100527 Back in Mesa Again

27 May 2010 - I flew back to Phoenix from Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday, after six weeks working for FEMA in Massachusetts. I loved New England in the springtime and feel so fortunate that I got to make the trip. (See separate post on that for more details.)



It's summertime in Mesa. Too hot for me - highs in the 90s every day. I'm only going to be here a few days, then plan to head to cooler climes. I'm having some necessary minor repairs done on my RV (awning - again!, microwave door, bathroom door - again!, light fixture, windshield) before I head out of town.



I drove over to nearby Cottonwood Wetlands this morning for my morning walk. I'm trying to walk early each morning, before it gets too hot. I've driven by these wetlands many, many times on the highway (junction of Pima Hwy and Red Mountain Hwy), and today I finally stopped to see what was there. A Great Blue Heron, another heron (green heron, maybe?), some coots, some mallards, lots of red wing blackbirds (though they don't make the same sounds as the redwing blackbirds in North Dakota/Minnesota, so they must be a different kind), a few Gamble's Quail (the ones with the topknots), lots of turtle doves. As I was leaving, I even saw a pair of bald eagles fly overhead. Amazing! Loved the walk around the pond, the sounds of the birds, the vivid blues, greens, and yellows.



I've discovered the best way for me to beat the heat (I hate air conditioning) is to pop in and out of the pool all day. :-)

I'm eager to get on the road. I'll be spending some time with my brother Dean's family this weekend before I leave, though. It's Alicia's 12th birthday (a big one for her - she can sit in the front seat of the car now!), so there will be some celebrating. It's Leah's birthday too, but she is on a church trip to South America right now, so she'll be celebrating there. I saw my mom a couple times, but she left this morning on a three-week road trip to North Dakota, so she's not here now. I'm tentatively planning to hit the road on Tuesday myself, assuming my RV work is completed.