2/28/2013 Lunch and Girlfriend Time

(Arizona City, AZ)

Bob is still busy going through every compartment in the truck and every single box and bag in the basement looking for things we no longer need and can be put out for the Quail Run yard sale we’ll have next month.

I took the afternoon to have lunch and go window shopping with my friend Bonnie.
We went into the Old Town part of Casa Grande to the Cook E Jar Bakery & Café.  I have passed this place dozens of times over the past few years but had never been inside.  I had often heard they had very good food and that it was reasonably priced.  Bonnie had heard the same thing and suggested we try it. 

So today was the day we each had our first meal from this bakery and restaurant combination.



We got there just after noon and the main dining room was full so we sat in the front part of the café, in fact at the table you see on the left in the picture below.



Bonnie ordered a salad that was big enough to feed three people and I had a delicious BLT.  I wanted the albacore tuna sandwich but it was made with salad dressing and not mayo which is a no-no in my book.

It seemed strange to be eating in a restaurant called Cook E Jar because back in the 70’s one of Philly’s most popular bands was called Cook E Jarr and the Crumbs.  Today, that Cook E Jarr is a well known lounge lizard in Vegas.  I’ve seen Jarr many times in Delaware and Wildwood, NJ bars.  It brought back many good memories.

After our most satisfying lunch Bonnie and I walked up and down the main boulevard checking out all the shops.  They are all second hand  and antique shops but you can find the most amazing things if you look hard enough.  Neither one of us bought anything but it was fun browsing.

Next was errand running for Bonnie.  It seemed no matter what we were doing we shared laughs and had good woman to woman talk.  Bonnie is one woman I am so glad to call friend.

Bob has gathered lots of stuff for us to try to sell at the yard sale.  Let’s hope it all goes.

Tomorrow….the new mattress comes!

2/27/2013 The Mattress Saga Continues

(Arizona City, AZ)

I meant to tell you yesterday what else I learned about the Mattress Discounters that I mentioned last week.  Yes, they do take the leftover models from stores all around the country but they also sell refurbished (sprayed with Lysol?) mattresses and some of these stores aren’t so forthcoming with that information.  For instance, there is a  sixty day period in which one has to decide if the mattress is everything  they hoped it would be.  At least that’s the way it is for Sleep America.  If someone who buys a mattress from them says, “No, this mattress isn’t working for me/us” then they get to trade it in for a different model.  The one they had for 60 days then gets sold to a mattress discounter and re-sold.  Are you told its used?  In some stores yes, in others, maybe not, so that is something definitely to ask about.

Today I started looking for and calling upholstery businesses that we could get this piece of dense foam from and having it covered.  I found a place in Tucson that said he had exactly what we needed and could certainly cut it to whatever size we needed for the sum of $75.00.  He assured me he had sturdy fabric to cover it in which would add another $75.00 to the total.  To be honest $150 was more than what I anticipated paying.

I decided that we have so many talented sewing ladies in this park that I would ask around and see if someone would help me make a cover.  Shirley, the first one I asked said that she would be glad to help me and even suggested using Velcro as the closure so that the material could easily be removed and cleaned.  A good idea I think.

It’s all falling into place after all.

Our cold spell is a thing of the past now and our days are starting to warm up.  We’re in the 70’s now and people are spending afternoons around the pool again.

Life is good!

2/26/2013 A Mattress is Bought!

(Arizona City, AZ)

Mattress shopping has been going in between Cancer Dance prep, the Talent Show and just general life living.  A store here, a store there, and a decision has finally been made.  I thought more shopping was going to take place, possibly in Phoenix or Tucson because the pickings were so slim in Casa Grande.  That wasn’t the case.

I had to go into town this morning to pick up a few things (beer and Pepsi’s) and stopped by Sleep America to place the order for what was decided on.  I can’t take the pain anymore and Bob can’t take the moaning and groaning another night.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Serta mattress was marked down considerably, even more so than President Day Sale prices.  It seems as though the new mattress year starts in the spring.  This is the month the new colors for mattress coverings are debuted.  This years colors are black and white and gray and white.  Who knew?  Even more….who cares?  So the blue and white mattress, which is now soooo last season, was marked down from just a few dollars under twelve hundred to $874.  This made The Queen of Cheap very happy!  Of course the box spring isn’t needed so that was deducted and trust me, that isn’t whole lot.  The bedframe wasn’t needed either because we have a platform built in so that was also deducted.  Then the saleslady deducted even more because you guessed it, I asked if there was a military discount and there was!  So the  Serta king sized plush mattress is going to be $674.00 and a final cost after delivery charge and that darn sales tax (which we are still NOT used to) of $789.00.  The delivery and tax totaled a hundred and sixteen bucks!  They can deliver it tomorrow! 

I feel good that our RV manufacturer is going to be paying more than half of it.
So I’m sitting there while Chris, the saleslady, is writing it up and I’m just half listening as she said all the specifics out loud as she was typing.  Our name, billing address, delivery address, Serta Perfect Sleeper, Burnley Falls (the model) king size, 76 x 80, yada, yada, yada,.  WAIT!  76 x 80?  76 x 80??????  Oh this can’t be.  I told her stop, that I had to call home.  Bob answered and I blurted out, “Go measure the platform between the wall and the built in nightstand, call me back as soon as you have it.”  He did.  The news wasn’t what I wanted.  The available space was 74 inches.  RV king sized mattresses are only 74 inches wide, not the standard 76.  What are we going to do now?

I asked when the next delivery date would be and she said Friday.  Ok, Friday is good, change it to then.  We needed time to make some phone calls and decide what we were going to do.

Stayed tuned for the rest of the story.

2/25/2013 Quail Run Talent Show

(Arizona City, AZ)

Once again the residents of Quail Run gave their all to entertain the residents here in our park.  Oh, what a show they put on.  It truly astounds me that we have such an abundance of talent in such a small community.

Keith Paddick was our emcee for the evening.  In between acts he threw some very good one liners out and told some stories that brought lots of laughs.



Lawrence is our resident DJ usually but tonight he did the singing.

Jackie played the accordion for us and I have to say, I am in awe of anyone who can play this instrument and even more so when they play it as well as Jackie does.  I just can’t imagine playing the keys, the buttons and moving it at all the same time.



This is my friend Diane.  She told us a story about Phoenix traffic. Yes, you read that right, Phoenix traffic.  Her timing was perfect, each pause perfect and emphasis spot on.  She had us rolling!



There were several other acts in between these.  Banjo players, singers, duets, piano players, all very good.

The last act of the night was Four Friends.  These guitar players and singers are part of what is known as the Quail Run Band but for this performance they were Four Friends.  As usual, they were excellent!



Once again, another great night being entertained by our own friends.

2/23/2013 2013 Cancer Survivor Dance

(Arizona City, AZ)

We had a nice day today, still not “Arizona warm” but at least it was sunny.
This evening is the Cancer Survivor Dance here in the park.  We weren’t able to attend because if you can’t dance and its hard metal chairs to sit on with an out of whack back, then really, what’s the point?

But still, I had to go up and take pictures of the set up with the luminaries around the pool.

The setting up of the boards that the luminaries will sit on.  They used to sit right on the ground but they were then too low to be really looked at it.



Filling the bags with sand and placing candles inside.







Anyone who wanted to decorate a luminary in honor of someone they lost to cancer or to celebrate a survivor was able to so.

Lining them up around the pool.



Some of them were just beautiful, others funny, others sad, lots with names of people who still enjoy their days in our park.

All done, just waiting for dusk to be lit.



A half dozen of us met back here at 6:15 with grill lighters in hand to get all 103 luminaries lit.



We were all holding our breath in hopes that Janet C. wouldn’t lose her balance or take a step back.

All done.



There is no charge to attend the dance but the hat is passed, the luminaries are $5.00 a piece and the quilting ladies made a quilt to be raffled off.  All totaled, $2,000.00 was raised.  After expenses a very nice sum of money was given to the Helping Hands group in our park,  Helping Hands are the ladies that make the chemo caps, little teddy bears for children who are cancer patients, padded covers for seat belts to protect “ports” and several other items.

I think this is the most looked forward to dance all year.  For some reason it seems to be the most fun of all of them.  I think its because we get to celebrate with so many survivors.

2/20-2/22/2013 Mini Golf…at last

(Arizona City, AZ)

It’s been COLD here in the desert!  People aren’t out and about, everyone seems to be hangin’ around at home.  We’re running the fireplace 24/7 it seems.  Spring cannot arrive soon enough for us!  We aren’t alone though, it seems like people all over the country are smacked with strange weather.

Friday dawned bright and a little warmer than what it has been.  It is still light jacket or sweatshirt weather but that’s ok…..it’s warmer.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to make out with my back still bothering me somewhat but it turned out fine because Shirley K. had a ball retriever on the end of her golf club.  No bending,

Today is our first day that we get to play in the Friday morning mini golf sessions.  The sessions last for three weeks.  As I told you all before our mini golf court has been re-carpeted.



What a difference it makes!



Mini golf is done differently this year than it has been done in the past.  In years past, for the most part, it was straight, standard, mini golf with a few “different games” thrown in.  For instance, we might use ping pong balls instead of golf balls.  This year, a new couple are leading the mini golf and every game is different.  I understand we missed the game where everyone had to putt sitting down.  I hear that one was tons of laughs.

This week, after we all made our first putt, the one who was furthest away went next and it went on that way all through the game.  It certainly kept us on our toes as to who was going next.

Bob waiting for his turn.



As I said earlier, the new carpeting made a world of difference.  On nine wholes I scored a never before obtained ,,,,drum roll please,,,,,,,,28!  I truly expect it to be a one time thing.  Bob also had a good day, not as good as mine….but a good day.

This afternoon it warmed up nicely but we hear it isn’t going to last.

2/19/2013 Cold Front Coming Through

(Arizona City, AZ)

Brrrrrr,,,,a cold front came through the desert last night and it looks like its going to hang around for the next week or so.

I went into town today to start shopping for a new mattress.  I want to see what’s out there and what the choices will be.  It’s been quite awhile since a new mattress has been on the shopping list and I got a bit of sticker shock!  There are three mattress stores in Casa Grande, American Sleeper, a store I had not heard of before but it carried brand names that are household words.  There is also Ashley Furniture and a mattress liquidator outlet.  At first I was a little put off the idea of liquidator thinking it would be no name mattresses made out of horsehair but I was surprised to find Serta, Beauty Rest, Sterns & Foster and a few other brand names I knew.  Curious, I just had to ask how this whole liquidation thing works and why these brand name mattresses were in liquidation to begin with.  Well, it turns out, its nothing more than the “line” name changing or the fabric covering changing.  Serta might have 47 sets of a certain line left in stores all over the country and will pick them up when they deliver the “new” line (different fabric) and sell them to liquidators to get rid of them.  They are brand new, still in the plastic wrap, still covered under warranty just not the current line that the manufacturer is selling.  The prices were in line with the other stores but they are willing to deal.  Something this Queen of Cheap will keep in mind when the time comes.

Of course they were all touting their President Day Sales but when isn’t there a mattress sale?

I wrote to DRV, our RV manufacturer, about how this mattress has failed so miserably in a short amount of time once before.  I got an answer of, “Yeah, you’ll have to go buy a new one, most people do.”  Today I got thinking about that answer and it just didn’t sit well with me.  So I wrote another email.  Now here’s the funny part.  The very first guy I ever dealt with is named Greg who gave me the answer above.  A month ago I wrote to him and he passed my email on to the appropriate person, another man with the same first name.  When I addressed my email today I picked the second Greg when I thought I was clicking on the first Greg’s address in my email list.  With me here?  So I get this answer from Greg # 2 saying this is the first he’s heard about our failing mattress and to give him more details.   Hmmmm…..maybe there is hope after all.  So I sent off an email with my concerns and he wrote back right away to send pictures.  Pictures?  How will I show a sagging mattress?  It’s a wonder what you can do with a broom stick, a four foot level and a camera.  I took the pictures which clearly showed the sagginess and wrote explanations of each one.  The next morning I had an answer.  They are writing us a check.  Now Greg made the “mistake” of asking if the offer was acceptable.  Uh. No.  I’m going to plead my case for more money.  I figure all he can say is no.  In that case, I’ll take what he offered and smile rather than laugh all the way to the bank.

After a stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things I hightailed it back home to settle in for an evening of TV and Words With Friends on the computer.

2/18/2013 New Signs for Quail Run

(Arizona City, AZ)

There isn’t much going on around the park today. 

Bob is golfing with our friend Mike and this is the first time he’s been out in awhile so I’m hoping he’s having a good day.

I took a walk up to the Oasis which houses our library today.  I was quite surprised when I walked in and looked around.  Over the past five years quite a library of hardcover books have been donated in our book exchange.  Popular authors, Patterson, Clancy, Cornwell, Cook, Grisham, Steele, Taylor and the list goes on.  Today, I didn’t see one single hard cover book and not nearly as many paperbacks as we used to have.  I have heard through the Quail Run grapevine that the books were given away to be sold so that an outside group could buy costumes of some sort?   That just makes me sad.  I’m not a Kindle or Nook owner, I like holding a book and turning the pages, especially a hard cover book.

So while I was walking I thought I’d take a picture of our new entrance sign.  Someone here in the park, I don’t know who, re-did them.



The sign over the office was also re-done.



Since we were here last the swimming pool has been re-done so it looks brand new.   In addition the mini golf course has been done over and it too is very nice.



Some much needed and very nicely done changes.

2/17/2013 Poolside,,,Life is Good

(Arizona City, AZ)

Bob spent the better part of the day looking for a new water softener for us on the computer.  He is very thorough in his research for the best one to fit our needs.  The water here is very hard, in fact, not even good for drinking.  If I don’t dry the dishes as soon as I wash them they look horrible!

My back is doing better and I’ve cut the Vicodin down to night time only and stick with Ibuprofen during the day.  I am so ready for this to be a thing of the past.

My friend Bonnie stopped by to see if I wanted to go to the pool.  I couldn’t get the word YES out quick enough.  I needed some girlfriend time and it was a beautiful, warm day outside.  We sat in the hot tub for awhile and it felt soooo good on my back.  I’ll have to spend more time in this hot tub.

We’re missing another good event tonight.  There was a dance in our hall and the entertainment is a fellow named Bunky.  We first saw him several years ago and even bought one of his CD’s.  He is performing tonight, free of charge.  He had performed here previously this year and during an intermission, Sandy, who heads our Food Drives, made an announcement about the parks efforts to replenish the local food banks shelves.  Afterwards he told Sandy he would come back and play for a dance as long as the admission price was foodstuffs for the Food Bank.  I’m sure we’re missing a great time but dancing is not in the cards right now and neither is sitting on those hard metal chairs for several hours.

2/16/2012 Another Olympic Week Closes

(Arizona City, AZ)

We were determined to make the best of the last day of the 2013 Olympics Week.

The muscle relaxer’s seem to be doing their job and my back is feeling better.  Nowhere near a hundred percent but better all the same.

I did take my name off the basketball throw because I knew there was just no way I could do that.

Our first event was the Bean Bag Toss, neither one of us did any good there.
Next up was Ladder Golf.  Bob scored 5 points but it wasn’t enough for a medal pay off.  I scored a mere 3 and wasn’t even considered for a split second to even be in the running for the 3rd place bronze metal.

Frisbee was our last game.  I was a little apprehensive about doing this one.  I did a few practice throws, without a Frisbee in my hand even, and I felt a twinge when I twisted as you have to do to throw the plastic disc.  I thought about it long and hard but decided I could do this.  I did, it twinge’d, I didn’t throw nearly far enough to matter.  Bob had one really good throw and thought maybe he had a chance but then others came along and just knocked him out of the running.  We had two players that just threw the Frisbee  farther than we had ever seen one thrown before.  Needless to say they took Gold and Silver. 
We went home for a short while to get something to eat and then returned for the closing ceremonies.  This is the first year that Bob and I didn’t win any medals.  We’ll do better next year!

We heard that our friend Don said, “If you can’t be an athlete, then at least be an athletic supporter!”  

So our Olympic flame was once again doused.  The week we so looked forward to didn’t turn out as we planned and hoped but hey, there’s always next year, God willing.

2/14–2/15/2013 Not Doing Much!

(Arizona City, AZ)

I’m certainly not doing much around here and Bob isn’t doing much more than me.

I’ve started the medicines the emergency room doctor prescribed and I don’t like them at all.  They make me sleep/sleepy and the Vicodin knocks me for a loop.  I can’t focus on anything and much of the time can’t focus my eyes on anything.  Makes computer time difficult at best.

Friday was the mini golf event in our Winter Olympics and there was just no way I could take part in that as I couldn’t bend over to get my ball out of the hole.  Bob did go play but didn’t play his best game.

Friday night we missed out on the “Senior” Prom the park had.  I don’t know that we would have gone to this anyway regardless of my back pain.  There just wasn't much time to go shopping for a formal.  The idea is to go to the local thrift shops and get your prom gown or perhaps bring your fancy cocktail dress from home.  Now let me make clear that not everyone gets “dressed to the nines” but probably half do.  Regardless, there’s no dancing for me right now.

Our Quail Run season certainly isn’t going as planned.

2/13/2013 A Trip to the Emergency Room

(Arizona, City, AZ)

Ok, this is getting ridiculous!  I had about the worst nights sleep anyone could ever think of.  If I moved a certain way or tried to turn over I woke myself up because the pain was intense and I yelled out.  I was up a good portion of the night and catnapped here and there.

Bob’s night wasn’t any better because he’s out of one of his medications so he spent the night awake because he was sitting nearly upright in his recliner and catnapping here and there also.  He has vowed to never run out of those purple pills again!

I laid in bed awake for a very short time and decided it was time to get up, besides my back was killing me and I had to get out of this too soft bed.  I tried to get up and couldn’t.  Oh no, I literally could not pull myself into an upright position to get out of bed.  So I rolled out, very slowly and it was extremely painful.

I took a step and felt my lower back, just go out, if you will.  Hanging on to the wall and doorways I walked the few steps to the pocket door which leads to the first floor, three steps down.

Bob was intently looking at his computer screen and wasn’t paying attention.  I tried to take that first step and couldn’t.  I tried again and just could not make myself go down the steps, it was much too painful.

I finally said to him, “Bob, I need to go to the hospital.”  I thought he was going to give himself whiplash when he turned to look at me.  I am so not a doctor person so he knew when I told him I needed an emergency room visit that it was serious business.  He got up and helped me get down the first step but that was as far as I could go.

It was decided that we would get dressed and head into Casa Grande.

Well, getting dressed was a joke for me.  There was just no way.  Bob ended up dressing me and getting me down the steps and into the truck.

I felt every single pothole between Arizona City and Casa Grande.  Every. Single. One.

Lucky for me there was no one in the waiting room when we arrived and I was taken right away.  Of course being taken right away and seeing a doctor are two different things.  Finally the doctor came in, read the chart and asked me four questions.  Did I fall?  Did I lift anything heavy?  Do I smoke?  Do I drink alcohol?  I answered no to all four questions and from across the room, announced I had a back strain and that the nurse would be bring me three prescriptions, a muscle relaxer, Ibuprofen and Vicodin if I didn’t think the Ibuprofen was enough.  He left me with, "If it isn’t better in a week, see your doctor."   And he left. 

He was with me absolutely no more than five minutes, never touched me and made a diagnosis based on four questions.  Then I waited an hour and ten minutes for him to write the prescriptions and for the nurse to bring them to me.

From there it was on to Walmart to get the scrip's filled and that was another hour’s wait.
I knew what was going to happen when I took these meds.  They say may cause drowsiness.  They put me to sleep.

I’m hoping they help with the pain pronto so I can move beyond this.

2/12/2013 Oh My Achin’ Back!

(Arizona City, AZ)

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before and very possibly more than once that the mattress in our new RV, well, to put it very bluntly, sucks.  It is way too soft.  I bought a pricey 4 inch foam topper thinking that would help.  It didn’t.  Not only is it too soft, it is not holding up well at all.  We’re disappointed, very disappointed.

I tell you this because I’ve noticed the past few days that my back has been aching.  I don’t recall lifting anything too heavy, turning or twisting and so I’m blaming it on the mattress.

Today our events for the Winter Olympics were Women’s Horseshoes for me and Men’s Pool for Bob.

It turned out not to be a good day for either one of us. 

When I got out of bed this morning I was especially sore and achy and thought it best if I tried the horseshoe throwing movement in the living room.  It darn near brought me to my knees.  There was no way I was going to be able to throw a horseshoe.  Scratch this event.

Bob didn’t fare any better. He was having a good game of pool but then it all turned downhill very quickly.

It's not turning out to be a year for medals for us so far this year.

2/11/2013 I’m Not Starting Out Too Good

(Arizona City, AZ)

I’ve got some events under my belt now and I’m not doing well.  Last night I played Women’s Pool.  Now I haven’t played pool except for two games, since we were last in Quail Run two years ago.  To save time it was set up to be One and Done.  Lose one game and you’re out. 

I played the game and it got down to the eight ball.  My opponent and I shot that black ball from one end of the table to the other and back again and neither one of us could get it in.  I finally had a shot from “the kitchen” and could set the cue ball anywhere I wanted.  I lined it up with eight ball which wasn’t too far from a corner pocket.  I called the pocket, pulled the cue stick back and pushed it smoothly between my fingers.  Just as pretty as you please the stick connected with the eight ball and it rolled across that green felt and dropped right into the pocket just as I called it.  And cue ball followed right behind it.  One and Done.  I was out.

Tonight it was Dominoes, well, as we know it, Mexican Train.  I couldn’t do a thing!  The tiles just weren’t working for me.

Bob has started his Monday night Texas Hold ‘Em game with the guys again.  He’s really missed playing this.

It’s a little on the chilly side, not getting out of the 60’s but its supposed to be warming up within the next few days.  We sure hope so!

2/10/2013 Olympic Parade and Ceremony

(Arizona City, AZ)

Today our Winter Olympics start.  Every year we start out with a parade.  Anyone who wants to participate is welcomed.  In fact, there are very few who actually watch the parade because nearly everyone is in it. 

Jim & Sharon are in charge of the Putting event.



Walter not only runs the Pokeno event he also carries his home state banner for New Hampshire.  Take note of LaDonna behind him who is the lead in the Dominoes event.



Lest you think we just play parlor games in our Olympics, let it be known here and now that we have real athletic games too.  Our own Arlee leads and organizes the basketball shoot.

Both men and women participate in horseshoes.  Our friend and neighbor,  Chuck, represents this game in the parade.

Jean B. represents the Bridge players in our parade.  Jean is also one the Olympic Coordinators who makes it all happen.

What are games without cheerleaders?  Pat and Nancy will cheer all the participants on in all the events all week long.



It takes a lot of the park residents to put on our Olympics every year.  We need flag bearers for the United States and Canadian flags.  This year, Grant will carry his Maple Leaf banner and Lawrence will carry the Stars and Stripes.  Lawrence is also a DJ here in the park and the proceeds from his first dance this year he donated to buy new flags and staffs for the different ceremonies they are used in throughout the year.  Way to go Lawrence!

In years past we’ve had a relay run and the passing of our Olympic Torch which takes place throughout the park.  Also in years past, Jerry, a long time resident would run the final leg and bring the torch into the ceremony and light our flame which burned all week long.



Jerry was 88 years old in the picture above.  We lost Jerry a few months ago, on his 90th birthday.  This was a huge loss for Quail Run.  Not only was he our torch bearer, Jerry was a friend to all.  Every morning, before the sun came up, Jerry would walk all over the park and throw the resident’s newspapers up on their step from the ground where the paper delivery person threw them.  Need a tool?  See Jerry, he was sure to have what you needed and if he didn’t, he knew who did.  At our dances, Jerry was the first one on the floor when it came time to do the Twist and he also liked dancing the Electric Slide.  I, personally, spent many an evening, over the past few years,  in the hot tub with Jerry listening to his stories about his life as a young man.  He will truly be missed by all the residents of Quail Run.

So this year, his wife Phyllis, was asked to bear the torch and light the flame but she just didn’t feel as though she could do that.  Her daughter suggested that she be the one to turn the torch over to our next Olympic Torch Bearer. 

And so this day, Phyllis passed the torch.

She passed this honor on to long time resident, Bill Turner.



Bill did the honors in lighting our Olympic Flame.



Keith was up next and led us in the Oath that we, as Winter Olympic participants, have to take.



He had us all raise our right hands and repeat the Oath.


For new readers, I’ll print here one more time.

I will be on time to all my events even if they don’t serve food or liquor.

I will not try to distract last year’s winners when they are competing. Heckling is not permitted.

I will take all of my drugs so I can compete at a par with all the other druggies.

I will not distract my fellow competitors by
wearing a speedo, a bikini or spandex.

I will wear my glasses in any event that involves throwing a hard or sharp object.

I will not trip younger competitors with my cane.

I will use nothing less than a $10.00 bill to bribe coordinators or scorers.
I will not beg, bribe, or plead for special rules for the elderly and infirm.
Lastly, I will forget all the pledges I just made and ENJOY MYSELF!

Our Winter Olympics info board that tells us, what, when, where, who and anything else we made need to know.

There’s really only one thing left to say in this post……

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

2/9/2013 Settling In…

(Arizona City, AZ)

No alarms were set today yet we were up early anyway.  We had things to do, people to see and to get our season started!

Today we put the knick-knacks out, got laundry sorted, went grocery shopping and made ourselves at home.

Friends are still dropping by to welcome us back.  Did I mention its so good to be here again?

We’re really glad we got here in time for the start of the Quail Run Winter Olympics which starts tomorrow.

2/8/2013 Hellooooo Arizona!

(New Mexico - Arizona)

Today was the last day of our trek to Arizona.

We only had about four and half hours worth of driving to get to Quail Run, so we were on the road once again by eight.

We did have some very enjoyable scenery on the way.



We passed this little ghost town and I wished that we had the time, or perhaps the gumption, to stop and explore.  Nope, not happening, its like we have tunnel vision and can only see our final destination so we stop for nothing!







Finally!  Finally, we see the state sign we’ve been watching for!



I so wished that overpasses, sound barriers and the such were as decorated back east as they are here.







Texas Canyon is always a welcome sight.



Before long we were in Tucson and back to the decorative highway stuff.

Take notice in the two above, there’s no litter.  It’s pretty, its attractive, people just don’t want to mess it up.  Seriously, wouldn’t you rather have decorated overpass fences and underpass decorated areas rather than plain ol’ cement, or worse yet, graffiti ridden cement? 

The other day when I was talking with my mom on the phone she asked me, “Are you anxious to get home?”  That really struck me as strange that she would say that.  Delaware is home.  Its where we grew up, its where our family and friends are, its where we go back to.  That said, about 20 miles out we looked at each other and one said, “We’re almost home” and the other agreed. 

So it took us 8 days, 7 states, 7 tanks of fuel ($693.77) 6 RV parks ($239.04) 4 Interstate highways and 2,103 miles from the time we said, “Arizona, here we come!”

When we pulled into Quail Run, it did indeed feel like we were home.

It was so incredibly wonderful to have our friends come over when they saw we were setting up and settling in.  Hugs and handshakes all afternoon.

Yep, we’re HOME and we’re glad to be here!