An Arizona Cheesehead's Thoughts

We've enjoyed a very temperate fall here in the Valley. And by temperate, I mean it's been pretty warm. Still up in the 80s and even 90s in October and I haven't turned the A/C off in my house yet. This week, a freaky Arctic storm hit us and we've all started whining like it's 20 below with a windchill of -20. Actually, we did have a 20 degree shift in the high temperature that was pretty shocking to the system as it's only 65 today. Here are some indications as to how cold it is: I've worn closed toed shoes for 3 days in a row. No sandals for this girl right now. Today, I even put on socks! I'm wearing a sweater for the second day in a row and today's is the heavy, cable knit one. My house got down to 71 overnight. I realize that anyone from the Midwest or East finds those ridiculous indicators of cold weather but, for Phoenix, they're really accurate ones. Fortunately, it's supposed to be back in the low 80s come this weekend.

My buddy Dave got a new Crackberry and, as he was showing it to me, he mentioned that he can use it as a modem for his laptop. it's a process called tethering and you basically access the internet via your phone (if you have a data plan). I vaguely remember the Verizon guy telling me something about it when I got my phone and I think it was because he was trying to sell me the cable to connect phone and computer. Figuring it was something I would never do, I shrugged it off. But, after Dave left my office, I got to thinking. That's a way cool feature. I could take my laptop on all of my trips and not have to pay a hotel for wi-fi or leech off someone's wireless network. I asked Sugar Daddy about it and he said he thought I could do it but told me to google the how-to since he's not hooked up his iPhone and MacBook. Google is my friend. I found a blog entry where a guy went through the steps to enable Bluetooth, download an app from Verizon and make the two device...

I am so frakking mad at George! I was half awake this morning when I heard a clatter and felt George jump off the bed at the same time. I didn't think much of it until I was heading out the door to work. That's when I looked for my new glasses and realized the clatter was her knocking them to the floor off the nightstand. Brat. I found them on top of my sandals which were next to the bed and noticed they had what looked like specks of white stuff on them. Upon further inspection, those weren't specks, they were teeth marks and they were deep into the plastic of the lenses. Sonofa... Did she ever chew on my old glasses? No. My loud, "Dammit, George!" generated only a meow that was easily translated as "Whaaa?" It's not like it's useful or productive to yell anyway. I didn't catch her in the act and she's, well, she's a cat. She won't give a rip anyway. So, it's back to the optical store today. I can't imagine they...

Fantasy Football is killing me. I had no interest in tonight's game because of the teams but my weekly match up was on the line. I went into the game slightly ahead with my opponent having DeSean Jackson and I David Akers left to play. Of course, Jackson had to run in a huge touchdown near the beginning of the game. We went back and forth in the lead for a while and ended up in a tie. The tie breaker is the bench score where, thankfully, I dominated. I felt like I was owed that since I lost a previous game in the tie breaker. That was the stressful part of the evening but not the awkward part. The awkward part was that I was sitting between New Dude and The Rocket Scientist who were playing each other this week for the lead in their division. New Dude had the Philly Defense and TRS was done but had the lead going in. Every muff by the Redskins was celebrated by New Dude with the highlight there being the D's touchdown. Some times jubilantly celebrated. TRS got abou...

I knew my eye prescription was outdated before I went in last week but once I knew just how bad it was, I became hyper-aware of how poorly I was seeing. Especially, at night. I had hoped my glasses would be ready on Friday but was resigned that they wouldn't be available until today or tomorrow. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I got a call at 4PM on Saturday that they were ready for pickup. However, I was bummed since I was at Southern and McClintock at the time and heading to Ray and Dobson for chick poker at 4:30. My glasses were at 44th St and Thomas so there was no way to get there in time for poker. I thought about it for a few minutes then decided, what the hell, I'll just be late. Visibility was more important that promptness. I shot a text message to the one poker chick who's as phone addicted as I am to start eating without me then sped down the 202. It was a quick in and out with the new specs but a lot longer to get used to them. The prescription chang...

I LOVE Facebook. I'm totally addicted. I love how it's let me reconnect with lots of people from my past. I love how it's allowed me to make new friends and expand friendships with folks that I "sorta" knew. I love the games that I play. I love seeing everyone's pics. I love how people unrelated to each other except for one shared friend can have conversations and build relationships on their own. I don't LOVE how Facebook rolls out changes. Man, they're just bad at it. A while back, they changed the "home page" which they call the News Feed. No warning, really, just "poof!" and you had a new look. It hit some people earlier than others so the first few days were filled with people asking what was up with the change and others explaining it. Pretty much universally the change was hated, by the way. Did they learn anything from that? I think not a lot. They modified the News Feed again today. Again, without notice. I happ...

My specs are no longer doing the best job. I've noticed it for a while, especially at night, but I just didn't care enough to do something about it. Although I've been talking about going to my eye doctor for a few months now, I suddenly decided to get it done today before I leave for Key West in a few weeks. So, I called my old Eye Doc's office to see if I could get an appointment. He is booked through the end of December and his partner through the middle of November. Well, that just doesn't work for Immediate Gratification girl. My next call was to Sugar Daddy to see where he went for his last eye appointment and he said Alex Optical. That's where I got my last pair of glasses, which I love, so I gave them a call. I said, "I need to make an eye appointment" and the guy who answered said, "What are you doing right now?" OK, that is just what Immediate Gratification girl lives for! I looked at my calendar and was meeting free so off ...

Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was our monthly book club selection and a fine choice. Warm and easy reading by a surgeon on several medical topics involving a positive deviant. That being the person(s) who did an extraordinary job and what can be learned from them. I can't say enough about the readability. The prose was elegant and medical issues were explained superbly in layman's terms. Not the usual stuff you would get from a doctor as they're generally more jargon and technically oriented. The chapter on medical professionals who assist in prison executions stood out the most for me. What a dilemma. They've sworn to save lives yet are assisting in extinguishing them. Beautifully and compassionately written.I highly recommend this one. View all my reviews >>

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris My rating: 4 of 5 stars Dead and Gone seemed darker than the previous books. Or, maybe it's just been a while since I read a new one so I'm out of touch. Anywhooo, the Weres decide to go public and all hell breaks loose. There's an ugly death (of course Jason is a suspect, when isn't he?) and a war amongst the faeries. A really ugly war and Sookie's right in the middle of it. Harris isn't afraid to off characters and this book was no exception. I like that about authors because it really makes it feel like there's actual danger to characters instead of thinking they'll have some miraculous escape because they always do. Best part about the book: Eric's in it quite a bit. Yummers. Hot Eric is well represented and he's sexier than ever. View all my reviews >>

I had a coupon for PetSmart and needed to get litter trays for George's electric litter box. Man, I love that thing. So, I headed to the mall and quickly picked up the trays but I always browse for other stuff for George when I'm there. I found some liquid catnip that I thought would refresh her toys since I'm too lazy to grow my own to rub on them and my floors are already littered with lots of her babies already - I don't need anymore of those underfoot. It worked like a charm, too. She took a new interest in the few loose babies that I sprayed so I sprayed a couple in her toy basket. A little while later, I found her sprawled by the basket looking completely stoned. Funny. The item I couldn't resist was a Halloween costume. I know, I'm a crazy cat lady and it's only a matter of time before I have her wearing a different sweater every day of the week. But, I knew it would drive her nuts so I had to buy it. We put it on her tonight and it was as sat...

We tried out a nearby Pizza place tonight, Began's Classic Italian Pizza. It's tucked away in a dying strip mall on Baseline, west of McClintock . You really would need to know it's there to find it. I was expecting a strip mall kind of joint but was quite pleasantly surprised by the place. It's very nice, well decorated and perfect for a romantic dinner. They have an outside patio and seats at the bar in addition to ten or so tables inside. We split the Mediterranean Mix appetizer which was Feta Cheese, a selection of olives and a basket of warm, soft and tasty bread. It was a nice starter that we followed with the Diavola Pizza. That was topped by homemade Italian sausage, pepperoni, crushed red peppers, jalapenos, fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce. Really good! The pizzas are 12 inches so plenty for two. We actually only ate half of it and are saving the rest for breakfast. I enjoyed a nice glass of Chianti with my meal and they have a pretty good wine sel...

My friend had never watched Arrested Development and I have all of the shows on DVD so we started watching them together. He's smart and clever and so's the show so I thought it would be a good match. Watching them makes me both happy (from the laugh out loud comedy) and sad (because it got canceled and there are no more episodes once we're done with the DVDs). There is rumor of of a movie being worked on - I will be there opening day if that comes to fruition. Consistently smart, sly and slapstick humor abounded in that show. The casting was superb. Jessica Walter steals every scene she's in and that's saying a lot considering the rest of the cast. We watched episode 3 last night, Bringing Up Buster. The two main plot lines revolved around Lucille pawning Buster off on Michael and George Michael trying out for the school play because the script allows him to kiss Maeby who's only in the play to kiss jock Steve Holt. Steve Holt! I can't wait until we h...

First Family by David Baldacci My rating: 3 of 5 stars Solid read from Baldacci though I felt the final explanation/justification of events seemed like they would be more likely 50 years ago. The book finds Michelle and Sean investigating the kidnapping of the President's niece and a death in Michelle's family. I hope the next book finds Michelle not so weirded out about her life as that's gotten a little tired. View all my reviews >>

Ya know, I'm usually a pretty upbeat person who rolls with the punches. Life is good for me (actually great in some regards) so I have no right to complain. But... I am bitter. Very, very, very bitter. As I was watching the Packers/Vikings game tonight, it just bubbled out of me. Bitterness. That damn Brett Favre. The guy that I loved from the beginning despite the many (many, many, many) interceptions. The years I have spent with this man, I will never get back. They were great but now they are tarnished. There he was. In purple. Playing for one of our arch-enemies. It was so wrong. Really, really wrong. I have decided that there should be a law. The Favre law. If you cry at your retirement announcement, you must stay retired. I f0rgave him for the Jets foray but I can't forgive the Vikings. Dude, you were the most popular man in the homeland and how you are public enemy number one! Not cool in any way, shape or form. The thought came to my mind that it would b...

Seems like everyone has a different indicator for when it's the fall season and no one uses the actual calendar. While my friends up North are getting frost and even snow (shudder), we are enjoying some temperate weather here in the Valley. By temperate, I mean it's still been over 100, just not every day. For most folks, that probably sounds like summer. I'm ready to call it fall despite the frequent 100 degree days because I encountered my personal fall marker this morning. My thermostat is set to 78 and it was 76 when I got up. That's the first time the indoor temp has been under the thermostat since spring. There have also been some secondary indicators like the fact that I can just have the vent on in the car without frying and I've enjoyed the moon roof being open on several evenings of late. What I really think I'm going to enjoy is the one month or so where I won't need the A/C or the heater on at all in the house. Those are very nice electric bill...