Phoenix, AZ

The Deftones are in the Valley tonight for a 6 o’clock concert at the Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 North Center Street. Tickets are going for $25. Be sure to check out the local eateries and take some aspirin before making your way to this heavy metal experience.

Kids from Valley schools Arroyo Elementary, in Glendale, and Desert Canyon Middle School and Cheyenne Traditional School, from Scottsdale, are all being reported as “safe” from the over-500 acre fire on Catalina Island off the coast of California. The groups were visiting the Catalina Island Marine Institute when the brush fire started in the noon hour on Thursday. Today, only one of the groups are returning to parents and loved ones on schedule while the remaining two classes come home early due to the danger.

To a safe return of the students, peace to their parents and guardians, and protection to the crews on the fire lines.

Man, today’s forecast is putting us in the triple digits, at least 102. >yawn< Kick on cooler!

Why do I say that? Well, the first thing Hubby and I did when we bought our first home was put a “swamp” cooler on, in addition to the air conditioner. It would do well for newbie homeowners to put that addition right off the bat, because when this dry heat is around you can cool your house down without breaking your bank account paying the utilities. Believe me, there is a difference between energy usage of the two units.

Now, if you stay through until the “end” of the summer, you could experience the wet heat of the Valley…the monsoon season. The swamp cooler is useless, and you’ll love and hate the turning on of the A/C. Love it, because you can still be cool in 100-120 degree weather. Hate it because it’s gonna show on your electric bill…triple digits, just like the temperature. Yay.

In relation, we had a taste of some “odd-early” monsoon weather about two weeks ago, strong enough to whip up (and rip off) shingles. It was so strong at one point, a neighbor’s house shingles looked like they were doing The Wave. Kid you not!

This is my first post from “It’s a Dry Heat” Phoenix!

I’ll be scratching out the happenings of this fly city. If anyone has any news they’d like to report, or would like a certain issue/topic concerning this Wild Wild West great escape to be fanned, I’m all about sharing it here. Fire off an e-mail to me: celesta.krantz@451press.net

Now lather up with SPF 45, down a liter of water and put those freezer neck wraps on…it’s gonna get hot!