Our return to Arizona on September 1 was met by day after day of triple digit temperatures making me (not Walt..........he kept saying "it wasn't bad") become a hermit. It has been so hot I thought I should take the cute plant Bailey made for me inside to let it cool off.
All I wanted to do was be inside, under an air conditioner waiting for the day that the heat would break.
Thankfully there were activities to take me out now and then. We went to a University of Arizona football game in Tucson to see our granddaughter march in their band, The Pride of Arizona.
She plays the trumpet and is enjoying the college life being busy and involved. We were treated to a nice monsoon rainstorm that stopped not long after the game began so we enjoyed the cool air.
We have been to two granddaughter's and one grandson's volley ball games and to high school football games to see another grandson march in the band. Cynthia has prepared wonderful dinners for us and we have enjoyed watching the Boise State games at Kevin and Kim's. So I guess I have ventured out some.
We have been treated to some of those incredibly colorful Arizona skies.
Finally.......... a day that the temperature did not go over 100. Time to venture out. We headed to downtown Phoenix.
This is the building that I worked in at Kevin's office when we first moved to Arizona in 2008. I really liked being downtown but the commute wasn't always fun.
Love these Arizona cities chairs in one of the buildings lobbies.
This condo building has been on my radar for years. Right downtown, just steps away from the Diamondbacks ball park and the Suns arena. Close to restaurants and there is even starting to be some downtown shopping. If you need a Phoenix sticks and bricks home I think this is the place.
Even though we have driven past the Arizona State Capitol numerous times since we moved to Arizona we had never been through it. This was a perfect time to do that.
Construction of the Capitol began in 1898, and it was completed for use in 1901. Since Arizona did not become a state until 1912 it was originally home to the Territorial Government.
Initially all three branches of the new state government occupied the four floors of the statehouse.
As the state expanded the branches relocated to adjacent buildings and additions.
The 1901 portion of the Capitol is now maintained as the Arizona Capitol Museum.
The building is made largely from materials indigenous to Arizona, including malapai, granite, and the copper dome.
The design is optimized for the desert climate of Arizona, with thick masonry walls that insulate the interior, skylights, and round "bullseye" clerestory windows.
The cost of the building was approximately $136,000.
The Capitol Museum's website warns......"Tip: When you visit the museum, you'll note that it isn't especially fancy or hi-tech. This building is deliberately very simlar to the original, so don't expect fancy lighting or big screen videos. The goal here is authenticity."
I was a little confused at the decor. The majority is traditional territorial that befits Arizona but here and there were pastels, dentil work, gold leaf, and in one place plaster flowers.
Like the Nevada Capitol I was disappointed that it wasn't a working Capitol. I love seeing Capitol's that are still in use with the hustle and bustle of the states government business.
The grounds are really nice with several statues and memorials.
This is the Navajo Code Talkers statue. Its base carries plaques with the code talkers’ names and a history of their service in World War II.
From the Capitol we headed to Chase Field for an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game.
Walt really enjoys baseball and has faithfully followed the Diamondbacks...........win or lose. Recently that has been more lose than win.
We got there early enough to have dinner before the game. Friday's has a location at Chase Field that is called Friday's Front Row. It is open all year round so if you come to Phoenix when the baseball season is over you can see the field anytime from Friday's. We were early enough to watch batting practice.
They were playing the Houston Astros.
Since it was a pleasant evening the roof was open. Interesting that even with the roof open the air conditioning continues to blast. I like seeing the sky and watching the planes pass overhead.
The game was pretty painful for Diamondback fans. The Astros scored 3 in the first which set the tone for the game.
By the 8th inning the score was Astros 21 Diamonbacks 3.
By this time they had quit warming up pitchers in the bullpen. The crowd entertained themselves by booing, laughing and cheering wildly if something good actually happened.
But, as a southern lady would say "Bless their hearts, those Diamondbacks never gave up."
They didn't let the Astros score in the 9th and put two on the board for them. What a baseball score....21-5.
The night was finished by a short fireworks display.
Despite the loss we had a really nice day. Good to be out and about in the great state of Arizona.
"How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em."
Shel Silverstein