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A visit to Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
This week I’ll take you on a tour of Sweetwater Wetlands, another place here in Tucson that a) has actual water, and b) is not a swimming pool or a water hazard on a golf course. Last week we toured Sabino Canyon, so apparently it’s Water in the Desert Month here in my demented corner of the interwebs. I’ll also have the usual hot, fresh, batch of memes, but otherwise this post will be short, because I’m trying to get serious about completing the Novel Revision from Hell. After spending at least a year and being not even halfway done, I’m starting to understand why authors drink. I do have…
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The book is done* and the plague hath descended
If you’ve been hanging around here at all in the last few weeks, you’ll know I had a book manuscript due on Halloween. Well… It’s done!* *Except for one chapter that will be late because the original author bailed. **And the permissions issue for a figure that is requiring a last-minute edit to another chapter ***And any changes the publisher will request. ****And the marketing and promotion. But, yeah, it’s done! Woo hoo! I have a bit more news and the usual batch of memes, but first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it.
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Hosting a write-in and trying to finish a book
I’m going to open this week’s post with the same lament I’ve been lamenting for the last several weeks: work is crazy busy, which is cutting into my blogging time. Specifically, a colleague and I are editing a book, and the manuscript is due on October 31, which therefore will be the most terrifying Halloween of my life. I’m at the wake-up-at-4-AM stage of book deadline panic, so this post will be short. I do have some news to share, though, besides the aforementioned book. Before I get to that: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get…
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Flowers and Sunsets–and a Tragedy on my Campus
In last week’s post, we visited Bootleg Lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. In this week’s post, I’ll wrap up the pictures from my September adventure with wildflowers and a spectacular New Mexico sunset, share the usual batch of meme-y hilarity–and reflect the tragic shooting this week at the University of Arizona. But first, welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Natalie has food pics this week. Try not to lick your screen.
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Dispatch from Up North, Part 2: Bootleg Lake, Arizona
This week, we’re visiting Bootleg Lake, Arizona, a small reservoir on White Mountain Apache land outside Pinetop-Lakeside. Long-Suffering Husband and I happened upon this place while driving around exploring. We saw a sign that read Bootleg Lake and pointed down a dirt road. Unable to resist either lakes or dirt roads, I said, “Let’s check it out,” and off the pavement we went. After a mile or two, we arrived–here: Yes, that’s a lake, but this part is covered by lots of duckweed. According to a site for Arizona fishermen, Bootleg Lake disappears and reappears from year to year depending on rainfall. There’s been a lot of rain this monsoon…
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Dispatch from Up North, Part 1: Salt River Canyon and Rainbow Lake
Long-Suffering Husband and I spent a lovely long weekend in a cabin in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona, walking in the woods, exploring the area, and being away from work, chores, and other adult annoyances. We also took tons of pictures, which I’ll share over at least the next couple of weeks. This week’s post will be brief, because I have all-day work commitments on the days I usually blog, and I’ll be too exhausted afterwards to string words together. OK, enough whining. Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, take a seat, and let’s get to it.
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Saguaro National Park 2: Critters and Flowers
Last week I took you on a virtual hike in the east unit of Saguaro National Park, where the desert is green and lush from all the rain we’ve had. This week we’re going to get up close and personal with plants and critters. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! And since I have so many flower pics in this post, I’m also linking up with Cee’s Flower of the Day photo challenge. Lace up your boots, pour your coffee in a Thermos, and let’s hit the trail!
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Saguaro National Park East during a wet monsoon
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that we’ve had lots of rain, and the mountains are greening up. Well, we’ve had more rain, and the mountains are even greener, and Long-Suffering Husband and I finally made time to get out and enjoy them. And you, lucky reader, get to tag along. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Lace up your hiking boots and grab your water bottle–we’re going to do some Sonoran Desert hiking!
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Risking my life for new bookcases
Last week I shared that I was planning to spend a long weekend installing new bookcases in my home office. Friday morning I ordered 2 Billy bookcases from the Tempe IKEA, and Long-Suffering Husband and I headed out on I-10 in my pickup to get them. The first thing to note here is that neither of us thought twice about driving 100 miles to buy bookcases. Well, he probably did, but he’s lived with me for over 35 years, so he didn’t bother to argue. The next thing to note is that the weather forecast called for dust storms and thunderstorms. Our solution? Pack a tarp and go anyway. I…
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Late summer in Tucson–it’s hot and there are bats
Today I’m going to introspect about late summer and take you on a visit to a local bat colony. Feel free to skim past the narcissistic navel gazing and go right to the bats. But first: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat and let’s go bat-watching!
Suspense | Horror | Romance
