12/22–12/31/13 The End of the Year

(Arizona City, AZ)

We’re coming into the home stretch now,,, another year almost gone.  They sure go a lot faster than they used to.

As Quail Run RV Park does every year we continued to be a great supporter of the Arizona City food bank known as Carl’s Shelf.  Carl’s Shelf is named after Carl Alhstrom a very special friend that we lost in 2012.  Long time readers will certainly recognize the name Cactus Carl, husband and music maker for line dance instructor Sandy.  Quail Runners are so incredibly generous in giving to keep Carl’s Shelf supplied with much needed food.

We held a Food Bank Blitz during this time period.  Residents were asked to put their offerings in a bag and set it outside for pickup at 10 a.m..

We had three vehicles running up and down every street picking up what was set out for us.

Sandy and Bonnie loading up the van at one of many stops.


It didn't take long to get the back of a van half filled.




Next came the chore of unloading it all.  Jeff & Linda Donaldson work hard at the food drive’s.

This is what we brought to the food bank and this isn’t all of it.




The Crew:  Sandy Ahlstrom, Jeff Donaldson, Linda Donaldson, Bonnie Ritter, Dave Kemp and Shirley Kemp.



These were the shelves before this Food Blitz….

 

This is what they looked like the next day when I went back after the helpers at Carl’s Shelf had a chance to put our offering up.

Our weather has been unusually warm.  I’ve heard this is the warmest winter Arizona has had in quite a few years.  We’ve been here six years now and this is the warmest we have experienced.  We feel bad that our home state of Delaware is experiencing one of its coldest.

The Mega Millions lottery was the talk of the park during this time.  When it hit a jackpot of over $360,000,000.00 I started a lottery pool.  Everyone who wanted in (74 residents) pitched in $5.00.

Needless to say we didn’t win the big one but we were in it for a few weeks.  Out of our 370 tickets we had 38 winners, small winners, but winners all the same.  The winnings were played back for the following drawing.  We had a few more winning tickets and again played it back.  Of course after the third drawing it was all over for us.

Bob has been doing very well with his daily walking regimen.  He never misses a day.  My friend Bonnie and I are talking about a daily walk. In the new year,,,yeah, that’s it, in the new year.

Christmas was a quiet day but very enjoyable.  We didn’t go to the park’s potluck Christmas Dinner as I’m so done with those.  Instead we had a very nice day with friends Steve and Bonnie who are parked right behind us. Or perhaps we’re parked right behind them.  Either way we had a delicious dinner of ham, sweet potato casserole, roasted    brussels sprouts and a salad.  And laughs, we had a lot of laughs.

Jonathan and Brandi sent us throw pillow for Christmas.  They had the picture of Bob and his two sons imprinted on it.



 
New Year’s Eve was a quiet night in for us.  We had the opportunity to go to a party but we’re both just not into it this year.  I watched the ball come down in New York at 10 p.m. our time and that was good enough for me.

So there it is, another year for the record books.  We’re looking forward to 2014!