Helicopter Skies

Here in the Valley of the Sun, helicopters are used often -- many times to help rescue folks who have hiked too far, outside their limits, or forgotten to pack enough water with them.  Even when it's a cool 65 degrees, you need water when you're outdoors even if you aren't warm or overheated!  That's just how it is here.

Helicopters are also used to help the police locate ... potential "bad guys".  They can shine a spotlight down and highlight or search for things in the dark.  With our nearly always clear skies, they become a good tool.  However, they can also add to a person's "freak out" level - especially when that spotlight gets shined into your backyard on a very dark night, lighting up the windows and making you wonder "what the f*ck is out there??"

Friday night, warmer temps, mean more people are out and about, doing things.  But Sadie and I, we headed out for our evening walk.  We noticed two choppers circling off to the North.  Judging by how distant they seemed, they certainly weren't in our own backyard area, so we headed off for our walk, which is usually to the south.  About 20 minutes into our walk, we had reached the grassy area that I refer to as "the park".   Mostly, it's just a large grassy area, no playground equipment, when I noticed that the helicopters were headed back over our section of the neighborhood. 

While Sadie sniffed and snooped, I watched as the helicopter shined his spot light over the grassy area, sweeping over me and Sadie.  I didn't go crazy and run off, I just stood still, staring up until it moved on.  Sadie and I headed for home, watching the choppers circling their light in a different area again.  I'm guessing since they were covering a larger distance they were following a car, not someone on foot!  As we trotted our way home, Sadie kept nosing my leg.  She was either asking to be picked up and carried (NOT!) or was just in a hurry to be back indoors again!

And again on Saturday, our morning walk and here come 4 Army helicopters flying overhead.  They make a lot more noise than the local ones.  We stood and stared up at them as they flew over.   Later in the day, several more Army helicopters passed overhead, and the flight pattern of the local airports was changed.  I noticed, because I don't usually have passenger airliners flying over the house.  Most often, flight patterns change due to weather.  But today was clear, calm and 75!

Don't know what's up, but something was!
Happy Weekend!