2/28/2010 I Thought I Was Home Free!

There’s been a 24 hour intestinal virus going around the park. Some, it hits bad enough that a trip to the emergency room is in order due to dehydration. Others just spend the day doing a lot of reading on the throne or praying to the porcelain gods. A lot of our friends have had it. Bob had it earlier this week. I’ve felt fine. Until today. Actually, I got a very mild case of it. I didn’t really feel terrible like Bob did, just tired, read a few chapters in my book and I was done with it.

It’s raining today and I’m so glad it is for a purely selfish reason. Today is a huge fish fry/turkey dinner party here in the park and I have been looking forward to this so much. With the rain it was postponed until tomorrow. I’ll feel better by then I’m sure.

2/27/2010 Arizona City Daze and a Dance

Today is Arizona City Daze day. Daze, either a play on the word “days” or as Linda in the Chamber of Commerce office explained it, everyone on the Board of Directors and the Chamber employees are in a “daze” by the time its done and over.

In addition to the small group of carnival rides, the craft show vendors, the fry bread stand, the live music and all things usual with a small town celebration the most crowd gathering event is the parade.

Twenty years ago this parade consisted of a fire truck or two. That’s it. Today’s parade had 48 different participating groups in it.

The theme for the parade this year was honoring the military.

The parade started with a flyover of three planes from the Antique Aircraft Owners Association.

As you can see in the pictures we had a very dark cloudy day.

It was a little on the chilly side too.

I think every small town parade that I’ve ever seen starts out with one of, or the only one in some cases, the town’s fire engines. This parade was no different. Thinking about it now, I wonder if the fire engine is usually first in line so that it can get back to the fire station in case its needed. It would make sense.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the local Moose Lodge were next in line followed by a deuce and a half loaded with local veteran’s.

Now I’m not going to post pictures of every entry of the parade, although I have them, I’m going to bypass the local politicians and political wannabes who were starting the campaign trail in this local parade. You’re welcome. :-)

The Shriner’s band from the Tucson temple was there for our entertainment.

Of course if the Shriner’s are involved the “little cars” are around too. This is the first time I had ever seen a tow truck.

I can’t help but notice that the man in the picture below is a pretty big guy. By no means a man of slight stature. I wish I had seen him either get into or out of this little car.

The vans were something I hadn’t seen before either.

What’s a parade without clowns????

Next in line were the DOGS. Mostly from Quail Run and all decked out in their costumes.

This group won the award for Best Comedy entry.

The local Red Hat Society chapter, the Hootin’ Hatters had a cute entry in the parade.

The Casa Grande Four Wheelers showed their stuff in the parade!

Three at once!

Quail Run’s other entry into the parade was a group of service members from both the US and Canada doing their part to the honor the military of both countries.

Our friend, Kathy, carried the US flag.

Our guys gave out candy to the parade watchers.

This group won Best Float!!!!

The next float was entered by the local Moose Lodge and it took the Grand Prize.

I don’t know who entered the next float but I do like its message!

Because there were 48 entries in this year’s parade and a parade is slow moving, one may wonder where the end of the parade is. That wasn’t a problem today. A local bakery company had one of its tractor trailers in the parade and it carried this message.

We didn’t stay to go to the carnival area of the celebration. It was too darn chilly.

So there you have it……

We attended a dance with a country theme tonight. The Activities Department did a great job with the decorating.

Here’s Sandy, our friend and the line dance instructor for the park, on her buckin’ bronco.

It was at this point that my camera started giving me problems. I do have something that needs to be fixed on it and it acted up again tonight. Therefore I have no other GOOD pictures to share from the dance that we all had so much fun at. Cactus Carl and Sandy….as usual, you did a great job!

I was able to get one more picture before the night was over.

2/25/2010 Did You Know This?????

Bob and I have been on the run for the past week, retirement life is BUSY! I'll be starting tomorrow to bring the blog up to date on what we've been filling our time with. In the meantime, I had the following sent to me from a friend and I think its worth sharing.


EVERY FRIDAY AT THE PENTAGON - A Wonderful Thing Happens !!

This happens every Friday and this really makes me proud of our armed forces.

It really breaks my heart to know that we didn't know this goes on every Friday, well at least I didn't know. Instead, I guess the media feels it's more important to report on Tiger Woods with his "car accident", or that Kate Gosselin is in the lineup for Dancing With the Stars or football players betting on dogs, or endless stories about Michael Jackson when that was news.

I hope the following article gives you a sense of pride of what our men and women are doing for us, everyday, as they serve in the armed forces here and abroad.

IT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY! Were you aware? Mornings at the Pentagon
By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals. This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon. Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website. "It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here. This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner; all Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends, who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew. Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area. The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway. "A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class. "Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet. "Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel. "Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer. "11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30.. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts. They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly. "There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past. These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years. "Did you know that?

If this has touched you in any way, please, feel free to copy and paste it into an email and send it on. This is important. This is something everyone should know.

2/24/2010 2nd Annual Quail Run Talent Show

The park was all abuzz today in anticipation of tonight’s event.

The 2nd Annual Quail Run Talent Show

The house was packed! This was so much fun last year and it proved to be another winner this time around,

The very first act was “The Granimals” This group consisted of Marlene, frequent readers are familiar with that name, Bonnie M. and Judy H. Let’s not forget Keith as their “prop”.

The Granimals are a singing group from back in the 60’s. Bonnie (yellow hat) was the lead singer and Judy and Marlene were her backup singers. Keith was Judy’s (leopard print) boyfriend and he was a pothead. They lip-synced to a song called “Too Much Butt” by the Uppity Blues Women. Now that you know the title of the song it should explain the picture above and the ones following.

Its a little blurry, but they were “shakin’ it” so much that I probably should have had the camera in fast action mode.

This next one is blurry for no other reason than I was laughing so hard I couldn’t keep the camera still.

Pot smokin’ Keith. his “joint” was the size of a tampon!

Can you imagine finding jeans to fit this butt?????

Judy told me later that her “butt” was plastic grocery bags, Bonnie’s was washcloths and Marlene used a pillow.

They brought the house down! A great act!

Next up was Ray. He performed a one act play about being a school teacher back in the day when it was OK for a teacher to hug a 2nd grader when they fell down on the playground, when a teacher didn’t have to worry about No Child Left Behind, when a teacher did what he was paid to do…..teach. This play was touching, amusing, endearing and Ray, a teacher for 30 years, played it from the heart.

Janet S. was supposed to yodel for us but she was home sick. However a song from her CD was played and we were all sorry that she wasn’t feeling up to par, we would have all enjoyed her act.

The Chimp and the Gimp was next! Wilf and Don brought out the harmonicas and guitar to entertain us. They sang several songs and we all enjoyed them very much. They each wrote their own lyrics to songs and had us laughing with every line.

Doing skits in between acts were The Clowns.

I don’t have a picture for the next act. I took one but I was too far away and it didn’t turn out that well. Pat W. accompanied by Arlee sang a funny song about three old ladies who all decided to use the same lavatory stall and they get locked in.

Ahhhh,,,,”Mugsy” Maguire, the wild Irish boy, was next. Frank tickled the ivories for us and sang some beautiful Irish songs. It is always a joy to listen to Frank play.

We had a session of “Musical Humor” next and once again we were rolling in the aisles. Bill Turner, along with his lovely wife Pat, and Arlee all played guitars and Bill sang songs like Kiss my……… Ex. (For those who know him, take a look at that gut! That is NOT Bill!)

One more person got into the act when Bill sang a song about rating a date he had on a scale of one to ten. Well, Deanna came out and she had her own ratings to give right back to him.

Deanna had her own idea of a “10”. When we saw the “10” on the back of his shirt I thought the roof was going to be lifted off the building with our laughter.

Oh yeah,,,,our man Dale! He’s our 10! We all just love Dale!

Another shot of Deanna. She really seemed to have fun with this.

After a fifteen minute break to stretch our legs and get our butts off those hard metal chairs, have a chance to go buy some popcorn, a soda or an ice cream float, we settled back in for the rest of the show.

The second half started out with Al Howard playing the bag pipes for us. I love the sound of bag pipes.

Suzanne, a newcomer to Quail Run, sang two country hits for us.

Take Five, the name of the next act, did a takeoff on the theme song from Green Acres. Quail Run is where she’d rather be but he wants to be back in West Virginia!

Our friend, Carol W., was accompanied by Wilf and Arlee and she sang beautifully for us. I had no clue she could sing but we found out she’s really good!

Leo played the banjo and Fran sang for us.

The finale was upon us and we didn’t have a clue as to what was going to happen when everyone in the audience was given a Baggie sandwich bag. We were further confused when a rubber boat was put on the stage. The final act was announced….welcome to the stage….Jo Ho & the Hoettes. The music started and then they entered. The audience roared. I had a hard time keeping the camera steady because I was laughing so hard.

They danced to Don Ho’s Tiny Bubbles. NONE of them are hula dancers! NONE! Not even one!

Someone even made a buck!

Oh yeah,,,the Baggies? The rubber boat was used to camouflage a bubble machine to go with the song and we were asked to catch the bubbles and put them in the Baggie so the soap could be recycled.

What a great show! So many laughs. A big THANK YOU to all the participants, you gave us a great night!