What We Found at the Library: Poetry

Even though I'm kind of already in the middle of three different books, I grabbed a few poetry books off the shelf in honor of National Poetry Month and took an occasional poetry break.


So, here's what I found in our library...

In Spanish:

• Five Decades: Poems 1925-1970 (Pablo Neruda)
• The Poems of St. John of the Cross
  

Both have the original Spanish poetry with an English translation on the facing page, which helps, but I'm not a huge fan of these translations. For some reason, they tend to throw out the simple, elegant language of many of the original poems and opt for flowery, arcane words instead. The moral: don't judge a Spanish poetry book by the English translations. Ugh.

In English: A Murmur in the Trees (nature poems by Emily Dickinson)

I'll leave you with one of her more familiar poems, which seems particularly apropos in this era of follower counts, social networking and (ahem) blogging...

I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you–Nobody–Too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise–you know!

How dreary–to be–Somebody!
How public–like a Frog–
To tell one's name–the livelong June–
To an admiring Bog!

Climate change: we're asking the wrong question

I've read stuff on why it's clear that the Earth's climate is definitely changing.

And I've read stuff on why it's clear the Earth's climate is definitely not changing.

And I've read stuff on why the Earth's climate may be changing, but it's a natural cycle not caused by human actions and nothing to worry about.

And you know what I think?

I think that we (as in, all of humanity) don't know as much as we think we know. We don't know why gravity works or what's in most of the ocean or why dogs wag their tails when they're happy. And I don't think we've got the climate all figured out, so I'm kind of a climate change agnostic.



Know what else I think?

I think we're asking the wrong question. Don't misunderstand: I'm glad that there are scientists and experts out there studying whether our planet is getting warmer or colder or staying the same and why.

But, regardless of their findings, when it comes to taking good care of this planet we live on, most of us could do better. We (as in, probably you reading this and definitely me) have room to improve in the way we manage our own resources - saving energy or driving less often or reducing the amount of stuff we throw out each week. And doesn't making things better globally almost always start with individual choices?

What if, instead of arguing about climate change, we focused on changing our own habits? What if we stopped wasting time debating minutiae and started finding ways to be less wasteful?

No matter how you answer the question Is climate change man-made? don't let that keep you from asking yourself: What changes am I making?

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Photos by me.

Oasis

Joshua Tree, California




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Photos by the Hubs. | More Wordless Wednesday.

Desert wildlife

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Photos by the Hubs and I. | More Wordless Wednesday.

Phoenix Zoo for free

Briefly taking a break from taking a break to let you know about getting free admission to the Phoenix Zoo today.

They'll be announcing a secret password on their Twitter profile at 8am. That word is good for free admission from when they open at 9am (I know! superlate! hopefully it's not already superhot!) until 11am.

You don't need a Twitter account to see the Phoenix Zoo's updates - just visit http://twitter.com/PhoenixZoo after 8 this morning for their announcement about the password. (What is Twitter?)

You can tell them Bold Avenue sent you. Don't think that'll get you any VIP treatment - just thought it'd be cool to say that.

Is this summer?

Wind chimes singing, sky heavy with gray clouds, cool air fragrant with the scent of rain-soaked creosote bushes somewhere outside the city limits.

Doesn't sound much like May in Arizona, does it?

Just when we thought we were thoroughly in the grips of summer's oppressive heat, we are granted a lovely respite. Again, rain reminds me of grace.

Today is full - quoting for a t-shirt order, revising a web page, brainstorming marketing strategies and more. So I'm posting late and not posting the summer-themed post I'd planned. But it doesn't really feel like summer. And it does feel like a good day to contemplate rain and beauty and grace.


...I go to find the post where I talk about rain and grace and realize it was just this time of year. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised at rain (or grace). Just thankful.

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Photos by me. Taken just a few minutes ago.

Unlikely bloom

Photos by me. These were too. | More Wordless Wednesday.

Camping in

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Photos by me. | For the story, see my acrostic poem from Perfectly Poetical Tuesday. | For more Wordless Wednesday, visit www.wordlesswednesday.com.

Quick Takes: Out for a pack to IKEA hazards

So it's time for this week's Quick Takes. I have some photos for you, but I'm unable to post them now, so look for them tomorrow.

1. Mama Cat has decided the kittens can live without her constantly on top of them (literally), so we've gotten a better look at the teeny kitties - who are doing just fine - when she goes out for food. Or whatever she's doing. Hopefully, it's food. I'd hate to see her come back with a pack of cigarettes or something.
2. A lot of people are on spring break this week. I didn't take the week off, but it has been a break from my normal routine. I've had some things I've had to take care of, some fun times with Mom (who is off this week) and lots of time to think and rethink about life, business and all that little stuff. ;)
   
3. Had a lovely morning coffee/tea date with my mom, sitting on the patio outside Liberty Market.
4. I was on jury duty Wednesday. Pretty uneventful. The most exciting part was when the group that I was with got lost on the elevator. We couldn't figure out what floor we needed to go to. And, on the third try, when the doors opened and we were finally in the right place, spontaneous cheers erupted. (I am not making this up.) The people waiting to get on the elevator were pretty baffled.
5. I'm getting excited about National Poetry Month! I have some fun ideas cooking!
   
6. I created a page (actually, it's a Squidoo lens) about gardening in the desert southwest. I'd love for you to stop by, check it out, and let me know what you think. Also, if you want to create your own Squidoo page/lens, click here, and let me know if you have any questions.
   
7. Have I mentioned before the hazards of the kids' section at IKEA? The whole place is filled with dangerously adorable toys. Brooke Shields may be concerned about children being born so parents have an excuse to buy a minivan. But I think there's an even greater threat than German engineering - Swedish whimsy.

More Quick Takes at today's Conversion Diary post.

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Edited to add photos I took of my beautiful mom and those cute little kitties!

Hitting a hundred to that special kind of paranoid

Yes, folks, it's time for another 7 Quick Takes Friday - the part of the show where I share my fascinating interesting amusing thoughts on the week. So, without further, adieu, here are this week's quick takes:



When is it going to hit 100 degrees in Phoenix? I'm not asking in a wistful way, like "When am I going to win the lottery?" I'm wondering because the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is sponsoring a contest to see who can guess correctly guess the date that the temperature at Sky Harbor Airport will take off into triple digits. Think you know? The prize is a weekend at a Scottsdale resort.



Since the weather is still gorgeous, the Hubs and I took a spontaneous little hike at South Mountain last weekend, where I decided I needed to photograph trail markers and signs for today's post*. And in the spirit of quick takes (and because it was starting to get dark), they were taken quickly. (Sorry they're a bit shaky. But makes you feel like you're hiking right along with us, doesn't it?)


Our freesia bulbs came back this year. And this week, they bloomed! The pics are on Flickr. Yes, our plants have their own photo set now.


Kinda tested the limits this week with stuffing more bedding, etc. in our small stack washer-and-dryer unit at one time than I probably should have. I was afraid it would overflow. (Remember Freaky Friday? No, the old one.) So I kept an eye on it. And refrained from chewing gum or listening to groovy music on my headphones until I was sure insane amounts of bubbles would not come pouring out the top. I lucked out. That thing sure beats the laundromat!


Also, we are busy, busy here in Phoenix this weekend! There's a lot going on, but here are my top event picks:

• Art Detour - walk through art galleries in downtown Phoenix (if you're into abstract photography, check out "3" at Jordre Studio). | Sat. (3/7) 10a-6p, Sun. (3/8) 12p-6p | free
  
• Arts & Flowers exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum - innovative floral designs created to complement works of art | Thr. - Sun. (3/5-3/8) 10a-5p | included with admission, free Fri. 6p-10p
  
• Heard Museum Indian Market - American Indian crafts, music and dance (most kid-friendly event) | Sat. + Sun. (3/7-8) 9:30a-5p | adults: $15, children under 16: free

The Hubs got his braces adjusted Tuesday, and, much to our relief, he has been able to eat without putting anything unusual in the blender or food processor.



Our neighbors a few doors down got broken into this week. So I've been that special kind of paranoid that results from those kind of events. Yesterday, I kept hearing noises. No, really. I jumped up and went to the window ten or twenty times. Every time, it was my next door neighbor unloading his car.

His method went something like this: throw open door, throw open creaky gate (which slams shut), rummage around in the car (preferably slamming trunk and/or doors), dog whines, open gate (preferably hard enough that it slams against the fence), fling open door, bang around inside of house, repeat. At some point in the process, I would think, "What was that?! I don't think that was the neighbor." But it was. Every time.

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P.S. If see numbers and not photos, you probably are blocking images or reading this through a feed that doesn't allow images. Don't worry. You're not missing much.


Photos by me. But you knew that. ;)

Good times on Valentine's

The Hubs and I went to Boyce-Thompson Arboretum on Valentine's Day. Yep, that's also where we went with my family on Thanksgiving. Good thing we took a lot of pictures then, because Saturday we ran out of battery. Other than that, it was a lovely day.


This time we noticed they do have some things for kids - like a bamboo maze and a "match the birds" flannelgraph game in the Smith Interpretive Center. (We should discuss flannelgraphs soon, don't you think?) So put that on the list of fun places to take the fam.

P.S. More photos at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum Photo Gallery.


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Photos by me , taken before I realized the camera was about to go on strike for the day.

Breaking the mold

Photos by me. | More WW here.

Palms' last stand

There is only one place in Arizona where palm trees really belong.

Palm Canyon in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is only "natural habitat" for palm trees in the state (although there's no shortage of human-planted ones). This has intrigued the Hubs for years, and he's been wanting to see it for himself. In fact, we'd planned to go on the way home from our California trip last May, but we ran out of time.


Then, a few weeks ago, he and my dad got to conspiring, and a date was set. I guess they figured it was a good time for a road trip out there since it's not hot, and gas is still under $2 a gallon.


So Dad, Mom, the Hubs and I set off Monday morning. (I dropped a pretty big hint, didn't I?)


We drove west for a couple hours until we got to Quartzite. We kept driving.


At the Kofa Refuge, there's a dirt road that goes all the way to the base of these massive rocks, which jut up out of the dessert to form the canyon.


It's a short hike back - about half a mile - to where you can view the palms.


You would probably miss them, tucked between protective walls of rock, but there's a very helpful sign that points them out.

We did see a few families with kids make the trip. Although it wasn't strenuous, bringing a backpack carrier for little ones is a good idea. (We saw one dad with a pretty elaborate one, in case his four-year-old got worn out.)

There are plenty of rocks to sit on and enjoy the view of the majestic canyon and the funny little clump of palm trees clinging to one side of it.


Most people come, take a quick snapshot and leave. But I think it's worth sitting a spell if you can. It's not a "lost world" experience (we didn't see a single dinosaur, even though the Hubs was on the lookout). It is a beautiful place to sit and watch the sun and shadow slowly make their way across the rocks.


After the hike, we made some sandwiches and munched at the trail head. We were glad we brought our own chairs, since we didn't see any picnic tables...anywhere.


It was a fun little trip, and we found out that they do allow camping in Kofa. So we may be back to explore further later on.