Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

One of the interesting things about moving to a “new” place, even though we have been here for more than four years now, is the discovery of different and somewhat off-beat places, people and things. I will use Phunky Phoenix posts to describe some of these treasures to introduce readers to the uniqueness of the Phoenix, AZ area. After all, we are probably one of the only states with an official state gun (the colt).

One road sign you will see in this area as well as other AZ locales is the one below. Javelinas have been one of my gardening nemeses. They enjoy so many of the plants I try to grow. While I haven’t actually seen them in my garden, their destruction is unmistakable. They do their marauding at night and I find the devastation in the morning when I walk the gardens.

Along Cave Creek Rd. between Tatum Blvd. and Carefree Hwy, on the Southbound side of the road, we have dogs on a bus.

They are on their way to obedience school. Can you see the Saint Bernard behind the wheel?

At the Southeast Intersection of Dynamite Blvd and 56th St., there is the Alpha Stencil. I don’t think Banksy was there, but I do think this means something that my senior citizen database just doesn’t compute. Can anyone enlighten me regarding the stencil below?

As readers of my blog know by now, I do enjoy touches of whimsy in the garden. One of the nearby houses has a rooster statue in their front yard. I would say that this is really something to crow about!

I hope you enjoyed my first foray into Phunky Phoenix and I will try to post more from time-to-time as I gather pictures and stories.

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

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

Over twenty years ago,when we visited the Sonoran Desert and specifically the Phoenix area, several people were all too happy to explain to us that things didn’t rust in the desert because it was DRY.

Since moving to Maricopa County four years ago, I have discovered that isn’t true. As a matter of fact quite surprisingly, I am convinced that rust is a design element. They love rust out here. Every time I turn around, I see something left to deliberately rust and allowed to add its natural tone to the surrounding architecture, garden, etc.

Leaving Phoenix and taking Shea Blvd. eastward, one comes across a bus waiting area artistically garbed with rust.

Further along, we find a screen to hide a utility box with that same patina. In many areas of town, the utility boxes are hidden behind or within these artsy design elements. It adds a nice touch and makes them more sightly.

Buildings make good use of rust as well. Desert Broom Library along Cave Creek Road proudly boasts it’s rusted flank. Here is a long shot of the library. Notice there are other rusted elements as well.

A closeup of the rusted wall is below.

Private dwellings are also proud to showcase their rusted touches. Here is a residential gate,

a residential address sign,

a cat or coyote (take your pick although I think I see whiskers),

and a horse’s head hanging on a stucco wall. Notice how some of these items don’t start out rusted, but are deliberately allowed to rust to achieve the desired effect.

The one place that I have found, however, that uses rust to the finest degree of the art is the Desert Botanical Garden ( http://www.dbg.org/ ).

Driving slowly along the road into the main part of the garden, one quickly sees signs hoisted by their rusted braces.

Above the tranquility fountain at the main entrance is a wonderful, skeletal rusted gazebo which has plants growing up the posts during the appropriate seasons.

Here is a Podranea growing aside one of the posts.

Even utilities are given the same rust-ic treatment.

And of course what better quality for a garden gate than some rust?

While cars housed primarily in garages won’t rust and perhaps some left to decay in the desert may rust more slowly, things actually do rust in the southwest desert of Arizona.

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

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

Long before we moved to the Sonoran Desert, I had visited Cave Creek and Carfree a number of times. Cave Creek and parts of Carefree are “touristy” cowboy-style towns.

Hollywood just finished filming a movie in Cave Creek which is tentatively called “Queens of Country.” If you visit the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, AZ area), take time to visit Cave Creek/Carefree! I think the “Sundial Park (shopping center)” is a very good place to start.

As you enter the outskirts of Cave Creek, heading for the center of town you will see magnificent houses built into the sides of the mountains. Many of these are breathtaking and blend well with the terrain. There is an interesting house on one of the side streets that was constructed among a group of boulders (see below).

When you arrive at the Sundial Shopping Center, you will of course notice one of the largest sundials in the world.

There are also several statues like this one to remind visitors they are in cowboy territory.

There is a playground with a large Gila Monster slide which is fun when the weather is appropriate.

As you stroll the shops, notice the funky street names such as

and

Many of the stores will have interesting sidewalk displays.

There is a water feature that has real flowers in the spring. I think these are Irises, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Not only is there a large sundial, there is also an easier-to-use smaller sundial.

There is much more to like about Cave Creek and I am sure if you start at the Sundial shops/park, you will launch your visit in style!

Here is some more information about the area if you are planning a trip!

http://www.carefreecavecreek.org/attractions.php

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

< ! -- Amazon Graphic Ad --!>

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 

  Click Here to Download The Presentation!

  I always enjoy reading quotes about various subjects. As a matter of fact, I collect quotes. I have amassed three groups of quotes. One set for sharing which are basically adages for life, one set for gardening which I sometimes use in my posts and one set that has humorous or quirky quotes that I generally keep for myself.

  The file above, Tips for Life, 2010, offers a group of quotations for life and presents them with pictures of cacti and succulents. I hope you enjoy them!

  PLEASE NOTE: No attribution was assigned to this project when I received it. If valid attribution is sent to my attention, I will revise the post to provide appropriate credit.

  

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

  
  
  

  

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Disclaimer – I am not an expert in health, fitness or aerobics and I am supplying these instructions which work for me as an incentive for others. Any use of these are at the risk and discretion of the reader. No recommendations are implied or suggested. What follows is ONLY an explanation of my routine and how you may find it useful if you so desire. Always check with a health professional before beginning any exercise routine.

The Aerobic Exercises Explained

(Continued)

Step-touch (or Step-tap) – Standing with both feet together, move the right foot out to the right a bit past shoulder width. Move the left foot next to the right foot touching the sides of both feet together. Next, move the left foot out to a little past the left shoulder and then bring the right foot next to the left foot until it touches. Repeat these steps in time to the music.

Arm movement: Move the arms shoulder width apart in front of you and then back together in time to the music and clap as the feet touch (the arms are brought together).

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZFiwJJXSQ The video does the step-touch for only the first minute. Stop the video at the one minute mark to avoid confusion. You might want to use the arm movement demonstrated in this video if it is easier. ALSO NOTE – in this video, the feet do not touch, but are placed slightly behind one another. I prefer the method described above, but use whichever you prefer.

Here is another video – Try to aim for a movement that is a bit faster than their version of the LOW IMPACT and a bit slower than the HIGH IMPACT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8EM6hQAAXU

Grape Vine* – This is one of my favorite moves. It looks complicated, but it is really pretty easy. Start with both feet together. Move the right foot out a large comfortable step. Bring the left foot to the right so that it ends up behind and slightly to the right of the right foot. Next, take a slightly smaller step with the right foot and then bring the left foot next to it so that both feet are together. Repeat the procedure with the other foot. Step to the left with the left foot and bring the right foot behind it and slightly to the left of the left foot. Take a somewhat smaller step with the left foot and bring the right foot next to the left foot.

Arm movement: Holding arms down, swing them so they criss-cross once or twice and with the last step, clap your hands as the feet come together. Clapping helps me keep time to the music.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV_AM4P1OEg&feature=channel Stop at 1:45 to concentrate only on the low impact version. Use the arm movements demonstrated in the video if they are easier.

Mambo-Right – Keeping the left foot “in place,” move the right foot forward and then backward in time to the music. The left foot raises slightly as the right foot is moved forward and backward. Keep time to the music.

Arm movement: Swing the right arm in front as the right leg goes forward and swing the left arm towards the back. As the foot moves back, move the right arm back and the left arm forward. (Mambo-Left is the reverse of Mambo-Right leaving the right leg “in place.”)

Ham Curl* – Start with both feet together. This is similar to the Knee Lift except the knees/legs are pointed outward as a slight step is taken and the knee is not brought straight up. Turn your body slightly to the left and take a step to the left with the left leg and as you are doing that, lift your right leg and bend it, pointed slightly toward the left so that the calf moves toward the back of the thigh as close to touching the thigh as possible (you probably won’t be able to touch the back of your thigh, but that is the correct motion). Return the right leg to the floor. Repeat the process to the other side, stepping with the right leg and as you are taking the step, bend the left knee so that the calf moves toward the back of the thigh as close to touching the thigh as possible. Return the leg to the floor so both feet are once again together. (The motion is similar to ice-skating.)

Arm movement: Similar to the alternate lunge movement, move the right arm up and toward the left as the right leg is being raised. Repeat with the opposite arm and leg. Use the arm movement demonstrated in the video if preferred.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehk-JSuRqL8&feature=channel Stay with the low-impact version which stops at :45.

Modification: Half way through the routine, try double pumping so that you lift the right leg and arm, the left leg and arm and then the right leg and arm twice. Repeat to the other side lifting the left leg and arm, the right leg and arm and then the left leg and arm twice. Repeat the double pumping for the remainder of the time.

V-Step* – This is a variation of the “Out-out, In-in” exercise. Picture a V on the floor with the two branches of the upper part of the V a bit wider than shoulder width. Start with both feet together. Move your right foot up and to the right so that it is at the upper tip of the right branch of the V. Move the left foot so that it is on the left, upper branch of the V. Next move the right foot backward so that it rests on the point of the V and then bring the left foot next to it. Repeat these moves for the allotted time.

Arm movement: I tried a number of different arm movements with this exercise, but the one that works best for me is a rowing motion out in front. Make a fist with each hand with fingers/palms facing downward. Bring your hands together, arms extended and move in a downward circular motion in time to the steps so that the hands start circling to the right with the right step and back to the left as the left foot moves up and over. When stepping back to the point of the V, bring the fists back to the waist and begin arm movement anew with the next right step.

March-tap – Similar to the straight march, lift the right foot slightly and return to the ground, then lift the left leg, then right leg and lastly tap the toe of the left foot. Lift the left foot slightly and return the foot to the ground. Lift the right leg and then the left leg. Lastly, tap the toe of the right foot to the ground. Repeat for the allocated amount of time.

Arm movement: Pump arms up and down. You may want to clap with each tap if it helps to keep the timing.

HINT – I find it easier to keep time to this exercise if I exaggerate the motion of the step and especially the tap.

Leg Kick – Moving in time to the music raise the right foot and while raising, kick to the left side. Don’t kick too hard or too high. The foot shouldn’t be more than 4-8 inches off of the ground. Bring the right foot back and down next to the left foot. Raise the left leg and while raising it, kick out to the right. Return the left foot next to the right foot. Repeat for the allotted time.

Arm movement: As the right leg is moved, swing the left arm toward the right side of your body. Repeat this to the opposite side with the left leg. This will provide a slight twist to the torso. Be careful not to twist too much. Don’t strain!

NOTE – Warm up prior to beginning any exercise routine. Here is a short three-minute warm up. If you prefer, you can do your own stretch and bend warm up. Make sure that all muscle groups are worked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-jqhCx5pl0&feature=related

Below is the link to the article which describes many of the moves I have tried to describe here. Having two sets of descriptions might prove very helpful in guiding you to explore some of these exercises. If you have questions, leave a comment and I will certainly respond as timely as possible.

http://www.allspiritfitness.com/library/features/aa041902d.shtml

Some final Hints and Thoughts

HINT – When choosing a workspace, make sure there is enough room all around to allow for moves like the leg kick and grape vine.

HINT – Towel off during the Moderate exercises and/or take a sip. Try not to stop the routine completely. Slow down to take a sip or towel off, but try to keep moving.

NOTE – After some time, if you have made good progress and your health care professional agrees, you may want to step up to high impact versions of some of the moves. A number of the videos above had high impact versions for you to review.

NOTE – After you have finished your routine, do a cool down routine such as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0jVsQRuZso&feature=channel

My Complete Routine

Here is my specific aerobics routine that I do at least five times a week. Keep in mind that the Extended exercises (with asterisks) are done twice as long as the Moderate exercises.

Part I	Part II
straight march	lunges*
out out*	straight march
lunges*	out out*
heel dig	heel dig
knee lift*	knee lift*
step touch	mambo left
grape vine*	grape vine*
mambo right	leg kick
ham curl*	ham curl*
v step*	step touch
march tap	v step*
REST IF NEEDED	march tap

SPECIAL THANKS to Andrea Austin and Expert Village for the videos on the Internet.

SPECIAL THANKS also to Spirit Fitness for their article about aerobic fitness.

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part I

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part II

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

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Disclaimer – I am not an expert in health, fitness or aerobics and I am providing these instructions which work for me as a potential incentive for others. Any use of these are at the risk and discretion of the reader. No recommendations are implied or suggested. What follows is ONLY an explanation of my routine and how you may find it useful if you so desire. Always check with a health professional before beginning any exercise routine.

Aerobics Music

IMPORTANT – Music is not essential for doing aerobics. It does help to provide timing and rhythm and may make the experience more interesting, but it is not necessary. Exercise is the important ingredient. Don’t let the lack of a music collection stop you from getting involved.

When first starting with only a few songs, they can be played on a PC using iTunes or other software in the shuffle mode. Some MP3 players also have a shuffle mode. This assures that the songs are not played in the same order every day and helps to keep the routines fresh. If a song is longer than the amount of time needed, use the remainder of the song for the next exercise or skip to another song to begin the next exercise. This really depends on your time limits and your exercise preferences. My version of She Works Hard for the Money is more than five minutes long. I use it for three different exercises; either two Extended exercises for two minutes each sandwiching a 1-minute Moderate exercise between it OR two Moderate exercises with one Extended exercise sandwiched between them and then skipping to the next song. If you are using music, pick a rhythm that is comfortable for you for each of the exercises and use that as your guide.

NOTE - I don’t recommend that anyone purchase any specific songs for the purpose of exercising to them. Find songs in your collection that will suit your pace. If you don’t have appropriate tunes, ask a friend if they can lend you a couple of CDs with appropriate songs. A CD with disco songs would probably be a good bet. I also noticed that the faster country songs often prove quite workable. Visit your library and borrow several CDs to try at home and once you have found songs that work for you, they can be purchased on line or at your local store.

I remove songs from the list from time-to-time and add new songs when I find one that is appropriate. Most of these songs have a heavy beat that I am able to follow. I don’t have a very good sense of rhythm, but I manage to get by with the songs listed and other similar selections. You might notice that the songs I highlighted are moderately paced. If I find a song too fast, I adjust the exercise to every-other beat until I work up to the faster speed. If a song is too slow, I exercise to the half-beat. If either of the above doesn’t work, I remove the song and find a suitable replacement. Once you begin, you will find out what is comfortable for you to do.

The important thing to take away from this is that there is not one correct way to do this. There are numerous variations, but to quote Nike, “Just do it!”

Footwear – I have found it easier to do the aerobics moves in athletic socks if they are done in a carpeted area. The feet are able to glide and move naturally.

When doing the exercises on a hard floor such as tile or wood, I found it easier to do them in a slipper-type shoe with rubber soles rather than a sneaker/athletic shoe. The sneakers “grabbed” too much and caused more discomfort to my knees.

Experiment to see what works best for you. Safety and stability are the most important things.

The Aerobic Exercises Explained

It is difficult to explain precisely a physical activity, but I will do my best. If , at any time, the explanations below seem vague or confusing, review the descriptions at this link:

http://www.allspiritfitness.com/library/features/aa041902d.shtml

The referenced article has five pages which are all worth reading, but the steps are described on page 4. Read each description along with the description below and you should have a good idea of how to do the moves.

If you still have questions, leave a comment and I will respond via a follow-up comment to any questions about Boom-Aerobics.

The explanations of each of the aerobics exercises I use in my routine are listed below. Where available, I provide a link to an online video of the exercise. Keep in mind that not everyone does exactly the same movements. There may be a slight variation. If you find variations, select the one that you favor.

NOTE - The goal of aerobics is to give your heart and lungs a work out. With each exercise, there are arm movements. Any arm movement will do although they should be vigorous enough to help keep the lungs and heart working. I will describe what I do, but feel free to alter, change-up or modify the arm movements.

REMEMBER – If any exercise causes pain or discomfort, stop immediately. It is perfectly acceptable to remove an exercise from your routine if it bothers your knees, etc.

The Moves

Straight March – This is sometimes referred to as marching in place. Pick out a moderate rhythm and move your feet up and down while pumping your arms. Pump the arm opposite the leg being lifted. Your foot should only come off the floor by three to six inches.

Video Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoqOHjCMBQg&feature=channel

This video combines the march and the jog. Pay attention only to the march which stops at 1:15. Pump your arms higher than is demonstrated in the video for a better workout. Also…don’t lift your legs as high as is demonstrated on the “high movement option.” That is better left to the knee lift.

HINT - When watching the video a small advertisement may appear on the bottom of the screen. Click the “x” to close the ad. If there is a larger advertisement, I am sorry to say you will have to let it run.

Later in your development, you may want to move to the high impact version. If you are just starting an aerobics routine, stick with the low impact exercises.

Out-out, In-in * – Stand with your feet next to each other about shoulder width apart. Move your right foot out until it is just beyond your right shoulder (6-8 inches). Next, move your left foot out until it is just beyond your left shoulder (6-8 inches). Follow this by returning your right foot to the original position and finally bring your left foot to its starting point. Repeat this routine in time to the music.

Arm Movement – I punch my arms out to the right each time I move my right foot out and to the left each time I move my left foot out. On the “in move,” I bring my arms back to my side or waist. An alternate would be a circular motion with both fists together in front.

HINT – It is sometimes easier for beginners to begin the exercise without any arm movement and then once the feet are moving correctly, initiate arm movements.

Lunges * – Stand straight with both feet together. In time to the music, turn slightly to your right and move your left foot out to the left side and at the same time, move your arms up and over your head to the right. Bring your left foot back next to your right foot. Turn slightly to your left and move your right foot out and move your arms up and out to the left. Repeat this in time to the music.

Alternate arm movement – If using both arms is difficult, start by thrusting just one arm in the appropriate direction. As you move your left foot out, push up and to the right with your left arm. Reverse for the right foot.

Here is a video. You want to pay attention to the low impact version (stop at 1:06). You may graduate to the high impact version later. Modify the arm movements to make it easier if necessary.

Video Example of the Lunge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScSFlRrPLPY&feature=channel

Heel Dig – With your feet together and in time to moderately paced music, step forward with your left foot, placing your heel down a comfortable distance in front of you. Quickly bring your left foot back. Next, move your right foot out comfortably in front of you and place your right heel down. Return your right foot so both feet are together again. Repeat these steps for the allotted time to complete the exercise.

Arm Movement – Move the same arm forward as you move your foot forward; left with left and right with right. You can alter this in any fashion that is comfortable for you, but keep your arms moving.

Knee Lift* – Standing with both feet together and keeping your back straight, lift your bent right leg 8-12 inches straight up keeping the knee bent and return the leg to the ground and straighten as it is lowered. Repeat the move with the opposite leg. Remember, don’t lift your leg too high. There should be no pain.

Arm movement: Lift both arms up and to the opposite side of the leg being lifted. If arms get tired, change to an arm pumping movement such as the one described in the straight march. After a while switch back to the arm movement described above and alternate on and off to avoid fatigue.

Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part III will complete the explanations of the moves with more hints. Don’t wait to start exercising though. You may use parts I & II to begin to develop a personal routine that will work for you. Remember to consult your health care professional first.

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part I

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part III

SPECIAL THANKS to Andrea Austin and Expert Village for the videos on the Internet.

SPECIAL THANKS also to Spirit Fitness for their article about aerobic fitness.

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

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

For those who may have followed my broken foot ordeal on this blog, I am happy to report that I have returned to near-perfect form. One of the most serious challenges I faced following my recovery and physical therapy was reestablishing my exercise routine. After six weeks of relative inactivity, I was amazed at how much mobility I had lost.

Of course my foot healed just in time for the heat of summer which is a big deal in the Phoenix, AZ locale. I visited several health clubs, but the idea of having to leave the house to exercise and travel back and forth 20 minutes each way just wasn’t appealing.

Calisthenics have always been a part of my exercise routine. They can be done almost anywhere, generally don’t need any equipment and they are easy to learn. During the more reasonable weather, I would often walk a couple of miles a day including several minutes of power-walking (That’s how I broke the bone in my foot!) in addition to the calisthenics. This is impractical during the heat of the summer unless I wanted to awake very early to attend to the walk and gardens. I needed a new plan especially since I was eager to get back into shape. Whatever I did had to be “low impact” since I was recovering from a broken bone in my foot and I do have some knee problems.

I decided to study aerobics routines to see if this would suit my needs. I soon realized that I would have to modify them for my age and skill level. Aerobics, simply stated, is any exercise that causes the participant to breathe faster and increases blood circulation. The exercises increase lung capacity and help to keep the heart strong. I might also add to that definition “and creates perspiration.” Perspiration is my indicator that I am working and my body is making progress. If I am not sweating, then I don’t feel that I am exercising enough. This is not scientific, but my personal bias.

In any event, I went to my local library and checked out several DVDs with aerobics exercises. Unfortunately, there were no books or DVDs directed at people who are currently described as “boomers.” After watching several of the available videos, I focused mainly on using the Internet and the Fat Burning Workout for Dummies (DVD), ASIN: B000BCE9CC for further investigation. In the video, Gay Gasper (instructor) explains the basic aerobics steps. At times, she seemed to move very quickly and I needed to replay certain sections multiple times until I understood the move. Keep in mind that I am rhythmically challenged. It was two full weeks before I felt comfortable with all of the basic steps and felt I was doing them accurately.

The video was important because it grounded me in the language of aerobics and thus I was able to search the Internet for videos and other written instructions. Later in this article (Parts II & III), I will list the sites I used as well as notes about what I found important to understand or modify for boomers who want to use aerobics to stay fit.

I knew at the beginning of this journey that I would not be able to keep pace with someone much younger or in much better condition than I am in currently, but I wanted to establish a personal routine that would help me maintain my health and provide appropriate exercise. Aerobic training involves established routines where the person doing the exercises moves quickly from one aerobic exercise to another stringing five, six or more of these moves together to compose a routine. As I have noted elsewhere, I am rhythmically challenged and I didn’t want to spend time learning the more sophisticated transitions from one exercise to another. I concentrated on doing individual Low Impact aerobics exercises as separate units. While probably not as much fun or entertaining as involving many moves in an established routine, I find this to be a good method for me. I am also not ruling out putting together some routines in the future.

I consulted with my doctor to make sure that I was physically fit to begin doing the exercises I was developing. Anyone who is beginning a new or modified exercise program should consult with their health professional. What I knew from many prior experiences was that just starting an exercise regimen was important. It doesn’t make that much difference how strenuous the exercise routines are; just get started and stay motivated. If the entry point selected is too difficult, scale back quickly to keep discouragement at bay. If the entry point is too easy, increase the difficulty slowly until an appropriate exercise level is reached.

It is important to remember that if any exercise is causing pain, it should be stopped. This type of exercise program is not designed to cause pain. During any exercise routine ample water supplies should be at hand to make certain that hydration is maintained (Desert dwellers are experts in this practice!). Needless to say, dress appropriately with any support garments that are needed. Oh, one other thing before I forget. Any time you feel out-of-breath or tired, take a rest for a minute or two. Divide the exercise session in half and take a four or five minute break between halves until you are able to work through the entire routine

I exercise at least five days a week. I like to get this done in the morning while my energy level is still high. During the Sonoran summer this is important as the heat can take its toll as the day wears on. I begin with 15-25 minutes of stretching and calisthenics. I make sure that I start with arm and leg stretches and then I do the following:

• Two sets of push ups
• 1 set of sit ups with knees bent, soles of feet resting on the floor
• 1 set of left knee bends not to exceed a bent knee of more than 45-60 degrees
• 1 set of sit ups with knees bent, soles of feet resting on the floor
• 1 set of right knee bends not to exceed a bent knee of more than 45-60 degrees
• 1 set of sit ups with knees bent, soles of feet resting on the floor. Move right elbow toward left knee
• 1 set of full knee bends not to exceed a bent knee of more than 45-60 degrees
• 1 set of sit ups with knees bent, soles of feet resting on the floor. Move left elbow toward right knee
• 1 set of full knee bends not to exceed a bent knee of more than 45-60 degrees

Once this is completed, I rest for a minute or two and begin the aerobics routine focused on the following exercises:

Straight March
Out-out, In-in *
Lunges *
Heel Dig
Knee Lift*
Step-touch
Grape Vine*
Mambo-Right
Ham Curl*
V-Step*
March-tap
Leg Kick

For lack of better terms, those moves followed by asterisks will be referred to as Extended and those without the asterisk will be called Moderate. The goal is to perform the Extended exercises for twice the time as the Moderate exercises. Thus if I did the straight March for 30 seconds, I would do Out-out, In-in for 60 seconds. If the Straight March was done for a minute, I would do the Out-out, In-in for two minutes. Adjust the times to those that are comfortable for you and your level of fitness. There is nothing wrong with doing Moderate exercises for 15 seconds and Extended exercises for 30 seconds. The key is to get started. The amount of time spent on each exercise can always be increased. When increasing the times, increase them for all Moderate moves at one time and all Extended moves at one time otherwise keeping track of times for individual exercises will become a burden and that doesn’t encourage exercising.

I searched the Internet to find a list of songs that would be appropriate for aerobic exercises and there was surprisingly little information. I found references to the pace of the songs such as 120-160 beats per minute. I disregarded this and rounded up songs from my collection that would be appropriate for the pace I wanted to maintain. This was done through trial and error. These are a few of the songs I use for my aerobics routine. I use many more than those listed, but this will provide an idea of how I am working my routine. I find rotating the music gives some variation so I avoid using the same songs day after day to keep the exercise routine fresh and interesting.

Jambalaya – John Fogerty
Mockingbird – Carly Simon and James Taylor
The Old Man Down the Road – John Fogerty
Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater
She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer
So What – Pink
Tell Me About It – Delbert McClinton and Tanya Tucker
(You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie – Emmylou Harris

Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Parts II & III will discuss each Aerobic Exercise and the appropriate techniques.

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part II

Read Extend Life with Boom-Aerobics – Part III

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

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Changes in attitude, changes in latitude

Having gotten things under way with the walker and the wheel chair, I was feeling pretty good, but when discussing our coup with my wife, she said: “Did you request a light weight wheel chair?” Duh, no I didn’t. So…the next day it was on the phone to the medical supply place and a need to get a new request for a LIGHT WEIGHT wheel chair. These are more expensive to buy/rent and therefore need a special request; it couldn’t just be changed.

Here is my gripe. When a patient goes to an orthopedic doctor with the type of injury I had, the office should know what a person my age would need. They have been through this before. I should have left the office with an order for a light weight wheel chair with right leg extension, a shower stool and a wheeled walker with a seat or knee rest (at least a rental). The only thing they offered me was an order for a pair of crutches. I had to “discover” my needs as I bumped around the house the next couple of days.

It is very difficult to use the bathroom facilities having only crutches to help one on and off the commode. Standing up using the crutches provides even more of an adventure.

So here I am trying to use the crutches and putting my entire body weight on my left leg. This in turn caused me pain in my left knee which had its fair share of abuse during my life. It was quite a realization how having the one foot out of commission puts added strain on different parts of the body.

One of the things that was most bothersome was the abrasive quality of the cast. No matter how much buffering material they put around it, the fiberglass (or other substance) used to mold the outside of the cast has a netting-like mesh that can abrade soft tissue and other things. At times I found myself stuffing part of an Ace bandage down my cast and wrapping the rest around my leg so it buffered the area from where the cast stopped up and around the back of my knee. This was getting very sore prior to this improvisation.

Carrying anything was certainly a challenge with the crutches. I found myself wearing items with large pockets. I did try to use a canvas tote over my shoulder, but it swung wildly and tended to pose more balance questions. The walker provided a better opportunity for carrying items. The walker had a basket, but it did not stay in place properly on my model so I hung the canvas tote over the handlebars. This allowed me to carry books, bottled water, pencil, etc. Coffee still provided some work, but using a large travel mug with lid was a big help. Overall the walker and canvas bag added greatly to the quality of my daily routine.

Another important aspect of my living with all of these life aides, was the purchase of several bottles of waterless, anti-bacterial lotion. I carried one with me at all times, placed one in the bathroom for use immediately after toileting and another on top of the kitchen counter. These provided a sense of cleanliness and made it easier to go about my daily routine in a relatively normal fashion.

My last puzzle was how to do the ordinary things like putting on my shoes, getting in and out of bed and getting in and out of cars. Whenever I favored my “good” leg, it tended to get strained and twisted. I used it for pivoting, but this did put extra pressure on my knee and ankles. Luckily I am in fairly good physical condition, but I could still sense the physical strain. One of my biggest frustrations was finding comfortable sitting positions. Where could I place my heavy leg with its bulky cast?

In general, I faired pretty well. As a “belly sleeper”, sleeping on my back and keeping my leg on top of the covers wasn’t the most natural position for me, but I did manage to get a decent rest most nights. I would be fooling you to say that I wasn’t counting the days until I am out of the cast, but then again, who wouldn’t be?

NOTE – It has been several months since I originally had the accident and my break did not heal completely. I now realize that I did not receive the appropriate treatment in a timely fashion and thus missed the best healing window. I am in no real pain and I can do everything I want up to a point; I just need to do things more slowly. My walking is a bit unsteady and I still have a limp, but I am hoping with the appropriate PT (which I do daily) and regular use that I will continue to see progress. I have another visit with the doctor in a couple of weeks and we will make some decisions at that point. This has been a real education!

Read A Broken Bone in the Desert – Part I

Read A Broken Bone in the Desert – Part II

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Suddenly…crutches

Approaching my mid-60’s, I am trying to take all the necessary steps to ward of the infirmities of aging. I have a very healthy low-fat diet. I don’t eat candy, ice cream, sugared items, etc. except on Saturdays when I do treat myself. I also do some strength and cardio-vascular exercises. My health has basically been very good. The one problem is that my LDL isn’t as low as it should be and my HDL isn’t as high as my doctors would like. My total cholesterol is very good and all other heart indicators have been positive.

I was determined to do even more exercise to address the HDL/LDL issue so I added five extra minutes to my cardio routine which found me jogging two of the thirty minutes when heretofore I had just been walking vigorously. The last minute before cool-down, I really try to jog as hard as I can to get my heart rate up there. And so it was that Sunday morning just before the NFL playoffs when I headed out on a wonderful winter day in Cave Creek, AZ. The jog was absolutely fine. I was in the last seconds of the last jogged minute when I put forth a burst and in my eagerness, my foot went too near the edge of the road and hit the desert several inches below. I stumbled a bit and almost caught myself, but then there I was – on the ground trying to figure what had happened. The first thing I checked was my hip which was fine. My legs, arms and head were fine as well. My foot was numb, but I figured it was just a bad twist. What is a 60-something like me doing out here laying on the ground? I quickly scanned the area to see how embarrassed I should be. Nobody was outside; good!

I hobbled the twenty feet or so to the garage and then made my way inside where I calmly explained to my wife what happened. I sat myself down in my easychair, we took a good look at my swollen foot which, by this time, was vying for a place in to the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade as a balloon. My wife is an RN so immediately, the foot was elevated, the icepacks were dutifully applied and I was carving a space in my favorite spot on the couch to watch the afternoon games. In actuality, my foot didn’t hurt too much. It was numb and swollen, but the pain was only moderate and after all, I had some good playoff games to watch. I could still hobble around so all-in-all I didn’t feel too pessimistic.

Monday morning when I tried to get out of bed, I knew I was in trouble. The pain in my right foot was much worse. I couldn’t put significant weight on it so off we went to visit my primary care physician who took one look and said: “I would be very surprised if it isn’t broken.” He suggested seeing a podiatrist so off we went to the next doctor’s office. Sure enough, the fifth metatarsal was broken only a short distance from a nearby tendon. I was very lucky at this point that there was no tendon involvement. I was fitted with a walking air cast (Finally, Air Jordan at 60 plus). My life was inconvenienced, but I had a special driving shoe and I didn’t have to sleep with the air cast. All seemed on-track.

I was waiting for early spring all year because that is planting season in the Sonoran Desert. I had seeds to start, roses to groom and things that had to be maintained in the garden. I knew I would be delayed with some of this, but at least it would get done on time. I could also supervise the installation of rain gutters in the courtyard and the installation of the new door in the casita. Things would be OK.

My day-to-day life with the air cast was fairly routine. There wasn’t much that I had to do differently or forget altogether. At the two-week mark, the doctor seemed satisfied with the progress and asked to see me in three weeks. As we headed back to the podiatrist’s office for my week five check up, I thought this would be just another episodic check and perhaps this would be the end of it. I wasn’t prepared for the doctor to take a look at the x-ray and point to a space at the base of the metatarsal that was a triangular gap as well as less than perfect mending of the upper part of the bone. This was disheartening, but even more problematic was the remedy he seemed to be offering the following week when he suggested we take another look and if things haven’t improved, we would “manipulate” the bone back into place. This is the code they use for injecting a numbing substance into the foot and breaking the bone again so it can be realigned. That wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that I would then be back to square one. So when I was anticipating being out of my walking boot in four to six weeks, I would need another four to six weeks. I left the office very disappointed.

Read A Broken Bone in the Desert – Part II

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

Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Movie tickets are getting more expensive each year and there are few things worse than being hyped into seeing a film that is a real stinker! Nowadays bringing the entire family to the movies is quite an investment. That is why I try to hedge my bets (to the best of my ability) to see only those films that I think will be the most entertaining and worthwhile. Please understand this is a personal choice, but I think the following procedure will allow anyone to pick the movies most likely suited to their film viewing preferences.

Here is the procedure I follow on a weekly basis to try to ensure wise entertainment expenditures:

Coming Soon

The first essential is to determine what movies are being released for the targeted time-frame. It is very easy for a hidden gem to fly in under the radar, spend a month at the artsy theater and then disappear without a trace and thus the chance to see an interesting movie is gone with the wind.

The site I use is ComingSoon.net [ http://www.comingsoon.net/movies.php ] which lists new releases by month. Click on the month and then find a date to see what new movie releases are scheduled. Keeping that tab open in my browser, I open two movie review sites so all three tabs are available simultaneously.

The Review Is the Thing

Rotten Tomatoes (RT) [ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ ] is one of my favorite movie review sites because I have found that there is a high degree of correlation between what they like and what I like. This correlation is a very important factor when trying to rule out movie bombs. Rotten Tomatoes is hard to please and I want a critical opinion before I put down my cash.

Once at the Rotten Tomatoes site (Make sure the RT radio button to the left which is generally the default is selected), I enter the name of the film in the search bar at the top and hit ENTER. The computer grinds away and presents a new “Search Results” page. I scroll down to the section that is for movies and find the title. There should be a year of release on the right side of the title. This is important because there are numerous remakes or duplicity of titles. Once I find the correct film, I click on the link. Once again, the browser grinds away.

After a moment or two the detail page for that particular film will be presented. Across the top will be the TOMATOEMETER with a percentage number to the left. You can read how to interpret that number here:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/help_desk/faq.php#tomatometer

Generally speaking, if the movie gets a fresh rating (positive) of 60% or higher, there will be a red tomato (or a Certified Fresh symbol – highest ranking) next to it. That means overall, this movie was well received. Anything less than that and it will receive a green tomato splat (negative). If it is close, you can decide by reading the reviews and synopsis whether or not you would still like to see the film. Across the top of the Tomatometer are several tabs which will let you view the ratings by RT Critic opinions, Movie Critics (Professionals), RT Community (supplies quick reviews of people who use the site), My Critics (Critics you select based on those that match your opinions) and My Friends (Friends you enlist who have to register, etc.). Frankly, I don’t use the last two tabs. I am more interested in a quick review, but I can see the value of the My Critics section.

After perusing the RT site, I visit the Metacritic.com website [ http://www.metacritic.com/film/ ] for additional opinions. If you arrive at their home page, select the “Movie Reviews” option to see the movies. Here is how they rate their movies as quoted from their site:

“METASCORES range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better overall reviews, and lower scores indicating less favorable reviews from critics. Various ranges of METASCORES are also identified by different colors, so you can tell at a glance how critics felt: generally, green scores indicate favorable reviews, yellow scores denote mixed reviews, and red scores are used for unfavorable reviews.”

There are multiple lists on the main movie page. Along the left-hand side, toward the top, are those movies that are in wide circulation presented in alphabetical order. Below that is a list of movies that have been released on a limited basis. Check both lists for the title you are reviewing. On the other side of the page are the specialty lists of best pictures, etc.

I particularly like the color-coding, which makes it easy to see those films that are better (green) than others. This is truly a “drive by” review and I use it to basically corroborate the impression I receive from the RT site. If the film gets good reviews from both sites, I generally give it a greater weight and would be more inclined to pay to see it in a theater. If one site likes it much better than the other, I may rent the film to watch at home. If neither site rates the movie high, I would have to really like the plot or genre before considering it. I don’t allow these sites to make my selections for me, but they certainly do help.

Netflix to the Rescue

If I decide I want to watch a movie, I enter it into my Netflix que so I don’t forget about it. It is very easy to have a movie “escape” so this keeps it on my list until I watch it or remove it based on further consideration. If you don’t have a Netflix account, I recommend trying their service. I have been a member for a number of years and have been more than satisfied with their programs and the flexibility they offer. In addition, it is a handy way of keeping track of potential future movie viewings.

HINT: During football or vacation season, I reduce my membership or put it on hold for several months. This is a nice no-fuss option offered at Netflix.

Hopefully, using these techniques, you will waste less money and time and avoid most of the “stinkers” while maximizing your viewing pleasure. Good luck and happy movie going!

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

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

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

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

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