Tucson sunrises - are beautiful!  I happen to be an early riser and can be found out running often as early as 4am but sometimes I get a late start and it nears 5:30 before I make it out and I wish the sun was out that early too - especially during cold winter days!

During Tucson summers - the sun can start to show itself as early as 5:15am.  Often, the changes in the time the sun rises and sets seems to happen overnight.

But for the early risers - we tend to start to notice a change in daylight right about this time of year and we know - pretty soon - the days will be longer.  

This is my early morning cell phone photo leaving the running track just as the sun was coming up over the mountains - it turn the sky a brilliant color of blue and purple.  This was just after 6:30 am as I was leaving the track and by 7:30 the sun was already beaming across the sky!

And below is a small chart of the various sunrise and sunset times over the course of 6 months here in Tucson - just in case you want to be up and out to see the beauty!

                     Sunrise  Sunset  Length             Dawn   Dusk    Length

Today             07:11   18:05   10:54               06:46   18:30   11:44

In 1 week        07:05   18:11   11:06               06:40   18:36   11:56

2 weeks          06:57   18:17   11:20               06:33   18:42   12:09

1 month          06:38   18:29   11:51               06:14   18:54   12:40

2 months         06:00   18:50   12:50               05:35   19:15   13:40

3 months         05:29   19:11   13:42               05:03   19:38   14:35

6 months         05:45   19:12   13:27               05:19   19:38   14:19

The bittersweet call every landlord doesn’t want to get from their best tenant … “We decided to buy a home and won’t be renewing our lease.”

I remember renting to these tenants a year ago, thinking, “Wow these will be great tenants – they’ll be homeowners at some point for sure!”  They are the ones that stand out in the crowd of tenant applicants!

I don’t like being right about stuff like this – and I hate to see them go – but I must!  And as great as they were signing a lease and moving in as great as they are ending it:

• Being oh so polite and apologizing for not renewing – they actually felt bad that I would have to start the search process all over!
• Apologized that they already had a friend who is a Realtor otherwise would have used me.
• Gave three months’ notice,  even though they will be moving out in tow months, and they will pay for the final month in advance.
• Will have the house ready for advertising in a couple weeks – and showings can be done at any time.
• Gave assurances that the home would be left “move in” ready.
• Gave a forward address in case any problems came up after they moved out.

It’s bittersweet – I am happy for them – but  I have to let go! When you come across a tenant this is so great - and remain great throughout the least - expect that at some point they will move on!  And now, I can't wait to pick out a housewarming gift for them.

Out looking at property today - I noticed large patches of these type cactus - they look soft, and fluffy, or even "snow capped" - very appealing!

The reason they are called "Teddy Bear" cactus - and some of them even looks like teddy bear arms reaching out as if to say Hug Me"!

But these type cactus are also known as the "jumping cactus" because if you get too close, it really feels like hundreds of the tiny sharp, barb like spines will latch onto your fingers, hands or any other body part and they are quite painful and can take hours and hours to tweeze the thorns out!

So admire and enjoy dessert life from a distance!

Gold, silver, platinum, copper and rose hues … are popular metal choices for jewelry gifts.  Then along comes a metal that I became partial to a few years back while in Hawaii – a titanium band with an inset of Koa wood.  And it seems lately, titanium is the metal of choice for jewelry. Not really being a jewelry person – this one did catch my eye mainly because it was different. 

But I also I like the trivia about titanium:

Its claim is “healthy, safe and environmentally friendly” thus it doesn’t produce harmful materials to person's skin and body, so it's called "Green".

Titanium is anti-corrosive and non-toxic so it’s widely used in medical instruments and human implants.

Some believe that titanium jewelry or metals are good for blood circulation with good bio-compatibility so there are no effects on human biological nerve or sensory nerves.

Titanium can always keep its nature color and do not rust in the normal condition or even in the sea water.

It’s lightweight and strong.  Anyone who has ridden a titanium bicycle knows what I mean!

Strong describes my Valentine!  My husband has always been my strength, support and the strongest one in our family.  When he took ill last December, he had to give up his wedding band while in the hospital.  Long story short – with our anniversary a couple days away and right before Valentines – I have to replace his wedding band – and headed down to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show to pick out something special for him!

It’s not too late to visit the gem show here in Tucson – and it’s not too late to decide on green for Valentine’s Day!

Seems like I am meeting lots of new folks who have just moved or are in town. February is a nice time to move here - and this month is typically known for the Tucson Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade.  It’s a time when we see lots of cowboys/girls, hats, boots and ropes.  And folks – those aren’t natives – those are tourists or “out of towner’s”  participating in the rodeo!

So what does a true Tucson native do during rodeo?  Well, we leave town! Which leads me to other things to know about living like a native:

At some point – you are going to get cactus needles stuck in you.  Here’s what not to do:  take a hot shower hoping the needles come out and don’t use duct tape.  Here are things that do work: a comb – it will remove jumping cholla cactus needles – the most common one that people “run into”; for teddy bear and other cactus type needs, pour white glue on the needles, gently spread it, wait for it to dry then peel it off.

The best cactus defense? Prevention. Stay back. Also, you will only do yard work one time with shorts on if you run into cactus - cover up from head to toe! And one more thing – do not wash “cactus” clothes – toss them or keep them separate from other laundry.  Cactus needles do not wash out – they just stick to other clothes!

Invest in tinted windows and a window shade for your car.  Not only will it save your back side and hands from burns, it helps out the AC during hot summer months.

Lizards, geckos, whatever you call them – they do look cool.  And often people want to “catch” them.  But don’t.  These guys are delicate and their tails will easily tear off at the slightest touch.  So save a gecko and don’t touch!

Making sun tea.  If you want to get sick – leave it out in a jar all day long with any fruit slices of choice.  If you want to do it right and enjoy it – leave it out for an hour!

Get used to the idea of wearing long sleeve shirts in 110 degree heat – and hats and sunglasses.  Buy products that contain sunscreen and find a good dermatologist before you need one.

Working on special meal for my husband and daughter for game day - and getting ready to sit and just enjoy the rest of the afternoon together - all of a sudden - the doorbell rings ... and to my surprise someone must have heard what I just said out loud to my husband just a couple hours before: "What sounds good for dessert?"

And this is the Super Super Game Day treat that we were greeted with:

But as super as this was to get - and let me tell you - they are were super yummy - we've already eaten 3 a piece - including my daughter - the really super, super - dare I say "duper" part was that it came from someone who has been an angel looking over me here on Active Rain. 

She's just incredibly SUPER special and just when I thought I was running out of answers - she was right there with one!  Like I am sure she is with many people here on Active Rain.  I'd love to share her name - but I didn't ask ahead of time - I have a feeling she'll be by to see my post and no doubt will leave me a comment like she always does!  I am not sure how I got so lucky to have her as a friend - but I am glad I do!

Thanks "B"!  We are having a super time!

It's Super Bowl Sunday - and although I love to watch football - I don't really know too much about the game - so today - I will try to learn something new to understand the game more.

But learning something new didn't start today - nor did will it stop today - almost everyday:

...is a great day to learn something.  It could be anything from re-learning 6th grade math problems to, well one of the easiest things is to learn a new word from James Dray everyday!  But learn something new and challenge yourself - the hardest things to learn often become the most rewarding ones.

If you learn or already learned something new today - check back here later and tell us what it was!

I don’t need a bag – but thanks.  I say that every chance possible when buying something in stores and if a bag is needed, I ask for paper.  If I have the time and thought – I bring my own - all in an effort to reduce my plastic bag footprint in Tucson.

The city of Tucson has the “no plastic ban” back up for debate but if voted against banning plastic, a new recycle plant is being built that will take those bags – along with yogurt containers and Styrofoam!  Yay!

Here are my "things" about plastic bags:

• Unless they are tied closed, soon as you take a turn in your car, food rolls out and all over as if you didn’t have a bag at all.
• Most are very thin, flimsy and easily tear. Can’t tell you how many spaghetti jars have broken in parking lots because it was in the same bag with a box of cereal that tore the bag.
• Because of the above, baggers give more bags than needed – how many of us leave a store with 10 plastic bags of food that could be packed in two paper ones?
• They are everywhere and can fly! By that I mean – stuck in cactus and trees, caught in fencing, blowing around the roads, and if you ever tried to catch a bag that flew away in the wind – you know what I mean!
• You’d think because they are flimsy they would do well in landfills – but they don’t – they last almost forever.

So I try to do my part:

• If it can fit in my purse, I skip a bag.  If I can carry several items in my hands – I also skip the bag.
• If I need a bag – I ask for paper.
• If I end up with plastic bags – I use them for trash – couldn’t tell you the last time I bought a box of trash bags.  And for those bags that are torn or too thin to reuse, some grocery stores have “recycle plastic bags” bins.

I am not perfect with trying to reduce my footprint on the earth – but this is one easy thing I can do to help the environment!