FHMA Days 27 & 28: Praising Arizona

QUICK FACTS

 

• Where We Started:   Green Valley, Ariz.
• Where We Ended: Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Miles Driven: 195 (6,867 total)
• New States: None.
• States So Far: 15 (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)

THE DAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

The past two days of the FHMA tour have been extremely busy ones, as we've met up with friends and family in Arizona, we've all gotten some extra sleep and R&R and I spent some time at Arizona State University meeting with students and faculty. The one thing we haven't done is sightseeing of any kind, so instead of trying to force two separate posts, we're going to head off into our three-day hiatus by  combining the past two days into one post.

Thus far on this journey, reaching the hotel at day's end has rarely been a notable event. The routine is pretty consistent: Joan checks in.  Joan and I each get a dog out of the car, Joan then takes both for a quick pee and I start unloading bags. We make a few trips to get all of our stuff into the room, and settle into the 10-minute routine of setting up a water bowl for the dogs, unloading and plugging in all our electronic equipment and getting ice for whatever large trough of soda I'm carrying at the time. Getting ourselves from the car to the hotel is a process we've gotten down to the point where we could do without exchanging a single word.

Wednesday was different, for two reasons. First, we were finally putting down somewhere for a while. While I am traveling back to Virginia for the weekend, Joan and the beagles will be in the Phoenix area for almost a week. This means sleeping in, naps, massages, running errands and -- knowing Joan -- more naps. Second, we decided to stay at a dog-friendly (and human-friendly) resort in Scottsdale, so we were prepared for all the extra care and feeding that one doesn't normally get from the cranky desk clerk at a crappy hotel at 11:30 at night. So we arrived at the FireSky Resort & Spa on Thursday, doing our best Beverly Hillbillies routine, unloading about a dozen bags for the bellman.

The FireSky is part of the Kimpton hotel chain, which is extremely dog-friendly and features all the amenities we've largely missed during our nationwide tour of Quality Inns, La Quintas and Best Westerns. Not that we haven't stayed at some very solid lower-end hotels, but along the way, we have not encountered too many minibars, iPod-enabled clock radios, on-demand TV or  the opportunity for room service. Our room is also spacious -- which is good, since we emptied the car in order to get it serviced -- and the bed's quite comfortable. But we know that the humans are merely supporting characters in this story, so back to the canines.

So, did I mention that the FireSky is extremely dog friendly? What does that mean, you ask? It means this:

Yes, special mini-beds for the pups.

And this:

The FireSky also provides complimentary dog bowls and Bowser Beer, a brew for dogs. I have no idea what this "beer" is comprised of, and I'm reasonably sure I don't want to know. But odds are it's better than Milwaukee's Best.

In addition to the beds and beer, there's a courtyard to walk the dogs and a dispenser of custom poop bags for the inevitable cleaning up after feeding the dogs canine beer and treats. Unfortunately, these bags require a PhD to open. The FireSky also has offers numbers for dog-sitting services, since you're not allowed to leave the dogs in the room unattended (an excellent policy, I might add). We took advantage of this service when we went to dinner at the homes of friends Dan and Bridget Peacock on Wednesday.

The question for us was whether Fred and Hank would abandon their usual routine of sleeping in our bed(s) to take advantage of their individual accommodations. We decided quickly that they would likely choose the large beds over the mini beds, and the humans over a solitary sleep.
That didn't mean the beagles wouldn't give these beds a test drive, of course.

Hank yawns away as he and Fred test the FireSky Resort's dog beds. Not all that excited, right?

They hung out on these beds for a little while, and then...

OK, so we were wrong. As it turns out, they had no issue crashing by themselves. For hours.

Apparently, these beds were quite comfortable, because when Joan tried to take the boys on a walk a few hours later, Fred refused to go, and sat down outside the room in protest until Joan gave up. When she returned to the room, Fred hopped back on his bed, and returned to sleep. Hank soon followed suit.

Of course, Fred needed the rest because he had a hot date with the acupuncturist on Thursday. As usual, he had no issue being fawned over.

 

Now, Fred's been pretty spry the whole trip; he really does seem to love being on the road. But the acupuncturist/vet, Dr. Julie Bartz, saw that his back was pretty tight and tense, and that he'd probably been in a fair amount of pain the past few weeks. So kudos to Fred for battling through the pain. When the treatment was complete, there was a scary moment, as Fred wouldn't get up, even for a treat. And when a beagle doesn't move for a treat, that is indeed cause for concern. As it turns out, he was really chilled out in that way that Deadheads are chilled out during the 30-minute guitar solos that seem to be included in every one of their songs. Because when Joan picked him up and put him on the ground, he started sprinting all over the place. Even after the 30-minute ride back to the hotel, Fred continued his random sprint around the hotel room. And he wasn't medicated, if that's what you're thinking. He was just happy and feeling loose.

Fred wasn't the only beagle who needed some medical attention on Thursday. Hank's had some runny eyes, so we brought him in as well for and eyes and ears check. 

The diagnosis: allergies. So Hank's will need to take some Benadryl to alleviate the issue.

The other good news on the dogs: They've both lost weight. Fred began this journey at 33.5 pounds; he's now at 30.8. Hank was 26.1 pounds when we left Virginia; he's now at 24.6. Joan and I have some sense where those pounds have gone, shall we say.

Anyway, we will begin our three-day hiatus from daily updates today, and by the time we return on Tuesday, the car will have gotten its own "acupuncture" of sorts, as Joan will be bringing it in for a 50,000-mile checkup and will also have some other bruises taken care of. I had a 90-minute massage at the hotel on Thursday, and Joan will be getting one today. So we will see you Tuesday, when we're set to head back onto the highway. Hope you enjoy the behind-the-scenes posts the next few days.

ROAD SCRAPS

• Chuck Gafvert asked ih the comments area why the Trinity site -- where the first atomic bomb was exploded in 1945 -- is only open to the public two days a year: the first Saturdays of April and October. A cruise of the Web didn't turn up anything 100 percent definitive, but two plausible explanations did turn up: 1) the Trinity site is located on White Sands Missile Range, so open access is not possible; and 2) the Trinity site itself is isolated and in the middle of desert, which makes it a dangerous destination for tourists to seek out on their own.
• More stupid beagle tricks.

MUSIC REPORT

• The music report will return Tuesday.

MEAL REPORT

• The past few days have been full of good food, as we've eaten at the homes of relatives and friends, but we have not been out exploring Roadfood restaurants. The only minor exception is that, when we had dinner with our friends Dan and Bridget Peacock on Thursday, they brought in some amazing carryout food from Richardson's, a place that has been highly recommended by some folks familiar with Phoenix. Dan and Bridget picked up some chili-laced potatoes and bacon-wrapped shrimp, and both were amazing.

HOTEL REPORT

• FireSky Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz.: I think we've covered the hotel plenty elsewhere in this post, so I won't repeat it here. Needless to say, we're very satisfied. Only small ding: The wireless connection, while quite fast, drops off completely for about 30 seconds every hour. Hotel rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5).

COMMENT OF THE DAY

From David Aldridge, who takes issue with "The Shawshank Redemption" being voted the No. 1 movie of all time on IMDB.com:

• I knew I shouldn't have looked at that IMDB list. "Shawshank" was a great movie, but the best of all time? Uh, no. It's not even the best movie of all time based on a Steven King novel; that would be "The Shining." "Pulp Fiction" is the fifth-best movie of all time? Really? The list got more and more depressing, until I saw "Fight Club" at number 21. Fight Club. Ahead of "Citizen Kane," "Taxi Driver" and "Lawrence of Arabia." Check, please.

   

I could not agree more. I really liked "Shawshank," but "Fight Club" and the Lord of the Rings movies? Yikes. Having said that, the list does have my favorite film of all time -- "12 Angry Men" -- in the top 10, which was a surprise, and also has some lesser-known classics pretty high up, like "Paths of Glory" and "The Seven Samurai." But how can "The Third Man" be as low as No. 54, approximately 11 spots behind "Forrest Gump"? Feel free to weigh in on this completely non-trip-related issue in the comments.

 UPCOMING PLAN (subject to change)

• Today: Relaxing in Phoenix.
• Tomorrow: Day One of our FHMA hiatus.
• The Day After Tomorrow: Day Two of our FHMA hiatus.

BONUS BEAGLE PHOTO

A closing message from Hank and Fred: "Thanks for reading so far. Please come back next week."

Comments

[Caryn Buddie]

That photo of the dogs in their special beds - perfection. Thanks for your entertaining posts!

[Emmanuel]

I have never laughed so much! I wish I were a beagle! Love the dig about Milwaukee's Best. Do you need any help pampering the dogs?

[Karen G.]

Love the dog beds. So cute! You might have to replicate that at home.

[Joan]

Love the photo of the boys both asleep on their beds. Beagles do enjoy the good life, don't they? Thanks also for the very entertaining link to Letterman's stupid pet tricks. Very funny!

[Tamara & John and their beagles, Elvis and Abbey, from Michigan]

IMDB is one of my favorite websites of all time, movie junkie that I am. Having said that, I just can't look at that list, based on what you're saying. I'm afraid that movies like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Casablanca" won't be on it. Good to hear that "12 Angry Men" was on the list. I really liked Shawshank Redemption, but over some other classics? Nah.

Abbey and Elvis are jealous of the pampering Fred and Hank are receiving and may rebel at any moment. I could do with some pampering, too, so maybe we'll just have to all go.

[Tamara & John and their beagles, Elvis and Abbey, from Michigan]

Oh, and I almost forgot: See? Acupuncture can cause a state of euphoria because it gets the endorphins going. So that's what was going on with Fred. He was, like, mellowing out, peeps!

[Woody]

Best movie of all time "Godfather" followed by "Godfather II". Best movie no one has seen "Little Big Man" w/ Dustin Hoffman. Milwaukee's Best is best consumed via shotgun.

[Kristin]

Deadheads are chilled out during 30-minute guitar solos because that's when we can finally get up to use the john.

[brannonj]

The Cronkite students, staff and faculty had a great time hearing Jim's perspective on all matters digital and washpost.com specific. Great to have a mini-reunion of Jim, me and Retha Hill, each of us starting at Digital Ink in April 1995. And Jason Manning is on faculty here, too, and Len Downie arrives autumn semester! Anyway, those of us who have relo'd from the Beltway know we've got a sweet deal, and welcome stopovers from others. Come enjoy the sunshine -- great for napping, even without a snazzy down bed.
For a look at our state-of-the-art facility that Jim visited, see the Cronkite School profiled in an Apple ad: http://www.apple.com/education/teachers-professors/profiles.html#cronkite

[Royelen]

Now that we are on our own, Jim having addicted us to his journey and then gone off on a fantasy thing, I thought I'd share my list of favorite souvenirs I hope we get to win in a Fred & Hank triva game when the trip is over. If anyone else has souvenirs they want to get, I'm sure Jim & Joan won't mind knowing in advance what they are expected to provide:

a) signed, framed and pawed photo of Fred & Hank at White Sands
b) Fred's dog tags in a jewelry box from the Clinton Library
c) Beagle acupuncture pin cushion
d) Joan's pic of the trip on a t-shirt
e) Autographed copy of Bruce's Working on a Dream

Enjoy your fantasies.

[DENISE V.]

My own Beagle Fred manages to make himself comfortable just about anywhere, but he would most certainly be a happy puppy on THOSE beds!

IMDB is a great site, but I, too, will not go look at the list of best movies. I agree that "The Shawshank Redemption" is a fine film, but it's definitely not one of the ten best films ever made. Others listed sound wrong, too, and ANY TIME that "Forrest Gump" is on a list of "Best Films" just creeps me out.

That said, I do have my own list of best films. They are, pretty much in order:

Citizen Kane
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Searchers
The Third Man
Singing in the Rain
The Quiet Man
The Godfather
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Schindler's List
The 39 Steps

[Daryl]

If you want to see the definitive Top 100 film list, see the AFI website. Check it out here (Flash required) http://connect.afi.com/site/PageNavigator/micro_take_tour2

The AFI Top 20 are:
1 CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2 GODFATHER, THE (1972)
3 CASABLANCA (1942)
4 RAGING BULL (1980)
5 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
6 GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
7 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
8 SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
9 VERTIGO (1958)
10 WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)
11 CITY LIGHTS (1931)
12 SEARCHERS, THE (1956)
13 STAR WARS (1977)
14 PSYCHO (1960)
15 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
16 SUNSET BLVD. (1950)
17 GRADUATE, THE (1967)
18 GENERAL, THE (1927)
19 ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
20 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

[Kim Damion]

So glad you guys are enjoying the FireSky. You should really give some of the Kimpton hotels a try in San Francisco too. I like the Argonaut - very convenient to the wharf.

Enjoy your pampering at the spa & safe travels!
Kim

[Kathy Soulia]

Beagle heaven is
A down bed to take a nap
Our people are chill

[dentuttle]

Those spoiled hounds have a more comfortable bed than I do. But then, I am reminded that we sleep in the bed we make, or some prophetic nonsense of that ilk.

[dentuttle]

One of the great sidebars of this trip has been seeing names in the comments I haven't seen in many, many years . . . Jody Brannon, Retha Hill, Doug Feaver, the G-Man, etc. Awesome, really. And Jody, loved the link to the tremendous Cronkite School of J and seeing Chris Callahan. What a lot of fun J-school would be these days.

[Paul Volpe]

So, FireSky only gets 4.5 out of 5 stars? What does it take to get a perfect score? Or are you holding out the 5-star rating just in case?