EPIC TUCSON TRILOGY, Episode I

For a few years now I have wanted to go to sunny and exotic Tucson. The sites! The sounds! The WARMTH! Not to mention I have a gaggle of friends down there that I needed to see.

Getting down there is...ah....a little more than difficult. Between finances sucking really hard, and...well.... the fact that I literally can't get out of bed or the shower due to panic attacks sometimes, traveling 900 miles is rough. Being able to do anything once down there felt impossible. That, and there are giant spiders in Tucson. GIANT ONES! Hairy, scary, spiders. That is terrifying! (Actually, this LINK is terrifying. These are the scaries that live IN TUCSON!) Not to mention scorpions...Did you know they found a NEW species of Scorpion? Because I did. It is the ninth new species found in the last six years. *curls up and cries a little*

Needless to say, it took a little intervention from the Universe, A LOT of bravery, the selling of some things I was not sure I wanted to sell, and the kindness of some very great friends to get me out of my house and down to the sunny locale.

In December of 2012 I was finally able to part with some things that belonged to my Grandfather. This was a lot harder than I was expecting, and I was expecting it to be pretty hard. However, I was able to part with a lot of materials and equipment he obviously no longer needed, and that I was never going to use (he was always the fly-tyer). After paying off some bills, putting some in the bank, and giving some money to my mom, I finally FINALLY had enough money to go to Tucson! YAY!

I do, actually.

I packed my bags! Then I unpacked and re-packed my bags! I think I did this three times, of course stressing out about what I was going to bring, or not bring, or whatever. Would I need lots of socks? How many shoes would I need? Was I going to go to a fancy dinner?
And, of course, I was stressing out about seeing Mr. and Mrs. SassBuckets. I had been friends with The Sass' for years, but, as strange as this is to admit, we had never actually met in person. We became friends through a mutual friend of ours, The Trauma Surgeon (which is a clever nickname, he is not actually a Trauma Surgeon in any sense of the word), who I was also going to visit while on my trip.

So, there I was, ready to go! I was going to fly to Phoenix, take the shuttle to Tucson (the flight to Phoenix saved me roughly $200), then start my adventures with the Trauma Surgeon and the Sass'. All by myself! *struts* I felt pretty brave, let me tell you. I also felt sick, migrainy, and terrified...but I DID feel brave, so we are sticking with that. I managed to get to the airport with the help of my Mum, I got on the plane, and flew to Phoenix! I think I even managed a real nap, instead of a terror induced passing out! YAY!

After that, I found my shuttle, like a big girl, and started the rest of the trek to Tucson. I feel like I should omit that the Trauma Surgeon didn't acknowledge that I was on the shuttle until I was almost in Tucson, which had me terrified I was going to be at some bus stop somewhere in the desert, but...well...he sorta left me hanging for a good few hours while I was en route. 

As a Public Service Announcement, if you are receiving an Agoraphobe, please answer your text messages and/or phone in a timely fashion when they reach out to you. It makes things easier for you and them in the long run. The more you know!  

After a lot of looking at dessert (not at all imagining or searching for spiders), I was picked up safely from the Shuttle Depot, and there I was! In the sun! TUCSON!

Driving through the city to where I was staying was a neat experience. I finally got to see, if only in passing, the University of Arizona, where my amazing Aunt got her Doctorate! I saw a wide variety of Cacti! New places to eat Noms! So much excitement! My first stop on my Epic Tucson Vacation? The POOL! Yup, even though it was the middle of December, it was warm enough to sit by the pool, and that is exactly what I did. I dropped off the precisely packed luggage, and dashed over to the pool, dipped my toeies in, and was relaxed. It was AMAZING!

After a nice toe dip in the pool, the Trauma Surgeon and I hit the town!

***********************************DISCLAIMER***********************************

I have the memory of a Goldfish, AND waited too long to write this all down. I do not remember the specific order of when a lot of stuff happened. You and I should be happy that I remember the events! 

Slushy Air Fresheners. Yup. 

My combo slushi thing

In Arizona, and probably a few other places, they have a place called Eegee's. We don't have these where I am from, so this was an exotic treat! There sammich's were meh, but the slushi thing was delicious! I had a combo slushi thing, and I could have swam in it, it was so good! I should have gotten one of their air fresheners while I was there...Oh well, maybe next time.

We also toured one of the malls, which was...you know...like most malls. HOWEVER, there was a GIANT liquor store in the mall, AND there were *blushes* adult items available. In the mall! Where kids go!
Actually, you can buy booze just about anywhere in Arizona. Grocery stores, gas stations, the mall, everywhere! That was a real "culture" shock from Colorado, where alcohol is still treated like a back alley drug. I wish we could get real alcohol at the market here, that would save a lot of hassle! My little mind was blown!

Beer everywhere! YAY!

They killed Snow, those bastards!

 The next day (again, I don't remember if it was ACTUALLY the next day...but close enough), I was taken to the Reid Park Zoo! I haven't been to a zoo in ages, and this one was neat! This one was laid out a little strangely, but that could just be me and my poor sense of direction, and I did find out some heartbreaking news at that zoo....but otherwise it was a good time. AND! I got a penny squished. I love squishing pennies. It makes for a cheap souvenir, you can keep them all in a little box (or in a scrapbook, if you can figure out how to do that), and I think they are a neat reminder of places you have been. If there is a penny squishing machine someplace, I am there squishing a penny or two. I LOVE THEM!

Mr Meowsers!

Guess which one I got?

One of the big highlights of the zoo was a tiger. Shocking, I know, that my favorite thing was kitty related, but it's true. He was pacing back and forth against his barrier (which was withing reach of me, I COULD have booped tiger nose - and probably would have been bitten), growling and chatting. He was all meowy! I don't know why, I don't speak tiger apparently, but he DID respond to the Universal Cat Call, so that was a huge thrill! I sat and hung out with Mr. Meowsers for as long as I was allowed. I should have tried to boop his nose. I don't need all my fingers...
We also saw otters swimming, panthers lounging, and the sweet new elephant area!

Rose Park

After the zoo we wondered around the nearby park and rose garden. It was so nice to see such lovely flowers in bloom, it was the lift my spirit needed. Roses do wonders for a girl, and a whole park still in bloom in December was stunning. I...may or may not have...taken a fallen bloom. It was already off the flower! I didn't steal it! 

We also wandered around the large Duck Pond, which was indeed filled with ducks and other water fowl, which was neat. There were orange trees! FILLED WITH ORANGES! IN DECEMBER! Tucson is truly a magical place!

This is not the flower I stole

Well kids, that's all for now! In our next episodes, we will travel to TOMBSTONE! See the wonders of Trail Dust Town! Explore the Sonora Desert Museum! We will also make a gingerbread house with a Giant, eat ice cream with a T-Rex, and go shopping with Sass!