Beautiful sunny, mild fall day here in Phoenix. Finally. After the hottest damn October on record, we've crashed headlong into decent weather. The sort of weather that makes Phoenix such a lovely place to live for a few months out of the year.

About damn time.

Jason and I seem to have agreed that we'll stick it out here for at least another year or so. Therefore, we gotta enjoy the good stuff while we can.

Walked the bundle of energy (Oscar) around the neighborhood this morning. Lots of interesting new things going in close to the house. A new foofy wine/cheese/attitude/shiny-black-shoe bar opened on the corner. A new barber shop across the street. A new Italian grocery in the Gold Spot Market is opening soon. I'm trying to patronize local downtown businesses more. Use 'em or lose 'em. (The coffee shop across the park was lost.... Speeder and Earls out of business. Or perhaps Starbucks is going in.... That would actually be a blessing.)

Today we're taking Jason's bike up to Taliesin West, since he hasn't seen Wright's winter camp. Then an early dinner at Zinc Bistro....

In other food news, a new Vietnamese Cafe opened in North Scottsdale recently. Excellent, inexpensive lunch-style place. I haven't had good Vietnamese in awhile, and I think I'll be making this place a regular stop.... Pork roll bahn mi and yummy cha gio.