I guess now is a good time to sum up my experiences in Arizona this year.

- The trip out here went well...
Except for the fact that the credit card company kept shutting off the card every few hours (they assumed the card was stolen).
Except for when Bruce nicked a random cinderblock on i30 in Jackson, Missippi. $300+ and 16 hours later we were back on the road. At least the hotel was nice. But I got to watch my team win the Superbowl that night, so that was cool.
Except for an hour nap, I drove across the ENTIRETY of Texas, nonstop. That's over 860 miles. In a row. Fuck Texas
Except for the stress caused by showing up on the job site with minutes to spare, running on fumes.

- My time in AZ (not in chronological order)
My first year out here, the desert was colder and wetter (and greener) than it should've been. This year, even more so. You won't believe how goddamned green and wet it is out here right now. Guess I'll have to post pictures as proof.

I didn't really travel that much. I've spent a grand total of over 20 hours hiking, bouldering, and mountain climbing, and a few hours off-roading, mostly at the Peralta Trailhead. I heart my Bronco (she'll be referred to from here on in as "Victory").

While in Tombstone I got to reconnect with my friends and my favourite businesses. Showed the girl around, she's a HUGE fan of that town. The Birdcage theatre, the world's largest rosebush, etc etc.

Got to put a few rounds through my revolver, as well as fire a Indian Wars Era Trapdoor rifle (which fires 45-70s), a Mac 10 with a massive silencer, an AK 47, and an AR 15.

I saw 'Diary of the Dead', and was very pleased. I watch George Romero films for the social commentary, not just the zombies.

I read 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman, and goddamnit it melted my brain. Good goddamned book.

While I've been blowing fire for a few years, this show I learned how to make my own torches, as well as how to eat fire. That's right. Eat fire. Like your mom does.

I got sick. Sick enough I was bedridden for four goddamned days. I missed my first day of work in 6 years because of it.

I learned, during the "M.A.S.H. Party" that if I drink a lot of gin on an empty stomache, I'll more than likely suffer a black-out. Oops. But I came back around in time to play some Guitar Hero 3 for charity. No, really.

I developed a crush on a superhot mom. She knows me via a mutual friend, but we haven't gotten to know each other as well as *i* would like. Funny enough, my wife has a crush on her too, apparently. Can't be helped, she's hot dressed as Elvis.

I bit the bullet and did a night of karaoke. I surprised my friends with my very loud pipes. Songs done were "Bodies" by Drowning Pool, "Stone Cold Crazy" by Queen, "Symphony of Destruction" by MegaDeth, and my favourite of the night: "Deep" by NIN.

During the full moon this month, I had a great night playing with fire out in the middle of the desert. My face caught and I burned my lip a little, but whatever, I got some oohs and aahs from other performers, so that's nice. I'm in the middle of developing a new trick, one day I'll post a video of it. I rode with Dawn Patrol, then ended the morning with a walk in a sacred Labrynth.

At one point I played Easter Beer, found a lot of beer very quickly, was trashed by breakfast, told the rest of the day to fuck off.

Dealt some frontier justice on a douchebag who was caught stealing from my boss.

Learned that the rumour mill in AZ this year was seriously crazy. Any time a hippie mentions the word "government", it's going to be lies. Lies and fucking walnuts.

The phrase that pays is "Gary Busey". Remember that.

Went to the "Dead Rock Star" party. Dressed as Ian Curtis. No one got it. :(

(Don't tell anyone, but for St. Patrick's Day, I 'celebrated' by puking all over my boss's bathroom. lol. That'll teach him.)

Got to see some dear friends in Tempe.

I was dragged to an IKEA. I'm sold. IKEA rocks. Sorry guys.

So yeah, I think that's it. I don't think much else happened, except for the usual thing of brutally mocking children all weekend long.