this video has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas but just try watching without smiling and laughing the whole way through. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
View from the Outside
We are so excited to share this blog with you! Our first guest bloggers, our dear friends Joe and Courtney, are here sharing our wonderful adventures we had together on their visit here in early November. Enjoy the story filled with fun, excitement and big words in many languages.
Words (about the) Warm, Witty, Wise, Wonderful, Worry-less, Welcoming Wheelers
Describing our experience with the Wheelers carries all the gimmickery and pizzazz of a tourist commercial; describing scenic vistas looking over desert landscapes, informational mini-lectures on the flora and fauna of the Great Southwest, cultural immersion into the “real” Phoenix that exists outside the golf courses and retirement complexes. But what gets missed is that which fuels this whole endeavor: the hospitality, energy, and Midwestern charm of Gabe and Shannon Wheelier (French, pronounced “Wheely-a”)
Interested? You better be.
1. Upon arriving to their cozy, homemade handi-work filled apartment after a 7 hour trek from Los Angeles, Courtney and I were treated to a smorgasboard of gourmet beers personally selected by Gabe & Shannon.
2. Gabe was kind enough to invite me to play with his rec league soccer team, making for a mini-reunion of the infamous Blue Jay soccer team of 2000. You think soccer is boring to watch? Nope! Not when Courtney is accompanied by a fascinating and insightful conversationalist like Shannon. BFF’s
3. Late night stomach rumbling? Not a problem with Gabe in the kitchen, whipping together a gourmet pizza much to our enjoyment.
4. Perhaps we felt like we are at home a little too much in the Wheeler residence? Courtney and I slept like hibernating grizzly bears in the comfortable bed in the guest room.
5. Shannon led us on a private behind-the-scenes tour of the garden where she works, wow-ing us with her acute knowledge of all things desert-related, and further convincing us that she’s going to be nominated for Arizona Teacher of the Year, 2009-10.
6. Gabe & Shannon then treated us to an evening of Western-style entertainment. We dined at Cave Creek Coffee Company, sidled on over to guzzle a few Pabst Blue Ribbons while watching the cowboys lose to the bulls at the rodeo, and continued the evening at Greasewood Flats, an off-the-beaten path saloon where we made fast friends with a wayward New Zealander.
7. The following morning, Gabe & Shannon took us on a hike, where we were further exposed to desert plantlife in its native habitat. You haven’t hiked until you’ve hiked with the Wheelers: virtually every “What’s that?” question does not go unanswered, and it makes you feel all the more “present” in your surroundings as you hike along
8. Beer Fest? Yes please. We met up with Jesse Frey, another high school classmate, his partner Kristen, and a couple of their friends, and enjoyed an afternoon posing as beer aficionados. We hate to admit that all the beers began to blend together about halfway through…
9. To finish our well-rounded weekend, we tested our intelligence as 9 of us went to compete in bar trivia. We handily took 4th place despite having about twice as many people as the other trivia teams, but at least the nachos were amazing, AND we learned some new country codes.
10. Our amazing weekend was capped off with a delicious breakfast of sourdough pancakes and fruit prepared by Chez Wheeliers. Our morning conversation was a flurry of inside jokes, fond memories, and gratitude for the time spent together.
So, there it is, folks. Go to Tempe and spend time with the Wheelers: you’ll be sure to live life to its fullest and come out glowing after all that hospitality and love is showered upon you during your stay.
(This message paid for by the Bureau of Cambodifornia Tourism)
Words (about the) Warm, Witty, Wise, Wonderful, Worry-less, Welcoming Wheelers
Describing our experience with the Wheelers carries all the gimmickery and pizzazz of a tourist commercial; describing scenic vistas looking over desert landscapes, informational mini-lectures on the flora and fauna of the Great Southwest, cultural immersion into the “real” Phoenix that exists outside the golf courses and retirement complexes. But what gets missed is that which fuels this whole endeavor: the hospitality, energy, and Midwestern charm of Gabe and Shannon Wheelier (French, pronounced “Wheely-a”)
Interested? You better be.
1. Upon arriving to their cozy, homemade handi-work filled apartment after a 7 hour trek from Los Angeles, Courtney and I were treated to a smorgasboard of gourmet beers personally selected by Gabe & Shannon.
2. Gabe was kind enough to invite me to play with his rec league soccer team, making for a mini-reunion of the infamous Blue Jay soccer team of 2000. You think soccer is boring to watch? Nope! Not when Courtney is accompanied by a fascinating and insightful conversationalist like Shannon. BFF’s
3. Late night stomach rumbling? Not a problem with Gabe in the kitchen, whipping together a gourmet pizza much to our enjoyment.
4. Perhaps we felt like we are at home a little too much in the Wheeler residence? Courtney and I slept like hibernating grizzly bears in the comfortable bed in the guest room.
5. Shannon led us on a private behind-the-scenes tour of the garden where she works, wow-ing us with her acute knowledge of all things desert-related, and further convincing us that she’s going to be nominated for Arizona Teacher of the Year, 2009-10.
6. Gabe & Shannon then treated us to an evening of Western-style entertainment. We dined at Cave Creek Coffee Company, sidled on over to guzzle a few Pabst Blue Ribbons while watching the cowboys lose to the bulls at the rodeo, and continued the evening at Greasewood Flats, an off-the-beaten path saloon where we made fast friends with a wayward New Zealander.
7. The following morning, Gabe & Shannon took us on a hike, where we were further exposed to desert plantlife in its native habitat. You haven’t hiked until you’ve hiked with the Wheelers: virtually every “What’s that?” question does not go unanswered, and it makes you feel all the more “present” in your surroundings as you hike along
8. Beer Fest? Yes please. We met up with Jesse Frey, another high school classmate, his partner Kristen, and a couple of their friends, and enjoyed an afternoon posing as beer aficionados. We hate to admit that all the beers began to blend together about halfway through…
9. To finish our well-rounded weekend, we tested our intelligence as 9 of us went to compete in bar trivia. We handily took 4th place despite having about twice as many people as the other trivia teams, but at least the nachos were amazing, AND we learned some new country codes.
10. Our amazing weekend was capped off with a delicious breakfast of sourdough pancakes and fruit prepared by Chez Wheeliers. Our morning conversation was a flurry of inside jokes, fond memories, and gratitude for the time spent together.
So, there it is, folks. Go to Tempe and spend time with the Wheelers: you’ll be sure to live life to its fullest and come out glowing after all that hospitality and love is showered upon you during your stay.
(This message paid for by the Bureau of Cambodifornia Tourism)
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