Annoyances In Phoenix

1.  Helicopters. They used to be a random sight in the sky for me but since moving to Phoenix, they have become the daily norm. They like to hover over your neighborhood, sometimes in pairs. And they occur at night too! When I hear them, Angie checks in on me to make sure my door is locked because it is most likely the police helicopters looking for a suspect!

As if Geico wasn't getting enough advertising in...

2. Bees. I know bees are everywhere but there are flower bushes right outside of my casita and bees frequent them daily. I risk getting stung every time I step in and out. For a while the bushes appeared to be dying and a moss was growing over it. Then suddenly the moss was gone, the flowers were back in bloom, and the bees reappeared!

The most fearful bee for me is Arizona's carpenter bee. It's huge like a honey bee but all black. It swarmed right in front of me one day as if warning me off and I jumped back in fright and Angie saw and thought I was doing a dance move or something. 

Now this is a picture of one from online. I wouldn't dare hold one!

Here is some info on the carpenter bee. "The carpenter bee ranks as an important pollinator of the flowering plants, particularly those with large open fragrant blooms.  Diligently, if unwittingly, it gathers pollen grains from the male parts of blossoms and delivers them to the female parts of other blossoms (of the same species), triggering the process of fertilization and seed formation.  As a reward, it wittingly takes pollen, nectars and oils that it uses to set a banquet table for its larvae.  The carpenter bee contributes substantially to the annual showcase of wildflowers in our desert basins and mountain flanks."

I have also read that the male carpenter bee has no stinger but the female has. Based on the description I know my bee is female. I read that she won't sting unless she is defending herself from being hurt. I am not taking my chances!

3. 7th Avenue No Left Turns

There is a median lane which is usually used only for cars to get in and out of traffic. However, I have observed that between 6-9pm as stated on the sign, the median lane becomes another traveling lane for cars. To make matters more complicated, during that time, no cars may turn left at intersections off of this street! I was going to the mall and I had to make three rights in order to get to my destination. Ridiculous! 

4. Playgrounds. You would think that being in Phoenix where triple degree weather occurs every year that they would create fully shaded covers for their outdoor playgrounds. Not so! I tried taking Hana to a nearby park (about a twenty minute walk each way) on a day that was under triple digits and when I saw the deserted park and felt the slide, I knew we couldn't stay. Way too hot! The next day Angie had me take Hana to another park in Encanto but there the swings were completely uncovered and the main playground only slightly shaded in the middle! I didn't like disappointing Hana or having her out in that hot sun.