Cacti Obsession

Maybe it's because one doesn't see them in Seattle or Sweden but nothing says "I'm in Arizona" to me like cacti (besides maybe the melted lipstick in my purse). All of these pictures were taken in my neighborhood.

Update

I finished the microeconomics paper I complained about in an earlier post. So now MBA stands for My Big Accomplishment.

Is that better Mom?

My Job

I am working as an academic counselor for Axia College, the online associates degree division of the University of Phoenix. I spend most of my day on the phone with students of all ages, from all over the country. My job is to do administrative tasks such as scheduling their classes, but the main responsibility for which I was hired is to retain students. A million things can make them want to drop out - family problems, juggling work and school, difficulty with the school work, etc. Being good at my job means being able to listen patiently and empathically (not a problem), empower students (not a problem), come up with creative solutions to their problems(not a problem), help them understand assignments (not a problem) and be able to survive nine hour days surrounded by cubicles as far as the eye can see (a bit of a problem- but getting outside and walking during my breaks keeps me sane).
Overall, I really like my job. I love getting to know the students and helping to foster and celebrate their success.

The University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the country and growing exponentially. The building I work in is huge, and one of twelve within a three mile radius. Three more such buildings are underway.



This is Jacque, the finance manager on my 'graduation team' (the graduation team also consists of several enrollment counselors). Jacque and I get along great, which is fortunate since we sit next to each other and have to confer about students throughout the day. My desk is on the other side of the partition (and is not being shown to you because it is, of course, messy). The reason the builiding is so empty is because this picture was taken Saturday afternoon. Jacque and I had both come in to get caught up on work.

Renaissance Festival

The Ren. Festival was in Gold Canyon, about an hour east of Phoenix. It was a brisk 138 degrees outside. Ok, it was about 82 but the sun was relentless. I hate hats, but I think a flirty little straw number is in my near future.

When's the last time you saw cacti in a parking lot?

Excuse Me Mr. Coyote

Tonight I came out of my dance class, held in a strip mall in Ahwatukee, feeling good that I hadn't been as much of a doofus on the dance floor as I'd anticipated. I searched idly for my blue-green Saturn, not in a particular hurry. Finally spotting my car, I saw a four-legged creature beside it.

My first thought: "Doggie!" Second thought: "....Very weird looking doggie". Third thought: "Why does it have such an erratic gate and why is it crouched down and why are people backing away from it...?" Fourth thought: "I think I will remember this all my life because I am alone in a parking lot five feet away from a coyote".

Dialogue in my head as I walked away from it: "Please don't follow me, please don't follow me, please please pleeeasssseee don't follow me."

After what seemed like hours, I made it the 20 yards or so to the sidewalk and ran into a 'Cost Cutters' hair salon, whose door was open (of course the coyote wouldn't come in there. It would stop and think to itself "I'm a coyote. What need have I for a hair cut or upper lip wax?").

I ran up to the cashier who was engaged in conversation with a customer. I politely waited two and a half seconds then blurted out "I have a very weird problem!!"
Both of them looked at me and cartoon balloons formed over their heads, reading "Yes Lady, indeed you do." In order to clarify, I continued: "There's a coyote by my car!! And...I'm not into it!!"

The young Aussie gentleman who had been talking to the cashier offered to escort me to my car (lowering my odds to 50% of being consumed alive since coyote might favor foreigners- you know, ethnic food..) When young Aussie dude saw the animal he said- making me feel like a complete idiot- " I think it's just a dog." Then coyote/dog/jackal/dingo whatever loped a few steps in it's weird gate and turned it's very-undomestic-dog face toward us and young Aussie agreeded with my assessment.

I dove into my car, thanked him profusely (the guy,not the coyote)and headed home.

The House on Lavendar Lane

The house I'm living in is on Lavendar Lane, which is off of Desert Flower Way. How lovely is that?


I have my computer set up on the desk now. I'm starting a new online class on Tuesday.

My 5 Star Resort Hotel

If the rating system changed to a possible 100 stars, the 'Airport Travel Inn' could indeed be a 5 star hotel.





I can explain...it was only $200 for the week. It had a refrigerator in the room. It was only five minutes from work... I'm happy to report that I am now living in a beautiful four bedroom home in the upscale suburb of Ahwatukee with a very nice housemate.

South Mountain Hike

My housemate Bob and I went for a hike on South Mountain one recent Sunday evening. If you look really carefully, you can see snow on some of the mountains. It was 40 degrees and rainy my first weekend here. When I first moved to Seattle it was 100 degrees and smoggy. Go figure.

Hooked on Phoenix

Major blogging coming soon.