Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Written by Jeff

Guests Flock to Visit AZ in Colder Months

From experience and my conversations with those who have lived in the Phoenix area for a while, there is a phenomenon that occurs when someone from a colder climate relocates to the Sonoran desert. The first few years find friends from the cooler climes flocking to visit during those colder months.

To accommodate our visitors, we have constructed a list of sight seeing options that serves as our master document which we tailor to meet the needs of specific guests. The visitor is presented with the list to select what they would like to do during their stay. Of course we often try to encourage certain selections if we have a particular interest or believe that one selection is a sure winner. There have also been times when we have just declared that on certain days we were doing a given activity because it was “special.” We do, however, want our guests to make most of the selections.

Having guests select the activities removes some of the responsibility from the shoulders of the host. Of course we want our guests to have the best time possible, but it is often difficult to predict exactly what will make someone happy. We happened to mention to one visitor that there was a Penzey’s spice store in Scottsdale at 3310 N Hayden Rd which immediately piqued their interest. As good hosts, we took her there and an hour later we emerged with nearly $100 of purchases. At the end of the stay when she recounted her favorite things, Penzey’s made it to the top of the list. You never know!

Arizona’s Museum of Natural History

We recently had an out-of-town guest and when we were considering things to do in the area, we came across the Arizona Museum of Natural History, (53 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201, 480-644-2230) which held promise. Don’t get me wrong. For those familiar with the larger museums of natural history, this is a less robust sibling. While smaller and narrower in the scope of exhibits, it may still be worth considering.

Among the exhibits were a number of dinosaur skeletons (and casts of skeletons). Apparently they house the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in Arizona. One of my favorite displays was the mineral gallery located off to the side of Dinosaur Mountain. Every twenty minutes or so there is a thunderstorm at Dinosaur Mountain which the children enjoyed. This is truly a place designed with the younger set in mind.

In the history courtyard visitors can pan for gold. Packets are distributed at the admissions counter to store precious panning finds. One of the most interesting exhibits was the Territorial Jail Cells that remained in use until 1975. These mostly metal quarters would reform all but the most hardened criminals. Reportedly, not one criminal escaped from these cells which led to the Federal Government using them to hold prisoners when the need arose.

There is also an interesting exhibit of the various movies made in Arizona. Old-time posters and pictures line the walls to provide a pictorial history of Sonoran filmdom. The museum also houses exhibits of Native American and Ancient American cultures.

Periodically the museum offers special exhibits. An interesting exhibit entitled PSI (Poop Scene Investigation) was aimed at educating visitors to recognize animal droppings and finding out which animal may or may not be visiting their backyards. Check the website to learn more about which exhibits are currently open and other events that are available at the museum. While we were touring the galleries, I noticed that there was a children’s birthday party being held in a special room. That sounds like a cool idea; children and dinosaurs…perfect together!

NOTE: There currently is a “3 For FREE” promotion being held jointly by the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Arizona Museum for Youth and the Mesa Contemporary Arts Center offering free admission on the first Sunday of each month. The museums are within walking distance of each other. On specific dates, concerts are held on the Shadow Walk at the Mesa Arts Center which may provide an added incentive for a visit. Check the websites for details.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Article References:

Arizona Museum of Natural History website - http://azmnh.org/Home.aspx
Exhibits at the museum - http://azmnh.org/exhibits/default.aspx
The Arizona Museum for Youth – www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com
The Mesa Contemporary Arts Center – www.mesaartscenter.com
Penzeys Spices - www.penzeys.com
Penzeys location in Scottsdale Map - http://www.penzeys.com/scstore/stores/scottsdale.html

Written by Jeff

Phoenix is NOT New Jersey

Imagine awakening one morning and finding that you were in a lovely, but very different place. That is how I felt after moving to Phoenix from the rolling green lands of northwestern New Jersey. (Jay Leno’s snide comments about the stench and pollution of that state aside…our town was rurally bucolic and life there had a very comfortable familiarity). image by squeakymarmot

For over two decades we came annually to Arizona to visit my college roommate and his wife. It was always a given that we’d eventually relocate here. After a few false starts, and a temporary delay due to a sluggish real estate market, we eventually arrive.

It has been a bit of an adjustment. Phoenix has a beauty of its own, but it isn’t green. It is rugged and brown and the sunsets are awe-inspiring. Quite different from the east coast.

Same Old is Not Quite the Same Old

Except not TOO different. We’ve swapped A&P and Shop-Rite for the bigger supermarkets like Frys and Safeway. But the chain fast foods eateries have followed us; and indeed have multiplied….Taco Bell has multiple competitors here in this Valley, and most hamburger joints boast a southwestern theme. Think rodeo cowboy art next to McDonalds’ Dollar Menu placard, and plastic saguaros in Burger King. And I was heartened to find that Best Buy and Circuit City exist west of the Mississippi.

But change is hard. . After all, in my former town I knew a plumber who actually made emergency calls on Christmas Day. We had a mechanic we could trust, a physician who returned calls, and a phone programmed with the number of the best pizzeria in town.

Welcome to the Valley…..Finding the Right Barber!!

Particularly scary was trying to find a new barber. I am not fussy about many things, but who cuts my hair is of major concern to me. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a lot of hair (refer to the picture on the About page) and I really have an easy style. I’m not fussy. I just want a place where they are friendly, but remote. I don’t want to sit down and have to begin talking from the time the haircut starts to the time it stops. I want to speak when I have something to say and just sit quietly when I don’t feel like chiming in. I don’t care what the politics of the place is because I generally don’t discuss those things in public. Nowadays politics has become the third rail and I don’t want someone with a razor in hand being agitated when they get near my neck!

So, I began the usual foray around town to try different barbers. Now I don’t want a salon or a hair stylist. I want a barber. I can wash my own hair, what is left of it, and dry it and get it into some sort of shape. I just want someone to trim my hair, raise my sideburns and shave the back of my neck. And every once in a while I might need an eyebrow trim. I don’t let the barber clip the nose hairs because I don’t want a scissors used on everyone else to get that close to my breathing zone. It’s weird, but that’s the way it is.

The first haircut in Phoenix was especially remarkable. In New Jersey I had a comb over to shelter the top of my bald head. It wasn’t that I thought I had a lot of hair or I was trying to trick someone, I just didn’t want all the explanations and comments of people if I shaved the top of my head. I was working in a university and there were just too many people who might feel compelled to say something so I waited for the right moment to make the move. So now…new life; new hair!!

I went on the Internet and found a picture of Harry Smith, host of the CBS Morning Show. I wanted his hair style. For someone without a lot of hair, he looked quite dignified. I brought his picture with me to show the barber who turned out to be a young blonde from Russia. I explained what I wanted and she seemed to understand and away she went. When it was over, I had my wife take pictures of me throughout the cut. Lastly, we then took a picture of me with the blonde barber and the next time in, I brought her a copy. Yep, my picture is still taped to her mirror…. up there with photos of prom up-dos and toddlers’ first hair cuts.

Remarkably there weren’t too many comments from people I knew (which at that point numbered only six in the whole state) so that trauma was over. If the truth be told…. no one noticed! (Note to self: We take ourselves entirely too seriously!!)

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Candid Camera for Drivers

In my opinion, Phoenix drivers have to be among the worst in the country. To discourage speeders, the city has installed automated cameras conspicuously placed on a “trial” basis along sections of the 101 to see if they would decrease the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities. A speeding ticket in these areas carries a hefty fine, which led some of the more cynical citizens to believe there was an alternative reason for the install.

Generally speaking, anyone traveling the 101 on a regular basis knows the location of these cameras and even if they are speeding, they will slow down when approaching the surveilled area to avoid receiving a ticket. The out-of-towners are the ones most likely to be caught by the lenses. I am told that when the ticket arrives, there are two pictures, one of the driver and one of the license plate. It has been my distinct pleasure not to know this as a fact.

During evening hours these cameras can be very disconcerting as flashes can be seen when the area is approached. There were a few times when I was driving in a group of cars and the flash went off. I would quickly check my odometer to make sure I wasn’t speeding, but there was always that nagging doubt in the back of my head. For the next month or so, I would sweat out mail delivery to make sure I haven’t received a ticket.

Speeders are a resourceful lot. To combat the camera’s peering eye, some drivers have license plate covers that can only be described as either super reflective or extremely polarized. They both hide the license plate number from the technology while allowing policemen to see them. Last year there was a bill before the state legislature to ban such license plate covers, but it didn’t pass. Go figure!

Don’t Enter When Flooded

Every once in a while, there is a tendency to forget that this is the desert and the nature of the region is quite different from other locales. One of the differences is that when there is a deluge, many roads are flooded. Water does not easily soak into the desert ground, but seeks low points to run. Streets can quickly become raging rivers and low spots become lakes. There are signs around the valley warning against entering areas when it is raining. There is real danger here. Water is a formidable force and cars can be easily washed away.

There were so many people who would not heed these warnings that the city has passed a “stupid motorist” law. Basically the law states that if you are brazen enough to enter one of these flooded areas, you are on your own. No rescue help will be forthcoming. You were warned and others are not going to risk their safety to assist you. Of course fines are also levied.

To make matters even more intense, there are numbers of streets in the outlying areas that are not paved and when it rains there, the roads can become covered with mud and sand. A year ago, I arrived at our street just after a monsoon storm and I had to park my car nearly a mile from the house to walk through two feet of mud covering the road. Luckily a large truck came by and offered me a lift. The next morning the plows were out moving the mud and sand off of the road. On the plus side, this happens much less frequently than snowstorms in the northeast.

Changing Patterns

The Phoenix area is trying to make changes to alleviate the traffic crunch. Like many large cities, bike lanes are slowly being put in place. There is a very nice bike lane along Cave Creek Road that extends for quite a distance. The problem so far is that these are isolated, unconnected corridors.

Converting bike lanes into plausible avenues of transportation would need a strong commitment to connect the lanes with others and to bring them into the more urban areas. This is still a long way off. There is some encouragement for bikers as the local buses have bike racks and the light rail trains will also have similar accommodations for cyclists to bring their bikes along.

Mass transit

Most major cities have a rail-based mass transit system, but Phoenix is just starting to develop that part of their infrastructure. In December, 2008, the Metro Light Rail experience is slated for initiation. Unfortunately, this covers only a small 20-mile section of the city and even this has taken quite some time to complete. Hopefully, this will be successful and the taxpayers will be encouraged to fund extensions into other parts of the city.

Any effort to reduce the number of vehicles entering downtown will help to reduce the traffic density. Like most other large cities, parking is another problem. We always try to keep coins in the car to feed those meters if we can find a metered open parking space in the center of the city.

Even after more than a year, traveling along the roads of Phoenix seems a bit strange. It is just a different experience.

Are there any interesting or different driving experiences in your area?

08/22/08 Update - I was contacted via email by a reader who has lived in the Valley much longer than I have and they explained that the “stupid driver” will be rescued, but will be billed for the service. Another point was noted about the change lanes — they are intended to get “off” of the road and not to “enter” into the flow of traffic.

All comments and clarifications are welcome!

The Phoenix Driving Experience - Part I

NOTE: Did you ever wonder about the psychology behind what happens when a traffic lane is closed? Should you pull over and merge into an open lane early or speed up and go right to the front of the line? CYNTHIA GORNEY addresses this issue in a Sunday, NY Times Magazine Section article, The Urge to Merge, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03traffic-t.html

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

When we first arrived in Phoenix, we had no direct means of transportation. Our cars were being shipped and it would be several days before they would arrive. We relied on friends for the occasional ride during those first hectic days, but most of our needs could be met by taking a short walk to one of the nearby malls.

We made it a point to secure an apartment near shopping centers and services we would need while we house hunted. The day we received the call that our cars would be arriving was an exciting one, but also one of some anxiety. Now we would have to learn our way around and learn about the nuances of Phoenix driving.

Although driving in the US is basically the same, many areas have their unique idiosyncrasies related to motoring. Phoenix is no different.

Driving is Driving, right?

The first lesson we learned is that shade is a commodity. Our apartment had one uncovered parking space and one covered space, i.e. shade. After a couple of days, we developed a strategy regarding which car should be parked in which spot. We also learned how to “play” the free parking space game by jockeying our cars around to maintain a premium spot close to our apartment.

If you need to be convinced that shade is a commodity, go to a mall in July or August. There are usually a few token trees bordering parking areas—and there you will find cars parked beneath their sparse branches even if they are located far from the stores.

Lesson two was actually a corollary of lesson one. Buy a padded steering wheel cover so you can touch the steering wheel on those hot days. The only other option would be to wear oven mitts and this might be distracting to other drivers who see you as you pass.

A Positive Change

Most of the roads in the area have a center lane reserved for turning and that is a good thing. There is so much traffic that without these lanes, there would be great difficulty navigating turns onto and off the main roads. When making a left out of shopping centers on heavily traveled streets, these become safety zones- pull out into the turn lane and wait for an opening. It certainly eases the transition from mall to road.

Turns for the Worse

There are two types of turns that drivers in the Phoenix area make, which took a bit of adjustment on my part. The first one is the stop light u-turn. At almost any traffic light, when it turn green or presents a green left arrow, drivers make u-turns. In my experience u-turns were prohibited under those circumstances while in this area it seems to be the rule of thumb. This can be very disconcerting to drivers new to the scene. It is more necessary than ever to keep those eyes on the road at all times.

Another driving surprise is the arced simultaneous left turns made coming off some of the major highways. At the apex of the arc, it appears as though the approaching cars are going to collide even though the painted lanes indicate otherwise. It can catch a person off-guard the first couple of times!

The Phoenix Driving Experience - Part II

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post