit nearly enough, I stockpiled green chile like a Y2K fanatic getting ready for the Big One.
My mom knows all the best places. Where the buildings are out of the way and boring and barely even have a sign, and the food nearly causes you to faint from happiness. We hit as many of these joints as was humanly possible, and walked it off in between, wandering the plaza and breathing in the cool, perfect air on the mountain.
Little One was still not totally Herself. She may have even had a little fit, resulting in a time out on the sidewalk, resulting in a big fit, that was evidently SO awesome that a photographer came up and just had to start snapping closeups (without asking), saying, "ooh, the emotion is just so real!" But overall, She had a good time exploring and a GREAT time trying the food.
That's right. Beans and tortillas, meat and chilis, salsas and sopaipillas. She totally kept up with me and my mom, which is saying a lot. And I have to confess to a little bit of pride at how the girl does justice to Her New Mexican heritage. She may be barely past babyhood, but as far as Little One is concerned, the spicier the better! Can you tell we are enjoying ourselves here?












She got further spoiled when we went into a cheesy souvenier shop for batteries, and She fell instantly in love. Oooh, Nana, Nana pleaaase? Baby Nana! Baby! You know, my Nana fell for that same trick. I had a cheap plastic Indian doll just like it, obtained with the exact same puppy eyes in pretty much the same place. Those Nanas. Suckers.
Well, Hadeezhi here has become a favorite friend, and not only comforted Little One immensely the rest of the trip and on the plane, but has come along with us just about everywhere since we got back. These Nanas, I tell you. They know things.