Departing Phoenix Heat

Friday, September 16, 2010

Made it to the reception with plenty of time to spare since it really wasn’t suppose to happen until 6:30, not 5:30 as I had thought.  Fear not, there a cluster of counselors having wine in the bar, so I joined them for ‘pre-cocktails”.  There are two board meetings this week and this board was the one that gives our foundation board a lot of money for the testing fees they charge counselors, so I was only too happy to sit and talk with them and thank they for what they do.  They are a great bunch, many of whom I’ve known for years and others I’m just meeting.  We had a grand time and then it was time for the serious planned reception so off we went.

The reception and dinner were delightful and lots of fun.  We ended relatively early and I was in bed and fast asleep by 10:30, exhausted from a long travel day.  This morning I actually went into the torture chamber that they have here at the hotel.  I think you might find it as strange as I did, that so many people would be in an exercise room at 5:30 in the morning.  And how pray tell did I know that?  The room is right next to mine and the weights area shares a wall with me and they make quiet a racket when they are bouncing off the floor.  By seven I realized that it was better to join them then fight the noise so off I went for an enjoyable forty minutes of sweating.  Walking around the grounds afterwards I was surprised at how pleasant the temperature was, in the shade anyway.  This resort has lovely views of downtown Phoenix and the airport.  Camelback Mountain is also clearly visible as are all the new development areas.  This town seems to be growing and growing at an amazing clip.  Must be all the Minnesotans who come to retire here.

Time to get dressed for the meetings and pack up my stuff for the trip to Sedona this afternoon.  I’m having lunch with Jeff and Faith Martin, dear friends who worked for DoDDS for many years.  They live somewhere near here and I haven’t seen them for years, so I glad we could work out a quick reunion. 

I’ve got to warn Cindy to be careful walking the mean streets of Moscow:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=nw20100917112703708C624297&set_id=

As the temperature starts it way up to the expected 109 degrees today, I look at this photo to keep my cool.  Best wishes, Wm

Kremlin in the Snow