Raising Arizona

Cactus of Saguaro National Park: The Saguaro

2009-05-06T01:50:00.020-07:00

On a recent trip to Saguaro National Park in Tucson, I thought it would be fun to identify as many different types of cactus as possible. After just two days in the area, Bev and I identified ten different cacti. Instead of overwhelm you all at once I thought I'd break down my posts into the following categories: Saguaro cactus, Hedgehog and Barrel cacti, Prickly Pear cacti, and Cholla cacti.

The Saguaro Cactus

(carnegiea gigantea)
Probably the most recognizable of all cacti, the Saguaro (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") is native to the Sonoran Desert which covers nearly a third of Arizona, a small part of California and then stretches south into Mexico. It seems to be most synonymous with Arizona and its flower, the Saguaro blossom, is the state flower.

This slow growing cactus takes 15 years to reach a foot tall and 50-75 years to grow its first arm. Some of the oldest and largest saguaros can have up to 30 arms and weigh several tons due to the mass of the water in the pulpy interior. The flower blooms between late April-early June; opening 2 hours after sunset and remaining open until the next afternoon.

I actually wish someone could have been there to photograph us as we took this picture. Saguaros are typically 10-30 feet tall (some even reach 50 feet high) so to get this close I had to put Bev on my shoulders and maintain my balance so we didn't end up falling into the cactus. Neither of us was hurt, so it was worth it. In my next post I'll show some pics taken of the hedgehog and barrel cacti we saw.

The Keating Five

2008-10-07T14:18:00.004-07:00

I wanted to recommend something for everyone to check out that I think is rather important to not just our economy but the potential risk on our health care as well.

There is a video above.

I mention health care here because of the common denominator, DEREGULATION. One of the things John McCain is calling for in his health care plan is the deregulation of the health care industry. The same thing he pushed for in the financial industry that directly led to the Keating Five scandal and the current sub prime crisis is the same thing he's calling for in the health care industry.

I'm not saying Obama's health care plan is amazing or anything, but we have ongoing examples, that can't even be refused by our existing administration of why further deregulation is not the answer.

Please take the time (13 minutes) to watch the above documentary on John McCain's heavy involvement in the Keating Five Scandal. There's a reason the McCain campaign doesn't want us looking back when we're talking about change going forward. But if we don't look back at the past, how are we going to avoid repeating it in the future?

Public Transportation

2008-04-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Never being one to shy away from or hide the ridiculously stupid things I do, let me share with you today's blunder.

I decided to try out the lovely Valley Metro today. Valley Metro is the public transportation that services the majority of the Phoenix area. With gas prices on the rise, and my stress level on the rise due to a rise in traffic (are we sensing a trend here?) I decided it might be worthwhile to try public transit. But enough about that...

I spent a lot of time carefully planning my route on the Valley Metro website and was pleased to discover there was a route that picks up near my gym (half the distance I would drive to work) and could get me to work in about 40 minutes. I started out on route 56 which heads up to Arizona Mills Mall. It was a nice peaceful ride (I was reading my TIME magazine), not overcrowded and not reeking of urine (although I have been stuffed up so who knows).

At Arizona Mills Mall I needed to make a transfer to route 92 which would then quickly shoot up 48th street and have me to work just after 8am. But that's where things went wrong. Oh I boarded the bus for route 92 all right, unfortunately it was route 92 heading SOUTH... not NORTH. After a mundane tour of Tempe areas that I already see on a weekly basis we returned again to Arizona Mills Mall where we had now become the northbound route. I finally arrived at my destination, only an hour later than I had originally planned.

Looking at the above image, which shows my "detour" in red, brings even more hilarity to my story. Had I known the southbound route that we were taking (which was really more east than it was south) or just realized that most bus routes will travel along the same roads, I could have departed the southbound route, crossed the street and picked up the next northbound route which comes along every 10-15 minutes. I decided I deserved the punishment anyway for not being more conscientious about what bus I was boarding.

Nonetheless, it made for an interesting morning, and the best part is I still feel less stressed than I normally do when driving myself to work. Plus when I get back to my truck I'll be outside my gym, giving me one less excuse for not going.

Quarter of a Century

2008-04-09T08:06:00.004-07:00

I'm 25 today. Bring on the rental car companies and the cheaper insurance, I'm ready. Actually it's a day like today that causes me to reflect back on the prior year and this past year was a doozy. However, I'm not about to start writing about all of that again. Instead, I'm writing this to say thank you.

Thank you mom and dad. When I came into the world screaming at 8:44pm you knew instantly I had my mother's temper. And I'm guessing it wasn't too long after I learned to talk that you realized I had my father's sense of humor. You both have been constants in my life that I could always count on and I love you dearly.

Thank you Jenn & Scott. Jenn and I didn't always get along and unfortunately for me I wasn't always the taller one. My best chance at surviving a fight with my sister was to get into the hallway with my hands pressing against the walls and my feet kicking as fast as possible. Miraculously once Jenn got her driver's license we became really good friends (go figure). Jenn you're an amazing sister who always makes a positive impact in my life. Scott you're an inspiration to me. I continue to wear my Scott Custer wristband and everyday I remember why I'm wearing it. I love you both.

Thank you friends. I'd love to take the time to call each of you out individually for the differences you've made in my life this past year but there's just not enough time. Just in the past 10 months my life has been like a roller coaster. It was always nice to know I had friends during that time I could count on. It's taken me 25 years but I finally understand the value of great friends. I can't possibly put into words how much I love and care for each one of you. If I've not made it clear with my actions I hope you all know I would do anything for you guys. I always enjoy my time with you all and I can't wait for even more days of fun to follow. Just know I don't take any of you for granted. I'm so glad I'm here and I'm so glad you are all here with me.

Now let's go out and party like it's 1983.

Jared

¿El Camino de Toyota?

2008-02-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

We're all entitled to like different things, regardless of how stupid some of those things may be. Along those same lines we also have the freedom to rant about the things we don't like. Today on my way to work I saw two things that I really didn't like. I only managed to get a photo of one of those things though and let's face it, we all love pictures.

For those that don't know I drive a pickup truck. A 2006 Toyota Tacoma to be exact. It's no sports car or luxury vehicle but I've grown up driving trucks and I just like them. (See first sentence of blog.) A truck is great for when you want to get outdoors and travel somewhere that might require a little higher clearance than your average sedan. If you're in the habit of hauling things or helping friends move, a truck is probably your choice vehicle. If you're a plumber, electrician, or work in construction, you probably drive a truck because its features better help you do your job.

Now, I'm no plumber or construction worker. I'm a software consultant. However, I was raised in a hardworking, blue-collar family and I maintain a rather blue-collar personality. I enjoy being able to help friends move, or occasionally haul something around when need be. I also enjoy the outdoors and my truck allows me to go some places a car can't. This is why I own a truck and it's my opinion that this is true for most people who own trucks. Then there's this guy (on the left):

<rant>What is wrong with this guy!? First off, as he drives down the I-10 I can't help but notice how the bed of his truck is wobbling, displaying his shoddy workmanship. Beyond the obvious though this man has stripped this truck of all its handy features! He's sitting lower than most of the cars whizzing by so the occasional off-road adventure is out of the question. You'll notice directly to his right is the exact make and model of his vehicle, sans stupidity. Furthermore, hauling anything in that bed more than a few pounds (given his poor workmanship) would probably push his bumper to the ground, sending sparks flying. Hell, I bet he bottoms-out when going over speed bumps!

I'm appalled whenever I see something like this, even more so in this case because it's a Tacoma. If that's the look you're going for, save yourself some time and buy an old El Camino.</rant>

Wow, I really thought I'd be more up-in-arms while ranting about this. I guess Friday has a way of calming me down.

Media Mayhem

2008-02-14T00:05:00.001-07:00

So I've been tagged. Not being a big blogger (obviously) it was a good thing my buddy Richard (Coyote Squirrel's Random Musings) was kind enough to explain it to me. He actually had to tell me I had been tagged since I've been a horrible friend lately and haven't kept up with his excellent blog. Anyway, here goes...

Books:
This is easy. I've got numerous books in play right now but they've all been sitting idle for quite some time. At the top of the list is Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Honestly I don't know how I've managed to keep my eyes off this book. Next is The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach. I don't have the extra cash I need to start some serious investing, but once I do I'll be ready (that is if I actually finish reading the book). Finally there's The Five Love Languages. I bought this book by Gary Chapman in a failed attempt to save my engagement. Even with that relationship being over I still think there's a lot of value to this book. Eventually I'll finish it and hopefully find better ways to communicate to my friends & family how much I care for them.

TV:
Well early last week my DirecTV box took a crap so TV viewing has been limited to the channels over the airwaves. Luckily I have the entire series of Arrested Development on DVD. Seriously, a tear comes to my eye when I think about how long-lasting this show could have been if Fox had marketed it better. (Come on!) Right now there really isn't much on. I like October Road, as cheesy and predictable as it might be. Prison Break has sucked me back in; not because it's good (it's horrible) but because I'm already familiar with the storyline and there's nothing else to watch. My TV is recording the new LOST episodes but I'm currently deciding whether to abandon the island or start watching again (which will undoubtedly lead right back to me wishing I hadn't started watching it again, but it'll be too late. Damn you J.J. Abrams!)

Music:
I'm all over the place here, so I'll just touch on a few. In my truck I'm primarily switching back and forth between two albums. V is for Vagina by Puscifer, which is an interesting industrial/trip-hop experiment by Maynard James Keenan and Graduation by Kanye West. On the iPod I've been listening to a lot of acoustic stuff, primarily anything by Mike Doughty, formerly of the 90's band Soul Coughing. Currently my iTunes is blaring out my entire collection of head banging music by Sevendust.

Unfortunately, I don't really know five other bloggers to pass this on to, so this game of tag ends with me. I lose. Goodnight.

Flatiron Hike - Superstition Wilderness

2008-01-16T22:04:00.002-07:00

It has been compared to hiking the famous Camelback Mountain twice in a row. Lucky for me I haven't yet hiked Camelback so I went into the hike being as naive as possible about the grueling and strenuous trek I was about to begin. I've done a couple of "exploring" hikes in South Mountain Park where my friends and I have hiked and boulder hopped for 6+ miles at a time. I decided that those experiences should be enough to prepare me for the roughly 6.2 mile round trip hike to the top of Flatiron and back. Oh did I mention we'd be climbing up nearly 2700 feet during the hike? Ummm... Yeahhh...

Our hike began promptly at 1:14pm and with a starting elevation of 2058 feet. We may have been able to start a few minutes earlier but the lady who took our payment for parking insisted upon warning us about our hike. She tried to tell us it would take 6 hours to complete the journey, which would have put us in the dark for the last mile or so (that's not good). Both Chris and Jon, who went with me, have done the hike before and knew this woman was crazy. The hike starts out very innocently with a leisurely walk along the Discovery Interpretive Trail. The trail is through your typical Sonoran landscape of cholla, creosote, saguaro, ocotillo and paloverde.

The good times start to pick up once you hit the Siphon Draw Trail where the actual hiking begins. About 1.7 miles into the hike is a great place off the trail for a shaded rest. Two rather large boulders create a cool area to sit and catch your breath before beginning the first tough part of the hike. After our break we continued on the Siphon Draw Trail which ends at the bottom of a slick rock basin. At this point a number of people would probably turn around and call it a day, but only hiking to this point doesn't give you the full feeling of accomplishment that you get from the top of Flatiron.

While making the trip up the basin we were pleased to see running water in a lot of places. It had last rained about six days ago but apparently the rain was still making its way down the mountain. It's not something often experienced in the dessert so we took some time to just stop and listen to the running water. At the top of the basin (the saddle) is another great place for a break. From here you can look down and take pride in the awesome hike you've just accomplished. Unfortunately, you can also look ahead and see a seemingly impossible climb to the ridgeline that takes you to Flatiron. There are actually three possible routes here, but I'm told the narrow canyon to the right is easiest (at the least it's closest to the Flatiron.) We dip down briefly before starting a 1500+ foot climb that covers less than 1 mile in distance.

(That rock formation near the middle-right of the photo, shaped like the front of a ship, is Flatiron)

The climb from here was rough. I found it easiest just to keep doing hand and foot scrambling the majority of the time. At this point you really have to watch where you're putting your hands or a cactus or snake might just "greet" you. With only a few hundred feet or so remaining we realized that if we could really push it we might complete the climb in 2 hours. I always enjoy a good challenge like that so I took the lead and just started blazing up the canyon. We were all very fatigued but all of us managed to push through it on our way to the top. I was moving along pretty well when I suddenly had to stop. The top was within view, but there was a 10-12 foot nearly vertical climb that stood in our way. At first I looked to the left where there was a tree I thought might work well, then to the right was a series of steep, jagged-looking, rocks. I decided the jagged rocks would probably provide better places for gripping and foot holes. It wasn't too bad really, but from the bottom of it I could have sworn our hike was over. Finally, after that climb and a short quarter-mile walk, we were standing at the edge of the Flatiron. It was roughly 3:10pm and our elevation was 4722 feet.

We relaxed and took in the amazing view, our reward for finishing the climb. It was very peaceful at the top and I could have probably spent hours there just looking around and taking everything in. Unfortunately we needed to be heading back down so after 20 minutes we began our descent. We followed the same path we had taken up but since we were going mostly down it didn't take long at all to reach the bottom. With there being some moisture on the rocks we all had our moments where we slipped or slide a little. I nearly buckled my knee, Chris rolled both of his ankles and somehow Jon managed to slide all over the place at one point without actually hurting himself.

We finished the hike, sore and bruised but feeling great about the accomplishment. Being out in Arizona and seeing things like this on a regular basis is just so much different from the flat farmlands I grew up around. I look forward to hiking Flatiron again sometime, once my body recuperates from this time!

Hike Stats
Starting Elevation: 2058 feet
Highest Elevation: 4722 feet
Total Distance: 6.2 miles
Total Time: 3hrs 50mins

A Time for New Beginnings

2008-01-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Not that the people of the World Wide Web have been missing out on anything, but I haven't posted anything on my blog in quite some time. To be perfectly honest I've just been dealing with a number of things in my personal life that just didn't have me wanting to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys, in this case).

For the sake of those reading my blog here's the gist. My wedding that was to take place in October never happened. Heather postponed the wedding 90 days prior to the actual event and after discussing our situation the decision was made to just split up. It's been quite the roller coaster from the beginning but I'm starting to feel like the last drop, loop and curve has been completed and I'm ready to step off this ride. I've been bitter, confused, mad at myself, mad at her, mad at other people, depressed, happy, optimistic, pessimistic, you name it I've felt it. I hope Heather finds herself and what she's looking for. Meanwhile, I'm ready to get myself back on track. I've been focusing on myself lately and it's been good. Aside from this aspect of my life I've been busy doing other things too.

I'm still working for Sogeti and although I've been up and down about things with them at times, I'm enjoying it right now and hoping to do some traveling around the U.S. whenever other offices need some help. I'm working to get and keep myself in shape. I've been more consistent with getting to the gym and taking care of my body. I've started running again and even signed up for a 5k run next weekend.

I spent some time in Ohio the latter part of this past year. I was back home for about two weeks in October and two more weeks at the end of December. I'm not sure why I took so much time to just go back to Ohio instead of actually taking a vacation, but I think it's been good for me to be around family.

Alright, this is becoming way more than the simple posting I intended it to be. The fact is, I'm hoping to start writing more in my blog. I'm actually working on a write up about a hike I took this past weekend with some buddies. Keep an eye out for it because some of the pictures look really awesome.

Take Care,
Jared

25 Miles in 30 Minutes on the 101

2007-08-30T23:30:00.001-07:00

Okay, first let me start by saying the goal of driving to work in 30 minutes is not as attainable as it was prior to school going back into session. Between those "damn kids and their rap music" (am I already to the age when I start using that phrase?) and varying amounts of frontage road construction, 25 miles in 30 minutes is no longer an everyday occurrence. That being said, here's how I attempt to avoid the 101 traffic while still driving on the 101 (sort of).

Ray Rd – This is where our journey begins. At this point you analyze what you can see of the 101 traffic and the frontage road ahead of you and choose one of three options:

1. Enter the freeway.
2. Stay on the frontage road (Price Rd.).
3. Turn around, call in sick and go back to bed.

Most days I choose option 2. It's a bit tricky but what you want to do is approach the intersection at Ray/101 in the right hand lane (AKA the granny lane). This lane usually has fewer cars in it. Immediately after crossing the intersection though you want to get over into the left lane (AKA the hammer lane). The hammer lane "should" run much smoother than the granny lane; unless of course some moron forgets what lane they belong in. When this occurs you've either got to stick with it or do some swerving through both lanes to get around. This process will be repeated for the next few miles.

Guadalupe Rd – As you approach the Guadalupe/101 intersection Price road merges down to one lane before opening back up to two again prior to the light. Immediately get into the left lane to prepare for a possible merger onto the 101. At this point you're probably going to get on the freeway. If you don't you'll be riding the frontage road until it dumps you onto the 101 just under the 202 overpass. The best reason to get on at this point is because you avoid the metered entrance ramps that follow at the proceeding streets.

Once on the freeway make your way over to the hammer lane but prepare yourself to get back over near the granny lane shortly. Just as traffic begins to exit onto the 60 you want to get into that granny lane. Next an entrance lane appears for those getting on the 101 from the 60. If traffic is bad make your way into this lane, which gets you pretty far before merging to the left. Quickly make your way into the middle lane, which seems to have the least resistance. This is probably the slowest point of the drive. For the next 2 miles or so until you get under the 202 overpass you either deal with this slower traffic or attempt to exit immediately and take Price road until it dumps you back onto the 101.

After going under the 202 immediately get into the new granny lane that has appeared. You can usually speed down this lane a ways before it slows due to merging traffic from the 202. As suckers from the 202 are trying to merge onto the 101, you're trying to merge OFF the 101. Get into the exit lane, speed down to the light and if you get lucky it'll be green. Now is where the fun begins. I like to call this next time saver of mine "Ramp Runnin'". Others enjoy this shortcut as well, and it's quite simple to do. When the light turns green, instead of turning onto whatever road the 101 has intersected with, just go straight. Now for a quick warning: Although most of these intersections have a sign showing a double arrow (one to the left and one to the right) it does not say "ONLY" below the sign, so I assume it is okay to go straight. If you plan to call me out on this method please be sure to cite a specific Arizona traffic law so that I can believe you. When I was in my defensive driving class a few months back (curse those speed camera vans!) I asked the instructor about this method of ramp running and he seemed to hint that it was legal in most cases, but who knows. So head on up the entrance ramp and if you time it just right you can blow through the light meter right as it turns green. If there are other cars waiting at the traffic meters you will almost always want to pick the right lane. For some reason I always see 5 or 6 cars backed up on the left side and only 1 or 2 on the right. You should try to count ahead so you don't end up wasting time while other (probably slower) people pass you up. Now, instead of merging into the slow, slow, SLOW traffic on the 101 just stay in the entrance/exit lane. This can be a little dangerous and you do have to keep a watchful eye for anyone trying to merge into the lane. Repeat this process until Thomas Road.

Thomas Rd – At Thomas road there is a slight curve in the freeway, which causes a major slow down (chain reaction breaking) and instead of the 101 running above Thomas road, it runs under. The problem with exiting here is that the middle exit lane does not have the same double arrow that the other exits have but instead shows a right turn ONLY sign. The solution however is brilliant and even more legally sound than just ignoring the sign. Simply make a right turn (even on red, it's legal), followed by a U-turn (also legal) and then get onto the entrance ramp and go about your merry way. Sometimes you can do that entire sequence well before the light turns green for everyone else. The next exit is like the others but can also be performed similar to the Thomas road exit if the light is red.

From this point there are only two more exits where you can continue going straight and depending on the flow of traffic I sometimes just merge in with the masses and take my chances. After you round the curve near Pima road the traffic starts flowing at a normal speed. At this point the only thing you need to be aware of are the speed cameras placed near Shea Blvd., Raintree and just after Hayden. And please, please for the love of things on wheels, don't slam on your brakes when you get near those cameras. Contrary to popular belief those cameras are not going to catch you speeding 500 yards before you get to them. Understanding how these cameras work can greatly increase your awareness of them, and help you avoid being on Scottsdale's Most Wanted.

The Speed Cameras - Each area where these cameras are set up have one camera that takes a photo of the front of your vehicle, and a second that photographs the back of your vehicle. It is ONLY when you are between these two cameras that you can be caught speeding [by the cameras]. Actually it's even a smaller window than that. Between these two cameras, sensors have been placed in the road. Each lane has its own separate sensors (so nobody else is going to cause you to get a ticket). There are two sensors in each lane spaced only a few feet apart. When your front tires hit the first sensor a timer begins and that timer ends when your front tires hit the second sensor. The time that is generated is then converted into miles per hour and then if you are over the limit (75mph I believe), you're going to be on candid camera. As long as you're watching your speed during those few precious feet where those sensors are, you'll be safe. I should say you will be safe from the photo radar, not necessarily from the motorcycle cop hiding on the other side of the overpass clocking you as you speed back up to the 101 standard of 85mph (above 85 is criminal and gets you put in handcuffs).

There you go. That's how I go 25 miles in 30 minutes on the 101. You may be wondering why I've told you my secrets. Well, for one, it's not really that big of a secret. Half the time I find myself in a caravan of other ramp runners who have discovered the same time-saving techniques I have. Secondly, I'm guessing the chance of someone reading this that also drives up the 101 is pretty slim.

Either way, those are my results. Your mileage (and time) may vary.

A Day in My World

2007-07-11T00:00:00.001-07:00

So I have seen before where people take pictures of themselves and/or their surroundings at random times throughout a given day in order to sort of tell the story of a typical day in their life. My weekly life is pretty cut and dry but I thought I'd give it a shot. If nothing else it provided a quick topic for a blog posting. This day of my life was Tuesday, July 10th, 2007.

My typical day begins with an alarm at 5:30am. I stopped using an actual alarm clock years ago and instead settle for the mostly reliable alarms on my cell phone. At 5:30am I walk/stumble out to the living room, turn off my first alarm and then typically fall back asleep on the couch. Heather often has trouble falling asleep so she watches TV at night until she falls asleep and then at some point she comes to bed. So when I get up in the morning the pillow and blanket are all ready for me to just crawl onto the couch and catch another 30 minutes of Zs until my second alarm goes off.

After the second alarm goes off I attempt to wake myself up by turning on the TV. Through the magical gift of TiVo, SportsCenter is recorded every morning at 5am, so it's ready for my viewing pleasure at six. This time of the year SportsCenter is mostly full of baseball highlights which nearly put me back to sleep but the occasional piece on college football, tennis, or almost anything other than baseball is enough to keep my attention. I should clarify that I don't hate baseball, it's just one of those sports for me where I need to be there in order to actually enjoy it. I do stop fast-forwarding whenever a recap of a Diamondbacks or Reds game is shown though.

After some breakfast and a quick shower I get all ready for work and then make my way onto the Arizona Loop 101, AKA "the rolling parking lot." The 101 is horrible with traffic. Honestly all the major highways and interstates running through and around Phoenix are horrible but for some reason the Loop 101 gets pegged with being the worst and most dangerous stretch of freeway in the valley. But in the summer the snowbirds have all gone back to their homes and the construction crews are already hard at work before the sun comes up, making my drive just a little less hectic. If I drive fast and manage to avoid the slow spots I can typically get to work (just over 25 miles from home) in around 30 minutes.

I arrive at work, the corporate headquarters for Allied Waste. I've been doing contract work at Allied Waste since December 2006 but just recently started getting actual work to do. It's amazing how much faster time flies when you have work to do. Today I'm adding some new functionality to a pricing application that I've been working on. Not to get too technical but this new piece of the app is going to generate a report, display it in a PDF format and also email the report in an Excel Spreadsheet to the user. Today I spent my time writing code to dynamically create an excel file and write data into the file. I know, it's pretty geeky and hopefully explains why I didn't take more pictures during my work day.

The best part about working at Allied Waste is lunch. EVERYDAY we are treated to catered meals from a local catering company. With every entree there is always a salad bar, Texas Chili, Soup of the Day, fruit, chips, sandwiches and desserts (cookies, brownies and rice krispie treats). It's all free and available to not just the Allied Waste employees but also contractors like myself. Of all the clients I have worked for, this is by far the greatest perk ever offered.

After lunch it's a few more hours of coding and other boring geeky things. Finally, around 4:30pm I escape! It's 110 degrees or so outside so I head straight to my truck to crank up the A/C and head home. Now comes one of my most favorite parts of the day. As often as I can I call and talk to my parents while driving home. Now I know what most of you are thinking, "Are you crazy? Talking on your cell phone while driving down a dangerous freeway?" Well, maybe so but I do what I can to be safe and I always use a hands free headset while driving. There's just something about talking on the phone that helps me control my road rage. So what if some guy just cut me off or if some moron on a motorcycle (not wearing a helmet) is weaving between me and another car, I'm on the phone with my parents enjoying a little time with them. There isn't always a lot to talk about but hearing their voices and knowing they are doing okay just makes me feel good. The drive back to my side of town takes nearly 45 minutes in the afternoon but eventually I make it.

The next stop, at least once or twice a week, is the gym. On Tuesdays my friend, Kyle, and I do a lifting circuit that primarily focuses on the lower back, shoulders and chest. We both have had a lot going on at work (we are both consultants) so it's been difficult to meet up, but today it worked out. After about one and a half hours the workout is over and I finally get to go home!

I walk in the door to our apartment and am instantly greeted by the wonderful aroma of a home-cooked meal. Shortly thereafter Sera comes sprinting over to greet me with doggy kisses. Heather is fixing up a really nice dinner, trying out a new recipe from her Kraft Food & Family magazine. Dinner is delicious as always and Heather and I talk a little about our days while watching some TV. While Sera normally spends the evening running around and barking at us to play with her we eventually manage to wear her out and she'll sit and relax with us.

So that's pretty much it, a day in my life. It's nothing too spectacular but I get a lot of enjoyment out of my daily routine. Speaking of which, I'm about two hours late getting to bed. Guess this will probably throw off my schedule for tomorrow. Oh the excitement! :)

Lazy Weekend: Sunday

2007-07-01T18:20:00.001-07:00

(forecast: 111° and mostly sunny)

Our lazy weekend continued today, but the excitement of the day was certainly not laid back. My sister, Jenn, was in town for a conference and had a lot of free time today before flying back to Albuquerque. Our original plan was to meet her for brunch and then relax together at the pool. Brunch ended up falling through since Jenn had been up early in the morning and just couldn't fight back her hunger pains any longer. Heather and I grabbed the best lazy weekend breakfast we could; an "Everything" bagel with Jalapeño cream cheese from Einstein Bros. Bagels; and made our way to the Arizona Biltmore where Jenn was staying.

That was the other great part about the day. The Arizona Biltmore is one of the most prestigious resorts in Arizona. Nestled in next to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve the Biltmore has a very "Frank Lloyd Wright-ish" style to it, however he wasn't the architect of the hotel. The real architect behind this luxurious place was Albert Chase McArthur, but Frank Lloyd Wright did provide on-site consulting for four months in 1928 relating to the masonry unit "Textile Block" construction.¹ McArthur's style is so similar to that of Wright's though that many people (including myself until today) confuse it with FLW.

The owners of the Biltmore have not exactly helped the issue though, adding numerous pieces of FLW artwork and styles throughout the hotel. They even converted the original hotel solarium into a restaurant named Wright's. Regardless of who built the buildings they are amazing. And as a beautiful counterpart to these buildings the grounds of the Biltmore are very well laid out with fountains, flowers, luxurious pools and even a larger-than-life chess board! It is not often that we get to experience the "high life" like this so we took the time to walk around and take it all in.

Jenn introduced us to her coworkers and her boss who are all in town for a Chiropractor Convention. I was thinking it was the perfect place for me to be since my lower back has been bothering me a bit lately, but I decided against trying to beg for a free adjustment. Instead we cooled off in the water and talked with Jenn whom we haven't seen since Easter. It was comforting to see a family member but it also makes you miss the rest of your family. Heather is heading back home for her Bridal Shower later this month and I know she is looking forward to seeing her family. We had such a great time though and got to even play on the water slide, my favorite thing about the hotel!

Unfortunately our visit with Jenn couldn't last all day. Her and her coworkers had a flight to catch back to Albuquerque at 3pm. Instead of entrusting their lives with the local taxi service they opted to put their lives in my hands cramming all six of us into my Tacoma for the quick drive to the airport. After a short drive and a long hug we said goodbye to my sister and her friendly coworkers.

Ahhh... snap back to reality. Dishes need done, kitchen needs cleaned, and laundry is piling up. Ugh. Well at least it was a lazy weekend most of the time.

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¹Wikipedia: "Arizona Biltmore Hotel"

Lazy Weekend: Saturday

2007-06-30T22:30:00.001-07:00

(forecast: 109° and sunny)

It is going to be one of those weekends. You know those weekends where you just have so many chores to do and so many things to get done that you never see the light of day? Well, this isn't one of those weekends. This weekend involves a lot of relaxing and a lot of hanging out poolside.

We kicked things off today, the main goal of the day: Cool off from the 110° temps at Jon & Lindsay's pool. We met Jon & Lindsay about a month or so back while at the wedding of our mutual friends Chris & Heidi. Jon & Lindsay are getting married the weekend before Heather and I so we had an instant bond with them. Jon & Lindsay are currently renting a very large home down in Maricopa with four other people and the backyard just happens to have a nice pool. They are moving in a couple weeks so it seemed appropriate to have one last farewell to the place with a pool party. So after eating a great brunch prepared by Heather and her twin sister, Shaunda, we headed down to Maricopa. Oh, I guess I should mention that before driving to Maricopa we stopped by DQ to pick up hot dogs and hamburgers for grilling later in the day (a benefit of owning a Dairy Queen).

The pool felt great and after cooling off for a little while I managed to convince Lindsay to play a game of Hillbilly Golf with me. Although I beat Lindsay, Jon played against me later in the evening and avenged her loss. Along with their housemates Jon & Lindsay also have four dogs living with them. Two boxers, whose names I have already forgotten loved running around the edge of the pool and attempting to catch water in their mouth when we would splash it at them. I honestly could have been entertained for hours with just those two dogs and a pool of water to splash at them.

I don't know the breeds of the other two dogs but both Lucy (left) and Chloe (above) were cute, small and made me wish we had brought Sera with us to play with them. Chloe hasn't learned how to shake yet so I thought I would train her using pieces of my hot dog bun as her treat. She never really seemed to get the hang of it but was smart enough to grab my hot dog from me when I wasn't looking! We enjoyed some great DQ burgers and hot dogs, hung around in the pool for a while and then headed home around 9pm. So six hours out in the sun... not too shabby for a Saturday.

But now we need to get some sleep. Tomorrow we have brunch with my sister who is in town for a conference and then we are spending a few hours by the pool at the Biltmore Resort & Spa where she is staying.

Yeah, it's one of those weekends.

Hello World

2007-06-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

When you begin to learn computer programming the first application they have you create is an application that simply prints the words "Hello World" on the screen. It is nothing special but for someone learning a new programming language it is a boost of confidence and reassurance to see those words.

Nearly three years ago I drove my dark green '94 Chevy Blazer from Ohio across the country to say "hello" to my new world in Arizona. I was leaving behind my parents, numerous friends, and the only place I had ever known as home. Lucky for me complete loneliness was not waiting for me in The Valley of the Sun. My girlfriend (now fiancée), Heather, had moved out to AZ two years prior for school and was riding shotgun with me to my new home.

(Heather and I - Engagement Photo)
I moved into a nice little apartment in Mesa, AZ. Apartment #313 would be my home for the following two years and right by my side (quite literally) was Heather in apartment #315. It was nearly a scene out of Friends, I could walk out my door, take about seven steps and be at her front door. If I needed to communicate with her I could simply pound on the wall that separated our one bedroom apartments.

Prior to moving I had begun the interviewing process with a software consulting company that I was hoping to get a job with. Just one month after moving to the valley I was offered a job with Software Architects, Inc. (also known as SARK). My career has gone well and my biggest problem is believing in myself and my abilities. As a consultant I have worked on projects for companies such as Best Western, Discount/America's Tire Co., Caremark, Giant Industries and I am currently leading the development of a pricing application for Allied Waste, the 2nd largest waste service company in the U.S.

Heather, my beautiful fiancé, recently became part owner of two Dairy Queen restaurants in Arizona. For the past five years she has been manager of a Dairy Queen in Tempe, AZ. Before moving out here she spent most of high school working at a DQ in our hometown of Van Wert, OH so needless to say she's very good at managing employees and running a very efficient store. Heather's boss is an amazing guy and a boss that I think anyone would be pleased to work for. He has recognized the huge positive impact that Heather has had on his store providing the store with great financial growth over the past few years. It was because of this that he recently made her a partner in his business and I couldn't be more proud of her.

I proposed to Heather while on a week long vacation in the Napa Valley wine region of California in April 2006. Heather and I love our wine! I blame it all on her but she totally got me hooked on wine when I came to visit her one time and we've been enjoying it ever since. Our trip to Napa was beautiful and I could not have imagined a better way to propose to Heather than at a nice winery in northern California. Currently we're planning for a fall wedding in October of this year.

In July of last year Heather and I decided to stop paying two rents and combined our money to get a nice apartment for the both of us in Chandler, AZ. Besides, we needed the extra space for the newest addition to our family. No, we didn't have a baby, we got a dog! Sera is our little five pound Yorkshire Terrier. She has been a blessing and a challenge for us and certainly helps prepare us for any children we may have in the future (although I realize children are a much much greater responsibility). Heather likes to refer to Sera as her "little bear" and yes, we spoil her quite often.

(Sera at three months old)
So now here I am. A few years into my career, about to be married and attempting to make Arizona my home as much as possible. Hello World.