The Grand Canyon State

My favorite cactus

I came back from my short stint in Arizona yesterday. I got there around 9pm on Wednesday night, and as soon as I walked out of the airport, I was hit with a wall of heat. It was 102 degrees, and it felt great! Living in Oregon, you don't get much chance to be that warm...especially since the added humidity usually makes it unbearable. As I shuttled to the car rental place, I realized why the heat felt familiar. When you're sitting around a campfire and it roars up briefly, blasting your face with excessive heat...that's what it was comparable to. It wasn't unbearable, it was just hot. Getting in my little KIA Forte (my mom would be proud, it was red), I headed to the hotel. Even in the dark, I could see cacti everywhere. I definitely wasn't in Oregon anymore!

It was definitely weird seeing Buffalo stuff on the walls

I explored Phoenix and Tempe the next day, taking pictures of cacti for my mom and my Tumblr. I also crossed off eating at Ted's Hot Dogs in Tempe, Arizona from my bucket list. It sounds dorky to anyone who isn't from Buffalo, but Ted's is a staple, serving Sahlen's hot dogs, fountain Loganberry, and amazing milkshakes. The original owner of Ted's opened this location, and it's the only one outside of the Buffalo area. I got the works, and took several pictures. I'm pretty sure the customers thought I was nuts. I drove past an In-N-Out Burger too, but I was too full to stop and get something if I wanted to. I've been told it's one of the best fast food places; I hardly eat fast food, so I think I'll just take everyones word for it. 

My Ted's spread

Tempe is the home of Arizona State University, and it had a college feel to it. Of course, the campus didn't really look like any other university I've been to before. It amazed me that everything outside was relatively clean, and not ruined by the weather. The metro stops were pretty extravagant (obviously I don't get out much), and the roads weren't destroyed by snow plows or excessive amounts of rain.

Another cool looking cactus

I left 90 degree weather yesterday to come back to low 60's in Oregon. Dear Oregon, it's summer...act like it!

Reading and Writing to Stave Off the Boredom

One book has bitten the dust. I finished reading The Help a couple days ago, after only taking two-three days to actually read it. I've always been a fast reader, especially if the book is addicting. When I was younger, I sometimes read the Harry Potter books in one sitting...what does that tell you (we all know how thick those are!)?! But anyway, The Help. I have a thing for reading books before I see the actual movie, and I was determined to do the same for this one. I definitely got absorbed into my reading, getting angry at some of the characters, feeling bad for others...Kathryn Stockett definitely knows how to tug at your heartstrings. At some point I'll get around to watching the movie.

I also started writing again, for the first time in years. My problem with writing is that I can never complete what I start. I have all these ideas, and sometimes I just start writing something else, completely forgetting about the first. I think my creativeness needs to be on medication. I have an entire folder on my external hard drive of stories I started, getting only about 20 pages in before moving on to something else. There's a box in my mother's garage filled with old journals (which is just about the only thing I did end up filling up/completing) and stories; hundreds of pages of looseleaf that never were completed, youthful stories never to see the light of day again. Granted, most of those are pretty terrible, but still unfinished nonetheless. When I get an idea, I just run with it, not really looking toward the end. Disclaimer: this does not occur in the work environment, I always see everything through. It only occurs during my days of pointless writing. Writing with a purpose = achieving the end goal.


It has now been a week since my internet was cancelled. I alternate between heading to school and IKE Box; I hope I've been productive enough. I think the internet is like coffee...addicting. I'm starting to be okay at home without it. You'd think I'd clean or catch up on my chores now that I have more time. Negative. I find myself writing, watching trashy TV shows, and sitting outside staring at the clouds. That last part may be an exaggeration, considering it has been absolutely miserable out for the past month. Today (finally) you can see the bright blue sky. It only made it to the low sixties, though. I miss warmth. Buffalo made it to the upper sixties/low seventies today. Showoffs :-)

Semi-Off the Grid

Studing at IKE Box so long ago
...sipping on a delicious blended dirty chai :-)

Yesterday was my first day without internet since I was in my early teens. I'm not counting going camping and being voluntarily cut off and away from all things technology, including cell phone reception. It was kind of liberating. I started reading again, which I haven't done in over two years; I have a lot of books to catch up on.

More application fun was had today. I ventured to the local coffee shop, IKE Box, and applied until they closed early for a private event. I'm a fan of everything there, with their iced tea with lavender syrup being my favorite. They're a coffee shop with a mission! Their overall "quest" is to help the youth of today be inspired for greatness. Pretty cool overall company/place.

I love that Oregon is so coffee friendly. Lots of places to choose from, hardly any are disappointing.