Archive for November, 2009

Thanksgiving Weekend

Saturday, November 28th, 2009
Arizona Sunset

Arizona Sunset

Our Thanksgiving was different than our traditional weekend of family camping and a huge dinner with lots of desserts and enough food for 2 weeks.  I have to admit I was not looking forward to Thanksgiving without family and our tradition but we had a great dinner with friends and our families had dinner together without us. 

Christmas is just around the corner and you can see it here in our little community; there are lots of lights and cactus trees with lights on them.  The RV park has put up lots of lights and decorations so it looks very festive.  I have not done any shopping or decorating but I did get some outdoor lights so hopefully we get those up in the next few days! 

Today we took a little drive out into the mountains and found two towns,  Superior & Miami that both looked like ghosts towns.  It was Saturday afternoon and in the Town of Superior there were only a few stores and a couple of Bars and they were all closed or boarded up!  I don’t know if it is the economy or seasonal but it was pretty erie driving down the street and not a soul around.  We stopped in the town of Globe which is much larger although it still seemed pretty tiny but they did have a Walmart and a Big O Tire Store.  Paul took the opportunity to get the tires rotated which didn’t turn out so good as they found our shocks are bad and then they didn’t get the tires balanced correctly and now the car shakes at 65 miles per hour – we just drive 70!  Another day for maintenance.

We drove through some amazing mountainscape although pictures would not do justice so I chose to just look.  We came across the Biosphere 2 project by the University of Arizona.  It was closed so we will definitely go back.  We got a late start to our day so we got to drive in the desert in the dark – those cactus’ get scary looking when you are the only ones out there and all the light available is your headlights and the moon!

Mountains & Blue Sky near Globe Arizona

Mountains & Blue Sky near Globe Arizona

Entrance to Biosphere 2

Entrance to Biosphere 2

Christmas is only 28 days away and we leave for California in 21 days!  Can you tell I am homesick?

Wii Bowling

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

I have never played Wii bowling but yesterday Paul and I signed up to Wii Bowl for Turkeys and I won!  Now what do I do with a 14 lb turkey?  My score for 2 games was 382.  I have never bowled over a 160 ever and have not even bowled in probably 10 years.  We just might have to get one of these Wii things.

Today Paul and I helped with the Thanksgiving Dinner – washing dishes for 100+ people is something that I had never experienced and maybe I won’t again.  We washed for about 2 hours and there were 10 of us washing!  After we played bingo and I won one time but so did 5 other people so I got a whooping 75 cents.  It didn’t even pay for the cards but at least I got to call BINGO one time.

Colorado River Crossing

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Yuma Balloon Festival

Yuma Balloon Festival

Friday we took our friends, Mike & Claudia to Yuma to the Balloon Festival and to enjoy the weekend in Yuma.  We spent Friday afternoon in Mexico again and got 2 more bottles of the cheap liquor.  I found out the booze in Mexico is not as potent but it is still a good deal.   The four of us came  through customs and I am the only one that gets the drill!  I guess I just look innocent enough to give away our purchases.  I made it through and didn’t have to give back my bottle of Tequilla.

We got up at the crack of dawn (5 am!), actually it was still dark when we arrived at the park where the festival was going to be happening.  The balloons fly at sunrise as the weather is best then.  Paul figured out how to get picked to help with a crew and he and Mike went off to see what they could dig up.  The were invited to work on the chase crew for a really beautiful balloon.

Timepeace

Timepeace

Paul & Mike worked with Balloon owners Gary & Diana of Wanderlust Balloons.  They go all over the world flying their balloons.  The guys helped inflate the balloon and then they hoped into the chase car and followed the balloons to a lettuce field several miles away to pick the balloon up when it landed.

Paul assisting Gary in inflating the balloon

Paul assisting Gary in inflating the balloon

Paul relaying directions to Mike

Paul relaying directions to Mike

Mike held the crown rope that is attached to the top of the balloon to control the balloon as the balloon becomes upright.

Mike, dont' let go!

Mike, dont' let go!

Preparing to fly

Preparing to fly

Timepeace in Flight

Timepeace in Flight

The Chase team - Diana, Mike & Paul

The Chase team - Diana, Mike & Paul

Inflight over Yuma

Inflight over Yuma

Close to the roof tops

Close to the roof tops

Closing in on the lettuce fields for landing

Closing in on the lettuce fields for landing

While Paul & Mike were on the chase, Claudia and I hung out in the park and watched the other balloons inflate and fly.  It was beautiful to see these huge balloons lift 3 to 4 people into the air.
After the balloon was collected we met up and had breakfast at a great local diner with Gary & Diana who invited the guys to help in the evening with the Glow.  The glow is when all of the balloons inflate again in the evening just before sundown.  So we left to get some sleep so we could return.  We took a quick stop on the way home at the Territorial Prison in Yuma and the QuarterMasters Depot.  I was exhausted and could not figure out how the guys could still want to explore museums but they did so we did!
Mike walking the timeline of the prison

Mike walking the timeline of the prison

Claudia finding out what it takes to be a prisoner!

Claudia finding out what it takes to be a prisoner!

We returned to the park to prepare for the glow about 5 pm.  This was another beautiful sight.
Paul assisting with the inflation for the Glow

Paul assisting with the inflation for the Glow

The beginning of the glow

The beginning of the glow

Checking the balloon for the Glow

Checking the balloon for the Glow

As the night sky darkens

As the night sky darkens

Glowing

Glowing

Timepeace

Timepeace

This was an incredible experience for all of us.  It was really interesting learning about hot air balloons and what it takes to fly one.  Getting to ride in these balloons was paid for by the sponsors of the festival so getting a ride was not going to happen!  Gary & Diana do give rides from there home location in Lake Havasu so who knows Paul and I just might have to make some plans to travel thru there sometime!  I can’t wait.

Arizona Resort Life

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

We are getting settled in at the resort where we are going to be staying until April.  This resort has everything you can think of to do and you can not be outside without saying hi!  They just don’t let you.  Today I was riding my bike and even the hispanic gardeners were stopping to wave and say HI!!!   It took some getting use to but I found myself greeting everyone I saw this afternoon while walking Duke in the park.

The park has everything;  Exercise classes, water exercises, bike riding, tennis, golf, pickle ball, bocce ball, horseshoes, miniture golf, 4 pools, 2 pool halls, library, woodworking shop, rock shop, computer lab, quilting room where you can use all their stuff, donuts & coffee (FREE), music on the patio with Rum punch for $1 each! (Tasty), dances, card clubs & charity groups.  I am sure I left something out but you get the idea!  Bored is not something they like to hear.   I am not sure when Paul is going to find the time to work with the dealers in the area.   It just might be time to really retire and get on with the second 1/2 of our lives!

For my Square Dancing friends: (the rest of you can read too!)

Square Dancing is pretty big here in the winter.  You can dance all day starting about 9 am until 10 pm every night of the week; from beginner lessons to C-4b (whatever that is!)  Tonight there was an A-1 advanced group dancing in our park so we walked over to check them out.  I had no intention of dancing since we have not Advanced danced in over 2 years.  It was a small group and several had just learned A-1 so they promised me they moved slow.  The caller made several accomodations for us in the first set but we did pretty good and most of it came back!  The first time I heard “Cast a shadow” I had no idea!  Then a few people had been to other dances and were learning “Motivate” so of course the caller could not be outdone so we learned Motivate.  Good thing he didn’t just call it.  It is amazing how much you can remember when the caller is talking you through and your corner knows what he is doing and knows you are lost!!!  We had a good time and will probably find an A-1, A-2 refresher class. 

I am off to bed so I can get up and go again tomorrow morning.

Benefits of no schedules

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

We returned from Mexico to Yuma about 3:30 Saturday afternoon looking forward to a quiet evening watching the sun set and listening to the quiet at my parents pad when Paul received a phone call from our friends Mike & Claudia.  They are in Mesa working at another RV Resort and somehow they received 4 FREE tickets to the Arizona Cardinals game on Sunday!  Did we want to go?  Could we be in Mesa by 1 pm Sunday?  It is 200 miles from Yuma to Mesa and it isn’t an easy task getting the house ready to travel again, and I had laundry on the clothesline!  Well that is what this little adventure Paul and I are on is all about, living in the moment.  We loaded everything up, skipped dinner and got on our way across the dessert about 5 pm, just before dark.  We arrived at our new park about 10 pm.

This morning we got up and off to the game we went.  The Cardinals were awful in the first half and I thought Seattle was definitely the better team but as football goes, the second half is a whole different game!  We enjoyed the $6 beers and $5 hot dogs and then we had to have some Chili Cheese Fries!  $6.25 definitely the best deal as one order is enough for 4 except we bought 2 orders!  Claudia left the cheese off hers cause it is fattening!!!  Going to the game was lots of fun and the stadium is beautiful and very loud when the crowd gets excited.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

Guess we might have to get the shirts and be Cardinal Fans since we are spending so much time here! 

Go Cardinals – 31-20

A mexican adventure

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

 Algodones Mexico, just outside of Yuma Arizona where you can get yourself a  root canal and stop next door for a margarita to ease the pain,!

$5 Margarita

$5 Margarita

Fortunately we didn’t need any dental work, although several of the salesmen on the street thought Paul ought to take advantage of their specials – maybe next time!   Everywhere you look they have Dentists, Optical stores, Pharmacies & Liquor stores mixed in with the Designer purses, silver jewelry and of course the colorful yard art! I did get new eye glasses for so cheap which is exactly what I need as I never wear them.  We did a lot of bartering and were worn down on several occasions.  I hope we can use the rock chicken somewhere, or maybe for that special christmas gift exchange**!!!!

Rockin Chickens?

Rockin Chickens?

We checked out the many options at the pharmacy and then moved to the liquor store where you can sample many fine tequila’s.  We chose our two bottles and were on our way to customs to return to Arizona a few dollars shorter but with some pretty fun memories.   The merchants are all very friendly and know how to talk to the Americans; I get the feeling they are smarter than we are and know exactly how to sell their goods.   The experience is so much fun and they make you laugh.  If you spent too much on that Gucci purse you still feel like you got a deal.

Night Golf

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Paul got his first Birdie ever (or so he tells me!) There is a great city course right next to our RV park and they have all 18 holes lit up at night for golfing.  The weather is so mild here in San Diego that the course was full and we almost didn’t get on at 6:30 pm when we showed up without a tee time!  We had to wait 30 minutes to tee off and we golfed with two pretty good players.  Paul played better than I did and got a couple of pars and that birdie.  Me, I got only a couple of pars and lots of bogey golf.

Before golfing we spent the afternoon in Old Town San Diego which has a Historical State Park with some interesting buildings and some good history about California and San Diego.  Most of the town area is very commercial and has an abundance of Mexican restaurants.  The big tourist draw is they all make tortillas by hand in the front windows!  We found a nice little patio to sit and have a margarita and a $2 taco during Happy Hour.  I tried the Potato Taco.  It was very good and I will be trying to recreate the taste at home; mashed potatoes with sour cream, cheese & jalapenos, top that with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese and a little salsa served on a soft, warm corn tortilla.  Yummy!!!

In and around San Diego

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Imperial beach duke

We made it to San Diego on Tuesday and found a really nice park near Mission Bay.  This park is very popular and I could see how it would be crazy in the summer but in November it is beautiful. They have a nice little dog park so Duke gets to play ball!  They are picky and don’t want the dogs on any of the landscape which is unfortunate because we got this really nice site that is very private and has some lawn – whoops, Duke loves to roll on the grass and do his business.  We spent Tuesday being on vacation where Paul spent the afternoon relaxing in front of his computer and walking around the park.  I spent my afternoon lounging by the pool and reading another novel.

Today we took a drive out to Point Loma and down the Silver Strand to the Mexican boarder.  At the end of Point Loma is the Cabrillo National Monument which was open today and free (for Veterans Day).  It was very busy out here because you go through the Naval Base to get to the point.  The views were pretty amazing although it was a little hazy today.

Looking towards San Diego International Airport

Looking towards San Diego International Airport

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Point Loma Light Station

Point Loma Light Station

The lighthouse is quite a ways up the hill and you couldn’t go into it so we opted to look at it from the monument.  When we got home and I downloaded the pictures I realized I was taking a picture of a BRIDE & GROOM!  They are on the far left of the lighthouse and the photographer is right in front of them holding those umbrella things for lighting.  I think I have a better photo than he is going to get from there cause he has nothing in his background except haze and water – not usually a good backdrop!

Next stop was a picnic and we chose a nice little park near downtown -actually right across the street from the airport.  It was called Richard Block Cancer Survivor Park.

Survivors

Survivors

This art was pretty cool.  The statue’s in the back  are 5 victims and the 3 in front are the survivors that have made it through the maze.  Powerful!

Sourdough Bread - Yum!

Sourdough Bread - Yum!

It seems these days that Duke is more human than dog; he eats with us, goes siteseeing with us and still sleeps with us every night!  Look close, Duke is licking his chops.

Along the bay the city was having a celebration for Veterans Day and the US Midway was in dock for visitors.  We didn’t even know about it and were just driving past and saw it.  Better planning next time!  We did get to see some interesting public art.

Baseball Bats

Baseball Bats

Art for Duke!

Art for Duke!

Dancing Kids

Dancing Kids

Onto to Coronado Island and down to Silver Strand which is just a long sand berm that has a road on it!  There is a state park and the beach goes on forever.    Our last stop was at Imperial Beach for the sunset.  It looked like it was going to be a good one and then the foggy haze showed up!  It was still pretty impressive but the potential, ahhhhh……

Palmtrees

Imperial beach

Another day in paradise.

Thank you

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

JasonWall2

 

JasonWall1

 

JasonWall3

I received these photos today from my friend Joanne Wall whose son Jason is the pilot in this plane  flying over Afganistan.   These are photos of Jason refueling over the white cap mountains of Northeast Afghanistan along the border of Pakistan.  Jason just returned safely to the US from his mission in Afganistan  Thank you Jason for protecting my freedom.

Ventura California

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

We left today about noon and started down CA-101 towards San Diego.  This road I have been on many times traveling to Santa Barbara to visit Amy over the past 4 years and it always takes my breath away when you come upon the site of Pismo Beach going South.  It is the first site of the ocean and it is spectacular.   As we were coming into Santa Barbara we roll down our windows to take in the breeze and the fresh air.  Driving in a 36′ home on wheels made me laugh cause it felt like we were in a convertible with the wind whipping through my hair!  Now that would have made a great commercial.

We decided that we are going to take our time and really enjoy the coastline so we stopped for the night at a place along the hwy that we have looked at many times saying we should stop and never did.  We are sitting along hwy 101 on CA-1 and you cannot here the cars for the waves!  The waves are crashing about 20 feet from my front door.

From my kitchen window

From my kitchen window

Ventura Denise

The sun slowly dips into the sea

The sun slowly dips into the sea