Sunday and Monday

Wonderings
We had a wonderful visit with our friends, Norma and Joe.  Amazing how friendships last over time and distance.   Taco wreath and new raspberry icing brownies recipe.  I can cook even in an alien kitchen.
Horacio update

Horacio has abandoned us .  I think it is the 2 small boys that have arrived .  Their scooters make kathud, kathud sounds as they go over the cracks in the sidewalks.  However, it might be our noisy parties and wild dancing on the patio that has offended him.(NOT!!!!)  He is a very proper owl.  He has relocated to Building 10 accross from us.

Saturday Feb 11

Wonderings
Alas........even snowbird new retirees have to clean house.  Tomorrow out friends from Queen Creek, AZ are coming for dinner.  Some of the Wild Burro Trail sand made it into the house. Got to learn to take our hiking shoes off at the door.  At least we could recover by relaxing on the patio.    

Feb 10 Wild Burro Trail

Wanderings

There are sooooo many trails to discover.  Jim picked out Dove Mountain which is west of Oro Valley in Marana, AZ.  Of course we couldn't find the start of the 2.5m Community Hiking Trail and had to start with the 4.0 Wild Burro Trail which intersects with the Community Trail .  And then we are not early morning starters, so we finally started at 2pm(direct sunlight and pretty warm part of the day).  The Wild Burro Trail was very sandy and hard to walk on, but we did find part of the Community Trail.  It might be worth going back in an earlier part of the day to find the beginning.  Since this is on the Ritz Carlton property, perhaps they really don't want outside community people to find it.  It is a great easy walking trail.  

Rocky Outcrop

 I am constantly amazed at the mountain views.  What kind of force created these and they have been standing for eons. 

Finally we found the Community Trail

 Much easier walking.

        
Wonderings
Lest  my children worry about we who have never been known to be outdoors folk, we are careful to stay on the trail, always have cell phones which have good signals here, have sun tan lotion and lots of water bottles.  The Tahoe  reunion bottles work great.  Now we'll plan earlier starts to stay cool.

Speaking of cool, we see that it is snowing in Kenosha.  We both can still hardly believe we are here.  Currently it is 70 here, humidity 26%.  We still need the furnace at night and jackets in the morning. 

Feb 9. Thursday

Wanderings
Last night, we were invited to attend a free lecture by Noam Chomsky at the University of Arizona on  "Education for Whom and for What."  Ray and Bonnie( from Portland who have been coming to Tucson for 10 years) drove down to Tucson and showed us many good restaurants and museums along the way.  We ate an early supper at Chipolte's ( for those who recall my last visit to Chipoltle in Mt Prospect where Emmett ate my quesadilla because to was too spicy for me).  This franchise had non spicy shredded pork and my quesadilla was yummy. 
What we didn't know was half of Tucson and all of the students decided to attend this lecture.  The line stretched on for 4 blocks!!!!.  We were about to give up when a student showed us the over flow building.  We waited there and got wonderful seats for the projected lecture.  Jim used his LiveScribe pen to digitally record the lecture.  His toy impressed Ray and he's going to buy one.  We'll email the lecture to the student who gave us the overflow location.  About the lecture - highly academic but a wonderful explanation of 2 views - education for all and education for only the "intelligent minority" and how these 2 attitudes have been manifested since feudal times.      
Wonderings 
Yesterday Horacio abandoned us.  He was spotted on the same perch 3 buildings down.  I think it had something to do with the human noise caused by first the garbage truck which was done in about 30 minutes throughout the complex.   But the screeching saw (remodeling a second story unit across from us) was too much for him.  Today, he's back, tucked under the eave snoozing away.   He is a wise old owl to choose a retirement community.  Even the many pet dogs around here have learned to whisper bark. 

Groceries and sunburn

Wonderings 
So maybe you've never thought much about different grocery stores.  I've always lived where the type of grocery store was well known.  Tucson has a Safeway, a Frys, a Bashas, a Target and a WalMart.  We've explored all looking for appliance distilled water. (Jim's CPAP).  Even Walgreen failed.  Our first choice now is Bashas who had our old favorite Almond Crisp Cereal, the right distilled water and good green tea.  Unfortunately, there are no scones to be found at any of these.  And no 100% pomegranate juice.  Oh well,,, we can adjust, but the search has been fun!!   We have not even started with bakeries.  We have located 3 Starbucks that are very close by.  All the comforts of home.
Weather.  We watch the predictions and marvel at the 60 and 70 degrees.  However, I still need a jacket most of the day.  The wind is chilly.  I have ventured out for 15 minutes in the sun protected from the wind.  The sun really hurts after 15 minutes though.  I am careful not to get burned.  I am such a pale face. 

Wednesday Feb 8, First week in Tucson

Wanderings

Our first Mexican Retaurant.
As most of you know, I am the big coward when it comes to spicy food.  My Pollo Matzalan was wonderful, green chiles and all.  Jim had #8 Beef Fajitas, one cheese enchilada and rice and beans.  Very yummy.  It will be a repeat restaurant.


Wonderings
Horacio and Olivia
I had an Olivia sighting, but did not have my camera with me.  I went walking about 5:30pm and there she was WITH Horacio.  She was on the far side of the decorative 3 logs that extend out of the gable of our building.  Jim thought he saw a second Owl on the second story patio across the inner lawn, but my daytime picture reveals a fake, plastic motorized owl that will turn it's head and does look very real from a distance.  I'm sure Olivia and Horacio are offended with the imposter.  I am trying to decode the morning symphony.  There is a whooo, whoo that has the same cadence as morse code. This is a picture of the imposter.

Tuesday Feb 7

Lots of adventures since last post.  Sunday we attended Vista de La Montana Methodist Church. Lovely architecture and huge congregation of mostly seniors with an active Arizona University student ministry.

I saw my first wild animal a javelina which looks like a wild boar but less aggressive.  I was out for a walk on the grounds and the javelina wanted to cross the street.  He was afraid of me and walked a long distance around me, which was ok with me. 

Monday we found the Oro Valley Library. 

This sculpture was very beautiful. 

Here is the inscription;

The more you read, the more you know.

The more you know, the more you grow.

The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice

When speaking your mind or making a choice.

Tyler 2002