It's time for the Burn

Burning Man!
Sorry to say, this year I am not going, but I do have friends that are.
My friends are so excited, they have called me many times to hear my stories and what would be best to bring. I give them all the advice I can think of, and share the stories that have made me realize that this is the best festival on Earth, and I know of no other like it. It is based on people, giving, sharing, and fellowship.
This will be their first burn, and they want to be prepared. I stress to just "be yourself, do what you love, take something you would love to share, and party!", because you will absolutely love it. It can change your life!
It is way cool.

My Duties Are Now Known

From the moment I open my eyes in the morning, my two kids (dogs) are staring at me to take them out to the backyard so they can jump in the pool. They love it and go crazy, playing dripping wet in the Arizona summer sun. If I don't 'do as told', they follow me around the house with doggie glazed eyes, and big can we? smiles, until I do.
It takes me back to my own childhood when I did the same thing to my mother and father. Growing-up I lived in a neighborhood that had a communal swimming pool, and if you were not of the right age you could not get in without a parent. That drove me crazy! "Why do I need my mom to come and play"? She has nothing to do with it, I thought...
Strangely now, I do watch my own kids very carefully, cautious of scary things I don't want to see. I guess, now, the shoe is on the other foot. Parenting is something very real. Remembering my own lust, we all go swimming everyday, and have a great time. You really should see Sophia dive in after a Frisbee, she is a gifted athlete, over, and over, and over again. I am now lifeguard, and mom, but having fun doing it. Just a part of the job description I guess.

OUCH!

Physical therapy what can I say. I know it is for the better, but boy it hurts. My arm has been stuck for so long that the ligaments and tendons are frozen in my shoulder. The therapists are stretching me in ways that haven't been used for a year and a half. My right arm is fine, but the left arm has grown lazy, and I used to be amadextriest. They say that I am making progress, but it is so painful. When they are done with me they ice my shoulder and leave me on the table, where I fall asleep. I think I sleep because of the pain pills that I take before I go in for my session. Even with the pain killers it hurts as they rotate my left arm in ways that the right side can do easily. These therapists are very sweet and kind but I call them my torture masters, and "I'll see you Thursday." The surgeon has said that he can go back in with the orthoscope to free up the ligaments in a couple of months, but the therapists say that they'll do it without orthoscopic surgery. I'm not sure which would be better? At this point, I just got home from therapy, I'm ready to say cut me open again. We'll see, and O.K. I'll stop complaining.

Beautiful Earth

I love the monsoon season in Southern Arizona, this weather is quite a break. While the rest of the country is suffering from global warming, we, in the southwest are enjoying the cool 90's. It has not been over 100 degrees ALL August. Isn't that wonderful!

Moving here has been an experience. I have seen more lightning in one hour then I have seen in my entire life. While soaking in the pool, just look up in the sky and see the clouds take over in the afternoon, the roar of the earth, the flashes of light, and sharp ignition of energy, is exciting.
I am kidding, I only let Rusty swim at these times ;-D, 'the kids' (dogs) have to get out of the pool, it's dangerous! If anything happened to them; what kind of dad am I!

No really this place is magical. I can see why the United States fought Mexico for the west. It is surly a treasure. California, Arizona, New Mexico, O.K. Utah and Nevada, (I guess we didn't win Utah and Nevada, just the Morons, opps, left out the m). Texas; they can have back, what were we thinking? W can be the president of Mexico for all I care, sorry neighbors to the south, I wouldn't wish that crime family on you, but please, please take him!

The desert seems to be smiling right now (happy to get to drink after so long a dry spell, 'I know the feeling'). Everything is so green, funny how brown and grey can turn to green. It is beautiful! Sunsets like you have never seen! Everyday! We here are truly lucky! Glad I came.