It’s a good day when it hails fire

All over the world there is conflict and suffering. If you’ve watched the news over the past couple of months, you know what I’m talking about; the takeover in Honduras, continued missile testing in North Korea, drug cartel violence in Mexico, just to mention a few. And this doesn’t even address the financial trouble affecting nearly every nation with the devaluation of currencies, instability in security markets, and layoffs in virtually every sector of the job marketplace. Or the environmental changes; the NOAA just announced a stronger than expected El Nino for the next 12 months, deadly earthquakes and other natural disasters are becoming more prevalent in more populous areas.

In spite of all of this, I am encouraged by the efforts of our leaders to try and aid systemic recovery. I have to admit that it is a bold undertaking to address the economy with its many moving and interdependent parts, universal healthcare coverage, and continue efforts to exit Iraq and confront other military concerns around the globe. I’m proud to say that I voted for President Obama and hope that he can accomplish all that he has planned.

Takin’ back the yard

Summer is here; it’s hot and relentless but does little to retard drought tolerant plants and trees. So this summer, we decided not to keep the summer grass. Last year we watered, mowed, and edged. But the summer grass in Arizona is similar to ‘crab grass’ other places. The blades of grass are broad and rough. And did I mention that it grows at even the thought of any humidity? It wasn’t nice to play on for the kids so we didn’t do it this year. With that, I assumed that we wouldn’t have much yard care in the backyard this summer as there are only a couple of other bushes and two palm trees. I was crazy wrong!

First let me say that the house next door has been vacant for over a year. The backyard is completely filled with weeds of every sort. Recently they have even been spotted higher than our 6 ft block fence. So you can imagine; put that yard next door with a little wind, a little rain, and us out of town for almost 3 weeks. Yeah, a real disaster and the grass is growing but only in the rocks around the yard.

So, my mission is to regain control over Mother Nature; at least in our yard. It’s not easy (but yard work never is) because it will still be 100 degrees after the kids go down at 8pm. I’m sticking to working when at least the yard is in the shade. A hundred is better in the shade than in the sun; trust me. With any luck, this week will give me enough time in the evenings to get it done. Time to retake the jungle.