Whoa
I got just a might behind over here.
Time to catch up a bit.
Montezuma Castle National Monument is a small park and an easy stop just a couple of miles off the Interstate between Sedona and Phoenix. Its also an excuse to get another National Park Passport stamp in our book, which you have realized by now is bordering on a small obsession.
There are worse obsessions.
The entrance fee is $5 per adult, meaning you can add another $10 to our total park admission costs, making it $103 (vs. the $80 cost of the annual pass). $23 in savings! Kids, get in the car, were going to Taco Bell!
Thats a whole different type of Montezuma reference
Montezuma Castle is the name given to cliff dwellings discovered in this area. Its easy to see why they chose that name, since its not a castle and Montezuma never set foot here.
Never let facts stand in the way of a good marketing strategy.
At one time, the public was allowed to climb up to see them, but damage to the dwellings caused that practice to be discontinued in 1951. Its probably just as well. I cant imagine what my kids would have done to the place.
The kids
riiiiight
Thats exactly who Id be worried about causing havoc.
Meanwhile, we found Drews spitting image in the museum. Can you see the resemblance?
Yep
He looks just like Robin Williams.
Since were back in the desert and its just about 3:00, the temperatures have reached nuclear detonation levels outside
And not one lead lined refrigerator in sight.
At that point, Drew appears to have an attack of Montezumas Revenge.
Shouldnt have made that run for the boarder.
When it comes time to swear in the kids as Junior Rangers, the volunteer calls over the ranger to do the honors.
You said they already did the Junior Ranger thing at another park? he asks. Why yes, they have.
So they know the drill. Its the same thing, Slacker Ranger says.
Ummmm
OK, I get that maybe hes in the midst of havin a bad life right at this particular moment, but taking it out on kids seems to be the single most wrongheaded way of working through ones inner demons.
Sad
It must be dry out there in the desert.
Im shocked, SHOCKED I tell you.
Anyway, were headed for a specific destination for our dinner tonight: Thee Pitts Again BBQ. Wed seen this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a while back.
Odd name
what happened, did one of the original pits go solo or something?
Maybe they lost one or two in a divorce settlement.
In any case though the joint certainly sounds promising.
And the rest of the place is decorated in a theme that I can only describe as porcine.
And well described indeed
The waiter takes our orders and then I head to the bathroom for a pit stop. Note the position in the above picture of the babys high chair. My seat is right next to him. When I return from the bathroom, theres a huge spill under the table. It appears baby Drew has managed to get his hands on somebodys drink that wasnt placed far enough out of his grasp.
Must have been mightily distracted by either the décor or anticipation of some good Q to make a tenderfoot mistake of that proportion. This certainly aint your first rodeo and Im sure youve been thrown by that bull more than once by now.
Food! My 2-meat tray has arrived, and its glorious. I got pulled pork (in the back) and beef brisket, with mac-and-cheese and beer-battered steak fries as the sides. Its all fantastic. This time, the beef is actually the star of the show.
Consider this one added to the list of musts then.
The kids, however, transform this from a mere dessert into a Momentous Occasion©.
They order their very first Deep-Fried Twinkie. I am suddenly overwhelmed with pride. This fatherhood gig is not easy, but I feel now that I must have done something correctly.
<<sniff>> Kinda gets ya right here
dont it?
Enjoy this, kids, I say. Youre swimming at night in the middle of the Arizona desert. Relatively few people get to do this, and you might never get the chance to do this again. Look up at the stars, and just enjoy the moment here. Take it all in, and try to
Watch this! Dave! I can do a cannonball! Scotty shouts. Then he splashes me in the face.
Yup, Scotty just happened. But they really are enjoying the moment. Theyll just do the appreciating later.
<<sniff>> Kinda gets ya right here
dont it?
And they will appreciate it
later.
Enjoyed the updates from that years other trips and outings as well.
Ive done more than my fair share of pointless and insensitive commentary already though so as a public service to your far more refined readers
I think Ill hush up now.
Glad they had many great experiences. 
Just remember chlorine kills most everything and I do know and still go swimming. 
Impressive!
It doesn't take long, does it?
