The Weekend

Saturday morning I got up early and met Gail, a coworker, for a hike around Piestwa Peak. We didn't actually hike to the summit but took a quieter, less travelled path. We took Bentley and he did amazingly well for such a little guy. The weather was incredible - sunny and cool. The highlight for me was getting to know Gail better.

I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the house. I finally got rid of a giant pile of boxes that had been collecting in the garage. I made a trip to the dump and got all the cardboard in a huge recycling bin. (I sure hope they recycle that stuff and don't just dump it in the landfill.) Oh, and as I was driving out of the dump, trying not to gag when the wind blew my direction, someone driving into the dump whistled at me! Come on! I'm at the dump. Do you really think you're going to pick me up?! Geez.

Saturday night I went to see The Civilization of Maxwell Bright, which was showing as a part of the Scottsdale International Film Festival. It was an excellent movie. A little raw because it's an independent film but the story was incredible. It made me cry. After the movie, the lead actor, Patrick Warburton, and the producer, Steven Wolfe, held a question and answer session. I didn't stay for the whole session because I was still crying too much about the movie. I really should remember to take kleenex with me to the theater especially when I don't know what the movie is about.

After the movie I treated myself to sushi at Kyoto. The sushi was good, but not as good as the place in Ahwatukee (south Phoenix) the week before. I think it was called Sakana. After dinner I headed to Rogue, a bar that was full of hipsters. The dj, William F-ing Reed, isn't quite as good as he's written up to be in the paper. But it was fun to watch the crowd, tap my toe to the music, and laugh at all the long hair. (When did 70's rockstar hair become cool again? That's one fad I'm definitely too old for.) I met, Ryan, who's lived here long enough to practically be a local. When things got too busy at Rogue, he took me to Ky's Place, which is definitely the most punk rock bar I've been to in ages. The crowd was cool and the conversation good, so I'll definitely be back again.

Sunday I spent the morning recovering from a hangover and folding clothes. I let the clean laundry pile up and I probably had 5 loads to put away. sunday afternoon I headed off to the mall to pick up some clothes for work. I had an amazingly successful trip and am quite pleased with the new wardrobe. OK, I didn't really buy a whole new wardrobe, but I did feel like a clothes horse as I dragged multiple, bulging bags out of the mall.

Sunday night I went to the circus. OK, not the circus you'd think about normally but a musical, rock and roll circus. I saw The Yard Dogs Road Show. It was definitely the best mix of music and performance I've seen with a carnival theme. I was highly entertained and sad when it was over. There were dancers, a sword-swallower, a snake oil selling caller, an accordian-playing tap dancer, a rockstar, a fire-eater, and a washed-up boxer (whose song was probably my favorite). If this show comes to your town, I'd highly recommend you see it!