Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Episode 2 5/18/2002

We saw the new Star Wars movie today and I’ll admit to being very pleasantly surprised. I suppose it helped that my expectations were much lower this time around, but I thought this movie was far better than Episode 1 (except for the title which I maintain is lame).

I thought the character development of Anakin was well done and the overall storyline was forming with more clarity than the first one as well. Loved seeing Yoda wielding a light saber and also liked how Ben Kenobi seems to be growing older and wiser through the years.

This is a sketchy review at best because it’s late and I’m tired, but I’d recommend the movie and I do consider this one worthy of large-screen viewing. If I find there is a digital theater around here, I plan to see it again.

Long hike = achy feet and legs 5/16/2002

I forgot to mention that last weekend we did a substantial hike. It wasn’t much in terms of ascent but we hiked for a total of 3 1/2 hours, which is significantly longer than any form of exercise either of us has done in ages. I felt really good through most of it but by the end my feet hurt something awful - the bottoms felt all bruised - and my legs didn’t want to GO anymore. The remainder of that day and the next I walked really funny… like an old lady I guess you could say. Fortunately, I healed and am now wondering what kind of hike we’ll do next. hmmm…

May is the month for company

We were majorly thrilled to have Steve’s parents come out to visit us 2 weekends ago. This weekend we are incredibly happy that Jim Roepcke is able to pay us a visit, and then my parents are flying out for Memorial Day Weekend. WooHoo! We enjoy having visitors… anybody else wanna come melt in the hot Arizona sun?

Yummy! 5/8/2002

I’m learning Russian again. Found this great site to assist me. I also totally dug this picture of Baskin Robbins in Moscow. Chances are I ate there, as I recall I visited BOTH Baskin Robbins locations in St. Petersburg. (I tried to put something here in Russian but something happened to it in transit to the server. ah well…)

Arizona has such beautiful sunsets

Check out these pictures from our time at the top of South Mountain Monday evening. South Mountain overlooks Phoenix and the surrounding valleys. Steve had the camera most of the time…he’s developing a good eye IMO. Here is a sample to whet your appetite:

success! 5/7/2002

I found a good pair of hiking shoes at long last! The Hiking Shack had them, and they are sooo comfortable. I wore them Saturday when we hiked up Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona and they were great.

I haven’t been posting because we had company. Steve’s parents were out for a visit so we were busy traipsing around Sedona, Phoenix, and Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Taliesin West is Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and the site for the FLW Architecture School.

I’ll put up some pictures soon…