Adventure 827: Day 50/Tucson/2023

Not much occurred in terms of adventure today. We did explore the neighborhood by foot for about four miles. This area is interesting in that very few roads are square. Many roads dead end, which makes any circuitous route a meandering maze of semi-paved roads, sandy washes, and impromptu trails. It was all good. We simply got in line with the other quails and whippoorwill, and pitter pattered our way through the bristly bushes. I do have something quite sublime to offer. Instead of relating physical adventure, I thought I'd share one part of the adventurous mind of Mary Oliver.

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

The mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air

are heading home again

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things. 

As fortunate members of the human family, surely we must realize that life is good, especially today.

Urban cactus.

Our house this morning (photo sent by Dave Burgad)

.

Our patio view this morning.

Adventure 826: Day 49/Tucson/2023

After a morning of Tai Chi for me and training with Rob for Judy, we headed to the Saguaro National Park-West. We did a three mile exploratory hike today beginning at the El Camino del Cerro trailhead, which is a fifteen or twenty minute drive from the house. The terrain is rocky and undulated, steep in some places, rugged. The views are North looking over the city of Tucson and further out to the Catalinas. Very pleasing. We discovered that hikes of  any distance could be traversed in this area, but it's no easy walk in the park. Preparations should be made. It did give us another data point in our understanding of Tucson and the surrounds. That's fun. We settled in for dinner and a movie afterwards and considered life to be good, especially today.

This color of blue makes me howl at the moon.

Welcome to Tucson. It's that a way.

Recommended for serious hikers.

It's easy to get off trail in the desert, especially if a hiker misses signs like stacked cairns and rocks lined up to say, "Not this way."

Every time we go to the desert there is a little more color.

Hiker babe sashaying down the trail.

Hello, Mister Poppy!

One in ten thousand develop these crowns. I like to think I'm in the presence of royalty.

We hoped to catch a little of the dessert bloom before we leave. We're hoping the good rains will bring things along early. Maybe so if a little consistent heat would arrive. We'll keep looking.

Adventure 825: Day 48/Tucson/2023

We woke up to pouring rain. By the time we left church the sun was out. By the time we finished lunch with Mark and Anita Gingrich, it was warm. By the time the Kral's picked us up to go to a performance Of Haydn's Creation, the day had taken on its normal Tucson charm. Even though it's been cooler than normal, just a little sunlight warms the desert and all of us creatures bask like little chicks in an incubator. I'd never heard Haydn's Creation before, but WOW! 

The piece was first performed publicly on March 19, 1799 at the Burg theater in Vienna. It's a song, poem, scripture of praise and love for the things the Lord has created. It's basically a story of Eden without he snake. It's interesting because in terms of context, the world was crumbling in chaos during this time. Napoleon was trying to conquer the world. America was embroiled in "quasi wars". Coups were at the forefront in several nations around the world. I can see that a man of Haydn's sensibility would think that the only answer is divine love. It says in the theater notes that "Hayden was a religious man who preferred his faith to be cheerful and optimistic rather than moralistic and guilt ridden. Mentions of temptation, a fall from grace, or other evils are conspicuously missing from the Creation in favor of a comforting depiction of  heavenly affection and warmth." I must admit there is merit to spending life with a loving companion, and maybe it's a good bet to believe in a loving God. I definitely love the idea of keeping the snake out of it. And that's the part I loved best about the Creation. Right before the end, after Adam and Eve have professed their undeniable love for each other and for the joys the Lord has created, Uriel recites a warning.

"O happy pair, and happy evermore, let not desire convince you both that you want more than you have, and know much more than you should."

I think Haydn might be on to something. Be grateful for what is given. Keep desire in check. Stay humble. Enjoy because life is good, especially today.

The symphonic band, the choir, and the soloists take a bow.

The ride home midst the glorious evening shadows.

Pumpkin pie, whipped cream.

Just a thrown together dinner at the Kral's after the concert.

Bread broken with loving friends is hard to beat. 

Adventure 824: Day 47/Tucson/2023

The only thing more satisfying for a Zag fan than watching the guys beat BYU, is snatching another title away from St. Mary's. So Zag fans pumped themselves up like Roman Catholic Cardinals on parade after tonight's 77-68 victory over the Gaels. I mean let's look at just some of the numbers Coach Few's Zags have amassed over the years. They warrant appreciation.  .836 is Coach Few's winning percentage, highest in the college game; most consecutive March Madness appearances at 21, soon to be 22. Only coach to win 8 or more consecutive conference championships twice. Most regular season wins in the WCC at 292. Most regular season championships at 19. And just tonight Coach Few kept his string of 11, now 12 consecutive outright or shared WCC championships.  Wow! What a winner. Besides cheering on the Zags, we drove to Phoenix to drop Libby off at the Arizona Resort where she'll pamper herself along with her cousin, Stephie. They're a couple of cuties who will go home glowing after  a little fun in the sun. For them as well as us, life is good, especially today. Go Zags!

Go Zags!

Go Zags!

Falcon's first words: "Go Zags!"

Go Zags!

Before he could even walk the talk Falcon said, "Go Zags!"

Mimi will toast one for the team. Go Zags!

Good year to be a Zag fan. Go Zags!

Fully engaged three year old talker now, Falcon woof's, "Go Zags!"

Adventure 823: Day 46/Tucson/2023

For our Libby experience, we repeated two of our favoritel tourist stops today: breakfast at The Poca Cosa Cafe; and a three mile hike in the Sweetwater Preserve through the saguaros. After that, Libby sat by the pool reading her book. I bubbled a little bit in the hot tub. Judy knitted on the back patio. We had snacks and Eegee cocktails in the late afternoon and chicken/pineapple tacos for dinner. After dinner, we watched an outrageously entertaining movie called The Other Woman. So, by adventure standards this day feels pretty tame. It also feels pretty good. Libby said at one point, "You don't have to entertain me." That's the best part. It's really nice just to be in the same space. It makes life good, especially today.

Selfie of the day: Eegee hour with a cheese plate.

Tonight's sky.

Tonight's dinner.

Lounging Libby.

Hiker babes.

The Wiley Cager, up $.6 cents so far this month.

Obligatory cactus picture.

Strike a pose. Make it glow.

Adventure 822: Day 45/Tucson/2023

Things just keep getting better! Liz was able to connect with her sister and they were off in good time. Unfortunately, a few accidents (not theirs) and more than a few road construction delays left them short of their goal. The good news is that they made it safely to Indio, CA, in good time to watch the Zags. We picked up Elizabeth around 3 P.M. after an uneventful flight, if you don't count the bumps coming into Tucson. We whisked her right to El Nenes for a late lunch, and then over to Eegees for some smoothies which then turned into afternoon cocktails. It's always good to see my favorite daughter and the hugs felt as good as warm syrup on huckleberry pancakes. We settled in and watched an uplifting movie called CODA. Then we put Ellizabeth to work cooking us one of her famous "bowls' for dinner. She's an extraordinary cook and tonight the bowl was salmon marinated in soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, and sesame oil. She roasted some cauliflower on the side, made a mango/cucumber relish, and a very tasty chili pepper aioli. A little rice in the bottom of the bowl, and Yum, the treat was complete. We watched the first half of the Zag game. Judy even saw a little bit of it, which is saying something since the game didn't start until after nine. Finally, despite the fact that the Wiley Cager skunked me today to take the February lead, life is very good, especially today.

Here we are showing our "good" sides.

Here they are showing their best sides.

Stove top stuffin'.

Mango. cucumber, rice vinegar, cilantro, oil.

The finished bowl.

 We'll have enough Eegee slushy mix for cocktail hour tomorrow. :)

Adventure 821: Day 44/Tucson/2023

Black clouds, strong wind, and driving rain kept us inside for the day. We read, napped, sat by the fire, peeked out the window, and counted the drops that dove and fluttered off the roof like the doves that usually inhabit the space. So, not much in the way of adventure happened today except for dinner out at Scordato's, a pizzeria nearby. The dough was excellent, but I found myself feeling sad about leaving our pizza oven behind when we move. It's on the list of things about to change. Mostly, I've not been grasping at the things we'll leave behind. Rather, I'm looking forward to the new experiences we'll have when we get there. But I have to tell you, our pizza is pretty good. Tomorrow, life changes. Liz is heading back to California, hopefully with her sister in tow. Her sister, Jane, had planned on driving from Silver City, NM to join Liz for a little sister getaway. Unfortunately, an untimely snowstorm hit New Mexico  today. The morning will tell if the snow is impassable. Liz will leave regardless. It's been quite lovely to have her and our other buddies down here with us these few days. In other good news, our daughter, Libby, arrives tomorrow for a two day stay. She's on her way to have a "girls" weekend with her cousin, Stephanie in Phoenix. We'll drive Libby to Phoenix Saturday afternoon.  It will be fun to see her, even for a short stay. So as usual, life is good, especially today.

We decided comfort food and cold ones would scare the dark clouds away.

Oh, and we'll have pizza for breakfast, just like a bunch of college kids.

The desert is beautiful even in the dark light.

Can't wait to hug my favorite daughter.
  

Adventure 820: Day 43/Tucson/2023

We sent Ross and Dinah off with full stomachs and warm hearts. They scampered out to their friend, Glenda's for an extension on their trip. Good friends. Good timing. Liz, Judy and I went out to Sweetwater Preserve and got in a 2.5 mile hike before the rains came. They came, cold and hard. And then a frosty mist. The plants loved it. It's supposed to be unsettled and rainy tomorrow as well. It will make for a spectacular bloom in the coming weeks. I hope we get to see some. After the hike, we ate lunch, cleaned the house, and watched a wrenching widower movie called The Intern. Robert DeNiro is fabulous. We topped the night off with roasted asparagus, leftover bean confit, and Tim Chee Soup. We're also wondering how much rain it takes for the water to flow in the Riollito. Time will tell. Meanwhile, we've begun to talk about the furnishings in our new place. We're worried we've exaggerated the space in our minds. So, if the sky breaks its watery eggs over us tomorrow, we'll just make a window shopping omelet out of  it. We'll venture back to the Copenhagen Furniture store just for fun and with a new eye at lessening the furniture foot print in our new place. We won't really know until we do the walk through when we get home. In the meantime, life is good, especially today.

Popcorn and a movie on a rainy day.

Early morning walk caught sight of these two brothers, on upright, the other a bit curly.

The rain pours, almost falls off the flat roofs.

A person wouldn't want to be caught unprepared in the desert.We're thankful to have warm shelter.

Moe thin gruel.

Saguaros and Palo Verdes have symbiotic relationships, but this is carrying it a bit far.

The desert getting ready to welcome the rain.