Home at last.

Well, we're back. whoop-de-do. The fun is over, it's good to be back, I guess. I missed all my friends, didn't miss work, but that's where my friends are... We had a very long trip back! There was a thunder storm in Atlanta, so we couldn't land for about 2 hours. we had to land in Alabama to get fuel and then off to Atlanta, wherer we just barely made our connection. Our luggage on the other hand didn't make the connection... We didn't find that out until midnight in Albany. Of course nobody's luggage did make it. I think that we had another planes stuff, because we were all standing around watching this stuff go around on the carousel, and nobody is picking anything up... I will say one thing about Delta, they handeled this snafu very well. I live out in the middle of nowhere, then take a left.. that's home. well the luggage dude found our house with a minimal ammount of effort. I am impressed! Any way, here we are safely back in mayberry... circa 1954.. with my red hot dail up connection, it only takes about half an hour to get my e-mail.. I'd post pictures, but by the time they downloaded I would be much older. that's it from here, time to get opie and aunt bea and go down to the box social.

onward and upward...

Wow!! the views keep getting better and the service does too... We had a waitress today that wouldn't let me even set my drink on the table before she whisked it away to refill it! Mark and I feel that she was a cross of a transsexual and a drill sergent... who cares! this chick can fill a drink, and fill it fast. Now to the real business, today we let the car do the climbing. 9,000ft to be exact. what views! and the road we were on just hugged the side of the mountain range all the way up. I've never seen anything like it. I would like to spend another day here too. Just to walk on all the trails. I feel fantastic, what a great relaxing vacation. I owe Deb and Mark my sanity. Thank you guys so much for the past week. You are great.

Spectacular views.. (cool too)

By far the best trip of the vacation!! Today we went to a great national park. I will get the name in a min. anyway, what fun! The views alone were fantastic! But we also got to climb! That seems to be our new favorite pastime.. I need the excerise anyway.. The rock formations were great! Just to think that this has all been here for millions of years is astounding! I would have loved to spend much more time there, but sunset (another beautiful one at that) made us head for home. Just let me say, the national park system got it right here, $5.00 per person, and it is good for 7 days!! So cool! There are miles of trails or you can just take off eh. And wander. I could definitely spend 7 days there no problem. Once again, with tourist season winding down, we felt like we have Arizona to ourselves. The people that we do meet are very friendly. It's funny, you can tell the tourists from the locals just by their attitude... Oh well, one more day in paradise, then back to the 1970's... I'm depressed already.

Look at dem butterflies

Another great day here in the desert. This afternoon we went to the Arizona-Sonora desert museum. In a word, fantastic. Just the setting alone is worth the trip. You are actually out in the habitat with the animals, with not much separating you from them, only some very thin chicken wire. All the time you realize that you are in their world. Very cool, I think that I am going to re-name this trip to the "that's cool" trip, because that's all that I keep saying while I'm out here. Anyhoo, the whole time we are out walking in the "museum" you could look out and see for miles! All the way across a huge valley, very cool. (see what I mean?) So here we are walking through this fantastic display, and getting towards the end, and we are at a little alcove with some beautiful flowers all there for butterflies. With a sign and all, when lo and behold comes a very heavy accented new yorker proclaiming Look vinnie, (or whatever, I can't remember the name) look at all these freakn' butterflies! There must be hundreds of them! I looked at my brother and lost it! I pitty the fools that commit social fau pau in our presence! So here we are with vinnie the mook proclaiming the painfully obvious for all the desert to hear, I just couldn't take it... Lets just say, the expounding that went on during the ride home was funny!!

Old Tucson, old me

Today we went to Old Tucson, which I can only describe as part amusement park part wild west show. It was very cool. I began to realize about half way through our visit, that this place looks familiar in some way, fearing an out of body experience, or worse yet some sirley mclain past life thing, I looked at some pictures on one of the buildings. And lo and behold, some of my favorite John Wayne movies were filmed here. Rio Lobo, McLintok, Rio Bravo, just to name a few.. That little tidbit just made it all the more fasinating. I also have to share, before we went to Old Tucson, we had lunch at a local place that was fantastic. Once again, the wait staff here is very impressive. For those of you who don't know, my brother and I are legendary soda drinkers when we eat. I'm talking about 2 or 3 before the meal arrives. Our waitress was practicaly telekenetic, she was refilling our drinks before they were empty! Many kudos to all the service industry people here, it is so refreshing to find people happy to do their jobs. Also, many thanks to Deb and Mark for opening their home to us and driving us around the area, showing us the sights. You guys made my year. Thank you so much.

The good, the bad and the me

Hey, I'm getting to like this desert stuff.. Today was fantastic, yet again! We went out to sanguaro park and went for a walk in the mountains of the desert. How cool, I can't believe I'm here. It was so cool climbing with my son, I felt 10 years younger. Did I mention that I can breath here, despite all my recent bouts with pneumonia, and my joints don't hurt anymore. They still crack, but there is no more pain... It must be those special cookies that deb made... ha ha.I feel able to leap tall cacti in a single motivated leap! That about sums it up, great weather, great family and just loads of relaxation. I haven't felt this good in a very long time.

Tombstone

Wow what a great day! We went to Tombstone today, one of my things on my list to do before I die. what a great time we had, the trip out there from Tucson was full of great views. Just to be out in the desert finally is such a great treat, I still can't believe I'm here. It was so cool to be driving along in the desert for miles, then all of a sudden civilization! Just a group of trailers, homes, and double-wides just grouped together like a giant tornado deposited them there. Then we would go along for a little while longer and all of a sudden, grass, tall trees and ponds! What a diverse landscape.

Then the town of tombstone, what else can I say, but cool! Being from the cooperstown area, I can appreciate the need to keep the town "in the period" but these people did a great job! The people are genuinely friendly, dressed the part and just plain happy that you stopped by. Not pissed that you are making them work, but happy to have you. We spent hours there, but it only felt like minutes. I cannot thank Deb and Mark enough for making this trip so enjoyable!

AZ baby..

Greetings all! this is my first post, welcome to the 21st century, scooter. I am visiting my brother and his wife in Tuscon. This is our first time out here. I am here with my son, who just had his first airplane flight. We had good luck, on time and such, but on our first flight from Albany to Atlanta, I was suprised to see all the parents just dropping their kids off in the economy section,and them proceeding to first class... I'm not talking about teenage kids mind you, I'm talking about two and three year olds!! So, is anyone in the market for a couple fresh 2and 3 year olds? just kidding, but being a father myself, I couldn't fathom the thought of my 11 and 14 year olds out of my sight in the grocery store, let alone 32,000 feet in the air, in a tin can!! Oh well, hope you all like my new foray into the future of blogging. talk at you soon