• Yearbooks
  • 2007 Yearbook
  • 2006 Yearbook
  • 2005 Yearbook
    • Grand Canyon
    • Ridgeline
    • Comparison
    • Gizmo
    • Whitehouse
    • Kyle Graduates
    • Corvette
    • Monsoon
    • Tree Trim
    • Moving In
    • Sharon Drive
    • Desert Bloom
  • Vintage Dust

This is where friends of the melchman get the good stuff.

Yearbook: 2005

I rolled up the 2005 essays in to a year book to keep the length of navigation bar to a minimum. This was busy year for us. We moved from Connecticut to Arizona. We lived in COnnecticut for 10 years and it was home. Karen had an opportunity to move to the world headquarters of her company JDA and we took that trip.

I was very happy at Purdue, but the company was not doing well. We suffered several rounds of downsizing in 2005. I was not sure I would have a job in Connecticut in 2006. The JDA opportunity looked really good.

We were relocated by JDA to Scottsdale, Arizona. One of the many moving companies involved packed our stuff. Another company put it on a truck. All 25,000 pounds of it. A third company held it in storage while we found a house. They had to move it around a bit and managed to loose some thing and completely destroy others.

Note to anyone considering a long distance move: do not let your stuff languish in storage! I have learned that Valley North American Van Lines in Phoenix, AZ is particularly poor at handling your prized possessions. I have several tales from my arcade restoration friends that would make you cry. However other friends that have moved long distance suffered similar losses and damage.

Arizona

It is a hot dry desert. Anyone who contradicts that is either trying to sell you a home here or is suffering from dementia. It is not all that bad. The weather is very tolerable all year. Our pool is "operational" all year. We installed a water heater to extend the actual swimming time well into October and as early as April.

It is not a Saharan sand dune style desert. The soil is a hard clay. Plants can grow with irrigation. Water does have to be pumped in form the mountains north and east of the valley. We only get a few days of rain a year. Strangely drainage is a huge problem.

Bloom

I was fascinated by the flowers in the desert. I had the Saharan ideal in my mind and was floored to see plants and flowers everywhere. The long growing season here makes monsters out of species I used to consider house plants.

We took some pictures from our temporary home in the Dakota Apartments. We added more photos from our yard at Sharon Drive. I even have some sarcastic shot of my flowers in January!

Photo Album: Desert Bloom Scottsdale, AZ June 2005
Photo Album: January Flowers Scottsdale, AZ January 2006

Monsoon

I also experienced monsoon for the first time. I mentioned the drainage concerns earlier. The July rains are heavy here. The clay soil will not accept water. Check out this formula: Heavy rain + no soil absorption = flash flooding.

The developers must set aside land to collect the water until it evaporates or slowly sinks into the clay. The rains are so rare that most of the year these areas double as parks, basketball courts and gardens. When the July Monsoon hits you quickly realize their purpose! Roads that cross these "washes" become impassable under 18" or more of water. The small yard at the side of the Sharon Drive house becomes a lake for days after a rain.

Photo Album: Monsoon July 2005

Sharon Drive

Cedar Rock is still my favorite home. I will miss that place. We lived in a one bedroom apartment for a few months this year. I had forgotten the amount and kind of noises I had grown accustomed to hearing in my apartment years. We quickly decided we needed a place without neighbors above or below us.

Buying

Great decision to buy a house. Painful process this time. I had no job and therefore no income. We looked for a while in Fountain Hills at properties that were much nicer than Cedar Rock. We should have been able to afford them on our old combined salary, but I was not able to keep that bargain.

We finally conceded I was not getting a good job until after the house purchase. With expectations reset, we looked and found a property similar to Cedar Rock. It was very close to JDA (1.7 miles) so Karen's commute was great. It was 12 years old (we never had a "used" home). It had a pool that saved our lives in July and August!

Photo Album: MLS and Shopping June 2005
Photo Album: Moving In July 2005

Shaping

Sharon Drive is only really taking shape in 2006. The back yard is a desert oasis, but needed some trimming. A huge Mesquite covered the yard. It is the neighbor's tree, though. Fortunately that house has also recently been sold and the new owners took the task.

Photo Album: Trim September 2005

Automotive Upgrades

Corvette

Karen left her favorite car of 8 years the 1996 Honda Accord with the V6 power plant in Connecticut. She moved to the apartment before I sold the house and joined here here. She did some shopping while I was away.

Karen rarely changes cars. This time she wanted a convertible. Something sporty, too. She looked at Porche Boxsters, Dodge Vipers and some others not worth mentioning. She chose the Corvette.

Photo Album: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette

Ridgeline

I change cars every few months! The Nissan Frontier set a record of 36 months for me. In the time Karen owned 3 cars, I had owned 7 and borrowed one!

Normally I go for sports cars. Especially small cars with small high rev engines. After catching the arcade bug I switched to a pick up truck. I did not turn back this time. Possibly because there is a Corvette in the garage. I am know to borrow it on weekends.

Apparently pick up truck are no longer "uncool" utility vehicles. With GPS Navigation, Drive by Wire steering, 17" stealth black wheels and 270 HP the Ridgeline is a "sweet ride" according to my nephew.

Photo Album: 2006 Honda Ridgeline
Comparison: Article comparing the Ridgeline to my Nissan Frontier

Travel

Not to buck a trend, we did manage our annual trip to an island. I rejected a return to Royal Plantation and tried to get back to St. Lucia. We compromised with Sandal's newest Jamaican property Whitehouse.

It is a very nice property and very beach focused. It is a large property so I was entertained by the variety of bars and restaurants. I even got back to a pool bar, my favorite amenity!

Photo Album: Sandal's Whitehouse November 2005

Brett Visits

Brett made the trip to Arizona. This was the first family visit since we moved. The highlight was a trip to see "The Canyon" with his Aunt Karen.

Photo Album: Grand Canyon, AZ Decemberr 2005

Gizmo

What can be said for owning a dog that has not already been proven through many studies. They provide happy when you are sad. They comfort you when things are bad. No wonder they offer health benefits.

When you have a long haired Chihuahua that lives for over 12 years you get a relationship, too. Whether it is running laps around the house chasing a tennis ball made for cats, forcing you out of bed in the morning for a walk (even though he has a dog door and doesn't require your assistance) or that silly contented look after an afternoon of sun while you swim. My photo essays would be incomplete without Gizmo.

Photo Album: Gizmo

Enough About Us!

2005 saw some interesting times for our family.

Photo Album: Kyle Harbach Graduated from Wilson High School
Noted: Bruce Harbach coached to Lancaster Catholic Crusaders to a district victory
Noted: Kim Carlance buys a house