I have become a little obsessed with cacti since driving through Arizona. As we cruise through New Mexico, I already miss the Ocotillo, Cholla and my personal fave - the iconic and cartoonesque Saguaro. They are the goofball soldiers of the desert, standing at attention, arms raised inviting the drill sergeant sun to deliver all the punishment they know they can handle. They are truly impressive structures.

We were fortunate enough to be in Tucson on the first “Second Saturday” – a free street festival that sees Congress St littered with bands, DJs, circus performers and market stalls. However, I was most excited to see The Portland Cello Project perform a special free show at the majestic Fox Theatre. They’re known for their genre busting compositions ranging from heavy metal covers to more classical stylings. When local alt-country troubadour Howe Gelb joined them on stage, I could not have been happier.

After the show, Kait and I dined at a steakhouse that seemed to be in the middle of an identity crisis. The décor was attempted upscale chic and it was accompanied by some of the smoothest cheesy jazz one could hope to never hear. To add more to the ambiance, Wheel of Fortune was playing on the televisions. When the waitress, who was showing an abundance of skin, took Kait’s drink order, she asked if she would like her beer in a wine glass. It was all a bit perplexing. Good steak though!

Before leaving Arizona, it was decided that we should adopt a couple of mini-cacti to join us on the journey. We called them Gary Junior and Gary III after Gary the driver (the arrow is pointing to him), who like the cacti, lives in Arizona, is strong and can withstand the heat.

So after our first long haul of driving and some truly fun stops along the way (I’m looking at you Laughlin, NV), we have finally arrived in Tucson! The locals tell us we have arrived just in time for first heat wave of the season but our hotel has a beautiful pool so some of my worries have been squelched (quenched, perhaps?). We had the privilege to set up in the shade just outside the Reid Park Zoo, which periodically lent some of its creature-ly cacophony to our footage.

While at Reid Park, I am hoping also catch a glimpse of some monkeys, which I believe to be nature’s most majestic animal and a creature to which I feel a strong yet totally unfounded kinship with. But enough about the zoo…



We have met some great people in Tucson who have been kind enough to brave the heat and share their stories with us. Here are a few from today:

Sam O’Shaughnessy bought a bar thirty years ago with the intention of transforming it into a piano bar. So why not take the next step and employee the bar with a waitstaff than can sing and dance? Its thirty years later and he now has six piano bars across three countries and is a fixture in Tucson. Not to mention he still has the nine original singing and dancing waiters on his staff!

Barbara Jean Young survived a devastating car accident that left her in a coma for three months. Doctors gave her a three percent chance of living. After years of therapy and rehabilitation she relearned to think, walk and talk. She went on to graduate from the university with a degree in special education. She now speaks at victim impact panels, schools, and therapy centers, volunteers for MADD and is writing a book abut her experience and how to help people with disabilities.

In addition to talking with some great people I got a handful of restaurant recommendations, swapped some reading suggestions with an avid reader named Pearl and ate some fabulous handmade tamales courtesy of Todd Martin. So all in all today has been a great success and I look forward to hearing more stories and swapping travel tips. Until then you will find me cooling off poolside and enjoying the culinary delights of Tucson.

The aha moment tour is back for another year of traveling the country and collecting inspirational stories in 2010. We’ve got a brand new crew, 25 new cities, and we can’t wait to hear your aha moments! Watch this blog for updates from the crew and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @myahamoment and on our my aha moment Facebook fan page. Sign up here to share your aha moment when the tour comes to your area. See you on the road!

may 3-4 fresno, ca
may 7-8 tucson, az
may 11-12 albuquerque, nm
may 17-18 tulsa, ok
may 20-21 austin, tx
may 24-25 baton rouge, la
may 27-28 memphis, tn
june 1-2 huntsville, al
june 7-8 augusta, ga
june 10-11 jacksonville, fl
june 14-15 charleston, sc
june 17-18 asheville, nc
june 21-22 knoxville, tn
june 24-25 richmond, va
june 29-30 providence, ri
july 6-7 albany, ny
july 12-13 dayton, oh
july 15-16 lexington, ky
july 19-20 south bend, in
july 22-23 milwaukee, wi
july 26-27 des moines, ia
july 29-30 kansas city, mo
august 2-3 wichita, ks
august 9-10 grand junction, co
august 16-17 eugene, or