This weekend was my "free" weekend between jobs, so what did we do? We went to the zoo!
Really, we went to Phoenix for a much needed break from everyday life and the long-awaited visit to see Chris and Jeff. Paul and I drove all night on Thursday and arrived early Friday morning around 3 am. I took the first shift, and Paul took the dreaded second shift. Once we finally got up and around on Friday, Chris, Jeff, Paul and I ate some Chick-fil-A (I LOVE that place) and headed off to try LaserTag for the first time. Paul had played once before with Glenna and Jeff in California, but that had been a team effort game. The LaserTag we played was every man for him- or her-self. Paul and I teamed up to watch each other's back... I might not have been very good at that. I ended up scoring something like 36th place out of 41 people. Paul scored 6th place.
That night we took Christa out to the Melting Pot for her birthday. She had made reservations online and they had a place to mention allergies, so she had put in "peanuts". After getting our drinks at the bar and getting seated at our table, our waiter comes over and says, I hear we need to avoid peanuts. Chris and I looked at each other in amazement- they had reviewed the online request and remembered the allergy issue. Of course we had to add to the list, but all in all, they were terribly accommodating, even bringing out a second boiling pot so Chris could boil her veggies in straight chicken broth. Aside from adding Worstershire sauce in (I guess the waiter did not know that it contained onions, and everything but the kitchen sink), everything went great. He even light the candles I brought in for her 29th birthday! I squashed them onto the poor cheesecake. Nothing beats melted cheese and chocolate for a birthday celebration.
On Saturday we drove out to Flagstaff with the idea in mind to try hiking around there. We drove straight up to a place called Snow bowl. Although it was near 100 degrees in Phoenix, it was a mere 65 at the top of the mountain in Flagstaff. And that wasn't even at the top of where we wanted to go- up the ski lift to about 10,000 ft. Well, thank goodness I needed food, because we sat down and ate and as we were eating the clouds rolled in (it is monsoon season in AZ), and began to rain. The lift was no longer running and it wasn't looking all that fun without rain and winter hiking gear. So we canned that idea. We walked around a little on the open slopes until we thought it was cold and the thunder was close. We drove down the mountain and stopped at another trail head and ended up walking a little way into that hike. It was warmer, protected, and we had passed some of the angry clouds. We didn't stay long on the trail, but we did get a little hike in nonetheless. On the way out of town, we stopped at Strombolli's pizza, and found one of Christa's favorite restaurant chains (to be tasted next time) called Picasso's pizza.
On the drive back, we hit very heavy rains and had trouble seeing the winding curvy road. This is probably why we saw an overturned vehicle on the other side of the freeway. It was obvious the accident had just happened, but people had jumped out to help and a police cruiser was pulling up. It didn't look like anyone was really hurt, although the overturned SUV would probably not work all that well ever again.
Sunday Chris and Jeff had to go to work, so Paul and I got up later, packed our gear into the car and went to visit them at the zoo. We got the star tour of the place, riding on the golf cart like SUPERstars. It was really funny that all the animals perked up when they heard the golf cart... they know it means food. We also got a backstage tour of the new aquarium that is opening up. What an awesome time! Thank you Chris and Jeff for taking so much time out of your workday to show us around!
Am Wochenende vor zwei Wochenende, sind wir (Paul und ich) nach Phoenix fahren. Wir sind da fahren zu sehen meine Schwester, Chris, und siene Mann, Jeff. Ihr Geburstag war am 30 Juni, aber da Wochenende wir feiren. Die erste Tag, wir gehen nach ein LaserTag Spielhalle gegangen. Das war die erst Zeit habe ich gehen. Es war spass, aber habe ich nur in 36th Platz uber nur 41 Luete (und Junge). Paul sind 6th Platz uber alles. Er kann gut Kanone schiessen, ich denke. In der Nacht, gehen wir im MeltingPot fur abendessen. Meine Schwester liebe diese Restaurante viele. Wir essen brot im heisse kase und Erdbeere im dunkel Chocolate.
Am Samstag, sein wir nach Flagstaff fahren. Das war drei Stunde weg. Wan es it mir ein bissen heiss in Phoenix, Flagstaff ist ein bissen kalt. Es war 90+ C in Phoenix aber nur 65 C in Flagstaff, aber es war regnet. Wir moechten Wanderin gehen, aber mit zu viel Blitz and Regen, wir nur ein bissen Wanderin. Also, dann gehen wir im Observatorium. Nacht alles das, wir essen im Pizzeria essen und dann fahren nacht meine Schwester Hause. Ich schlaffe bis bald um Hause kommen.
Am Sonnerstag, unsere latze Tag im Arizona, gehen wir nach meine Schwester under seine Mann arbeit. Sie sind MarieneinfanteristBiologine und arbeit im Zoo und bald, seine Aquarium. In dem Zoo, sehen wir viele Tiele, einschliessen Giraffe und Tigers und Affes!
