I love these trees.
I have no idea what they are, but I see them all over the city. They are just a burst of happy white flowers, I can’t help but smile when I see them. They seem to also be a haven for the bees, if you get up close you can see how alive the blooms are with activity. Glorious.
Not sure it would be a great choice for my yard, though, as it seems to leave quite a mess below – but I sure am glad there are homeowners willing to put up with that so I can enjoy them 
I love wildflowers, especially in the desert.
I pass this house on my commute and this Springtime display always makes me smile.
I love my mom
Today is her birthday, but I chose this pic from when she graduated several years ago. It took her 40 some years to do it, owing to her marriage and raising 6 children. After my parents divorced, she worked multiple jobs to ensure we had everything we needed, but never stopped her quest for advanced education.
Out of high school, she went to UofA, she later attended ASU – and most of the community colleges in the Phoenix metro area. She finally got it wrapped up at NAU and we were all so proud to go see this moment.
My mother is the most amazing woman I have ever met; inspirational, adventurous, optimistic, kind….and loved by all who know her.
I love sunshine.
I love our cat.
I love sunshine as much as a cat and would love to spend the afternoon napping in the warm glow. The way he gazes out the window echoes the way I feel, longing for summer to return.
…doesn’t mean you should
I added my email address to my contact page less than a week ago.
Someone has already gone in and harvested it for a mailing list. Though the mailings seem to have a Conservative bent, I never consented to be added.
I have gotten 3 emails in the last 90 minutes from that person. Even if I had consented to receive the mailings in the first place, I would have regretted it after that sort of bombardment.
That has left a seriously bad impression on me, and is bound to color my perception of any communications going forward.
Think about how your actions will be received and perceived before you alienate potential allies
Going forward, it looks like our Arizona Blogger get-togethers may be bigger and more frequent – so…yay!
So far, we’ve kept to a few familiar restaurants: Sonora Brew House (which may be out of business which has changed names and is now Sun Up Brewery), Yard House, Four Peaks….
We should have more venues to choose from and I am trying to compile a list. I would love to hear from any of you with suggestions; where do you like to go and why? Let me know if they have great food, great service, great atmosphere, great beer on tap, great beer in general…whatever. If you happen to know whether they have a separate meeting area & WiFi, let me know that, too.
Mostly I’m looking in the Phoenix Metro Area, but would be interested to hear about your faves in Northern and Southern AZ, as well. We may just decide to take this show on the road.
Thanks!
During our Blogapalooza, there was a mention of the light rail – and the public art installations connected to it. To which a few people said, “There’s art at the stations?”
Yes, and it all cost a pretty penny, too. Here is the lovely sculpture to be found at the 19th Ave & Camelback stop.
Remember that the next time you are complaining about the budget cuts for essential services like police, fire, education. . .
UPDATE: Here is more on this sculpture – and all the “METRO Public Art”
Chandler Center for the Arts has an interesting series coming up that will incorporate story-telling with the work of great composers.
All three of the programs look good, and the prices seem quite reasonable (especially if you buy the series pass) The “Love Letters” presentation for Valentine’s Day looks especially intriguing. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Gershwin…and I welcome any presentation of Copland that ventures beyond “Rodeo” and “Appalachian Spring”
Oh, the horror. The editorial writers at the NYT think our poor backward state will be lost without our level-headed savior, Janet Napolitano.
But Doug MacEachern takes them to task
Someone in the Times editorial chambers seems to have gotten his hands on a story about Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, who is next in line to assume the governorship should Napolitano become President-elect Barack Obama’s Homeland Security secretary. And the story apparently mentioned that Brewer, unlike Napolitano, is a Republican. Well, that just won’t do.
Majority rule-let the people decide act
A “yes” vote shall have the effect of requiring that a majority of registered voters approve any initiative measure establishing, imposing or raising a tax, fee, or other revenue, or mandating a spending obligation, whether on a private person, labor organization, other private legal entity, or the state, in order to become law.
A “no” vote shall have the effect of retaining the current law under which an initiative measure is enacted upon approval of a majority of registered voters that vote on the measure.
I admit that I am mightily tempted by this one. Anything that makes it harder to raise taxes is good in my book, especially when you see how easily led (and misled) the general electorate seems to be.
However, knowing (again) how greedy our government is, I know they would still find a way. I would hate their quest for new tax revenue to lead them to try some boneheaded moves to ‘encourage’ more voter turnout. You only have to think back to 2006 to get the idea.
If people are too lazy and/or stupid to vote – more power to them. I don’t want to find in years to come that we are paying for votes, or levying fines for not voting, because the legislature decides it needs to get around this Majority Rule initiative.
Looking like a “No”…got anything to add?
Phoenix, AZ