Queen Creek Post Office - I just want to mail a package!

I just wanted to mail a package.
This is my second blog regarding the situation and lines at the Queen Creek Post Office (85242).
Our post office opens at noon on Saturdays in QC. The hours are 12-2. I walked in and here is what I saw:
This was not even the front of the line, the next photo shows around the corner.
I find the situation at this post office to be ridiculous. The growth in Queen Creek should warrant additional hours or at least a self service postal machine.

The parking lot - totally full and dangerous as there is one way in and one way out on Ellsworth.

U.S. Postal Service, please consider getting a self service postal machine at this location and extend your weekend hours. This post office is a bad joke.

I you live in QC and agree, please leave a comment and I will post it on my blog.

Over the Bridge & Taco Time

Good News! This Saturday I ventured taking Ironwood north to the 60. The new bridge is up and running. It looks like there is still some construction happening but it was thrilling to see the light at Guadalupe and to actually drive up and over the wash.
My first drive over the new bridge on Ironwood.

The new lights at Guadalupe and Ironwood.

As of last weekend Queen Creek now has a Taco Bell / Long John Silvers. The drive through was so packed that I had to get out of line. I'll have my Chalupa once it slows down a bit.

Yo Quero Taco Bell! The new Taco Bell at Ocotillo and Rittenhouse.

A few more frames popping up around the town....

This structure just popped up on Ocotillo near the developing Walmart center.

A view from my car of a new sign at the corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo at the Links Golf Course. It is touting that we are getting a Fresh and Easy. I guess the Links is going away soon.

Corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo - The Links Golf Course

Corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo caddy corner to the links. Not long ago you had to dodge chickens on this corner.

The corner of Rittenhouse and Ocotillo. A look across the field from Ellsworth. Shopping Nirvana coming up.New stucture on Ellsworth.

That's all for this week. As you know the views here in Queen Creek change daily and my photos are just the tip of the iceberg. I just saw new signs this week On Ironwood and Ocotillo that Fulton homes is building THREE new communities. You may have noticed the great walls of Queen Creek where they are getting ready to build. So triple the pleasure and triple the traffic. Let's hope our taxes are lowered as the value of the existing homes here go lower and lower.

See you in Monday morning traffic. Watch out for orange cones!

Winter Scenes in Arizona

Winter in Arizona can be pretty darn nice. The weather is mild by Midwest standards. The past few weeks have been chilly to me. I've had a little frost on my windsheild and that is very rare here.

About once a month I drive to the Tucson area for work. I enjoy taking the back roads because there is less traffic and the scenery is awesome.

These photos were taken from my car on my drive. It was a beautiful day with puffy clouds. The forecast was rain but it was so nice.

Rainy days and Mondays don't always get me down :)

Signs of the Times in Queen Creek

Queen Creek has a definite struggle between being the agricultural community it once was and a community of urban sprawl.

Here are a few photos and commentary for January 2008.
Let's start with Queen Creek Road, East of Signal Butte soon to be "Recreation Station".

The sign states: This park has been identified as an ACTIVE PARK site. Active park amenities may include, but are not limited to: lighted sports fields, recreation buildings, dog park, lake, restroom facilities, aquatic facilities, sports courts, trailhead, maintenance facilities, skate park and equestrian amenities. Master plan and Amenities to be determined by the end of 2007. (HUH?)

Meanwhile across the street....... a sign from the Arnold Anglin Dairy farm.

The Dairy's sign is providing FAIR WARNING to developers and relocators that if you move next to a working dairy farm you may smell cow poop and share your neighborhood with cows! Don't bitch later that it smells. If you move next to a WORKING DAIRY your gonna smell cows and other stuff! Right on Arnold!

(Friendly reminder - they were here first!)Meanwhile across the street again...... TA DA! The Barney Family Sports complex. It looks nothing like the illustration on the sign. I hope the Dairy does not have to complain about stinky kids running around sweating making noise and kicking balls around.

Does it look like the illustration on the sign to you? Keep it moving folks. Let's move a little west on Queen Creek going towards Ellsworth.

TA DA! More orange barrels! I feel a road widening coming on.
My favorite bottleneck at quarter till 7 on a work week. (Road Closed? What the....)

Arghhhh! Why is there a backup here on a Saturday? It makes no sense.Next stop... Ellsworth to Germann. What's new here this week?

Coming soon! An Italian Bistro. Viva Italiano, no more Chef Boyardee for me.

Well, that concludes the signage tour January 2008. I really need to get a life :)

Please enjoy a few more photos from around the area.

Queen Creek Road, A sure sign of future construction or destruction.

A fresh tumbleweed farm near Williams Gateway Airport.

Another sign of future construction - a fence and a big ole truck parked in a field.
Some views near the 202 and San Tan Village Shopping area.

Homes creeping up on farm land.
Free Advice: Watch out for orange barrels, avoid Ironwood and be kind to farmers on tractors... they were here first! See you in bumper to bumper on Monday.

Make Friends, Share your Fruit

Don't waste that fruit if you have fruit trees. Share it with friends and neighbors. Don't let it rot on the tree. Fresh fruit from our trees is so much better than the grocery store variety. Sharing is a great way to meet your neighbors. If you don't have neighbors, share them at work. A co-worker gave me lemons, my favorite.

What do you do with your fruit or gifts of fruit?

Post Office 85242

Sheesh, you would think that the US Post office would realize that Queen Creek needs a new post office. If you haven't experienced their parking lot it is akin to a demolition derby getting in and out of there.

The Saturday hours are ridiculous. 12-2. What the???? At least put in one of those self service machines so that working people can actually have packages mailed without waiting in line. (Refer to photo of line above).

I am not anti-post office. I come from a family of postal workers. I just wanted to share my frustrations. I mailed a package this Saturday and the line was out the door at 1:30. There were 15 people in front of me and 15 behind me. Very frustrating.

Fry Bread Love in Apache Junction

If you live in Queen Creek then you probably make a trip to Apache Junction now and again. This weekend I was doing a little banking and last minute shopping and stopped for lunch at one of my favorite little restaurants in Apache Junction.

The restaurant is called Cafe' Laguna. It serves authentic Native American Cuisine. The food is good and authentic. I LOVE Frybread. Cafe' Laguna has excellent frybread and many combinations from lunch platters to desert fry bread. It will cost about $5-$7 for lunch with a drink. Fry bread desserts run $2.99 - $3.99. Good and fresh.

This restaurant is a casual no frills place. The food is great though. Next time you are in Apache Junction, stop by. The address is 11518 E. Apache Trail, Suite 127 on the NW corner of Meridian and Apache Trail. Open Tuesday through Saturday.