There Goes the WiFi

So immediately after promising posts galore, our router fried. New one is on its way. Until then, a quick update from the tablet. A couple of weeks ago DFR and I finally made it to the piano burn. This is where our friends in Big Galoot go out in to the desert, play music and then burn pianos. These are pianos that are past repair, so calm down.

There was a lot of "this is nothing compared to last year's 21 pianos." Then again, it didn't involve the cops and fire department either. So all in all, six pianos and a load of REALLY dry Christmas trees made for a good time.

Pictures to follow. I'm not downloading a bunch on my phone plan.

Fresh Start

So, it's been a while, huh?  I've been thinking about this blog. Pondering, if you will.  What do I do? Do I pretend it never existed?  Since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I haven't spent a lot of time hiking.  I do try to make it to the gym, but that's not all that fun to blog about.  

Instead, I'm changing course.  Yes, I started this blog in library school and what I learned there was useful, but I work in contracts now, and I don't see that changing. 

From now forward, you'll be hearing about what I think is important in contract drafting.  This will bore many of you to tears, feel free to skip those.  I will tell you about the awesome stuff we do in Tucson, including more video of my incredibly talented husband.  I will tell you about the awesome stuff we do other places too.

I might talk about tattoos, definitely about music, products I dislike, like or love (I'm looking at you poo-pourri! LOVE). 

I'm going to try not to talk about my kid (yes, she is the best in the world, but everyone thinks that, and honestly, I don't give a shit about your kid, so I don't expect you to give a shit about mine), or about illness (I save those little personal updates for FB only. And as for cancer, I'm pretty fucking sick of you stalking my family).

So that's where we stand.  I'm going to throw it all against the wall for awhile and see what sticks.  Let me know what you like or don't like, or love.  

Ventana Canyon to Maiden Falls

After a couple of weeks of the Return of the Bulging Disk, I took my first foray out yesterday. Ventana Canyon is not one I had done before and I was surprised that the trail starts in the parking lot of the Loew's Ventana Canyon.

Yes, the first mile is all on easement, and as I trudged past the condos and barbed wire, it was somewhat depressing, but at the same time, it is beautiful from start to finish and it was nice to see several people who lived adjacent, either in condo or compound, out on the trail. Also, while it stinks to have to walk across private property, or see the best part of a stream blocked with a "No Trespassing" sign, I have to appreciate that at least we live in a city that recognizes that growth will happen, but some things need to be preserved, even if somewhat awkwardly. In Vegas it would already be a strip mall. I'm looking at you, growth around Red Rock Canyon.

The Sierra Club ranks this as a C in difficulty, or thereabout, and while it isn't long and doesn't have a huge elevation change, it is a narrow canyon and there's still quite a bit of climbing in and out of the river bed; I'd rate it slightly more difficult. Unlike a lot of other canyons, this one had water at nearly every crossing. There's extensive algae bloom because it's a slow flow and warm, so it was better to stay up on the rocks. So--harder on the ankles and the hamstrings than a once-over of a crappy map might convey, but well worth it. It's about 2.4 up to the falls and you can keep going until you hit the trail that links across the Catalinas if you want.


There were loads of birds, nests, butterflies, and early poppies. As usual, I was amazed by people walking in running shorts and tennis socks. Everything here will stab you--everything. It's all lovely riparian woodland from the second you walk out of the parking lot, but the scrub oak, mesquite and palo verde (no cottonwoods up here, possibly too narrow?) will tear you up before you even fall into the cacti, or more likely on this trail, take a misstep and fall down a steep uneven wall of rock. Wear some pants people, and try taking some water. Seriously.

Pima Canyon

So Friday was back to Pima Canyon. I started hiking this canyon almost exactly ten years ago and it was one of the first hikes I did in Tucson. It is still my favorite, although less convenient now that I live on the other side of town.

Once you get past the private-land corridor it's a nice warm hike across mostly sandstone to get to the opening of the canyon. Pima Canyon is just beautiful--corridors of scrub oak, mesquite and cottonwoods. Songbirds love it and so do the bunnies. The canyon is also narrow enough that you are walking in shade through most of the lower canyon until about 11 in the morning. This is a hike I'm going to keep in heavy rotation. I walked 2.5 hours and would have gone further if I hadn't had to go to work. I can't wait to get back.