I have crawled out from under my cactus...sort of

     Welcome back my friends to the blog that never ends...(although they have been scarce as of late).  I have been busy this last month (aren't we all!) and there was numerous opportunities to blog, but the desire wasn't there.  So I am returning to the Internet airwaves with renewed spirit and hopefully more accounts of what the heck is going on out here in the desert...(perfect metaphor for my non-communication).  My blogs have been as scarce as standing pools of water in the desert. 

     I spent 20 days in New York City again this summer at the US Open Tennis Tournament...(19 days of work and 1 day of flights).  As most of you know, this is not a vacation.  This is a jaunt to the Big Apple to refill the coffers for the winter golf season...(Prices go up after over-seeding in late September and October).  I always enjoy my visits back to Queens, but yet again had no time to do anything but work and I apologize to my New York metropolitan area friends for not being able to visit.  Of course, the Mets are involved in yet another lost season and even though I was within walking distance of Citifield every day, I had no desire to spend my hard-earned money on them. God, they STINK! And of course, the weather failed to cooperate as the remnants of Hurricane Isaac came through the last weekend and postponed the men's final until Monday...(I was already in the air back to Phoenix by the time they played).  The hazy, hot and humid days and torrential downpours reminded me of how much I missed Arizona.  Nothing like a shot of East Coast weather to make me glad I moved yet again...
    
     I now a have a cat in my household.  My boss' "male" cat...(that is what they told him at PetSmart) had kittens and I am the proud owner (she really owns me) of an 8 week old kitten I named Sheba. Her code name is still Mrs. Wafflepuss (thanks Veronica and Natalie!), but Sheba is easier to say. She is a crazy wild woman who just wants to eat, sleep and play...(just like her Daddy).  I am going to attempt to post a picture on this blog of her, but I'm not promising anything.  One thing I know is that she hates being in the travel crate.  Most of the city of Phoenix and Tempe know that also.  I was on my way to Buckeye to pick her up at my boss' house when my car broke down on the 10.  After sitting in the car during rush hour traffic (and 104 degree heat) for 90 minutes, the tow truck showed up.  I had the car towed back to Chandler (thanks AAA Plus!).  My boss brought the cat to work and I rode my bicycle to light rail with the cat carrier on the back.  After work I put her in the carrier and the screaming began...(hers not mine).  The screaming continued on the way to train station, continued while waiting for the train, increased in volume on the train, and never stopped the whole bike ride from the train station to the apartment (about 4.5 miles).  It sounded like a French police siren...(ME-OW! ME-OW!).  Needless to say, heads turned when I rode past. She continued to scream a few minutes after I let her out... (Post traumatic stress, I imagine).  I took her to work last Saturday in the car and she didn't like that either... I am travelling to Virginia in October and I may have to sedate her for the plane ride or they may never let me fly again! (or maybe I'll sedate myself and get even for all the baby screaming I endure during flights!). 

     So, welcome back to the long running...(it will be four years this October), long winded...(because that's how I roll), missive that is Jim's blog.  The weather out here is turning from oppressive to "OMG, it's beautiful here!". By the end of this week we should be in double digits...(still 90 but the humidity is gone).  Welcome back my friends to the blog that never ends...we're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside...