I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore, Toto

After an unexpected ten hour lay-over in Atlanta, I finally made it out of Eastern Standard Time, and arrived safely in Tucson. My brand new luggage sustained mortal damage, but at least my book signing clothes for the Vegas Tower Builder signing gig made it. My incredible brother in law retrieved me from the Tucson airport at 1 a.m., and the next morning, sister Amy and I went on a five mile hike through the desert. She is in the photo above. She is my partner in crime in many adventures. (She is a minor star in my new book, Joe-The Horse Nobody Loved, and as always, provides necessary comic relief.) We saw a coyote on the hike, but he skittered away before I even had time to freak out.

Amy's home comes complete with cute grandchildren.

And the Sonoran desert, where Amy lives comes full of fun activities. After our hike, we headed out to the desert museum, and saw all kinds of native life, not to mention spectacular views.

And then, as if we had not had fun (and sun) enough, we went to the Sonoran Desert National Park and saw the Petroglyphs carved in stone by ancient desert inhabitants, the Hohokams. Again, a lovely hike with lots of signs warning of rattlesnakes (as Amy and Jim said, they didn't think the rattlesnakes could read so we didn't need to worry.)

Again, spectacular views. You can see a petroglyph just over my elbow on the right side of the picture. Notice all the sajuaro cactus in the distance. They ONLY grow in this small section of the Sonoran desert.
Next stop, Marshalls Department store to return the luggage and replace it with a new one. They cheerfully did so, though it was not nearly as exciting an adventure as seeing the cactus in bloom.(yes, lucky me, they are just beginning to bloom, a once a year magnificence!)
Today, Amy and I head to Vegas for my book signing.
Spiritual message: love family. They are God's gift.
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1 Timothy 5:8 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.