Blogging makes me look busy

 Sure - the Broncos lost.  It was horrible.  It was to be predicted.  But as someone who hasn't been this excited about football since (ever?), this season was a REALLY fun ride.  Love him or hate him, Tebow has the X-factor that will keep fans and detractors coming back to see what next season holds.  Below, find my favorite Tebowing pictures. The man himself; KGUN Director Jared, Tebowing in Aruba; my 5-year-old nephew Tebowing before the game (also rocking his game face); and a Tebowing pretzel.

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow

If you're a music lover - and who isn't??? - you've probably flipped by (and most likely stopped on) 106.3 The Groove - Tucson's Old School.  It's a fairly new station here in Tucson that plays Old School music (think Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores, Bobby Brown and Boyz II Men).  In addition to throwback songs, the Groove is constantly giving away money, prizes, and concert tickets.  Alex and I brodcast for the station, so when you see the Groove booth out at an event, chances are - either Alex or I will be there - broadcasting live!  Radio is so different than TV, but a great opportunity.  They'll make you do anything.  Anything.  A couple of weeks ago, I broadcasted live from inside a money machine - so much fun! (Bonus: I grabbed a buck!)  Be sure and catch me every other Friday night at Monsoon nightclub at Desert Diamond Casino.  I will, of course, be at the Groove booth!

http://www.1063thegroove.com/music/

Last evening, I was so thrilled to take part in the annual Cooking with the Stars event at Sakura which benefits the Easter Seals Blake Foundation.  In addition to funding a worthy cause, it is SO much fun!  Invited stars (not sure how I made it into the mix) got free free reign behind Sakura's teppanyaki tables to serve guests, tried not to singe off eyebrows, and attempted to avoid salmonella poisoning (no reports yet!).  One of the highlights of the evening, however, was meeting the real star of the show - Coach Lute Olson!   He said that he and the team participated in the event for 16!! years when he was actively coaching.  To meet the man that so many people across Arizona regard so highly - and to see him continuing to give back to a city that so appreciates him, was really touching.  Particularly in the wake of the Penn State scandal, it was humbling to meet a man as genuinely commited to the good of Arizona as Coach Lute OIson was and is.  Below, you can find a link to the Easter Seals Blake Foundation - an organization definitely worth a second look and maybe a lot of your extra cash, too!!

http://blakefoundation.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=AZTU_homepage

      25% of the pets found at one of our local rescues - The Humane Society of Southern Arizona - are purebred!  If you're looking for the most beautiful, prize-winning pooch in the pack, you don't have to turn to a pet store; the HSSAZ is packed with dogs, cats and other animals looking for a forever home.  If you don't find a perfect purebred to complete your brood, you can always take home a mixed breed and get one of those cool "I love my mutt" bumper stickers for your car!   

       For alllllll of you waiting with baited breath to see what my Pomeranian, Pearl, would be dressing as for Halloween, the wait is finally over!!!!!!! In a topic as polarizing as Sarah Palin or gun rights, when it comes to dressing up pets, I fall on the "pro" side.  "Yes," I say, to forcing Pearl to waddle around in an ill-fitting pair of Tinkerbell wings purely for the sake of my amusement .  "Yes," I say, to stacking pumpkins and posing my pup in front of an autumn-scape to snap that perfect picture that I will cherish for years to come.  Finally, "yes," I say, to boring friends, family, dates and perfect strangers with a succession of snapshots - the next nearly identical to the last - of Pearl looking absolutely adorable and demeaned in her Halloween costume.  Sooooooo...If you're looking to dress up your Daschund or disguise your Dalmatian, head over to Pawsh at La Encantada.  I was over there on Sunday - all Halloween items are 20% off, and all proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.  Go ahead, embrace the crazy, it goes to a good cause! 

Were you one of the over 100,000 people downtown who stood up to the over-the-top October temperatures to get a mouthful of the action at this year's Tucson Meet Yourself festival?  If not, you missed out.  This is the kind of festival that you fast for in advance, break out the stretchy pants for, and - without any reservations - walk around in public holding a plate piled high with lo-mein noodles stacked on top of a bowl of tiramisu.

    If you don't know anything about this event, it's nick-named Tucson "Eat" Yourself because of the many, many, many food vendors representing all different parts of the country, but still proudly showing their Tucson pride.  Thanks to the good people at the Polish food stand for my first Pierogi (mmmmm), the fantastic people at the Vietnamese stand for the 2 for $1 veggie spring rolls (mmmmmmmm), and the wonderful people at the Spanish food stand for the Churros straight out of the fryer (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)! Hope you had an equally delicious time meeting yourself!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaRmg77Ud48&feature=related

We do our best to put on a good show every day, but on our lunch breaks.....

Thanks, Alex, for taking this flattering picture!

You think autumn, and chances are you may think the changing colors found in the aspens of Colorado or grabbing a jacket and heading apple picking out in the Northeast, but truth be told, there's tons of fun to be had right here in the desert. Meghan Preston is a creative writer from Northern Arizona University. As an aspiring writer she specializes in writing about travel destinations and tourism in the Southwest region. Here, she highlights some autumn events in our backyard.

Now that autumn is here, it's time for that yearly visit to the pumpkin farm. Located just 22 miles west of Tucson on West Ajo Way (Rte. 86 W) is the Buckelew Farm Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze. Open four weekends in October from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., join in on the fun and visit the 50 acre pumpkin patch and 11 acre corn maze. For some Halloween fun, those who are age 13 and older are able to check out the Terror in the Corn on Friday and Saturday nights from 6 P.M. to 12 MN.

The pumpkin festival is for all ages and will include a horse drawn wagon ride, both to and from the pumpkin patch, a visit to the 4-H petting zoo to feed and pet the animals, an arts and crafts tent, and fun filled festival game. Pumpkins are taken to the weighing station where they are weighed and priced for 50 cents a pound. There will also be pedal car races for the racing fanatics, and opportunities to chow down on food. Buckelew Farm has great excellent accommodations to complete for a fun fall weekend at the pumpkin festival. Tickets are available for $4.00 a person, while toddlers and babies are free.

With over 4 miles of trails winding through 2 different newly designed corn mazes, you can test out your navigational skills at the Corn Maze as well. To keep our guests from getting lost, there are 12 checkout points, so there is no need to worry while enjoying a walk through the corn maze. The maze will be open to all and tickets are available for cheap. There will also be a haunted maze trip for visitors who are over the age of 13. Live actors will be ready to test the nerves of even the brave. Terror in the Corn is open from 6pm to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays each weekend in October. The festival and corn maze are two great events for a fall weekend.

Another great event in the Tucson area is The 5th Annual Copper Chef Challenge and Barbeque, which is the most popular family event hosted by the Tucson Originals. There will be plenty of barbeque and brunch prepared by Tucson Originals restaurants. In addition, there will be a pumpkin carving contest, youth cooking demonstrations, surprise throw downs, and the Copper Chef Challenge.

The event will take place on Sunday, October 30 from 11am to 3pm at the Kiva Patio and Ballroom at Loews Ventana Canyon. A portion of the proceeds raised during the Copper Chef Challenge and Barbeque will be donated to New Beginnings for Women and Children. New Beginnings for Women and Children works to serve homeless women and children in the area by providing them Tucson apartments and homes to live in.

Certainly the fall is an enjoyable time to live in Tucson, because of the weather cooling down a bit and the onset of football. There are some great events coming up that provide an excellent opportunity to get involved in the community and enjoy some great activities and food in Tucson.