"Welcome to Arizona, where summer spends the winter...and hell spends the summer"

We made it to Scottsdale Arizona and have spent the past few days acting like we are on vacation! We hiked Camelback mountain, visited the spa, hit up some great pools and checked out some new restaurants. Our apartment is just on the edge of Old Town Scottsdale. Here is a pic taken by Stinker in Old Town.

All great activities except when it is over 105 degrees. Every person who I told I was moving to Arizona in June responded, "don't worry, it's a dry heat." More like a dry-heave.  At least I am getting the worst part of the year over first. But after the temperature passes 100, it doesn't matter if it's dry heat, low humidity, cooler in the shade, etc. These are all excuses west coasters tell themselves in order to grin and bear it. It is hot as hell.

I have quickly learned to drive everywhere, even two blocks (seriously, I don't want to hear about my carbon footprint. I am driving a couple of blocks. Tree huggers should judge those who commute 30 miles each way a day, not my limited vehicle use).  The alternative? Swamp ass. Yup, it lives in dry heat just like it does in the humidity.

I have secured a new job here as in-house counsel in financial services and will be starting later this month, which gives me time to unpack, get settled, get some sun (only if I can make it to the pool between 6-7 AM) and start a new workout routine.  No renters yet in DC but I am still hopeful I will find tenants before the end of the summer.

Today is my first day solo in AZ and everything is going very well. Yesterday I had to send Stinker home to DC and it was very tough to say goodbye. We had a really great and smooth road trip (aside from Erikka's minor panic attack at 10,000 feet on the New Mexico aerial tram) and were fortunate enough to make it through Oklahoma City without encountering any tornadoes. I think that is mostly attributed to the fact that Stinker did all but 3 hours of the driving and I was the DJ.  We had zero fights and only a handful of "disagreements." We have both decided not to be sad that it is over but instead happy that it happened.

JD and I are ready for visitors! So start looking at your calendars...