Happy Moments

Happy Moments from the week.

As with all weeks, there were happy moments and not-so-happy moments.

The not-so-happy:
1. Our HOA are being, well, "HOA-y". I think your imagination can fill in the blank. Just remember when you own a home in a strict HOA, that is apparently a crime to try to increase the value of your home. Such as hiring professional painters to paint the exterior (with colors approved by the HOA book). They apparently would like your home to rot, and have paint peeling off like some of the other homes in the neighborhood. Okay. I'm ranting.
2. The tone at work was stressed. We had the big triennial inspection/audit. And no matter how much preparation you do for these things, it always just puts everyone on edge. So I greeting Friday evening with a big smile (and a cold beer).

But despite some shortcomings this week. There were some really fantastic moments that I prefer to focus on:

1. This week we finally are experiencing our 1st mornings where it's not 80 degrees. It's been in the 60's every morning. And it has felt glorious. Especially at swim practice. 5 am, pool 78 degrees, and every time you take a breath that fresh air is glorious! (it will be interesting how I feel about this come December when it 20-30 degrees outside!)
2. We got the most rain I've ever seen in the 6 years we have lived in the "Old Pueblo". It started raining Wednesday morning and didn't stop Thursday afternoon. It was steady, wet, drizzling rain. (In opposed to the harsh downpours we typically get.) Many Tucsonans complained. But they are clearly not educated about the drought. Ignorance is bliss.
3. Ryan and I have been on opposite schedules for the past week, but starting Wednesday he is back on "day hours". So after work we walked up to Noble Hops for a drink. (I thought the rain had stopped). It ended up DOWNPOURING when we were trying to walk home. So we scurry over to the sporting-goods store and purchased our 1st umbrella! (ha!). We laughed the whole way home because the only umbrella they sold was a miniature umbrella and we barely could fit our heads under it.
4. Thursday evening, when the rain cleared up, and the sun peaked out through the clouds we headed to Sabino Canyon for a sunset run. Sabino Canyon is part of a National Park with a variety of amazing hiking trails, but it also has 2 paved roads that cut through the canyons. Very popular running/biking path! And insanely challenging (you pretty much run up a mountain, and back down). There were parts of the road we couldn't even cross because the water was gushing so hard over the bridge! It was the 1st time I've ever seen Tucson with rapids! So glad we took advantage of this! (pictures below)
5. Friday evening was the kind of "Friday Night" I yearned for. After a busy week, and Ryan has to work this weekend - it was very low key. We enjoyed a taste of Ryan's 1st "home brew". I made chicken fajitas. And we curled up on our couch with our kindles and read. We are wild 20-somethings, I tell you! ;)

Our 1st home brew actually had kind of a crisp, cider flavor to it! Which was surprising! We used the packet that came with the beer-making kit for his 1st brew!

Seeing this made me want to get in a kayak....

There is a road/bridge under that water. But the "wash" was so full of water it was gushing over. I was okay with turning back at this point ;)

This was the water flowing off the road! Look how powerful that is! And there was a guy up there that was going to try to cross it. I told him, "I wouldn't advise it."

At the end of our run, we were rewarded with a colorful sunset over the Santa Catalina mountains. The pictures doesn't do justice.