Sheer Joy!
Saturday, 28. June 2008, 06:30:22
Just wanted to get some things in before I head to bed...it has been a busy week and I'm ready to collapse!
Some nights I hang out at PTO, a great place to find support, answers to questions, things of that nature. When Brett's 10 year anniversary on death row was coming up many of the people there were very supportive of our post card campaign. I in turn looked there to find a way to return the gestures. What I found was a young man being home schooled due to health reasons that needed help with one of his assignments that seemed right up our alley. We became a host family to his "travel buddy" who is out learning about the United States.
Please forgive the cut and paste, but as I mentioned...I'M TIRED!
We really enjoyed having Speed visit us here in Mesa Arizona.
A little bit about Mesa history; The first settlers in Mesa were probably the Hohokam Indians, who made life on the arid landscape of the region possible by developing an extensive canal system. Their probable descendants, possibly including the Akimel O'odham, remained in the area. Much later, Spanish missionaries and soldiers traveled through the area. Then, several groups of Mormon, or Latter Day Saints, pioneers settled in the area.
So we thought we would include a bit about this in our slide show. One of the pictures is of the Landmark Restaurant which began its life in 1908 as a Mormon Church, ultimately became Mesa Community College, and now is a restaurant.
Downtown Mesa has a lot of sculptural art scattered along the streets. Our desert weather can be compared to Baghdad and the best time to visit is January through April, but we braved the heat and were careful when we touched these metal art forms. (While Speed was here visiting with us the temperature was between 104` and 110`) Even though we took pictures of some of our favorites I am adding links to the online information because they also give a bit of what may have inspired the artist. Page 1 and Page 2
Looking for something a bit cooler to do but that Speed may still enjoy, we headed over to our local Bass Pro shop. The kids love this store, part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment center. Our favorite part is when they let us feed the fish (catfish, etc) in the indoor stream.
There were a few places we didn't get to. They are;
Petrified Forest National Park
http://creation-art.blogspot.com/2006/05/petrified-forest-arizona.html
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, in Coolidge, Arizona.
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/arizona_casa_grande.htm
Grand Canyon National Park
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/grandcanyon/
And pictures of there.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/photos/index.htm
We tried to get Speed in to see the Arizona Diamondbacks but Christina said the guys were at an away game, though he did get to go to the Golfland/Sunsplash Water Park where Part of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" was filmed.
Before movies had sound, organs were played as background music, so we went to see the worlds largest Wurlitzer theater organ in the world at Organ Stop Pizza. (Once this page opens click on the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the side bar) Many of the percussions (such as the xylophones, glockenspiels, drums, etc.) are installed in the dining room and on the ceiling. I think everyone enjoyed the show because they kept saying "we had the best time didn't we!"
Thank you Draven for letting Speed spend some of his time here with us!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On a personal note; Organ Stop Pizza was one of the things Dad had wanted to do with his great grandchildren. Unfortunately, after a long illness, he passed before that could be accomplished.
Dad...did ya hear us yelling out the car windows how much fun we had? That we would be sending you a balloon with a picture attached? You're still with us!
P.S. Thanks Pixie for the tips, we headed up to the balcony and had the best view!
We really enjoyed having Speed visit us here in Mesa Arizona.
A little bit about Mesa history; The first settlers in Mesa were probably the Hohokam Indians, who made life on the arid landscape of the region possible by developing an extensive canal system. Their probable descendants, possibly including the Akimel O'odham, remained in the area. Much later, Spanish missionaries and soldiers traveled through the area. Then, several groups of Mormon, or Latter Day Saints, pioneers settled in the area.
So we thought we would include a bit about this in our slide show. One of the pictures is of the Landmark Restaurant which began its life in 1908 as a Mormon Church, ultimately became Mesa Community College, and now is a restaurant.
Downtown Mesa has a lot of sculptural art scattered along the streets. Our desert weather can be compared to Baghdad and the best time to visit is January through April, but we braved the heat and were careful when we touched these metal art forms. (While Speed was here visiting with us the temperature was between 104` and 110`) Even though we took pictures of some of our favorites I am adding links to the online information because they also give a bit of what may have inspired the artist. Page 1 and Page 2
Looking for something a bit cooler to do but that Speed may still enjoy, we headed over to our local Bass Pro shop. The kids love this store, part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment center. Our favorite part is when they let us feed the fish (catfish, etc) in the indoor stream.
There were a few places we didn't get to. They are;
Petrified Forest National Park
http://creation-art.blogspot.com/2006/05/petrified-forest-arizona.html
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, in Coolidge, Arizona.
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/arizona_casa_grande.htm
Grand Canyon National Park
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/grandcanyon/
And pictures of there.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/photos/index.htm
We tried to get Speed in to see the Arizona Diamondbacks but Christina said the guys were at an away game, though he did get to go to the Golfland/Sunsplash Water Park where Part of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" was filmed.
Before movies had sound, organs were played as background music, so we went to see the worlds largest Wurlitzer theater organ in the world at Organ Stop Pizza. (Once this page opens click on the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the side bar) Many of the percussions (such as the xylophones, glockenspiels, drums, etc.) are installed in the dining room and on the ceiling. I think everyone enjoyed the show because they kept saying "we had the best time didn't we!"
Thank you Draven for letting Speed spend some of his time here with us!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On a personal note; Organ Stop Pizza was one of the things Dad had wanted to do with his great grandchildren. Unfortunately, after a long illness, he passed before that could be accomplished.
Dad...did ya hear us yelling out the car windows how much fun we had? That we would be sending you a balloon with a picture attached? You're still with us!
P.S. Thanks Pixie for the tips, we headed up to the balcony and had the best view!
WIDGETIZE