Allergies

I have never had allergies, but looks like that has changed. I have developed some sort of hay fever, and I thoroughly do not enjoy it. Even after taking some allergy medicine, my nose was still stuffy and runny.

So this whole allergies thing is new to me? Anyone want to comment on their allergies or experiences with them?

As a side note, I am curious somewhat about the development of allergies. That is, how am I allergic now, where I wasn't before? Perhaps it's because I haven't been living here for a long period of time, and in my absence my body has become unaccustomed to the environment.

I recall seeing reports that the number of kids with allergies is on the rise. I think I can tie this all together. Kids today are spending less time outside. Less time outside and exposed to the elements means your body is not used to dealing with the foreign objects that you would breathe, feel, or bump into.

I think spending more time outside as a kid helps build up somewhat your "immunity" to various things. Sort of like vaccines. I have nothing to back up this idea, but it seems to make sense. There are certainly some allergies that people are born with that no amount of early childhood exposure will cure. Indeed, everyone is allergic to bee stings, but some are more allergic than others.

Some things can't be changed, but I believe there is something to be said for allowing your kids to play outside in the dirt, in the bushes, with the bugs, and whatever else may be in the great outdoors (or the great sidewalk, depending on your living situation). Sure it's not the cleanest of environments, but perhaps time spent therein could do some good, just as you shouldn't pick up a child each time they fall, lest you inhibit their growth.

Unfounded ideas, but maybe they have some merit. Any thoughts there?

All things bright and beautiful

To continue on the theme of the previous post for a little...

Albuquerque has some of the best skies and sunsets. I have heard that watching the sun set over the pacific is amazing, but there is nothing like the sunsets we get here on a regular basis. This week alone has some exception cases. Driving home from work one day, the sunset was a brilliant transition from a deep orange through a radiant pink and into a stark purple across the billowing layers of clouds, staggered across the western sky.

What made this sunset even better though, was the fact that it was raining on the west side of town. Albuquerque is set in a valley, with the Sandia mountains on the east side, the Rio Grande running throught the center, and a small mesa on the west side, with another mountain in the distant west. I was on the east side of town, so I had a long, clear view over the town. Now back to the rain: the rain made it better because of its impeccable timing. The rain caught the beatiful colrs of the sunset, so I could look out and see an orange and pink rainstorm falling under the ornamental clouds.

I wish I had a picture of the scene (I have been meaning to get a camera...), but pictures just don't do it justice. I did a google image search for "Albuquerque sunsets", and the results were pretty, but drab in contrast to the real event.

Another recent sunset had some beautiful shafts of light coming out from a thin spot in the clouds, as if to highlight a few of their favorite houses. I love shafts of light. Besides the symbol of hope that they have been used for, they provide a nice accent to the scene and break in the coulds. The clouds glowing in the spots that they're too thin and color splashed on the edges also contribute to the masterpiece being painted in the sky each night

Bright colors on clouds that ebb and flow up the evening sky, light shining through in resplendent
glory, a last hurrah for the day at its close.

If you ever get a chance, come to Albuquerque and see the sunsets. Every now and then, the sunset is just okay...but that is the exception.