Saturday, the 24th, we spent the afternoon preparing for Audrey's big 80th birthday party. We managed to make ourselves presentable and arrived at the beautiful country club in Palm Springs on time! It was a fantastic party with a wonderful vocalist, great food, wine and champagne to toast Audrey's 80 years. David and Kathy did a fantastic job of getting about 80 friends and relatives together for the event. We had such a good time. We were home early enough to play a few games of round rummy.
Sunday we got up about 6:30, packed up our belongings and said goodbye to our great condo...after our embarrassing display of screaming and wailing earlier in the week, we probably won't be able to get a unit there again! We were on the road by 8 a.m. and arrived back in Mesa by 12:30. As usual, the traffic on hwy 10 was horrendous so it was good to get home safely. We unpacked, did laundry and raced to O'Sullivans to watch the Sioux in their attempt to make it to the Frozen Four...unfortunately, the Gophers were too much for the Sioux that day so we ate and left before the end of the game. We were in bed pretty early Sunday night.
Monday morning Phyllis and I did some shopping at Superstition Springs mall. In the afternoon we went for massages. That was a first for me and I must admit I did enjoy it. Monday night we had our usual card games.
Tuesday we headed for the pool for a swim and some games of bananagrams. Phyllis packed and then we went to see "The Vow"--a movie based on a true story about a woman who had a trauma to the head and lost about 5 years of her memory. We all enjoyed the movie. We came home and actually made a dinner of baked tilapia, potatoes and salad. It tasted good to have something other than restaurant food! We played cards again and stayed up until 2 a.m. Very late!
Wednesday morning Phyllis and I played a few games of cribbage before we had to leave for the airport. Their plane left early afternoon. We got home, did laundry, cleaned house and collapsed early....VERY tired! It was a fun two weeks!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Never a dull moment! March 17-24
What a week this has been! I know I won't remember all the details as it has been a blur!
We left Mesa about 8:30 Saturday morning and stopped at a truck stop somewhere in the desert for a less than delicious lunch. We arrived at our condo in Palm Springs--Vista Mirage, 400 S. Hermosa Dr., and after getting settled in we headed for the grocery store to stock up on essentials. We stayed in this same resort 2 years ago; it is very comfy with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining area, living room, pool and all the amenities of resort life. We had to be at our cousins' St. Patrict's Day party in Cathedral City by 5:30 so we didn't have any down time that day. It was so good to see Mona, Pete, Nadine and Judie again. This is the 4th year we've been able to visit them. We finished off the evening at Nadine's for more stories about our growing up years and lots of laughs!
Sunday we had a leisurely morning and spent the afternoon visiting Audrey. She is always so interested in hearing about our latest adventures. That evening we stopped and picked up a cooked chicken and made a salad and strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert...pretty fancy dinner for us! We played rummy pretty late that night.
Monday we walked into Palm Springs shopping area downtown...it was a LONG walk! When we got back, Gary N headed for the pool and the rest of us stayed in the condo as it was pretty cool that day. Phyllis, Gary N & I went to Audrey's for coffee that afternoon. Monday night Judie and Nadine took us to the Chinese buffet for dinner and we visited at Judie's afterwards. Of course there was card playing when we got home!
Tuesday it was warm enough for us to head to the pool after our walk. Phyllis & I played a few games of Bananagrams pool side so we soaked up quite a bit of sun. We had coffee with Audrey after our swim. We dashed downtown PS to meet Cal & Julie for lunch at the Kaiser Grill. After lunch, we decided to follow them to El Paseo Drive to people watch at the Starbucks there. We were able to get a great table outside. Julie, Phyllis & I decided we needed to wander around to some of the high-end stores and we found ourselves in Sacs 5th Avenue...fortunately, they had a team of hair care people who were just ready to start a demo on their hair care products so next thing we knew Julie was signing us up for the demo...the clincher was when they told us we would be served champagne. They also did individual consults with us about what our hair needed to make it look better. Mine is so short that they didn't have many suggestions for me! However, we each purchased products and because they made a mistake on Phyllis' order, they gave each of us a lovely scarf that was supposed to be a bonus for only those who spent $100 or more so we felt like we really got our money's worth. Before exiting the store, we browsed around the shoe dept eying the $500 sandals and the 6" (or more) $8-900 stilettos! We didn't dare start trying those on. When we got home, Gary N had prepared a lovely dinner of chicken tostados and salad and we played lots of games of rummy again that night.
Wednesday was the day that Phyllis & I found out we had strong hearts! We spent about 1 1/2 hours at the pool. Upon returning to our condo, to our horror, we discovered the door was open and that it had been completely emptied out...everything we owned was gone...all our jewelry,clothes, wallets, food...there wasn't anything left! We raced down to the pool SCREAMING at Gary Newman that we had been robbed. I was hysterical as I wailed we had lost everything, everything...our money, or jewelry, etc! People at the pool all heard us and went scrambling to their units to see if they too had been robbed. Gary N went to the office to report the robbery and Phyllis and I returned to our room feeling terrified...Gary W was not in the unit as he had gone to the garage to move the car so he didn't even know anything had happened. We had no clothes except our swimming suits and cover-ups! As we rounded the corner to our unit, it occurred to us that just maybe we had been in the wrong unit. They all look exactly alike...so we raced up the steps to unit 418...put our key in the door and to our great joy found everything intact. However, by this time, Gary N was in the office reporting the theft and the gal on duty was telling him nothing like this had ever happened and she didn't know what to do...he said, "well, call 911 or call the police...do something!" About that time I rushed in to admit that all the screaming and crying was for naught as we had returned to the wrong room. She was so relieved she almost jumped over the desk and hugged me! I was a wreck and so was Phyllis! Besides the emotional strain we had just been through, now we didn't think we would want to return to the pool and be recognized by all the guests who had seen our little outburst! Gary had to go to the pool to tell everyone about our mistake. We considered dying our hair and getting new bathing suits before showing up at the pool again. That evening we had the cousins here for pizza, salad, and cheesecake with birthday candles for Nadine. They loved hearing about our fiasco! We played more cards after they left that night. What an exhausting day!
Thursday we felt too sheepish to return to the pool so after a short morning walk, we called Audrey to see if we could head to her condo and use her pool that afternoon. It was pretty hot in the sun that day. After a short swim, we helped Audrey bake some cookies. That night Pete & Mona entertained us at their unit for more good food, beverages and great stories! Once again we had to play a few hands of cards when we got home. That had become our routine!
Friday morning Phyllis and I decided that we dared appear at the pool again. We picked a table in a corner and tried to stay low-key and hoped that most people had left that we there on Wednesday. However, to our embarrassment, the lady sitting near our table started visiting with us and after a few minutes of small talk she said out of the clear blue, "You should see my daughter imitate you two from the other day...she's really good at it!" Damn! To think our story is being re-enacted by a 9 year old and probably many others that saw us that day! While we were sitting at our table with this friendly lady, I got bit by a hornet or wasp...it was very painful and my arm started to swell and turn red. I iced it, read the first-aid on Google and did what was suggested. We were due to visit Julie & Cal Nestibo (wintering here in an RV part) that afternoon so I decided to wait and watch my bite before seeing a doctor. After our visit, however, it appeared that I needed to see a doctor so off to the Eisenhower Urgent Care facility I went about 6:30 p.m. I didn't have to wait long to see a doctor and he told me I had done all the right things but added a course of prednisone to help with swelling. Whew! I was glad it wasn't any more serious than that! We made dinner with our left-overs that night and played a game of round rummy before collapsing in bed!
Saturday morning we were up about 6:30 and ready to head to the swap meet at College of the Desert. We tromped around there for at least 3 hours, visited with our cousins briefly and then stopped at Macy's as Phyllis was trying to find a new dress...no luck there so we came home starved and had more left-overs for lunch!
We left Mesa about 8:30 Saturday morning and stopped at a truck stop somewhere in the desert for a less than delicious lunch. We arrived at our condo in Palm Springs--Vista Mirage, 400 S. Hermosa Dr., and after getting settled in we headed for the grocery store to stock up on essentials. We stayed in this same resort 2 years ago; it is very comfy with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining area, living room, pool and all the amenities of resort life. We had to be at our cousins' St. Patrict's Day party in Cathedral City by 5:30 so we didn't have any down time that day. It was so good to see Mona, Pete, Nadine and Judie again. This is the 4th year we've been able to visit them. We finished off the evening at Nadine's for more stories about our growing up years and lots of laughs!
Sunday we had a leisurely morning and spent the afternoon visiting Audrey. She is always so interested in hearing about our latest adventures. That evening we stopped and picked up a cooked chicken and made a salad and strawberries dipped in chocolate for dessert...pretty fancy dinner for us! We played rummy pretty late that night.
Monday we walked into Palm Springs shopping area downtown...it was a LONG walk! When we got back, Gary N headed for the pool and the rest of us stayed in the condo as it was pretty cool that day. Phyllis, Gary N & I went to Audrey's for coffee that afternoon. Monday night Judie and Nadine took us to the Chinese buffet for dinner and we visited at Judie's afterwards. Of course there was card playing when we got home!
Tuesday it was warm enough for us to head to the pool after our walk. Phyllis & I played a few games of Bananagrams pool side so we soaked up quite a bit of sun. We had coffee with Audrey after our swim. We dashed downtown PS to meet Cal & Julie for lunch at the Kaiser Grill. After lunch, we decided to follow them to El Paseo Drive to people watch at the Starbucks there. We were able to get a great table outside. Julie, Phyllis & I decided we needed to wander around to some of the high-end stores and we found ourselves in Sacs 5th Avenue...fortunately, they had a team of hair care people who were just ready to start a demo on their hair care products so next thing we knew Julie was signing us up for the demo...the clincher was when they told us we would be served champagne. They also did individual consults with us about what our hair needed to make it look better. Mine is so short that they didn't have many suggestions for me! However, we each purchased products and because they made a mistake on Phyllis' order, they gave each of us a lovely scarf that was supposed to be a bonus for only those who spent $100 or more so we felt like we really got our money's worth. Before exiting the store, we browsed around the shoe dept eying the $500 sandals and the 6" (or more) $8-900 stilettos! We didn't dare start trying those on. When we got home, Gary N had prepared a lovely dinner of chicken tostados and salad and we played lots of games of rummy again that night.
Wednesday was the day that Phyllis & I found out we had strong hearts! We spent about 1 1/2 hours at the pool. Upon returning to our condo, to our horror, we discovered the door was open and that it had been completely emptied out...everything we owned was gone...all our jewelry,clothes, wallets, food...there wasn't anything left! We raced down to the pool SCREAMING at Gary Newman that we had been robbed. I was hysterical as I wailed we had lost everything, everything...our money, or jewelry, etc! People at the pool all heard us and went scrambling to their units to see if they too had been robbed. Gary N went to the office to report the robbery and Phyllis and I returned to our room feeling terrified...Gary W was not in the unit as he had gone to the garage to move the car so he didn't even know anything had happened. We had no clothes except our swimming suits and cover-ups! As we rounded the corner to our unit, it occurred to us that just maybe we had been in the wrong unit. They all look exactly alike...so we raced up the steps to unit 418...put our key in the door and to our great joy found everything intact. However, by this time, Gary N was in the office reporting the theft and the gal on duty was telling him nothing like this had ever happened and she didn't know what to do...he said, "well, call 911 or call the police...do something!" About that time I rushed in to admit that all the screaming and crying was for naught as we had returned to the wrong room. She was so relieved she almost jumped over the desk and hugged me! I was a wreck and so was Phyllis! Besides the emotional strain we had just been through, now we didn't think we would want to return to the pool and be recognized by all the guests who had seen our little outburst! Gary had to go to the pool to tell everyone about our mistake. We considered dying our hair and getting new bathing suits before showing up at the pool again. That evening we had the cousins here for pizza, salad, and cheesecake with birthday candles for Nadine. They loved hearing about our fiasco! We played more cards after they left that night. What an exhausting day!
Thursday we felt too sheepish to return to the pool so after a short morning walk, we called Audrey to see if we could head to her condo and use her pool that afternoon. It was pretty hot in the sun that day. After a short swim, we helped Audrey bake some cookies. That night Pete & Mona entertained us at their unit for more good food, beverages and great stories! Once again we had to play a few hands of cards when we got home. That had become our routine!
Friday morning Phyllis and I decided that we dared appear at the pool again. We picked a table in a corner and tried to stay low-key and hoped that most people had left that we there on Wednesday. However, to our embarrassment, the lady sitting near our table started visiting with us and after a few minutes of small talk she said out of the clear blue, "You should see my daughter imitate you two from the other day...she's really good at it!" Damn! To think our story is being re-enacted by a 9 year old and probably many others that saw us that day! While we were sitting at our table with this friendly lady, I got bit by a hornet or wasp...it was very painful and my arm started to swell and turn red. I iced it, read the first-aid on Google and did what was suggested. We were due to visit Julie & Cal Nestibo (wintering here in an RV part) that afternoon so I decided to wait and watch my bite before seeing a doctor. After our visit, however, it appeared that I needed to see a doctor so off to the Eisenhower Urgent Care facility I went about 6:30 p.m. I didn't have to wait long to see a doctor and he told me I had done all the right things but added a course of prednisone to help with swelling. Whew! I was glad it wasn't any more serious than that! We made dinner with our left-overs that night and played a game of round rummy before collapsing in bed!
Saturday morning we were up about 6:30 and ready to head to the swap meet at College of the Desert. We tromped around there for at least 3 hours, visited with our cousins briefly and then stopped at Macy's as Phyllis was trying to find a new dress...no luck there so we came home starved and had more left-overs for lunch!
Friday, March 16, 2012
The madness continues...
Just the hi-lites:
Monday we cleaned house...then went for our usual burgers at the Hub with the rest of our gang.
Tuesday we grocery shopped and then I had bridge in the pm...need to note that I won second($1.25)!
Wednesday afternoon we picked Phyllis & Gary up at the airport at 5...rushed home and P & I went for pedicures. Had dinner ready by 7. Kathy Marcil joined us for a visit Wednesday eve.
Thursday we all 4 drove in to Scottsdale for lunch with Phyllis's high school classmates: Rod Conway, Gary Martinson and Loyce Helgerson. Then we did a little shopping at Fashion Square before driving back to Mesa to watch the Sioux take on Saint Cloud...great game! Sioux won 4-1. We came home and played a couple games of round rummy before hitting the sack.
Monday we cleaned house...then went for our usual burgers at the Hub with the rest of our gang.
Tuesday we grocery shopped and then I had bridge in the pm...need to note that I won second($1.25)!
Wednesday afternoon we picked Phyllis & Gary up at the airport at 5...rushed home and P & I went for pedicures. Had dinner ready by 7. Kathy Marcil joined us for a visit Wednesday eve.
Thursday we all 4 drove in to Scottsdale for lunch with Phyllis's high school classmates: Rod Conway, Gary Martinson and Loyce Helgerson. Then we did a little shopping at Fashion Square before driving back to Mesa to watch the Sioux take on Saint Cloud...great game! Sioux won 4-1. We came home and played a couple games of round rummy before hitting the sack.
Monday, March 12, 2012
March madness!
The longer we are here the busier it gets! Wednesday morning I had an apppointment for my injured pinkie. I was hoping to get the splint off...however, he informed me that I still have another month with it in a support, but the new one he gave me can get wet so that was a slight improvement. Wednesday afternoon was my bridge day with the mixed men/women group. I was lucky to get first again so I came home with $1.50! My card luck finally changed from bad to good! Wednesday late afternoon we were invited to Joyce Wiper's 65th birthday party. It was a fun gathering.
Thursday morning JoAnn Perrin came over and the two of us were off to shop at Stein Mart. I found a swim suit so I considered it a successful trip! Thursday night we were actually home!
Friday night we met Nick & JoAnn and Kathy Marcil at O'Sullivans to watch the Sioux vs Bemidji state. It was a good game; they won! Saturday after church we headed back to O'Sullivans...Mac & Tim joined us as we cheered the Sioux again and this game was very exciting...and close at the end, but the Sioux came out on top! Now they are headed for the Final Five tourny in Mpls this week. It was a fun night!
Sunday early afternoon we drove to Phoenix to visit Billy & Geraldine Siercks. We played a lawn game as it was really nice (actually a little hot in the sun) and then we played several card games before having a delicious dinner. We didn't get home until 11 pm...very late for us!
Thursday morning JoAnn Perrin came over and the two of us were off to shop at Stein Mart. I found a swim suit so I considered it a successful trip! Thursday night we were actually home!
Friday night we met Nick & JoAnn and Kathy Marcil at O'Sullivans to watch the Sioux vs Bemidji state. It was a good game; they won! Saturday after church we headed back to O'Sullivans...Mac & Tim joined us as we cheered the Sioux again and this game was very exciting...and close at the end, but the Sioux came out on top! Now they are headed for the Final Five tourny in Mpls this week. It was a fun night!
Sunday early afternoon we drove to Phoenix to visit Billy & Geraldine Siercks. We played a lawn game as it was really nice (actually a little hot in the sun) and then we played several card games before having a delicious dinner. We didn't get home until 11 pm...very late for us!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
More busy days and nights
Seems we never lack for things to do here and people to see...Friday night we met my Tri Delta friends who are in the area and other Sioux fans at O'Sullivan's sports bar to watch UND take on Mankato State; they won 4-2 and are now in the post-season play-offs! It was a good game.
Saturday after lunch Gene & Beth drove over from Surprise. After a short visit, we headed off to church, then to Black Angus for prime rib dinners. We were celebrating our anniversary and Beth's birthday. After dinner, we went to the Mesa theater and took in the musical Me and My Girl It was delightful! We managed to play a couple of games when we got home and actually stayed up until 1 a.m. I think that is a record for us this year!
Sunday morning I made brunch and we were out of here before 11 a.m. We headed first to the Swap Meet and spent a couple of hours tromping around. Beth did find quite a few treasures so it wasn't a waste of time. After we finished our shopping, we drove out to Queens Creek to the Olive Mill for a tour and lunch. It was a great afternoon. Learned a lot about olive oil and had a very tasty salad. We got back about 4 p.m. Gene and Beth left for home about 5 and we spend a quiet Sunday night alone!
Monday was a very nice day; went for a walk and did a little housework. Monday evening we met the crew at the Hub for our usual burgers. Afterwards, Bz, Joyce and Terri Bruster came over for a few great games of rummy.
Tuesday (our 48th anniversary) was quiet except for my afternoon of bridge. Not a good day for cards again...but somebody has to lose! Tuesday night just for fun we went out to the Sonic for drive-in food. It was pretty bad!!!
Saturday after lunch Gene & Beth drove over from Surprise. After a short visit, we headed off to church, then to Black Angus for prime rib dinners. We were celebrating our anniversary and Beth's birthday. After dinner, we went to the Mesa theater and took in the musical Me and My Girl It was delightful! We managed to play a couple of games when we got home and actually stayed up until 1 a.m. I think that is a record for us this year!
Sunday morning I made brunch and we were out of here before 11 a.m. We headed first to the Swap Meet and spent a couple of hours tromping around. Beth did find quite a few treasures so it wasn't a waste of time. After we finished our shopping, we drove out to Queens Creek to the Olive Mill for a tour and lunch. It was a great afternoon. Learned a lot about olive oil and had a very tasty salad. We got back about 4 p.m. Gene and Beth left for home about 5 and we spend a quiet Sunday night alone!
Monday was a very nice day; went for a walk and did a little housework. Monday evening we met the crew at the Hub for our usual burgers. Afterwards, Bz, Joyce and Terri Bruster came over for a few great games of rummy.
Tuesday (our 48th anniversary) was quiet except for my afternoon of bridge. Not a good day for cards again...but somebody has to lose! Tuesday night just for fun we went out to the Sonic for drive-in food. It was pretty bad!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
February ends...
Monday morning I headed over the Great Clips for a much-needed hair cut. It had been 5 weeks since I had had one so I got my money's worth! The wind was awful on Monday; the desert dirt was blowing everywhere! Monday night when we went out to eat I tried to cover my mouth and nose to keep from breathing at all when I was outside. We met Mac, Audrey and Jim Glick at View Point for burgers. We were home early!
Tuesday I had ladies' bridge in the afternoon; terrible cards again this week! Tuesday night Dorine & Roger picked us up for taco night at the golf club; afterwards we went to Dorine's and played cards and farkle. Dorine and I cleaned the men's clock in pinochle!!! Yeah!
Wednesday afternoon I had mixed bridge; once again my cards were terrible! I enjoyed it anyway. Wednesday night we stayed home and rested~
Thursday morning I got up early and tackled the condo...much-needed cleaning! Gary tried to get the black dirt off front and back decks as well. Everything was really dirty! I took a long walk after the work was done. Thursday afternoon we went to the movie Act of Valor. It was terrific! Anyone who doesn't appreciate what our special forces do for our freedom and safety need to see this movie. People in the theater actually applauded when it was over. I can't begin to describe the type of individual like these Navy Seals who put their life on the line so we can live in a free country. However, I am so disillusioned with our country; I absolutely cannot imagine how a Christian can support any politician who favors killing unborn babies. This issue and the moral decay of our society is ruining our country...not to mention the dumbing down of our children! I visited with a retired teacher from NY at bridge and he lamented about the illiterate electorate and the terrible condition of schools in our country. There is just so much wrong and it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel. At least to me, until we stop the murder of the unborn, we will continue to see more and more disregard for life in general...more school shootings, drug murders, etc. Anyway, I must say that my appreciation for the military was certainly reinforced while viewing the acts of pure valor that the movie portrayed. The fact that we have a son who is completing 20 years of service as a Green Beret the end of this month really makes me fill with pride for his accomplishments. Thank God for all the good, honest people in the USA who still have some moral compass!
Tuesday I had ladies' bridge in the afternoon; terrible cards again this week! Tuesday night Dorine & Roger picked us up for taco night at the golf club; afterwards we went to Dorine's and played cards and farkle. Dorine and I cleaned the men's clock in pinochle!!! Yeah!
Wednesday afternoon I had mixed bridge; once again my cards were terrible! I enjoyed it anyway. Wednesday night we stayed home and rested~
Thursday morning I got up early and tackled the condo...much-needed cleaning! Gary tried to get the black dirt off front and back decks as well. Everything was really dirty! I took a long walk after the work was done. Thursday afternoon we went to the movie Act of Valor. It was terrific! Anyone who doesn't appreciate what our special forces do for our freedom and safety need to see this movie. People in the theater actually applauded when it was over. I can't begin to describe the type of individual like these Navy Seals who put their life on the line so we can live in a free country. However, I am so disillusioned with our country; I absolutely cannot imagine how a Christian can support any politician who favors killing unborn babies. This issue and the moral decay of our society is ruining our country...not to mention the dumbing down of our children! I visited with a retired teacher from NY at bridge and he lamented about the illiterate electorate and the terrible condition of schools in our country. There is just so much wrong and it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel. At least to me, until we stop the murder of the unborn, we will continue to see more and more disregard for life in general...more school shootings, drug murders, etc. Anyway, I must say that my appreciation for the military was certainly reinforced while viewing the acts of pure valor that the movie portrayed. The fact that we have a son who is completing 20 years of service as a Green Beret the end of this month really makes me fill with pride for his accomplishments. Thank God for all the good, honest people in the USA who still have some moral compass!
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