11/12/2009 My Name is Fluffy Chucklelips

Life in the desert is good. We are out of the extreme temperatures now and had a sunny day in the mid-80’s with a light breeze.

At one o’clock I met with four other winter residents, Ginny, Donna, Earl and Marilyn, for a game of Michigan Kitty. You may know it by Michigan Rummy or even Tripoli. Maybe you’ll recognize the playing board.

We played for two hours and I think its safe to say that I ended up the winner. Those are my pennies in front and that isn’t as many as I had when we finished. Take note of the paper money in the pot.

This is something we’ll get together for a on a weekly basis this winter.

Our friends Lyell and Kathy arrived today and Wilf and Marilyn will be in tomorrow and Don and Billee will be here this weekend. Every day more friends are arriving and that makes me smile.

Bob played poker this evening and came home with a few extra dollars than what he left with. We both had winning days today.

Now I’ll explain the title of this post. I received an email today and I’ve gotten this one twice so far so I thought I’d share it with you. After all, we can all use a smile.

We all need a little stress-reliever! This only takes a minute.
Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. If we are honest, we have a lot more stressful days than not.

Here is your dose of humor...

A. Follow the instructions to find your new name.
B. Once you have your new name, put it in a comment and send it to me. And don't go all adult on us- a senior manager is now known far and wide as Dorky Gizzardsniffer!

The following is excerpted from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot Professor Poopypants, by Dave Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names So……

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name:
a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dinky
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n =rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin

o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes

r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

Now when you figure out your new name and send it in on a comment...remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day.

Put more laughter in your day!!!

In laughter,,,,

Fluffy Chucklelips

11/11/2009 Veteran’s Day

Today our park had a Veteran’s Day service for all those Veteran’s in the park. We have quite a few. The program was well put together, interesting and moving.

Volunteers from the park explained symbols of Veteran's Day, read poems and honored the Canadian Veteran's. Roll call was taken of each Veteran and the years they served. We sang the songs of each branch of the service and we prayed.

The decorations were tasteful and just what the occasion called for.

I think what really hit home for most of us was this……The Missing Man Table

This table is a way of acknowledging that members of our proud profession of arms are missing from our midst, unable to be here on this day because they answered the call to duty and never returned. They are our comrades, prisoners of war, missing in action or killed in action.

Each segment of this table has a special meaning.

• The table is round – to show our everlasting concern for our missing men
• The small flags represent our service members from each of the five services – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
• The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms
• The single rose displayed in the vase reminds us of the families and loved ones, who keep the faith and await their return
• The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing
• A slice of lemon on the plate to remind us of their bitter fate and salt to represent the families tears as they wait
• The glass is inverted – to symbolize their inability to share with us today
• The chair is empty; they are not here

Today we need to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to those veteran’s who are still with us and to remember those who gave their all.

God bless our troops.

11/8/2009 Desert is Still Blooming

I got a call a little before nine this morning and when I answered I heard, “It’s bloomin’”! I knew right away what the caller was referring to so I answered with, “I’m on my way”. Camera in hand I beat feet to Marlene’s place to get a picture of a cactus bud we’ve been watching for the last few days.

As you can see in the picture above there is another small bud growing.

Tuesday morning brought line dancing for me and then a game of horseshoes a half hour later.

I finally had to put the games behind me and do some serious laundry washing. I put my all into this task I hope to tell you! I pulled our laundry wagon lugged our clothes 300 feet all the way down to the laundry room, loaded heaved the heavy clothes into three machines, poured the pre-measured and divided into individual baggies laundry soap, added quarters had to get change and count out the correct amount of American coin currency and turned the knob. I was exhausted! There was no way I was going to be able to make the hike 300 feet back to the house so I forced myself to lay at the pool while our clothes were washing. A half hour later I was back at the task. You don’t think those clothes jumped from the washer to the dryer all by themselves do you? NO! I had to get out of my lounge chair, make the 50 foot trek to the laundry room, shake the clothes out, throw them in the machine, add more American coin currency and push the button and forced myself to return to the pool area. Whew, I’m glad I only have to do this once a week!

It’s still quite warm here. This was taken around 3:30 or so and remember, this is in the shade.

The wheels in Bob’s head have been turning so much I swear I see smoke sometimes. He has been measuring this and measuring that and drawing plans and making material lists like there is no tomorrow. And he’s happy as a clam.

11/8-9/2009 Games, Games, Games

On Sunday not a whole lot was going on around here. A quiet day really. Mostly we watched TV, took bike rides, short walks, got in some computer time and relaxed. A day of rest, isn’t that what Sunday’s are for?

Monday was, games, games and more games for me. Bob, on the other hand worked at putting in more receptacles and lighting in the shed.

He is just about done with his electrical work, just one more outlet I believe.

Today I played. At one I met the “Domino Divas” for a rousing game of Mexican Train. I love this game! I took pictures of the afternoon but they turned out darker than what I like and while I could have fixed them, the pictures themselves didn’t turn out too well and I don’t like to post bad pictures of friends.

After dinner it was a trip to the resort pool hall for me. This year I’m joining the Ladies Pool League. After a meeting to get the particulars ironed out I joined Marlene, Janet and Lil for two games. I’ve got a lot to learn about pool! I did manage to get a few of my shots but I missed a whole lot more than I made. I’m looking forward to playing this year.

11/7/2009 Bob Goes Four-wheelin’

Bob was up at five this morning. On purpose. I was up at five this morning….quite by mistake.

Our friend, Al Winters, was picking Bob up at six to go four-wheelin’ with him in his ‘97 Jeep Cherokee Sport. They had a hundred mile trek to meet up with the Casa Grande Four Wheeler’s, a group that Al will be accepted into this week. He’s done his required two runs and attended the required two meetings.

So while Bob was out doing his guy thing I was at home enjoying very much a ME day. More about that later.

Here they are getting ready at the meeting place.

Our friend, Al, waiting to get started.

They’re off!

The terrain is getting rougher.

Some colorful trees along the way.

This is an old mercury mine.

Some narrow roads and steep drop offs.

Break time.

Al making his way over the rocks.

I wouldn’t want to bounce my way over this kind of road way. It must be a guy thing.

There was pretty scenery along the way.

They also spotted some wildfires.

The rocks and ravines seem to be getting bigger.

Bob really liked doing this today with Al. So much so that he came home in the late afternoon and immediately got online to see what kind of vehicles were available in the area to do this with. Oh boy.

I spent my day reading, taking some bike rides around the park, talking to back home friends and hanging out with Quail Run friends. No schedules, no chores, do what I want, when I want. A perfect ME day.

Halfway through eating dinner, Chuck and Janet stopped by to see if we wanted to go into town to go to the Cold Stone Creamery. Bob had put in quite a day and declined but I jumped up and said, “Give me a minute to cover my plate with foil and I’ll be right with ya!” No way was I passing up this delicious ice cream. The hell with my dinner! So into town we go and I knew what I was having before we even got there. Creamy butter pecan ice cream in a waffle dish. Oh yes! Chuck and Janet were kind enough to treat me to my ice cream. Thanks friends, I do appreciate it.

So Bob and I both had very nice and enjoyable days in our own way. You just have to do this sometimes. Everybody needs a break in this 24/7 world of togetherness in retirement.

11/5 – 11/6/2009 Fun in the Desert

I’m finding it hard to write everyday when the most we’re doing right now is working on running electrical line and installing electrical outlets for Bob and hangin’ out at the pool for me.

Thursday morning I took the time to break down the family packs of meat I bought at the store on Wednesday and in the afternoon I hung out at the pool. That was my day.

Bob, on the other hand, was busy with his project. In addition to running the electrical wiring and installing the outlets he installed some lights for our patio area. It isn’t meant to be a bright light, just bright enough to see the step in the dark.

Now we have our first of two electrical outlets on the patio.

Friday brought us both a trip to the eye doctor. Our new glasses were in. We had gone in Monday morning for our eye exams and to pick out our frames. Bob got new glasses that transition from clear to dark in the sun, I don’t know what I was thinking because after I found out he had ordered those I was sorry I didn’t do the same thing. As it turned out I got new prescription sunglasses. Mine were in pretty bad shape with scratches and since I wear them most of the time that’s what I went with. We are allowed an eye exam and one pair of glasses every year with our vision insurance so I guess I’ll get regular lenses next year.

Friday afternoon brought some bike riding and more time at the pool. You know I just don’t know how we ever had time to work!

We had a beautiful sunset here….I ran out to snap these pictures.

What’s that saying….Red sky at night, sailor’s delight….there must be some pretty happy sailor’s in this desert!

The view of the sunset in our front windows.

The view from our patio.

11/4/2009 I Gotta Be NUTS!

Bob started his day working on his electrical project and soon after left for town for yet another trip to Home Depot.

Its another hot day here, still in the 90’s. I thought I’d get some ironing out of the way before it got too hot but I couldn’t finish and had to stop halfway through, it was just too warm. We aren’t running the AC because Bob is in and out all day long and by early evening it cools down enough that we just don’t need it.

When Bob returned, he cleaned the truck out because its food shopping day for me. While in town I got a much needed and much overdue haircut. I’m happy with the cut so I found a stylist for this year.

I picked up a few things at Walmart and then headed to Fry’s. Fry’s was a ZOO! It was Senior Discount Day which gives everyone 55 and over 10% off the final bill. Can you say CROWDED? I grabbed a cart, one of the few available and started in to face the masses. I could hardly move. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if some of the shoppers weren’t using the aisles to catch up with summer adventures of other shoppers they were seeing for the first time this season. Oh I heard it all! I heard all about Henry’s cataract surgery, Jane’s knee replacement and the new carpeting in Jim and Ann’s motorhome….it’s tan, but not too light so it shouldn’t show dirt. Oh please people, move it, I just want to get some of the Campbell’s soup on sale before the shelf is bare!

Since I was there late in the day (4:30ish) the meat counter was empty. Well, empty of anything I would eat. I could have filled my cart with liver (yuck) or better yet, tripe! I did get an eleven pound turkey for less than five dollars with my discount. (47 cents a lb). After a second sweep through the meat department a little while later I was able to score some chicken, pork chops and a few steaks after the butcher had a chance to replenish the shelves. Trust me, they were empty again in a blink of the eye and I had to get rain checks on some things I wanted.

An hour and half later I made my way to the checkout line. There was one man in front of me who had a full cart but he was already loading the conveyor belt so I thought it would move quickly. Wrong! The man had coupons for EVERYTHING! Now, I’m a great believer in coupons and I use them every chance I get, uh, well, except for today because I left them in the glove box of the truck. The problem was he had a lot of them that were good only if you bought THIS product and THAT product together and the cashier had to go through the already packed bags to make sure he got everything in the right size or whatever requirement the coupon called for. I have to give the man credit though, with all his coupons, store card and the discount he took $138.64 off his final bill. I didn’t do nearly as well as him with my lone coupon, which I found on a shelf that evidently someone had no use for. However, using my store card and taking advantage of the 10 for $10 sales and other in-store promotions plus my discount I managed to take $76.38 off my final bill. Was it worth the hassle? Was it worth the time? If you have to ask those questions then you don’t know me! I saved $76.38, darn right it was worth it and I’ll be there next month on Senior Discount Day again.

This evening brought the end of the World Series and I’m sad that our Phillies weren’t the champions again this year. There’s always next year! At least our Eagles are doing well so far.