My very own pot-bellied pig!

I have always wanted a pot-bellied pig as a pet, but have never been brave enough to get one. Well, Noah and Dave adopted one for me one for my birthday - one that lives a sancturary near us. Her name is Susie and we went to meet her today.

She and her friend came to Ironwood pig sanctuary because their owners home was forclosed and they had to move to an apartment. We had to get up extremely early to see her before it got too hot. She is on a diet and gets sunscreened regularly on account of her light skin in the Arizona sun - she and I have much in common.
Most of the pigs were very friendly, like Arnold here saying 'hello' Reese. Some, however, are not so fond of anyone but themselves.

The sanctuary also houses one goat and several 1000 lb. hogs. Here we are with one of them.
I am looking forward to visiting Susie many more times. This is the best kind of pet to have - one that I get to enjoy while someone else does all the work.It is hard to imagine that there are so many pot-bellied pigs that people abandon that there is a sanctuary devoted to them - over 600 of them!

More about town

In our quest to experience all we can around Tucson this summer, we took a trip to the Titan II Missile Museum. This was the largest nuclear missile used by the United States. It is all underground - 140 feet. Only in existence to "prevent" a nuclear war - I feel safer, don't you - it was never launched (obviously). Again, I was remiss with the pictures and only got a few on the way out, so I found some from the inside, where we went on our tour, on the internet. Reese did great as usual, except when they did the simulated launch in the control room and the alarm sounded. We all jumped and she screamed for a second.

Deedle Di makes us all laugh

Even Reese can't help but squeal with joy every time she sees Diamond. That dog drives all of us nuts, but we still can't help smiling whenever she's around.

First foods

Reese has just started eating a little solid food. So far she has had brown rice cereal, sweet potatoes, banana and avacado. She has really taken to it and all the flavors. I hope she continues to enjoy eating and trying new foods just like her brother.

Nothing compares

For the fourth of July, my parents came down for the day to swim. That night, we met up with several friends at the golf course near us to hear live music, have some food, do some running around, and watch some fireworks. Reese was very unhappy for most of the time because she was exhausted and would not go to sleep for fear she might miss something and, of course, it was extremely warm to say the least, but it was enjoyable to hang out with our friends and see the fireworks. We were surely spoiled in Logan, Utah for the Fourth of July. Nothing can compare to the awesome (and very cheap) fireworks show put on there at the stadium every year. The weather is always perfect, the soundtrack is wonderful, and the fireworks are spectacular. The only thing better about the one here in Tucson is that my parents were able to make the 90+ mile drive back to Phoenix after the show and still get home earlier than they ever did getting home from the show in Logan that was only 4-5 miles from their home! I guess the police have more experience directing traffic efficiently in Arizona.

What a trooper

Reese has been to quite a few places and experienced many things in her short time on earth. She is such a trooper and takes it all mostly in stride. Even though she does not hesitate to let you know when she is unhappy, she seems to enjoy most everything we do. Noah is just as happy to stay home - maybe because he has been drug all over the place in his not too long life, also - but I think that Reese will continue to enjoy seeing everything she can see. It will be interesting to find out.

Here are some miscellaneous pictures of her. Grammy says she looks like Alfred Hithcock from the side.

Fun in Phoenix

We took a trip to Phoenix near the end of June with several friends and stayed the night. There were 4 adults, 6 boys, 2 girls and 1 baby that made the road trip to the Sunsplash waterpark and then stayed in a hotel suite that night. Our big slumber party was a blast and the waterpark was great as usual (we have been there before). Some of us ate dinner at the Organ Stop Pizza place. They have an organ show every hour played on the world's largest Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. It's quite the experience! The next day, some of us went to hte Phoenix Science Center and spent the whole day there.

Of course, i got no pictures at the waterpark and pizza place, but thanks to Kimber, here are pictures from the science center. The bike on the high wire was especially exciting!

Thank you to Carrie Simpson, Cody and Hailey and Summer, Maria Kalitan, Jeffery and friend, Kimber Russel, Tyler and Aiden for such a wonderful two days!