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.