The Rain In Phoenix

When it rains, it pours.....for about five minutes. The boys were outside making paper airplanes this evening. Naturally, I grabbed my camera and tried to get a few pictures. After blinding them with flash (it was low light) and trying various settings and coming up with nothing decent, the rain started in. Lightning, thunder and a nice downpour. The boys watched the rain out on the front patio for a few minutes before going inside. We were inside for about two minutes and all the waterworks stopped. I was disappointed because as a transplanted Phoenician, rain is like manna from heaven. It is blissful (as long as you aren't driving in rain with other Phoenix drivers) and you just have to be outside in it.

My favorite Phoenix rain story was in our old Tempe apartment. It was in the evening and the skies opened up. Thomas and I ran out the door at the exact moment Jess and Tew ran out. It was as if none of us had seen water falling from the sky. Rain, glorious rain.

Most folks I know are fed up with the heat by this point. We hear 100 degrees and cheer because it is NOT 109 degrees. And anything in the 90's is considered refreshing. And that is what we are all waiting on, the 90 degree mark.

Meanwhile, the heat was also frying the brains of our young charges, who willfully decided against naps. As parents, we should have enforced naps as usual. However, (and this was me, not Tom) I decided to let Ian either skip nap and go to bed early or take a nap and hang out until normal bedtime. What a backfire. I schlepped him to the store after he literally hung like a monkey off of my arm while I talked to Stacy on the phone. Once I hung up, he proceeded to stalk me with a fire truck and so I figured keep him busy would help. He enjoyed the craft store, started falling asleep in the cart at the grocery store. He was unpleasant to deal with for most of the evening and I take credit for that. He was tired and crabby.

Connor was in his crib for an hour, but never slept. He also was of crabby nature for the rest of the day, crying through most of dinner. The two of them were in bed at 7pm, but not done with the festivities. It was the battle of the tears and who could cry the louder and with the most pathetic undertone. For an hour. Really. Both of them. Actually, Connor gave up about a half hour into it.

I spent the rest of the evening completing all my lesson plans for the next two weeks (no plans needed until October 18 now!) and then I took out all of the bill/tax/important papers to sort, discard and refile.

Tomorrow, I need to get my emissions test done on my car. The ghettomobile is still riding along, but I am actively researching newer cars. My favorite so far is the Toyota RAV-4 and I like the new Honda CR-V's that are completely out of price range. Until I find an outrageously great deal, the Geo will keep on keepin' on. My husband is not excited about me getting a newer car, but he will not even drive it much at all. He is hopeful to pay off other bills and let my car rot into the ground first. But I drive precious cargo and I think the time is a-coming to for something safer and better. Example: Today I drove to IKEA a good half hour away on tires that were almost flat. That is my fault, but I think we just filled them up. The transmission is also giving me whiplash. Ian thinks I am actually driving that way on purpose because it's fun. So, I am going to register the car to live on for a bit longer.

Well, it's 1am and I should get some sleep because a certain little Connor is waking up at 4:49am (today) and 5:30am (Friday) hungry and ready to start his day.

"Morning's here, morning is here."
"Stop singing!"
"But morning's here!"
"It's Saturday!" (for T, who knows exactly the song and the episode. J&T probably do too.)