PSA No. 7 - Watch out for Big Poles in Parking Structures

This is what your van will look like if you don't watch out for the poles in the covered parking areas. For those of you in the colder climates you might not be familiar with covered parking areas, but they are very popular here in the hot, hot, hot desert. In a normal parking lot they put up shelter for the cars and guess what, poles hold up the covers. Big red poles, if you haven't figured that out already. Some people just can't pay attention to what they are doing when they leave work, and consequently van meets pole and damage occurs. Damage to the tune of $2,000 occurs. So guess who will not be parking near a pole anymore.

Rant No. 10 - The World is NOT your Ashtray

This may come as a surprise to the many smokers out there, but THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR ASHTRAY. Why do you think people dislike you so much? For starters you smoke with your windows down in your car and flick ashes out of it. Do you realize that other people on the road may have their windows open too and not only do we not want your ashes flying in our windows, we don't want your still-lit cigarette butts either. If you feel the need to contaminate your air with smoke, so be it, but close your window and keep the enjoyment all to yourself. Why is it okay to throw your butts on the ground? Do you not realize that you are littering the same as if you threw any other piece of trash on the ground? Get a clue, keep your smell to yourself and we will all get along much better. (End of rant)

PSA No. 6 - Compliment Day

Today is compliment day (don't ask how I know, I just do). Remember what your mother taught you: If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. So today try to find five people that you can sincerely give a compliment to. The key word here is sincerely. It can be as simple as that color looks good on you to something more serious, like, well I don't know what but I am sure you can think of something. So go out there on your stomach full of blonde brownies and compliment someone.

PSA No. 5 - National Blonde Brownie Day

Today is Blonde Brownie Day (don't ask how I know I just do). On Blonde Brownie Day, it's your right and responsibility to bake blonde brownies, and to eat them. If you don't have time to bake today, buy some and eat a few extra blonde brownies. For the recipe I used to bake my Blonde Brownies go to verybestbaking.com and search for blonde brownies. Enjoy.

Rant No. 9 - Snack Schedule

I realize that this opinion is not going to earn me Mother of the Year, but I would like to smack the person that came up with the idea of the "SNACK SCHEDULE". For those of you without kids in organized sports, the snack schedule is who brings the snack for after the game. HELLO!!! Kids cannot run around and play soccer, basketball, football or baseball for an hour without a snack immediately afterwards. If your child is that needy in the junk food/drink department bring your own. First off most kids have brought their own water/gatorade to the game. Second off I haven't met one yet that needs to have chips or cookies every hour. If the idea was to promote some kind of team unity after the game, it isn't working. The kids grab their snack and run, I haven't seen any teams enjoying their snack together and talking about what a great job they did. The only snack schedule that I could agree with was the oranges at halftime for soccer. (End of Rant)

Glitter and Glow

Saturday night was the final night of the Glendale Glitter and Glow Festival and for their big finale they had hot air balloons on the streets throughout the downtown area. There were quite a few different bands playing throughout the area. They had the usual assortment of festival food, funnel cakes, Indian Fry Bread, strawberries and bananas on a skewer drizzled with chocolate, lemonade, corn dogs, cheesesteak sandwiches, roasted nuts, I think you get the picture. While pigging out on the food we watched a dance performance and some mime like clowns put on a show. Then when it got dark out they started lighting up the balloons. There were corporate sponsored balloons from Allstate, ReMax, Wendys, and then there were fun ones like the Spiderman balloon. A friend of mine from work is a hot air balloon pilot and as it happens the guy she flys with had his balloon there. She was there helping with the balloon and I got to see up close and personal just how small those little baskets are that go flying in the air. We are talking something that will hold three people and is made of wicker. If I had any ideas of going in one before, I am well over it after seeing what they are up there in. We had a nice time walking around looking at all of the balloons and when it got too cold we would just get close to a balloon and wait for them to give it a burst of propane and things would warm up quite nicely.

Hike No. 2 - Second Water Trail

For this hike, Pat found us a trail in the Superstition Mountains that involved going down into canyons not too much of an elevation change. The trail is 6.2 miles and is not a loop but an in and out. You go in and come out the same way. Mike came with us and had to admit it was fun being outside, climbing on the rocks and making our way across the creeks. William and I were a bit slower than Pat and Mike, and I blame that on the fact that we were just having a nice little walk, taking pictures of our shadows and checking out nature. They blame it on me being a slowpoke. When we made it to the Black Mesa, I thought that was it and time to turn back. Well only for Mike, William and me. The three of us had been pushed to our limits by that time and knew that to go further just meant we had that much more to go to get out. Pat went on to the end of the trail, which was at least a mile further, and was rewarded with some stunning views of the Black Canyon. He ended up coming out ten minutes later than us, so I guess I am a bit of a slowpoke. It was a beautiful day, we had fun spending time outdoors and can't wait for the next Hike.

Things I Find Strange - No. 6

This is a very colorful display of wrapped plants.
If you look hard way on the right you can see a blue/yellow checked picnic tablecloth.

Yes, that is a 101 Dalmation blanket on the plant way on the left.

So a couple weeks ago there were frost warnings at night, the temperature dipped into the 30s and this is how plants are protected out here in the desert. See they are not use to such temperatures and well what with global warming and all it seems things are getting a little colder here in recent years and the plants must be protected. So into the linen closet we go and wrap the plants in any blanket, sheet or tablecloth that is not being used. It is a fairly amusing sight to drive around and see plants wrapped in blankets and yes, I find it Strange.

UBI No. 1 - Trivia Day

Today is Trivia Day (don't ask how I know, I just do) and so to celebrate here is a little piece of trivia for you: The only part of the human body that has no blood supply is the cornea. It takes its oxygen directly from the air. Now don't you agree that it is a rather interesting useless bit of information. For something a little more up to my speed: One plain milk chocolate candy bar has more protein than a banana. So put those bananas down and grab a chocolate bar. Go and find your own trivia to share with someone today.

Happy New Year!!!

There are some good things about living in the Valley, and one is that we are surrounded by mountains waiting to be explored. Another good thing is that even though it was 40 degrees at nine o'clock this morning it was in the mid-sixties by eleven. Today was a perfect day for a hike and since Pat wanted to start on his new hobby of birdwatching (I don't think any were spotted this time), William and I accompanied him to the Superstition Mountains. We started with a relatively easy trail that took us up into the Mountains, but wasn't too terribly strenuous. The weather was sunny and windy, and a little more windy depending on where we were. Our first hike of the year lasted about an hour and a half total, but since our goal is a hike a week (we should probably make that a hike a month) for 2008, we have plenty of time to work up to the more complex trails. There is such a feeling of peace when you are totally surrounded by the beauty of nature and at least for a little while cannot see any sign of civilization. Wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year.