#arizona homes

[lovingazhomes]

Let's Talk Mortgage Rates? Control the Controllable.

Chances are you’re hearing a lot about mortgage rates right now. You may even see some headlines talking about last week’s Federal Reserve (the Fed) meeting and what it means for rates. But the Fed doesn’t determine mortgage rates, even if the headlines make it sound like they do. You need to take control of the controllables. The truth is, mortgage rates are impacted by a lot of factors:…

[foldingfittedsheets]

Hands down one of my worst experiences in high school was when the seniors decided to extort the entire school by using tactics that were banned by the UN to get them to pay for the senior party! If that sounds like a wild sentiment stay tuned because this shit got crazy.

I was living in Arizona at the time and I was a freshman. Our campus was largely open air, with walks between class room buildings and some covered outdoor tables. Our event began with a morning announcement. The seniors were collecting donations for the senior party, and when they reached their goal, their fundraising method would stop.

Their fundraising method:

To pipe the entire schools speakers with "If You're Happy and You Know It" on loop. To this day, I cannot hear this song without experiencing a degree of rage and madness that is frankly alarming. One of the worst parts of the entire thing was that the recording they chose had the female singer do a little clap and say "Yay-ha-hey," at the end. So it wasn't just the song, it was this awful little cooldown stinger at the end.

If this sounds a lot like psychological torture you'd be extremely correct! This practice has been banned in some countries, but the good old US hasn't ruled it a human rights violation, and what a fun silly way to raise money, that definitely wasn't damaging to adolescent psyches!

Every morning for 15 minutes before school began, every passing period, every lunch, and after school for another 15 minutes they blasted that fucking song on unceasing repeat through every speaker in the school. Everyone found different ways of coping with this and mine was to observe my classmates descent into madness and categorize the stages.

The first stage was almost completely consistent, and it was a smug almost exasperated eye rolling phase. Often accompanied by derisive comments about the song or the tactic, this phase was extremely mildly annoyed. Most people figured it would blow over soon, and no one anticipated this continuing for a week and a half, creating a miasma of fraught tension.

The second phase was elevated annoyance, starting to snap and be less amused characterized this level of irritation. People would try to cover their ears or put on headphones, humming aggressively to block out the syrupy repulsive children's performer with her loathsome little clap. This phase had people picking their absolute least favorite part of the song. Her inflection on certain words, her timing between verses. I think it's pretty clear already which part I hated most.

The next phase was a bounce back out to absurdity. It became funny how annoying it was and people would sing along as if to challenge the song's authority over their psyche. This paired exceptionally poorly with people in phase two as they'd often lash out at the people giving more voice to their hell.

The fourth phase was a dead-eyed madness. People would stare straight ahead and their lips would silently mouth the familiar words. The song had pounded its way into their very soul and was inextricably linked to auditory output. They often didn't even realize if they began chanting along.

The fifth and final phase was pure uncut pubescent rage. Kids would scream, attack each other, and in a truly epic end to the event hurl a cafeteria chair with such force at the speaker in the cafeteria to irreparably damage the sound system.

The seniors got funding for a party, but some of it had to go to repair the damages, which were substantial.

[dclanisms]

arizona you beautiful lonesome desert

[tinababeh]

Desert days in crop tops 🌵☀️

[alithographica]

Behold

roadrunner orb

[fizzytoo]

the next location on the sibling-bonding roadtrip takes us to an airbnb campsite in plumbite cove, copperdale!

[fatchance]

Your occasional cat: George Michael.

[desert-love]

[textless]

[imagine-all-the-people]

We all have a favorite spot in our homes, and mine is my living and dining room area. The morning sunlight floods this space, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels like a gentle hug, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee.

Behind me, my bookshelves are adorned with Mata Ortiz pottery pieces I've collected, alongside other cherished items. On the coffee table rests a beautiful Navajo rug I discovered at an antique shop in Bisbee, AZ, paired with another Mata Ortiz piece. The Yei rug from Mexico hanging in the dining area was a housewarming gift that I hold dear.

I’ve decorated this home with items that reflect my passions and experiences, shaped by my family and upbringing in Arizona. While it’s quite different from my previous home in the Midwest, it truly represents who I am—my soul and heart. It may not be for everyone, but it brings me joy, and I wanted to share a glimpse of what makes me happy.😊🥰

[ultimatepad]

Metal Haven Retreat, Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States,

Courtesy: Mohtashami Studio

[violetstargazes]

Sedona, Arizona. Home 🧡

[dclanisms]

my home

[dreams-of-tamriel]

part of my heart, somewhere in the dirt

[angelx1992]