A Happy New Year's Eve

As we've done for many, many years, Rick and I spent our New Year's Eve at home enjoying each other's company and a good home-cooked meal. We wouldn't have much fun at a noisy, boisterous, hectic celebration, so it's a good thing we like each other so much. Rick barbequed carne asada, pasilla chiles, and jalapenos. I made buttered pasta with green squash and myzithra cheese. You may not think it sounds good, but we loved it!

We spent the day loading the motorhome for our trip to Indio and Quartzsite. We're going to meet up with friends we've made throughout this past year and we are soooo looking foward to being in our Mobile Fishing Lodge once again (even if we won't be anywhere near a river or lake).

After dinner we watched a movie I'd recorded on the DVR (Bridge to Terabithia, if you're curious) and then started looking at the New Year celebrations around the world. Lots of money spent on fireworks! Rick and I talked about the wonderful adventures we'd had this last year, and as Rick said, "We lived it up." We spent the year traveling up the west coast and at least 100 glorious summer days on the banks of our favorite river, fly fishing to our heart's content. Although we had a couple of personal "speed bumps" along the way, we were safe and healthy and did exactly what we had planned to do for so many years. It was nice to reflect back tonight with Rick on what we did and what we're planning for 2009. We both are feeling a renewed energy for what is to come. We wish you a similar positive energy for 2009. May it be a good year!

Happy Holidays!

The snow is beautiful on the surrounding mountains!

Christmas Day in the southwest! Magnificent!

No Bird Has Been Known to Lay a Square Egg

What you say, "no square eggs?" I believe I was in 1st grade (my Mom would know for sure) when I wrote my first school report. Although it was only one sentence long, it was profound. And very wise for a first grader I thought at the time and still think it. I even drew a picture to go with the one-sentence report.

No bird has been known to lay a square egg.

To this day, my Mom still teases me about that report. She can get herself laughing so hard, you can't help but laugh along with her. I bet she's laughing right now reading these profound words again.

This all came back to me when we were on the Oregon coast. At the Yaquina Lighthouse, there was an educational display on the Common Murres that nest on the ocean cliffs and they lay very pointed eggs. No, not square. You probably thought I'd say square. This odd, very pointed shape is to keep the eggs from rolling off the steep cliff edges. If the egg rolls, it pivots around and does not roll away. These birds have markings that resemble a penguin and there were thousands of Common Murres on the rocks near Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, Oregon.




Bet my Mom never thought she'd see my "No Square Egg" report published on the Internet. When you blog you can do just about anything.

A couple more hobbies that travel well

Keeping with hobbies for another post, I also take my yarn and crochet hooks with me on the road. A small crochet project actually travels well to the doctor appointment you have to wait for or a car trip, if I'm not driving of course. I think you can take plastic crochet hooks on airplanes once again, but who travels by commercial airlines anymore if they can avoid it?

Anyway, I love to crochet and I've never met a crocheter who wasn't willing to show a newbie the basics. We have a small group in our community, called the NeedleArt Group, who get together every Friday morning and share their latest projects. Any type of needle work.

Another hobby of mine, probably my second favorite behind fly fishing, is taking photos. With digital cameras you get instant results, although my love of photos started with Rick's 35mm Minolta 101 (circa 1970 Vietnam) and the macro lens. I remember 20 years ago taking pictures of wildflowers growing on the banks of a stream in Wyoming. On my belly, up close. But it wasn't until I got the film developed that I saw the results. With digital cameras you can tell fairly well what you have when you push the button. Gaining a little understanding of photography with that camera was a blessing. I'd like to take a photography class sometime. I think I'll put that on my to-do list. (There's probably a photography club in our community!)

Here are a couple shots of my favorite subjects from our last trip to CA.

Digital cameras are not so expensive anymore, for a small point and shoot type. It's a wonderful way to remember a trip or those kids who grow up so fast!

Hobbies - on the road & at home

When we're on the road, living in a 36' motorhome, it's a challenge to decide which hobbies to take with us. We're lucky that our motorhome has a high CCC or cargo carry capacity, so weight is not too much of an issue. Not counting our fluids and fuels, we can carry almost 5000 pounds of additional stuff like food, clothes, fishing equipment, and hobbies. The challenge comes with where to put it all. We like to keep things put away so our small living space doesn't feel even smaller. We don't travel with stuff piled on the bed, couch or stacked in boxes on the floor. We even put the sink covers away so they don't become flying projectiles.

We're lucky because we still have a house in a retirement community and we can leave things behind and come back to them. Our gated community has just about every amenity you can think of and it's chock full of clubs, shops, crafts, and classes. This gives us the chance to have fun with the hobbies that we can't take with us. I guess you could say even our hobbies are seasonal, like us snowbirds.

I've joined the stitchery club and the arts & crafts club. Although I have a sewing machine and a serger at home, it sure is nice to go to the club room, use any number of machines, spread out on nice cutting tables, and socialize with others. I'm back into sewing after 15 years and it's like remembering how to ride a bike. Lovin' it!

Rick's started carrying a tree saw in the back of the car. If he offers to cut down your old tree, watch out. He has an ulterior motive. Keep an eye on your orange tree, olive, avocado, mesquite - well any tree or woody scrub with a trunk bigger than 3 or 4 inches. His ulterior motive? He wants to make bowls. And other things.

Rick has enjoyed working with wood for as long as I've known him. He's done wood carving, refinished furniture, built cabinets, furniture and houses. So turning a piece of tree trunk into a bowl just seemed like the next hobby to tackle. So far he's completed 2 small bowls, about 3" to 5 " made from mesquite tree limbs. They're just big enough to hold a pound of M & M's.

Our community has a fabulous wood shop with every large and small piece of equipment you can name. Saws of all types, lathes, planers, drill presses, routers of all types, everything, all in a nice big airy shop! Rick's dad started making wooden bowls a couple years ago, both pieced and turned. It's one of the most common projects of the wood shops these days.

Of course fishing is our number one hobby, but we're not always on the water's edge. Many people love to golf. Some like to visit historical landmarks. We have many other interests to keep us busy. What is your favorite hobby or past time?

Quick stop in Quartzsite

On our way back from our last trip to CA we made a very quick stop at Quartzsite, THE most popular place in the USA for RVers. Especially popular with RVers who love to boondock. In the winter of course, not the summer.

We spent a little time in Quartzsite last January and plan to do the same this January. The weather was a comfy 80 degrees, blue skies, and not too many RVs yet. If we had the motorhome with us we would have stayed a few days.

The weather has turned cold and rainy this week so I'm sure the generators are running to keep warm.

Finally understanding retirement

We are in our 12th month of retirement and I think this week it has finally occurred to me. This is what retirement is truly about. It came with a weeklong cold, the kind of cold I get about every 5 years. I remember, in the past, going to work feeling rotten with a head cold. That twilight zone, everything in slow motion, once removed feeling, but still going to work. Because I could sequester myself in my office and pretend not to hear everyone question why I came in - to get them sick. Feeling much worst by the end of the day, driving an hour and a half to get home, all the time dreading getting up the next morning to do it all again.

Being able to do nothing, except rest and drink hot tea, has made me realize retirement. Being able to stay home. I not happy about cancelling a trip to CA to see family, but extremely relieved at the same time. My sleep schedule has changed with the onset of the 5-year-cold and being able to get the 8 hours sleep I've grown accustomed to is beyond words. I don't know how Rick can sleep through my constant coughing from 10 PM to 1 AM, but he does. Although we have a second bed, neither of us moves out of the warmth.

I've had the twilight zone, head-in-cement feeling, but I'm able to sit here, relaxed, looking out our big windows, in my favorite robe with the music down low. (I've found I like XM radio on DirecTV channel 818 - the Pulse.) I don't feel I have to go to the stitchery club meeting or anywhere, although I miss playing pickle ball every morning. I don't feel stressed about doing nothing. I'm thinking this is truly how retirement is supposed to be. Relaxed.

Photography - For fun, not for a living

While we were in California for Thanksgiving, my sister asked if I would take photos of her and the family for their Christmas cards. She found a professional photographer who would stage the photos at the beach, but that turned into a bad idea when the weather forecast was for rain and wind. Instead she asked me to give it a try. I like to focus on fish, flowers, and landscapes, but I thought it would be interesting.

So on Sunday after turkey-day, we drove to the Claremont Colleges - Pomona, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, McKenna, Keck and more. Beautiful architecture, manicured lawns, trees, gardens, fountains, and good weather. There were a number of families there enjoying the park-like setting and wide-open spaces. Being a long holiday weekend, there were literally no students to be found.

At times, trying to get the 2 year old and 5 year old boys to pose for photos was difficult when all they wanted to do was run and play. And climb trees. And kick through the leaves, go up and down the steps, play tag, find bugs, climb the low walls, and sit on the benches. Getting them to stay still was the hard part, but they are kids afterall. Here are a few of my favs.

And a slideshow of fun bloopers to give you an idea of the fun we had trying to get them all smiling and looking at me at the same time. Taking pics of fish and flowers is a lot easier. They don't move like a 2 year old! In hindsight I would try a couple different settings on the camera and I'd bring along a couple of props to get their attention.

I wish I could have explored the campuses, but taking the photos of them was a lot of fun. I think we all had fun. And I hope they are able to use a couple of the photos for their Christmas card.

"You have to earn your air"

Continued from prior post- "Something to share"

Steve,
Your email about the elderly gentleman really touched me, as I know he has touched you. I'd like to ask if I can put the story on my blog? What's your new friend hoping to do? Is he wanting to live closer to his sons? What does his future hold? Thanks for sharing this with us.
Mic & Rick

Rick and Mic,
A lot has happened since I wrote the email this morning: he has received a nice warm jacket and other clothes, he has a little more money in his pocket for food and he will be living in a home for at least a month. Tonight will be the first time in a very long while that he will be able to shower and sleep warmly and safely. The lady who owns the house is recently divorced, with the house in foreclosure and at least one child. She saw him on a bus bench last night and asked if he needed help. He said no, but she said I know you do because I've seen you around a lot sitting on the bus bench and doing odd jobs. She said she would make a place for him to stay at her house. When she found out he had a nominal budget for housing, she immediately agreed to give her master bedroom and bath to him for a month. When I took him to the house and paid the lady, he was so proud and happy, and he just had to show me the room. So, we have bought some time to formulate a plan and a backup. His belongings consisted of the clothes he had on and obituary articles about his mother and his grandmother.

Kenneth Jackson is 61 years old and does not have a plan for the life he has left. But he and I are talking about that, and I think plan number one will be to get him to Illinois where his sons live. I don't know what the sons will think, but I will talk to them on the phone to see if we can work something out, even if it means providing subsistence pay for his lodging there.

Kenneth is very articulate, humble and newly hopeful, in spite of his circumstances, and I find it a joy to be around him. As you can see, it's already a fairly long and complicated tale, with much more to come. He has a small social network on his side now, so things can only get better. He actually expected he would die on the streets. I would be pleased to have you use it on your blog. If any of us don't feel fortunate in our lives, then we haven't seen enough of the lives many others live and we haven't thought clearly about the subject.

I think my son is right in a way when he says, "You have to earn your air."
Steve

Steve,
I wish you were here so I could give you a big hug. The tears are running from my eyes. I feel so hopeful for his man. He is blessed to have you by his side. And it makes me want to be more thoughtful and caring in the way I treat people.

Thanks for sharing and I hope you let me know how he is doing.
Mic

Something to share

I'm still feeling a little puny, as my grandma used to say when one of us felt a little under the weather. It seems I've gotten away from my daily blogging just a little, what with all the activities going on and the holidays. But there are lots of words circling in my head, so stand by. And even though I'm not 100%, I'm far better off than many, many others. When I start to have a little self-pity party, I just have to look at what others are dealing with to get me off the pity wagon.

Rick and I are fortunate to be able to spend time with family this fall and I've got some photos from our visits to share later. But not everyone is so fortunate. Although we are all dealing with some personal hardship, be it health issues, relationships, or money problems, we tend to lose sight of others who are suffering much greater hardships.

We received a very touching email from our friend Steve and I felt compelled to share it with you. With his permission I'm sharing.

Wednesday, 10:25 AM

Rick and Mic,


Your recent comments about the good lives that most of us have were, I hope, taken to heart by your blog readers. I got a lesson of my own in thankfulness two days before Thanksgiving Day when I was approached at a market in a poor community by a slender old black man. He introduced himself by name and said he needed help, although he made it clear he wanted to work and was not a beggar. I had a cup of coffee that I had just bought and was in a hurry to get somewhere, but I talked with the man for a few minutes and ultimately gave him ten bucks.

Well, as you might imagine, I felt happy with myself as I drove off. But several hours later I began to realize that I needed to really help this man. So I looked for him around the market several hours later, feeling a certain sense of urgency. Luckily, I found him and we sat down together to talk. I heard this man's hard luck story from his childhood in Louisiana all the way up to the current time in his poor little community where had come two years ago to take care of his sick mother. She died a year ago, but he remains a polite, dignified man in spite of having no place to stay, no food, no transportation, no phone, only the clothes on his back, not having had any medical or dental care for as long as he can remember. He has as close to nothing as anyone I have ever met.

I gave him more money for food, hoping that he would have something to eat on Thanksgiving Day. But I still knew he needed more help than that. When I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, I couldn't stop thinking about how unbelievably blessed all of us are, having no idea what other human beings within our reach are going through. So, you can bet I was truly thankful, and I tried to share my feelings with my teenage grandchildren as well as the adults gathered around our table.

When I was younger my cynicism might have taken over, and I would have walked away after the first encounter. But now I have a project. I hope to find him a place to live today and to ultimately get him to Illinois where his adult sons live. They don't know how destitute he is, and he doesn't want to tell them for fear of worrying them. Besides, he has had no way to contact them.

I am telling you this because you know me and will understand that this is unexaggerated truth, and because we should all realize that we cannot be thankful enough. How lucky we are.

Steve

I sent an email back to Steve and asked to know more about this man and the outcome. I will share his reply with you.

Taking a "Sick Day"

Yesterday, after finishing a few games of pickleball, driving home on the golf cart with the cold wind blowing against our faces, I said to Rick that I felt like I was getting a sore throat! Just like that! Snap! A sore throat! No forewarning! I have not been sick for years! Neither of us! But now I was getting what seemed like a cold, perhaps. It only hurt when I swallowed, but boy did it hurt. No fever and no appitite either. I took an early shower (hot!) and got into my jammies. Some friends called and asked if we wanted to come over for happy hour and we had to take a raincheck. Today I slept in and missed our 8 AM pickleball games, but Rick went. I got up, took another hot shower, puttered around, went to the grocery store (Rick drove), dropped off some toys at the Toys For Tots, and when we got home I went back to bed.

I told Rick this would have been one of those days when I felt obligated to go to work, even though sick, but now that I'm retired I'm taking a sick day and staying home. This is the cold and flu season, so wash your hands often and stay healthy! From bed to the couch to bed, taking it easy and getting well.

Turkey still on my plate

Turkey enchiladas, turkey stroganoff, turkey soup, turkey fajitas, turkey sandwiches, turkey stir fry, and turkey/stuffing/mashed potatoes with gravy. Yep, we're into the leftover turkey season.

We usually cook more than one meal so we have leftovers for the next day (week, month). This habit started when we were working and we'd cook extra food on the weekend so that most of the work days, when we got home from the hour and a half drive, we could whip up a quick homemade meal.

Get creative. Use your taste-imagination. Anything you can do with cooked chicken, you can do with cooked turkey. Only better.

Here's a recipe for Southwestern Turkey Casserole

2 cups chopped cooked turkey
One 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 cup of milk
One 4 oz. can chopped green chilies
1/4 cup sliced black olives
2 cups crushed corn chips
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In saucepan, combine turkey, soup, milk, chilies, and olives; heat slowly, stirring until bubbly. Sprinkle 1/3 of corn chips on bottom of 2- quart casserole dish; pour in 1/2 of turkey mixture, 1/2 cup onion and 1/2 cup of each cheese. Layer another 1/3 of corn chips, remaining turkey mixture, onion and cheeses; top with remaining corn chips. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Let me know if you try it.

'Thanks' still on my mind

Although the date of Thanksgiving, the annual celebration, the feasting day, has passed us by, I still have the feeling of being thankful for what we have.

As Thanksgiving approached, I kept thinking that I should share with you and post here what I am so very thankful for. I kept coming up with the usual - good health, family, friends, the freedoms that come with being an American & living in the USA. Thanks to our military and armed forces for serving to keep us free. And thanks for my loving husband.

Thanksgiving is the day that commemorates the Pilgrims gratitude for their harvest and for survival in the new world. Our country seems to be facing comparatively tough times of its own right now. The economy specifically. This affects not only us retirees, but everyone. Everyone everywhere. I have to think that we will come out of these down times and be better for it. If I didn't think that I might be searching the jobs ads. My mom says we are faced with a challenge to do with less and find ways to save. My sister (to paraphrase) says it will bring us back to basics, bring us to understand what is important, bring us to live within our means. It's also a time when we, the citizens, are wanting to be a part of our future, our destiny, and our purpose. I feel more people are aware and involved with their communities, and this country, than ever. At least in my adulthood.

We see the news and know that many are facing tough times. At times I feel somewhat guilty for the 'good' that Rick and I have. (But then I remember our conservative spending habits, our savings plan, and our hard work to get where we are.) Our own family members are dealing with poor health, loss of loved ones, slow downs at work, but we're getting through it all with the belief and trust that it will get better. People are out of work and I've heard of retirees returning to work to get by. Rick and I both realize that we are living a good life and we don't take it for granted. We are thankful for our health, what we've done and the country we live in. I hope that you have reasons to be thankful, even in these tough times.

3 Thanksgivings

This year we were fortunate to celebrate Thanksgiving 3 times! Yep, with 3 turkeys. We had Rick's sister and brother-in-law visiting the week before the official date and were lucky to have them and Rick's parents over for a barbequed turkey. And all the traditional fixins! The only thing missing, according to Jim and me, was the old family secret green bean casserole with mushroom soup and fried onions. Even with the green beans missing, dinner was delicious.

Then on Tuesday before Thursday Thanksgiving we had just Rick's parents over for another traditional feast. But again the old family secret green bean casserole was missing. It was a delicious feast of (yet another) roasted turkey and all the trimmings.

The day before Thanksgiving we headed west to southern California where we both grew up and all my family still lives. My mom roasted a turkey along with all the traditional side dishes I grew up loving. On Thanksgiving day Rick and I celebrated with 25 of my immediate family members and we had a fabulous, familiar feast. We had yummy appetisers, deviled eggs to die for, home-made stuffing, home-made gravy, real mashed potatoes, fresh creamed corn, home-made buttermilk bisquits, sweet yams, fresh home-made cranberry relish (who knew it didn't grow in a can?), green beans cooked with bacon, fresh Chinese chicken salad, tender turkey, 3 different pies, AND a birthday cake. With so many in the family, everytime there's a family gathering there's a birthday cake. They were celebrating 5 November birthdays (I think?). I think I missed some Thanksgiving dish, but there were soooo many great dishes it's hard to remember it all!

I think I heard my brother Dan say he wished he could have brought the old family secret green bean casserole. Next year the casserole will surely be on the menu.

Ever wonder? What's Pickleball?

We describe pickleball as half way between tennis and ping pong. A combination of the two games. And it's a very social game with conversation and laughter. At least at the level we're playing. I've heard the more experienced players are competitive and take their game very seriously.

Pickleball is played on a court about half the size of a tennis court, with a net, with 2 or 4 players using hard paddles and a 3" hard plastic ball with holes. Like a whiffle ball. When you hit the ball it sounds like a bink, or a dink, or a plink. (Glad I don't live next to the courts.) The object of the game is to successfully hit the ball over the net without it being successfully returned by the opponents.

Hey! One thing pickleball and flyfishing have in common is that my pickleball paddle and my fly rod are both made of graphite! That's the only thing in common. And I like them both.

We've wanted to play pickleball for years. We knew we would like it, having played a little tennis, some racketball, a little badminton, and lots of ping pong. After all, a racket sport is a racket sport. Right?

We have about 10 pickleball courts here in our community, along with a number of tennis courts. And lots of other activities like shuffleboard, horseshoes, and bocce ball. By far pickleball is the most popular. Players start to arrive at the courts at 7:30 AM for round robin play and continue to use the courts throughout the day and into the evening. There are lessons on Mondays, ladies only lessons and play on Thursday afternoon, and couples sign-up each day. We can easily play game after game from 7:30 to noon, but they say come January it will be difficult to find an empty court. Reserving a court in advance will ensure you get on for an hour or so. Our high season here in Arizona is January through March so we are taking advantage of the uncrowded courts now. At least Rick is. I'm still benched with a torn muscle for another week or so.

We have a fun, active pickleball club here also. They party, potluck, and get together more than most other clubs. A few club members just returned from a road trip to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Maybe next year we'll take our motorhome and join them.

Something I've wondered, "Where did Pickleball get it's name?" I just found an explanation on the USAPA.org website that says the game's creator had a dog named Pickles that would steal the ball when they played so they named the game Pickleball. The game was created in the summer of 1965 by a couple of dads in Washington state as a means to entertain their bored children.

There's a national organization for pickleball and information can be found at USAPA.org. There's a short video that will give you a great look at a few games actually being played. People of all ages can play, but it can be a fast game requiring quick reflexes. We were warned that playing pickleball can be addictive. Yep, it is. I used to say that going fishing was the only activity that would get me out of bed on a cold, early morning. Now I have to add playing pickleball as a second reason to set the alarm clock.

Dishwashers and Simple Living

On Sunday mornings, while fixing breakfast, I like to watch the CBS News Sunday Morning show (it was on years ago with Charles Kuralt). I like most of the stories they show and the "articles" because they're usually entertaining and not "doom and gloom". They travel to all corners of the country and always end the show with a short look at an outdoor location and I just love it when it's a river. They don't talk during the last segment and instead they turn up the volume on the singing birds and babbling brooks. For a few seconds I'm out in the wilds.

This morning they had a funny segment on the proper loading of dishwashers. They attempted to answer the long-time question of rinsing off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. And which direction for the silverware? Up or down? I've never felt comfortable loading other people's dishwashers because of these mysteries. And usually the people who have dishwashers have a very specific regimen they follow. And I figured I could have my dishes washed and sitting in the draining tray long before I rinsed the dishes and arranged them "properly" in the dishwasher machine. And the additional time to unload the dishwasher!

After we laughed about the dishwasher segment, I turned to Rick and said "Do you realize I've never had a dishwasher?" He grinned a big grin. I continued, "Besides never having a dishwasher, I've never owned a washer or dryer, nor a garbage disposal. And most of our life we've only had one car." And we've never felt the need to have a huge house. I like to think we live simply.

The major reason is not that we couldn't afford it, but that it wouldn't fit well in our RV. Or that we didn't find it necessary in our lifestyle. Even when we did have 2 cars, we carpooled. And like riding together when we worked, washing dishes together has never been a big deal. Rick jokes that if I cook, he gets to wash. Yet he almost always takes the dishwashing job, even when he grills. Living where we do, with multiple neighborhood centers with many washers and dryers, I've always enjoyed taking the golf cart to the neighborhood center to do laundry. (Lots to do at the Town Center.) And a garbage disposal in a motorhome or trailer? We always wanted the extra storage space in the cabinet. Rick reminded me that we bought a disposal once, but when I saw how big it was under the sink, I changed my mind.

We recently upgraded our DirecTV service and finally did get a DVR that will record TV movies and shows we miss. I had once thought "Why do I need to record TV?" This DVR is turning out to be a handy item. Being retired and living at an active resort community keeps us out and about more than ever. Now I can record the Sunday Morning show and watch it whenever I want to.

On the Injured Reserve List

One day, about a week ago, I really hurt myself playing my new favorite hobby, pickleball. We've been playing about 4 weeks and we were progressing quite well. We love it and play every morning.

I'd played pickleball the day before in some pain, very minor pain, but still, I knew my upper left leg was not as it should have been after a couple hours. But I played through it, thinking it would get better, not worse. Well the second day of playing with minor pain turned into a royal pain in the butt! Literally! A true P.I.T.A. Now, before you start laughing, this is serious stuff! Stop smiling!

After playing about 3 hours I had to quit in the middle of a game and asked Rick to take me to a doctor! I could hardly walk to the golf cart and once home I just wanted someone to take the pain away. I couldn't put weight on my left leg. I'd never ever been to a chiropractor in my life (never), but I sure wanted one now! I found one within a mile of our place, covered by our insurance, and called to see if they could see me. The receptionist said "What time would you like tomorrow?" and I said "Now." The doctor saw me immediately and after an exam, let me know I'd torn my gluteus maximus, yep, really a pain in the butt. Stabbing pain, but only when I walk. Ha! After the treatment and the relief of knowing what was wrong, I was feeling sort of better. The doctor did a minor alignment, heat treatment, and a massage. Great massage, but somewhat painful in the area of the sore muscle. All that felt better - especially when she stopped. She also grounded me from pickleball for 3 days. Bummer! So I went up to the courts with Rick in the morning and visited with the players waiting to rotate into a game. I went back to the doctor 3 days for the treatments and started to feel better. Thought I was on the road to wellness.

Also part of my treatment is for me to apply ice to the affected muscle. I've seen my sister use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel as an ice pack for boo-boos, so I looked in my freezer for frozen veggies and right there on top were the frozen chicken patties I'd made for grilling. Hmmm... We were planning to eat them for dinner. And I did need to defrost them. So I took the frozen ground chicken patties and wrapped them in a dishtowel and placed them where it hurt. They were the perfect size and shape for my ice treatment. And I'd have them defrosted in time for dinner. Multi-tasking is a knack of mine.

I even took Sunday off from playing and made it 4 days without pickleball. And then on Monday I just dinked the ball over the net and didn't do any running. Only did that for a few minutes. My butt still hurt, but the doc had said just 3 days of no play, so I'd probably feel better Tuesday. Makes sense, right? Wrong.

On Tuesday I warmed up with Rick and it really hurt so I sat for 30 minutes and watched a game. Then I wanted to practice my serves and I did that for another 15 minutes, and it still hurt. It was getting worse and I knew I couldn't play through the pain to make it go away. So I decided being off 4 days and going to the doctor 3 times wasn't going to fix my gluteus maximus muscle. I limped into the doctor's office for another heat treatment and massage and told her "I'm really serious about getting over this and what do I need to do to play pickleball again?" And now she's grounded me from pickleball for 2 weeks! I can't do anything that causes my muscles to hurt or strain.

I need to take it easy, rest the muscle, do light stretching, and NO pickleball! I'm on the Injured Reserve List. I've been benched. Thank goodness I have the photo books to work on. I have one completed and I'm half way done with a second one.

Free photo book offer deadline extended

The offer by Oprah and Peter Walsh for a free photo book from SnapFish.com has been extended for another week. I just received an email saying that I had until Nov. 22 to complete my order. You should log on through the Oprah.com site and click the link to SnapFish.com. (find the Peter Walsh "Get Organized" episode) I'm not sure if SnapFish has extended the deadline to only complete the book or extended the date to log on to get the credit. Originally you needed to log on and get the credit applied to your account by today at midnight.

The reason for SnapFish extending the deadline is that their website is experiencing extemely high traffic due to the offer. Here's the email I received with some tips and hints on how to navigate the site and create your book. And although the book is free, you still need to pay a shipping charge of $6.99.

FREE photo book offer - for a very limited time

I got "grounded" today (more on that later) and was watching afternoon TV, Oprah specifically, because she was talking about organizing and de-cluttering your life. As a way to organize printed photos she announced an offer for a FREE 20 page photo book from SnapFish.com. BUT the offer is only good for 48 hours and you have to get your coupon before the offer expires at 11:59 PM PST on 11/14/08. I believe you will then have 2 more days to finish your book.

The book is a $30 value and you can choose from a few different styles. Some styles let you place multiple photos on a page so upload your favorite photos now. I also noticed a feature where the site will organize the photos in the book for you and then you can tweak them. You'll have to pay shipping and tax.

If you log onto her site at www.oprah.com you will find a link to SnapFish and the FREE photo book 'coupon'. You will need to establish an account if you don't already have one. And like I mentioned, this is for a limited time. The way I read it, if you go to SnapFish before midnight on Friday and get the coupon you will have until Sunday to finish the book and submit your order. Read through it to make sure I'm right. Go get your coupon and start uploading those photos!

SnapFish is a website that you can upload photos to, make your albums private, share with friends, order photo items, and much more. Have fun!

Comments to Comments

I've read that it's proper blog etiquette to respond to comments we receive. I try to reply to comments as soon as I read them, although it sometimes takes me a couple days. But I try. And everyone can see the published comments and replies under each posting, if you're interested. I welcome comments and appreciate the few that we get. (Thanks Polly!)

Although I write on this blog for myself, it's nice to know that others read it and get something from it. I started it so that family members and friends could keep up with us and know what we're doing. It's turned into a way to get the thoughts out of my mind and recorded. And a way to share my photos. The blog has turned into more of a journal for me. But like I said, if someone reads it and gets a smile, a fishing tip, a travel hint, or a shared life lesson, that's what I'm hoping for.

I received a nice comment from someone named Roberta. This photo is for her.

More on our Bobcat visitor

I'm still amazed about the visiting bobcat. What astonishes me is that these bobcats are hanging around this community with so many people. In such an inhabited place.

Years ago, 23 years ago, when this and the surrounding communities were being built, we displaced snakes, hawks, and many others animals. It used to be fairly common to see raccoons while on an evening walk or to have skunks saunter through the patio at happy hour. Numerous snakes had to be removed from yards. The roadrunners became almost tame taking raw meat from the neighbors. I remember realizing when the hawks were becoming scarce. The golf course lakes and green grassy areas must be attracting more and more animals back into our fenced community.

The rabbits came back to eat the pansies and petunias we plant. Some people put out bird seed to attract the quail. The rabbits and quail attract coyotes, and now, bobcats. I'm happy the original inhabitants are making their way back into the neighborhood.

It's a Zoo in our Backyard

In our small desert RV community it's common to see coyotes, roadrunners, quail, rabbits, and even a javelina once in a great while.







When we returned home a couple weeks ago we were told bobcats had set up residency in our park. Bobcats! How cool is that?!?! Cool, unless you have a small dog or cat I guess. Anyway, some people have snapped photos of the bobcats, seeing 3 together at one time. Ever since we've been home, and we learned they were here, I've wanted to see one something terrible! Everyday I've said to Rick "Wish I could see the bobcats."

Some of the residents of our park have complained that there are too many rabbits and they eat the flowers they plant. And the shrubs. And the cactus. The rabbits eat almost everything. Well, the resort personnel have asked the residents to not bother the coyotes or bobcats because they are starting to get the rabbit population under control. That's one way to deal with the cute pests!

This evening Rick's parents were having dinner at our place and Rick's dad says "Hey, there's a bobcat out front." What!! I couldn't believe it! I only caught a quick glimpse of it, but I was hoping for more. I saw it come into our front yard, heading for the backyard and I ran to get my camera. I got a quick shot of it passing through our side yard and I ran to the bedroom. Rick and his parents went into the living room to watch it. The bobcat was right below the bedroom window! Standing right below me! I could tell it was getting ready to jump the 6' wall and I snapped another quick shot as it lept to the top of the wall. I thought it was going over, but it was my luck that it sat on the wall for a minute and I was able to get a few more shots. I was about 4 feet from it, inside the house.

As I watched in amazement I kept thinking, "What a beautiful wild animal!" The bobcat sat on the wall, surveying the yards on the other side, looking for movement in the bushes perhaps. I like to think that it knew I was inside, watching, fascinated, marveling, getting the photos I wanted so badly, before it jumped over and trotted after it's rabbit dinner.

Comments are easy

The folks at Blogger have made some nice changes lately and I wanted to share one with you.

Have you ever read a blog, maybe this one, and wanted to leave a comment? Maybe to add something more, correct something, agree, ask a question, or just share your thoughts on the issue? Now it's so easy!

At the bottom of our blog posts you will see a link to "comments". It might show "0 comments", but if you click on "comments" you can leave us a message. You can enter your name and if you have a blog or webpage you can include it. Or you can be anonymous, but it would be nice of you to leave us a hint to who you are. You have to type in some squiggly letters, aka letter recognition, but that's easy. We read and approve all comments before they are published. If you want to make it private (unpublished) just say so.

We'd like to hear from you, I think.

FREE Annual Credit Reports

You could say that this is another PSA or Public Service Announcement.

Every 12 months you can get a free credit report from each of the 3 credit reporting agencies = EquiFax, Experian, and TransUnion. The Internet website is https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

I think the easiest method is on the Internet, but you can request the reports by phone or in writing. We spread them out throughout the year with Rick getting his from one agency and I get mine from another agency. Supposedly the 3 agencies share information between themselves, so we feel we're keeping a closer eye on our data by spreading them out.

If you've never gotten a report for yourself you might find some interesting information. It's easy and it's free. Give it a try and protect your private information.

Silly Me

Where have these silly posts come from? Why do I allow the fish to be part of my postings when I'm no where near water?

As I go about my daily routine, I think about fly fishing. I needed a haircut and I see fish with hair. I go to the dentist and those sharp teeth in the mouth of a brown trout are felt once again. I don't turn on the radio because I still hear the river burbling in my ears. The weather is turning cool, but I feel the cold river surrounding my legs. I look at the clouds floating by in the sky and see trout sipping bugs off the river's surface.

When we left the river, and our summer spent concentrating on fly fishing, I just couldn't leave the fish behind. They creep into my thoughts, my postings, my dreams, my future plans.

Some people have bad habits. I have the good habit of thinking about fly fishing. I'm one crazy woman! I'll try to share some of my more saner thoughts, sans trout.

Stand in Line?

It doesn't matter who you voted for, I just hope you exercised your rights and voted.

If you stood in line at your polling place to vote, but wished you didn't have to, read on. (Uh-oh! Sounds like another PSA.) The television is showing very long lines of patient people waiting to cast their votes, but it doesn't have to be that way for you.

You probably know this, but just in case you don't, I'll share this with you. You can request an absentee ballot, sometimes referred to as a vote-by-mail ballot, and avoid those election-day lines. You can complete your ballot in the comfort of your home, at your leisure, and mail it.

What if something happened on voting day and you couldn't get to your voting location? I like to think that voting is very important to you and if you can do it the easy way, why not? We've used this method for years and love it. We don't miss shuffling our schedules or standing in line in order to vote. Or the check-in process, with someone verifying who we are. And heaven forbid, you go to the wrong polling location and then have to find where you really should be.

Give it a try now, go on-line and ask for your mail-in-ballot, while the memory of standing in line is fresh in your mind.

How long between hair cuts Ms Fish?

How long do you wait before getting your hair cut? Whether you're in the work place or on the retirement highway, you don't want to start looking like a hippie. (or maybe you do!!) I guess one of the freedoms of being retired is not having to conform to the expectations of the corporate workplace.

I've cut Rick's hair for the past 32 years (yes, that's why it looks the way it does) and he likes to have it cut about every 4 weeks. Or at least he hopes for 4 weeks. I like to cut his hair, but I've never tried to cut anyone else's. We still have the same Wahl clippers that we purchased some 30 years ago! Whenever I cut his hair, like outside at a campground, it usually attracts a small crowd of looky-loos.

When I was a teenager my hair was long and straight. Sometimes I'd have bangs sometimes not. Long and straight was easy to maintain and didn't take any thought. Not long after meeting Rick I started getting shorter and shorter hair styles.

When I was working I went to get my hair cut about every 5 weeks. Sometimes I'd wait a little longer to try to stretch out the haircut, but this usually only worked well if I'd received a shorter-than-expected cut.

It's now been 5 months since I've had a hair cut. FIVE MONTHS! The last time I had it cut was the end of May in Oregon. I had it cut rather short then knowing I was going to be in the wilds of Montana and not sure if they had hair salons where we were going. (Just kidding! Sort of!) Anyway, it's been 5 months and I've let it grow out, making it very easy to pull back and put under a big fishing hat or ball cap. Almost back to where I had it as a teenager. Only thing is now I'm a little older, OK, older, and I'm seeing people who know me with short hair. They're all saying "You have long hair" so I know it must look quite different. And I'm at that age, won't put it in writing here, when most women start cutting their hair shorter and shorter. Really short.

There are style websites where you can upload a photo and see how different hairstyles would look on you. I've tried some "before and after" looks.

And I even tried blonde and short.

Now that we're back in Arizona, I've stopped in at the local drop-in hair places to check them out. Now I just need to figure out how short I want my hair to be. One thing is for certain, I want it to be no-fuss, no-muss. Not having to do my hair every morning at 4:30 AM is a big benefit of being retired.

If you're on the retirement highway how do you handle haircuts?

Flossing with Fishing Line

Being back in our hometown after 10 months living in the motor home means catching up with annual doctor appointments. The routine health maintenance visits that we believe in. Including a 6 month visit to our dentist. This is starting to sound like a PSA = Public Service Announcement.

We're lucky, I think, to really like the employees and the dentist that we have been going to for years. We know them and they know us. When we walked into the dentist office, the office manager, Staci, said "There's 2 of my favorite people!" They're just a friendly, warm group of people.

Rick and I had our teeth cleaned, Rick without instance. Not so easy for me. The hygienist and the dentist collaborated and agreed that I needed an old silver-color filling removed and a crown installed to replace it. No, not the type of crown to wear on my head to show to all that I am queen. The type of crown that will save my #2 tooth. I didn't like the news, but eventually I agreed with them.

What choice did I really have? Like a commercial we've seen on TV, I could wait until my tooth falls apart when I'm far from home. Funny, I've not had any pain from there, but it was cracked they said, like an ice cube. I said to the hygienist, "you mean like a diamond." Oh yes, she agreed, "a diamond", humoring me.

It seems Rick and I are having to deal with replacing the few fillings we had done as children. No, not from eating too much Halloween candy! For the past few years the old silver fillings have been falling apart or causing our teeth to have problems. The old fillings have lasted 30, 40 years or more, and dentists don't use that type of material anymore. Thank goodness neither of us have very many old fillings. And no other dental problems. Whew!

Anyway, while talking with the hygienist and telling her my brushing and flossing habits, she said I need to try to brush my teeth every 4 hours regardless of if I eat or not. What? Every 4 hours? I hadn't heard of that routine before, but she said the bacteria needs to be moved around so the plaque doesn't stick to my teeth.

Makes sense, I guess. But I told her I fish all day and I didn't see how I was going to be able to bring out my toothbrush (rechargeable electric) on the river and buzz buzz buzz my teeth. She didn't understand how I could fish for 6 or 8 hours and it took her a few minutes to grasp that I was standing in a river, not on a boat. I don't usually stop to sit on the river bank and take a break.

I'm sure it's written somewhere in the Official River Etiquette Rule Book that no electric toothbrushes are allowed to disrupt the quiet of the river. I would be laughed at and it might scare the fish. She didn't quite understand the Rules of the River and she said I could buy small, travel sized toothbrushes with pre-applied toothpaste. And she said I could floss! With fishing line if that's all I had with me.

Hmmm... 5 pound or 10 pound line??? I'll have to make sure no hook is attached!!!

Laughing at myself

I admit I sounded like a dud in the previous posting about Halloween. Yep, a dud. Admitted. But those are my thoughts and this is a blog, one where I get to write my thoughts so they don't keep circling round and round up there.

Today I received an email from a good friend, someone we got to know pretty well over the past summer. It's always good to hear from him. When I read it I laughed, actually had a good laugh, and thought he was also having a good laugh at me. That's OK. We learned to understand each other's sense of humor after a short while and my first thought was 'he's poking fun at me.' Even Rick had a good laugh at the email.

But then I said to Rick, "Perhaps this is honestly true?"

Mic,
I had errands to do yesterday and I found very conspicuous signs saying "Please Remove Costumes Before Entering" at the bank and a convenience store. Sad state of affairs.

I do like the Mexican tradition of celebrating "Dia De Los Muertos."

Steve

I'm not able to see his face through email, and you don't always get the feelings a person is trying to convey through email. I can't see if he has a grin on his face or if he's serious. But he did get me to laugh at myself. Thank you friend!

On a sad note, I did read about or hear about crimes, some tragic, that were committed on Halloween. I'm not sure the crimes were so out of the ordinary or if they made it to the headlines because they involved a Halloween costumed bank robber or a child out trick-or-treating. But as my friend said, it is a sad state of affairs.

Commercialized holidays ~ Boo!

Since it's a holiday and "the" holiday season is upon us, I thought I'd have one more thing to say about holidays. Rick and I were talking about Halloween and how it has become commercialized. I think it's been a long time coming. I remember little boys dressed as Superman from comic books, long before major motion pictures were thought of. (Jeez, I make myself sound old!) But all holidays have become commercial, money-making events for companies who sell us decorations, cards, and holiday goods.

We are all enticed to spend, spend, spend on holidays. Why not make sure the entire family is involved with the spending and that it is meaningful. Have a purpose. Let everyone in on the planning. Spend on items that are going to bring the family together. Make quality time. Young children love to help, so let them! Create activities they can feel a part of. You don't have to carve a pumpkin - there are many ways to decorate one. Let them help to make the holiday treats. Encourage them to help design the costume. Ask them what they think.

I'm not suggesting you don't celebrate the holidays. Not at all! In fact, I'm hoping you do celebrate. (If your beliefs allow.) I like family traditions! Even if you don't celebrate, I'm suggesting we all look into the origin of the holidays. What did they mean long ago? How were they originally celebrated? How did they come about? What country did they originate in? What foods and decorations were associated with the holiday? How has it evolved? Can you bring it back to what it was meant to be?

It's so easy to look things up on the Internet or the library. Why not take a few minutes, do a little research, and share some of the true meaning with the young people in your life? It might just give them a better understanding of the holiday, make them feel part of it, and start a family tradition with meaning.

It's Halloween - Be Careful!

I know lots of people who LOVE Halloween. And I know just as many people who DISLIKE Halloween very much. I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings or step on any toes. But on the eve of Halloween, most All Hallow's Eve, I've had these thoughts.

I used to like Halloween, when I was a kid. Loved dressing up, walking through the surrounding streets, and getting pillowcases loaded with candy. And fruit. And homemade treats, too. Homemade popcorn balls were popular. Oh yes, Mom had to inspect it all before we could eat any, but we loved the sack loads of candy we hauled home.

And then I remember a time when Mom started looking for razor blades in the apples and candy that had been tampered with. And I got older and it turned into disbelief that someone would want to hurt children with candy. But since I left that childhood of long ago, being able to walk from neighborhood to neighborhood without a care, I'm overly cautious about small children trick or treating, running in the street after dark and the unknown people, the strangers who are also out there in the dark.

As kids, my brothers and I used to feel confident venturing into areas blocks away from our own street. But then, we knew so many of the families living in those surrounding neighborhoods. We felt secure. When communities began providing organized locations for kids to visit, like the local school, church, or community center, I thought that was a great idea. A safe alternative. Thank you to the organizations that provide these fun, safe Halloween events.

The state agency I retired from used to hold Halloween costume contests, a costume parade, and pumpkin carving contests. I didn't understand it or agree with it, but the administration supported it. Even though they attempted to hold these events during lunch, they often went on for much longer than an hour lunch break. Of course co-workers dressed in full-costume was disruptive throughout the work day, not to mention what the public who encountered costumed state employees must have thought. Call me a party-pooper, but that's just not my idea of what should happen at a government agency.

For a long time I've also thought that Halloween gave bad guys a free day, an excuse, to hide behind a mask and costume and rob or hurt others. This week prime time TV has showcased crooks in costume, some even impersonating police and other law enforcement. Getting dressed for an evening costume party is one thing, but if I have to go into a grocery store or other business on Halloween day, I'm very suspicious of adults in costumes that hide their identity.

Sorry to be a party-pooper. I love seeing the small children dressed in their cute costumes. And I appreciate the homes that have been decorated with spooky decorations to make it fun for the young kids. I just see too much opportunity for the real monsters and creeps to be themselves on All Hallow's Eve. Please be careful.

Getting the hang of being a snowbird

We've been out of the motorhome a few days now, in the house once more, and we're getting the hang of being a retired snowbird. It took us a couple days to empty the motorhome and high-grade clothes and other stuff we had along for the ride. We've sorted the stuff and made a trip to the Goodwill store. Rick has done almost all the outside yard work (mostly digging up dead plants that we knew wouldn't make it without water), and I've tried to take care of the inside of the house. I've done laundry and now we're starting to put stuff back in the motorhome. I love going over to the storage area and visiting our mobile fishing lodge, but 'she' seems like a boat out of water sitting all closed up, empty, and without us. In dry dock and with temps at 95! But the moho looks so good! It's fun deciding now what we will be taking with us on the next trip.

What I meant when I said we're getting the hang of being a retired snowbird is that we've jumped in, with both feet, not into a river, but into the clubs and activities of our retirement resort community. We've checked out the wood shop, arts & crafts club, stitchery club, wood carvers club, AND the pickle ball club. We've had about 2 hours of beginner level pickle ball lessons and we both love it! Not only is the sport fun, but the group is a fun-loving group of active people.

These are only a small fraction of the available clubs and activities we have to choose from. Just about any type of activities are offered and could keep us busy all day, every day. You name it and it's here. When we retired the first time years ago we participated in all the fun stuff and now we have the opportunity to do it again. Hmmmm... How about painting class, quilting, genealogy, ceramics, stained glass, golf, shuffleboard, billiards, dancing of all types, bowling, water exercise, bingo, card games of all sorts, and there's even a computer club if we missed working. They already asked us if we could come by and teach. Hmmmmm...

What to say when asked...

When people ask "Aren't you glad to be out of that motorhome?", I say "No", with a little attitude, I now realize. They say "Aren't you glad to be in your own bed now?" and I reply that both beds are ours and they're both Sleep Number air beds, and both very comfortable. I guess those who ask (neighbors, friends, and family) have no idea how much fun we have in our motorhome. I guess they either don't know or they have tried it and didn't like it. But we love it!

I think they assume we are uncomfortable and cramped for space in the motorhome. I think they think we are not happy to be travelling to the cool north away from the hot Arizona summer. Yes, we miss family immensely and we're happy to be able to hug them now, but are we unhappy in the moho? No! We are very happy in the moho! We are thrilled to be able to do what we have planned to do for many years. To be able to fly fish the glorious rivers of the Pacific northwest and see the beautiful USA.

We were very comfy and cozy in our 35' Monaco Cayman. We like to say "It's big enough, but not too big to keep us out of where we want to go." Living full-time (or many months) in a (mid-size) RV is definitely not for everyone, but we love it. Honestly!


When we pulled up and parked in front of the house I didn't want to leave the moho. I sat in it, sad to be home, not wanting the recent adventure to be over. While sitting in the driver's seat I called my mom to tell her we'd arrived safely, but that I was a little bummed out and she told me that most people would be happy to be home. I agreed, and after the call I had a talk with myself and a quick attitude adjustment, and realized that I could be happy or unhappy. That I could choose my mood. I had to keep telling myself for a couple days that I should be happy and we truly are happy. Poor Rick took the brunt of my bad attitude for a day, but it is good to be home. We love our stick house and our community, and we have some fun events and outings planned close to home.

Now that we are back in the stick house for a couple days, I find myself reaching for a drawer or cupboard that was in the moho. The silverware and glasses are in a different location and the microwave controls are different. Before taking my shower last night I reached for the ceiling vent controls so I could turn on the fan and it wasn't there. I find myself smiling when I reach in the wrong direction for something. And a couple times Rick has had to ask where something is stored now.

This evening before dinner Rick and I sat out on the patio and enjoyed some fresh homemade salsa, chips, and a cold beverage. We talked about the good times we had these past 10 months and how we are looking forward to the next few months and the projects and events we have planned through the winter. The winters are fabulous in Arizona and since we don't like cold weather, this is a perfect place to be for the next few months. After a couple days of being here I can say "It's good to be home."

We have nice views out the windows here, but I can't see a river. However, I can see the golf course ponds and I've tried to practice my fly casting, but the guys who patrol the golf course don't like it much. Rules! Or perhaps they don't want the resort to be over-run by the likes of the Beverly Hillbillies. I'll have to find a grassy area and pretend there's water. Somehow I'll need to practice my fly casting before now and opening day in May.

Who put all this stuff in our motorhome?

Unbelievable! I'd like to know who put all this stuff in the motorhome? Living in a small space like a motorhome, say 400 square feet, brings space management to a new level. We wanted everything to have a place so we wouldn't have to move it to sit down, go to bed, or walk around comfortably. And we did a good job of that. You learn to live with less stuff, or at least you learn to prioritize what is important to have with you. And we have the ability to carry a lot of stuff in our moho. Almost 5000 pounds of Cargo Carry Capacity or CCC. But still, where did all this stuff come from? We were only on the road 10 months!

Yes, it's amazing the amount of stuff we removed from the motorhome when we arrived back at our house! We filled the house refrig, freezer and pantry and we have an overflowing linen closet. Rick and I agreed long ago we wouldn't move because we don't like to pack and unpack. This sure felt like we moved and it makes us want to downsize even more than ever. It's made me think about having 2 of everything, one for the moho and one for the stick house, but that's not practical. Well, truthfully (don't tell Rick), I have started to accumulate separate items for the moho and the house. After all, the color schemes are totally different. The rugs, bedding and linens are different and don't cross over well. We have a new set of pots and pans for the house so I didn't have to unload them. And now that I think about it, the convection/microwave oven has it's own set of cookware. I guess I could have carried in a couple more boxes. Thankfully not.

We've started thinking about the unnecessary items we hauled around that we never needed. For one thing, we took way too many clothes! We are "jeans, shorts, and t-shirts" people and we're happy to say that's what we wore most of the time. What was I thinking when I packed all those clothes? Really, we did it together, wasn't just me. We did plan to weed out the old clothes that should be given to Goodwill and I'm pleased to say we have a box of Goodwill items being filled right now.

We don't like to run out of something (soap, TP, Kleenix, mustard, salad dressing, tuna, rice) so we tend to have 3 or 4 on hand. We're trying to change our thinking on this because guess what? We've found that even while living in an RV, you are never far from a store. Part of our buying is also for survival planning. We like to think we are prepared for emergencies and could get along with what we have on hand.

When we retired, actually before we retired, we started to downsize. Or we thought we were. We liked to think we were getting rid of all the chatzkies and doo-da's, you know, the clutter. Moving back into the house and seeing what is there makes us reconsider our possessions once again. How many pillows are required to be comfortable? (one good one!) How many pairs of tennis shoes does one need? (lots of water sandals!) How many books do we need to keep on our bookshelves when we have a fully stocked library within walking distance? (reminder to read more!) How much yarn do I need? (finish the projects!) So, once again we are motivated to downsize and keep what is really important to us. That's not to say our house will be sterile with nothing on the walls or shelves. But when we get ready to load the motorhome in 5 months we will remember the unloading.

Turning left for AZ

I've been a little sporadic with my posts lately, but we've been busy! I've missed a few days and some of you have sent email asking "Where are you?" or "What are you up to lately?" I have photos and campground reviews that I want to share, so stay tuned and I'll try to get caught up.

We were able to spend a few days in the So Cal area and visited with almost all my family! Haven't seen them in 9 or 10 months! It was so good to be able to spend time with them and catch up on their lives. They are all so busy with all their kids and work!

We arrived at the Soledad Canyon Thousand Trails park in the Palmdale area and they let us leave the moho parked here on-site while we spent a couple nights away. We felt it was pretty secure and it worked out very well for us. I've taken lots of photos of the park and will share them in another post and give more details on the park in a future post. It's an interesting park and as we walked around we couldn't help but wonder what direction the TT Corporation is headed. More on this later.

We are heading out in the morning for Arizona, about a 6 or 7 hour trip. But we know where we are going and what we are going to find when we get there. We called the neighbors and let them know we're coming home and they are happy to have us back - for a while.

Through the Grapevine

I don't remember ever driving the Grapevine, but that's probably because I wanted to forget it. What an experience! A few days ago we came south on Interstate 5, through California, and along with dozens of big rig trucks and hundreds of cars, we made it up and then down the Grapevine. I grew up in So Cal and Rick says we've been on it before, but I guess it's different in a 36' motorhome.

If you're going to drive Interstate 5, be prepared for a rough and bumpy trip. Especially if in a motorhome. From Sacramento south the road is good in a few small sections, but the rest of the 8 hour trip was horrible and California should be embarrassed by the condition of what is probably their main interstate highway. Oh I'm sure we'll find other highways in need of repair, we just haven't gotten into other state's potholes yet. Other RVers advised to take 99 and avoid I5, but we figured it couldn't be that bad! Wrong! And right! It is!

It's a quick north/south route, but be ready. Be prepared. Don't start up the Grapevine needing to stop for a potty break. The last rest area we were going to stop at was closed, and so we went on up the mountain. And up, and up. I kept thinking we had to be near the summit. There is a rest area at the top of the mountain, thank goodness! One of the great conveniences of having a motorhome! Having your own bathroom as long as you have a place to pull over.

The Grapevine is 4 or 5 lanes of traffic, with only the 2 right lanes for trucks and vehicles towing. At one point I had enough speed to pass the 2 really slow, practically stopped, right lanes, but Rick said I shouldn't, couldn't go into the left lanes. So we backed off and travelled slow up the hill. And used the exhaust brake going down the other side to keep our speed at or below 55. I love that exhaust brake and use it often, in the hills and heavy traffic. Love it!

OR to CA

It's late and I'm tired. Just a quick post to let you know we had a great day and made it to the Sacramento area. The weather was good and traffic was light. We were on the interstate from 8:30 AM to about 6:30 PM - a LOOOOONG day! But a good one with a few rest area stops along the way. It started out foggy, but eventually cleared to blue skies in a place called Sunny Valley. Appropriate.


The coffee this morning was decaf (won't happen again), snacks in the morning were pretzel sticks and fresh fruit (no processed sugar), lunch was crab salad (my recipe) and crackers with the fabulous view of Mt Shasta. Finally some caffeine in my iced tea! By the time we arrived at Thousand Trails Lake Minden this evening dinner was leftover baby back ribs, fresh corn on the cob, and fresh zucchini. And the cold beverage tasted especially good!
Tomorrow will also be a long day, but we are anxious to see family.

Southbound

We are leaving the beautiful state of Oregon and heading south to warmer climes, where all those experienced geese and ducks went weeks ago. I say the geese are experienced because they've done this before. This is our first time as snowbirds. And we sure are having a good time! But it's getting cooler and we're finished with our warranty work at Guaranty RV in Junction City. I'll fill you all in on the details in another post. I might even have some tips to share that might make your stay at the RV dealer easier.

Once again, while here, we've met some very nice people waiting for their RVs to be fixed. And it was wonderful to see our Guaranty RV friends. They are all very generous and caring people. Sorry to say goodbye to them, but happy to be on our way to visit with family. We'll be heading into the So Cal area before turning left for Arizona.

We planned to stop at a small Thousand Trails park we missed on the trip north. It's called Turtle Beach Fish Camp (for real!) in Manteca, CA. I called the park just to confirm that they weren't having wildfires, mudslides or road construction -- you know, something major that might make us reconsider our decision to stop there for a day or two. WELL! They are having a problem with the electricity to a portion of the park and they are busy so we've decided to pass them by and wing it. Probably drive 6 or 8 hours until I get tired. Probably 400 miles or so! Yikes! I'll need lots of coffee and sugary snacks throughout the day! No fear! Rick always takes care of me while I drive! And he makes sure I have a cold beverage ready after we get parked and settled into camp for the night. (And I've already got the lunch and dinner planned for the travel day - just so you don't think it's one-sided or anything.)

Here in Oregon the gold and red leaves are falling from the trees, floating in the wind like colorful butterflies. And as the leaves are blown along the sidewalks the sound reminds me of a babbling brook flowing over the rocky stream bed. The air is crisp, even foggy in the morning, and Rick says we need to be where it's warm. Looking at the weather forecast, it'll be in the 90's when we get back to AZ!