mountains!!!

Mountains all around....so, we thought we'd scale a few:)
Perfect weather for outdoor activities: blue, blue sky and mid
60's.....

Today's hike was at McDowell Mt Preserve...very short drive away....
It feels like you're in another world- quiet, rugged, serene.

As you trek along, signs of life pop up: quail flitting around looking for food;
desert lizards and I'm sure coyotes lurking under rocks til nightfall.

It's a better work out than the gym....huffing 'n puffing as you make your way "up"
( it kinda sneaks up on you)..and going down uses another set of muscles that haven't
been used in a while....

Hiked for about 1 1/2 hours...stopped to enjoy some scenic overlooks and to guess what
some of the cacti and other vegetation is.

Nature sure gets you back to basics .....and helps you to
slow down the hectic pace of life.

packing lunches

Well, I haven't packed lunches in a few years....
And, then, it was leftovers from dinner or some yogurt
tossed in a brown bag.

My kids packed their own lunches all through school days, starting
at a tender young age.

Now, I'm "back" in kindergarten ( about the same grade as my kids when
they learned about packing food to get through the day).....and,
I have to pack a lunch again. There's only about 1/2 hour between
the last 2 classes and I can sit in the room and chat with the teachers.
A "sticky note" reminds me NOT to forget my lunch ( or else I'd have to check out the
school cafeteria...yikes!).

Hmmm, I wonder if I can convince my hubby that it would be considered a
"good deed" if he volunteered to pack my lunch?
Maybe with Christmas looming, it might work......

( where are those kids when I need their expertise?)

The Demise of Manners

The TODAY show had a segment on "Where did our Manners Go?"

Sorry to say, there wasn't an answer, only many glaring samples of lack of
manners:

Talking TOO LOUDLY on cell phones...
Talking on cell phones in inappropriate places ( the theater, for example)...
People talking TOO LOUDLY at restaurants ( last night, I experienced this
during an otherwise nice meal...I heard all about a young woman's son-
and his pre-k and his recent illnesses and her father's illnesses .....several
glaring looks did nothing to quiet her down!).

Are "please and thank you " out of fashion?
How about holding a door for the person behind you,
instead of letting it slam in his face?

PLEASE, make the world a better place by extending common
( make that- formerly common) courtesies to those around you.
Thank you!!

And, take it a step further: extend a greeting to an elderly lady in the grocery store
( you may be her only social contact that day) or pay someone a compliment-
it will make his or her day and make you feel like a better person.

Take a minute to arrange a smile on your face..you're "exercising " more muscles
and you look a lot more attractive:)

Solar Power

Yes, Solar Power helps to heat our homes...
but, it helps to "power up" our warm and fuzzy side too!

Today was a gorgeous Fall day in WNY: "crisp ( aka cold), bright
sunshine, blue,blue sky......

A walk outdoors perked me up ..
Later, solar-heated sunporch was the perfect spot to
read ..til my eyes got droopy and gave in to a nap.
It felt like a summer day at the beach.

The motto I am trying to embrace is: seize the small moments
that make each day memorable ( you may forget the rainy 'ole day last
week, but remember this fine sunshiny day today).

The splendor of Fall....

Yesterday was one of those days that makes everyone smile..
Blue, blue sky
Bright sunshine
And a crispness in the air......

So, we headed out to Alleghany State Park- a wonderful resource in WNY!

The lake was calm and the leaves on the hillside were every autumn color in the crayola box .
We took a spin around the lake on "vintage bikes."
Kate: I had your bike and Megan: Dad had yours. My excuse for going so slowly was a sticky
gear and a loose chain...hmmm....maybe a trip to the bike repair shop before the next ride.

Sahlen's hot dogs never tasted so good!! It took a while to cook on the hibatchi as the charcoal
was also "vintage" and we had to collect twigs to keep the flame going.

After lunch, there was a walk around the lake and over the covered bridge ....it's a photographer's
dream shot: sun sparkling on the water, red and yellow leaves brightening the trees and a rare wooden
covered bridge. ( no pics, my camera was at home).

Carpe' Diem whenever you can!!

The Little Things....

On a beautiful Spring day, it's easy to take a few minutes and appreciate
the little things around us:

trees just starting to bud..

robins busily building nests and looking a little rounder in the belly..

a cardinal, whose color is the most vibrant shade of red found in nature...

a sky soooo blue it makes you forget the gray skies of winter......

a bit of bright sunshine to warm you up- inside and out....

I sat and "tried" to read in the yard today, but the little moments
kept adding up..and I had to just sit and stare out at the hills and
activity of Nature.

Ahhhh, it's the kind of day that makes you feel vibrant and
oh-so-glad to be alive:)

Enjoy the small moments!

Phoenix car rental

No, this is not a generic title, it is the name of a a car rental company.....
Companies like this give car rental agencies a bad reputation.

The price was right!
The off-airport location ensured no airport taxes.
"They" advertised online ( although they did NOT have a website..hmmmm).
Details worked out, after several phone calls.
When the car was picked up, they tried to get us to sign a lease form , which did NOT happen.

After 5 weeks of renting a car, it was time to confirm early drop-off location and procedure...this
should have been a simple matter of location and timing. It was not!
On the phone, the manager called me stupid ( really!!!!!). He refused to confirm information or
supply a paid receipt when the car was returned. The drop off location said they did not accept cars from Phoenix car rental.
Okay- call Mr Charming Manager back...well, they know us as "Saban"-

upon arriving home, Phoenix Car RentaL ( aka Saban) posted charges of almost $200 to my visa for "leasing" the car.

Thanks to my efficient and capable visa company, the charges have been reversed.

Moral of the story:  avoid Phoenix Car rental ( Saban) at all costs, unless you enjoy a major hassle and being called stupid!

Buying sunglasses

So,we're at an "upscale" mall ( aka : expensive shops, but nice setting).
David decides to buy sunglasses.
Off to Sunglass Hut ( I was surprised that they had such a moderate, normal mall kiosk).
Pick 'n choose..hmmmm....maybe a bit bigger ( and more stylish); grey or brown? dark tint or light?
Okay a decision is made...now for the price....clerk says 220
David just looked at him like he was speaking Greek....does not compute!
It didn't even dawn on him that it could be $220 .....after all, this is a mall kiosk!

Needless to say, those glasses are still for sale:)

We continued on and found another sunglass kiosk ( a bit wary, though).
Surprise: they had normal sunglasses for very normal prices..bought
2 pairs.
Let the sun shine!!

The Last Hurrah......

One more chance to see the flora of Phoenix mountains...Squaw Peak...
It's amazing to see flowers budding from the rocks ( or so it seems)- cacti sure don't
need a hospitable surface to bloom.
Sitting near the ridge seems like another world:  serene, quiet, scenic.....
The sheer cliffs and elevation make you feel very small.
Blue, blue sky is mesmerizing!
And, yes, the cacti are really sharp- ouch!

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