Street tour … this is a little more modest street…
The lady who owned this house below came running out to say hello as I was taking this picture. She moved to this house in the fifties, said everyone had green lawns in those days, and Tucson was green and lush. Then the water started to run out and people decided that rocks and gravel look pretty good too…
and of course the artsy shot…
I just read what I wrote this morning… there was quite a bit of still mad!! in that post.
I dont really think Geraldo, (who runs the whole studio and as I said is a fabulous dancer) really ‘likes to show off’! He might not be the best teacher, in that he doesnt seem to get it that no one else can do the steps, or in that he doesnt have a clue how hard his steps are because he is so darn good. But Im happy to report that later in the day I can be more mature about the whole thing. Oh my gosh!
Mary (coffee pal) was there too. She said she was irritated after the lesson and suggested that perhaps the stars were misaligned… Ok we will go with that!
Bridge was great! Nice people there today. I get to brag because I played a 5 diamond hand and a 4 heart hand and made them both. Greek to most of you I know, but both were hard work, and I kind of knew what I was doing and I wasnt terrified!! That’s a big deal!
Last night I went out to dance salsa. Theres a big dance studio and a lesson first, then a band and dancing. I had a five year old temper tantrum and left!! Seems so funny this morning, but last night I was MAD!!
The lesson divides into beginner, int, adv… I took the intermediate lesson that was so hard no one could do it, least of all me… The teacher loves to show off, (I think thats true, even this morning when Ive regained my senses!) and he is a fabulous dancer!. The ‘shine’ (or routine) he teaches is always long and complicated. The first part is hard, then he adds turns, then quickly adds about 20 beats at the end and puts on the music. Grrrr! I decided I’d had enough of him, and to go over to the beginning group, but in that room there were three extra women, which meant I had to wait for a turn to have some beginning guy who doesnt know what hes doing step all over my feet. So I left in a huff! So much of a huff that I wore my dance shoes outside! Never do that!! Stomped all the way to my car! Anyhow it seemed like the thing to do last night, and today my first thought was “you paid $10 for thirty minutes!” Honestly!
Heading over to the TP to play bridge. Hopefully that will go smoothly!
Have a great day everyone… stay warm!
Right across the street, in fact behind the house across the street… you can buy it (3 bed, 3 bath and gorgeous) for $499k.
These next three are student houses! I was so surprised, because they are probably the fanciest on this street. Beautifully kept. I met the gardener who maintains them once a week. There’s a pink notice on the third one. The police have visited because of a raucous party. The girls have been warned that they will be thrown out if it happens again!
This beauty got its new wall finished since I left last year.
The late afternoon light and shadows are my favourites.
The beautiful agave…
the truth, I hear, is you have to keep it cut back to keep the packrats out! I dont even want to know how big those are!
At the same house party I heard this long story about how a family got rid of termites. Let’s just say it involves putting your house in a big orange zip lock bag! “Let’s face it,” said the storyteller, “if you live in Tucson you have termites and scorpions in your house!”
I spent the afternoon at home while a handyman (aka Skip the neighbour) fixed some of the little things that had gone wrong since I left. I was sitting out in the courtyard as the sun went down and having a phone chat with Nelly (about the Leafs! apparently they are on a winning streak!) I watched a little hawk settle on the top of the wall about 3 metres away from me! We got to know each other a little before he swooped away. Pretty cool!
Another glorious Tucson day has come and almost gone..
I slept 11 hours without moving I think… and decided that a yoga class would help to work out the kinks. After that I went to meet beth (my landlady) for brunch at her new restaurant that has been open for two whole weeks. The place was hopping. Really amazingly hopping! Here are some pics…
I had the Breakfast Salad. yummmmmmmmmmmmmm! Accompanied by the delectable cafe aqui (have I mentioned what a coffee snob I am??)
charlotte (17 and so together!!) and beth … and yes we ate on the patio… and I had to switch places with beth, who’s used to the sun, so I wouldn’t get burned!
Home again home again… washer draining and “oh no not again!!”… gurgling and spitting in the toilet… water on the kitchen and bathroom floors… so beth and the plumber have just left, drain cleared.
As the sun sets in Tucson, all is well! Wishing you a great week.
Ive been doing lots of dancing since moving back here. Its a phenomenon of social dancing it seems… lots and lots of really strange people attend. I refuse to tuck myself into that group. And in spite of the partners, usually I manage to have a good time no matter what. But there is often some overwhelming creepiness involved!
Just a few stories… today was my salsa lesson. Love the teachers and we have moved into some intricate salsa stuff. Today’s lesson involved travelling turns. I do NOT think they are all that much fun. A travelling turn is “Half turn, half turn, three quarter turn and dont put your right foot down til the next beat.” Just the women. The men have the easy part. I am pretty hopeless, and thoroughly dizzy by the time we have practised this gem a few times! I could do them when Ron, the teacher, was my partner because he was leading them confidently. There was a new dancer there today for the first time. He kept stopping me and telling me what I was doing wrong. He had jellyfish arms and was no help, but he was sure it was all my fault. And he needed me to start a little closer to him each time!! Oh my!! Honestly!! Another really interesting man ‘barked’ a long series of barks a few times before I realized he has Tourettes. The fourth guy has yet to seem unusual in any way… maybe next week!
On Tuesday I went to an Arizona Twostep class. That was a new dance to me. There were a dozen young guys there, most quite experienced. That was really quite the night. Near the end of class, one of my partners who was a really good dancer said he thought we should stop because my eyes were crossing on the turns!!! Good information! In fairness that was after about 100 turns!
The next night I went to a beginning country western dance class at another studio. Class began and… cant fool me…. the music was definitely not country. Turned out I had read the schedule wrong, and it was a silver level East Coast Swing class. Ive done swing at home; this was totally new. No one seemed to notice theyd never seen me before! Dive right in was the only choice! It was lots of fun. Among the guys on the lead side, there was a super short, blue jeaned, white shirted, buzz cutted partner whose name was Mary! Wow I was so impressed. How brave to show up to dance class. How else to learn to be a great lead? Mary was the best partner of the night, a terrific dancer.
Two shots taken at the U of A today.
Good night all!
One of the gems of Tucson… the street is wide and palm tree lined.
for some reason I love this fence!!
keeping green grass is a lot of work!!
It’s oh so beautiful… I walked and walked today. In the back of my mind was that I’d like to find someone to take a photo of me. Spotted a young guy all headphoned up and asked him. He said “Of course. I would be happy to. I’m a photographer…. Was just sitting here editing some photos I’ve just taken!” Serendipity!! He was charming, and good…
Then walking back home, two young guys having a smoke??!! said hello as I walked by. “Oh you gorgeous, beautiful angel. Thank you for making America beautiful!” said one. Yes, I hugged him!!!! twice!!!
Here’s a house for sale on the next street. I did a tour. $298k, 2 bdrm, no upgrades. Seemed like a high price! This is a desirable (student rental) neighbourhood. But I think this house wouldnt really qualify for that because of its size. For me, the other thing I cant get my head around is the no basement/ no attic thing. Where do you keep your stuff? I guess it would make me priorize my possessions. Immediately I wonder where I would keep all my Christmas stuff?? But since I havent used it for two Christmases, I guess I have that answer!
I am loving being back in this neighbourhood.
And tomorrow heading back to the TP for bridge!
I am inspired by tanya, a young yoga instructor here. She spoke to us the other day about Purity, how that can be achieved in all aspects of life. We worked toward a posture that was a lovely balancing one, called ‘pure pose’ of course. I was able to do it for about 1/11th of a second.
Here’s the reading… “Besides purity of the body, thought and word, pure food is also necessary. Apart from cleanliness in the preparation of food it is also necessary to observe purity in the means by which one procures it. Food, the supporting yet consuming substance of all life, is regarded as a phase of Brahman. It should be eaten with the feeling that with each morsel one can gain strength to serve the Lord. Then food becomes pure. Whether or not to be a vegetarian is a purely personal matter as each person is influenced by the tradition and habits of the country in which he was born and bred. But, in the course of time, the practitioner of yoga has to adopt a vegetarian diet, in order to attain one-pointed attention and spiritual evolution. Food should be taken to promote health, strength, energy, and life. It should be simple, nourishing, juicy, and soothing. Avoid foods that are sour, bitter, salty, pungent, burning, stale, tasteless, heavy, and unclean.
Character is moulded by the food we take and how we eat it.”
In the past my girls and I have done challenges… no junk food. For me that usually means no french fries and maybe no gummi bears. Here in Tucson, I havent eaten one single french fry!! Just havent seen them on the menu. But I do admit to a big bowl of chocolate! So Ive been discussing with my bff the possibility of another challenge (and am dutifully chowing down on the chocolate).
Anyhow fresh on the heels of another chat about pure food, I headed off to a food truck this morning for a Sonoran hotdog (beans, jalapenos, sour cream, onions). Yum! 
I’m chuckling, I know at least one of you who would defend hotdogs as ‘food of the gods’. Very pure, right??
It’s 75 degrees today. I was trying to prepare a post sitting in my courtyard, but had to give in and spend a few minutes indoors!
I’m having a struggle to feel well in Tucson this year. The people I know here proclaim it “valley fever” and assure me that I will only get it once; next year I will be immune. So there’s some comfort in that. But I’m also thinking that Florida might be worth a try for next year?? The experts suggest that the humid climate there won’t work as well for me. Shall ponder…
I’m also missing Bradley, or a dog presence in general, and finding this year a bit (ok a lot) lonelier. But having a dog friend makes rental trickier…
Anyhow on we go. Halfway through the five months in AZ this year!
Two new coats in the neighbourhood… you have to feel the joy of colour here!
arizona adventure 
