Category: hiking

10/08/16 09:17 - ID#60676

Bell Rock in Sedona

Was the first hike (e:paul) and I did in Sedona. It was the first real rock climbing I've done besides something like little rock city.

The sun was super intense on the way up. The rock is rough sandstone so shoes stick to the side and you can walk right up to the rocks that jut out in the middle.

Once we got up there I slipped a little and my stomach dropped. I freaked out, (e:paul) had to coax me to keep going around the rock. I really thought I was going to fall off and die.

Eventually we made it all the way to the highway side of the rock, and tried to climb to the top via a canyon. We kept getting stoned by ledges that were way taller than us.

Luckily this native Sedona guy, his GF and sister came walking by and offered to show us the way up.

It was a lot easier, besides the cactus I got stuck in my hand. We made it all the way to the top, where (e:paul) and (e:terry) had made it last time (e:paul,45458). There's a book you can sign, and we took pictures while the couple did weird yoga moves standing on each other. They almost fell off once, no fucking way would I descend if that actually happened.

The view was incomprehensible. We were so high up, it's hard to believe we actually climbed up all that sandstone.

After being the at the top coming down was nothing. Even when the climber had us hugging the wall on a 4 inch ledge. If the sister could do it while talking on the phone, we could do it with both hands.

After we got down (e:paul) and I went out to lunch at a cheap tamale place called Sedona Tamaliza. I never had a tamale before but it was basically Mexican spiced polenta in a corn husk. For only $5 you got a super spicy vegan spinach and mushroom tamale. (e:terry) would have loved them.

Permalink: Bell_Rock_in_Sedona.html
Words: 356
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:34

Category: hiking

10/08/16 09:00 - ID#60674

drive to sedona

To be written about

Permalink: drive_to_sedona.html
Words: 13
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:38

Category: hiking

10/08/16 08:59 - ID#60673

Papago Park

Before we dropped (e:terry) off to go home, we went for one real hike up Papago Park, in the middle of Scottsdale near the airport. It juts up in the middle of the flat sprawl, with a zoo and golf course nearby.

It's pretty easy to get up and has a 360 view of endless Phoenix.

Afterwards we ate Filiberto's and dropped (e:terry) off for his flight home. I really missed him, and wished he could have come along ;(

Permalink: Papago_Park.html
Words: 87
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/13/16 11:55

Category: pets

10/08/16 08:57 - ID#60672

Where is Basra?

So last year we sent Basra the tortoise to Phoenix because he was getting too big to keep inside (e:joe,60300).

Since we were around, we went out to see him at the Phoenix Herpetological Society in Scottsdale. It was out by some ranches, in the way north of Scottsdale.

Well anyway, I think we saw him. We sponsored him so they knew what pen he was in but that's all.

Have you ever seen so many tortoises? As soon as they see someone at the fence, they stamped and swarm towards you.


Feedin' time! These tortoises don't give a shit, they crawl over each other sideways like food driven robots. No pathfinding, just a beeline to the nearest green scrap. It makes me think they'd attack you if you went in the pen with colorful clothes on.



Which one is Basra? I don't know. We tried matching from pictures I took. Shell sloped down on the sides, slight pyramiding, curved backside. There were so many that mostly fit the size and shape but who knows how big he is now?

We got a show out of it, too.


I felt bad keeping him trapped inside in Buffalo, but was nervous to send him somewhere random.

It didn't sound good as the other places (e:paul)'s tortoises have gone, but all the tortoises at the refuge seemed healthy and lively. Plus he's outside for the whole year instead of 5 months.

I think he's better off Phoenix. (If he is here?!)

Permalink: Where_is_Basra_.html
Words: 257
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:37

Category: hiking

10/08/16 08:53 - ID#60671

Short hikes

A few hikes and walks from Phoenix.

Saturday (e:terry) and I went on a walk for Mexican Señor Taco. (e:paul) and others were eating a fancy meat dinner. It was about an hour walk each way from where the party was, and it was the first commercial building. Mindblowing how long it takes. You could see the lights from Phoenix going on forever from the top of fountain hills. It was a good temperature.



The next day we went up on another hill nearby in Fountain Hills. (e:lilho) was not having it.

It was a short hike through some cacti and crusty old bushes. At the top you could see all the mountains around. To make it a little gayer for us, a rainbow appeared over in a freak rainstorm.

Permalink: Short_hikes.html
Words: 151
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:42

Category: travel

10/06/16 02:13 - ID#60669

Trip to the desert

Last Wednesday we left for (e:hodown)'s surprise birthday in Phoenix.

We stayed with her and her mom. The whole weekend evolved to be likely the most complex suprise party in history. it probably deserved another post but (e:hodown) thought we were there for (e:lilho)'s birthday.

The desert is crazy. It was intensely hot and the sun was the most intense I've ever felt. The biggest vegetation you can see are sagarro cacti up and down the hills and highways.

On the upside we got to eat delicious Mexican food from Filibertos.

We stayed in Fountain Hills which was way out east past Phoenix. The first day there we went for a short hike near the lake where the world's second largest fountain. It used to be the biggest but they built a larger one in Dubai. Of course the biggest fountains are in the desert.

Scottsdale and Fountain Hills are suburban sprawl to the max. Every road is 4-8 lanes and it takes an hour by car to get anywhere. Not my type of town.

Permalink: Trip_to_the_desert.html
Words: 186
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/06/16 07:53

Category: politics

09/27/16 01:23 - ID#60667

Slight exhale

Permalink: Slight_exhale.html
Words: 45
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/06/16 07:57

Category: birthday

09/27/16 12:57 - ID#60666

Mom's birthday

We spent most of the day working on m parents yard hanging out with the Midnight. He was rewarded with his favorite food, ice cream cake.

Permalink: Mom_s_birthday.html
Words: 34
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/01/16 04:51

Category: bikes

09/27/16 12:55 - ID#60665

Bike smut

Saturday we did a little more gardening and trimmed the rose bush way back. I think next year I want to clean up the driveway side and then put a trellis for something creepy. Then the bricks wouldn't soak up so much heat in the summer.

Afterwards we went to "House of Hummus" on Hertel for lunch. It's in the same spot that used to be "Mankeesh and More" and a million other of the same restaurants with different names. I don't know if that's a bad sign but oh well.

The falafel was OK but I really think I like a turkish style better, with cabbage and sauces, lots more vegetable options and the thicker doener bread.

Later at night, (e:terry) went to Squeaky Third Party, and (e:paul) and I went out to bike smut with (e:mike), (e:libertad) and (e:chris). Well, we got to Hot Mama's at ~8:30pm for something that was supposed to start at 9. It didn't start until 10:45(!!). Wtf?

The videos were good but definitely not as amazing as last time. Maybe it was because they were almost entirely lesbian oriented. Anyways we left at the end for The Third Party, I almost wish we had gone to that. The Agway warehouse space was awesome and the music was decent when we got there. Afterwards I hung out with (e:yesthatcasey) for a bit.

Permalink: Bike_smut.html
Words: 234
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 09/29/16 10:47

Category: politics

09/23/16 12:55 - ID#60661

Between Two Ferns

Tonight (e:paul) and I went with some of our coworkers to the Beakers and Beers event at coco. I normally hate networking and forced socialization with colleuges but this wasn't too bad. The fact that I got three free beers and unlimited frittes didn't hurt either.

I saw this "Between Two Ferns" video of Hilary Clinton today. It's pretty hilarious. It actually humanized her a little. (I don't actually care if our president is "humanized", I'd rather they be rational. Even robotically so.) (e:terry) discussed why she is criticized for being so robotic or bad at speaking. I wonder if it's just because she doesn't have a more masculine or forceful voice like many politicians.


I also read the fucking ridiculous and disgusting statements by a Trump campaign manager in Ohio. A billion words have been spilled about Trump and his supporters but I wouldn't hesitate to think many think this way.


Kathy Miller says

"I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected. We never had problems like this. I'm in the real estate industry. There's none. Now, the people with the guns and shootin' up neighborhoods and not being responsible citizens—that's a big change. And I think that's the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America. I think that's all his responsibility. And if you're black, and you haven't been successful in the last 50 years, it's your own fault."
...
"I think you have a real advantage because you had all the advantages—going to college. You had all the advantages because they got into schools without the same grades as a white kid. So I think that when we look at the last 50 years, where are we and why? We have three generations of still having unwed babies, kids that don't go through high school. I mean, when do they take responsibility for how they live? I think it's due time, and I think it's good that Mr. Trump is pointing that out."

I was talking to (e:paul) today about how so many people who were previously just racist beneath the surface are straight up openly racist now. Maybe I just notice it more on the news and reddit, but I don't remember seeing anything like this before. . A lot of it seems to get teased out and encouraged by astroturfing and sockpuppeting from stormfront/other neo-Nazi sites. Makes me want to vomit.

Permalink: Between_Two_Ferns.html
Words: 425
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 09/23/16 12:57