Another Aunt Happy Story

Apache Junction, AZ  High

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did. We went to the clubhouse and shared a wonderful turkey meal with our RV park family.

I love this picture Steve took of his Dad when they were hunting.

On Monday we went to my sister’s place in Mesa because her washing machine wasn’t working. Found out that she forgot to turn the water on outside to the machine. Easy fix for Jim. Then we took her to do some grocery shopping.

Tuesday, Jim helped Charlie move Ellis’s fifth wheel. Ellis had a heart attack this summer while riding his beloved motorcycle and died.

Charlie helping to get the hitch lined up.

His family have been pretty useless about dealing with the fifth wheel so Charlie found a guy who is willing to try to sell it. But it needed to be moved. We are one of the very few people in the park with a fifth wheel hitch.

Wednesday we headed back into Mesa. My sister needed Jim to put the battery back into their van so she could move it. No, she doesn’t drive it. She just needs to move it Monday when she has the park model washed.

We then headed to Aunt Happy’s to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving. And now for the Aunt Happy Story.

She told us that a friend of hers had taken her to Kohl’s a couple of weeks ago. She had never been to a Kohl’s and had a grand time. But while there she found their lingerie department. She fell in love with the panties with the lace on the top and the satin camisoles. She bought five pairs. Brought them home and tried them on. She told us that Uncle Don would really have liked them a bunch and she wished she would have bought more.

100 years old and still feeling sexy. Way to go Aunt Happy.

Happy Hanukkah

Apache Junction, AZ  High 73  Low 51 Sunny

On this wonderful Thanksgiving Day I also want to wish all of our Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah. This is a special day because Hanukkah and Thanksgiving are not going to fall on the same day for another 77,795 years.

I especially want to wish Linda a very special day. She and I have been friends for over 30 years and she was with me the night I met Jim. She has shared some very special times with me.

Also, Danny and Shula. Haven’t yet met these blogging friends but they come to the United States from Israel for six months each year to RV and explore. Someday we will get to meet in person.

“The story of Hanukkah is one of revolution and miracles: Greek influence over the Jews in the Land of Israel had become an affront to Jewish culture and ritual. Antiochus, the Greek ruler, forbade Jewish religious practice, so a small group of Jews, the Maccabees, revolted. These Jews eventually prevailed and, as a first order of business, restored the Holy Temple, which had been desecrated. The menorah in the Temple needed to be re-lit because, according to tradition, it should burn continuously. The Temple liberators found one vial of olive oil, enough for one day of light. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days.”

Have a wonderful day filled with all kinds of miracles.

Happy Thanksgiving

Apache Junction, AZ   High 71  Low 55

I want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with love, family, wonderful food, and a feeling of gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon us.

By George Washington, the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Celebrating With Friends

Apache Junction, AZ  High 58  Low 47

More rain. This must be how it feels during the monsoon season down here. We did some grocery shopping in between raindrops.

Saturday night we picked up Retired Rod and then went to pick up Susan. (You really need to check out her blog to see what happened to her shoulder.)

We headed for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It was really noisy and conversation was difficult, especially with my hearing. Rod told us that it was his birthday – HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROD – and he bought dinner for us. Thank you so much. Glad we were able to share your day with you.

This picture of the four of us didn’t turn out all that great but we had a good time.

After dinner we headed over to the AZ Event Center for a Neil Diamond tribute show. I got a really good Groupon deal.

The turnout was a whole lot better than I thought it would be and we were also surprised to see that it wasn’t just old people. There was a group of 20-somethings who enjoyed the show even more than we did.

This guy definitely doesn’t sound anything like Neil but the music brought back lots of great memories. I got to see Neil in concert in the early 70’s and I’m still in love with him.

It was a fun evening with good friends. And guess what – it rained during the performance.

 

We Went to Jareds

Apache Junction, AZ  RAIN and COLD,  High 66  Low 48

Friday morning we headed out to my sister’s place. She needed Jim to set her clock because she couldn’t figure it out. When we got there she also asked Jim to help her get her wedding ring off. Her hands had swollen and the ring was cutting into her finger. Jim tried lotion and ice water but didn’t have any luck.

So off to Jareds we went. They were exceptionally nice and were able to cut the ring off for her. They told her to wait a couple of weeks to let the finger settle down and then to bring the ring back and they would fix it for her.

We had some lunch and took her to Walgreens to get her prescriptions filled. After we dropped her off at home, we headed over to Aunt Happy’s. She wasn’t in her apartment but we were able to track her down upstairs at their happy hour. There was a three piece combo playing some old time music.

Happy told us that the music wasn’t all that good but it was sure better than sitting all alone in her apartment. She said it’s not good to get in the rut of just staying in her room. What a lady. However, she was pretty impressed with the trumpet player. We listened to the music and then visited with her for awhile before we finally headed home to feed the girls and let them out.

They love to lay on the warm, clean laundry.

Oh, and did I tell you? It rained all day and all night. Record rain.

Thursday

Apache Junction, AZ   RAIN!!!

A couple of people suggested moving the Verizon jet pack to different places. We had already moved it all over the rig. We even have a Wilson antenna that didn’t make any difference. Then we had Ginny bring over her jet pack and her computer that work perfectly at her site. Guess what – she could barely get one bar in our site and her Verizon was limited.

I like to get up in the morning, turn on the computer and check out blogs and pay bills and whatever before I even think about getting dressed. So taking the computer to somewhere else in the park just is not going to work for me. While we are using MediaCom, I reduce our gigabytes on our Verizon plan to either 2 or 4 which helps to pay for the MedicaCom.

Thursday afternoon Jim and Marv went fishing. They caught fish but nothing worth keeping. They had a great time.

I got the laundry done and then I had company. Rod  stopped by. I was so happy to see him. We had a great visit and we have made plans to get together in the near future.

Thursday night the rain came down, and down, and down, and down. Record rainfall. Good thing we have the boat.

I’m Baaack!

Apache Junction, AZ  High  72  Low 57

My internet issues here in AJ are really strange. Ginny, who lives right across the street, has no problems using her Verizon jet pack. Toni and Doug had no problems when they were in our park.

And yet we could only get limited service with our Verizon jet pack. Verizon had no suggestions as to what could be wrong. This happened to us last year and we ended up getting MediaCom cable internet. We don’t have a contract with them so we cancel when we leave and then reinstate it when we get back. They showed up today and made my computer world wonderful again.

The only thing we can think of is the position of where the rig is parked. Even though we can’t see anything that is blocking the signal, something is wrong. We have been told by Verizon that AJ is on the far edge of the closest cell tower and there isn’t anything that can be done at this time.

But all is well and I’m back.

Jim got home last Thursday. He had a fantastic time with his son even if they didn’t see much wildlife. The girls and I were just overjoyed to have him home with us.

Saturday we opened up my sister’s park model and got it ready for her. We also stopped to visit Aunt Happy. She had received a beautiful bouquet from Banner Baywood Hospital.

On Sunday we met up with Dianne and Tom at Garcia’s for dinner. Our friend Carol took this fantastic picture of them.

We had a wonderful visit. I know Jim could have talked fishing with Tom for many more hours but the restaurant was ready for us to leave.

We’ll meet up with them again in Quartzsite.

Monday we picked up my sister from the airport and got her settled in her place in Mesa. Played cribbage Monday night.

Tuesday we got my passport picture taken, got the truck washed, went to Costco and ran some other errands. After all the running around, Jim installed our new backup camera on the truck. I forgot to take any pictures of him crawling around underneath the truck.

Today we waited for MediaCom to show up and then tonight we went up to the clubhouse to see the movie 42 about Jackie Robinson. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the movie, but both Jim and I really enjoyed it.

Sure does feel good to know that my internet is working again.

 

Internet Issues

My internet connection is almost non-existent. Hopefully we’ll get this fixed on Monday.

I’m So Excited

Apache Junction, AZ  High 85  Low 59

Jim will be home tomorrow!!! This is the only picture he sent me. Steve doing all the hard work climbing trees to look for deer.

They did not get a buck or a turkey. Saw a few does but Jim had a buck tag. He and Steve had a fantastic time just being out in the woods together. I do think he missed me and will be glad to get home.

I’ve kept busy doing laundry and taking care of the girls. Dianna came to rescue me on Monday and we went to lunch at Native New Yorker. Good food.

Then we went to see Captain Phillips. Really a good movie and so intense. Tom Hanks is and always has been one of my favorite actors. But the guy who played the Somalia leader was incredible especially since he had never acted before. 

Played cribbage Monday night and then tonight our park had a potluck dinner. I don’t often go but decided the potluck sounded better than the hot dog I had planned. Ginny made an apple pie and I made sure I got a nice big piece that I brought home with me to enjoy.

Peg and John arrived yesterday. They are in the park model right across from us. John is the 90 year old who loves to go fishing with Jim. They have decided that they are going to put the park model up for sale because the journey down here is just too much for them anymore. Makes me sad. But it is truly the circle of life.

Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Jim Left Me–But Only For a Week

Apache Junction, AZ  High 87  Low 53

Jim left this morning and is in Grants, NM tonight. He is going hunting with his oldest son, Steve.

It has been probably 20 years since they have been hunting together and I’m not sure which one is more excited. Jim got a mule deer tag and Steve has a turkey and some other tags. I’m really hoping they fill their tags because that will put meat on Steve and Jen’s table for the winter. (No – not on ours because I do not care for venison.)

This is going to be hard for me because you might remember that Jim’s best friend, Bill, was out hunting with his son last year and died in his son’s arms of a heart attack. I have lectured both Jim and Steve over and over again about the fact that Jim has gotten a lot older and has had several health issues. Hard for Jim to accept and I think Steve still thinks of his Dad as being someone who can conquer mountains.

Everyone here is taking very good care of me. Toni and Doug fed me a fantastic roast chicken dinner with potatoes, carrots, stuffing, green beans, gravy and apple cobbler. It was fantastic.

I know that if I need anything, all I have to do is ask and my neighbors will take care of it for me. They’ll even taken me to the store if I should happen to run out of food (which truly is not going to happen).

The girls don’t understand why Dad hasn’t come home. Every pickup that goes by has them running to the door.

Good Friends

Apache Junction, AZ  High 84  Low 51

What would life be like without good friends? Very empty. So I am extremely grateful for the wonderful people who are a part of my life.

Two of those dear friends showed up in our park yesterday morning. We met Toni and Doug in Quartzsite in January 2010 and have been able to spend time with them every year since. They are from British Columbia so they are restricted to six months in the USA.

We let them set up (sort of) and then we picked them up and headed up to Superior, AZ. We were going to meet up with Paul and have those fabulous hamburgers at Porter’s.

This was Doug’s hamburger.

Sandie, Jim, Paul, Doug and Toni

Good food, good friends, good times!!

Busy Day-

Apache Junction, AZ  High 83  Low 51

Monday night we played cribbage. My score was in the middle of the pack and Jim won the booby prize. He got his 50 cents back.

Tuesday morning Nick Russell stopped by to say hi. He and his bride are staying in our park for a couple of weeks while they visit with Terry’s family. He had posted in his blog about going to the Escapees Chapter luncheon on Tuesday so both Jan and I reminded him that the luncheon is actually on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning Jan and Bill had to drop their rig off for some work and then they came over so Jim could help install their new bed saver.

We sure love our bed saver. We didn’t buy ours until after dropping the fifth wheel on the truck but we learned our lesson.

I really liked the warning that came with their bed saver. Watch those body parts!!!

 

Why is it you don’t have anything going on for days on end and then everything happens all on one day?

After installing the bed saver, we went to the Escapees Chapter 45 luncheon here in AJ. Jan and Bill saved us a seat because we had to walk the girls first. They also bought our lunch to pay for Jim’s labor and they definitely overpaid.The place was packed and it was good to see lots of folks we haven’t seen since last spring.

After lunch we went to see Aunt Happy. She’s doing good but she is ready to leave this earth whenever the Lord wants to take her home. I think the hard part is having outlived all her friends and her hubby. She’s lonely and I know we don’t spend as much time with her as she would like but we do the best we can.

After visiting with Aunt Happy it was time for me to see the dermatologist. I had this “thing” on my forehead and I told her I felt like a unicorn. I told her if she hurt me I would cry and she said go ahead It wouldn’t bother her. She removed the horn and sent it off for a biopsy. It’s probably that non-really serious skin cancer and they’ll want to make a bigger hole in my forehead.

We grabbed dinner at Long John Silver’s – haven’t been there in forever. We then went to the clubhouse to see the move “Now You See Me”. Strange but good.

And that’s our day.

Back in AJ

Apache Junction, AZ  High 88 Low 53

Before we left Amado we got to take a tour of Dave and Sherry’s new Columbus fifth wheel. What an absolutely gorgeous rig. I love the set up with the TV across from the recliners and a fireplace.

Friday night we had dinner with our good friend, Paul, at Los Gringos Locos. He’s at an RV park out by Fort McDowell Casino and then on Monday he’s going to move down to Florence for a couple of weeks. We’ll be seeing him again before too long.

Saturday morning 16 of us from our park went to see the move Last Vegas. I guess the critics weren’t real impressed with the movie but we figured they were probably 30 somethings who didn’t understand most of the jokes. Anyhow, we really enjoyed it. Lots of great laughs.

Saturday night Jim went to the local races with a bunch of the guys from the park. I stayed home and watched a couple of older movies – Barefoot in the Park (Robert Redford and Jane Fonda) and The Deskset (Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn).

Sunday – our Redskins won in OT. Chevy’s took first and second at NASCAR. Jim was a happy man.

AJ sunset.

Rally Over and a Bucket List Item

Amado, AZ  High 80  Low 51

Received some interesting comments yesterday on mining and reclamation. You may want to go back and check those out.

Wednesday night we had a chili dinner with everybody bringing a side dish. It was Norm’s 70th birthday so we had birthday cake for dessert. Thursday morning breakfast was pancakes and sausage with orange juice.

We had a presentation given by SkyMed and then Jim helped Jan and Bill with a couple of other things. Spent a quiet afternoon and went over for the final Happy Hour. They gave away a bunch of prizes and raised $720 for CARE.

Dinner was either steak or chicken and we had ordered steak. Should have known better but the girls are really happy with their special treats. Had a wonderful time visiting with everyone.

Friday morning was fruit and pastries before we said good-bye and were on the road by 9:00. Got back to AJ and set up by 1:00.

And now for my bucket list item. I finally saw a crested saguaro cactus. It is at the entrance to the mine.

I got the following info from the Saguaro National Park website.  Even when saguaro cacti grow in their normal form, they rarely grow symmetrically. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or misshapen forms. The growing tip occasionally produces a fan-like form which is referred to as crested or cristate. These crested saguaros are somewhat rare and biologists disagree as to why some saguaros grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a lightning strike or freeze damage. At this point we simply do not know what causes this rare, crested form.

 

We also did a quick Roadside America drive-by. The Longhorn Grill is closed but it definitely has an interesting doorway.

Sixteen Tons

Amado, AZ  High 80  Low 52

Wednesday morning we had bacon, scrambled eggs, and potatoes for breakfast with orange juice/coffee/water. Great start to the day.

After breakfast Jim and I had to go up to the hardware store and Post Office. When we got back to the campground, Jim and Jan installed Jan and Bill’s water softener permanently in one of their bays.  Jan's blog has some great pictures of this whole procedure.

At 11:30 six of us headed out to the Mission Mine Tour. The Mission Mine was started in 1959 and they have recovered 6,510,809,506 lbs of copper ore.

They are mining copper ore and we learned that Arizona provides 65% of the copper ore in the United States.

Me, Jim, Karen, John and Jan. Bill was taking this picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t too sure a mine tour would be all that exciting but it all depends on your tour guide. Ed was entertaining and enthusiastic as well as knowledgeable about the mine and made this tour one you would recommend to others.

Rusty stuff for Diana

Ed rattled off facts and data much faster than I could keep up with. The one item that really stuck in my brain was the fact that their electric bill is 1.6 million dollars a month. A month!!!

To give you some perspective – I zoomed way in on this shovel. Do you see that white thing off to the left – that’s a pickup truck.

The trucks and machines are huge.

The pit.

Look at the size of this tire and this is off one of the smaller trucks. They were using 240 ton trucks but are now using 320 ton trucks. These tires are made by hand in the good old USA.

The next two pictures are a couple of rock crushers which are run totally by computers.

Their diesel fuel bill for the year is $19,362,000. Sure glad that’s not ours.

They use 4.2 Billion gallons of water a year which is pumped from 10 wells on their property. However, they are able to recycle 80% of that water and reuse it. 

I’m really glad we decided to take this tour and I love learning stuff, BUT – I have to tell you that my heart was saddened by the blight this hole leaves on our land. They figure there’s about 17 years left before the copper ore is gone and then they will just walk away and leave it. There will be no effort made to reclaim the land. That makes me very sad.