To Arizona

Can you guess which photos are the New Mexico stretch, and which are Arizona? Hint: although we’re headed to Mesa, AZ, New Mexico has many beautiful flat-topped rocks! The colors are more stunning in person. If New Mexico had a sea as well as political blue-ness, I’d move there.

We listened to murder podcasts most of the way. It gives you a new perspective when overhearing rest-stop conversations of others, or when viewing caves along the bottom of the mesas.

As we hit a certain stretch after the north woods of Payson, it was apparent that no signs of civilization (e.g., gas stations) would appear for about 35 miles. I was scouting out any dense brush which may be cover for a roadside pee. This turned out to be the least of my worries, as Joe noted “I should’ve filled up with gas back there”. We had about 37 miles to civilization, but under that amount of gas to get us there. As Laura said later, “Thank goodness it’s all downhill”. 

We made it. Whew!

Laura and Megan gave a warm welcome, and the rest of the family joined us for dinner that was picked up from Boca. It was good—all fresh ingredients. I was hungry!

We’ve spent the last day and a half unpacking and getting situated. Last night, I was craving a Salted Nut Roll, which I knew was in the car. I went out to retrieve it, and whoa — my entire car’s insides were ransacked! Glove box, console, turned inside out; coats and bags displaced and thrown around. Joe went out to get something earlier and forgot to re-lock. I’m grateful we still have a catalytic converter, and that no windows were broken. So far, the main damage appears to be the theft of my favorite pair of sunglasses, the Coach pair I actually spent several hundred bucks on. Dammit! But it could’ve been worse—my Pimsleur Greek language CDs and my TicTacs are still there!

Today is sleep in, catch up on tedium, and walk in the sun day. And if I see someone wearing my sunglasses, I’m takin’ them down.






























Relaxing in Laura & Megan’s back yard:




Not quite sure what these boobs are.

My favorite—mega rosemary shrubs!

Canal walkway

Joe and Laura (aka Little Joe),
putting together patio furniture.

Canal walkway
Chillaxin’









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