Now here’s a bumper sticker that really sums up, in my opinion, the truth of this election — unfortunately. I can remember every election since the early 60s. Kennedy, LBJ (for the USA), Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Bush. It’s not about the parties any more. We’re screwed.

I was driving up the 51 today and on the back of a Honda Element was a single bumper sticker. We’re Screwed ‘08. Ironic political correctness. How true.

Is it really going to matter?! The past few days I have teased those that are against the bailout if they are now going to praise the Democratic Congress for rejecting the Bush plan for the bailout. The Congress is actually doing what they are fervently opposing.

Politics is truly a screwed up business and has brought the country to what we see now.

So how is living in Phoenix, Arizona? Really –

I can”t believe that I actually like it as much as I do. I never thought there would be anyplace comparable to Colorado let alone in some respects be even better. So what is it that Arizona has that makes life here good?

Here’s a few of my thoughts.

• LIFE HAPPENS EARLIER
  • Everything is on at a decent hour in Phoenix, especially sporting events. Events and activities are happening at what feels like more normal hours of the day or night. For example, it always felt wrong that a Monday Night Football game would go well into the early morning hours on East Coast time. I like the feeling that when I am getting off of work at 4 P.M., there’s a game starting on TV or playing on the radio.

• THE WEATHER
  • While I really do miss a good snow storm or the anticipation/excitement that a Winter Storm Warning brings, the comfortable winter days and nights are really worth the few hot summer temperatures. The best way to explain this is if you have ever traveled from a place in the dead of winter to a place like Phoenix you have felt it. The surreal sights of the palm trees, green grasses, fresh air, and warm temps, THAT is what it is like everyday here.
• SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL
  • The Cactus League brings Major League Baseball to the Valley every March. For over a month, America’s pastime is enjoyed here daily.
• EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
  • Diverse businesses from large corporate headquarters to a strong entrepreneurial spirit open large doors of opportunity in the Phoenix area. It’s a great area for those changing careers.
• NO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
  • Hard to explain, but there is something about not adjusting the clocks back or forward that feels good. Trust me, I feel it. Maybe because it’s not natural to mess with the time! 7:30 should feel like 7:30 year round. It does in Arizona.
• THE DESERT
  • The desert is unique. There is nothing like it. And while there are some dangerous aspects to it, I am looking forward to exploring it more.
• SUNSETS!
  • Arizona sunsets are the most unbelievable, colorful and long lasting of anywhere in the United States. And they happen nightly. There are few places that everyday you truly can be wowed by God’s creation in such an inspiring way.

(I just have to throw this one in. Here is yesterday’s sunset.)

• THE LOCALE
  • You are so close to so many great locations/activities: San Diego, Mexico, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Colorado :). Most are within driving distance, although there are affordable flights from Sky Harbor International Airport everywhere. A 5 hour drive to Vegas or San Diego is reduced to 40-45 minutes by plane.
• ACTIVITIES/ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks all play here! All the major bands/groups/talent come in concert here — year round. Hiking, camping, biking etc. are popular. If you love to golf, well, you already know. There is also a park system throughout the valley like none other.

• THE PEOPLE
  • I’ve found for such a big city (5th largest in the nation) there are a better than average number of good people here. It seems there is a larger number of people looking for significance more than other places I’ve been. (Although I do admit, with the big city does come big city problems and dangers and that has been a bit something to be mindful of.)

A move here is not for everyone. I recently heard that a couple that had moved here from Colorado Springs a couple years ago were planning on returning. I would have to admit the Springs would be better for raising a family, but as for me, I have found Arizona a great place to have landed — for now.

Last Sunday eve, I joined some friends and we went to visit a very popular hamburger joint called Greasewood Flat. Located in North Scottsdale, it is the only thing original in the area now surrounded by multi-million developments like Troon and Pinnacle Peak.

Greasewood Flat was originally a stagecoach stop between Ft. McDowell and Phoenix. The 120 year old bunkhouse now houses the establishment that serves their delicious hamburgers. I have to admit, the burgers are good but it is the atmosphere that makes the visit most memorable. You sit outdoors at picnic tables. There was live music performed by a talented one man band (country), and fire pits which are used when the weather cools down in the fall and winter months. (For you Northerners, that would be cool as in the upper 40s to 50s.)

There were no fires this night as it was still in the 90s when we all got there (6:30 P.M.) Greasewood Flats has been in business for over 30 years. I hear that had it not been for the owner’s love for its history and the business itself, this historic place would have long been gone. The land it sits on is rumored to be worth literally millions for a developer.

We, of course, were treated to ANOTHER Arizona sunset shortly after arriving.

It was a perfect day’s end to a fun eve at Greasewood.

The temps are starting to become quite comfortable. I actually have gotten out a bit lately in the evenings for a hike on the camelbacks. I always try to take the camera as the nightly sunsets are stunning — EVERY night. The locals/natives, as I’ll call them, sometimes take these for granted in the same way I used to take the impressive mountain views in Colorado as common place.

This was from a park just north of the 101 on 59th Ave., I think. It was August 31st.

50! Twenty-nine for the twenty-first time!

Looking at that number is surreal. What comes to your mind when you look at “50″?

So what is planned? Well, actually nothing! LOL

Kind of pathetic in a way. But on the other hand, I decided not to make the day itself the focus but the year. This year is going to be significant. My 50th year will be one of consequence and importance.

A few of you know that there is only one thing I really want (and expect) on my birthday. It’s simply a call from my kids. That’s it. Ever since they were little and they would ask, “Dad, what do you want for your birthday?” Every year they would hear the same answer — a phone call. This was especially true after they had moved with their mom to New Mexico. And I really meant it. I wanted a phone call. That was meaningful to me.

I think every year they have always called. And this year was no different. My daughter called me just after mid-night on the 12th from Kentucky (9ish on the 11th in Phoenix) so that she would be the first, technically, to wish me a happy birthday on this, my fiftieth. I told her that didn’t count! But she insisted it did.

After talking for a few minutes we said goodbye. This was a meaningful start to this most significant day.

In reality, the silence here has been a combination of factors. Life factors ranging from things of more importance taking my time and concerns to things, to be honest, that are just personal habits of laziness. I think I have over 20 different post ideas and just haven’t exercised the discipline to get it done. Some of these posts, I think, would/will cover some of the best topics I’ve written to date. What do you do when you just don’t feel it? Feel it like doing it!

In the past few weeks, my Mom broke her arm, faced and came through surgery that she has been slow to recover from (but as of this week is getting strength back and doing pretty good), had my son move to Northern California on an exciting journey to attend a school of ministry, have been unable to upload files/pics to the blog which really frustrates me, and have faced continuing personal challenges evaluating purpose and direction.

So when the going doesn’t go exactly in ways that always encourage or motivate me, one of my bigger weaknesses play out — procrastination, putting things off. Believe it or not, my life long desire for perfection doesn’t help in these times either. Often, before I make any attempt to do something, if I can’t see its completion satisfactorily, I don’t start it.

If I could only figure out a way to work on this in the morning, I would be much more successful. Most of the ideas I come up with to write come to me in the morning. And sometimes there is a flow of multiple topics I want to write. So I write them down or else I will literally lose them by the time I leave for my job. By the time I leave work and get in front of the laptop, I find every excuse to avoid posting.

So what is it I end up doing? Emails, listening to music (Pandora has really been fun), playing some Texas Holdem’ on Facebook (not for money), reading, following other bloggers and what they are up to, visiting a few forums — more like lurking actually.

But tonight I just said this is it and decided to just get this written. In the next few days, I turn 50, hope to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes STOMP the USC Trojans (if you know my number, call it to hear my first ever ringtone!), BBQ with a friend, and catch up with blogging about life in and from Phoenix.

Hints: It is relative to the theme of this blog, Life and Living from Phoenix, and it was a FIRST for me. What do ya think?

It was a cool time … ooops, that’s a hint too.