somebody told me that her name was jill

So, last winter was crazy here in Northern Arizona. On top of being all but snowed in for what seemed like forever, the roof of our local ice rink collapsed. Then, my favorite book store of all time - the place where REM's Michael Stipe walked up and started talking to me  - met with a similar fate.

This year, with the official start of winter just days away, locals are walking around in t-shirts, hanging laundry out on the line and doing Christmas shopping in flip-flops. It’s crazy again! But in a different way!

Yesterday, while feeding the horses, I heard a chirping and trilling overhead. When I looked up, I saw a decisively spring-looking songbird hanging out on a telephone wire. Get thee to Phoenix before the snow comes, Little Buddy! I found myself thinking. There’s even green grass on my property still, and bumblebees flitting around now and then. Seems nature herself is as befuddled as the rest of us.

I do love t-shirt weather in December, though it’s sad to see how thoroughly it has harshed the collective mellow of local skiers and snowboarders.

Oh! And speaking of t-shirts…I don’t know if I’ve just been watching too much Glee, or what, but I have songs in my heart lately. A lot of them are, um, interesting songs, too, like this Paul Anka classic sung by Finn. And it’s 70’s songs like these that get me in the mood to share one of my most treasured possessions with all of you. Now, I don’t want to, you know, brag or anything. I know the economy has been rough for a long time now, and not everyone can have something so...special.

But here it is anyway:

I have just four words for you: Da. Doo. Ron. Ron.Follow @nicole_mcinnes

'tude tuesday: down from every ledge

Try blasting Xtina on the iPod when you're working the hip adductor machine at the gym, and see if it doesn't give your workout a boost. This particular video is for you, MP. You know why. (But why was there no swimsuit footage?)

It's Tax Time Countdown here at AWAAR, Folks - and there's been extra special, added excitement this year. But, hey. Throw in the good man Ms. Aguilera sings about, some good friends and a good (if ever-so-slightly neurotic) dog, and you (I) can tackle anything, right?

Right?

Here's to survival - tax-related and otherwise. Without it, no attitude at altitude would be even remotely possible.Follow @nicole_mcinnes

w.o.k. wednesday update

Here are the rink pictures I promised...just a few of the things I think of when I think of ice skating (other than the time I opened my knee up on a protruding nail when skating as a youngster...or the time my mother de-pantsed the guy skating in front of her while desperately reaching for something to grab onto for balance...).

Behold the feet of a teacher and her charges:

...and said charges flailing at a vain attempt to gain purchase on the ice:

...and the cuteness overload that is a single, pink monkey glove:

...and the sheer joy of ice lounging:



...and, finally, the awesome, manly power that can be known by one name and one name only:

ZAMBONI.

So, who can tell I've been working on taxes all day?

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bad mare day

Uh oh.

It looks like Sparkle Wedding Pony and all her My Little Pony friends partied a little too hardy at Sparkle's bachelorette party:




The groom is NOT amused:



But wait! All Sparkle and her friends need is an aspirin or two, and some Cowboy Magic mane and tail detangler (not just for real horses anymore!)...

Hooray! The wedding's back on. The groom forgives Sparkle, and all the pony friends look fabulous once again!

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