Monsoon Running

Chasing that elusive love of running while being chased by monsoon thunderstorms. Good trip to Tucson. Also, can we talk about the sky. It goes from dark and stormy to blue and sunny. Such a difference. A reminder that monsoons don't last forever.

Making Postcards and Friends

Moving to Phoenix has been hard for me. I don't make friends easily but I've been trying to put myself out there by joining a running club and book club and just getting out of my apartment. I found a group of young women who enjoy traveling. Like-minded individuals are the first step, right? The group organized a meet up at Changing Hands bookstore where decorated postcards. This beluga whale postcard was my best of the night. See the lipstick?! More events to come quite definitely.

Heard Museum and Biking in the Rain

Free day at the Heard Museum. Rode my bike in the hot sun while wearing a dress and stopped for ice cream on Roosevelt Row. I always enjoyed museums but recently I've been extra distracted whenever I go and I get bored easily. But I can walk for hours on trails through the desert and enjoy that. I don't know--lots of soul searching out here in Arizona.

Funny story from today. I've been making yoga on Sunday nights a commitment for a a few months now. I'm trying to be more conscious of my environmental impacts and of my laziness so I've tried to ride my bike more often. As I rode to yoga tonight, I saw the dark clouds forming over Tempe and hoped that it wouldn't rain on my way back. Well, during yoga, when I was supposed to be relaxed, all I could focus on was the loud sound of rain pellets falling six feet from me on the other side of the window. How the heck was I supposed to get back? Stubborn and rationalizing the drizzle, I sprinted back on my bike, through every rad light, through every puddle, afraid of being struck by lightning. But I made it one piece, just a little wet.

Another Papago Sunset

A spontaneous walk to watch the sunset. On my way to the grocery store, I stopped at the park across from my apartment and properly watched the sunset. I get to see it most nights during my runs but it's nice to be still for a moment and enjoy the beauty. As I sat on the rock, I thought how nice it will be to share this when friends and family visit. I'm in awe that the park is right near to where I live and that I can do this whenever. While it's tough being in a new city, it's nights like this where I feel like I made the right decision.

Bike Rides to the Library

Yesterday's trek to pickup my held items.

Beach Fossils at Crescent Ballroom

Such a good concert. A month or two ago, my friend Austin introduced me to Beach Fossils and I loved their sound from the start. He also mentioned they were going to be in Phoenix in July. I had to go...and I did. I saw fully their character and personality that I couldn't get from just listening to their music. I'm glad I'm confident in myself enough to go to concerts alone but goodness, I wish someone went with me so I could share that wonderful experience. And Crescent is a rad venue--very personal and intimate. That picture is not zoomed in and I was at the back of the room. Amazing. 

Life as a Movie: 'Holes'

Today, my life was like Holes. Well, maybe only two parts of the day but they are pretty significant parts in the movie/book so I'll take it.

I woke up at 5:30 am to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona. I'd been on the site before a few weeks back and the houses were nearly complete as of today. However, instead of getting tasks inside, with the air conditioning blasting, I was assigned to dig holes for a fence. 12 x 12 x 16 holes. Not even that big. But boy was I sweating. We kept hitting cement and toughly-packed dirt. We had to use a pick to churn it loose. Lots of appreciation for Stanley Yelnats and co. Lots.

As many know, or not know, Arizona experiences monsoon season. Roughly July and August, storms roll in and roll out in a few hours in the afternoon and evening. It's a respite from the heat as long as you don't get caught in a flash flood. Anyway, my sources in Tucson have told me that it's been raining there all week but Phoenix hasn't gotten a drop. Someone must have put in a word with the Big Man because Saturday it rained. I was so excited. I stood out on my balcony and watched the first monsoon droplets hit the ground. I called my friend Karla because I had to share my happiness with someone. And that's how I felt like those people in Holes, enjoying the rain after a long drought.

Tonight's Sunset

Took a walk and climbed up a rock to watch the sunset tonight.

Definitely made a good choice.

The Bean

For some odd reason, Meaghan thought I was joking when I said I wanted to see the Bean. She lectured me saying that the artist didn't like it being called the Bean and preferred its original title of 'Cloud Gate'. Dude, no. 

        

Also, we were picking up Meaghan's held items at the library when we came across the itty-bitty Bean. We probably disturbed the entire floor with our giggling. "It's much smaller than I thought." 

Day at the Lake

For some reason, I thought the beach would be empty. I was dumb because it was a holiday weekend and it was packed. The water was chilly but it felt good getting out of the humid Chicago air. I made Meaghan walk on a bum ankle all the way down the shoreline (sorry!). But I think she got a kick out of seeing me at the American Girl Store, freaking out over all the new stuff and getting teary-eyed over nostalgia.

Pilsen's Bookshops

So Meaghan took me to the best and worst place in the world: Pilsen Community Books. It's this lovely little bookshop with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with BOOKS. I think Meaghan could have left me there all weekend and I'd be fine with that. I also could have spent a million dollars there but I had some self-control and realized that I wouldn't be able to fit them all in my carry-on luggage. I bought three books: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; Half of a Yellow Sun; and Rick Steves' Pocket Spanish. The first was a recommendation from a friend. The second was recommended by Meaghan and I read another book by the author. And the third is to help me converse with Karla--and light a fire under my butt to learn.