New Years Blog Resolution

As the title suggests, from now on, I will attempt making 2 changes to the blog.....
1) write more

2) write less

What, you ask? How can I write more and less at the same time? The answer is simply to write more often and shorter stories.....Hooray, you say. No more overloaded Description for Dummies. I hope you enjoy something I ramble on about....conciseness is admittedly still a goal, but will try my best....we'll see if I succeed.

MY INSPIRATION....Chop, Chop

Winter 2012 Home Away from Home

 

A few months ago I acted on the decision to try an Arizona winter again. My mantra, no guts no glory kept playing in my head so got on a plane, signed a lease and here we are...lock, stock and barrel. Well, no actual stocks or barrels, but we do have a few locks.

 I found a townhouse in the same area as when I was here 3 years ago after the sale the house. It's cute enough in an overstuffed and cowboy leather sort of way, which is fine, after all, Charley and I are now in the wild, wild west. I refer to it as my bachelor pad but was reminded by a friend it lacks the bachelor. He's funny, right? Possibly life will change that someday, but not any old bachelor will do. I'm holding out for a person with character, integrity, personal success and humor. A decent golfer, IFR rated pilot, master chef, and George Clooney look alike would be nice, too, however, the first four qualities will do just fine. I'm confident normal ones walk among us....somewhere!

Some of the original neighbors are still here, along with many new faces, canines and otherwise. It's quieter than the last time, not as many dogs leading their masters around. I say that with tongue in cheek...we all know who the real masters are.

This is a neighbor, Fergus who thought Charley was the bomb last time we were here. We'll invite him over for a chaperoned date soon, although report is he has fallen for a cat who lives nearby...we'll see if Char wins back his attention!

Life is sunny, warm, quiet and dry in a peaceful Arizona kind of way. No Midwest winter winds, blizzards or snow drifts to contend with. Majestic Pinnacle Peak mountain looms in the view out and over the back patio. My plan is to make use of the serenity to write, think, read, enjoy friends, and explore a different lifestyle than Iowa offers.

So far, not one snowflake has fallen from the bright blue sky. That is a plus. But then, I guess a snow flake now and then isn't so bad.

Upward and onward....

Talk to the Animals

OK, there is now a reason to keep Charley and myself beefed up and buffed here in desert land. As we were coming down the street this morning, ahead of us was Mr.Yippee Ki Yay Coyote strolling across the intersection and up the other direction. I was really happy he didn't decide to come our way since he didn't appear fat enough to give me much comfort. A neighbor reported if I saw him, his 2 wild dog buddies were nearby...the pack theory...ugh. I knew about the mountain lion hanging out in the 'hood, but now 3 coyotes strolling around...in daylight, no less?  Am rethinking the pepper spray. While I love my dog very much and wish her no harm, I know for sure she can out run me!



Where we were......





Where he was...and, no, we didn't follow him

Sinus, Surgery, Soirees, Symphony, and Super Bowl

Sinus conditions are not the least bit interesting, but it has ruled my world for the past two weeks and the word begins with as S, so threw it into the title but thank goodness for the rest of the story which is much more entertaining that a plugged snozola.

For the most part, I was in Des Moines for the removal and good riddance of niece Jamie's gall bladder. She lived through it, however, had zero tolerance for anesthetic or pain killers. The drugs darn near killed her....maybe that's why they are called pain killers? But she survived the burn, so to speak, and speaking of burns, the following day her 11 month old did a spider man super power leap near a hot cup of coffee and successfully made contact. He got burned, but quick medical attention will have him healed up in good shape. Trauma at it's finest. My heart went out to Jamie and Dave and good parenting trumped a vicious case of post surgical blues. Jamie asked not to be photographed at her worst, so I will include a photo at her best and also of her beautiful bestest family. Aren't they just the handsomest? Can you imagine being a gall bladder and not wanting to spend the rest of eternity with her?? I have no idea what it was thinking. Anyway, it's in the used gall bladder bin at the hospital and Jamie is back in action. And our little guy is getting healed up from the mishap. He's so sweet and not one hurting peep from him this whole week...amazing. And Jaxson spends plenty of big brother time with Asher, reading and playing.
 
                      
Since I was in Iowa, was available to accept an invitation from friends Connie Wimer and Frank Fogarty to the annual DSM Bravo Gala recognizing contributors to the cultural arts in Des Moines. Paul's brother Bill Knapp was this year's honoree so I was happy to be there. Bill has spent a lifetime improving our fair city, arts and otherwise, so it was well deserved. He's quite a guy. As for Connie, she, too, has done her generous share. Kudos to both.

Sunday afternoon brought the symphony at the Civic Center. Lots of strings, wind and percussion kept us on point while watching a talented female conductor make music with her orchestra.

OK, where are we? Sinus, Surgery, Soiree, Symphony....oh, yes, Super Bowl. Since I was on a roll, invited Team Symphony over for the Super Bowl game in the big ass theatre room..rowdy friends for low brow football was certainly a 180 from high brow symphonic music, a nice balance, if you will. To go along with this blog theme, I will rename the menu: Shili, Sourdough, and Sove Bars...a real football evening sinner...or winner, whatever.

I now find myself back in the land of the desert and sunshine. Modern aviation is remarkable.

Trying to honor my promise to keep it short.....how did I do?

Awesome Automobiles and Auctions

A few weeks ago, I attended the very cool Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Extravaganza in Scottsdale. I had the best seating because of friends who were in the bidding area reserved only for those able to write extremely large checks without suffering massive or fatal heart attacks. It was exciting to see the mint condition vintage, classic and exotic cars roll onto the stage. Time after time the auctioneer would begin his verbal chant always ending in "SOLD" as the gavel crashed onto the rostrum and the bidder's number was called out. It made me nervous to even think about brushing my hair back for fear of being mistaken for a bidder...like I looked the part...ha. Mostly I tried to remember to sit on my hands. Just to give you an idea of the condition of these vehicles, imagine chrome as shiny and sterile looking as brand spanking new utensils in a surgical room, paint so many layers thick, one could masterfully apply a full face of makeup in the reflections. No dust, no shoes, no service. And, to give you an idea of a few of the price tags, ever know of a car to cost 2.6 million dollars?? Me, neither. The cheapies sold for many times over what my first house cost. There was absolutely no signs of a recession inside the enormous West World display arena.

So all week, my friends had been having the, "honey, are you really sure you want that car you have your heart set on?" conversation. His reply was always the same.....rather say, his look, which was a resounding yes. The coveted car was a hot little Camaro, The Intimidator #3, with some of the engine "innards" being from a Dale Earnhardt race car. I tried to help his wife translate the infatuation into our female world....the thought of being able to bid on a whole warehouse of Christian Louboutin shoes. She understood that better but don't get the impression she is a novice to collectable cars. This wasn't their first rodeo.

After realizing he wasn't going to back down, she decided to pull out the stops and help the cause. She excused herself but didn't return. After about 1/2 hour, Craig called her cell number. She answered from the drivers seat of his soon to be Camaro after convincing the owners to let her drive it onto the stage...don't ask me how, but she did. (hum a few bars with me........If you knew Myra, like I know Myra, oh, oh, oh...) When we saw her pull around the corner and up onto the anti ramp, we went to the stage area to give her a push. Craig then took his position as bidder extraordinaire and after a few minutes of intense nodding yes and one shake of a no, his final bid brought down the gavel. Not that he wasn't cool about it, but we were all pretty excited. How many times do we get the one thing we really, really want? OK, for some, a lot, but this time was just different. A mini side thrill for me was the fact that I was at the Daytona race 11 years ago where Earnhardt lost his life in then car #3, so his legacy continues to hold a bit of personal feeling for me. (refer to Feb. 2011 blog, The Day the Lights went out in Daytona, if interested.)

So, The Intimidator #3 is now in Iowa in the Hansen automobile stable, along with many other stepcar siblings. The proceeds of the sale went to a cancer camp in South Carolina so it was doubly eventful to think the purchase helped kids with big troubles. Also, the Hansens intent is to continue using the car for other meaningful charitable endeavors.

It was such a great weekend. I've always wanted to attend this particular happening, was able to do it 1st class, and it's now another item marked off my bucket list.
Upward and onward to many more exciting events.