Monday, 29, June 2009 by Dana.

Ever since moving to PHX, I’ve been completely disappointed at attending fireworks displays.  Because of the extreme danger of fire (everything here is very dry and likely to ignite with the slightest help), the displays seem about as exciting as any small town fireworks display.  Not to mention, it is 95 degrees at night while you watch the fireworks in the park.

This is the 5th largest metro area in the USA..  Why can’t the metro areas partner to create a giant display over the Tempe Towne Lake (small “lake” in Tempe created by damming the trickle of water that comes down the Salt River) that is set to music and lasts for over an hour, like the WEBN fireworks in Cincinnati or Red, White, and Boom in Columbus.    Or set up the launch point on the top of South Mountain and get fire departments from every metro area staged on both side of the mountain to put out any fires… which should be less likely given the additional 800 foot clearance from launching from the mountain top.  The fireworks will be visible on both sides of the mountain, and from a greater distance given the height.

If it is still a fire hazard, lets make this the laser light show capital of the world.  Blast a display on the side of Camelback Mountain or setup synchronized displays on various mountain sides all over the valley.  There are just many more options besides crummy, little fireworks displays that are put to shame by tiny cities in the Midwest.

I guess each metro area doesn’t want to give up revenue from the sale of $3 bottles of water and $5 glow necklaces.

Karen and the 2 younger boys are out of town… so my 15 yr old and me just might skip the fireworks?  Can’t decide.  Although we have not taken our deaf dog that loves lights.  Maybe he will enjoy the show.

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Friday, 19, June 2009 by Dana.

Karen and crew spent the night in Brinkley, AR at the EconoLodge.  The drove for 12 hours, and everyone was wore out, including the dogs.

Update 14 - From Karen - Pee break before leaving EconoLodge.  Piper growled at 2 people for us… good piper!  Southern hospitality is the best. I was offered a free water from a stranger in Brinkley.

Update 15 - From Shade - Tennessee!

Update 16 - From Karen - [Shade sleeping in the back.]   3rd argument from kids… spilled water lol… lasted 30 secs.

Update 17 - From Shade - Tennesee River

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Thursday, 18, June 2009 by Dana.

After a night at a KOA campground in Odessa, they hit the road at about 8am local time.  The plan is to get to Little Rock, AK on Day 2 (10 hrs).

Update 8 - From Shade - Barn! We’re in Midland, TX. We just passed some [windmills].Tired puppies.Sorry, but there’s nothing around me [to photograph].

Update 9 - From Shade - It’s pretty cool over here [near Abilene].

Update 10 - From Shade - We’re half way there.  We’re in Dallas.That’s Dallas for ya. Mom isn’t [having fun]. She made a wrong turn. Again.

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Wednesday, 17, June 2009 by Dana.

Karen, Shade, and Seth departed for Kentucky early this morning (about 5:15am) with Piper & JJ.  I miss them already.  I took Lukas for a walk because he looked so lonely, then I headed off to work.  Shade has been sending me trip updates and photos from his phone, so I will post updates here as a I have time.

Update 1 - From Shade - We’re in Tucson!!!

Update 2 - From Shade - Now we’re in Benson

Update 3 - From Shade - Ya, we missed the rush hour.  We’re in Texas Canyon.  We’re going to squeeze the lemon in a few minutes. We’re 230 miles from El Paso.

Update 4 - From Shade - Just entered New Mexico.  I will send you a picure when I find a good area.  –> That’s New Mexico for ya’ll –> JJ won’t stop licking me. 

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Thursday, 4, June 2009 by karen.

I grilled steaks last night from my favorite butcher shop in Chandler.  Shade had a friend over and they were setting up the tent to ‘camp’.  It was very fun for them.   The dogs were out with us completely enjoying the cool weather and playing.  When our dogs play, it consists of Piper and Lukas wrestling while JJ runs in circles around them barking.  JJ loves to bark.  Perhaps we are just immune to it.  When she really needs something, she jumps at us or whimpers.  I guess the neighbor isn’t immune to her barking yet.  I heart a man yell ’shut-up’ and I had to do a double-take.  I thought to myself, ‘are you talking to me?’.  Then I quieted JJ and heard the neighbor out in his backyard.  I am aware that a dog barking can be annoying…hell, I do get annoyed with it myself.  I took the ’shut-up’ comment very personal.  Seriously, you are my neighbor and you could very easily look over the fence to see if everything is alright or simply ask me to quiet my dog.  Yelling in your own backyard to ’shut-up’ my dog does absolutely nothing.  If the kids were playing loudly I am sure you would owe them that.  Yes, I just compared my kids to my dogs.

My dogs enjoyed their piece of steak.

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Thursday, 28, May 2009 by karen.

Most people, mainly my family or folks who reside in a rural area, would laugh at me for complaining about  yard work.  Ha!  We barely have grass.  Yes, it is true, we have a postage stamp sized front yard but the backyard is decent.  What most people don’t get is that because I live in disturbia, I am required to not only mow the yard but trim the shrubs and trees, trim the grass so it is perfectly straight along the sidewalk and (here’s the biggie) DISPOSE of the trimmings.

Today is the day I set aside to do this.  I am finally caught up with my business and school is out so no playing teacher.  I started with the front yard around 11:30am while it was still ‘cool’ outside.  My 12yr old has already informed me he ‘didn’t feel well’.  Ok, he’s off the hook until he comes outside asking me if he can go play with his friend.  “Oh hell no” was my response.  I have one helper now.  :)  My front yard tree drops tiny little leaves similar to the ‘helicopter’ leaves back home.  You know the one with a seed in them and when you toss them in the air they twirl.  These have to be raked up before and after mowing the grass.  I am completely surprised the HOA hasn’t been called on me …again.  In the middle of fighting with the weedwacker/trimmer, my sprinklers turn on so I haul ass around the house to the back to turn them off.  Just as we finish the front yard, my appointment shows up.  She is about 20min early at 12:40.   She said she was impressed that my boys were helping.  I smile to myself of course because disturbia has many spoiled kids.

After my 20min meeting, I go to the back.  Alone.  My trash can is already 1/2 full.  I also still have another trash can full and a large box full of trimmings from weeks ago.   I could hire a landscaper to come do this for me.  My yard would probably look better and I wouldn’t have the debris but I didn’t workout today so I must do it.  Oh, and I would rather pay my out-of-work friends to do it than pay a landscaper. (BTW, people need to think of friends and family first.  Quit taking your business elsewhere!)

Now that I am done, well, done for today, my trash can is full and my face is burnt since I forgot sunscreen. I believe it got up to the 100’s today.  My yard looks nice and I am ready to enjoy it by the pool with a vodka and Go Girl (new energy drink).

Please don’t laugh at me for complaining about yard work even though I don’t have the large yard you might have.  I still work at it and it is still a pain in my ass to do.

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Sunday, 3, May 2009 by karen.

Most people who know me, know I participated in a MILF contest.  Few know I won the contest and am in a calendar.

This evening, we attended the local Ahwatukee ‘concert in the park’ at Desert Foothills Park.  Usually I dress like the typical mom wtih shorts and flips/tennies.  Tonight, I steppedit up and wore wedges with a skirt and halter.  Little make-up and air-dried hair.  This was due to not taking all 3 dogs like normal…we just took J.J.  I ran into friends who I am usually relunctant to approach because of the back-handed degrading I am forced to listen to.  As usual, I made my way to them and was greeted with warmth but later was redirected to my business.  I was introduced as “ahwatukee’s beauty queen” which completely embarrased me.  Then I was dragged to meet a lady who ‘wanted’ a pole dancing party.  While I was excited and ambitious to gain the business, it turned out they really had no interest in it.  So I arrive thinking they are totally into it and make a fool of myself discussing how great it is.  I overhear how everyone thinks ’so-and-so’ should enter the MILF contest but she is shy and says no.  She truly is a milf and has no clue she is ‘hot’.  I comment quietly that she should do it  but then I receive the dreaded looks.  I am looked at as the enemy for encouraging her to do it.

Seriously, I encouraged her and get ’slammed’ for it.  lol

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Sunday, 26, April 2009 by Dana.

It is a beautiful afternoon in suburban Phoenix.  It is in the mid-80’s, no humidity, and a light breeze is blowing.  I’m sitting on the shade under my porch, watching the kids play pool ping-pong.  I’m tweeting (a twitter thing) and blogging on my laptop, and the dogs are sitting up on the waterfall looking for joggers to bark at. 

Did I mention that my sexy wife is in her bikini, and she is giving me a pedicure?  I think all I need to top this off is a margarita.

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Friday, 17, April 2009 by karen.

I have been witnessing the affects of the economy.  I have 2 close friends who were laid off several months ago.  Both are still looking for employment, but fortunately one is doing lots of side jobs to make ends meet.  Many local business have also had to close up shop.  I have been shopping mostly at Walmart to save money ourselves but am beginning to rethink this practice.  I was also going to have a garage sale but am donating the items instead.

After going out to Tempe Market Place last Friday, I have taken a better look at our own disturbia, Ahwatukee.  Upon arriving to the first watering hole, we were told in order to get a table outside, we would have to pay $100.  Jokingly, I replied “yes, I heard you tell the customer on the phone 5 times”.  The hostess didn’t think it was funny. I was simply commenting on how frustrating it must have been for her to have to repeat the same thing 4 times.  I was on her side.  We left to go to the less busy bar.  Ok, so we had to wait several minutes before even being greeted by the bartender.  Then when she finally did greet us, she wasn’t cordial.  No smile or ‘Hi, how are you guys?’    A simple, ‘What can I get you?’ was all.  I looked at Dana and questioned why we left our neighborhood to get treated like crap.  Ahwatukee has a small town feel and we get treated well at the local establishments.  Think Cheers.  They all know us or at-least recognize us.  CK’s even has our drinks ready when they see us walk in.

Does staying local help our economy?   I think it does, and we’ll do business more in our own slice of disturbia.

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Saturday, 14, March 2009 by Dana.

I am about ready to disconnect the TV at our home… disconnect all the TV’s actually.  Kids in suburbia have grown up with their own TV, with a remote, DVD player, and at least 1 game system attached.  They complain if they have to do more than 20 minutes of chores in a day, and they have no idea how to properly do dishes in the sink (without a dishwasher).  I can say this, because I have 3 boys that have grown up like this.

If we disconnect our TV’s, shut off the game consoles, and limit the home computer to homework only… what would our kids do?  My boys would complain of boredom, give us attitude over the chores, and would go to bed early just because they can’t think of anything to do at night without a TV.

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