Up Early On A Rainy Sunday In Arizona Thinking About Becoming A Methodist

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world on this 3rd Sunday of the 3rd month of 2012 you might be able to tell I am up well before the sun in the Valley of the Sun.

But,  you can not likely tell that the Valley of the Sun is getting drenched with a rare Sonoran Desert rainstorm.

Wind stressed the fronds of the palm trees almost all day Saturday. And then sometime in the middle of last night I started hearing that soothing pitter patter noise that raindrops specialize in.

Currently it is 47 degrees at my location.

At my former home location, north of being deep in the heart of Texas, it is 20 degrees warmer. Snow is apparently falling in the mountains that surround the Valley of the Sun. I have no idea if, when Sunday lights up, it will reveal a white fringe on the distant peaks.

My mom and dad are going to church in a couple hours. Methodist. I have no idea what the methods of Methodists are. The last time I went to church, with mom and dad, it was to a Presbyterian church.

I did not bring with me my usual Sunday shirt and tie attire. I have been told the Methodist church is quite casual. And, unless someone else, of the congregation, has a visitor, I would likely be the youngest person in church. I do not remember ever being the youngest person in a church before.

I could go swimming now, if I wanted to. I have a swimming pass. All the pools in Sun Lakes are heated. At the main clubhouse there are multiple pools. I have yet to go swimming in any of them.

Hiking With My Sister To A Hole In The Rock In Papago Park In Phoenix

My Sister Gearing Up For The Hike To The Redrock Top

Does my sister look a bit reluctant regarding the idea of climbing the Papago Park redrock butte behind her, with the hole in the rock being the goal?

Papago Park is a hilly zone, primarily in Phoenix, but spreading into Tempe and Scottsdale.

Papago Park's redrock sandstone buttes make for an unusual feature inside a major city. In Papago Park you will also find the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.

This is only 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix and attracts millions of visitors a year.

Arizona Hikers Trekking To The Top Of
The Butte With The Hole

My current hometown, Fort Worth, Texas, also has an unusual feature about 10 minutes from its downtown, called the Tandy Hills Natural Area. The Tandy Hills Natural Area does not attract millions of visitors a year. Nothing in Fort Worth attract millions of visitors a year.

Oh. I forgot about the sporting goods store, Cabela's, which sold Fort Worth a bill of non-sporting goods, promising, in exchange for tax breaks and other perks, to give Fort Worth the #1 tourist attraction in Texas.

I digress.

Kids Coming Through The Hole In The Rock

I was very surprised at the large number of little kids making the trek up the redrock butte to the hole in the rock.

In Papago Park, in addition to the trail to the top of the redrock butte you see in these pictures, there are many miles of other trails for hiking and biking.

I saw a lot of mountain bikers today, in Papago Park, which made me feel very nostalgic for Moab and my mountain bike.

From the Hole in the Rock you can see a white pyramid. This is known as Hunt's Tomb, due to this being the burial location for Arizona's first governor, George W. P Hunt. Since Arizona is currently celebrating its centennial of being a state, this would seem to indicate that Mr. Hunt became the governor of Arizona in 1912.

Kids Inside The Hole In The Rock

I have already mentioned my noticing the huge reduction in the number of balloon people that I am seeing in Arizona compared with all the balloon people I see in Texas.

This particular Saturday, in the urban zone of Phoenix, is instructive as to why there is such a big girth differential between the two states.

Today I would hazard to guess that there were likely no more than half a dozen people on Fort Worth's Tandy Hills. Granted, the Tandy Hills are not nearly as scenic as these redrock buttes in Papago Park, but that really does not explain the difference in outdoor activity levels.

My Sister Looking Through The Hole In The Rock

That difference in outdoor activity levels sure would seem to go a long way to explain why I'm experiencing the same thing I experienced the last time I had spent way too long in Texas and then flew to a skinnier part of the country to find myself thinking the people looked as if they've had the air let out of them

Today I saw 100s, maybe 1000s of people out and about, hiking, biking, boating, climbing. Every butte or hill we came upon, today, had people either hiking or biking, or both, on it. Including a very steep paved trail on something called A Mountain, in Tempe, near Lake Tempe and Arizona State University.

My sister's pedometer indicated by the end of today's trekking we had trekked about 4 miles. Much of that trekking involved elevations gains.

I do not know what is in store for me tomorrow. Church has been mentioned. My mom just came into my quarters to give me a church worthy shirt. Against my will I was fed dinner tonight. My mom was unsuccessful  in her turkey leg hunt. I have heard Sweet Tomatoes mentioned multiple times this evening as a possible dinner zone for Sunday. Along with my sister....

A Redrock Walk With Roadrunners Through The Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden

Phoenix Desert Botanic Garden Plant Sale

My sister and I arrived very early Saturday at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. The bi-annual plant sale was under way. By the time we left, a couple hours later, that throng of plant hunters had swelled far beyond the number you see in the picture.

Phoenicians seem to be early risers who like to be out and about, hiking, biking, walking and plant hunting, looking, for the most part, like people who have had the air let out of them, unlike most of the people I see at my regular location on the planet.

I can not remember the last time I enjoyed something as much as I did the walk through the Desert Botanical Garden.

I've long had an affection for redrock, developed long ago from my first exposure in Utah.

A Red Cardinal Standing Cactus Guard

The redrock in the Phoenix zone is like the Utah redrock on a small, yet very scenic scale. The Utah redrock has no saguaro cactus, that I am aware of. The Phoenix redrock, with its cactus, adds a real nice element to the basic redrock.

I saw several Roadrunners, aka Paisanos, running about today. I think the Paisanos may have been chasing the dozens of jackrabbits who scurried about chasing the dozens of quails.

Nothing seemed to be chasing the red cardinal you see in the picture perched on a cactus in front of a big mound of redrock.

The Desert Botanical Garden has around 65 acres of desert flora under cultivation, with over 50,000 plants.

When we first entered the garden my sister and I had the place, for the most part, to ourselves. That did not last long.

I don't remember if I've mentioned previously my interest in Native American culture.

Today I got to grind mesquite seeds in the Apache way. I do not know what I was supposed to make with my supply of ground up mesquite seeds. Maybe bread.

The above is an example of an Apache domicile. To me it looks as if this abode would be a bit of a fire hazard.

This particular Saguaro silhouetted against the Phoenix sky looks as if it may be making an obscene gesture. A lot of the Saguaros seem to be of a similar mind. I won't share the description my sister used for many of the various cactus shapes. Suffice to say it was a male oriented description. Maybe that would be better worded to say it was a description with a male orientation.

Let's leave the Desert Botanical Garden and go to another part of Papago Park to walk through a hole in the redrock in another blogging.

Saturday In Arizona Hiking Desert Botanical Gardens With Papago Park Holes In Rocks Declining To Hunt For Turkey Legs

Pedestrian Bridge Over Lake Tempe Dam

I have had me a day, so far, this Saturday, and it is only 3 in the afternoon, with a lot of hours left in the day. I'd take myself a nap if I were nap enabled, which I am not.

My sister took me away from my mom and dad's Sun Lakes abode about 7 this morning. Our destination was the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. More on the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden in a subsequent blogging.

After visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens we headed for another location in Papago Park, that being the hole in the rock. More on the hike to the hole in the rock in a subsequent blogging.

After hiking to the hole in the rock we left Papago Park to go visit my brother and sister-in-law's new location in Scottsdale. I rather liked it. Basically they live in Melrose Place, except in Scottsdale, not Los Angeles.

We left my brother's hungry, after not getting the pancakes that had been promised the night before.

So we headed to another of those cool restaurants called McDonald's. I had something called a Southern Spicy Chicken Sandwich and a Double Cheeseburger. I think I have the names right.

As my sister and I waited for our gourmet food we watched a very skinny lady blocking the drink bar whilst she squeezed the fat out of a couple dozen McNuggets. My sister grew impatient with the lack of access to the beverages and asked the skinny fat squeezer to move.

The skinny fat squeezer then told us her doctor told her she had a coronary condition and should try and squeeze all the fat she could out of her food. We watched as she cut the McNuggets into pieces with a knife and ate the pieces very furtively and bird-like.

It has been my observation that McDonald's attracts interesting customers.

The sequence of events that followed McDonald's I may have a bit confused. At some point after McDonald's we went to my youngest nephew's apartment and his big brother's house. The apartment was in Tempe, with the house being in Scottsdale, which leads me to think we may have gone to the house first.

In Tempe we walked across the new pedestrian bridge you see above. This bridge is above the new dam that replaced the failed dam that made Lake Tempe next to Arizona State University. You may remember that dam failing during bad flooding in Phoenix a year or two or three ago.

At some point, after walking across the bridge, I think we were in Mesa, where we dropped in on my favorite brother-in-law's sleeping mother. I've always found my favorite brother-in-law's sleeping mother to be very nice. But, she did not remember me.

Leaving Mesa we headed south, back to Chandler, where we drove by the Pacific Seafood Buffet. I've not been to a seafood buffet in a long while. Let alone a Pacific seafood buffet.

Eventually we were at the core of downtown Chandler, where my sister drove us around the Chandler town square. It was being festive due to St. Patrick's Day. This location sort of reminded me of Taos. Which makes sense, sort of, with New Mexico being the next state to the east.

Finally I was re-delivered to my mom and dad's in Chandler. My sister left and soon my mom was asking me if I wanted to ride with them to Maricopa to get a bougainvillea and turkey legs. I declined the offer.

I was too tired to go turkey leg hunting.

The 3rd Saturday Of March Dawns Potentially Dusty In Arizona

This morning I stepped outside for a closer look at the view from my primary viewing portal on the outer world at my current location at the heart of the Valley of the Sun on this 3rd Saturday of the 3rd month of 2012.

Stepping outside set off the security system resulting in bright lights being turned on me. I felt like a POW in a German WWII prison camp, caught trying to escape.

I quickly returned to being inside the "camp". Eventually the security lights turned off.

As you can see, below, it is currently a relatively chilly 59 degrees at my current location. At my former location, north of being deep in the heart of Texas, it is currently 65 degrees.

Apparently we are being advised that dust may be blowing here today. Maybe I will be seeing one of those giant dust storms that blow through this valley fairly frequently.

I have an hour and a half to go before my sister arrives to take me to the Phoenix Botanical Garden, if my time calculations are correct.

I realized this morning that I have not heard from Elsie Hotpepper since I left Texas. I do not know how to issue a BOLO for a missing person from my current remote location.

Friday BBQ In Arizona With Spencer Jack, Super Hot Potato Chips & Refrigerator Slide Shows

Spencer Jack & Brittney Arriving

Today was not the first time I have experienced the unreliability of smart phone based GPS direction locators.

Everyone who used a GPS to find my sister's house in Chandler today got mis-directed. Eventually old-fashioned methods, like maps and directions, given over the phone, facilitated successful arrivals.

For, instance, the late arrival of Spencer Jack, which you see in the first picture. When it was ascertained that Spencer Jack was in the neighborhood I was instructed to sit on a bench in the front yard to act as a navigable landmark.

Until today I had not seen Spencer Jack since early August of 2008. I had not seen Spencer Jack's dad since April of 2006. I had never met Brittney. I am not sure how Brittney spells her name. Spencer calls her Brit. I rather like Brittney.

Videographer Spencer Jack

Spencer Jack just turned 5.

I have not been around all that many 5 year olds in a long long time. Apparently 5 year olds are now adept at taking digital pictures and video and uploading pictures and video to their computer. Spencer Jack has his own password.

In the second picture you are seeing Spencer Jack shooting video of my sister's pool's waterfall. Spencer took a liking to the waterfall.

The second group to arrive, after being mis-directed by a smart phone GPS, were Spencer Jack's maternal grandma's sister, husband and son. I'd also not seen them since April of 2006.

Four Generations Of Jones

At some point in time Brittney took a picture of Spencer's dad, grandpa and great-grandpa and Spencer. That would be my nephew, brother, dad and great-nephew.

I took a picture of Brittney taking a picture.

At one point in the evening I found myself playing something called Ladder Golf. Spencer Jack and I were on one team, playing against Spencer's dad and Brittney.

Ladder Golf is a grueling sport involving dual golf balls on a string. Its seemed sort of dangerous. Spencer and I misunderstood the rules and for awhile thought we got points by hitting his dad and Brittney with the golf balls. As far as I know there is no photographic evidence of this.

Spencer Jack Celebrating His Ladder Golf Win

After Spencer Jack and I won the Ladder Golf game, it was time to celebrate, which Spencer did quite boisterously, including squirting people with a bubble gun and dancing.

I forgot to mention, the BBQ was quite nice. Very smoky. My pictures of the BBQ did not come out well, so there is no photo documentation. Suffice to say there were burgers and beer soaked brats.

Along with all sorts of fixings. And potato chips with a 3,000 Scoville Rating.

But no Dungeness Crab.

My sister's kitchen is the most high tech I have been in, that I remember. The refrigerator is a jabber mouth who likes to give advice. Like making ingredient suggestions. Or mentioning that the milk supply is low.

Ruby Jean On My Sister's Refrigerator

If you are in my sister's kitchen and you are feeling lonesome for one of my other nieces or nephews, or any number of other things, you just say, I'd like to see Ruby Jean and Ruby Jean appears on the refrigerator door.

When it was time to leave I left with Spencer Jack.

Spencer Jack's dad followed my mom and dad back to Sun Lakes so Spencer could take a quick tour of that location.

Spencer Jack flies back to Washington early tomorrow. I am here for another week. Tomorrow, early, I am going to the Phoenix Botanical Garden.

Friday Morning In Chandler For McDonald's Breakfast Burritos With Meyer Lemons & The Remains Of A Palm Tree Forest Fire

What you are looking at in the picture is a pair of very big Meyer Lemons growing in my mom and dad's backyard.

My mom and dad and I just returned from a Grand Tour of Chandler to have some homemade Meyer Lemon Meringue Pie.

Meyer Lemons are rounder than your regular oblong type lemon. Rounder and sweeter. Meyer Lemons are a cross between a regular type lemon and Mandarin Orange. Which explains their origin in China.

On the Grand Tour of Chandler we found another of those cool McDonald's restaurants, like we went to yesterday. At this one I had something called a Breakfast Burrito.

After the Breakfast Burrito the tour continued through downtown Chandler, eventually going past a big forest of Palm Trees that had been badly burned in two Palm Tree forest fires.

The remains of a Palm Tree forest fire looks very unusual. I regret I was too busy gawking to take a picture. Maybe I will be going by the Palm Tree forest fire again whilst I am in Arizona, and take a picture.

In an hour or two I will be back in Chandler for a BBQ. Spencer Jack may be there.

A Second Sun Lakes Walk Without Getting Lost This Time

If I Had A Pole I Might Go Fishing

This morning, unlike yesterday, I managed a walk along the Sun Lakes greenbelt without managing to get lost.

I did not get lost and I managed to find two more of the Sun Lakes.

My lungs are really appreciating breathing in all this clean air.

The Sun Lakes are also clean. I learned this via signs posted next to the lakes. During some months of the year you must release any fish you catch, but, with most months of the year, releasing is not required.

I saw catfish among the types of fish that can be caught in the Sun Lakes. So, a Texan would be right at home fishing here. You are restricted to using only one pole. This seems reasonable to me.

I Am Planning On Moving To This House

I don't remember if I have mentioned, previously, that the Southwest style of architecture is my favorite. My house in Mount Vernon, far north of the Southwest, was Southwest inspired, with a touch of Frank Lloyd Wright thrown in.

I liked the house you see in the picture. It faces one of the Sun Lakes. It has a driveway that leads to the greenbelt's paved trail. In the driveway sat an electric golf cart.

A lot of these Sun Lakes people motor about on electric golf carts.

With no golfing involved. You can drive to the Sun Lakes' Basha grocery store in your golf cart.

I have seen no electric Volt cars motoring on Sun Lakes' greenbelt's paved trail.

We are currently in a BBQ cooking frenzy here in preparation for this afternoon's BBQ in Chandler.

This morning, for breakfast, among other things, I picked a grapefruit. Making this the absolutely freshest grapefruit I've ever had. Freshly picked oranges, too. But, I did not pick the oranges.

I have been told there is a pass for me to go swimming in any of Sun Lakes' 5 swimming pools. These are heated pools. I do not know if my delicate sensibilities can handle a heated pool.

The 3rd Friday Of March In Arizona

I am up well before the arrival of the illumination providing sky orb on this 3rd Friday of the 3rd month of 2012, looking out my current viewing portal on the outer world.

I see no swimming pool, this morning, no matter what window I look out. Which is probably for the best, since it is only 57 degrees in this semi-chilly Sonoran desert. It is 10 degrees warmer, right now, at my former location in the humid State of Texas.

Last night I slept better than I have slept since I don't know when. It is so quiet here. The air is so clear. I know this Valley of the Sun metro zone has some air pollution woes at some times of the year, but it does not seem to have any right now.

Last night I did not need to use any medicinal spray to keep my respiratory system functioning. I am having no eye burning woe.

I am beginning to think that the air that I breathe in Texas may not be as salubrious for ones well being as one might wish it would be.

Today I am scheduled to go to a BBQ at my sister's house. No one I have spoken to has yet heard from Spencer Jack's dad. Or Spencer Jack.

Tomorrow I am going, with my sister, to some sort of function at the Phoenix Botanical Garden.

So far I am sort of enjoying being in Arizona.

Getting Lost In Arizona With Giant Saguaro Cactus & Tall Palm Trees While Being Late For Dinner

A Big Sun Lakes Saguaro

Well.

I am enjoying my first evening in Arizona. For the most part.

Around 5 I indicated I wanted to go for a walk to check out the local flora. My mom gave me the directions to get to the green belt where I would find lakes, cactus and palm trees.

It was fairly easy to find my way to the green belt via my mom's directions.

I walked around Sun Lake #4. I think there are 5 lakes in Sun Lakes.

After walking the green belt for a distance I decided it was time to retrace my steps.

Somehow I managed to get lost. My mom and dad live on Olive Lane East North. I somehow got on Olive Lane East South. Olive Lane East North and South do not at anytime meet.

Sun Lake #4 With A Tall Palm Tree

So, no wonder someone easily confused, such as myself, might get lost. That and the roads in Sun Lakes are a confusing maze of twists and turns.

When I took off to take a walk my mom asked if I had my phone with me in case I got lost.

When I realized I was lost I called. But I got a wrong number. I thought it was Tootsie Tonasket, but it turned out it was my sister I accidentally called. My sister was able to tell me I needed to find Olive Way East North.

I walked north on Olive Way East South all the way to its northern end. I was totally bum puzzled.

Bum puzzled is a new term I recently learned on Survivor.

Just as I was being my most bum puzzled my dad called to tell me it was time for dinner and that I was late. I told my dad I'd gotten lost, but my sister had pointed me in the right direction. At that point in time I thought my sister had pointed me in the right direction.

A few minutes later I realized I had no idea how to find Olive Way East North, so I called my mom's 24 hour help line. When I told my mom what intersection I was at she was able to direct me back to my starting point.

Where I had dinner.

Have I ever mentioned before that I don't usually eat dinner?