Finding sources of "Comfort Food" everywhere

Sometimes life takes us along a strange and unknown journey. It's in moments like these that we yearn for the familiar bosom and the comfort that it provides. We like comfort because it provides familiarity, convenience, and an accurate response. We all know the term, "comfort food" and what it implies.
I feel that the term can expand beyond food. It can cover a variety of activities, diversions, or other aspects of our lives that we can run to when life seems a little too unpredictable. Here are a few of mine.

1. Movies: James Bond. Anytime, anyplace. I don't grow tired of them in the least. They have the action, the gadgets, the story-sometimes, and the exotic locations....and they are so easy to watch. You don't need to get yourself in the mood for these movies, you just sit back and enjoy the ride. Most rewatchable of the series? Try "For Your Eyes Only", "GoldenEye", and "Quantom of Solace". What, no Connery? We don't need no stinking Connery.
2. Music: Bad (Live), U2. A song that I can play 17 times in a row without getting tired of it. Don't agree? I'll punch you in the face.
   
3. TV: Arrested Development or Seinfeld. These are the ultimate entertainment snack. One episode is just not enough.
4. City: San Diego. It won't intimidate or tire you. Everything is within reach. The climate is as pleasant and docile as Eden itself. Its like the Krustez of cities. Just show up, add water, and enjoy.
   
5. Website: ESPN. Because I'm a man and because there is never enough sports.
   
6. Art:The works of Frederic Edwin Church. Enjoy it because it is simple straight forward beauty. You don't need to agonize over interpreting what the artist might or might not be saying. These are simply some of the best landscape paintings that you will ever see.

Because it's hot...really hot

We all know that it gets hellishly hot in Phoenix during July and August. Experience a couple consecutive weeks of 110 plus heat and you start to really question the draw of this place. And since San Diego isn't an option every weekend, you've got to find ways to escape the heat that are a little closer to home.

Fortunately for us we've got the Mogollon Rim about an hour and a half to the Northeast of us. One of life's simple pleasures is looking down at your car thermometer as you climb to Payson and watch as the degrees peel off.

This weekend we opted to hike Horton Canyon. It is about 20 minutes outside of Payson just below the Rim. While it only takes an hour and a half to get up there, it is a world away from Phoenix.

To start, it is green. We were fortunate to hike the morning after some heavy monsoon rains. Everything was green and absolutely verdant. We saw ferns and other plants that we wouldn't think would have anything to do with this State. The sound of the creek, the smell of the damp pines, and the distant roar of the monsoon thunder is the perfect therapy for those of us who are having a difficult time stomaching this heat.






I will throw in a few more photos. This time from a Memorial Day trip down to Tucson. This is Sabino Canyon. It was too hot and the sun was too strong to really capture any decent photos. I'd like to revisit this place after a wet, cool Spring.