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Well, well, well, it has been quite a while since I’ve posted an update on our activities, apparently we’ve been busy. Clearly I have some catching up to do! Briefly, I’ll tackle a rundown of January’s events to be followed later by a recap of February.

We started the year off with a hike—sunshine and fresh air, what better way to start? Libby, Lance’s mom, met us out at Sweetwater Preserve for a leisurely stroll through the Sonoran Desert on New Year’s morning. We had invited all of Lance’s Tucson-based family but the standard wintertime ailments sidelined all but us three. (Here’s me knocking on wood—Lance and I have avoided flus and colds so far this year.) The Preserve is one of our new favorite places in Tucson and we try to hit the trails out there every week or so. I think we have finally hiked all the trails in the system and we are treated to something new every time.

The month alternated cold and warm with several brisk storms from the Pacific Northwest topping Tucson’s five mountain ranges with snow. Mount Lemmon Ski Valley, the southernmost ski area in the contiguous United States, lies near the top of the 9,157-foot Santa Catalina Mountains. It’s not a huge ski resort and the 22 runs are all rather steep but when there’s enough snow for the ski area to open it’s the most popular place in town. This season has been a good one for Ski Valley, they actually had enough snow to open before Christmas. I have fond memories of snowboarding up there—almost didn’t graduate from college because the winter-spring of 1998 was phenomenal. There were so many outdoor activities vying for my attention that writing papers and studying fell by the wayside. Only in Tucson can you snowboard in the morning and then sit by the pool in your swimsuit in the afternoon!

Even with all the tempting, fluffy snow we stayed down low where the weather was warmer. I was never a very good snowboarder (one concussion too many) and an even worse skier and though Lance is athletic enough to give the runs a decent shot we don’t dare endanger his bad knee. As I mentioned before, though, there are plenty of other things to do in Tucson in the winter.

We felt fortunate to attend not one but two University of Arizona men’s basketball games in January. Lance and I are both alumni so we have more than a casual interest in the team. The games are usually sold out and have been since I was a kid—I vividly remember attending one UA basketball game when I was in high school. Our seats were way, way up in the nose bleeds and there was a huge pole in front of us but none of that mattered—I was part of a sea of red and blue, and we were all cheering our hearts out. Playing for the Wildcats at that time were Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott (names you might recognize since they both went on to play on NBA championship teams).

In 1997 I was attending the UA when our Wildcats beat the defending champions, University of Kentucky Wildcats, for the NCAA National Championship—that was quite a moment! The games we attended this year weren’t tourney games but they were just as exciting. In the game against Houston the boys overcame a ten point deficit in the final minute of the game, winning in overtime. About a week later we watched the Wildcats beat one of their Pac-10 rivals the Washington Huskies. Go, Cats, Go!

January wasn’t all just games—we had other kinds of fun, too. One of the highlights was noshing with our good friends Karen, Rich, Rich’s brother Don and his wife Jean at El Charro Cafe. This nationally acclaimed, family owned restaurant serves some of the best Mexican food in Tucson. While certainly not the cheapest option in town as the owners say, “We are not the best because we are the oldest, we are the oldest because we are the best!” Besides, I love the eclectic decor of their old building downtown.

January has always been about new beginnings and fresh starts for me not just because it is the first month of the year but because it contains my birthday. This year I was spoiled with not one but three separate celebrations with friends and family (although I am no where near my aunt’s record for birthday gatherings—she milked hers for 8 different parties last year!). So, I am another year older and hopefully wiser. I wonder what my next year holds in store?

On the more mundane level we also spent a good portion of the month gathering data for our taxes. Though we live a fairly simple lifestyle (by choice) it is not a conventional one (living in an RV and all) so preparing our taxes is not simple. That’s why we have an accountant do it! We knew we were going to owe some money and we just couldn’t wait to see how much. Even though it was a number larger than we had hoped we both felt better knowing right away so that we have plenty of time to plan. I think in life (as in taxes) not knowing is the hardest part. Once I know the facts, even if they are ugly, I can start to formulate a plan of action; until then, all I can do is worry—which is a complete waste of time and energy.

Speaking of time—we spent a good chunk of the month out enjoying the mostly wonderful weather. To be sure we had our cold, wet days but as January went on it warmed up nicely. Judging by the behavior of some birds who were pairing off and flying around with what looked suspiciously like nesting material, spring wasn’t far away!

Photos: View our photographs from January in Tucson.