Reflections on AZ

Good to be back in VT, but as I mentioned, we had fun in AZ. The heat was ridiculous, but it’s important to remember that many people hate the cold in VT, and they live here! I’m personally a fan, but that’s just me.

AZ was actually fun with the kids, but it took a lot of legwork on the part of dad, and it’s not in any way like real life. If you had to live in AZ and function in that heat on a daily basis, I can’t help but think you’d grow weary of it. Spending all that time in an air-conditioned space is not only unnatural, but it can’t be healthy. Plus, you can’t swim in a pool all day.

I just want to mention that when we landed in NH, the kids said it felt good to be back, a triumph for me. I think part of the allure of AZ was that we went to places that we don’t normally visit at home. There was an amusement park that was a lot of fun for everyone, though again, you get cooked out in that sun. It was called CrackerJax, and it was the kid’s dream come true. Go-carts, bumper boats, miniature golf, and lots of junk food. The heat was so excruciating that at one point, even A said she felt like passing out. We had to constantly keep hydrating ourselves, which wasn’t easy.

Now for whatever reason, N got it in his head that he wanted to play golf. Don’t ask me where that came from, because I have some issues with that game, especially in a place like AZ, where they must waste unconscionably amounts of water to maintain those golf courses. They must have a few dozen in the Phoenix area, just ridiculous. They have to water them constantly, not to mention all the chemicals to keep the grass pristine, and the gas needed to maintain them. Plus, they waste huge amounts of land, all to hit a little ball into a hole. They have the same issues here in VT, where there are two courses nearby and they leach enormous amounts of fertilizer and weed killer into the river. Shameless.

Anyway, N’s interest got piqued. I kept telling him that golf isn’t easy, and the real game is nothing like mini-golf, but he was undeterred. So at some point, we snuck over to the driving range and hit a few buckets. Speaking of wasting water, at the driving range, they spray a constant mist of water over the golfers to keep them cool and comfortable in the 110 degree heat. N did pretty well with the driving, and he looked too cute for words out there. I even hit a few, though I hooked every one of them. A even gave it a go, though she wasn’t that interested and gave up after a couple of tries.

The most fun for the kids were the cars and boats, because they were motorized and they got to drive. It was a bummer for N because he’s still too young to drive the big cars, so he sat next to me in the two-seater, the next best thing. A had a blast, and she must have driven at least a dozen times. We had unlimited ride tickets, so she could pull it off. It was impressive watching her, she really went for it, and made some nice passes, even past me!

N got to ride in the kiddie cars, though they are slower and the track is smaller. Even still, you get the gas/brake experience, and it’s a start. In a couple of years, he’ll get to ride the big kid cars. Truth be told, I think he was way too young to handle them, because they take some strength to maintain control, and the pedals are at an adult distance.

The boats were fun because they got to do it together, and it was wet and cool. Because it was Tuesday, the crowds were not as bad, so they could easily jump back on and go again and again. There were, however, enough kids to make it fun and enjoyable and allow me to sit in the shade and watch. I actually went over and hit a few balls at the batting cage, though my shoulder acted up, and it was too darn hot (wah-wah!)

The park is smart because they write the time on the wristbands, which are only good for 4 hours. The beauty of this for me is that departure time is set, and they can’t argue with me and beg to stay longer. By 2:00, it was time to go, and they had to comply. We got some ice water, loaded into the scorching hot car, and went to In N Out Burger, my dream come true. The kids loved it, and it sure felt good to bite into a Double-Double. We had milkshakes afterward, and the kids even complained that it was too much food. Say no more.

After our exciting day at the CrackerJax, we did what any sane person would do and hit the pool. After cooling off for an hour, we picked up mom from her meeting, got some dinner, and then retired to our air conditioned room.

I have to confess that I’m proud to say that we did not turn on the TV in our room once. Not one single time. How’s that for a family vacation?

More on the Science Museum later. For the record, it was the nicest science museum that I had ever been to. It was huge!

Until the next time, thanks for reading.