Last week I spent Wednesday through Saturday in Phoenix, my first time in that city.  One of the best conferences in my field was held there last week and I’m fortunate to have been able to go.  (Thank you taxpayers of the State of Tennessee.)

Short version: hot (100 degrees or more every day), dry (but it’s a dry heat!), spread out (no real downtown to speak of) and really friendly people.  Also, I was served the hottest Mexican food I have ever had.  Good stuff.

High point:  A friend and I were on a patio out front of the hotel when a man walked up obviously looking for a lighter for his cigarette.  My friend was smoking a cigar, so I grabbed the lighter and helped him out.  It was Erik Estrada!  Erik hung out with us for the next half-hour and just chatted.  He was pretty cool.