a job!

Miriam started working at the Hilton Garden Inn, as the night auditor.

Yippee!

33rd in Sedona

We left on Friday at 3:30 for a weekend trip to Sedona to celebrate our 33rd anniversary. The drive usually takes about 2 hours from Phoenix, but it was not to be. There was an accident on the 101 which caused a 30 minute delay, and then when we got to Black Canyon City, the traffic slowed to 5 mph. Trying to decide what to do, we pulled off at the next exit and ate at the Rock Springs restaurant to wait it out. Traffic didn't look any better, but we decided to push on with hope that it would clear up soon. Well, it didn't.

At one point we came to a complete stop for over an hour. We heard that a water tanker had tipped. The problem with I17 is that there is no alternative route. You're just stuck. By the time we got to Sedona it was 9:30.

We got up early and hiked the Vultee Arch trail. It was just a gorgeous day, not too hot and with some clouds.

The afternoon was spent window shopping in Tlaquepaque, then reading (for me) and watercolor painting (for Phil). After a soak in the hot tub, we went out to eat at our favorite Japanese restaurant in Sedona, Takashi's.

We love the hotel that we usually stay at in Sedona because of the view from the deck. On Sunday morning we woke to cloudy skies with light rain. We met Chuck & Jan for brunch (they had spent the weekend in Flagstaff) and then we headed home.

It was a great anniversary weekend.

Wine

When Lauren was 17, we took a little day trip to Prescott. It's fun to walk around the courthouse and window shop in the old buildings. We happened upon a wine shop in the basement of one of those buildings and decided to do a little wine tasting. I'm not sure what Lauren drank, but she did pick out a bottle of wine, to be opened when she turned 21. We kept that bottle in the bottom of the fridge for four years, and when Lauren came home from college after turning 21, we all enjoyed that bottle of wine.

One bottle of wine was not a big deal to have in the fridge for four years, but recently it's been irritating me that the whole bottom shelf in the fridge is devoted to several bottles of more expensive wine. I know, I know. It's hot here in Phoenix. And you don't want good bottles of wine spoiling. But still, there is no room for leftovers, much less a casserole dish.

So on Saturday, we bought a wine cooler on-line from Costco and it arrived yesterday. It holds 35 bottles and keeps the wine at an ideal temperature. It's beautiful.

You see, I think our purchase was justified. We were just doing our civic duty. We spent some of the economic stimulus check that came in the mail last week from the IRS. We were being patriotic.

The refrigerator now has an empty shelf and I'm content.