Go Make Your Ballot Look Like This:

Early voting is open now, it is Monday thru Friday, 8am to 5pm.

It Almost Happened

Phoenix got tons of rain, enough to shut down a portion of the Interstate down there.
What did we get?



Wind.

Gun Day In AZ

Shortly before our Governor signed SB 1070 into law, she signed an equally controversial one. It's now legal to carry a firearm here without a concealed weapons permit. We already had the right to carry a gun on a holster--as long as it was exposed. You don't see it too often, and when you do you kind of look at the person like, "What are you trying to prove?" Yes it's completely legal and I'm in favor of it--but when you see someone in the grocery store with their revolver on their hip--it makes you snicker a little.
But now everyone in the state over the age of 21 (and not a felon) can legally carry a weapon concealed. Opponents of this new law that takes effect today say this is dangerous and law enforcement will be at a disadvantage.
Here's a fun fact: the dangerous people are already carrying weapons. They weren't waiting for the law to change. If someone is planning on doing something bad with a gun, they're not considering the current Conceal-Carry laws.

Steve now has his "gat" in his backpack. He carries the backpack everywhere. So, if you encounter Steve out on the streets and he's got that backpack--look out.

And, although I haven't fired a gun since I was 11 years old, and I haven't handled a loaded gun since then either, I've decided to have fun today and carry a concealed weapon.

Here I am on the way to the gym this morning:



That's a Derringer. Very compact, and very stylish. It's the same type of gun that was used to shoot Abe Lincoln. Not a very accurate weapon, unless you're going to be close-up to a target.

And here I am doing some dishes in the kitchen, with my Wyatt Earp commemorative revolver tucked neatly in my waistband:



Oh, here's a close-up:



I know, I know, gun control advocates will say that there will be blood running in the streets in Arizona. I don't think so. But I know it would still be a good idea to take the Conceal-Carry Permit class, because it teaches a gun owner how to properly handle a weapon and how to decide when it's a good time to actually USE the weapon. I'll do it someday, if I ever get serious about carrying a weapon.
Do they make pink guns?

I Saw 70 Degrees.

We made a very quick road trip to Sacramento, California on Sunday. It took about 10 hours to drive there, but the weather was worth it. Temperatures were in the 70's, and there was a cool breeze.
We haven't seen weather like that since we last went out of town, in June. Here at home, the low temp in the middle of the night never gets below 88 degrees. The heat radiates off the ground all night, so even if we wait to go to the pool until after sundown--the walk out there is still hot.

The purpose of the Sacramento trip was Steve's desire to purchase another semi truck. Some people collect stamps; Steve collects big trucks. The one he bought several years ago requires too much work for him to enjoy--so he decided to look around for one that has reliable air conditioning, a smoother ride, and a quieter cab. He found one, and it was 10 hours away.
When we made it to Sacramento we immediately found the location of the truck. It was 8pm, so we just had to gaze thru a chain link fence at it.



When Superman explained to Lois Lane the power of the green crystal that is the source of his knowledge--he said, "It called to me."

Well that's what this truck did to Steve. It called to him thru the fence.
That night he had trouble sleeping. He had visions of smooth shifting, and CB conversations. And truck stops. And lot lizards.

By 9am the next day, he'd bought himself a Peterbilt.

It's a retired worker, having spent the last part of its career hauling horses to horse shows. Now it's going to spend its retirement in Lake Havasu City, and Steve will drive it once a week up to Crazy Fred's Truck Stop outside of Kingman, Arizona. I'm not kidding, it really is called Crazy Fred's. It's owned by a Middle Eastern family, and there's a very nice "Gentleman's Club" in the rear. Steve goes to the truck stop with his boss (his boss driving his own special Peterbilt) and they enjoy a rather decent steak for $9.95. I've joined them a couple of times on their trips and it is interesting.

Instead of dining at a truck stop in Sacramento (it's where Governor Schwarzeneggar has his offices, by the way) Steve took me to a beautiful restaurant where we enjoyed seafood and a view of the river. Don't know which river, but this is what it looked like from our table:



There were glass fire pits here and there, and they took the edge off the evening chill:



I had the special, which was Sturgeon over lo mein noodles. He had the scallops. The special was too expensive for me--$24.95, but Steve insisted. I've never had anyone willing to pay that much for a meal for me. Hmmm....must be love. Or maybe he just wanted me to eat and keep my mouth shut for the duration. He certainly enjoyed the cool air out there.