Cacti, dust and lightning

Well, it's a desert. Really.

I made it to Tucson on Tuesday, poised for the start of packing up my friend Julie's stuff and rolling back to Norman later in the week. When flying in to Tucson I wondered who came up with the idea of living in a veritable arid wasteland. Not that the terrain is uninteresting, it's quite compelling, actually. Just seems kind of an extreme environment from which to launch a civilization. But so is Tatooine and we all know what good things come from there.

But Julie's living in the dorms here at the Univ. of Arizona (git 'er wildcatted!) for her internship at Kitt Peak Observatory. The campus is nice. Lots of Spanish architecture. Stucco and terra cotta dominate the campuscape. And palm trees. Much different than your oaks and maples that bolster OU's grounds.

Ironically, a big thunderstorm fronted Tucson last night, with MUCH lightning and some hearty precipatation. I thought it odd that I should leave Oklahoma for Arizona and get rained on upon my arrival to the desert.


Flying in to Tucson. Pretty desolate. The green circle is a golf course.






This is some of the only green grass I've seen here. I can't imagine how much water this turf drinks to keep its color.




The university's campus corner.


Oasis of life: Trader Joe's. How I've longed for your wholesome goodness since visiting your well-stocked aisles in Seattle.


$3 for bottles of wine! I also got various samplings of delectable nut butters (cashew, soy, sunflower seed and peanut). The guy at the cash register said TJ's is trying to expand to the Midwest. We can only hope and pray.


Julie giving her talk on Cataclysmic Variable Stars — the topic of her research this summer. The guy on the left who looks like a cross between Father Christmas and Willie Nelson is her adviser. He's a cool guy, obviously, from the do'.


The rain pushed us off the street into a coffee shop. Julie played the piano and some of the other internship kids danced.