Happy Birthday Nicholas!

I can't believe it! My firstborn baby is 18. Yesterday he was looking at me with that little smile, little toes, little feet, squeaky shreaks... Today, unfortunately he is working. I remember him coming down the stairs all covered in baby powder looking like a little ghost. I remember when he covered himself with band-aids. I remember how grass used to frighten him. I remember his first day of school. He didn't cry...I wish I could say the same for me. Grade school flew by. I used to call him Nickgyver. He would rig things up with string, wire or whatever was available. One day he rigged the light so when I turned it on, a radio came on. He later said this took several electrical shocks to do this. I remember the year he was "sick" the day after his birthday. He got a Kinex roller coaster for his birthday and just couldn't wait. When I came home that evening, the source of his "illness" was all put together.

Now he is an adult. What happened? I didn't age a bit, but he has grown to a height taller than me with a voice deeper than his dad's.

I love you little guy!

(Oh, and I had him when I was 8, of course. :))

ARTSY FARTSY

I can't help it. I have to post my photos that are more of the artsy fartsy nature than the trip log. So, here I go!

Day Three

We began the day in a depressing way. I was out of batteries for my camera. Prior to my purchase of more, we went to the Arizona Historical Society. Of interest was the reason for the old windmills that you see all over the countryside as you drive along. Oft a symbol of the "dirty thirties", these were used to pull water from deep underground. Irrigation was and still is needed for those crops that needed to be planted for sustenance for the large population increases, as well as for drinking water. Southern Arizona takes much pride in raising crops and plants not native to the area. Palm trees and citrus groves are NOT native to the area and require much more moisture than the climate can provide.
I really do see an eventual shortage of water in that area. They are building like crazy. There are so many more buildings up than when I visited 4 years ago. I am glad that they are building more houses than new trailer parks. I saw a commercial for a real estate company while I was there. It showed a happy family with two children being shown their dream home. Here was this pueblo-looking house sitting in a huge lot of well manicured SAND. To me, living here in the midwest that just seemed odd.
Of interest also, was the fact that the grocery stores and other retail businesses had their sales signs written first and large in Spanish and small and parenthesized in English below. I would have taken a picture, but due to the 3 a.m. wake up on Day One, I didn't have charged batteries along...
I enjoy taking photos of the beauties and the beasts of the area I am visiting. As I mentioned before, the cities are zoning nightmares and could use a lot of rehab. (I liked the "window unit" shown here. I guess I shouldn't complain about only being able to see out 1/3 of my window in the summer when our unit is in place...)
I noticed that large beautiful homes are being built or improved next to virtual shacks of homes. Graffitti runs all over town, good side and bad. This made me question as I was out and about...what does the midwest do differently? How do we define a "bad" side of town and keep the graffitti contained there? I am anxious for this semester's Urban Sociology class. Perhaps it will provide some answers.


Clean up is cheap and so often makes all the difference in the world. When I see places like this I wonder if this person needs help, doesn't care, or is used to this sort of lifestyle.

I had a friend whose family lived in a house much like this. It stank of piss and I stifled a scream as a mouse nonchalantly mosied out into the center of the living room and stood on its hind legs. It seemed quite comfortable and unthreatened there. This house has since been torn down. Needless to say, I didn't care to visit there.

This is the courthouse, I believe. I think it was once the high school, but this is about two blocks away from the three houses pictured above. See what I mean? Wierd!

Now for the Kitsch!

I am certain in their day, these were the cat's meow! Imagine driving through the desert on a hot summer night and seeing the lady diving into the pool! Such glitz! Such glamour! Such relief from the heat! And those with tv and/or air conditioning - such a sight for sore eyes!

Just general Arizona stuff- Trailer Parks and Kitsch

I cannot proceed any further without the mention of the general atmosphere in Arizona. For one, there is the obvious brush, cacti, and lack of large natural species. They have corporate farms that house cattle and horses under carport-type buildings with large fans blowing on them. Most of the cattle are the same cattle grown here, but occasionally there are open range steers - Texas style with horns.

The main crop as you drive through the territory seems to be cotton. Excuse the lax nature of the photos. Most of them were taken while sitting in the car afraid to ask for someone to slow down or stop. You see, when your driver gets older and the reflexes are slower, something like
slowing down could result in a slam on the breaks at the wrong time. So, for safety sake, I didn't say a word.

Another of their bumper crops is trailers. As I flew into Phoenix, I wish I would have taken the aerial photo of the trailer mecca. They are lined up in neat rows... some perpendicular to the road, others angled, but lined up like cars at a huge shopping mall, all glistening in the sun.

Each trailer park is stocked with trailers all of around the same age. As the newer models come out, in comes a new court for them.

There are double wides, singles, 5th wheels and smaller. They are parked in parks, or out plopped in the middle of deserts with nothing else around. Even some of the double wides lack the skirting and seem to be sitting there sometimes at the base of a mountain pondering if this will be their final home.

In older parts of the cities, there seems to be a grandfathering of zoning regulations and trailers sit beside regular homes with foundations. This seems to be zoning hell.


Hail to the trailer king. He with the most tires on top wins! He has a 5th wheel to boot! Let us bow in praise!!!


There simply isn't enough room on blogger to post all of the trailer photos, but let me tell you, Vermillion is hardly in the running when it comes to trailer parks. Arizona is far more esteemed in that division. That and Kitsh - mostly motel kitsch! When vacations were popularized in the 50s and 60s etc, several motels began their tourist seduction with signs designed in the latest vogue to attract bleary-eyed travelers.

I made it out alive!

I think I will begin with day one of the journey. I need to include the several "Notes to Self". This should serve to remind me and perhaps others as well.

First Note to Self: Never fly out at 5 a.m. on a Saturday. For one, this requires one to have their $#%@ together not only the night before, but the week before. Packing doesn't really take that long, but remembering things that one should remember when you wake at 3 a.m. is not probable...like the rechargable batteries you so cleverly charged the night before ready and waiting for the journey. Although milk is $1.70 in Arizona, a 4-pack of Energizer AAs is $5. There simply is no way to consume enough coffee after 3 hours of sleep to remember this.

Second Note to Self: Buy small bottles for your favorite shampoos, toothpaste etc. It seems the only 3.4 oz or less bottles available for these items are not the choice brands, but those that tend to make your hair feel like tumbleweed and your teeth just never quite clean...

Third Note to Self: A political blog where you include political cartoons and references to espionage that is viewed by folks in 3rd world and terrorist infested countries may result in loss of innocence of oneself and one's luggage during a search by airport security.

Fourth Note to Self: Reduce weight to 80 or 90 lbs. max. Although news reports state that the size of the average American is going up, the space allowed between you and your fellow travelers is decreasing and the number of flights is decreasing, resulting in a sardine effect. Although you may not be large, this doesn't mean that the person beside you is small. I am also thankful that my surrounding passengers were kind enough to abide by personal hygeine etiquette prior to boarding. This was not the case on a flight from Chicago once. As we were waiting to board, I prayed that I wouldn't be seated next to the stinky obese man that I happened to walk by and be nauseated by. My prayers were answered and he was at the opposite end of the plane.

Fifth Note to Self: First class passengers are better than the rest of us, and using their restroom because it is closer to you and not occupied results in the flight attendant announcing over the loud speaker a reminder that those are for snooty asses and not for thine.

Sixth Note to Self: Create a photo library of the backs of people's heads.
Yes, there was snow in Colorado. Visible from cruising altitude one can see the deep grooves in the snow that are probably interstates cleared by the huge snow blowing parades you see on tv. Quite interesting...

Seventh Note to Self: Bring food. Despite the request when you purchase your ticket for the type of meal you prefer, when you fly from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., you ARE NOT provided with so much as a measley bag of peanuts!!!

There was not much else to report on in the first day. A nap ensued followed by eating and more sleep. Another reason not to fly out so early. The first day was shot!


Day 2: We went to watch the skydivers. Although I admit, I yawned at first when the suggestion was made, it was much more than watching them at the air show. This is an international school for skydiving. There were many folks from all over the world here learning how to sky dive. On this windy day, they were landing all over the place. Unlike a horse show where you have to look down to be careful what you step in, here you had to look up to be careful of what steps in you! The week prior to our visit two skydivers lost their lives when they became entangled. Here we see them packing their chutes:

This is a picture that was not enhanced by zoom. They seemed like they were going to land on us, and turned at the last minute, landing on the field. They continuously fall out of the sky, changing from dark dots to human kites.

We also went to a sort of fair, where they had an old fiddlers competition. It wasn't the greatest and we left before long. They had a couple of old cars that actually ran. This one was equipped with all one needs to have. It had a washer, birdhouse, wash tub, you name it! It had everything including the kitchen sink.

Take the wheel, please

Great! We have a new drug house and it appears to be hopping this afternoon. I will be gone and unable to report on plate numbers, etc. I did call the police and was frustrated, because at the time there were several males on the steps of the apartment building and cars were driving right thru. I think that both apartment buildings have become saturated with young entrepreneurs. Here I was wondering if the creeps that moved out of the dives down the street moved north or east, instead they seem to have landed in my web. Oh, well. It will probably be their undoing. Anyway, I was promptly called back by an officer stating that he would check and see what DCI had going on. I let him know that I am going on vacation for a week and wouldn't be able to watch, gather data, etc. He assured me that they would pick up my slack. :) How nice.

This morning I had to laugh. There was a man parked outside on the street reading a paper. He had been sitting there for awhile. So, I politely asked him if I could help him (I am a most helpful neighbor!) and he said that he was there on business and gave me his card. Turns out that he was DSS doing a fraud investigation. I thanked him and wished him luck. I saw him again this evening when I was walking the dogs. He smiled and waved at me. What a nice little community we have.

If anyone is in the area and would like to keep an eye on the neighborhood for me as you drive by, please do. I feel kind of vulnerable for some reason. I have that uneasy feeling that something is going to happen while I am gone. I don't feel that way very often. I will give my neighbors the heads up, too.

Oh, I heard the scanner reports on the stabbing last night. I love how they give the address of the place on the news, but fail to mention that it was right across the street from the police station. Nice... I was wondering also, if I hear information on the scanner, is that considered public information, or should I keep it to myself? There were a couple of items of note, but if it impedes the investigation, I don't want to mention them.

Help!

Okay, Y'all! I am in a terrible panic. I leave for Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday. I will be without computer, without neighborhood, scanner, dogs, kids, World Poker Tour (if you get my drift). The last time I was there, we went to Mexico, saw an old mission, went to some ruins, hiked up a mountain in the Sonoma desert, and fed the Ostriches at an Ostrich farm. I think we spent 4 days there. Now, we are going for seven. I have been searching the internet for interesting things. The problem is, the American history - or what they advertise - is not that old. When they speak of a historic home tour, they are talking early 1900s. I really don't mean to snub Phoenix, but truth be told, there is only so much desert to be seen - in my eyes. I had a problem when we went to the "Touch the Sky" prairie area. I admit, I am all about trees and history. I loved the history of Boston, and love the trees of the Boundary Waters area. Cacti aren't my thing and neither is sand. I am one person that doesn't like to be board. (Ask my parents!) The last time I went to Phoenix, I cleaned their house - not that it wasn't clean, but just did some extra-duty stuff. I loathe being bored and want to take walks, but snakes and scorpians aren't really my thing, either. Mexico is out this time because we don't have passports.

So, I beg y'all to help! It is up to me to come up with activities and I am just not finding anything unusual, historical or exciting at all. Help ME!!!!

In with the new!!

This year I have already begun pursuit of the Irish part of the family. I am speaking to my dad about the research that he did on my mother's side of the family. I am in full research mode and ready to go at it. My mother's family has a strong Irish heritage, but have yet to find a solid lineage on the male side of the family. I have hit several large "question marks" that with the help of my dad, I will turn into exclamations!


I have really been enjoying my photography and will probably be pursuing more photo ops this year. I plan on having my camera and spare batteries with me more often. I hate getting to work in the morning and seeing wonderful skies. They are so unusual at times and so large in the industrial park area. Last week, there was a morning with a sunburst pattern in the western sky. The oddness of the bright colors in the west at that time of the morning was such a unique effect that I really regret not bringing my camera. So, I will attempt to do so, from now and also attempt to get to work early just in case.




I plan on actively pursuing a collection of neighbors to discuss neighborhood events and meet with Russ Sorenson from the city planning office to synchronize our plans. I have a number of ideas that I wish to bring forth and would like to collect more.

I also would like to become more of an optimistic person. I always have hope, but too often let people get to me. I think I need to ignore their antagonism more and just keep trotting along through my own path. My boss is one of those that is really going to be difficult to deal with, so I am planning on honing my resume and pursing something else. I would like a job where they appreciate the job you do and don't take out their mental disorders on everyone else. (We had something of a group prayer last week that she wouldn't make it back from vacation for awhile.) Yes, it is getting to everyone.

All for now,
A

Out with the old...

This year, we did see a few accomplishments. We finally lost our power-braking neighbors! The 43 year old responsible for harrassing the neighborhood beyond belief is in jail and was prior to our testimonies in court. He came dressed in a nice black and white striped ensemble with shining silver bracelets. His daughter, there to support him and make snide remarks and sneers at us, was also later arrested for possession of a controlled substance, etc. Biganasty, and we call this S.O.B. was also the man who ran into a grade school earlier in the year and fled. His windshield remained unfixed and still donned the spiderwebbed outlines of his head and his son's. Something poetic and ironic in that.

On one of the hottest days of the year, we went to the air show. I really got tired of people writing into the Argus raving about it. Yes, it was nice, but several shaded canopies intended for the community elite were left empty, while several elderly people suffered from the heat. I got this somewhat crude photo of an inflatable soldier with his gun in position. What the still picture doesn't show is the wind blowing to make the marine appear to be thrusting... I was tempted to write into the Argus and ask about that one!


The year was dismal for stormy weather in Sioux Falls. Several storms surrounded the city but left us sometimes dry and extremely bored. I appreciate a good strong thunderstorm to recharge my negative ions!!! The only pictures I was able to take were taken from some distance after I chased them to the edge of town. Yawn...


One of the saddest events of the year was the loss of our old maple on the North side of the house. We all cried. We lost so much shade and the squirrels were lost without it. We were told before the amputation that the tree was hollow all the way through and we would have to lose it this way or by it falling. It turned out that yes, one of the limbs was hollow, but the tree for the most part was healthy. Eric was able to take a huge log and is considering doing something with the wood. A man came up to the house asking if he could take some. When we told him yes, he said that he would turn us a bowl. I thought that would be a very nice momento for us, but the bowl is yet to be seen.

I also lost my shade garden. I was so busy with school, that I haven't had time to move my rhododendrons yet. I hope they will be forgiving enough to wait until spring. I have $1000s in plants there and will have to redo for a sunny garden next year. I think of the fun, but also think of the work and the expense. So...I am taking any donations of sunny perennials from those doing any thinning this year....



This year we also saw the increase in gang activity and drug deals in the neighborhood. I finally sparked some fires under the neighbors and held a meeting. I invited the mayor, the narcotics division, gang relations, and several city officials. We got some lighting issues resolved, some neighbors pumped about improvement and were able to jump on the bandwagon of the 10-12th street neighborhood project enacted by the mayor. We have lost a couple of uncaring landlords, have seen increased patrol and media attention to help spread the word. I am so grateful that we are united and are no longer ignored. We are committed to cleaning this up. My kids are afraid that I am going to be shot. What would the price be of fearing the gangs and hiding inside with the blinds closed? I don't think they would really dare to do that to me because at this point the reaction by the police, media and my wonderful neighbors would be fierce.