Under the Tucson Sun

Today I spent all day at a client's in Tucson. I'd never been there before so I was pretty excited just to see it even though the purpose of the trip was work. We've heard it's really nice down there and it definitely is. It's pretty much exactly like Phoenix just on a WAY smaller scale...which could be why people say that it's so nice. It took me about 2-2 1/2 hours to get down there but it was a pretty cool drive. I'm excited to go back sometime with Tim and spend more substantial time there...it looks like a really neat city!

Somewhere between Tucson and Phoenix

Just outside of Tucson (no, we still have not fixed our windshield-as evidenced by the spot in the right hand corner of this picture. There are actually two more, too...another one similar to this and a long one extending across the windshield. What can I say? I guess we're being lazy. Maybe we just like having a cracked windshield.... it reminds us of the trip out here. Ah, no, we're lazy and unmotivated to fix something that doesn't really hurt anything).

Downtown Tucson-looked very cute! It is close to the University of Arizona so it had a very college-town type atmosphere.

East Tucson...I got a map from my client and it looks like there are a lot of resorts, national parks (I can't WAIT until it's cool enough to go on hikes!), and golf courses in the northeast part of the city... sounds like my type of thing!

I just have to remember

We are having the last burst of summer here in Phoenix. As in, it has been brutally hot for the past few days. Like 110-115. It really doesn't feel that hot until it gets down to about 100 degrees and you feel how much of a difference 10 degrees makes. And during these heat spells, it is really a drag when you can't do anything outside but go to the pool...even at 6 a.m. It is 95 degrees that early!

So, to get over this last little heat spell, here are some reminders of why I love it here better than Iowa...

Ahh, yes, I needed that refresher. I will take the heat anyday! Bring it on!

The phenomenons of traffic

Today it took me ONE HOUR to go fifteen miles to my client's office. I wish I was joking or exaggerating. I'm not. The office I'm going to is only a couple of miles away from Tim's office so now that we are not carpooling anymore, it took him the same amount of time. We think maybe it has been so bad lately because we are leaving a bit later... I don't know. I am just in awe of how terribly long it took to drive what usually seriously takes 15 minutes with no traffic. The girl I'm working with right now lives in the east valley and it took her an hour and a half today. Now THAT would be frustrating. On good days, I can get to my office in Tempe in about 50 minutes (and it is 35 miles away). Good thing I wasn't going there today... I guess it was just an all around crappy traffic morning.

Oh yeah, and I almost got hit by a truck. Again. This happens almost weekly. Those stupid trucks just come over RIGHT WHERE I AM because they are stupid, terrible drivers with no brains. So, this causes me to honk my horn at them but it never seems to matter. They don't have any consideration for anyone else on the road and the fact that TRAFFIC IS NOT MOVING but they still proceed to move and come over anyway. The only thing I can ever do is almost pee in my pants, slam on the brakes (although usually I am only going 5 miles an hour so this really doesn't do anything-I'm surround by cars all around-which, as a sidenote, is why the trucks should not keep moving and try to come in!), shut my eyes, hold my breath, and wait for the collision. And then I cautiously open my eyes, realize I haven't gotten hit by some miracle, and proceed to shake uncontrollably like I have some weird affliction. I am amazed by these stupid truck drivers as much as I am amazed by heavy traffic. But I HATE trucks with a passion. I can handle being stuck in rush hour on somedays. But I always hate trucks. They are the worst drivers out there. I hate them. They should be banned from all roads during rush hour. Grr. As a positive driving note, I got home in 20 minutes at 5:15 p.m. Sweet!

Also, speaking of driving, I just want to wish my good friends Travis and Rachel a good and safe trip to their new home in Oregon! I am so excited for them and I hope the drive out and the moving process goes as smoothly as possible!!

Blind as a bat...

Yesterday I went to the eye doctor. I've been thinking for about 6 months now that I SHOULD go but only in the last month have I realized that I really NEEDED to go. I haven't been in two years... (and for those last five words, I am sure I will get a lecture from my mother but not as big of a lecture as I will get for what's to follow...) In Iowa, I had eye insurance that was included with my health insurance. But of course I never used it. I was just too lazy to go and my contacts were working fine. So, here we don't have eye insurance included in our health insurance. So, yes mom, I just said that I DO NOT have eye insurance. GASP!

So, of course now that I don't have eye insurance I am cursed by the "If-you-don't-have-insurance-then-you're-going-to need-it-and-you'll-be-screwed" gods. This is similar to my $2000.00 dentist experience several months ago, $1100.00 of which I still have yet to pay. Ugh.

Back to the eyes. Lately, I have been so blind. I have changed my contacts repeatedly, which is highly unusual for me. They are 1-2 week contacts but usually I wear them for 2-3 months without problems. But lately, I haven't been able to see street signs until I'm right under them and squinting, everything has been a little blurry, I've had a lot of headaches and even been a little dizzy, and I couldn't even see the clock on the oven when I was standing by the sink (Tim could see it clearly from the other room). So, I decided to just go to the eye doctor and just suck up the expense. The timing on this is really bad, however, since we just signed away our lives the other day by SIGNING A CONTRACT TO BUILD A HOUSE. (and dropping $5000+ in the process for what they call 'earnest money' or what really is a small down payment...) More on this later.

I was really hoping nothing would be seriously wrong with my eyes like there was with my teeth as a result of two years time since seeing a doctor. I went and after the barrage of tests that eye doctors perform that make everyone feel like they are back in kindergarten ("1 or 2? 2 or 4? Is this better or is this?") my doctor says, "Do you have a backup pair of glasses? Because you really are as blind as a bat." Well duh. Why do you think I am here? Hmm...

So, to make a long, pointless story even longer, my eyes checked out fine but they had just gotten a lot worse (big surprise there...) But they had gotten a lot worse than I imagine- they went from a -5.00 to a -6.00 (the worst is about a -13). I also went home with a new pair of contacts. I am so amazed at how well I can see. It sounds so corny but it really is like a whole new world out here... I knew my eyes were bad but this is completely amazing. I am in total awe of how many more details I can see now! Much better ending than the dentist story...I am only out $350 but I don't care what it takes because I can finally see again!!

A day of golf...8.20.05

On the third hole after we bypassed the second hole because the group in front of us took 45 minutes to play the first. I've never seen worse players and it sure made us feel better about our game... We probably saved an hour and a half by passing these people. The people behind us (before we passed the group in front of us) were on hole #11 when we were finishing up on #18!

Action shot...look at that excellent follow through!

What we did while we were waiting on the slowest people in the world to finish on the green...

If I remember right, he got this closer to the hole than I got mine (mine is just beyond the flag, kind of by the shadow). Tim had a great putt.

About the only thing I could really do...putt! My shot has kind of gone to crap... it was getting better by the end of the day so I guess my good old dad could be right when he tells me that if I actually practice I just might get back to where I used to be in my game.

I think it's so pretty out here... it's always so refreshing to spend some time outside. It will be even nicer from September to May when the average high is about 70 degrees and we can go out to the course and enjoy the sunny blue skies and attempt to whack and hack around the golf course any time we please... moments that I have on days like these are the moments when I can't help but think that everything just has to be right in the world. Or at least I can disable any thoughts of bad stuff that always shows up on the news and can appreciate life for what it is really supposed to be: just plain good and fulfilling.

I am still owed money for giving her TWO medicines a day for a week. The vet charged us $50 for two days so I think that someone owes me approximately $350. I'm thinking that person is Tim... I guess I might just have to write it off as bad debt that was never repaid... or maybe it was... He is a great husband, after all!

Pictures I should have posted last week but was too lazy to do so

I love the look on her face... SO stubborn. What a crack up. I laugh everytime I look at this picture. I loved the bubble gum medicine when I was a kid...