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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Back From Arizona

Arizona was grand. Compared to 30 degrees and lower here in the Minnesota, the sunshine sure felt nice. Hubby and I went to visit grandparents living in Green Valley, AZ and we decided we want to skip the whole career thing and go straight to being retired. As my grandma puts it, "the worst part is that you always forget what day it is." Because without the 9-5 routine, who cares when the weekend is? You just do what you want when you want. Have a craving for ice cream at 10am on a Monday? Go for it. Drive past a garage sale sign and have an itch to stop? Go get some bargains. Wanna shop all day in the tourist traps? Done. Sit up all night watching the stars? Hey, in Green Valley everyone has special lights to cut down the light pollution.

So we visited a mine (the large tire we're sitting on is from one of the enormous trucks they use in the mine), went horseback riding, hiked in the desert, ate Mexican food and drank Mexican beer. And bought Mexican trinkets.

Oh yeah, we visited Ruby, Arizona, population 1. It's a ghost town tucked away back on a very long, very windy, very dirt road. The kind of road where you tell yourself there better be something pretty darn cool at the end to make the trip worthwhile. Luckily it is just about the coolest thing we did all week.

Some things I learned about Arizona:
1. With fair skin, it is possible to turn the color of a lobster
2. Walking sticks are used not only for walking but for checking to make sure you don't step on a rattlesnake
3. Abandoned mines make great bat caves.
4. 70 degrees is long sleeve shirt and jacket weather
5. The desert is hot.
6. Cowboy hats are not just decoration. They are kind of a necessity to keep the sun out of one's eyes.

How about you? How was your week while I was gone?

12 comments:

Melody said...

Wow! Sounds like you and your husband had a great time in Arizona!

The tyre is amazing... so huge!
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kim!

Anonymous said...

wow...great pics, I have always wanted to go to a desert. Arizona looks great :)

Ana S. said...

Kim! Welcome back :) Ice cream at 10am...mmmmmmm.

Stephanie said...

That is one big tire!! I think if I saw a rattlesnake, I would quite possibly have a panic attack then and there. I am uber-afraid of snakes!!

Did YOU go horseback riding too??

Good to have you back!

mariel said...

Horseriding, Mexican food, bats…sounds like you guys had a great time! FYI camera tripods with extendable legs are also useful when checking for snakes!!

Think of all the things you could do with your time if you were retired now. Sigh. Welcome back.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

I've been wondering where you've been!! Now that I've got you, there is an honorable mention for you on my blog. Ok, it's an award. :)

Arizona is great. And those desert nights get really chilly, huh? I've always loved visiting the old mining towns in the mountains. There's a great one between Phoenix and Sedona, but I can't remember the name.

Alice said...

Hi Kim, welcome back! While you were away, I missed you! So happy to have you back. :D

Alyce said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful time! The hike to the ghost town sounds like something my husband and I would love. I'm so jealous of the 70 degree weather. I took a week off from blogging, but we didn't go anywhere special and it rained most of the time. It was still fun though.

Anonymous said...

I love the tyre picture. Looks like you had a great time. I have never been to a desert, like you I am fair skinned. I am either pale white or lobster red.

Natasha @ Maw Books said...

From the photo of the big tire I almost thought you were visiting our big mine in Utah. I'm glad you had a great time in Arizona. I think I need a vacation now myself.

Amanda said...

Looks like you had a great time! Welcome back!

Susan said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful time, Kim! you don't mention the big tarantulas though that live out there. I am uber-afraid of them!! Snakes, pshaw. Ok, I'd need the walking stick, no need to walk into them! We had rattlesnakes in BC though, so I grew up kind of with them. But the heat! Oh, I want that heat here! It's cold again and snowed last night. Wah! so your pictures were a lovely timeout for me! and yes, I could do with instant retirement, leisure and pleasure to do whatever, whenever! *sigh*