I recently interviewed the local author of the Nurse Florence children’s book series. Michael Dow is a registered nurse. He has written every book in this series. According to Dow, Nurse Florence is a book series that helps kids learn more about their bodies and how they work, while also honoring the historic champion of the nursing profession, Florence Nightingale. Dow has an extensive collection of Florence Nightingale memorabilia, including a first edition of “Notes On Nursing,” published in 1860.

One of my favorite places I’ve ever been to in Arizona is the Petrified Forest National Park, which is just off of historic Route 66. In 1857, the United States government hired E. F. Veale to build a wagon road from Fort Defiance, New Mexico to the Colorado River. Beale experimented with using a Camel Corps to build the road.

The Petrified Forest is part of a natural travel corridor that has been used for over 10,000 years, and modern humans travel a similar path.

 I interviewed Adam “Crack” Winrich at the Renaissance Festival. He does shows involving whips as well as fire.

Adam Crack practices two to three hours a day and has broken more than one world record, including the loudest whip crack. He got his first whip when he was about 7 or 8 years old. He says that the most dangerous thing about the job is risking cutting your skin open with a whip, especially with fire.

It was really entertaining to interview Adam Crack and I want to go to the Arizona Renaissance Festival again.

 On May 15 and 16, my sister and I volunteered with SAAFB giving out free dog and cat food. We worked with the director and co-founder, Donna DeConcini. We had a busy two days, but it was worth it!