Hello Phoenix! (Introductions)

Hey there! We made it. We're alive, though slightly boiled in our skins in Phoenix AZ. This is to let everyone know the general plan for the next few months (if not the remaining year). But first, a light introduction: Our trip and our first week.

It was long and hot. We got here, pulled up to the Sunny Slope apartment at sunset and on the right hand side of the street was a man seated outside who we now affectionately refer to as "the crackhead." On the other side was our apartment complete with courtyard (of dirt). Christian later informed me he noted the needle and resevoir lying on the asphault in front of our apartment then. This picture was completed by a fried used condom on the righthand side of the doorstep. Winner!!! Needless to say, Christian was especially discouraged by this sight. We went to our hotel room for the night and huddled in the comfort of the AC.

The next day we went back to the apartment in the scorching sun (even at 9 am!). Christian threw out the sharp. His sister and family came soon after and helped us unload the truck and put our place in some semblance of order - complete with a slushy and beer break (for the kids and adults respectively), lunch break, and afternoon ice cream break. Woot woot! It was some time during the afternoon one of our good neighbors (a member of a motorcycle "club") introduced himself to my husband (and later myself). The conversation went like this:

"Hey, so you all are moving in? I'm your new neighbor, name's Sinner." Bite lip, hold breath.
"I'm Christian." Shake hands.

WHAT?? Some of our other neighbors (all motorcycle club members of one sort of another) are Nacho, Stretch, ER, and Shaggy (Shaggy has a half dog, half wolf that he calls "Doggie").

Though the family all fried, it was a good time and Christian and I felt good about our first day. Finding the power still off (this was Sept 1st, a holiday) we stayed another night in the hotel.

The next day we went around buying things we needed in order to make a go of the place and also to keep cool. We still were unable to get the power on (and to make contact with the property manager) so we slept in the living room on top of a sleeping bag with the windows open and covered in baby powder.

I'm not sure when we finally got the power on, but it wasn't as exciting as we thought. The AC still didn't work. So the majority of our week was spent running around North Phoenix attempting to stay cool in either the car, or stores. Friday night was fortunately spent with one of our initial contacts from Phoenix and his girlfriend. This was a reprieve from each other and from the stress of moving. Needless to say, we all had fun.

Saturday was another day spent running around which culminated in our first church experience and our return home. From now on there will be entries devoted to our "Church Search" adventures. More info in the next entry.

When we got home from church, we found our door to be blocked by a Harley Davidson, in addition to a flock of Harley Davidsons - at least 3 or 4 clubs were being represented. We located Shaggy and he found the culprit who after some fanfare and joking all around moved his bike. We were then taken by Nacho and introduced to all the riders as the "New Neighbors." Seeing as we aren't tweekers (speed/meth addicts) they were excited. The Unidos Motorcycle Club you see, came into this apartment complex and turned it completely around. They fixed up the house on the property (turning it into the club house) and kicked out the drug addicts from the property (as well as dealers from the street). It seems, our apartment complex is the safest place to be in the neighborhood. Luckily for us, we've become the pet young married couple of the club.

Cool.