Christmas Decorations around the Valley

Just some of the Decorations seen around town the week before Christmas. Seems to me a lot of people like the idea of snowmen and polar bears and penguins and big blow up snow globes. Can you imagine not a cowboy santa or blow up cactus to be found? I'm sorry but these items look out of place to me with no snow on the ground or frost on the rooftops.
Check out the brilliance of a Witch still hanging in December, can we say put the Halloween stuff away? Sorry, this is my house and since Fall (see earlier post) has just arrived I believe the witch is an appropriate decoration.

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas. Our day was very quiet thanks in huge part to the boys' number one favorite gift, the Wii. It kept them entertained for most of the day, and the good thing is they are not sitting in front of the tv staring at it as they kill aliens or worse, they are up on their feet swinging their arms bowling, and golfing, and fishing. It is actually the first video game system that I can stand to watch them play. Since they have barely played any game except the one that came with it, I believe there will be many weeks of play before they grow tired of this. Or we will at least make it through Winter Break without boredom setting in, I hope. We did manage to go out and take a walk at the water ranch, so there was a little fresh air involved and what appears to be some very intense brotherly conversation.

Christmas Eve at the Zoo

You may be thinking the zoo is a weird place to spend Christmas Eve, but let me tell you it was wonderful. The Phoenix Zoo has put together Zoolights for the holiday season, as I believe many zoos around the country do. After our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at Chili's (don't ask one never knows how these traditions begin), we headed to the zoo. It was a perfect evening to stroll around and enjoy the lights. The weather was in the mid-50s with a slight breeze. There were actually people there in full winter gear, including woolen hats and mittens and I refrained from taking their pictures, well just because it was Christmas and I decided not to make fun of these Southwesterners with their amusing sense of what is cold. The lights were great and there was a walkway lined with trees that had their lights sychronized to the music that was playing. It was great to walk around, get some fresh air and tire out the kids.

PSA No. 4 - Bake Cookies Day

Today is the official Bake Cookies Day, don't ask how I know I just do. So lucky for me that tomorrow is Pot Luck Day at the office. I baked my now famous (in my own mind) peppermint cookies for all to enjoy. If you weren't able to bake some cookies today, don't despair home-baked cookies are good any day of the year.

The Tree that isn't Real

This is the year of the artificial tree, I have been outvoted year after year when it comes to real vs. artificial. Well this year I took things into my own hands and went out and got a fake tree before the voting could take place. This tree came complete with lights and looks as good as any real tree we ever had. The beauty of it is that it doesn't drop needles and doesn't need to be watered. The sad part is it doesn't smell good, but neither did the one we had last year. I think by the time they ship them down here to the desert their scent is gone. Nothing a few well placed pine candles can't handle. So here it is a tree with lights, maybe soon ornaments and who knows what else, hopefully a better picture.

Things I Find Strange - No. 5

You may be thinking, pictures of a store's window display, not so strange. But here is my problem, we are in the desert (see previous post) and I find it strange to pretend that it is going to snow here any time soon, it barely rains. The general perception of this time of year includes snow, and snowflakes, and snowmen and all things associated with a Winter Wonderland, so I find it Strange that they embrace the idea of a snow-filled winter in a place that won't be seeing any snowfall that doesn't melt in a half a second. Yes, I am aware that you can drive 1-2 hours north of here and ski and see snow and play in snow, but not here. For some reason I just find it well Strange.

Things I Find Strange - No. 4

It rained quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, and when I say quite a bit I mean in two weeks of cloudy skies and on and off rain, the accumulation might have reached two inches. Now this is big news and cause for celebration here in the desert. We need the rain, we are running out of water, we must conserve. The park across the street is used for water retention, as are most parks I have seen. This is what it looks like after maybe an hour of light rainfall. All water is directed to the park area. I have seen this park look more like a lake than a park with a little water run-off.

But here is what I find strange, the day after, probably even during the "rain showers" the automatic sprinklers were going off.

Now here in a place where water conservation is cause for rantings in the letters to the editor, we are wasting water trying to have a green lawn. It is a desert for crying out loud, why do we need grass, have they not heard of desert landscaping? The grass is soaked, it does not absorb all that quickly into the ground, yet they continue to water it? I find this very Strange.

Fall has arrived in the Valley

Well it may be December 8th and most of you may have visions of snow and ice and sleeting rain, but not us. Here in the Valley we are just getting to Fall. The leaves on some of the trees are turning colors and the daytime temperatures have dropped to the 60s and low 70s. I am guessing that since we get even the slightest of Fall color that winter is maybe the season we skip and go right to Spring, I will keep you updated on that.

Rant No. 8 - Bathroom Bedlam

The main bathrooms at work are being remodeled, so they have pulled into the back parking lot "luxury porta-potties" if there is such a thing. Actually I think that would be an oxymoron, but I digress. As porta-potties go, they are okay, they flush and have running water to wash your hands, the problem? There are three for women and two for men. Let's just say the office is more women than men and I would estimate that there are 150+ people working there. There is another indoor bathroom that is still in use, it was a women's bathroom and they have made it into a unisex bathroom, the Luxury Porta-Potties are not handicap accessible so I would imagine that is why this was done. Well some genius installed a door handle that locks from the inside. There are women in that office that go in there one or two at a time (it accommodates nine) and they lock the door, I imagine so no men can get in. To say they are ticking me is an understatement, I have in the last three days tried to go to the bathroom at least four times and found it locked. One time there was a line for the porta-potties. Now my issue is if they cannot tolerate the idea of a male entering the washroom while they are in there, they need to use the Luxury suites which are private. If you are wondering why I don't use the Luxury suites, you don't know me very well, plus I have no problem with a person of the opposite sex being in the same restroom facility as me. (end of rant)

Things I Find Strange - No. 3

Cute Christmas outfit, does it really get that cold?

I am finding what I think is a recent trend to walk your dog in a stoller to be quite Strange. You take the dog out for a walk in a stroller? These pictures happen to be from the Tempe Arts Festival, but I have seen it in the mall also. Why must you put your dog in a stroller, isn't the purpose of walking the dog, to let the dog walk? These strollers are not necessarily left over from the kids that no longer need them, some are specifically made for animals. Now that is over the top Strange. The cute little dog in the sweater is so overdressed for this area of the country, cute as it may be, he just doesn't need a sweater. I will admit to putting sweaters on Toodles when it was the middle of winter in Chicago, but I can't imagine a dog needing a sweater at any time in Arizona. And it's not just sweaters, there are many clothing options available for your dog in the stores. There isn't much chance of the dog in this house being dressed in anything, he doesn't even like a bandana around his neck. I am finding the whole thing, well Strange.

Update on Rant No. 7 - Margarita Mayhem

Last night we went to Cantina Laredo, after calling to confirm the liquor license was in place. I am somewhat disappointed to report that I am not able to end my search for a great margarita in this area, however they have just about the best food I have had in a Mexican restaurant since, well since I was at Adobe. (See PSA No. 2) Two salsas are served with the chips, one is warm with a chipotle flavor, the other nice and spicy. The guacamole was made table side and was excellent, we nearly licked the bowl clean. We ordered Enchiladas de Espinaca, which were spinach enchiladas in a creamy poblano sauce, and Shrimp Taquitos which are pretty much self explanatory. We shared the two dinners and I will say those Enchiladas were hands down the best I have ever had. Dessert was also to die for, it was called Mexican Apple Pie and was a slice of apple pie placed on a very hot skillet, topped with cinnamon ice cream and then a Mexican Brandy Butter was poured over the top. The aroma that came from the brandy butter being put on the hot skillet was enough to make the entire restaurant beg for one. In my opinion all this place is lacking is a really good margarita, the margarita was okay but not outstanding and for a place with such outstanding food they must have a margarita to match.

PSA No. 3 - National Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day

Today is National Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day. Don't ask how I know I just do. This is a concept we can all embrace. Taking a day off, feeling well and doing as you please. This may not get you many points with the employer, but may prove to be a great thing for your own personal sanity. I myself will not be joining in this "holiday" this year, but I will be keeping it in mind for next year. Whatever you choose to do enjoy your day.

Rant No. 7 - Margarita mayhem

Well as previously stated I am still on my quest to find a great margarita here in AZ. So when I saw a new Mexican restaurant opened near us, advertised as Gourmet Mexican Cuisine, I thought okay here I go. So Sunday night Pat and I head over there, because I am sure this is going to be the place where I finalize my quest. It is a nice enough looking place, we are seated in a booth in the kind of empty bar area (should have been a clue right there) and served chips and salsa. The waitress comes over and asks if we would like something to drink like maybe a lemonade. WHAT??? A lemonade? I have never had that question asked of me in a mexican restaurant. So I say actually I will have a margarita, on the rocks, no salt. Well she is very sorry but they don't exactly have a liquor license right now. They had a temporary one for a couple days, but the permanent one has not been granted yet so no liquor. I was almost speechless, but did manage to blurt out that the margarita was kind of the main reason I was there. Did I sound like a lush or what? She was really sorry and totally understood if we decided to go, in fact mentioned a new brewery that opened down the road a piece. We did go, and I didn't even manage to grab any chips and salsa, because after all you need a decent salsa to go with that margarita.

Rant No. 6 - Kiosks at the Mall

In general I don't have a problem with the kiosks at the malls that take up all the walking space and you have to maneuver around which becomes increasingly hard during the holiday season. My problem with them is that the salespeople feel the need or are forced by their employer to feel the need to talk to you as you walk by. If they just wanted friendly conversation that would be one thing, but they don't. They want to tell me how much better my skin would look if I bought one of every thing on the cart, or how my nails need to be buffed and moisturized and some things I don't even know about, or there is the nail art that no one can live without, or the things that look like hot pads that you put in the microwave and wear around your neck to relieve your stress. It gets to be too much, to be accosted every few feet by someone hawking their wares makes me want to rant. They have prime location in the mall, you can't get through without seeing them, so quit bothering everyone, if I want what they have I will stop and look, until then all they get from me is a very disgusted shake of my head. end of rant

PSA No. 2 - Best Margarita Ever

It is my duty to share with everyone the fact that I have finally had what I believe to be the best margarita ever. I have spent the last year and a half searching for a great, not just so-so, but GREAT margarita here in Arizona. I thought that living in the Southwest automatically meant good Mexican food and great margaritas. How naive I am. It was on my recent trip home that I found this excellent margarita and the food was to die for also. My sister and I had some time to kill before picking up my niece, we were driving around Yorktown and happened upon Adobe. We went in for a drink and some appetizers and it was there that I finally found what I had been looking for. I really can't describe how wonderful this drink was, you will have to experience it for yourself. They also have two locations in Chicago, unfortunately for me there are none in the Phoenix area, so my quest continues out here.

Things I Find Strange - No. 2

When you live where Palm Trees are the norm, they all start to look the same. This one however is quite different. It is not a Palm Tree at all. It is some sort of disguise for I don't actually know what. Maybe one of those cell phone towers, or speakers for the sirens that warn of tornadoes which would be a really odd thing to have here. Whatever it is I find it very Strange.

PSA No. 1

Today is National Clean out your Refrigerator Day. Don't ask me how I know, I just heard it somewhere and whether it is true or not I don't think I care. I am a huge proponent of clean refrigerators, This is how mine looks in between grocery shopping trips. Please note all the essentials seem to be covered: milk, OJ, water, condiments, yogurt, margarita mix and beer. So take this opportunity before Thanksgiving fills your refrigerator with leftovers and clean it out!!!

Rant No. 5 - Baggers

Okay, I already know they are not the best paid people on the planet, however what ever happened to taking pride in the job you do no matter what it is? Last night at the grocery store I had 3 half gallon containers, orange juice, milk and chocolate milk. The young man was bagging my groceries and asked if I wanted the milk in a bag. I said yes, please. So he placed all three in one cheap little plastic bag. HELLO. Those bags can barely carry more than one item without ripping and now I have three, half gallon jugs in it. Then another favorite is when they just shove things in the bag instead of halfway trying to make them fit nicely. The boxes rip a hole in the bag and they just keep on shoving, you are lucky to get the bags to the car and in the house without picking up every item individually. I think maybe a little more time should be taken on training the baggers how to bag.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Mom and her sister Mary

Surprise and Happy Birthday! My mother turned 75 this year and my sister and I had a surprise party for her at Shaw's Crab House. My mother is not an easy person to pull a surprise off on. I think it was her 50th birthday when some friends were planning a surprise party and she got wind of it and refused to show up. She does not like surprises. This one was relatively easy for me because my sister handled all the arrangements. All I had to do was send out invitations and show up. I believe my mother was truly surprised about the party and even more surprised to see me there. We were so happy that so many of her friends were able to attend. Some of these women she has known over 50 years, others are newer friends but just as dear to her. Everyone had a great time visiting with each other, the food was wonderful and the drinks were flowing. Here's to many more birthdays to come filled with friends and family. Happy Birthday, Mom.

Things I Find Strange - No. 1

Last Fall the woman across the street had her tree trimmed to look like this. I use the word trimmed loosely here, personally I thought she was either totally into Halloween and making it look scary and about to hang bats and ghosts from it or having it removed. I found the entire process very Strange. Just proves what I know, because now a year later that tree is full of foliage towering above her house.

Rant No. 4 - Preferred Customer Cards

Don't quite get the purpose of this, other than some Big Brother somewhere keeping track of what you are buying. I don't like to have a bunch of extra cards to carry around in my wallet or on my key chain. Why not just give the preferred savings to every customer, everyone gets the same price, now there's a novel idea. When you go in a grocery store and don't have their card they scan one for you anyway, why bother, get rid of the cards. Albertsons is the first grocery store in this area to do just that, and I applaud them. Now I wish the others would just follow suit.

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

Happy Birthday, we are all wishing you a grand and glorious day. This picture is a year old already, it was taken on a grand and glorious day last October in Sedona. We had the perfect day for a trip up north. The weather was cool enough to enjoy walking around the town and taking in all the beautiful views. Have a great day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Happy Halloween

It wouldn't be Halloween without carving the pumpkins. Mike and William have both learned from the Master Carver and wanted to do their own this year. William went for Happy, Mike went for Scary. They had a lot of fun designing and cutting their own pumpkins (with a little help from the Master). The pumpkins were lit and placed on the fence outside the door for all the trick or treaters to enjoy. Max spent a good portion of the night out in the yard barking at them, not sure what he thought they were, but I guess they were good barking material. HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Rant No. 3a - People at the Movies

Crowded movie theaters are pretty much a fact of life here in Arizona. It is so hot that there is not much else to do, it is entertaining and air conditioned. The problem is that a lot of people have lost track of common manners. Who sits through a movie talking the entire time as if they were at home alone talking to themselves? Who brings young children to dark, scary movies? Who brings crying infants to a movie theater? The people around here do. I have had the pleasure (not so much) of sitting next to a woman who talked through all of Mr. Bean's Holiday, telling Mr. Bean what to do and on and on. Then there were the people that brought young toddlers to a Harry Potter movie. Those movies are dark and scary to me an out of my mind 50 something, yet they couldn't understand why the kids were crying to leave. The crying babies are the worst, I have only two words for people that think it is necessary to bring an infant to a movie: STAY HOME. Actually one movie's annoying crying baby wasn't even human, it was one of those High School projects that are suppose to teach teenagers what it is like to be a parent taking care of something for 24 hours. Didn't seem to put a crimp in their style as they just lugged the doll into the theater and then didn't even know how to turn it off. I won't even get into the flicker of cell phones from seats down below. Really how important are you that you can't sit through a 90 minute movie without texting someone. A legend in your own mind I am sure.

State Fair

We spent a hot and sunny Sunday afternoon at the State Fair. There weren't a whole lot of animals to see. We did catch the end of the sheep competition and there were about ten different breeds (or whatever they call them) of sheep. Most had been sheared and women were spinning their wool into yarn. There were some pigeons and roosters and turkeys, and that is about all on the animal front. Now the exhibits were much more interesting.

Kids and adults have their collections on display, everything from My Little Pony to thimbles to postcards to juicers to whatever else you can think of. Then there was the knitting/crocheting/sewing competitions. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say that I don't think those items were made this year. Most appear to be circa 1980s. The quilts were all gorgeous and much more decorative than the aforementioned knitting/crocheting/sewing items.

Food is always a big part of the Fair. It was kind of hot to eat, but that didn't stop me from trying Indian Frybread with chili meat and cheese on it. William had a turkey leg almost as big as his head. Mike had Fried Dr. Pepper, which appeared to be funnel cake pieces in a cup with Dr. Pepper syrup poured over them and then powdered sugar added. Pat got his favorite kettle corn to take home.

Then there are the rides and games. One spin on the tilt-a-whirl and I was done for the day. William did a superman flight, and fun houses, and slide and tilt-a-whirl and bumper cars. Mike wasn't much in to the rides this year, I think just the tilt-a-whirl. Pat did the bumper cars with William. The games are always my least favorite thing of a fair. I will save my ramblings for my rant on tacky fair games. The kids each won something so they were happy.

Thanks

Much thanks to my son, Mike, for his help in putting a music video and weather girl on my blog. I think that eventually I would have figured it out, maybe in a couple of weeks, but Mike sat down and had both of them added in minutes. I guess all that time he spends on the computer may come to some good after all.

Rant No. 3 - Garbage at the Movies

No, I am not talking about what's on the screen, I am talking about the garbage left on the floor in the theater. I don't quite understand what is so hard about taking your refuse out with you and depositing it where it belongs. When you sit at home watching TV or a movie are you tossing your empty popcorn containers and candy wrappers on the floor? I think not. Why is it okay to do in a movie theater? Where did this habit start? Pick up after yourself and teach your kids to do the same, that way this disgusting trend will end.

Happy 50th Birthday

Pat turned 50 on October 17th, here he is enjoying his birthday celebration at his favorite Mexican restaurant, Los Locos Gringos. We ate outside, the weather was great, the food was good, the margaritas were excellent as always and then for dessert a surprise sombrero and fried ice cream. All the wait staff came out to sing and the other patrons on the patio wished him well. They didn't know that he was 50 or that AARP has been knocking on the door for a couple of months, but that's okay I think the sombrero and singing was enough for one night. It was an enjoyable evening and I hope a good day.

The birthday boy and his boys.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Rant No. 2 - The Snowbirds

It is that time of year again, the weather is getting cool up north, it is still beautiful around here and the snowbirds a/k/a "the seniors" are headed south for the winter. Around the beginning of October you start to notice the erratic drivers on the road. I love the arrival of the seniors as much as the local economy does. They are delightful to watch at the mall, at stores, at the movies but not so much on the road. You know they are here when you are forever stomping on your brakes to avoid hitting them. They seem to think they are they only ones on the road, They will be be going 45 and realize that was the road they wanted, stop dead and turn right or left from the wrong lane it doesn't matter. I say you take your life in your own hands for the next six months while they are here. It is far better to just watch out for them and practice the virtue of patience than it is to get frustrated because it seems to be a fact of life. They are here every winter, they boost the local economy, they can't drive. What can you do, if you can't beat them, join them.

Coronado

Sunday morning we packed up, checked out and headed for Coronado. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing gently and the water was gorgeous. We spent some time walking along the shoreline up to the Hotel del Coronado. The water was really cold, but there were a few guys surfing and they were fun to watch. Mike and William enjoyed playing around in the sand and getting wet. We walked around inside the Hotel and it is an amazing place, everything is wood and the lobby is spectacular from the beams on the ceiling to the old-fashioned lift with an elevator operator. There are a ton of shops on one level of the hotel and they have a great sweet shop. We spent some time in there getting goodies for the trip home. I found some white chocolate with lime and it was so good it didn't make it to the trip home.

After wandering around the hotel, we went into the town area. There are some very quaint hotels and shops and the weather was just perfect for looking around. After lunch in a local pizzeria, which had excellent calzones, we were ready to head home again.

It was a fun but short weekend in San Diego and I think we all agree we would like to go back and spend more time exploring all that there is to do there.

Birthday Dinner

The trip was to celebrate William's birthday and for dinner he wanted crab. We went to The Fishmarket which was in the North Harbor area. William had a pound of King Red Crab Legs and he finished all of it. He was so stuffed that he didn't even want to order dessert.

The North Harbor area was quite interesting. There is a maritime museum where you can tour some very old ships and they also had the USS Midway docked there. It is an aircraft carrier and to say it is huge is an understatement. I have never seen a ship that big, the planes actually looked small on it. They also had a much larger than life statue of the famous "Soldier kissing nurse" photo. Unfortunately it was dark when we were there, so there are no photos to show how large it is. Suffice it to say that Pat barely came up to the knee on the nurse.

It was a good birthday dinner, a good time was eventually had by all and the birthday boy was happy.

A day at Seaworld

It was a beautiful day to spend at Seaworld. The weather was perfect, in the 70s and sunny. First stop the dolphins. Mike and William fed the dolphins and managed to get almost as much fish in the dolphins' mouths as they did on the ground. I don't have a lot of room to talk here as there is no way I would have picked up one of those slimy fish. The dolphins are very friendly and love to be pet, of course, they were expecting a fishy reward.

Next stop the starfish pool, where you can pick a starfish up out of the water to examine it more closely. Just remember when the starfish is out of the water it is holding it's breath so you must hold yours too so you will know when it has had enough and needs to go back in the water.

The shark attack attraction was a favorite of mine. It was very informative and we saw a lot of different sharks in a lot of different sizes. At the end of the attraction you stand on a moving sidewalk that goes under the shark tank and there are sharks swimming all around and above you. You can get a really good look at their teeth from that angle.

A trip to Seaworld wouldn't be complete without seeing the Shamu show. The whales are amazing and put on quite an impressive performance. Naturally I was hoping one of them would send the trainer that was riding on their back flying in to the pool (rant on this subject coming soon), but they are too well trained for that.

Mike and I went on a Gondola ride that stretches across the harbor high above the Seaworld property. The view was fantastic and you could see for miles.

Finally there are rides to go on. There is a big inner tube that holds up to nine people and goes down the "rapids". It is a get very soaked kind of ride and get very soaked we did. The three guys went on for a second time right before we left and they were totally soaked through and through. Their clothes were still wet two days later when they were finally laundered. It's the kind of ride that you want to go on, and probably wait for ever to do so, on a brutally hot day. Also Mike and Pat went on the Atlantis, which is a water roller coaster, not as big a soaker but just as fun. William and I took a pass on that one and ate Churros while we waited for them.