Sunrise over Saguaro National Park

It is cold at night in the desert and when we awoke before dawn on December 30 we saw heavy frost on the car's windscreen and a air temperature of minus two Celsius.

We were not alone as we walked along one of the trails of the Saguaro National Park. Others were walking, some jogging and still others on horseback.





The air was still and cold. To the north and north-west the mountains reflected the first rays of the sun. We were still in the shadow of the Rincon Mountains to the east; the sun not yet above the peaks.









The colours were beautiful, but we were waiting for the sun to warm our faces and hands, and thoughts. When it came, the sun bathed us in its light, and smiles came to all present.

Photos by Jim Murray.
Copyright 2013.

Raging Sage Coffee in Tucson

It took time and effort but we found a great little coffee shop here in Tucson. It's not an easy thing to do, as this city is designed around the automobile; there is little action in the downtown and few people walk, so finding a good coffee here relies on Google and trial and error.

Raging Sage is located along busy Campbell Avenue, not too far from the university. It has an inviting atmosphere, with inside and outside seating (under some orange trees no less). 

Raging Sage features its own small batch roastings, and it shows in the taste and quality of the coffee. The baristas know how to make a proper macchiato and their go-to preference is to put the coffee in a proper mug or cup, not in a paper cup.

Opened in 1998, the coffee shop is a family owned and operated business. The staff is friendly, helpful and so are the customers; there is a sense of community at Raging Sage and we overheard conversations about politics, religion and the environment. I'm guessing football comes up in discussion, but not this day. Absent too are phones and big screens. We've been here twice and will be back again.






Photos by Jim Murray.
Copyright 2013.

No weapons allowed...

Arizona has some of the most "liberal" firearms laws in the entire Excited States:

• No permit is required to purchase a weapon.
• There are no restrictions or prohibitions on assault weapons.
• No magazine capacity restrictions are in place.
• Proof of ownership of a gun is not required.

• In Arizona, any person over age 21 may legally carry a concealed firearm or deadly weapon without a permit. As well, the same such person may openly carry a firearm or deadly weapon, as in a holster on the hip, or stuffed into the front of his or her jeans I suppose.

Of course not all Arizona citizens agree with the gun laws, or the lack of gun laws in their state, and there are probably many people who never take their handguns out of the car's glove compartment, or from the dresser beside the bed. Still others probably don't even have guns.

A law has been passed in Arizona allowing people to display a "no weapons allowed" sign at the entrance to their business or institution. This will alert those with guns to perhaps find another restaurant, a different church, or maybe a new coffee shop. In fact, we have seen few of these signs, and what does that tell us I wonder.

Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2013.