Not a snowball's chance in...

...well, you know.

So anyway, this is how we do a snowman in Phoenix.

Been there, done that.

I went to the Wonderland exhibit produced as part of the Phoenix New Times Best of Phoenix on Friday night and it was just what the doctor ordered for my post-retail pre-writer career funk. While I was there, I met a gal who has a couple of businesses in town and after a brief chat, I remembered why I should be counting my lucky stars that I sold my business last year. Not that she isn't doing well, but it is just crazy hard to keep it all going and the economy is pretty much squeezing every last drop of fun out of it right now.

Anyway, at one point I am nibbling a cookie, chatting with a few friends and a couple of new artsy types, telling some story, when I notice it. My girlfriend is nodding along, stifles a yawn, and then she says "Oh yeah, I read that on your blog."

Oh snap!? My blog is stealing my best material! And I don't think I have enough cleverness stored up to be interesting online AND in person.

So what to do? Introduce a time delay? Make stuff up? Cozy up to complete strangers?

Best of Phoenix

Around this time of year, Phoenix starts to shift from oppressive to oasis.

Last week, a friend and I were discussing the ups and downs of what I like to call embracing the cactus. She has lived in four different states, just since I have known her, and moved here just a few months before I did. She thinks it is nice, but really misses the seasons. She thinks the summer is horrendous and isn't totally convinced that Phoenix is a real metropolis. She's from Boston, so I might have to give her that one.

On the other hand, I am still pretty blown away by this place. Yes, you certainly have to admire it with caution. The heat can take you out and the landscape is a little prickly.

But when the summer finally ends, Phoenix is glorious. I have mountain views from my home office window, and soon enough, there will be a cool breeze blowing in as I sit here and type. And while our friends back east are slushing through ice and snow, we'll be hiking the hills and then hanging out in the back yard, steaks on the grill and a gorgeous moon hovering low and amazingly bright. We'll be sitting on patios, a fire crackling nearby, sipping margaritas. We'll be planning road trips and perfecting our horseshoe toss. You know, summer stuff.

We just get to do it from October until May.

Anyway, don't just take my word for it, if you need more proof, check this out.