I've been interested in the weather since I was flipping through a magazine for kids and read an article about the different kinds of clouds.
That interest hasn't gone anywhere. It's just gotten more developed, speculative and superstitious.
For example, I check the weather report every day. In a place with as wild of weather as Tucson, I want to have some idea of what I face outdoors each day.
I try to guess whether or not those dark clouds mean rain or shade, whether or not that fuzzy horizon is rain or just low-lying clouds, and whether or not the wind is coming from the south or the east.
But the superstition part is the best. If I take an umbrella with me on a cloudy day, the clouds are gone in 15 minutes. If I leave my umbrella at home, I end up walking to my car in a downpour. If it's November and looks cold out, I wear a sweater, I end up sweating profusely. If it's November and looks warm out, I wear a t-shirt and find my teeth chattering everywhere I go. And when I try to circumvent said instances, the weather circumvents me.
Ridiculous, right?
So there were massive patches of clouds hovering around Tucson for the past week and a half. They promised rain, they even rained all over the mountains and the foothills. And then they disappeared, just when it looked like the storm was ready to hit Tucson.
They teased me with sprinkling--five minutes, it starts to like like all hell's going to break loose, and then the sun comes out and the clouds float away.
Whatever happened to the glorious monsoon season of my youth, when the clouds would descend every afternoon, pour heavy rains for at least half an hour, and then hover for a few hours before drifting off until the next day.
Even last summer those mountain storms were bound to head straight for my apartment complex, flooding the parking lot and leaving a trail of sticky humidity in their stead.
Instead, all I'm getting this summer is seductive sprinkling that leaves me sweaty in the sunny humidity.
And yet, I still look at the weather report, hoping that 20 percent chance of showers is really going to amount to something.
I should know better by now. In Tucson, it's a fat chance.
Showing posts with label Tucson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tucson. Show all posts
13.7.08
7.6.08
Bicycling Indecency
I read something vaguely ridiculous yesterday.
So there's this naked bike ride taking place in Tucson.
It's really not a big deal--they happen all over the world, and the point is to show how vulnerable bicyclists are as they ride alongside Hummers and monster trucks (although that's mostly on U.S. streets).
The ridiculous part is that people can't really do it all the way in Tucson unless they want the potential of being slapped with a misdemeanor or class 6 felony for public indecency.
Basically, you can't show anything between your waist and thighs, and women can't show their nipples OR any part of the areola. (It's not fair that men get fewer restrictions, for one thing). Sounds like common-sense decency from an American point of view, but the more I think about it, the whole law bit just seems so stupid.
I mean, if you're really staring at a bunch of naked people on bicycles, you deserve to be grossed out, right?
Oh, America the prudish, you've struck again!
So there's this naked bike ride taking place in Tucson.
It's really not a big deal--they happen all over the world, and the point is to show how vulnerable bicyclists are as they ride alongside Hummers and monster trucks (although that's mostly on U.S. streets).
The ridiculous part is that people can't really do it all the way in Tucson unless they want the potential of being slapped with a misdemeanor or class 6 felony for public indecency.
Basically, you can't show anything between your waist and thighs, and women can't show their nipples OR any part of the areola. (It's not fair that men get fewer restrictions, for one thing). Sounds like common-sense decency from an American point of view, but the more I think about it, the whole law bit just seems so stupid.
I mean, if you're really staring at a bunch of naked people on bicycles, you deserve to be grossed out, right?
Oh, America the prudish, you've struck again!
6.6.08
Call for Cafes
I'm not a big coffee drinker.
I definitely don't drink it every day, although I used to during my first two years of college. And then I realized all the double shots were making me porky.
I only drink coffee or espresso drinks as part of my social routine these days.
My favorite cafe in Tucson has long been Espresso Art.
It has this comfortable European atmosphere, good espresso drinks, smoothies and pastries, and ample seating. I even played my harp recital there in March. It's a bit expensive, but I just love the place.
My friend Jamie is an espresso connoisseur. She also digs Espresso Art, but now she's got a new favorite at Cafe Luce, the evil competitor cafe on campus that I abstained from trying for a whole year.
So we went there together, and it's not bad. Jamie claims the cappuccino's cheaper, but I can't tell since I rarely just get a cappuccino. She also says it's consistently the best cappuccino in Tucson. I guess she would know.
*On a side note, I just found a really cool blog about Arizona coffee shops. Lots of neat photos of coffee art. Worth checking out.*
I'm curious. If you're reading this, what's your favorite coffee shop or cafe, regardless of your location?
I definitely don't drink it every day, although I used to during my first two years of college. And then I realized all the double shots were making me porky.
I only drink coffee or espresso drinks as part of my social routine these days.
My favorite cafe in Tucson has long been Espresso Art.
It has this comfortable European atmosphere, good espresso drinks, smoothies and pastries, and ample seating. I even played my harp recital there in March. It's a bit expensive, but I just love the place.
My friend Jamie is an espresso connoisseur. She also digs Espresso Art, but now she's got a new favorite at Cafe Luce, the evil competitor cafe on campus that I abstained from trying for a whole year.
So we went there together, and it's not bad. Jamie claims the cappuccino's cheaper, but I can't tell since I rarely just get a cappuccino. She also says it's consistently the best cappuccino in Tucson. I guess she would know.
*On a side note, I just found a really cool blog about Arizona coffee shops. Lots of neat photos of coffee art. Worth checking out.*
I'm curious. If you're reading this, what's your favorite coffee shop or cafe, regardless of your location?
4.6.08
This is a real blog
A few years ago I got a hateful comment on my blog (in a comment about one long-ago post about skinny jeans, someone told me I needed to get a life--I suspect this one someone wearing skinny jeans at the time). [In a youthful indiscretion I deleted the comment, which I now would not do--I'm all for free expression and rollicking discussion.]
That's step one towards becoming a real blogger/having a real blog.
Step two is getting a media call/e-mail/something about one of your blog posts.
This happened today, when a journalist from the Arizona Daily Star asked me to talk about hypermiling, which I wrote a post about in May.
After three years, this has become a real blog. Yay!
That's step one towards becoming a real blogger/having a real blog.
Step two is getting a media call/e-mail/something about one of your blog posts.
This happened today, when a journalist from the Arizona Daily Star asked me to talk about hypermiling, which I wrote a post about in May.
After three years, this has become a real blog. Yay!
2.6.08
Sushi makes the world go 'round
Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE sushi.
I'm a vegetarian, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't dig the veggie-only varieties.
My favorites? Cucumber rolls, veggie rolls and avocado rolls. Sort of spans the entire spectrum, but they're just so good.
So I recently tried Sushi Cho--twice. Once with my editor, once with my boyfriend. Both times were pleasant experiences.
The fare is cheaper than at most of the sushi restaurants we've tried in Tucson. The cucumber and avocado rolls are pretty small, but they're cheap enough to make up for it.
The veggie rolls are more expensive--and you discover why once they land on your table. They are MASSIVE--bigger than the palm of my hand. I found it impossible to eat them with chopsticks--I swallowed my pride and just used my hands. My editor approved. Those things were huge.
I also tried the avocado and cucumber rolls. More of the same, right? Actually, it was just right. If I were only mildly hungry and wanted sushi, just getting one avocado and cucumber roll would do it for me. Dee-lish.
The other stuff is good, too, from what I hear. My boyfriend tried the crunchy roll--cucumber and tempura shrimp wrapped in seaweed and rice, doused with tempura crumbs. He seemed satisfied. I haven't heard complaints about anything else.
Edamame? Good. Tempura veggie appetizer? Good. Teriyaki chicken? Heard it was all right. Vegetable yakisoba? Heard it was pretty good--although differently flavored than the yakisoba at Sushi Ten.
The service is also decent--my water was constantly refilled the second time I went (although the first time the waitress was careless and never came back to see if I had enough water, and I finished my first glass within five minutes and practically died of thirst during the rest of the meal).
A note for strict vegetarians: don't eat the soup. It's got fish stock in it.
But as far as Sushi Cho goes, I highly recommend it.
I'm a vegetarian, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't dig the veggie-only varieties.
My favorites? Cucumber rolls, veggie rolls and avocado rolls. Sort of spans the entire spectrum, but they're just so good.
So I recently tried Sushi Cho--twice. Once with my editor, once with my boyfriend. Both times were pleasant experiences.
The fare is cheaper than at most of the sushi restaurants we've tried in Tucson. The cucumber and avocado rolls are pretty small, but they're cheap enough to make up for it.
The veggie rolls are more expensive--and you discover why once they land on your table. They are MASSIVE--bigger than the palm of my hand. I found it impossible to eat them with chopsticks--I swallowed my pride and just used my hands. My editor approved. Those things were huge.
I also tried the avocado and cucumber rolls. More of the same, right? Actually, it was just right. If I were only mildly hungry and wanted sushi, just getting one avocado and cucumber roll would do it for me. Dee-lish.The other stuff is good, too, from what I hear. My boyfriend tried the crunchy roll--cucumber and tempura shrimp wrapped in seaweed and rice, doused with tempura crumbs. He seemed satisfied. I haven't heard complaints about anything else.
Edamame? Good. Tempura veggie appetizer? Good. Teriyaki chicken? Heard it was all right. Vegetable yakisoba? Heard it was pretty good--although differently flavored than the yakisoba at Sushi Ten.
The service is also decent--my water was constantly refilled the second time I went (although the first time the waitress was careless and never came back to see if I had enough water, and I finished my first glass within five minutes and practically died of thirst during the rest of the meal).
A note for strict vegetarians: don't eat the soup. It's got fish stock in it.
But as far as Sushi Cho goes, I highly recommend it.
29.5.08
More parking problems in the works?
As if the shrinking amount of parking on the UA campus isn't enough to think about, the City of Tucson is talking change in the realm of parking meters.
Not in getting rid of them and creating more free public parking, but rather replacing the parking meters we have now with newer meters that take credit cards and cash, control 10 meters at a time and call the parking authority when it's time to give you a ticket.
There's going to be a pilot program this fall for three months to see if the new meters work in Tucson. There will be a few on University Avenue, but the majority will be downtown.
Apparently other cities have tried them. In New York, the worked well. But in other places, people found them too confusing and hard to use. I can only guess how they'll be received in Tucson...
Not in getting rid of them and creating more free public parking, but rather replacing the parking meters we have now with newer meters that take credit cards and cash, control 10 meters at a time and call the parking authority when it's time to give you a ticket.
There's going to be a pilot program this fall for three months to see if the new meters work in Tucson. There will be a few on University Avenue, but the majority will be downtown.
Apparently other cities have tried them. In New York, the worked well. But in other places, people found them too confusing and hard to use. I can only guess how they'll be received in Tucson...
21.5.08
Community bike ride
I went out on a limb and tried something new last night.
I went on the Tucson community bike ride with a group of friends...and about 150 other people. Some of my friends were intimidated by the crowd when we got to the meeting place, the turn-around out front of UA's Old Main.
I was not at all intimidated by the eclectic-hippy-grunge crowd before us. I just wanted to ride, damnit.
The ride is supposed to start at 8 p.m., and we finally started to snake down University Ave. around 8:30. The ride, which I guess takes a new route every Tuesday, snaked through Southwestern Tucson and took us through back alleys and creepy neighborhoods with lots of dogs barking at us.
Had I been alone or with a small group of people, I would have been scared shitless. But it wasn't so bad with all those other people.
When we started out, it was also friggin' hot outside. But the breeze crept up, the night cooled the air a bit, and the ride was pretty nice by the end--before it started to get just plain windy.
Cons: the going was too slow and there was a lot of bottle-necking
Pros: opportunity to see parts of Tucson you never imagined seeing and getting to go on a leisurely ride with friends
It was an overall good experience. I'd recommend you try it at least once.
I went on the Tucson community bike ride with a group of friends...and about 150 other people. Some of my friends were intimidated by the crowd when we got to the meeting place, the turn-around out front of UA's Old Main.
I was not at all intimidated by the eclectic-hippy-grunge crowd before us. I just wanted to ride, damnit.
The ride is supposed to start at 8 p.m., and we finally started to snake down University Ave. around 8:30. The ride, which I guess takes a new route every Tuesday, snaked through Southwestern Tucson and took us through back alleys and creepy neighborhoods with lots of dogs barking at us.
Had I been alone or with a small group of people, I would have been scared shitless. But it wasn't so bad with all those other people.
When we started out, it was also friggin' hot outside. But the breeze crept up, the night cooled the air a bit, and the ride was pretty nice by the end--before it started to get just plain windy.
Cons: the going was too slow and there was a lot of bottle-necking
Pros: opportunity to see parts of Tucson you never imagined seeing and getting to go on a leisurely ride with friends
It was an overall good experience. I'd recommend you try it at least once.
28.3.08
Animal Abuse = Bad. So we have a new puppy.
As if they needed another dog. Yes, my parents got a new bundle of joy to add to their canine menagerie yesterday. It partially fulfills my mother's desire to have a new chihuahua a year after our 17-year-old long hair, Figaro, died. It also fulfills my family's desire to help all of the dogs on earth, even if we don't have room for them all.
So this puppy mill got busted in Tucson a few weeks ago. I didn't hear about it until my dad said they were going to go get a puppy. But when my parents went to the pound to pick one up, they came home empty-handed. My mom said there were hundreds of people there, with a line out the door, all waiting to get a puppy. My dad said when they got in, they were told it was just large breeds left, and of course everyone wanted the toy pups. My parents can't have another big dog (not with two big boxers and a German shepherd-akita mix already ruling the roost), so they went home without adopting.
Then, last Friday, my dad said something about having a 10-day old Chihuahua puppy lined up for my mom, a female, who had been born sometime around the bust and wasn't available for adoption yet. I had to swear secrecy.
Then, my mom asked me on the phone if my dad had said anything to me about a puppy. I played dumb and found out he'd told her, and she wasn't sure if he was pulling her chain, or both of our chains or what (he jokes around a lot).
And yesterday, my dad brought home a puppy. It wasn't the wee one they were signed up to get. Instead, it's a six-month-old male, short hair. He gets really stressed out because Sophie is a big brute and smacks him around (yay, a new toy), and Leo tried to bite his head off when they first met (two males can be problematic--that's why they wanted another female). He also has never been outside before.
What I have heard about the conditions is that the dogs were stuffed into cages and the cages were stacked on top of each other in RVs. The proprietors would pour dog food into the top cages, and if anything fell down to the lower cages then those dogs got to eat. There was also no newspaper or bottom to the cages, so the dogs were going to the bathroom on the ones below them. They never saw the light of day, never went outside.
And now, I guess many of the people who adopted the dogs that first day are taking them back to the pound because they don't "act like normal dogs." Well, duh. They've been abused. I think that's so terrible, and people are so stupid and impatient when it comes to pets. But another thing I've heard is that people are buying up bunches of the dogs, basically repeating the cycle of hoarding them, and trying to sell them on eBay for big prices. Isn't that just the most horrible and absurd thing you've ever heard? I can't believe anyone would treat a poor, abused animal like that (not that I can believe how anyone could abuse an animal, in the first place).
My parents' puppy is 2.5 pounds. He's a miniature chihuahua, and he's still about a half-pound underweight. They haven't neutered him yet because he's still too malnourished to go under the knife. The vet who cared for him before she gave him to my dad said she was able to put 1.5 pounds on him herself. My mom says he gets really stressed when they go outside, because it's bright and there are new sounds. They're not sure how it's going to work with an enormous puppy swatting at him and two old, cranky dogs snapping at him, but we're really hoping the puppy works out because he's already been moved from an abusive kennel to the pound to the vet to my parents, and that's a lot of stress for a tiny, bewildered creature.
My parents haven't named him yet, just in case they think it's not going to work, but my mom wants to give him a "big" name, like Thor or Brutus or something. She says my dad, on the other hand, is thinking more in terms of his Italianate roots and wants to name the puppy Giuseppe, Guido or Salvatore or something silly like that.
We'll see how it goes. When I see him, I'll post a picture. He sounds cute (blonde, with a white ring around his neck, and teensy).
So this puppy mill got busted in Tucson a few weeks ago. I didn't hear about it until my dad said they were going to go get a puppy. But when my parents went to the pound to pick one up, they came home empty-handed. My mom said there were hundreds of people there, with a line out the door, all waiting to get a puppy. My dad said when they got in, they were told it was just large breeds left, and of course everyone wanted the toy pups. My parents can't have another big dog (not with two big boxers and a German shepherd-akita mix already ruling the roost), so they went home without adopting.
Then, last Friday, my dad said something about having a 10-day old Chihuahua puppy lined up for my mom, a female, who had been born sometime around the bust and wasn't available for adoption yet. I had to swear secrecy.
Then, my mom asked me on the phone if my dad had said anything to me about a puppy. I played dumb and found out he'd told her, and she wasn't sure if he was pulling her chain, or both of our chains or what (he jokes around a lot).
And yesterday, my dad brought home a puppy. It wasn't the wee one they were signed up to get. Instead, it's a six-month-old male, short hair. He gets really stressed out because Sophie is a big brute and smacks him around (yay, a new toy), and Leo tried to bite his head off when they first met (two males can be problematic--that's why they wanted another female). He also has never been outside before.
What I have heard about the conditions is that the dogs were stuffed into cages and the cages were stacked on top of each other in RVs. The proprietors would pour dog food into the top cages, and if anything fell down to the lower cages then those dogs got to eat. There was also no newspaper or bottom to the cages, so the dogs were going to the bathroom on the ones below them. They never saw the light of day, never went outside.
And now, I guess many of the people who adopted the dogs that first day are taking them back to the pound because they don't "act like normal dogs." Well, duh. They've been abused. I think that's so terrible, and people are so stupid and impatient when it comes to pets. But another thing I've heard is that people are buying up bunches of the dogs, basically repeating the cycle of hoarding them, and trying to sell them on eBay for big prices. Isn't that just the most horrible and absurd thing you've ever heard? I can't believe anyone would treat a poor, abused animal like that (not that I can believe how anyone could abuse an animal, in the first place).
My parents' puppy is 2.5 pounds. He's a miniature chihuahua, and he's still about a half-pound underweight. They haven't neutered him yet because he's still too malnourished to go under the knife. The vet who cared for him before she gave him to my dad said she was able to put 1.5 pounds on him herself. My mom says he gets really stressed when they go outside, because it's bright and there are new sounds. They're not sure how it's going to work with an enormous puppy swatting at him and two old, cranky dogs snapping at him, but we're really hoping the puppy works out because he's already been moved from an abusive kennel to the pound to the vet to my parents, and that's a lot of stress for a tiny, bewildered creature.
My parents haven't named him yet, just in case they think it's not going to work, but my mom wants to give him a "big" name, like Thor or Brutus or something. She says my dad, on the other hand, is thinking more in terms of his Italianate roots and wants to name the puppy Giuseppe, Guido or Salvatore or something silly like that.
We'll see how it goes. When I see him, I'll post a picture. He sounds cute (blonde, with a white ring around his neck, and teensy).
16.3.08
Eating Out
This rarely happens. I swear. And when it does (which it hasn't in at least four years), I normally end up feeling very sick.
That's right. I ate out four days in a row. And then one more time.
How is this possible for someone who tries not to go out for food in general (it's expensive and I have no control over the kitchen...and fast food nauseates me)? But it's easy: you get started, and then your friends can't stop. And you're stuck on the band wagon with them.
Here follows the epic saga with a brief synopsis of the week in food--and how I survived.
Monday: Hungry Howie's
The only reason I ate here was because Ian wanted wings and the Wing Stop is next door. Not that I dislike Hungry Howie's--their pizza is actually pretty good. But the thing that really drew me in was the Howie Bread. It's delicious, comes in small pieces so you feel less guilty about eating them until you realize you've eaten half the box, and it's...tasty. The pizza itself is pretty basic, cheese of course, with garlic herb crust. Not recommended for leftovers--the cheese and sauce get nasty after they've been in the fridge. Howie Bread on the other hand, excellent for a week afterwards. Especially with ranch dressing.
Tuesday: Sushi Ten
Cheaper than Takamatsu but with a similar selection. I used to love going here (all of twice, albeit) because for $9 you could get edamame, a salad (requested vegetarian of course), California rolls, soup, tea and a huge entree. Since new owners took over, the great deals have gone away and I decided to stick with sushi this time around. I got the avocado roll and veggie roll. Both came with eight pieces, but they were teeny-weenie little pieces. Yes, cheaper than Takamatsu, but also much less food for the price. I guess that means the sushi is easier to eat with chopsticks for those who are new at it (as I'll admit I was about a year ago).
Wednesday: Rocco's Little Chicago
As I've said in a previous post, the food is good. We went for Wednesday night wings, which I can't eat. So I got a deep dish 9-inch cheese pizza. It was good. I ate two-thirds of it, and it was huge. And soooo good.
Thursday: Zona 78
The first time I ate here, three long years ago, I had a salad. I'm not sure what I was thinking--the pizza crust is delicious. I met an old pal for pizza and wine. We both had margherita pizzas. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--instead of chopped tomato covering the cheese, there were whole slices of tomato. Still tasty, though. Natalie ordered a pinot noir and I ordered a shiraz. Everyone seemed happy with their choice. We also finished off the meal with an apple tart with vanilla gelato. Split two ways it was just enough, and quite invigorating to the tastebuds--crispy, soft, cold, hot, sweet, spicy. Yum.
Saturday: Ted's Country Store and Brooklyn Pizza
For a late lunch/early dinner Ian took me to this new place on Glenn we discovered. A bit pricey, but convenient by bicycle. I had the vegeterian club--it was basically a mass of sprouts and chopped carrots sandwiched into three pieces of a very light rye. There was a slice of cheese somewhere on the bottom, next to the cucumbers and mayonnaise. There could have been more cheese. It was refreshing, though.
And then, at the RockBand party of the evening, I had pizza for the fourth time in one week. Eeee. But it was surprisingly good for a fourth time in one week. Just nothing extraordinary to note. It was cheese, it was hot. Rocco's was definitely better.
I am now set on cooking for myself, as is my usual habit, for the next five months to make up for all the past week's eating out. After we eat at the Melting Pot tomorrow, anyway.
That's right. I ate out four days in a row. And then one more time.
How is this possible for someone who tries not to go out for food in general (it's expensive and I have no control over the kitchen...and fast food nauseates me)? But it's easy: you get started, and then your friends can't stop. And you're stuck on the band wagon with them.
Here follows the epic saga with a brief synopsis of the week in food--and how I survived.
Monday: Hungry Howie's
The only reason I ate here was because Ian wanted wings and the Wing Stop is next door. Not that I dislike Hungry Howie's--their pizza is actually pretty good. But the thing that really drew me in was the Howie Bread. It's delicious, comes in small pieces so you feel less guilty about eating them until you realize you've eaten half the box, and it's...tasty. The pizza itself is pretty basic, cheese of course, with garlic herb crust. Not recommended for leftovers--the cheese and sauce get nasty after they've been in the fridge. Howie Bread on the other hand, excellent for a week afterwards. Especially with ranch dressing.
Tuesday: Sushi Ten
Cheaper than Takamatsu but with a similar selection. I used to love going here (all of twice, albeit) because for $9 you could get edamame, a salad (requested vegetarian of course), California rolls, soup, tea and a huge entree. Since new owners took over, the great deals have gone away and I decided to stick with sushi this time around. I got the avocado roll and veggie roll. Both came with eight pieces, but they were teeny-weenie little pieces. Yes, cheaper than Takamatsu, but also much less food for the price. I guess that means the sushi is easier to eat with chopsticks for those who are new at it (as I'll admit I was about a year ago).
Wednesday: Rocco's Little Chicago
As I've said in a previous post, the food is good. We went for Wednesday night wings, which I can't eat. So I got a deep dish 9-inch cheese pizza. It was good. I ate two-thirds of it, and it was huge. And soooo good.
Thursday: Zona 78
The first time I ate here, three long years ago, I had a salad. I'm not sure what I was thinking--the pizza crust is delicious. I met an old pal for pizza and wine. We both had margherita pizzas. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--instead of chopped tomato covering the cheese, there were whole slices of tomato. Still tasty, though. Natalie ordered a pinot noir and I ordered a shiraz. Everyone seemed happy with their choice. We also finished off the meal with an apple tart with vanilla gelato. Split two ways it was just enough, and quite invigorating to the tastebuds--crispy, soft, cold, hot, sweet, spicy. Yum.
Saturday: Ted's Country Store and Brooklyn Pizza
For a late lunch/early dinner Ian took me to this new place on Glenn we discovered. A bit pricey, but convenient by bicycle. I had the vegeterian club--it was basically a mass of sprouts and chopped carrots sandwiched into three pieces of a very light rye. There was a slice of cheese somewhere on the bottom, next to the cucumbers and mayonnaise. There could have been more cheese. It was refreshing, though.
And then, at the RockBand party of the evening, I had pizza for the fourth time in one week. Eeee. But it was surprisingly good for a fourth time in one week. Just nothing extraordinary to note. It was cheese, it was hot. Rocco's was definitely better.
I am now set on cooking for myself, as is my usual habit, for the next five months to make up for all the past week's eating out. After we eat at the Melting Pot tomorrow, anyway.
5.2.08
SNOW!!!
Ok, so it's not snow. Not really. Not all of it, anyway.
I woke up this morning to discover my car was white. Not with frost as Ian insisted, but chunky, cold, white, glorious, gleaming snow.
Granted, it was gone by 8:30 am, but I was super excited anyway.
Based on my previous calculations, it should be 70 degrees this week. But it was cold enough to snow last night, it's been rainy and chilly. And you know what? The forecast calls for "bermuda shorts weather" this weekend.
PROOF! Proof that the weather in Tucson really is on acid.
I woke up this morning to discover my car was white. Not with frost as Ian insisted, but chunky, cold, white, glorious, gleaming snow.Granted, it was gone by 8:30 am, but I was super excited anyway.
Based on my previous calculations, it should be 70 degrees this week. But it was cold enough to snow last night, it's been rainy and chilly. And you know what? The forecast calls for "bermuda shorts weather" this weekend.
PROOF! Proof that the weather in Tucson really is on acid.
1.2.08
Cruel, cruel weather
January and February in Arizona: schizophrenic.
Anyone from anywhere else would wonder how I can possibly compare the first months of the year with a mental illness. It's really quite simple.
First week of January: 60s
Second week of January: 70s
Third week of January: 65
Fourth week of January: 40s
First week of February: 55
Second week of February: 70s (my prediction)
That's the temperature, rising up and down, back and forth, all over the place.
Not only is the temperature wild and crazy, but so is the weather. Rain, sun, rain, sun, clouds, clouds, sun, rain, sun, clouds, Snow. You can never be prepared for anything--you never know what the day will end with.
And what's worse, is if you go shopping, store displays are just there to rub it in. Going shopping the second week of January, all the winter stuff is on clearance. Blah, you think, too hot for this stuff.
Going shopping the next week, there are shorts and t-shirts everywhere. Geez, you think, shivering in a sweater, jacket and three shirts, isn't it a bit cold for shorts?
And the worst part? It doesn't get any better after February--the weather's loony here 12 months a year.
That's what I hate about Arizona. The weather's unstable and I never know what to wear. If I complain that it's too cold, it's because it was 90 degrees yesterday and I'm wearing a t-shirt--and it's 55 degrees today. If I complain it's too hot, it's probably because it was 32 degrees and rainy this morning, so I decided to wear a sweater and rain jacket to work. And it's after work, sunny and a humid 85 degrees.
If you want reliable weather...if you always want to be prepared by wearing the right thing...Arizona is not the place for you.
Anyone from anywhere else would wonder how I can possibly compare the first months of the year with a mental illness. It's really quite simple.
First week of January: 60s
Second week of January: 70s
Third week of January: 65
Fourth week of January: 40s
First week of February: 55
Second week of February: 70s (my prediction)
That's the temperature, rising up and down, back and forth, all over the place.
Not only is the temperature wild and crazy, but so is the weather. Rain, sun, rain, sun, clouds, clouds, sun, rain, sun, clouds, Snow. You can never be prepared for anything--you never know what the day will end with.
And what's worse, is if you go shopping, store displays are just there to rub it in. Going shopping the second week of January, all the winter stuff is on clearance. Blah, you think, too hot for this stuff.
Going shopping the next week, there are shorts and t-shirts everywhere. Geez, you think, shivering in a sweater, jacket and three shirts, isn't it a bit cold for shorts?
And the worst part? It doesn't get any better after February--the weather's loony here 12 months a year.
That's what I hate about Arizona. The weather's unstable and I never know what to wear. If I complain that it's too cold, it's because it was 90 degrees yesterday and I'm wearing a t-shirt--and it's 55 degrees today. If I complain it's too hot, it's probably because it was 32 degrees and rainy this morning, so I decided to wear a sweater and rain jacket to work. And it's after work, sunny and a humid 85 degrees.
If you want reliable weather...if you always want to be prepared by wearing the right thing...Arizona is not the place for you.
25.1.08
Putting the "care" in healthcare.
You're a student. You wake up: very sore throat, dry painful deep-chest cough, migraine, sniffly, achey. So you call in sick to work, let your teachers know you won't be in class (if you're responsible, like me). Laying in bed, you decide to call mommy & daddy to see what you should do. Mommy thinks about your symptoms, looks up the Mayo Clinic's flu symptoms check list. You have all symptoms except two. There's a good chance you can get pneumonia if you don't get treated (especially if you lead a high-pace lifestyle, like I do). So you go to good ol' Campus Health, the cheap, reliable place for students to get treated on campus.
Not.
This was me on Wednesday. I went to Campus Health. I called in advance and was told there would be about an hour wait, but some people would leave and flu symptoms would put me in ahead of others with less serious symptoms. Cool.
I saw my friend Mike there. He had similar symptoms, had felt sick a few days earlier. He went in to triage because he kept throwing up. What did they do? Gave him a pamphlet on how to stop vomiting and sent him home. Great.
An hour and a half later, I finally get called in. Everyone who came before me and everyone who came after me, except for about five people, had gone in before I got called. That's about 35 people Campus Health deemed to have more serious symptoms than I did, as I sat in the waiting room in an uncomfortable chair, shivering violently because I had the chills.
The nurse takes me in, has me sit down. I tell her I think I have the flu. She says "uh, huh." I tell her my symptoms. She glares at me. She takes my temperature. "You don't have a high enough fever to have the flu." I tell her I felt I needed to come in because I'm afraid I'll get sicker if I don't get treated, like I'll get strep throat (has happened on many occasions in the past). "Your throat's not sore enough to have strep throat," she says without asking how sore my throat is. She doesn't ask what my pain level is like on a 1-5 scale, which I've been told by another medical professional is a requirement.
She looks in my ears. "They're sort of swollen, but I don't think you have an ear infection."
She looks down my throat. "Nope, it's not red. You probably have the beginnings of an ear infection."
She gives me a tylenol and tells me to go to urgent care somewhere else. She says they're too busy to see me tonight.
I start crying because I'm so frustrated. An hour and a half wait and all I get is a headache pill and a referral? Rediculous. No wonder I hate going to the doctor when I don't feel well.
"Oh, you must be a little bit uncomfortable," she says.
YOU THINK?????
"Do you have a car?" she asks, pointing out the other urgent care options on the list she hands me, without bothering to ask if I feel well enough to drive myself somewhere--which, at the time, I don't.
Infuriated, I leave the clinic and tell my parents about the episode over the phone, in tears. They are also upset. My mom calls the MinuteClinic hotline (the one the nurse suggested, and also the closest to my apartment), and finds out they don't take our insurance. But I don't want to go to an emergency room. If I have the flu, then EVERYONE else in Tucson must also be ill and in the emergency room.
So, I go to the MinuteClinic, which is in a CVS. Kind of weird, kind of ghetto. It's a 20 minute wait. And I have to pee really badly, because I didn't go the whole time I was at Campus Health because I thought the second I went into the bathroom they'd call me to come in. Some good that did me.
The nurse practitioner at the MinuteClinic is very friendly and helpful. I tell her my symptoms, and she automatically says that sounds like the flu. I tell her what Campus Health told me, and she shakes her head. I tell her about the pamphlet they gave Mike, and she laughs scornfully. Campus assholes.
She gives me a flu test--she takes a long q-tip and swabs the insides of each nostril, way up inside and very ticklish. It takes 15 minutes to "cook", during which time she fills out my information on the computer and takes down all of my symptoms again.
After 15 minutes, the test says I am positive for Type A Influenza. Gee.
She prescribes me two meds and I get to go to the pharmacy to have them filled. And, there was a promo with my insurance company, so I only had to pay for the visit, not for the flu test. $59 is better than $96.
I was also told not to go to school or work for five days so I don't morph into a sticky bundle of pneumonia. If I'd followed Campus Health's instructions, I'd be out spreading the plague all over the place, and probably waking up with cold sweats and rust-colored sputum (the danger signs the nurse practitioner said I needed to watch out for for pneumonia).
So, I'm going to file a complaint on campus. Clearly, the triage people just wanted to go home (it was getting close to 5 pm). And what kind of urgent care center is only open until 5 pm, especially on a campus with 37,000 students and god-knows-how-many faculty, staff and employees? And giving a bad diagnosis just so you can turn students away? That's outrageous, and it's poor practice.
Not.
This was me on Wednesday. I went to Campus Health. I called in advance and was told there would be about an hour wait, but some people would leave and flu symptoms would put me in ahead of others with less serious symptoms. Cool.
I saw my friend Mike there. He had similar symptoms, had felt sick a few days earlier. He went in to triage because he kept throwing up. What did they do? Gave him a pamphlet on how to stop vomiting and sent him home. Great.
An hour and a half later, I finally get called in. Everyone who came before me and everyone who came after me, except for about five people, had gone in before I got called. That's about 35 people Campus Health deemed to have more serious symptoms than I did, as I sat in the waiting room in an uncomfortable chair, shivering violently because I had the chills.
The nurse takes me in, has me sit down. I tell her I think I have the flu. She says "uh, huh." I tell her my symptoms. She glares at me. She takes my temperature. "You don't have a high enough fever to have the flu." I tell her I felt I needed to come in because I'm afraid I'll get sicker if I don't get treated, like I'll get strep throat (has happened on many occasions in the past). "Your throat's not sore enough to have strep throat," she says without asking how sore my throat is. She doesn't ask what my pain level is like on a 1-5 scale, which I've been told by another medical professional is a requirement.
She looks in my ears. "They're sort of swollen, but I don't think you have an ear infection."
She looks down my throat. "Nope, it's not red. You probably have the beginnings of an ear infection."
She gives me a tylenol and tells me to go to urgent care somewhere else. She says they're too busy to see me tonight.
I start crying because I'm so frustrated. An hour and a half wait and all I get is a headache pill and a referral? Rediculous. No wonder I hate going to the doctor when I don't feel well.
"Oh, you must be a little bit uncomfortable," she says.
YOU THINK?????
"Do you have a car?" she asks, pointing out the other urgent care options on the list she hands me, without bothering to ask if I feel well enough to drive myself somewhere--which, at the time, I don't.
Infuriated, I leave the clinic and tell my parents about the episode over the phone, in tears. They are also upset. My mom calls the MinuteClinic hotline (the one the nurse suggested, and also the closest to my apartment), and finds out they don't take our insurance. But I don't want to go to an emergency room. If I have the flu, then EVERYONE else in Tucson must also be ill and in the emergency room.
So, I go to the MinuteClinic, which is in a CVS. Kind of weird, kind of ghetto. It's a 20 minute wait. And I have to pee really badly, because I didn't go the whole time I was at Campus Health because I thought the second I went into the bathroom they'd call me to come in. Some good that did me.
The nurse practitioner at the MinuteClinic is very friendly and helpful. I tell her my symptoms, and she automatically says that sounds like the flu. I tell her what Campus Health told me, and she shakes her head. I tell her about the pamphlet they gave Mike, and she laughs scornfully. Campus assholes.
She gives me a flu test--she takes a long q-tip and swabs the insides of each nostril, way up inside and very ticklish. It takes 15 minutes to "cook", during which time she fills out my information on the computer and takes down all of my symptoms again.
After 15 minutes, the test says I am positive for Type A Influenza. Gee.
She prescribes me two meds and I get to go to the pharmacy to have them filled. And, there was a promo with my insurance company, so I only had to pay for the visit, not for the flu test. $59 is better than $96.
I was also told not to go to school or work for five days so I don't morph into a sticky bundle of pneumonia. If I'd followed Campus Health's instructions, I'd be out spreading the plague all over the place, and probably waking up with cold sweats and rust-colored sputum (the danger signs the nurse practitioner said I needed to watch out for for pneumonia).
So, I'm going to file a complaint on campus. Clearly, the triage people just wanted to go home (it was getting close to 5 pm). And what kind of urgent care center is only open until 5 pm, especially on a campus with 37,000 students and god-knows-how-many faculty, staff and employees? And giving a bad diagnosis just so you can turn students away? That's outrageous, and it's poor practice.
19.1.08
Paradise? Eh.
Ian and I tried a new restaurant the other night for dinner: Paradise Bakery and Cafe.
It sounded promising, plus it's a newly opened restaurant, which can be exciting.
The setup was kind of confusing at first, because it's like a cafeteria line but you don't have to go through the whole line. You also have to pay for each item you get, so it's far more expensive than your traditional cafeteria--no flat rate meals. And the sweets and pastries have their own, out-of-the way counter. I was confused and put-off until one of the staff asked if we'd ever been there before and offered directions. Overall, not user-friendly for first-time visitors.
Ian tried the roast beef sandwich and I tried the vegetarian sandwich. The prices weren't bad--I think mine was about $5.70, and Ian's closer to $6 (I didn't pay). It was reasonable.
The roast beef sandwich was apparently quite good. It included a thick slab of roast beef, plus assorted vegetables that my meat-a-saurus boyfriend removed. The bread was very crusty and looked tasty.
The veggie was sub-standard. The bread was reminiscent of squishy sliced white bread from the grocery store, and the only vegetables present were half a tomato, a giant leaf of inedible lettuce and thinly sliced cucumber. There was also ONE slice of cheese and some avocado sauce. I was highly displeased. Plus the tomato kept falling out, and the bread got thinner and thinner as I held onto the sandwich. Throughout the meal I kept muttering, "Baggins is way better."
The chocolate chip cookies, on the other hand--which came with the sandwiches--were quite good. My new friend from Germany, an exchange student named Steffi, also said she really enjoyed the cookies when she ate at Paradise.
I think I'll still go back, to try the salads and soups, and more sweets. But the one sandwich I could eat was quite despicable.
It sounded promising, plus it's a newly opened restaurant, which can be exciting.
The setup was kind of confusing at first, because it's like a cafeteria line but you don't have to go through the whole line. You also have to pay for each item you get, so it's far more expensive than your traditional cafeteria--no flat rate meals. And the sweets and pastries have their own, out-of-the way counter. I was confused and put-off until one of the staff asked if we'd ever been there before and offered directions. Overall, not user-friendly for first-time visitors.
Ian tried the roast beef sandwich and I tried the vegetarian sandwich. The prices weren't bad--I think mine was about $5.70, and Ian's closer to $6 (I didn't pay). It was reasonable.
The roast beef sandwich was apparently quite good. It included a thick slab of roast beef, plus assorted vegetables that my meat-a-saurus boyfriend removed. The bread was very crusty and looked tasty.
The veggie was sub-standard. The bread was reminiscent of squishy sliced white bread from the grocery store, and the only vegetables present were half a tomato, a giant leaf of inedible lettuce and thinly sliced cucumber. There was also ONE slice of cheese and some avocado sauce. I was highly displeased. Plus the tomato kept falling out, and the bread got thinner and thinner as I held onto the sandwich. Throughout the meal I kept muttering, "Baggins is way better."
The chocolate chip cookies, on the other hand--which came with the sandwiches--were quite good. My new friend from Germany, an exchange student named Steffi, also said she really enjoyed the cookies when she ate at Paradise.
I think I'll still go back, to try the salads and soups, and more sweets. But the one sandwich I could eat was quite despicable.
15.1.08
Get on the B Line
In the spirit of food, which just so happens to be one of the driving forces in my life, I decided it's time the B Line got a mention on here.
The B Line is a delightful little bistro on Fourth Avenue in Tucson. It stands out from the gritty bars and hippie shops with it's neon sign and the bar stool seating lining the windows. Inside is a somewhat-scrunched, intimate seating area on two levels.
I haven't tried many of the items on the menu, but everyone else who's ever eaten there with me has enjoyed their meals.
I always get the orecchiette pasta alla vodka--sometimes half a portion with salad, sometimes a whole plate. It comes with garlic toast and a toping of arugula (which I hate) and thickly shaven parmesan. After picking off the bitterly minty arugula (unless you enjoy the stuff), you can dive into a rich and very filling meal, totally worth 11 dollars.
There's also lemonade and root beer on tap, a good selection of beer and English sparkling water, among other things.
If that's not good enough, the rotating dessert case next to the cash register, and the non-rotating one under the register, will make your mouth water with a variety of desserts ranging from thick slabs of cake and pie to cookies and creme brulee.
If you're in the area and don't mind parking across the street (I usually take the Blackjack Pizza parking lot), it's sooooo worth it!
The B Line is a delightful little bistro on Fourth Avenue in Tucson. It stands out from the gritty bars and hippie shops with it's neon sign and the bar stool seating lining the windows. Inside is a somewhat-scrunched, intimate seating area on two levels.
I haven't tried many of the items on the menu, but everyone else who's ever eaten there with me has enjoyed their meals.
I always get the orecchiette pasta alla vodka--sometimes half a portion with salad, sometimes a whole plate. It comes with garlic toast and a toping of arugula (which I hate) and thickly shaven parmesan. After picking off the bitterly minty arugula (unless you enjoy the stuff), you can dive into a rich and very filling meal, totally worth 11 dollars.
There's also lemonade and root beer on tap, a good selection of beer and English sparkling water, among other things.
If that's not good enough, the rotating dessert case next to the cash register, and the non-rotating one under the register, will make your mouth water with a variety of desserts ranging from thick slabs of cake and pie to cookies and creme brulee.
If you're in the area and don't mind parking across the street (I usually take the Blackjack Pizza parking lot), it's sooooo worth it!
13.1.08
Foreign Relations
When I studied in Germany in 2006, everything was set up in advance. I had a place to stay (dormitory), it was easy to get from the airport to the dormitory (although I stayed with grandparents, but that's a different story), and I knew I would be able to get around without a car.
When my tandem partner got here in the fall semester, he had no idea where he was going to live. Luckily, a friend who'd arrived before him had made arrangements for him to get from the airport and finally found him a roommate. He soon discovered he'd need a bicycle because Tucson is too spread out and there isn't adequate public transportation. He also discovered it was difficult to get groceries, as the closest grocery store was a bike ride away.
Last week I got an e-mail from a German girl who was on her way to Tucson and, having missed orientation week, wanted to know the cheapest way to get from the airport to the hostel she hoped to stay in. Hmm. Taxi? Expensive. Bus? Probably doesn't operate after 10 pm. So I offered to pick her up. She hadn't been able to exchange money for dollars in Chicago, and there was no place to do so in Tucson. Why would there be? The hostel (only one in town, as far as I know--and the first time I've ever heard of it) doesn't offer locks for lockers.
Then, I went to help her find a place to live, since she had no idea where she was going to stay with a few days before school starts. Apartment offices? Supposed to be open on Sunday, but all miraculously closed. The UA International Affairs office had told her it was super easy to find housing in Tucson. Hmm, not by my experience.
Does the university actually think lying to poor foreign students makes getting used to a strange place any easier? If they do, they're assholes. If I'd had to find a place to stay in Leipzig, I'd have been a writhing ball of nerves--a wreck. And they expect people to do it here like it's a piece of cake.
Therefore, I have decided (with a bit of prodding from my mother) to make the German Club more active in helping German, Austrian and Swiss (and maybe even those from Lichtenstein, should they come) students have an easier time of getting into Tucson and adjusting to life here. I mean, we can't just leave them homeless and (depending on the season) sweaty, wandering the streets of Tucson.
When my tandem partner got here in the fall semester, he had no idea where he was going to live. Luckily, a friend who'd arrived before him had made arrangements for him to get from the airport and finally found him a roommate. He soon discovered he'd need a bicycle because Tucson is too spread out and there isn't adequate public transportation. He also discovered it was difficult to get groceries, as the closest grocery store was a bike ride away.
Last week I got an e-mail from a German girl who was on her way to Tucson and, having missed orientation week, wanted to know the cheapest way to get from the airport to the hostel she hoped to stay in. Hmm. Taxi? Expensive. Bus? Probably doesn't operate after 10 pm. So I offered to pick her up. She hadn't been able to exchange money for dollars in Chicago, and there was no place to do so in Tucson. Why would there be? The hostel (only one in town, as far as I know--and the first time I've ever heard of it) doesn't offer locks for lockers.
Then, I went to help her find a place to live, since she had no idea where she was going to stay with a few days before school starts. Apartment offices? Supposed to be open on Sunday, but all miraculously closed. The UA International Affairs office had told her it was super easy to find housing in Tucson. Hmm, not by my experience.
Does the university actually think lying to poor foreign students makes getting used to a strange place any easier? If they do, they're assholes. If I'd had to find a place to stay in Leipzig, I'd have been a writhing ball of nerves--a wreck. And they expect people to do it here like it's a piece of cake.
Therefore, I have decided (with a bit of prodding from my mother) to make the German Club more active in helping German, Austrian and Swiss (and maybe even those from Lichtenstein, should they come) students have an easier time of getting into Tucson and adjusting to life here. I mean, we can't just leave them homeless and (depending on the season) sweaty, wandering the streets of Tucson.
7.1.08
Drainage? Naw.
I don't know what it is, but there's something about rain that I adore. Perhaps it's because I've grown up in the desert and we hardly ever get enough rain. And I don't believe there is such a thing as too much rain.
But there is such a thing as too much rain for the drainage capacity in Tucson.
Actually I'm not even sure if there is any drainage system in place in Tucson. Whenever it rains semi-hard, the streets flood with water, making it impossible to walk anywhere without become soaked to mid-calf. See this YouTube video that my boyfriend, Ian, posted during summer 2007 as an example.
A mere example of this:
Tonight my friends and I walked to Chipotle for dinner. It was lightly sprinkling when we left. On our way home, it was raining lightly but steadily. Eh, no big deal.
Then we needed to cross the street. But there was about five feet of rushing water in our way. So I waded through, soaking my shoes and pants to above my ankles. With cold water on a cold night.
Ian jumped across, thanks to his long legs. Sam attempted to carry Colleen across so her suede shoes wouldn't get ruined. But halfway across, her cell phone and wallet fell out of her pocket and went rushing away.
Right then, our friend Mike drove up, 30 seconds too late. So as I stood guarding Colleen's shoes with my umbrella, my friends waded through the mini-river, searching for the lost items. The wallet (the more important item) was recovered, but the cell phone was gone. It probably wouldn't work anymore, anyway.
Clearly there's a problem when people can't cross the street on a university campus without forever loosing their belongings to fast-moving water. Other problems include the people who drive through flooded areas during monsoon season and get washed away (although that may have more to do with the average IQ of Arizona's population than drainage issues).
How is it possible, in an area that expects heavy rains for at least 35 days a year, that we don't have adequate drainage in place to move the water away from foot and vehicular traffic?
It boggles the mind.
But there is such a thing as too much rain for the drainage capacity in Tucson.
Actually I'm not even sure if there is any drainage system in place in Tucson. Whenever it rains semi-hard, the streets flood with water, making it impossible to walk anywhere without become soaked to mid-calf. See this YouTube video that my boyfriend, Ian, posted during summer 2007 as an example.
A mere example of this:
Tonight my friends and I walked to Chipotle for dinner. It was lightly sprinkling when we left. On our way home, it was raining lightly but steadily. Eh, no big deal.
Then we needed to cross the street. But there was about five feet of rushing water in our way. So I waded through, soaking my shoes and pants to above my ankles. With cold water on a cold night.
Ian jumped across, thanks to his long legs. Sam attempted to carry Colleen across so her suede shoes wouldn't get ruined. But halfway across, her cell phone and wallet fell out of her pocket and went rushing away.
Right then, our friend Mike drove up, 30 seconds too late. So as I stood guarding Colleen's shoes with my umbrella, my friends waded through the mini-river, searching for the lost items. The wallet (the more important item) was recovered, but the cell phone was gone. It probably wouldn't work anymore, anyway.
Clearly there's a problem when people can't cross the street on a university campus without forever loosing their belongings to fast-moving water. Other problems include the people who drive through flooded areas during monsoon season and get washed away (although that may have more to do with the average IQ of Arizona's population than drainage issues).
How is it possible, in an area that expects heavy rains for at least 35 days a year, that we don't have adequate drainage in place to move the water away from foot and vehicular traffic?
It boggles the mind.
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