So today I officially launch my Arizona Blerg Blog and I am excited to be back in the practice of writing. Today also marks our living in Arizona for one full month and as I look at all I have been able to accomplish I have to say it feels pretty rewarding. Like a crazy long list of things to do now has more checks than empty squares.  Let me show you. Pretty please. With like cherries and stuff?

• Franky and I both are gainfully employed. I am not sure how much “gain” it will be but the fact remains we get up early and head out to work. For that, I’m grateful. I love my job at Childsplay in Tempe. It’s full of wonderfully kind people who care just as much about the good Theatre for Young Audiences can do for our youth as I do. They are equally as justifiably outraged when people say, “It’s just kids. It’s not “adult” theatre.” They will be my tribe. (But word to my RTAA tribe out there who may be reading – you are ALWAYS my home and heart!) Franky is driving trucks and hauling “fluff” (which is very ground up metal) for recycling. It’s a good job and as always, he works hard, does a great job, and comes home tired but happy!
• I have successfully learned to navigate the Phoenix highway system. And let me tell you that is a lot of highway. Phoenix is a big beautiful spread out metropolis. It operates on a very well designed grid-system but every single one of those miles is jam-packed with cars during the rush hours. Jam. Packed. I used to drive 2 miles to work each day and it took me about five minutes. I now drive about 30 miles and it takes me an hour on a good day and going home about and hour and 15 to 30 minutes. I was spoiled. I now use my GPS like an Uber driver. And I am all about knowing that if the 10 has construction and a bad accident (almost daily btw…) that I should take the 101 to 51 or the 17 and then hit the 10 at the end – go through the tunnel to the 202 loop East and exit on Priest Drive. Coming home I just give up and get on the freeway – put a book on audio and try not to cry.
• I now have Audible on my phone. See above…
• We got a new bank. That is a big deal. We even “shopped” for a bank. Since our bank isn’t here in state we had to go in and find out which bank was best for us. It never ceases to amaze me how people base customer service on their first impression of you.  We picked the bank that treated us like we worth talking to, big shock. Adulting. Blerg.

• 

  The Arizona DMV. Let me just tell you that my experience, I can only speak to mine, is that AZ DMV should give lessons to the CA DMV.  I got my new license, new plates/registrations for my car and our trailer, registered to vote and be a donor AND exchanged pleasantries with the nicest employee all in about 20 minutes and with no wait. They opened at 8 but when we got there at 7:45 am expecting a long-line they were already open and welcomed us in to get things going. Huh? Where am I? Oh and my license expires in like 2048 or some crazy thing and we registered our car and truck for 2 years and trailer for 5 for less money than one year would have cost us on Frank’s truck alone. VERY great way to start out a change of address. I was even walking around looking to see if they were hiring. The thought, “This looks like a nice place to work”, ran through my mind as I exited skipping to my car in joy. Joy I tell you. At the Arizona DMV.

• We’re settled in. We’ve put too much stuff in a storage unit that is way too small. We’ve been to Walmart and yes Denise, people are the same where ever you go. 😉 I found a nail place and a hair stylist, which are big deals to an aging vain woman. We’ve met neighbors and helped Frank’s parents, found places to eat and places not to eat, decided which grocery store is the best and gotten most of our mail handled.

While the months to come will be filled with hot temperatures, finding a house, and missing my friends and family terribly, I have a great comfort in my heart. It feels like I belong here. It’s a weird experience for me. To know I left everything I knew and loved most in the world to move here.  And to somehow feel the peace that it is exactly what was supposed to happen. I try to be mindful of what I want for our future.  I visualize me writing more. I can see that somehow all of this is towards some bigger dream I have coming.  I picture the ultimate dream:

I’m sitting at the desk in my “library” in front of a big window with a view of the beautiful red rocks, saguaros, and ocotillos while the sun rises, drinking my coffee and writing a play.

I’m getting closer, in fact one month closer today.