Finding a Minuteā€™s Peace and Quiet

What a week.  I literally pray for rain during the monsoons and then the week we get our roof replaced, we get a record-breaking rain that came from who knows where and really screwed things up.  We had buckets everywhere and I walked around with my Clorox wipes every day.  The noise and all the […]

How Keeping Organized Changed my Life

I took so many Sociology classes in college; I could have been considered a Sociology minor.Ā  I loved those classes.Ā  I loved the professor.Ā  I loved her vocabulary.Ā  I loved thinking in new ways quite different from how Iā€™d been exposed to the world.Ā  I especially loved that I could vomit on paper and get […]

What I Learned Taking a Night Tour

Among all of last weekā€™s activities, probably the biggest was visiting Frank Lloyd Wrightā€™s winter home and architectural school, Taliesin West.Ā  Itā€™s located about 30 minutes from our home in the desert hills of Scottsdale.Ā  We went with the University of Denver alum group to a Night Lights Tour which is a comprehensive two-hour guided […]

Having a Ball in Fall

Iā€™ve mentioned before how much fun we start to have in the desert after paying the price of living here in August and September (although we had a mild summer, in my opinion).  For all things weather in Arizona, I check my friend Stuā€™s blog.  Stu has weather stations in Flagstaff and Anthem, so if […]

The Getty

For years when visiting LA, I would see the white building at the top of the hill and think, ā€œOne day Iā€™d like to visit the Getty.ā€  I had no expectations or thoughts about what it might be, other than a well-known museum.  Last week, we finally made that visit happen, and boy oh boy, […]

A Little History from the American West

Sometimes my little brain makes some crazy connections.  So, here we go, and please stick with me ā€“ I promise to wrap this all together at some point. I am taking a R.I.P.P.E.D. exercise class which is new at our gym (big shout out to Kelly, our fantastic instructor!)  RIPPED is a crazy acronym for […]

Thereā€™s No Business Like Show Business

At the risk of sounding a little looney, Iā€™ll make a confession.Ā  There is generally a song running through my mind and many times that song is from a Broadway musical.Ā  This is nothing new ā€“ Iā€™ve been like this since I was a kid.Ā  In fact, as a kid, Iā€™d see musicals and feel […]

Whatā€™s on Your Device?

Back in the old days ā€“ well, not all that long ago ā€“ most people on planes were reading books or magazines.Ā  There werenā€™t devices with movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, etc. handily downloaded onto them.Ā  If I ever finished a book, or heaven forbid, forgot a book, Iā€™d have to purchase one at the […]

Getting Back on Track

We are just back from a two-week road trip, and I cannot lie, we spent a lot of downtime over the weekend recovering.  We had such a wonderful time seeing family and friends and enjoying beautiful scenery.  My usual routine of halfway-healthy eating and exercising regularly was severely compromised.  Excuse #1 on eating: One thing […]

Summer Reading, Summer Eating

Reading I read a lot.  As in a lot.  I really donā€™t have any hobbies, so I have a lot of time for reading.  And for the record, I donā€™t consider reading a hobby.  Itā€™s just what I do every day.  Like brushing my teeth.  However, sometimes the experience is special – like when I […]