Identify Yourself Before Robbing

JWise Photo of the Day

Local convenience store asking shoppers to remove mask before entering

A local convenience store is asking patrons to remove their masks prior to entering the store. Hmmm, with the better part of a week before Halloween, isn’t this a little premature? Or, have I not noticed during other visits that this sign is always here? It is true that on most of my visits to this combination convenience store/gas station that I pull up to the pump, swipe my card, fill the tank and leave. Well if this sign is always on the entrance, do criminals actually comply, do they pull the stocking or ski mask off before opening the door? If all perpetrators worked this way, I’d put a sign on my own door asking they call the police to my address before they break-in.

Pumpkin – A Great Source of Fiber

JWise Photo of the Day

A fiber optic pumpkin

Our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Conquistador on 32nd Street is where this fiber optic lit pumpkin stole my attention. I admit I have on more than one occasion found myself lost, staring at a screensaver or the programs that defrag our hard drives watching the little blocks or lines reorganizing in a hypnotic pattern – well to me anyway. This Halloween jack-o-lantern had the same mesmerizing effect. The fiber optic cables used for the lighting display a rainbow of colors that slowly change from white to orange, red, magenta, yellow, blue, and shades in-between dissolving from color to color. Caroline had to remind me I was there to have dinner with her, not stare googly-eyed at the great pumpkin.

Anywhere Left?

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Map of Arizona with John and Caroline's travels highlighted

This map of Arizona has been with Caroline and me since shortly after moving to Arizona in 1995. The dark black lines are the roads traveled to date. A few other roads have been taken but are not highlighted as I drove them myself without Caroline; this is a record of our Arizona travels made together. When we bought the map, some roads weren’t paved yet, and some roads didn’t exist. There are some short segments we haven’t taken, although we have driven all of the surrounding roads, and as of yet, we haven’t returned to close those gaps. Often, we have seen so much of an area that we are certain the short road won’t show us any more than that which has already been seen. This weekend, we will fill in a small area of dirt roads around Willcox, Arizona. November 11 and 12, we will drive the Buck and Doe backcountry dirt road from Peach Springs to Grand Canyon West before we visit Meadview, Temple Bar, Pearce Ferry, and the ghost town of Chloride. On this trip, we will also return to Oatman – another ghost town, this one on old Route 66 to take the gold mine tour we missed out on a previous pass-thru. After that, there is an area on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation left to visit, along with a 25-mile road through the Colorado River Indian Reservation.

Stained Sky

JWise Photo of the Day

Blue sky and little fluffy clouds over Phoenix, Arizona

I am enamored with Arizona skies. The sky over Arizona may be the single thing I will miss the most when Caroline and I move. Very rare is the day I don’t take a minute or two and look above to see what is floating overhead. Caroline has even suggested I post the Sky of the Day photo here on my blog. In all of my travels, the greatest skies I have laid eyes upon are these right here in the Southwest.

Fall Colors

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Fall colors seen along State Route 288 near Young, Arizona

This weekend, we took a drive on the last untraveled road as far as our Arizona travels are concerned. State Route 288 winds its way over the Sierra Ancha mountains and through the Tonto National Forest on the way to the remote community of Young, Arizona, in the idyllic high country area known as Pleasant Valley. We came up from the south via Mesa, Superior, and Globe, turning off at Roosevelt Lake, catching about 25 miles of pavement before hitting about 45 miles of packed dirt and gravel, offering awesome views and diverse vegetation, including pine forests. The roads within the town of Young are paved, but just outside of town, on our way north to catch Highway 260 towards Payson, the asphalt gives way again to dirt for another 26 miles. Taking a break from the gorgeous drive in Young, we stopped to pet and say hi to three donkeys, which grabbed the attention of four short-legged ponies and a horse who trotted over to share the attention. After that, we found a bite to eat and some conversation with Bill and Alice at Alice’s Restaurant and Cantina – open every day but Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the bar stays open till 1:00 a.m.

Rangoli for Diwali

JWise Photo of the Day

Caroline Wise helping draw a Rangoli for Diwali in Phoenix,Arizona

Another year, another Diwali, and with it comes a Rangoli celebrating this joyous time of year – well for Hindus anyway. Caroline is seen here helping Rinku, who actually drew the Rangoli. Caroline helps fill in the color. And this brings me to a point that also might help answer a question, what am I doing recognizing Diwali? Heck, I would like to celebrate everyone’s holidays. We are approaching the end of Ramadan in a few days and Eid al-Fitr is upon us as the Festival of Breaking the Fast – it is feasting time and Muslims are obligated to share their blessings, naturally, I’m all for that. In a little more than a week, Mexicans will celebrate Los Dias De Los Muertos or The Days of the Dead – great, let’s celebrate our relatives who have passed. End of November is Thanksgiving, let’s ask the world to feast on our celebration day, too. Next up we have Chanukah, Christmas, New Years’, Valentine’s Day, and four days after that is the Chinese New Year. If we are going to have globalized business, I’m voting for globalized holidays!