90,000 riders help launch Metro light rail

Phoenix Business Journal - Sunday, December 28, 2008:

Ninety thousand people showed up on opening day Saturday as Metro light rail made its debut through Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe.
Curious crowds were out Sunday as well, helping push toward Metro’s prediction of nearly 200,000 riders on the rail line’s first weekend, said Hillary Foose, Metro’s public information officer, who was in the middle of the fray both days.
Security efforts were visible with bomb-sniffing dogs taking a tour of facilities before trains arrived as well as armed Transportation Security Administration officials helping local police make sure Metro light rail’s first day was a safe one.
Saturday’s activities included 12 parties along the line, including a major celebration in downtown Phoenix, she said. Riders waited several hours in line at some stations. "It was a community event, people from across the Valley joined in," she said.Regular service will begin Monday at 4 a.m. and run through midnight, however, regular fees will not take effect until Jan. 1. For more: www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail.

We were a part of the historic grand opening on Saturday, standing in line and traveling the light rail with standing room only crowds, enjoying a wonderful winter day in sunny Phoenix.

Christmas Day 2008

From our house in Phoenix, Arizona to you; Heidi & I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas 2008 !!!

Merry Christmas from Arizona

This is cactus Christmas decorations...yes, that is right it is Santa hats on a spinney cactus. What better way to say, "Merry Christmas from Arizona" than this?

Best Wishes for 2009, Also

Cowboy Christmas

A real cowboy Christmas is one you don't want to miss when you live in the southwest part of the country. And the Rock'n R Ranch, a working fourth generation family cattle ranch, is the place to go! You will witness a western town shootout, Doctor Pessco's Wild West Elixir skit, have a cold beer in the old saloon and get a genuine cowboy dinner show including beef, beans, apple sauce, muffins and very hot "cowboy coffee" served on genuine tin plates and cups from the chuck wagon. It is about half way through the dinner show that you realize everyone serving you to this point is on stage, singing and or playing a musical instrument, and is a member of this very talented musical family who owns and operates the Rock'n R Ranch, right down to 23 year old Chelsea belting out "Rock'n Round the Christmas Tree". (She will open for Travis Tritt when he is in Phoenix in February). The talent seems absolutely endless. For 25 bucks a person you get a pretty tasty meal and nearly an hour and 1/2 dinner show. What a blast! Heidi's folks (Jack & Vivian) really hit a home run on this one and it is good clean family entertainment. Sometimes it is good to just let your hair down and try something new. Our Rock'n R Ranch experience is a Christmas occasion we will not soon forget!

By the way, you will notice that we have winter jackets on. This is because it was cold outside...Yes, I said it was cold in Arizona. I have found that when the sun goes down in the desert, it gets very cold, very quick...so it was about 38 degrees by the time the show started. But before you laugh at me too much (for all my friends back in Michigan) the daytime highs here are running in the 60's and sunny. I have yet to have to shovel any sunshine here!

New Family Member

Meet Alex, the newest member of the Dvorak Family. He is Rob & Erin Dvorak's new dog. They live at Ft. Greely, Alaska. Alex is a Christmas present for Rob. Isn't he cute?? (I mean the dog!)

He is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever!!! 2 1/2 months old with blue eyes.

Christmas Wishes

We send you best wishes for Christmas this year,
Our message is sent from a place not near.
Go west, they said, to the land of the sun,
We now live where people vacation ‘n have fun!

Michigan is doomy, gloomy and bland.
Arizona has many opportunities at hand.
Downsize, we did, from a house to apartment,
So some of our things are still in a compartment.

The boys, J and Rob, are both where it’s cold
Alaska and the Army is where they can be bold.
A new daughter-in-law, Erin, we have found,
that Robert is her solid ground.
It’s not easy being a bride in the cold Alaska surround.

Our dog Abby likes the winter so far
She can run and play and even chase the car.
It’s a dog’s life for her, and what can we say?
With no snow and cold, there is more time to play!

To our friends who we miss,
and to Samantha a candy kiss,
“Merry Christmas to all”, she insists.
(Not being with our granddaughter is our only remiss).

So Phone calls, E-mails and even post cards,
Please send us all of your regards.
To keep us in touch for all to see
That your love and friendship gives us great glee!

So Christmas, this year is just not the same,
But it’s just as sweet as we lay claim,
To the one who’s life he gave for our shame
That Christ, we live to acclaim.
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”; as we exclaim!

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas & All the best in 2009!

Mike & Heidi

Scottsdale Christmas

We have had a very nice Thanksgiving, with a nice dinner at Heidi's folks with her sister Wendy (along with a couple of new friends). The weather took a turn for the worse over the Thanksgiving Holiday...it became mostly cloudy, rainy and cold with temps in the upper 60's. (I know, it sounds like I'm bitch'n to all our friends in the Mid-West who are dealing with below freezing and snow! But, in the 40 days that I have been in Arizona, it has only rained 3 days, and one of those days was for only 12 minutes, then the sun came out and was warm!) But really it is welcomed relief for Arizona, were for the first time in nearly 90 days they have had measurable rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. So when it gets cloudy and rain it feels really COLD!

...Any way, today was back to blue sky and 70's, so we went to Scottsdale. We sat outside at two places and had a drink and some great conversation, just enjoying ourselves. Then it was to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall for some shopping. Didn't buy much, but it was a great time to people watch and relax. Here is a picture of a Christmas lighted palm tree...a lot of these out here this time of the year.

I've been listening to Holiday music on a 24/7 FM radio station to try to get into the mood of Christmas. It is hard to do that without snow and with temperatures like summer back in Michigan. But, I'm cooping! I still hate shoveling snow and haven't had to do that here! I'm considering that a Christmas present in itself! LOL

Below is an example of a typical Arizona day: ...and the weatherman's 10 day forecast is for much of the same, "Sunny and 70!" I'll do a couple of days of cold and rain for a minimum of 10 days like this, anytime.
Michigan weather today? Snow :(




(picture courtesy of Doug Edwards)

Michigan Deer Hunting

In honor of the traditional 1st day of Firearms Deer Hunting Season in Michigan, I wore the T-shirt from last year's deer camp on the black river in Onaway, Michigan. My son Robert, Doug Edwards along with his son Brian hunted last year, harvesting 2 deer. This year one 4 point buck was taken by Brian. Here, also is a shot from camp last year. These are fond memories of camp and the great times we had together. We hope it will not be our last!

Arrival to the Land of Sun

Following a 3 day road trip with Abby (my yellow Lab) and good friend Bob Hoschner we have arrived to the Phoenix, Arizona area and my new digs in the dog friendly apartment complex.

Bob and I solved all the world's problems on the road trip, so no need to worry about the future! Bob is returning back to Michigan in the morning.

Just think, I won't have to shove snow again! Life is grand.

Lifetime Best Friends

This is the time of year that Michigan shows all of its splender. The sky is very blue and Mother Nature is wearing her best colors. ...and I'm with my best friends Doug Edwards (left) and Fred Stanuszek (right). We are standing on a dock at the harbor at Oscoda, Michigan. We spent a nice evening over a good grilled New York strip steak dinner, then out on the lake for some salmon fishing. Only one hit on a line and not a single fish boated, but it is all about the fellowship and the time together.

This is the last time for quite awhile that I will have a chance to spend with these guys. Heading to AZ, for good, soon.