Traveling Spike in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Traveling Spike arrived from Australia well-rested. He showed me the gift book he'd been given as a souvenir, and I felt that merely catching the 2-hour flight from Oakland to Scottsdale might be a letdown. However, he reminded me about his fondness for those little serving-size bottles of brown beverages.









What Spike lacks in...um...stature, he makes up in attitude. He clearly liked the attention he got everywhere we went, and could be quite charming. Also, when he makes eye contact with those ceruleans, you know you've been looked-at.

The hotel was very posh! I discovered that Spike can zero in on a mini-bar faster than a politician on a photo op.



Spike came with me to the Giants/Cubs game. Spike bought the first round of beers. I said, "Thanks Spike, you're a doll."
I got The Look: "Well...yeah."
"Sorry. Term of endearment."
"Oh. Right."

We took our seats on the shady side of the stadium and settled back to enjoy the game. In his travels this year Spike's had the chance to see some baseball, so I didn't have to explain too much.




Here at Spring Training, though, the players are more relaxed, and the atmosphere is festive. Three innings into the game, picture the following exchange, as the Giants' Barry Bonds steps to the plate: Spike: "That Bonds fella, now..."
Me: "What about him?"
"Vampire."
"What? Is not!"
"Is. Look," Spike counts old-style, staring with his left thumb. "One, super-strength. I mean, look. See?" ...as the ball flies out of the stadium and into the parking lot... "See how far that ball went? That's just not human. Two," index finger comes up, "people treat him with the respect to due to us Big Bads. Don't interrupt. Three," middle finger, "he's got the immortality thing going; I mean, how old he say he is? Please." "Spike, Barry Bonds is not a vampire. That's crazy troll logic." The announcer's commentary doesn't help my case. "The Cubs' pitching looks anemic against Bonds...there's a break in the action while they bring in some new blood." Spike buries his smirk in beer-foam.

I collect Hopi katsinas (kachinas), so I took Spike to visit my friends Deb and Alston Neal at the Old Territorial Shop in Old Town, to see if any neat carvings had come in.

"Oh right then! Demons!" Spike's only this cheerful when a fight is imminent. "Not demons, Spike. Well, technically, the one on the right is an Ogre. But there will be no fighting. These are good spirit beings, who guard and guide the people. Katsinas bring the clouds and the rain, teach the children, and keep the stories alive. Besides, they'd whup your tiny butt, so show some respect."



We stopped for a snack at the famous Sugar Bowl, a retro favorite and hangout of "Family Circus" artist Bill Keane. (Sweet little cartoons all over the place.) The Sugar Bowl is a must-do for any Scottsdale visit.

And of course, we had fun with Big Cactus,



and Spike insisted on doing the "BOO" pose you see here. It was a great day.

I took Spike to the post office, to put him on his flight to his next destination. We had a final chat, on the way: "So Spike, when your travels are over, what will you be doing? Ever think about getting a ..." "What? A day job? Vampire, pet. Thought about doin' some acting, but waitin' on a movie deal, well, 'that way madness lies'." "True. Even so, I'm sure you'd put the Method in't."

Things seem oddly quiet, now. Happy trails, TS!

-- Peggy