The Climb

This is a burrito and a few things that are traditionally eaten with a burrito, such as chips and salsa, rice and black beans. Also, radish and cucumber slices. I think that about covers it. It was a pretty good burrito, I'm not gonna pretend otherwise.

Now here are some things that you should know about Phoenix. These are my entirely unscientific, purely anecdotal observations. Which makes them way more reliable.

• Denny's rules Phoenix. Yes, the restaurant. The home of the Grand Slam and (personal fave) Moons Over My-Hammy. Everywhere that I have been in this sprawling metro area, that familiar, saddish yellow and red irregular hexagonal sign is there to greet me. There's one just a couple of blocks from my house. There's another one about a half-mile down the road. According to my count, I pass four on my way to school in the morning. I imagine that restaurant sign sighs when it speaks its name. "Hello and welcome to Denny's. **sigh**"

• I'm really enjoying the desert architecture. It is so different, but so perfect. So adapted. So suitable. The church architecture here is really impressive too. Often times laughable, avant-garde, 1980s daring. But always notable and interesting. Here, for instance, is a photo of the church that I have attended the last two Sundays. I think we can all agree that this is a dramatic roofline.

• The birds! So many, all over, all the time. A bird watcher's dream or a Hitchcock watcher's nightmare come true. Lots of pretty varieties, fun to watch in the backyard or playing in the trees. They certainly are a bonanza for one business: car washes. Nearly every morning I find new vile and disgusting dried puddles of bird diarrhea on Miss Truvy's windshield and my driver's side door.

• Miss Truvy and I are getting pretty tight. Phoenix is definitely a car culture, for better or for worse. Well, no, that is certainly for worse. But I have been enjoying driving as of late. I've done a little exploring, a little wandering, a little getting lost. The scenery, the mountains and the desert, are spectacular. Enchanting.

• I went with roommate David up to his family's cabin in the mountains around Prescott last weekend after I had finished my school work. It was a nice, relaxing time. I read a book and watched the wildlife and beat him in Scrabble. He is a really sore loser. We climbed some rocks. Here is a video in which I share my newfound knowledge concerning the proper pronunciation of this city name from the top of said rocks:

Let's finish this blog with a fun little contrast. Two cool but very different people playing the peg game in two very different venues in two very different parts of the country, about a month apart.

First: Sofia, Cracker Barrel, Indiana.

Second: Travis, America's Taco Shop, Arizona.

Currently Listening to

Lily Allen's album It's Not Me, It's You