What a great week it was...

     After seeing one the seven wonders of the world, we spent the rest of the week hanging out and eating at some good restaurants...(Cartwrights in Cave Creek and Buca de Beppo in Chandler).  We went horseback riding in Cave Creek and for their first time, the girls did a great job.  Veronica's horse was a slow poke, but Nat got to lead the group on Trips and handled the horse like a pro when he tried to break ranks and go the wrong way.  My horse just wanted to snack on the trees along the trail so I had to teach him who was boss...(the horse won).  We went on a sunset ride and because it started late we arrived back at the stables after dark and we got to watch the horses run into their night time corrals... (looked like a cowboy movie where they herd the wild horses).  Both the girls loved the ride and so did the adults.  And after a dinner of elk at Cartwrights...(does not taste like chicken), we headed back to Tempe and slept.

    Last day in Tempe...we got up and set out on a trip by light rail downtown and visited the Science Center and toured "The Body and the Brain" exhibit...(the one were they plasticize actual cadavers and slice them up to expose the insides).  Believe it or not, once you started looking at the exhibits, the creepiness of looking at actual bodies faded fast and it was really cool.  There was a short movie on the process and it is fascinating.  All the body systems were featured and I shared some of my past with Veronica, especially when we were viewing the section about the liver...I told her that I used to drink a lot (understatement) and that my liver became enlarged, but after I quit drinking, it returned to normal size and it comes up normal in testing.  The liver and the brain are the only organs that can regenerate, but we all know that my brain is permanently damaged...  After leaving the exhibit we light-railed back to Tempe and met friends of Sheryl's for dinner... (they were also doing the Grand Canyon experience).  And I got to take the leftovers home...(and there were many).  Up at 4am (I think) and the ride to the airport, followed by big hugs and they were on the plane back to Virginia...

     To say that this week was the best I've had...(and you know I've had some pretty cool weeks) since I moved to Arizona really doesn't express how great it was.  Being so far away (buffer zone) has its drawbacks, but getting to see my sister and her family is the greatest treat I can have.  Seeing those girls and the way they get excited being here with me...(not going to try to understand why, just enjoying while I can) and how they enjoy Uncle Jim's "unique perspective" is something I can't duplicate.  When my sister said that Arizona would be the spring break destination for as long as I was out here, it made me redouble my efforts to make sure that I am here for many years to come.  There is so much to see here and it gives me the opportunity to make memories with her family.  I have already started during research for next year...(Arizona turns 100 years old next year so centennial celebrations will be happening all over the state).

    On that note, I have been promoted by Company #2 to part-time event manager...(meaning my days as the "human doorstop" are over).  It means more hours and more responsibility, but the pay is better and I will attending more meetings and dealing with clients...(but still getting to see some pretty cool events).  Included in the deal is a trip to Orange County, California for another Barrett Jackson Car Auction and maybe San Diego and New York later in the year...but I'm getting ahead of myself.  Next week the bosses are in Wisconsin for corporate training and I will be steering the ship by myself for a few days...(hopefully there will be a business there when they return).  So, "Security Man" has evolved...(hide the woman and children)...