A little retail therapy goes a long way!

Last night, I took some 'me' time, and when shopping. Whoo! Larry gave me a gift card to my favorite local yarn shop, Tempe Yarn and Fiber. Whoo! Guilt free shopping!

I bought a new flyer for my spinning wheel. It is a high-speed flyer, since I am Full Throttle Kelly, I spin incredibly fast, and the high-speed flyer will help slow me down. (The flyer is what controls the speed of your wheel when you spin, and winds the spun fiber onto your bobbin.)

I also bought some gorgeous (expensive - but worth it) Optim™. Optim™ is Merino Wool that has been stretched to make it softer, with a luster like silk. I have been eyeballing this for months, and finally took the plunge. Whoo! I cannot wait to spin it!

I also bought a book - "One Skein Wonders." I have a ton of stash, and want to knit through it, so this will give me some ideas how to use miscellaneous skeins. (Its April, and I have only purchased 1 skein of yarn! And that was necessary for a project in progress.) My resolution is not to buy any yarn this year. I have a redicuously large yarn stash, so I'm on a yarn diet.
However, that never extended to fiber!

The calmest puppy I've ever met.

This is Bear. He's a lab-pit mix (they think.) This is the calmest puppy I've ever seen.
Unfortunately, in our area, there are a lot of people foreclosing. A lot of people came out here, for the lesser expensive homes, and either took a loan they could not afford, or are 'dumping' their home, because they are upside down now. Grr. Everybody is upside down, now, AZ has been hit hard, but that's a different blog.
Anyway, the collateral damage of all these people leaving their homes, are their pets. People don't want to take them, or can't take them to a smaller house or apartment. Therefore, the pound and local rescues are filled to the brim with unwanted pets. (Adopt rescue animals - do not purchase a pet from a store- that only continues the problem of too many unwanted pets. - But that's a different blog.)
So anyway, my friend Amber calls the other night. Jen and I are trying to have a marathon of Big Love, but when Amber calls, and says "I have a puppy!!!" - I can't resist.
I was expecting some squirmy, crazy, little puppy, who is a bark-machine. However, Bear was calm, quiet, and sweet. Her neighbors were leaving there home, and couldn't take Bear. They told her he's going to the pound, and Amber couldn't let that happen, so she took him. She says she wants to foster him, until she can find him a home. (But I think she'll be a foster-flunker.)
Bear's an angel. No chewing, no barking, no marking, no craziness. Just a cute, happy dog. I've never seen a puppy like this. Even Patton who was 2 1/2 when he came home to us, was a goofy, rambunctious knucklehead.

Gratuitous pic of Patton when he first came home.














They say "God makes puppies cute, so you don't kill them." Ah ahahaha. Patton - true - he was crazy, but cute, and that cuteness made this insanity a little easier to take. Bear - this doesn't apply - he's cute, and a good puppy.

I love to play blackjack!

If you have a gambling problem, and live in Maricopa, the temptation is great. Why? We have 4 casinos within 25 miles of us, the closest, is 10 miles, right down the road. The Valley has a lot of Indian casinos- actually, they're all over AZ. Maricopa is surrounded by Indian reservations, which is why one is so close to us.
We go every once in a while. Larry and I used to go to Atlantic City, for an overnight trip. We'd go into a casino, maybe play $20 on slots, walk around the boardwalk, play a little more, walk along the beach, play a little more, and so on. There was a lot to do, besides gambling. However, the scary thing about the Indian casinos, is that there is nothing else surrounding the casino. No where to go to get away from the gambling for a little, and there is really nothing else to do, except gamble, eat, or drink at the bar. Completely different than AC.
Well, for Larry's birthday, we went to the casino with a bunch of friends for an all-you-can eat seafood buffet, a little drinking, and a little gambling. Larry loves to play blackjack, and I enjoy to play, too.
We had a great time, we played for several hours, won, lost, won, lost, and won again. We didn't walk away with any money, but we had a great time together. We played some slots, I won $60 bucks, whoo! Yay me!
We had a lot of fun with our friends, thanks, everyone! xoxoxoxox

My side hurts.

Becuase I'm not posting pictures of a gallbladder, I'll give you some gratuitious pictires of the boys.

This sucks. My side is bothering me today.
Meh. For those that don't know, last summer, I had my gallbladder removed. I has having a ridiculous amount of pain, and no one could figure out what was wrong. I ran the gauntlet of tests- ultrasounds, cat scan, mri, xrays- NOTHING. No stones, all my bloodwork was fine, no one could figure it out. So, I finally had a gallbladder scan, and although my gallbladder performed normally, in the last part of the 2 hour test, I had an enormous amount of pain, and was feeling very sick. The specialist said that is inidiciatve of a gallbladder problem, so lets remove it. When the surgeon took it out, he said it was inflamed, so, they think that was it.

However, I still have pain. About a 2-3 on the pain scale out of ten, every day. I am okay, its more of a nuciense. I don't want to go back to the doctor. They'll run me through the gaunlet of tests again, with no results. Last bloodwork I had done was all completely normal. All I want to do it relax, no more doctors, since I'll end up with a bunch of specialists, who do not know what is wrong. Running into Phoenix constantly for tests, with no results.
Meh. I can function, I am not sick, so I'm in a bit of a holding pattern.
OW.

My legs are KILLING ME.

So, Jen & I started the Body for Life program. I've gained some weight over the past 2 years, between the issues with my neck pain, and the gallbladder mess. So, I'm not happy with that. So, in the middle of December, we got a trainer (Jen and I) to help us get a jump start.
It was not a really good experience. He really could have cared less, in my opinion, didn't listen to our concerns, and pretty much walked through the motions with us, not focused. I lost no weight. I trained, lifted, exercised, ate well, and no results. Talk about a bummer. We'd work out on weights, and I was never really challenged, and never felt any soreness the next day. I spoke to the trainer about it, and he kept telling me just follow what I am doing, and you'll be fine. Huh? I was getting nowhere.
He was always late, and never apologized to us. Hey, I'm paying you- BE THERE ON TIME AND LOOK INTERESTED!

So, Jen, who is better at confrontation than me, fired him. Whew. Thanks Jen.

We decided to start the Body for Life program, and work out on own own. I like the food plan - very customizable- eat a protein and a carb and some veggies with every meal & portions the size of your fist. 6 times a day- little meals. Easy. The program gave a list of foods you can eat- yummy- chicken, fish (ew), lean meats, whole wheat breads and pastas, and veggies. And, on the 7th day- no restrictions. Eat what you want (within reason- although I want cake all day, that pretty much negates everything I did that week.) :)

So, Jen and I have had 3 sessions of weights on our own. Its been so much better. We help each other, keep each other on track, and have worked together to get through the exercise smoothly. Let me tell you what, we are obviously working very well together, since I feel like I got hit by a bus. Arms hurt, legs hurt- the workouts obviously are more effective. We are journaling too, what we've been eating, our workouts, and our thoughts. I like it!

Thanks, Jen! Even though all I want is to stuff my face with cake all day, you help me stay on track! :)

Who wants a cat?

George is making me CRAZY. She is my cat- I adopted her in college. She (and Max) have been with me through thick and thin. She's listened to me rail about bad boyfriends, bad jobs, and when life has sucked in general. She's always up for a cuddle, and sleeps at the foot of our bed. However, she's 13, and has become a pain the ass with old age.
When she can see the bottom of her food bowl, she freaks out like she will starve to death. It doesn't matter if the bowl is full, and all the food is pushed to the side of the dish, she sees the bottom of the dish, and the world is going to end.
So, last night, she wakes me up. Pulling and chewing my hair. I shove her away. I want to sleep. Really, that's it, sleep. Nope, George thinks I need to be up, and feeding her. I'm half asleep, and shoving her away, and she's relentless.
Finally, I get up, half asleep. Full bowl of food. The bottom of the bowl is barely visible. I curse at George, fill her bowl, and she happily eats.
George, I understand you are getting crazy in your old age, but this food bowl obsession is making me crazy.
All bitching aside, I love that cat to pieces. Besides her food dish insanity, she's a great cat. Crazy as hell, but a good cat.

I need a slap chop!

I need a slap chop. Its the most annoying commercial. I see it all the time on the news. Almost makes me as crazy as the damn snuggie.

Ok, so I am trying to eat healthier, cook more, and stay away from processed foods. So, I bought a slicer since I hate to chop veggies with the fire and passion of 1000 suns. Really. And, I want nicely sliced of veggies.
Well, I start to use it, and realize the stupid handle on it that you use to hold the vegetable is awkward, and I stop using it. Who wants to guess what happens next? Yep, I slice the top of my finger off.

Of course I do that on the first veggies I am slicing. I am making lasagna. The noodles are in the pot, meat is on the stove, I am in a time crunch, and now I am bleeding like I lost a limb, not just the tip of my finger. :( OUCH. And it stings!

So, Larry's the best - nursemaid - no, I mean NURSE STUD, not nursemaid, as Larry informed me, to help me bandage my finger, and cook, to help me cook the rest of dinner. And clean up.

So, I need a stupid slap chop. Something to chop my veggies and protect the rest of my fingers. Larry says he'll buy one for me. I can't get over my embarrassment to order one for myself. Ah hahahah.

Stupid slap chop. Stupid slicer. This reinforces the idea that I should only eat fast food. No cooking, I'll have no fingers left.

Its the beginning of the rest of my life.

I had to color my hair today.
Why is it the beginning of the rest of my life?
Because I will have to color my hair. Forever.
I'm getting too may greys. Meh.

I have been noticing the greys for a little while, lately. More have been appearing lately. I have been thinking of coloring my hair, but terrified of it, since the last home-dye job turned me into Ronald McDonald, and was a very expensive repair.
But, beer was involved in that one, so I learned, no beer and hair color should mix. Ever.

My birthday is coming up. 34. I don't like it. At all. I am moving from my early 30's to mid 30's. Soon, I'll be closer to my 40's than I was my 30's. Its okay that Larry is in his early 40's. He's a guy. I don't think they really care. He's been grey for awhile- its his style. He looks quite distinguished with it. I don't care- I'm fighting the grey hair every step of the way. I'm Larry's mid-life crisis. I can't be grey. Ah ahahaha.

So, I'm talking to my girlfriends last night, saying I'm finding more greys, and I don't like it. My girlfriends look at me, and one goes, "Oh my God, it IS getting grey! I just saw it when you moved your hair!" That was her first reaction. Oh, God. This is the end. Sh*t!

Early this morning, I put my big girl panties on, and went to the store. Picked out a nice golden brown, held my breath, and dyed my hair.

Its beautiful! I love it! Its a nice, rich brown, that lighens up in the sun. Yay, me!
But, I will have to color it for ever. This blows.
I love the color, and don't mind dying it. What I don't like is the reason.
Meh!

Larry loves it, and my girlfriends love it, so its all good.

2009 Maricopa Mutt March!

I love our little town. We're far away from everything (20 miles from the next town,) surrounded by the reservation, but I love it.
Sherman, Patton, and I participated in the 2009 Maricopa Mutt March, yesterday.

Maricopa needs a bark park. I never heard of a bark park until I moved to AZ. Basically, it is a fenced in area of grass for dogs to run loose and play. I sometimes take the boys to a bark park about 20 miles from home, and they love it. They get to romp and play with other dogs. When we first brought the dogs home, the bark park was a great way to socialize them. Also, in their younger days, they would sprint in all their glory, remembering their racing days. Now that they are older, they are happy to trot around, and pester all the other owners to pet them. Ha!

Anyway, Maricopa does not have a bark park. The Mutt March was developed as a fundraiser to provide additional funds to build a park park. (The city has finally designated land for the park, and we should see one by 2012.)

Anyway, yesterday was the Mutt March - it was so much fun! It was a 2 mile walk, and exhausted the boys, and there were a lot of vendors to peruse and visit. We hung out at the GPA-AZ booth (Greyhound Pets of America - AZ chapter,) where the boys were simply loved on by all that passed. Sherman also took the opportunity to sleep. God forbid he does not get enough sleep.

The boys dressed up for the occasion, and everyone loved them. The played in the temporary bark park they had set up at the event, they walked in the march, and shopped at all the vendors with dog treats. (I swear Sherman is a doggie garbage disposal - he ate tons of treats while we were there, all the vendors wanted to give him a bone, and of course he took them.)

Patton was so well behaved! Its been over a year since his attack. Ever since the attack, he has been dog-reactive while on his leash. Basically, he becomes Cujo, and is thinking, "I'll eat your face off before you eat my face off." Poor Patton. However, after over a year of hard work, he has become less tense, and less reactive. I took him to the even yesterday, and he was a totally different dog! He was calm, allowing dogs to sniff him- big and small- with no snarling, growling, or teeth-baring! I was SO HAPPY! Yay Patton! (After the past year of his Cujo behavior, it is so nice to see my old, happy-go-lucky Patton back.)

Thanks for the herpes.

No, I don't have herpes.
That was on my birthday cake.
Really.
And, I had a spongebob candle.
Seriously.

I have the best friends in the world! My birthday is on Tuesday, yay! My friends, Amber, Wayne, Jen & Aaron were sneaky, and surprised me! I wasn't expecting anything for my birthday, nothing exciting, but they got me!

Last night, Larry, Sandy (his mom) and I went to our favorite little restaurant, the Sunrise cafe. In the middle of dinner, our friends came barreling into the restaurant, with balloons, cake, flowers, and presents singing "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs. I was floored. Larry, Amber, and Jen set it up. I was completely floored- they did a good job!

Amber and Jen actually went to our food store, and asked the bakery to write "Thanks for the herpes" on the cake. They said the guy almost freaked out. That's hysterical. That's what makes it funny - they had to walk into the main food store in Maricopa, and ask for that with straight faves. Ah hahahaha. We know the owner of the Sunrise cafe, who saw the cake, and thought it was the best thing! She took it to the kitchen to show her employees, and you could hear the shrieks of laughter! THere was a family with kids, who were sitting across from us, and the kids saw the cake and kept pointing at it. All I kept thinking was please do not ask to look at it - no-no-no-no-no. Ah hahah. My friends are praksters.

Jen gave me a gift card to Olive Garden, yummy!! and Amber have me a gift card to Subway yummy!!!!!! LOVE those restaurants! Sandy knit me a gorgeous wrap, and Larry actually walked into my favorite knit shop to get me a girft card. Amber and Jen also tourture me with Twizzlers and Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies, which I could eat all in one sitting. The are in the kitchen right now, begging to be eaten. :)

I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband, and good friends. Amber and Jen are silly, always up for a laugh, and thoughtful and caring. I could not ask for better girlfriends. I love them to pieces.

Even if they are sorry about the herpes.

Patton marks EVERYTHING.

Seriously. I know dogs mark. Really, Patton is it necessary to pee on EVERYTHING?
Patton is always marking. I have never seen this dog simply pee. Nope, he pees with purpose. In our backyard, out in public, anything new, he's gotta hit it.
When we adopted Patton, he came straight off the track. He had never been in a home, as a pet, until he came home with us. Before greyhounds race, their urine is collected for drug testing. They are taught to pee on a traffic cone, so the handlers can get a sample before the race. We were told to get an orange traffic code, and put it in the backyard to help with his potty training.
Do you think he ever peed on this cone- of course not. Its more fun to pee on-
-The house
-The fence
-The grill (ew, I scrub it constantly.)
-Every tree
-The back porch
-The poo garbage can.
-Any piece of lawn tools left outside.
-Ok, anything left outside in the back yard that he can hit. My shoes included.
-Every piece of lawn furniture outside.
-The AC unit. (He freaked once - jumped at least a foot in the air when it turned on while he was peeing on it. But that didn't stop him.)
-Sherman's toys (I have to wash at least 2-3 toys a week.)
-Sherman. (Seriously, I have watched him pee on his head.)
Sometimes he doesn't even have to pee, but he's still got enough to squirt on stuff. I've watched him, and he'll lift his leg and give a little squirt on several things, if he can. We were at a friends house, and he hit all the bushes 2x in one walk around the backyard. He's git skills.
He's a nightmare when we are out in public. He wants to mark EVERYWHERE. Inside, outside, it doesn't matter.
So, when we are out in public, or at other people's homes, P wears his bad-boy-belly band. Its a strip of fabric that is fastened around his hips, so if he lifts his leg on something, he pees in the band. If we are in Petsmart, he gets banded. If we are at other people's homes - banded. He looks like a tool in his band, but that's better than him leaving his mark.
Before we got the dog door, he's mark in the house - whenever we left. I knew it was not because he had to go, since he never unloaded, just little squirts around the house, as if to say, "I'll show you." However, once we got the dog door, he's decided its more fun to mark stuff outside. (Thank you.)

I am trying not to be a greyhound snob.

Some of you have kids. We don't. The dogs are our kids. We do not want children. So, we spoil the dogs. The have too many toys, too many rawhides, too many beds. They are our companions. They go with us when we take day trips for hiking across AZ. They are funny, loving, and always interesting. To some of you, they're just dogs. To us, they are our 'kids.'
When we adopted them, we adopted through a rescue group. We did a lot of reading about them before hand, so we were prepared. Greyhounds are a little special-
They need to learn how to be a pet. They have only known the track & kennel life. Not a life that includes toys, fluffy beds, and bones to chew whenever they want.
Greyhounds have a different metabolism and different enzymes than other dogs. This means-
--- They cannot be left outside all day. Ever. They cannot handle the extreme weather of AZ. Most dogs can be outside in the summer with lots of shade, and lots of water. Not a greyhound. If left outside with shade and water in the summer for several hours, it could kill them. They do not have a lot of body fat to help absorb and combat the heat (or cold.)
---They cannot metabolize anesthesia like other dogs. If your vet is not very knowledgeable about greyhound chemistry, they could easily not wake up from the anesthesia. This has been documented many times. Take them to a vet who has experience with greyhounds.
---They cannot have some of the rawhides that normal doggies get. They cannot have the white rawhides - usually the white or 'natural' rawhides are dipped in arsenic to get the white color. Greys cannot metabolize that, and they could get very sick. No rawhides made outside of the US. Rawhides made in Mexico, China, etc- the chemicals used on those rawhides could make greys very sick. They can have compressed rawhides or rawhide made in the US only.
--- Little tears in their skin could turn into a major tear requiring stitches, easily. They have such thin skin, a brush against something could turn into a tear. This has actually happened to us twice.
--- Do not send your greyhound to a kennel where they are kept in cages all day. Greyhounds were kept in cages their entire track life, and will most likely not adapt well to going back in a cage all day long.
--- They needs lots of fluffy places to lay. Since they have very low body fat, they do not have a lot of cushioning when they lay on a hard floor.

Whew, that's a lot. Its really not that bad as it sounds. Our vet understands greyhounds, both dogs have gone under twice, and are fine. We found a greyhound-only sitter who we leave them with when we go back to PA. They have coats, a dog door, lots of compressed rawhides, lots of toys and lots of beds.
But, I have been a bit of a grey-snob. Their vet was once the track vet at Phoenix Greyhound Park, and is considered the best around. Their sitter only sits greyhounds, where the sitter understands the breed, and knows their idiosyncrasies.

The problem? The vet and sitter are SOOOO far away. The vet is a 70 mile round trip, and the sitter is about a 90 mile round trip. So, I have been trying not to be a grey-snob, and trust people.
We have seen a vet in Maricopa. She is knowledgeable about greyhounds, and have treated several. She has also treated some at the greyhound farms outside of Maricopa. We really need a vet in town. I cannot keep traveling the 70 mile round trip. So, I am working to trust the vet in town for regular items. Major issues, such as Patton's corns, and when Patton was attacked, he goes to our original vet.
There is a sitter in town who I am meeting with on Saturday. She has an in house sitting business, but takes all dogs. She is as competent as my sitter who only sits greys, but she sits all breeds. I have to trust the boys will be fine. I will leave instructions, and of course check in on them, but I cannot treat the dogs with kid gloves. For my own sanity.

Patton vs, his arch nemesis

Any dog on the other side of the fence.

Everyone in our neighborhood has a 6 foot privacy fence surrounding our backyard. This was new to me when I moved here. Any home older than 10 years out here in the Valley has one. I struggled with this when we first built the house. I remember as a little girl, running and playing in everyone's backyard. It gave you a sense of community. However, after living here awhile, I have come to love the fence. We have complete privacy - love it!

Anyway, Patton was attacked last year but a pit bull. My friends out here remember how bad it was. The side of his head and ear where torn up very badly. It was horrible. We were out for a walk in the evening, one street away from our home, on our regular walking route. Out of no where comes the pit and latches on to Patton. It took 3 neighbors to pull him off. The only reason P survived is becuase it was a puppy.

Ever since then, Patton has been a mess. Anytime he hears another dog on the other side of the fence he cannot see, he loses his mind and becomes Cujo. I don't blame him. He cannot see the other dog, and is terrorized by the attack. Over the past year, we have worked with him, and he is still very attentive to dogs he hears and cannot see, but does not lose his mind on walks.

However, he has become a mental case in the backyard. Both next door neighbors, and the neighbors behind our house have little yappers. They make Patton mental. He runs to each side of the fence, barking, snarling, huffing, and growling. Everytime we hear him, we're out there with water bottle spraying him.

Now, he has become sneaky. I've watched him. He runs to the fence, looks at the house, barks, looks at the house again, waiting for one of us to come out. I'll run out, hit him with some water, he'll look at me, bark, and then dips his head, waiting for the hit of water. I swear, that dog lives to make me nuts.

Sherman? Angel dog. He just sleeps.
Patton - loves to make me crazy.

Why I am mad at my doctor's office.

Sigh. I'm sick. I feel like crap. I'm at the doctor's office, miserable.

They have a TV in the waiting area, that they usually run DVD's of comedy sitcoms, or child-friendly movies.

Not yesterday. Yesterday they had some DVD about nature. Like something from the Discovery Channel about the plight of polar bears and antelope.

I watched the part about the polar bear and her cubs. It goes on and on about the cubs, and shows nothing but cute footage of them playing. Then, as the segment ends, the program explains many cubs die, and do not make it in the wild. Huh? I was all warm and fuzzy inside from watching the cubs, and then bam! I'm hit with the note that they'll die anyway. I know its nature, but that's not I wanted to hear, in the doctor's office, miserable. I want cute, fuzzy and adorable. Not death.

THEN, the DVD moves to some antelope, something like that. Its showing the babies. How cute- little babies, playing, running with their mom, so cute! Then, the program shows a wolf approaching. The wolf eats these animals. Oh, no, yes they did. They showed the wolf chase one of the babies, catching it, kill it, and then eat it.

Now, I'm crying like a fool in the doctor's office. I hate nature shows. I don't want to see the cute babies eaten by their predators. I know that's the circle of life, I just do not want to see it. Especially in the doctor's office, sick.

Photo Source: Reuters

I'm terrified of my gorgeous handspun yarn.

I have only been spinning for about 8 months. But, I have started to indulge in luxury fibers. I moved from only spinning merino wool, to blending wool with silk, alpaca, yak, and bamboo fibers. They are gorgeous, but I am afraid to knit with them. They are so pretty and soft, and I don't know what project to use them for, and if its a new pattern, I'm afraid of it not turning out the way I want, if I am using my handspun.

For those of you that do not knit, I know, who cares? But for those knitters out there, I think they can understand. You buys some beautiful yarn, and want it for that 'special project.' The fear I have with handspun, its that its one of a kind. At least with commercial yarn, you can buy it again, but handspun is unique to each skein.

Everyone at the knit shop, says bite the bullet, and just do it. So, I'm going to jump in, and use my blended wool, alpaca, silk blend (pictured above) for a shawl/shrug. Wish me luck, knitter please.

These are the original fibers. The dark grey is 80/20 alpaca/silk, the light grey is 80/20 merino (wool)/silk, and the cranberry is 100% merino wool. I am spinning them together by 'striping' them- simply pulling strands of each and essentually spinning the three strands together. This is rather than blending them together with the drum carder. I am them plying the singles together, to create the yarn pictured above.

Deep frying is yummy!

I was watching Fox News this morning. They had a segment of things to deep fry. Hmmmm.
One was spotted dick (pudding.) ah hahhahah
They also deep fried the recently passed government budget (full of 'pork.') ah ahahhahah

But seriously, these are the things I want to eat/items they mentioned people deep fried.

1.) twinkie (ew, but I've heard this is fantastic.)
2.) cheesecake
3.) pizza (whew i think that's too much grease.)
4.) peanut butter cups
5.) brownies
6.) hamburgers
7.) Oreos
Hmmm.

The CVS by my house was robbed on Friday by an idiot.

CVS robbery
This is the CVS we use on a regular basis, and a couple miles from my home. Its a little wild to me, since I was driving home, and passed the CVS apparently right before, or during the robbery.

However, apparently this guy was a tool.
- First, this particular CVS is in a location that is awkward to enter/exit with traffic.
- Second, this genius apparently had a knife, but was chased off by the store employees.

However, DPS (Department of Safety - our version of state troopers) brought the helicopter out. Brings back memories for those of us who once lived in Mesa AZ.

When Larry and I first moved here, we lived in a not-so-great section of Mesa. The helicopter was out several times a week looking for suspects on the run. Larry one night was outside and was spotted by one. He said the bright spot light was incredible - there is no where to go! You always knew to watch your back if you were outside and heard the helicopter overhead.
We only stayed there for 6 months.

Anyway, the 'copter was out, and it was like old times. Meh. Oh, the memories.
Apparently they have not caught the guy. The only thing I cannot figure out is the length of time it took to get the helicoptor from Phoenix to Maricopa, about a 30 mile distance, quickly enough to make the search worthwhile. But I am clueless of helicoptors, 'since I am terrified of them. :)

Photo credit