Taking a day off

Day 64
​Phoenix AZ- Day 10

Today will be a day off from the housework. Shirley gets dropped off at the local tire shop for a tire balance and rotation. Just across the parking lot is a huge antique mall. We don't have any money to spend or any space to put stuff. For some inexplicable reason though it is still one of the random things we do to pass the time for free. This place is huge and stuffed full of eclectic old commodities. One thing catches my eye that I would have bought if we still had a house and jobs. It was a solid brass serving tray with 6 solid brass goblets for $30. Not really sure why... it just looked really cool. 

We pick Shirley up from the shop and head home for lunch. The shakes are still there. Dammit. Well that's really the one thing that I can't check myself so at least it's done. With lunch knocked out of the way we spend the afternoon heading into downtown Phoenix to see the Art Museum. It's free every Wednesday after 3pm.

We don't make it more than 15 feet before Katie gets her 1st scolding from the museum staff. She reaches out and touches the wall covered in fake butterflies. "Please don't touch the wall" we hear from an usher behind us. Oh it's going to be that kind of museum.

The halls are full of statues and sculptures. All of them are legit old things that have a real history. This Japanese suit of armor was from the late 1800's. Very cool.

This ink on paper was created in 1632 and is still in one piece.

I don't have a degree in the fine arts. I'm mostly tasteless and have a poor sense of style. But I do know what crap look likes. Polka dots on paper? Crap.

Our stroll slows to a crawl as we stop and read almost every single plaque in the building. We need to avoid rush hour at all costs. Phoenix traffic is no joke. I now know more about Chinese ceramics from the Qing period than I would ever have possibly thought. At least I feel enriched from the visit.

Here is a collection of portraits of a guy in a speedo. A total of 144 of them. Yes it's weird, but still better than polka dots.

We finally make it through a couple of hours and pass the madness of rush hour. Apparently the south side of Phoenix is supposed to be one of the rough neighborhoods. I make the call to drop Shirley south before we head west. Our route takes us through Central City, Estrella Village, and western Tolleson. Ehh... not that bad. A little razor wire and some bars on windows. Not many bail bond stores or even lotto marts. I've seen worse.