Before Work Started

Whew. The last three weeks have been non-stop fun & exploring. I have had a blog post listed on my to-do list for so many days now. I just need to get this one published & move on. It has been such a great last three weeks though!! So much better than I was expecting in many ways. Here's a little snapshot of what I did week one, before my job started...

Hiking South Mountain, on Thursday

Fat Man's Pass .... i think thats what it is called atleast!

It had a breeze that came through & the rocks were cold, even though the sun was warm!

A tight squeeze through!

 You cant tell from the picture, but there were some great views up here!! After our hike, we went to REI, and I bought a backpack that carries a bladder inside. I didn't realize how necessary they are out here! I had a small backpack, but you definitely need more than 1 water bottle for the hikes. Kelsey start sleeping bag shopping, since we began planning when we could go camping. Choosing a sleeping bag based on its color is not a good idea. Also, a mummy sleeping bag seems like it would be uncomfortable. Until you are camping in 30 degree weather, and then you wish you could zip up the top. Oh well. Next time.

 Phoenix has this thing called a Sonoran Dog. Actually, its probably not really phoenix, but anywhere near the Sonora desert. Of course we had to go try one for dinner. Best $3.00 I ever spent. This Mexican couple pulls up in a van, sets up a few tables and a little kitchen thing in a parking lot, and then they serve these bacon wrapped hot dogs with a bunch of toppings on it. I love these weird little places that you feel like you could get food poisoning, but it is delicious & small & you know that no other city has this exact same place.

 More views from the hike.

 A few things that I can't get over, even after living here a few weeks.... The amazing sunrises & sunsets every morning and evening. They are absolutely spectacular. I have loved driving to work and watching the sun rise over the mountains. I want to take a picture, but it never does it justice. The above picture kind of captures the sunsets we get here.... It was taken one night when Ana and I went to this park that is right next to their house & went for a walk & to do a work-out. So, so beautiful. Another thing I am still soaking up is the endless, perfect days of sunshine. It is crazy to not be checking the weather constantly. The huge, amazing stars & moon is the third thing I have loved out here. Two nights ago I went for a quick run after work, and I ended up in a subdivision that didn't have lights. It didn't matter because the moon was so bright, and you could look up and see tons of stars. Absolutely amazing.

What do you do when you have a bunch of online learning modules? Find a coffee shop with an outdoor patio & soak in the sun while you work. Not too bad of a view...

The flowers are all blooming here & I absolutely love it!!! So pretty to see bright flowers set against the brown desert.

On Saturday afternoon, Ana & I wanted a little bit of art & culture, so we headed downtown Phoenix to get our fill.

The above sculpture is done by the same artist (Anish Kapoor) that did the Chicago "Bean" (Cloud Gate). I thought it was so cool because on the right you can see your reflection, and then on the left you can see your reflection again, but it is upside-down. 

 We took a free tour that was offered & it was so good!!! I loved this painting with its bright colors, thick paint, and rather abstract feel.

 This piece was really amazing to me. It was done by an artist (Cornelia Parker) who took multiple pieces of a burnt down church & constructed this piece to make it look like it was exploding. 

 

Downtown Phoenix. Im still obsessed with palm trees.

This made me miss Chicago, with all of its building art. In the distance you can see a storm blowing in to Phoenix. Everyone was talking about the storm coming and so excited to have rain!!