I did diddly squat last week, so for this week’s coffee share, we’re going to time travel back to good ol’ 2021. Buckle up! Yeah, sorry, no DeLorean for us. How much money do you think a librarian makes, anyway? Hop in the back of my 23-year-old pickup, and let’s go. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Pretend we’re having coffee together, and I’m boring you to tears with photos and reminiscences. Agua Caliente County Park On our trip back to 2021, we’re going to visit an actual desert oasis, Agua Caliente County Park here in Tucson. As you might guess, water is rare here in the desert, except during monsoon season, so this park is an anomaly. It has a natural pond fed by a warm spring, as well as some incredible old trees and historic buildings that were once part of a ranch and health resort. Now it’s a wonderful place for picnics and lazy strolls around the pond. The palm trees are huge, old, and lovely. So are the mesquites. Mesquites are native to the Sonoran Desert and are used as street trees here in Tucson. These, though, are likely well over 100 years old and *huge*. Enjoy a picnic: Or a walk: But be careful! The oasis may be lush and green, but you’re still in Arizona: Something about the light on the palm trees and water makes for some fun noir shots: We spent a lovely January afternoon there last year. I’ve resolved to get outside this weekend, so hopefully we won’t have to time travel for next week’s coffee share. Winter is the time for outside activities down here in Satan’s Anus, so I need to get off my backside and do some exploring before it’s as hot as, well, Satan’s Anus. Music of the week I’ve mostly handled the pandemic OK, though I’ll admit, in the last month or two, I’ve started missing the Before Times more and more: hanging with friends, traveling, and live music. What I wouldn’t give to go to a concert right now! So this morning I’m reminiscing about the last concert I went to: Def Leppard in Vegas in 2019. Thanks to YouTube, I can relive the experience (well, minus the sweat and up close and personal experience of being in one of the first few rows). They did a short residency in Vegas, so I don’t know if this one’s from exact show I went to, but it’s close enough. They played a lot of stuff they don’t play often, including this ballad from the Adrenalize album. I think I’ve heard them do this one live maybe twice (and I’ve seen them a lot. Seriously. A. LOT.) It was one of those magical concert moments when everything was just… perfect. It looks like the entire show is up on YouTube. Here are a few more highlights: I posted a few pictures from the Vegas show back in 2020. Funnies In keeping with the themes of this post, music and time travel, this week’s meme themes are music and the 80s. Here we go: Music memes That sucks, because I have a list… Warning! Incoming Dad joke… And my favorite: I mean… it’s kinda true. 80s memes I think I’d prefer the Gremlins 🙂 Then there was the amazing 80s hair and clothing. We were stylin’, I tell ya. The wind may not have stood a chance, but even AquaNet was no match for Central Valley tule fog. I’d spend a half hour every morning curling my layered hair, spray it down with enough hairspray to open a new hole in the ozone, and it would still wilt 5 minutes after I went outside. Yet I’d do the same damn thing every day anyway. What is that about the definition of insanity? I blame puberty hormones. I have no words. No more mullets around here, but I do own (and wear) a jean jacket. I was shopping in the Levi’s outlet last weekend, and they’re selling the classic Levi’s jean jackets again, along with a bunch of other 80s fashion. Sorry, kids, shit’s about to get ugly. And finally: And on that disturbing note… That’s it for me this week. What’s happening in your world?