c/abq-locals

My truck's alternator gave out on I-25 right after the Big-I merge

Last Tuesday around 5:30pm I was heading north past the Big-I and my battery light flickered, then the whole dash went dark and my F-150 just died in the middle lane. Coasted to the shoulder near the Candelarias exit and had to call a tow from Sandia Towing, cost me $110 just for the haul. Shop on Lomas said the alternator was original from 2011 with 214k miles on it, so I guess it was time. Anyone else had a sudden failure like that on a highway here, or was I just lucky with my timing?

Got stuck babysitting a neighbor's emu during the snowstorm last month

My neighbor on Copper Ave asked me to feed it for one night, then the roads iced over for 4 days and that thing learned how to open my garage with its beak. Has anyone else had a wild animal just decide your house was theirs for a week?

Vent: The cash-only rule at the old Frontier on Central

Used to hit the Frontier for a 2am breakfast burrito back in 2009 and the guy at the counter would spot me a coffee on credit every time. Then one night they switched to card-only and suddenly my whole order got held up while I dug for a $5 bill I didn't have. Anyone else remember the cash jar behind the register or am I imagining that whole setup?

The Marble Slab parking lot changed my whole taco opinion

I always swore by the food trucks on Central. Thought brick and mortar spots were for tourists. Then last Friday I was stuck at the Marble Slab on Juan Tabo waiting out a storm. Saw a little hole in the wall across the street. El Paisa maybe? Went in on a whim. Got the al pastor. That trompo was spinning all day. Meat had that char I never got from a truck. Now I hit that spot every other week. Anyone else flip their stance on a place they ignored for years?

The old man at the gas station corrected me on green chile

I grew up here but always ordered my chile with a spoonful of sour cream on top, thought that was just how it went. Last Tuesday this retired rancher watched me do it at the pump and goes 'son, you are covering up the flavor, not adding to it', so I tried a clean bowl at Sadie's that night. Am I the only one who spent years ruining their own chile without knowing?

The taco truck line at Juanita's finally convinced me

I drove past Juanita's taco truck on Central for 3 years and never stopped. Line was always too long. Last Thursday I gave in and waited 25 minutes. That al pastor was nothing like the stuff at the chain places. How long have I been missing out on this?

The tamale lady on San Pedro has the best red chile I've had in a decade

Stopped at that little cart near the auto shop on San Pedro yesterday, the one with the faded umbrella. Her red chile is smoky and thick, not watery like most places, and she only charges $2.50 each. Does anyone know her schedule or is it just luck when she's out there?

Cashier at Frontier remembered my order after 6 months

Went through the drive-thru last week for a breakfast burrito and the same girl from six months ago told me she remembered I get extra green chile and no eggs. I didn't even recognize her until she said it. It's wild that someone who sees hundreds of people a day would hold onto that detail. Has anyone else had a local spot where the staff just knows you like that?

Caught myself ordering the same burrito for 8 months straight

Stopped at that place on Central near San Pedro every Friday after work, always got the carne adovada with green chile. Then my buddy tags along last month and asks why I never try the chicharron or the red chile pork. I had no answer, I just froze up like a robot. Turns out I was scared of messing up a good thing, which is dumb because they have like 12 options. Anyone else get stuck in a food rut like that and need a friend to snap you out of it?

Had one of those weeks where everything went right for a change

Last Wednesday I went to the North Valley Co-op to pick up some green chile for a stew. The worker there told me they just got a fresh batch from Hatch that morning, so I bought 3 pounds on a whim. Then on Friday, my neighbor came over with a bag of tomatoes from his garden, more than he could use. I ended up making a big pot of chile verde and shared it with three families on my street. It's rare that small things line up like that, but it sure made the whole week feel good. Has anyone else had a string of lucky breaks around town recently?

Tried Old Town farmer's market produce vs the big chain grocery stores

Last Saturday I finally made it down to the Old Town farmer's market before it got too hot. I grabbed some green chiles from a guy named Carlos who grows them himself near Los Lunas. The next day I cooked up a batch of enchiladas using those chiles and some from Smith's I had in the fridge. The difference was NIGHT AND DAY - the farm fresh chiles had this smoky, rich flavor that the store ones just completely lacked. They also cost me $4 for a big bag versus $3.50 for a tiny plastic container at the store. My whole kitchen smelled like roasted chiles for two days and I was honestly sad when they ran out. Has anyone else noticed a big difference with the local produce here in ABQ or am I just getting lucky with certain vendors?

Serious question after talking to my neighbor about composting

Ran into my neighbor Carlos last week while he was tending his bins and he told me he hasn't bought bagged soil in 3 years because of his setup. He said it saves him around $200 a year and his garden looks way better than mine. Has anyone else in ABQ gotten real results from a DIY compost system or is it just not worth the smell and effort?

The old Bear Canyon trail switch I used to cut 20 minutes off my hike

I've been hiking the Bear Canyon arroyo since I was a kid, but last month I noticed a faint path veering off near the big cottonwood about halfway in. I figured it was just a dead end, but I followed it one Saturday and it loops around that steep wash that always slows me down. Turns out some old-timer cut that trail decades ago to avoid the sand during monsoon season. Saved me a solid 20 minutes on my usual loop. Anyone else stumble on hidden shortcuts around the foothills that aren't on the maps?

Worst day on the job in 8 years, almost quit on the spot

Hit 500 miles on the bosque trail this morning without even realizing it

Ngl I just check my running app out of habit and saw 500.3 miles since January, didn't even feel that coming on. Has anyone else had a random milestone sneak up on them like that?

Rant: Overheard a lady at the grocery store say she 'prays over her parking spot'

I was at the Smith's on Coors and Montaño last Tuesday, standing behind a woman who was talking loudly on her phone about how she asks God to find her a good parking spot every time she goes anywhere. She said it works 'about 8 out of 10 times.' I couldn't help but wonder if maybe she just goes at less busy hours. Has anyone else caught bits of conversations in Albuquerque that made you stop and think about how weird we all are?

Got roasted by my neighbor for how I water my lawn

I been watering my grass every morning for 10 minutes and he said I'm basically just wetting the dirt lol. He told me to water deeper like 20-30 minutes twice a week so roots grow down. Anyone else change up their watering routine after someone called them out?

PSA: My neighbor Joe was right about the compost bin placement

I put my new compost bin right next to my back door last spring because it was easier, and by July the smell was so bad I couldn't even sit on my patio. Joe from two houses down kept telling me to move it to the shady side of the yard away from the house, but I thought he was just being picky. Has anyone else ignored good advice from a neighbor and regretted it after a few hot weeks here in Albuquerque?

TIL I hit 100 client training sessions this morning without keeping count

I was just going through my calendar and realized I finished my 100th session today. It surprised me because I never set that as a goal, I just showed up every day. Has anyone else hit a random milestone that snuck up on them?

That old lady at the Flea Market who called out my fake vintage jacket

I was at the Flea Market off 2nd street last Saturday, looking at some old records. This older woman, maybe 70, walks up and taps my shoulder. She says "that jacket's a 2018 reproduction, not a 70s original like you think." I was so embarrassed but she just laughed and showed me how the stitching on the collar was wrong. She spent 15 minutes teaching me about real vintage leather jackets. Has anyone else gotten schooled by an old timer at a local spot?

PSA: South Valley corn stands are way better than the ones on the west side by the casino

Everyone I talk to keeps raving about that big corn stand off Coors near the pueblo casino, but I drove down to the one on Isleta and Rio Communities back in August and paid $4 for a dozen ears that were sweeter and way more tender. The guy running it, old dude named Carlos, even showed me his irrigation setup and talked my ear off for 10 minutes about growing. I get the convenience of the west side spot but the quality difference is pretty clear to me. Anyone else notice this or am I just lucky that day?

I don't get the fuss about that new taco place on Central

Last Saturday I tried Taqueria El Sol that everyone's been raving about on here. The line was out the door and people were saying the al pastor was the best in town. I waited 45 minutes for a plate that was fine, but not life-changing. The meat was a bit dry and the salsa was just okay. Has anyone else felt like it's overhyped compared to El Modelo?

Found out the Sandia Peak tram is the third longest in the world

I was reading the little info cards at the base last weekend and it said it's 2.7 miles long, which puts it behind only the ones in Malaysia and some place in China anyone ever ride it and just feel weird about how high up you are?

Finally cracked the code on finding a reliable handyman in the South Valley

Been looking for someone to patch my drywall for almost two months... kept getting quotes of $400+ or people who just didn't show up. Then I asked the lady at the hardware store on Isleta and she pointed me to a retired guy who does it on the side. He did the whole job for $150 and it looks perfect. Anyone else have luck just asking random locals instead of searching online?

My truck's AC died on the hottest day of the year at the Four Hills light

I was sitting at that light on Tramway for what felt like 20 minutes last Thursday. Temp gauge said 103 and my AC just gave out with a sound like a dying cat. I rolled down the windows but the air was just blast furnace wind. Had to pull into the Sonic on Central and get a Route 44 just to cool my hands on the cup. Anyone else's car pick the worst possible moment to break?