On Our Way to the "Big Hole" (aka Grand Canyon)

Sunday morning in Williams, AZ and time to head to the Grand Canyon. However, before we board the train, there was this neat, little "Old West" skit in the town. There were the 3-4 town "rowdies", a sheriff trying to keep order and the typical guy from the crowd who gets roped into the "controversy". Pretty funny . . .


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. . . . until someone gets shot! Well, it ain't an "Old West" event until someone tries to get in the face of the sheriff.


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On the train from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon. This was a nice, cool day for a ride . . . in an un-air-conditioned train! It really wasn't too bad. The only drawback was the dirty air that come into the car from the locomotive. Good thing we don't smoke . . .


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At the Canyon . . .

Don't lean back! Patrick and Shannon with a great view of the Canyon behind us. We really enjoyed the limited time that we had to walk around the South Rim area during the afternoon.


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View from the South Rim. The valley down the middle of the photograph isn't the bottom of the canyon, but there is a drop-off that does go all the way to the floor and the Colorado River.


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We are not quite sure what kind of little bird this was, or why he was so willing to let us get close for a picture! Anyone know this species?


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These FAT (no, not PHAT) squirrels were running around all over the place. The rangers told us that we were not to feed them, although it appears that some tourists did not listen quite well enough. These little, enlarged rats with big tails would pretty much come right up to you and, say, "YO! How 'bout a little grub down heeyyah!!" Reminds me of another little friend of ours, Walt (Tracy) Baxter. :-)


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Another cool picture of the canyon with a storm approaching from the north rim.


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Maybe the best picture of the trip that allows a bit of a view down to the bottom of the canyon and the Colorado River. Time to head back to the main South Rim area and onto the train back to Williams, AZ. We really enjoyed this two-day, one-night package from The Grand Canyon Railway service, and we would recommend it to anyone with not-so-much time in the area. Onto Vegas, baby, VEGAASSSSSS!


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Moving farther north from Phoenix and past Montezuma's Castle, we passed through the Sedona, AZ mountain area and community. We had heard of the area but had no idea of some of the stunning beauty and intricate formations around the area!


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Another cool Sedona mountain picture . . . the "redness" of the rocks seemed to just appear out of nowhere!


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Kinda out of nowhere, it started to rain but it made the mountains seemed even more mysterious.

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Another stop on the way to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.


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Another cool picture from the Coconino Nat'l Forest

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This was pretty funny . . . A sign display in the Coconino Forest. Don't bust the crust, man!!!


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In between Phoenix and the northern areas of Sedona and Flagstaff was this National Park Service area called Montezuma's Castle. This was a very neat community built into the mountains by a native culture sometime around 400-500 years ago. We walked around here for about an hour and really enjoyed the cool "architecture".


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Patrick spreading the "Georgia Tech Basketball love" at the base of Montezuma's Castle. ;-)


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Shannon showing some equitable "Tar Heel love" on Montezuma's Castle.


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Even better, more detailed look at the levels of Montezuma's Castle. The public isn't allowed to walk around in there, but you can still get a good idea of the various nooks and crannies.


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This was a sorta neat, sorta cheesy miniature display that showed how the inhabitants would have lived inside the community.


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ON THE ROAD TO FLAGSTAFF

Very cool sundial out in the desert north of Phoenix on our way towards Sedona and Flagstaff.


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Yummy, breakfast at the Cave Creek Coffee Co. was dee-lish. Of course, looking at the cars in the parking lot, I wasn't sure if we were in 2005 or 1948. That's a great looking car out front (even with the flat front right tire).


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Nothing better than a morning paper and coffee . . . especially when its supposed to be 106 degrees for the high today.


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GRADUATION DAY

Woo-hoo! We're done . . . no more teachers, no more books, no moooorrrrreeee . . . . oh whatever. It's dang hot out here and I'm dressed in all black polyester. Let's get in the car!


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Marching offstage after getting the . . . pretty much blank piece of paper. Turns out they mailed my diploma a few weeks after finishing my last class and the program assessment exam.


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Marching into the arena . . . Let's play "Where's Patrick?" Did you win?


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In the (very hot!) cap and gown at the America West Arena. This was a pretty cool feeling, kind of a big symbol that I am finally done! Naturally, Shannon looks great!


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Time to head to graduation! In the hotel lobby before heading to the ceremony in downtown Phoenix.


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The Carefree Resort & Spa (Carefree, AZ)

Cool view of the courtyard and pool area of the Carefree Resort just north of Scottsdale, AZ. Would you believe that it's a "dry" 108 degrees during this picture?


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More cacti around the hotel.


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More desert flora and landscape . . . which is really just what the resort "chooses" to keep and what to remove to make the place look good. I wonder what it would be like to hit a golf ball out of this?


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Cool-looking cactus on the hotel's property. Not sure what this is called, or if the red-berry-looking bulbs on top are edible or contain some sort of useful liquid (like the stuff used to make tequila?).


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First night at the Carefree Resort . . . Cool picture of Shannon at sunset. The temps were not bad at all at night, which made going out and enjoying the evening a lot of fun. Went to a great restaurant tonight called "Javelina Cantina" in northern Scottsdale. Great ambiance and amazing salsa (that even Patrick liked!).



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HARRY POTTER "PREMIER" NIGHT

Shannon, along with Patrick's sister, Amanda, get into the "Harry Potter Spirit" during the July 15 premiere of the sixth installment in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", at our local (Ponce de Leon Ave.) Borders bookstore. The glasses are a hoot . . . Shannon got these at the last book premiere in 2003.

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Okay, this picture of Amanda and the Harry Potter "lightning bolt scar" was too hilarious not to put on the 'Blog. She's going to kill me for posting this . . . What are big brother's good for???

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What is Amanda doing with that weird-looking, bra-shaped thing in her hand? Is that something from Harry Potter?

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Ahh, I see . . . the bra-shaped contraption is a cut-out mask. I am told that this character is "Dobby, the House Elf". I would consider an alternative name of "Patrick, the complete idiot". This would be the first and last bit of hilarity at the expense of Patrick for the evening. Of course, this picture has already made it's way around the Internet to Patrick's buddies, so they have had their good jollies over the whole ordeal.

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There would be several news organizations on hand for the Harry Potter premiere tonight . . . Shannon ended up on "CNN Saturday AM" as part of several clips and a short quote! I believe that her quote that was used was something about Harry Potter books being "fun for all ages". Oh boy.

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More characters of the evening at Borders for the Harry Potter premiere . . . The kids really seemed to be having a great time with the whole experience. Of course, there were other regular customers there in the Borders cafe, like the man in the background who seems to be saying to himself, "I really have to lay off the ripple at the next 5 p.m. happy hour. I've somehow passed out and it's now Halloween."

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