Where's Jimbo???

Jimbo has been sighted at a number of places this week... Las Vegas, Bagdad (yes, Bagdad) Kingman, Wikieup and the "middle of nowhere", Surprise, and of course Glendale... (which is becoming a second home, although its a parking lot).

Thursday morning I arose and got in the Jeep and set Paris (my GPS) for Las Vegas, Nevada and the hotel I had booked for one night... (I got it for free from my priority club with Holiday Inn). She (Paris) took me north and west above Glendale and through Surprise, Az. (no real surprise here, just a whistle stop on the way west). Lots of cactus and desert and the feel of the "Old West" especially in Wickenburg, Az. where the old town and hitching posts and liveries reminded me that Arizona was wild until the 1900's... (and still is I'm sure in some places). Cruising along "the" 60 to 93 north I encountered the "middle of nowhere"... (no towns, no cell service, no nothing but desert) and I decided that it was time to find a fuel stop and stretch the legs because my ass was going numb...(this trip reminded me of the cross country trek, especially across Texas). So I punched "fuel" into Paris and all the arrows pointed behind me but one... (and it was 38 miles away) so I headed for the S&D "convenience" store. Convenient to whom was what I was wondering as I meandered off the main road and wound through even more desolate desert scenery. I came to a T intersecton where a sign said Prescott to the right and Bagdad to the left. Paris told me to go towards Bagdad... (Hmmm, a desert town called Bagdad... where have I heard that one before?). After a few more miles I was in the heart of Bagdad, Arizona... (safely, too with no roadside bombs or ambushes). I filled up at the convenience store and grabbed a snack and toured Bagdad (Main Street--how original) before heading back to 93 (I had to return the same way because there aren't many roads in "nowhere"). I travelled on 93 through the Joshua Tree Forest... (not a forest like I'm used to) and now I know what they look like. I then arrived and passed through Kingman which is a sprawling city between the Cerbat and Hualapai mountains (useless factoid of the day). It is nicknamed the "heart of the historic Route 66" which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles (bonus factoid). The road then took me to the Hoover Dam, which is truly spectacular... (complete with security checkpoints and massive traffic) Winding along the road and going over the dam was very cool and the pictures I took while driving came out pretty well (will be posted on Facebook).

Twenty miles further down the road and I saw the "strip" come into view. I checked into the hotel (not bad for nothing), and called Bill and Cathy and we made plans to go out for dinner. At this point I must discontinue the story (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas). Just kidding, nothing but a great dinner and walking around revisiting some places I haven't seen since the last time I was here...(I'm such a party guy, NOT). It was good to see my New York peeps. A great night's sleep and then back on the road back through the desert and home to Chandler...(And I don't mind saying that Vegas got none of my hard earned "greens fees". The "cheeto" didn't stand in those parking lots to give up his cash to no fancy blinking lights).

Saturday was spent in the parking lot again, working the handicap lot for the Home and Garden Show at Phoenix Stadium. Most of the time was spent pointing people away from coming in without a handicap placard and finding a sliver of shade to hide in... (no matter how well you prepare, the Arizona sun and heat beat you like a rented mule). So you can see why I didn't gamble in Vegas. Only nine and a half hours this shift... (a walk in the park--ing lot). So today I'm up early, nursing my sore muscles, because I'm off to play "virtual" golf at 1pm with E&A... (indoor air-conditioned golf). What a concept. I have never actually played, but it sounds cool so I'll let you know how it turns out. It's golf, so how bad could it be...