Arizona visit

Casey called me about a month ago and asked if I could come visit her. I decided as long as I was going to AZ, I ought to visit Dr Strom at ASU about the progress on my research. After 2 email exchanges I found that not only was I flying out to AZ the end of October to meet with 3 of my 4 committee members, I am flying back in November for my oral defense the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. So I blame Casey for the current craziness of my life, but I thank her for the provocation that is getting my PhD done this semester!
This is the ASU library where I spent many hours studying and searching for literature.

This is the Farmer Education Building. I had classes here, but also spent a lot of time out in front of it waiting for the tram to take me to the parking lot off campus. This bougainvillea plant is 3 stories high!

This the new Computer Commons Building which they finished near the end of my time taking classes at ASU. It is an impressive all glass building and this day the clouds were dramatic, especially reflected in the glass sides of the building.

In July Joe and Shea and Casey and I stopped at Walnut Canyon National Monument just outside Flagstaff, AZ. The trail through most of the Canyon was closed due to a rock slide. When Casey and I returned the first of November, most of the trail was open again, but there were pictures of the large boulder that had smashed one of the benches along the trail. You can see why Casey might look at this large rock with some concern. Chris and Sat Kaur and I hiked this trail when Sat Kaur attended NAU many years ago. Chris and I stopped to look at the scenery and while we were distracted, Sat Kaur disappeared. I asked Chris where she could have gone, in a little bit of a panic, and he uttered those immortal words, "I don't know, she must of jumped." I've told this story often to Joe and to our kids to demonstrate Uncle Chris' sarcastic sense of humor. Another family story about Walnut Canyon was how Nana, who was afraid of heights, started down the trail, but didn't get very far before she had to turn around and wait for us at the observation building at the top of the trail. I loved visiting here because of all the family history! Casey and I had a nice hike out but got rained on going back in.

Cozy house in the mountain side

Casey contemplating the past.

The storm blowing in on us.