ARIZONA

We went to Arizona last week to visit with Justin and Vanessa. It was a great trip! My first plane ride too. I was really worred about flying, but Dr. Ballard fixed me up, and it was actually pretty nice. Everything was so different there. I was just amazed practically the whole time.

We flew into Phoenix on Wednesday the 12th. Justin met us at the airport. He looked so good. I hadn't seen him since last Christmas. We went to our hotel, ate supper, changed clothes, then went to the Mesa Temple for an Endowment session. That is a beautiful temple. The next day we drove to Tucson, going the scenic route so we could just see the countryside. It is very rugged, a lot of scrub plants and cacti. I was looking out the window at everything and all of a sudden I saw a cow, just standing out in the desert - actually a long-horned steer I guess. He just looked so out of place.

Then we got to their apartment in Tucson and got settled in. We did several day trips - going up to Mt. Lemmon (8,000 feet! - with snow on the ground), going to Tubac one day for shopping at quaint gift shops, eating Mexican, Italian, just eating. I tried really hard to stay on my diet. We just had a really good time. I saw tumbleweeds, a roadrunner, and heard coyotes howling in the middle of the night.

One day we went to the Desert Museum. That was a fun place to visit. It was like going to the NC Zoo and seeing the Sonoran Desert section, except it was ALL desert section.

On Sunday afternoon we had dinner with some of Justin and Vanessa's friends from church. Their home, like most of the houses, was made of cinder blocks and looked like it was sitting in a vacant lot with all the scrub brush in the front "yard". We went in, and inside it was beautiful and roomy. Then we went out the back door to sit at their patio table. Their back "yard" was amazing. The ground was just dirt - but not dirty. It was kind of sandy and rocky, but looked like it had been swept clean or something. There was no scrub brush in the back but several mesquite trees shading the whole walled in area. Yes, most homes have walls around them. They had pomegranate bushes and a coy pond with a sparkling fountain over big rocks. There was a trampoline at ground level that their grandkids were jumping on. And they had a small area (maybe 30x20 feet) of grass growing with borders around it. It was kind of the opposite of our yards with our bordered areas. Anyway, like I said, I was just amazed at everything.

We took a few pictures. This is me and Justin in front of the Mesa Temple.


These are orange trees growing on the temple grounds.



Me and Justin just in the desert.

The desert.

Me and Bennie.

Justin and Bennie.

More desert.

Saguaro cactus. I liked these the best.

The weather was perfect all week. One morning Justin and I went running at a local park trail. It was in the 50's around 8:00 a.m., and by lunch time it was in the 70's every day. And the sky was that perfect clear blue the whole time. We had a really good time, and Justin and Vanessa are great hosts!

Poor Vince Young

Yeah, cry me a river. This kid had everything going for him - EVERYTHING. Then he had a bad game, got a little hurt, got booed by his own fans, and then just quit. So now he is back - as second string QB for the Tennessee Titans, behind - of all people - Kerry Collins (remember the former Panther?). So, now Collins is leading the team, and they are UNDEFEATED - the only NFL team that is. But it could have been Vince Young in the spotlight instead of Collins, because actually Young is the better quarterback of the two. He HAS to hate this whole situation. So I'm wondering if he still is getting his big bucks just sitting on the sidelines smiling all the time - at least every time the camera turns to him he is smiling or laughing with his teammates. Well, maybe he's not so dumb after all . . .

5K

I ran (mostly walked) my first 5K yesterday. My number was 161, and that was close to where I came in as. I was one of the last ones - but at least not THE last. Anyway, it was fun. Challenging. I started out with Quentin. He ran with me until I had to stop and walk, then he went on. As the race went on there was this older lady (late 60's/early 70's) that was always about 50 yards in front of me. I kind of told myself that at least I could beat HER, but every time I would run a little, so would she. Then I would have to stop and walk again, and she would too. It was almost like she was keeping an eye on me or something. So she beat me in the end. My time was 41 minutes. I know, I know. People can walk three miles faster than that, but I walk slow too. So, another one off my "bucket list".

Sad Stuff

The last couple of days have just been full of sad stuff for me. Yesterday Mom and I went to see "Nights in Rodanthe", which was a great movie - just sad. I love Richard Gere. He just gets better and better with age. And then last night and today I've been catching up on my television shows I've recorded for the last few weeks. My gosh, did any of you see ER? They always kill off someone that you really like. And One Tree Hill - they lost someone. Oh, and BTW I'm getting really tired of the "torture" scenes with Dan. I know he is a really bad guy, and at first it was okay because he was getting some payback, but now enough is enough. And then I come in here to the computer and find out that Paul Newman is dead. He is without a doubt one of my alltime favorite actors - ever. I love "The Sting" probably the best, and then "Butch Cassidy". He was just good in everything. And also in his personal life he gave so much to help sick kids. So, yesterday at the movies I cried a lot, and then today I've cried watching stupid TV. All I can say is that the Panthers HAVE to win tomorrow.

How 'Bout Them Cats?

Yesterday's Panther game was one of the best I've ever seen. It was so exciting, and came down to the LAST TWO SECONDS. Jake is back! And I really like D'Angelo Williams. He can read the defenders so well and will change his direction if needed, not just go into a bunch of players just because that is where the play is supposed to be run. And Dante Rosario was very impressive. He should be way ahead of Dwayne Jarrett behind Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammed. Phillip Rivers (NC State) did a good job for San Diego. And I loved to watch everyone's reaction at the end. Jake was on Cloud 9 running down the field toward Rosario, and John Fox was cute as a button dancing out to the field. The poor SD coach just looked disgusted. Anyway, the game was a lot of fun to watch. I honestly believe we can go all the way this year!

Autumn in August?

This is the view from our driveway looking out our backyard.

Phone Calls And License Plates

Today I got a phone call. The caller ID read "Northern Hospital", which is our local hospital in Mt. Airy. So I answered, and a female voice asked if this was the residence of Bennie Harris. I said yes, starting to get a little scared. Then she said her name and that she worked in the Emergency Room at the hospital. Now I'm really scared. Then she said, "Do you have any John McCain signs?" WHAT? I'll be so glad when Bennie is no longer chairman of our county Republican party.

And below are pictures of my new license plate. The old one is first, then the new one. Isn't it cool?