my GOD it's hot in the Southwest in August

I've been to Arizona twice now, and Las Vegas once. Each trip has been in August. I'm an idiot.

Anyway, I went to Phoenix. It might be more accurate to say I went to Scottsdale, since that's where I spent most of my time. Drew is there for work, and I had enough miles for a free ticket, so all I had to pay for was a car and incidentals. So I went. No pix. I forgot my camera.

I arrived on Friday night. I had no more than taken two steps off of the plane and was hit in the face with the blast furnace that is Phoenix. Those who know me know that I HATE the heat. HATE HATE HATEHATEHATE the heat.

So I got a car, a Subaru Impreza.

http://www.subaru.com/shop/model_consideration.jsp?model=IMPREZA

It was dark so I did not realize it was one of those cars for people who can't drive a manual, but want to pretend like they can. I had the gear shift in the wrong place and it would rev to 6000 rpms. I thought it was defective, but thought I'd worry about it tomorrow. What do I care -- it's a rental.

One nice thing about Phoenix is you just simply cannot get lost. It's on a grid, big wide streets, well marked, you can even tell what block you are in. Getting anywhere is pretty easy. Got to the hotel easy as pie.

http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=O4FBLX04E0WXICSGBIU222Q?ctyhocn=PHXFVDT

It was okay. The air in the room didn't go below 75 degrees. I thought this would be a problem for Drew, but I also thought that compared to the outdoors, it felt chilly.

On Saturday, I woke up to find Drew gone with my car keys. Efforts to reach him were a problem. I mapped out my day's plan, tried to find him, and finally got in the shower. He apparently noticed the problem and came back.

In the light of day I realized the driving problem I had last night. Sheesh, it's just stupid. Drive a manual if you want, but if you don't have the 'nads to learn, the car companies shouldn't let you half-ass it.

First, some coffee. Coffee isn't that popular in that climate and Starbucks were not as plentiful as one would hope. I found some tea here

http://coffeebean.com/

got it iced, and went to Taliesin West after just driving around, seeing what was where, driving by all the snooty resorts, looking at mountains, and checking out the residential areas.

http://www.franklloydwright.org/

Took the tour, shopped for gifts. It was bloody hot, but the tour was informative.

Next, a bit of shopping. I avoid malls and chains when traveling, choosing instead to seek out unique features. I went here

http://www.scottsdaleseville.com/

The two stores I was interested in, however, were nowhere to be found. So, I went here:

http://www.elpedregal.com/

That place was halfway to Flagstaff, I swear. It was pretty dead there, and I watched a thunderstorm after I shopped. God, it was hot. I have had the air in the car on full blast the whole time, and it doesn't ever get too cold.

I then saw the Heard Museum had a branch. For $5 they have a couple of rooms of art. More on the Heard tomorrow.

http://www.heard.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=205&srcid=204

I then drove around some more. I found some yarn.

http://knittinginscottsdale.net/index.html

Everyone there was from New York -- Brooklyn, to be precise. With that thick accent and fast clipped speech. It was a great store, neatly organized and with good quality merchandise. I did not leave emptyhanded.

I then drove around "downtown" Scottsdale. Very tacky touristy stuff, with cheap T-shirt stores and a wild west theme strip. Think the Wisconsin Dells or Lake of the Ozarks, with cowboys.

Drew couldn't join me for dinner, so I went alone. I went here:

http://www.roaringfork.com/ScottsdaleAZ/roaring_fork_welcome.html

I had a glass of the Bighorn Cellars chardonnay, "Seared Colossal Scallops with Soft Cheese Grits, Smoked Bacon and Mushroom Ragu," "Chilean Sea Bass (anyone who knows me knows I have a weakness for sea bass) Roasted Crisp on Soft, Butternut Squash Risotto with an Ancho Chile Broth," "Chocolate 'Hot Springs,' a "Chocolate Ganache Baked in Chocolate Sponge Cake Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream," and delicious coffee. They also serve jalepeno cornbread with chipotle honey butter. Yum. I was right by the kitchen since I didn't have an invitation, but that was okay. I watched them make my food. Stuffed to capacity, I went to the room and listened to Drew snore. Poor baby. He was up all night working, and was very tired.

Sunday, I went here for breakfast:

http://cafespot.net/place/339

I had a lovely omelet and delicious coffee. Indoors. I couldn't believe that it was 100 degrees and not even 11. And some people sat outside. Morons.

I read the paper, and then hit the ground running.

I drove around downtown, seeing the big buildings, Chase Field (which is HUGE), US Airways Center, etc. I skipped the Cards. I didn't care about 'em when they were in St. L.

I then went to the Heard Museum.

Those who know me know I have quite the thing for native american history, culture, religion, etc. I spent three hours in this place.

I learned that Barry Goldwater collected Hopi Katsinas. He had about 400 and donated them to the Heard. It was spectacular.

HOME was great. It gave introductions to all native peoples in Arizona.

There was an exhibit on the boarding schools. More white arrogance.

There was pottery, jewelry, textiles, beading, carving, Zuni fetishes.........it was just heaven.

And I shopped in the gift shop.

Then, I got a snack and went here:

http://www.borgata.com/

I went to Two Plates Full, which was a totally cool store. I also went to Bryn Walker, which sells nice linen clothes. I wondered what people there wore in order to tolerate the climate, and that must be it.

And then, I violated my "no chains" rule and went into Chicos. I did not leave without a bag.

By then, it was time to think about dinner at Kim and Mark's. I went here:

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2007/08/the_dish_on_dish_a_food_experi.php

and found mini-baguettes and dipping oil. Yum.

Then, on to Kim and Mark's for chicken marsala.

Food, family, conversation, and fun.

I then went to bed.

On Monday, it was time to go.

I've got to go back when it's cooler so I can go to Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

Doings

http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/big_5420___article.html/robert_alton.html

The careful observer will recognize my top from the previous post.