Light Rail is Here

The light rail has come to Arizona in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Bob and I rode the train on Saturday, December 27, from Tempe's Veterans Way and College Station to the Phoenix McDowell and Central Station. There we joined Alex for lunch at Cheuvront's.


Free parking was provided in a parking structure across from Sun Devil Stadium. The Veterans Way and College Station is Tempe's main stop. Activities included fireworks, festival booths, Fifth farmers market, green-scene booths, archaeology displays and live music throughout the day, including Tempe's own Roger Klyne & the Peacemakers.

While waiting for the train, we saw hikers climbing "A" Mountain. At the top of the mountain, we could see a huge Manora and the star of Bethlehem with the three wisemen.

Two war protesters held up a banner that said, "YOU CAN'T WIN AN OCCUPATION." Another cardboard sign below the banner said, "4215 Dead."

We had to wait for a second train because the first train was packed like sardines. After waiting 25 minutes, the train arrives. We became sardines packing our bodies into any available open space. An hour and 13 stations later while taking deep breaths and holding in our stomaches, we arrived at our destination. Alex drove us back from Cheauvront's to the garage to pick up Bob's car and drive home.

2008 Christmas in Phoenix

Click the picture for a larger view.


Thanks to Loleen and the Meadows Family for a beautiful gift for Christmas. We served the French Roast Coffee on Christmas Day.








Christmas dinner was prepared by Bob Jones and Chuck Plake. Guests included Rachel Thornton, Bryan Sallee and Alex Ontiveros. Pictured to the left is Rachel, Bob and Bryan.







Prime Rib Roast, cooked by Bob Jones on Christmas Day. Click here to find the recipe of Bob's Perfect Prime Rib.








'Twas a rainy day in the Valley of the Sun.









Decorations provided by Bob Jones. Click here for Bob's decorations.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

In January of this year, at a meeting of the Engineers Club of Sun City, Arizona. A.P.S. (the local power company) gave a presentation in which they explained their plans to build such a plant south of Phoenix below Gila Bend. They were very upbeat about it's possibilities. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Take a look at this video and pay particular attention to the very last statement made by the spokesman.

http://www.valcent.net/i/misc/Vertigro/index.html

Bob's Christmas Decorations 2008

Bob Jones decorates magnificently. He works in a methodical fashion and loses track of time. Several neighbors in the his condominium complex marveled at his abilities likening it to Macy's display windows.









He placed two nativity scenes under the trees on the patio.









He made excellent use of poinsettias.









He decorated the walls and managed to save one tree for inside the house.









And Sophia watched...

Kerr, Porter must go

The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” applies to the Suns current dilemma. Steve Kerr tried to fix the Suns, rather than fine tune them. Kerr brought Terry Porter in to fix the defense, but too much emphasis on change of an elite team created a lackluster, average team. Shaq and Porter won’t fix a fan-drawing playoff team that had a 65% winning percentage and that peeled off 15 and 17 consecutive wins. An NBA team only needs a defense that allows the other team to score one point less that the offense. Mike D’Antoni’s offense was better than the defense of all but a couple of NBA teams. And the team was much more fun to watch. Put the blame where it belongs. Get rid of Kerr and bring back D’Antoni as general manager and head coach.