02-03-11 “there is providence in the fall of a sparrow”

02-03-11
4 miles
“there is providence in the fall of a sparrow” Shakespeare
It was a cold 21% at 9 am when I went to the office to try to dry some cloths and check out.
I was told that it had been 7% at 1 am when the manager came back from a poker game with friends and he nearly froze just walking from his car to his front door.
Had we not taken the cabin last night, things might have been dire.
We head into Tombstone proper to do the touristy thing and take pictures of famous places and then get someplace warmer. Hopefully the famed Arizona warm will return today.
I go to Boot Hill to see Lester Moore and the Clanton’s and McLaury’s and other famous dead.
I go into the gift shop entrance and ask If I can bring Mischa in as I’m concerned about leaving her in the car in this cold. The lady is wonderful and says of course. I bring Mischa in and the lady falls in love with her. She even offers to let her stay in the warmth of the shop while take pictures in the chilly graveyard. I’m very grateful for this kindness. I go outside and follow the map to the places that interest me. I’m only out for about 3 minutes when my ears begin to burn. No one’s talking about me. I’m getting frostbite! It’s freakin’ COLD out here! I deal with it and get the pictures and then head back in to the warmth of the gift shop. I feel I must by “Something” at least to repay their kindness. They have this big display of homemead fudge of dozens of varieties. I pick a small sample of 2 different flavors. I collect Mischa and we head off to see Wyatt Warp’s home; the OK Corrall ( I can’t get in to see the inside as no dogs except “service dogs” are allowed!) Being unwilling to leave Mischa alone in the car I pass the opportunity. We walk the boarded sidewalks and head to the Birdcage Saloon and learn it’s history, We walk by the oriental Saloon, the Tombstone Epitaph and other historic locations.
I go to the library (which is in the location of the old Train Depot) and am there too late to get on the internets as the librarian is closing up for lunch. I go for lunch myself and take the recommendation of one of the locals and the meal is ok, but not memorable. But the soup is warm and filling. Mischa had to stay in the car, but the temperature is above freezing and the sky is sunny. I’ve wrapped her in her blanket and put another layer of cover over her. She’s snug and I’m only gone for about 40 minutes. Still I have to give her a treat to make up for this temporary abandonment. I’ve looked around town for a place to stay tonight as the news has gotten out that this is a debilitating storm. Tucson has virtually been shut down as well as many places locally. Water and gas pipes have burst because none of the pipes had been wrapped for cold weather. I find won place with a woman who is very nice and she’s eventually able to go as low as $45 for a night. I just can afford that - especially after last nights expense. She’s very kind to Mischa and gives her some cookies.
I get to the library and get a computer slot and start looking for motel rooms anyplace in the area that are cheaper than $40 I find one about 50 miles to the southwest. The price may be $32, but I can’t confirm it.
I decide that with the gas for the drive and time it’s better to stay here and pay the extra to the kind woman who gave Mischa those cookies.
We get a little cabin with a bath for just about $40 inclusive. That’s less than what I paid for the cabin last night!
After about a half and hour the manager calls me and asks if I could help the motel by turning the water o just a small drip so the pipes won’t burst. I try this but nothing happends. No water is coming out. She says she’d going to check something out. I get a call back saying she’s sorry about the water problem but would I we willing toe move next door!
Very willing. The only downside is that this has a shower, not a bath. (I was so looking to a nice long warm soak!)
And none of the channels had The Weather Channel, so news about the weather was only available from the local channels just before the late night comics.
But still, It’s a good safe warm night.
I’ve determined that it is actually warmer back in Apache Junction where I just was, than anywhere I was planning to be and that going into New Mexico will most likely be delayed by about 2-3 days as far as I can tell because it will be below freezing until mid week at best.
I hate going backwards. Seems like I’m wasting gas. But the warmth seems like an oasis compared to the cold of the more southern part of the state. Seems counter intuitive, but there it is. Anyone who still doubts climate change needs to have their heads examined. Literally.