Rethinking Reality ~

The UA College of Science launched their 11th year of community lectures with "Rethinking Reality," a 5-part series that is free to the public.  Here is the link for full info on this compelling and thought-provoking Monday night science talk series. The first lecture with Dr Keith Dienes was amazing! 

Low and Loud ~

Here's another view of the Owls Club Cocktail Bar (see yesterday's post also). This seating area may be a former viewing room of the old funeral home. The very low lighting and loud music made for an odd combination. 

A bit funereal? No surprise ~

We had heard that the Bring's Funeral Home on Scott had been converted into a fancy cocktail bar that calls itself the Owls Club (after the famous turn of the century men's club of the same name on Main Street). We went to check it out and we were all vaguely disappointed. Even though the new owners have entirely refurbished the interior, there is a drab (maybe even a bit gloomy) vibe to the place. One of my friends described it as "smelling depressing." Oh well! 

Beautiful and deadly ~

This noble Cooper's Hawk was either keeping an eye out for some ground movement (rabbit, packrat) or just taking a break. To learn more about these beautiful birds and to hear their call, click here. This hawk portrait was captured in Oro Valley.
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson. 

Neon Sky ~

In Tucson we get the most gorgous "after glow" from our rainstorms! Check out these rainy clouds pierced by a piece of neon rainbow! Gorgeous! This was taken up in Dove Mountain. What a beautiful photo! 

Photo courtesy of Glenn Hudson. 

Snow and Silent Sky ~

Have you ever been up in a hot air balloon? In the early morning Tucson sky it is common to see these magnificent balloons gliding through the calm, still air. I bet the passengers in these two balloons were enjoying the beautiful snow glistening on the Catalinas.... but I suspect that it was COLD!!!

It even happens in Tucson! Freezing temps!

National Weather Service

Watches, Warnings & Advisories

Bottom of Form

Freeze Warning

---

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ

201 PM MST TUE JAN 24 2017

AZZ502-504>506-250600-

/O.CON.KTWC.FZ.W.0001.170125T0700Z-170125T1600Z/

TOHONO O`ODHAM NATION-TUCSON METRO AREA-

SOUTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY-SOUTHEAST PINAL COUNTY-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SELLS...TUCSON...GREEN VALLEY...

MARANA...VAIL...PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK...MAMMOTH...ORACLE

201 PM MST TUE JAN 24 2017

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM

MST WEDNESDAY...

* IMPACTS...SENSITIVE VEGETATION AND OUTDOOR EXPOSED PIPES MAY

  BE DAMAGED DUE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES. PETS SHOULD ALSO BE

  BROUGHT INDOORS.

* TEMPERATURES...28 TO 32 DEGREES.

* TIMING...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW FREEZING

  ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...WITH

  WIDESPREAD FREEZING TEMPERATURES LIKELY BETWEEN 5 AM TO 8 AM

  MST WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT

  WEATHER.GOV/TUCSON AND CLICK ON THE DETAILED HAZARDS TAB

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED.

THESE TEMPERATURES WILL KILL SENSITIVE CROPS AND VEGETATION.

COVER THEM... IF POSSIBLE...WITH CLOTH SHEETS OR BLANKETS TO

PROTECT THEM FROM FREEZING.

Are you owned by your pet?

I may be the owner of my dogs but they have me very well trained! Do you have a pet who runs your household? Imperious Emperor or Benevolent Dictator? Some other arrangement?  (:

Who Knew??

So while we were waiting in Walgreens for my prescription to be ready we strolled the aisles to see what we could find. I knew that Walgreens sells some food items but WHO KNEW that Spam now has a "lite" formulation? Less fat, less sodium, fewer calories.....  no mention of taste, though. We also spotted Spam Teriyaki style.... kind of scary! 

All is revealed - Where is this?

21 JANUARY 2017

2nd Day - a few clues!

20 JANUARY 2017

The first "Where is this?" of the New Year!

It is time once again for the "Where is this?" contest! Regular visitors to this site know that the person who correctly identifies the location of this photo will win a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt featuring the expressive "Monday already?" ram photo. Start your engines and good luck! 

SECOND DAY and no correct guesses yet!.  OK - here are some clues: This lightpost changes color so maybe you have seen it look different than this. And it is north of River Road.   Good luck! 

THIRD DAY: These distinctive rectangular light boxes illuminate the patio/plaza area of River Center, a retail complex on River near Craycroft. The lights change through a range of colors and the wavy lines are.... the River! The Center is home to wonderful Harvest Restaurant, Whole Foods, and Sushi Zona, among others. Sorry there was no winner for this "Where is this?" contest. Thanks for the guesses!   

2nd Day - a few clues!

20 JANUARY 2017

The first "Where is this?" of the New Year!

It is time once again for the "Where is this?" contest! Regular visitors to this site know that the person who correctly identifies the location of this photo will win a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt featuring the expressive "Monday already?" ram photo. Start your engines and good luck! 

SECOND DAY and no correct guesses yet!.  OK - here are some clues: This lightpost changes color so maybe you have seen it look different than this. And it is north of River Road.   Good luck! 

The first "Where is this?" of the New Year!

It is time once again for the "Where is this?" contest! Regular visitors to this site know that the person who correctly identifies the location of this photo will win a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt featuring the expressive "Monday already?" ram photo. Start your engines and good luck! 

Important Tucson SCAM ALERT!

Interviewed here on Tucson's FOX 11 News is Susan Dodson, the proud sponsor of this site! Sue is describing a new scam for the unwary home renter in town. This is good, valuable info:
https://www.kold.com/story/34274273/scam-alert-for-sale-not-rent/

The beautiful bonus of rain ~

We are so lucky in Tucson to have ever-changing and always beautiful skies. These double rainbow captures were taken from a back yard near Dove Mountain. Gorgeous!

Photo courtesy of Glenn Hudson. 

Suggest a caption!

This big, beautiful owl looks like he has a bit of an attitude here! What do you think he is thinking?

Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

A bit of brilliance on a drab day ~

This beautiful Vermilion Flycatcher brightens up the landscape on a cold, rainy day! To read more about these birds and to hear their songs, click here.
Photo courtesy of Ken Wilcox.

Bienvenue! A cheery French welcome ~

Tucson's chapter of the Alliance Francaise had a "Galette des Rois" celebration (King's Cake) in conjunction with Ephiphany. Traditional (and all home made!) galette was served with cider. Here is one of the Board Members welcoming guests. A lovely party! Un bon fete! 

The honeymooners ~

These owls are so very beautiful! And the steady gaze from their yellow eyes is absolutely riveting. This pair was spied in a Tucson back yard.
Photo courtesy of George Goldman.

Moody Moon ~

Our Tucson full moon looks particularly moody viewed through mesquite branches. It has a very gothic look, don't you think? Beautiful!
Photo courtesy of Ken Wilcox. 

The Wizard is dead! Tucson Throwback Thursday ~

12 January 2010

Tucson's Own Evil Wizard lives at Grant & Campbell ~

I am so sorry to report that these wonderful murals are long gone! In fact, shortly after I posted the entire wall of murals here on TDP in January, 2010, they were painted over. What a fun art treasure lost to Tucson - very sad. If you would like to see all of the murals that accompany this "Evil Wizard," just click on the "Bookmans" label at the bottom of the post and it will take you to the fantasy murals that I have posted on the site. Here is the original post text: 

 

The fantasy murals that decorate the exterior east wall of Bookman's (Grant & Campbell) are so fun! Staffers have given all of the characters nicknames. Here the wizard (a.k.a. "Dr Volt") holds a lovely damsel prisoner. Her name? "PIP" (for "Pretty in Pink").

Bookman's is a great Tucson institution - used & new books, weird & wonderful collectible items, music & much more.

For the full range of these delightful murals, click on the label "Bookman's" at the bottom of this posting to see "Dragon Slayer," "Mr. Be-header," "Venus's Sister," "Evil Queen Wendy," and "Parthenon + "Pinto Bean."

Cactus Cruising!

Looks to me as if these three cactus buddies are out cruising with the top down and enjoying the day! Fun! 

Mercy, Mercy ~

What were the marketing people thinking? Here is a truck advertising "Myrcenary" beer complete with a soldier guy making an escape with loads of loot -- a mercenary.  Well, this seemed like a puzzling name for a beer and according to their website it is named after Myrcene, a component of essential oils from the hop flower. So... what's with the illustration of the mercenary?  Thoughts? 

A solemn day in Tucson's history ~

T

Six years ago Tucson suffered a terrible attack on sitting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others when a lone gunman opened fire at a supermarket where a "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet was scheduled. Here is a photo of part of the memorial at the intersection to remember that 6 people were killed and 13 others were wounded in the attack on January 8, 2011. For more news about the day's activities, click here. 

Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson.

Spain? Italy? Nope - Tucson!

This beautiful archway and detail is part of the charming Broadway Village complex near Country Club. This little walkaround shopping center is home to retail shops and a sushi restaurant.
Photo courtesy of David Sewell.

Neighborhood Improvement - one book at a time!

Do you know the Little Free Library program? It's a wonderful international effort to share books with others in your neighborhood. You buy or build a little library and you stock it with books for your neighbors to enjoy. I love this idea! One of my resolutions this year is to build one for my 'hood. Fun! And a great idea! 

Not the most stealthy of spies....

I suppose it's unlikely that a REAL spy would advertise!  (smile)  Maybe this is an astronomer, a planetary scientist, or perhaps a drone operator! 

Tucson's Throwback Thursday ~ Sunsets!

05 JANUARY 2010

Typical Tucson Sunset ~ really!

These wispy orangey-pink clouds caught my eye as I was driving home today. Believe me, as common as beautiful sunsets are here in the Sonoran Desert, I never take them for granted. And for those of you who might want to learn about the science behind these spectacular displays, click this link to read what the experts at the AZ-Sonora Desert Museum say - very "enlightening" reading! Scroll down to "Left Over Light."

http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_desert_air.php

Saved from the Wrecking Ball ~

Tiny San Cosme Chapel was built in 1931 and was spared from the mass razing of houses and businesses deemed necessary to make way for the Tucson Convention Center. That urban expansion project destroyed much of an interesting Hispanic neighborhood but this adobe structure was left untouched. This little chapel has an adjacent tiny park and gazebo and interesting murals depicting the history of the neighborhood.
Photo courtesy of David Sewell. 

Roaming coyote ~

Here is another web cam capture of another coyote. I think this fellow is not one of the two I posted yesterday. His markings look different to me and one of yesterday's pair had a big scar on his forehead. I think this fellow is just following his own path....  Handsome!
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson.

Dynamic duo ~

This beautiful pair of coyotes was captured having a little sip on Tucson's northwest side. Gorgeous creatures! Learn more about these mystical and interesting animals here.
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson. 

And Happy New Year to you!

Happy New Year to everyone! Let us hope that 2017 is a wonderful year in every way! To ring in the new year perhaps you toasted with a michealda? This beer cocktail is served with its own pouring contraption at Casa Valencia. The spicy tomato-y base is served with a beer bottle inserted into the glass. The contraption feeds beer into the glass as you drink. For how to make a Michelada, click here. Eat, drink, and be merry!