An unusual day--hosts are now opening kiosk for Monday,Tues, Weds, and Thurs. We are going down around 7 to print out four different types of info on incoming campers. We then are (1)recording on each sheet in blue those who are coming in for the first time today,(2) putting site number in front of each one on continued stay and(3) circling in red--those who early outed (and will get money back from reservation company for unused days). This morn I waited til 7:45 to go down just to help them if they still had problems or questions.I was home by 9:25 and other host ran kiosk til 10 when paid aide came in and we could relax.
But as Harry said a few minutes ago, today we had 2 unusual requests--it is the first time anyone has come at night to ask where to go to get beer, and this afternoon Harry came home just in time for me to tell him that I had only found one clothespin for the man at the door who had requested them because his zipper was broken on the tent so "H, don't we have the diaper pins still?" H came and found them and the man was amazed because his daughter had just gotten married last week and they had even gone to "Babies R Us" looking and they didn't have any diaper pins. I told him these were at least 40 years old and maybe 48--gee does that make them a valuable antique? He thanked us and promised to return them when he left and Harry said "if you don't need them anymore".
Well, anyway Harry just told me he thought I had really treated this very calmly and cooly--it turns out Harry missed the words "for his tent" and thought the guy was asking for his own pants!
A busy day for Harry--he has built a wooden trough big enough to hold our day/nite shades, lined it with plastic and with water and spray and wash he got our 3rd shade clean--and people thought you couldn't put water on them. Another host came and got Harry to go help paralyzed man who came with scooter on wheels. He wanted H to set up his new satelite system so he could watch professional football game but in two tries of over an hour each, it could not bring in signal.The guy rode his scooter down to 3rd host who lives in small trailer and could open bedroom door so man could be on their driveway and watch the game thru their door. Not quite a typical day for us hosts!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Vacation and now camphosting
We had a wonderful time--the larger Dutt cousin reunion had a program that went well with about 45 in attendance and the immediate family enjoyed their extra 3 days together even meeting 7 day old Rosina who came from Yankton with her mom, Natasha and brother, Owen. It was absolutely wonderful to have the Radabaugh cousins come together for a day at the farm. 21 of the attendees were Arlene and Deans offspring and their families who had also come for their aunt's 50th wedding anniversary that evening. It was a real treat to see the cousins who had not seen each other for 8 years and to have them meet my sis's children and Dean's family.
Then while we were in rain at Forest City IA awaiting our next day app't for repairs at Winnebago factory, Harry invited all our fellow a-waiters for ice cream and 15 people sat down in our RV and shared their RV beginnings and ice cream--a fun event.
At Fargo, we were shown around by our hostess, Ruth Hill, to a quite different town then we left in 74. It was great being with her and also attending the Dakotas United Methodist Annual conference where we saw many old friends.
We made a quick trip back home to Bkfd and had 7 days to get ready to head to camp.
We began by working 5 out of the first 6 days at El Cap, including over July 4th so were really busy but then other hosts could help after that so we alternated working and going to Renee's to relax and feed their bunnies and for one week, the neighbor children's bunnies.
This week, we are seeing something new--empty campsites. They have obviously all been reserved but when they don't arive,they get credit back on their cards for the 2nd and following nights and we resell their spots. Trying to figure it out, most people think the gas prices have canceled people's long-planned vacations rather than them thinking erroneously that the big Goleta fire still affects this area. It certainly is a surprise for people to drive in at 2 (the hr that cancellations are recorded if not showing the previous night) and get a campsite. Since a campspot rents for $25 a night and is the cheapest away from home vacation, it certainly shows that the economy is hitting people.
Then while we were in rain at Forest City IA awaiting our next day app't for repairs at Winnebago factory, Harry invited all our fellow a-waiters for ice cream and 15 people sat down in our RV and shared their RV beginnings and ice cream--a fun event.
At Fargo, we were shown around by our hostess, Ruth Hill, to a quite different town then we left in 74. It was great being with her and also attending the Dakotas United Methodist Annual conference where we saw many old friends.
We made a quick trip back home to Bkfd and had 7 days to get ready to head to camp.
We began by working 5 out of the first 6 days at El Cap, including over July 4th so were really busy but then other hosts could help after that so we alternated working and going to Renee's to relax and feed their bunnies and for one week, the neighbor children's bunnies.
This week, we are seeing something new--empty campsites. They have obviously all been reserved but when they don't arive,they get credit back on their cards for the 2nd and following nights and we resell their spots. Trying to figure it out, most people think the gas prices have canceled people's long-planned vacations rather than them thinking erroneously that the big Goleta fire still affects this area. It certainly is a surprise for people to drive in at 2 (the hr that cancellations are recorded if not showing the previous night) and get a campsite. Since a campspot rents for $25 a night and is the cheapest away from home vacation, it certainly shows that the economy is hitting people.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
In the state that will decide the Obama-Clinton race?!?
The barbershop concert was good and the visiting quartet from Minnesota and Nebraska was wonderful and the best humorists we have ever heard. The cell phone rang just before the concert and it was the minister from Fairmount,ND saying "Yes, we'll be glad to let people know and even serve coffee on June 8 from 2-4 so you can see folks you haven't seen for 36 years, but we are sorry you can't come for Bethany's 100th anniversary on June 22." Then during the concert, I felt the phone vibrating and so right after the concert, checked our messages. It was Hans Freuden telling us we had missed his parents by 2 days but that his brother Carl also lived in Farmington. We called Carl and he urged us to come right over so at 9:30 pm, we met this gracious archaeologist who we had babysat at age 2 and his anthropoligist wife. His parents who had been good friends since they served Onida Presbyterian church while we were at the Methodist church there had just arrived in Rome on a cruise, but we had a wonderful visit with Carl and Kathy.
Next morn at church, we met the widow of the doctor who cared for the children who had been at the Farmington Methodist Mission School who also introduced us to woman minister who with her husband had worked at the mission. We learned that our general church had cut funding some years ago but that tribe had continued excellent school now known as Navajo Academy which is really a prep school and that the Women's Division of United Methodist Church had kept one dorm which it used as a center and residence for abused women and children. We drove by the buildings and saw what a large campus it was. Now I know that there was both a Farmington Methodist Mission and a McCurdy School at Espanola so I think I now understand my memory.
We had a beautiful drive going east through northern New Mexico with lots of beautiful outcroppings of rock as we climbed to 10,000 feet going thru Cumbre Pass (and the RV did great). We drove to Colorado Springs to Passport America campground and parked in such a tight pullthrough (H said we had 1 inch between us and other vehicle to maintain as we pulled in) that we got applause for our parking job. Fortunately, Joan Backus Thaxton called just as I was looking for her number. She was amazed that we were in Colorado. We stopped next morn to leave RV in warehouse lot by I25 and drove car over to see Joan and John. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. They are each such fascinating persons and as a couple, they become even more
amazing as they make sure each other are included in all conversation. Their new apartment looks out at the mountain and is a good fit for them though it is quite an adjustment after 4 bedroom house. Joan would never have let it be known, but John told us that she was offered a Fulbright Scholarship which she did not use (Doug and she were married at age 21 as he was about to be shipped out to war.) Likewise, John graduated from Berkely and worked in forestry first mapping areas where he never saw people for weeks and just left word for packers where to leave supplies for him. Once they missed him and he had to kill a deer to have food. We felt very fortunate to have been able to visit with them again.
After hooking up to RV again, we drove through Wyoming and arrived at Hart Ranch at Rapid City grateful to be able to spend 3 nights here. It was good to sleep in this morn, enjoy their breakfast at cafe and spend day relaxing, puttering around RV, and even making a lemon pie.
Next morn at church, we met the widow of the doctor who cared for the children who had been at the Farmington Methodist Mission School who also introduced us to woman minister who with her husband had worked at the mission. We learned that our general church had cut funding some years ago but that tribe had continued excellent school now known as Navajo Academy which is really a prep school and that the Women's Division of United Methodist Church had kept one dorm which it used as a center and residence for abused women and children. We drove by the buildings and saw what a large campus it was. Now I know that there was both a Farmington Methodist Mission and a McCurdy School at Espanola so I think I now understand my memory.
We had a beautiful drive going east through northern New Mexico with lots of beautiful outcroppings of rock as we climbed to 10,000 feet going thru Cumbre Pass (and the RV did great). We drove to Colorado Springs to Passport America campground and parked in such a tight pullthrough (H said we had 1 inch between us and other vehicle to maintain as we pulled in) that we got applause for our parking job. Fortunately, Joan Backus Thaxton called just as I was looking for her number. She was amazed that we were in Colorado. We stopped next morn to leave RV in warehouse lot by I25 and drove car over to see Joan and John. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. They are each such fascinating persons and as a couple, they become even more
amazing as they make sure each other are included in all conversation. Their new apartment looks out at the mountain and is a good fit for them though it is quite an adjustment after 4 bedroom house. Joan would never have let it be known, but John told us that she was offered a Fulbright Scholarship which she did not use (Doug and she were married at age 21 as he was about to be shipped out to war.) Likewise, John graduated from Berkely and worked in forestry first mapping areas where he never saw people for weeks and just left word for packers where to leave supplies for him. Once they missed him and he had to kill a deer to have food. We felt very fortunate to have been able to visit with them again.
After hooking up to RV again, we drove through Wyoming and arrived at Hart Ranch at Rapid City grateful to be able to spend 3 nights here. It was good to sleep in this morn, enjoy their breakfast at cafe and spend day relaxing, puttering around RV, and even making a lemon pie.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
On the road again
We reluctantly left our home and Prius behind on Thursday at 1:30 pm for another great adventure. While the temp in Bakersfield was climbing to 104, the RV air and motor kept working to keep us comfortable till we got to Northshore Campground in Needles where they allowed us to park sidewise in upper terrace so we didn't have to unhook car. A good night's sleep was welcomed.
Then I awoke at 5:30 am and proceeded to ready the coach to move, including the first time I had unhooked and put away the electric cord (which is all we plugged in). By 6 am we were moving and Harry couldn't resist the beautiful morning to join me in front. We kept alternating drivers as we each got tired and even stopped for a half hour nap in rest area as we moved through AZ and into New Mexico. We wound up being able to do 500 miles and were at camp in Farmington,NM by 6:30 PM.
Today, we visited the Tom Bolack game reserve and took a tour of his 3 buildings of electrical and transportation collections--everything from train to plane to a quonset wall of circuit boards, and generators that weigh 96 tons. We then drove and saw the Aztec Ruins National Monument, a fascinating 400 room pueblo built about 1100 and deserted about two hundred years later. The workmanship is amazing and a good film gave some archaeologists view of what it might have been like to live then. We also walked the Farmington River Walk which is excellent until we saw a festival which turned out to be Rotary sponsored as a family event with the theme "Meth--do not do even once"--very good young speakers and prizes of frisbees, etc. given away (and we enjoyed their hot dogs). Now we are heading out to a barbershop area performance at the college and will head on to Colorado tomorrow.
The irony is that I chose Farmington because I had heard about the Methodist McCurdy School way back in high school. No one seemed to know about it so I called Dakota friends that had volunteered there and it turned out they moved about 150 miles away, possibly when the EUB and Methodists united in 1968. Have you ever known something and been wrong for 40 years??? Well, we'll try for Espanola NM next time!
Then I awoke at 5:30 am and proceeded to ready the coach to move, including the first time I had unhooked and put away the electric cord (which is all we plugged in). By 6 am we were moving and Harry couldn't resist the beautiful morning to join me in front. We kept alternating drivers as we each got tired and even stopped for a half hour nap in rest area as we moved through AZ and into New Mexico. We wound up being able to do 500 miles and were at camp in Farmington,NM by 6:30 PM.
Today, we visited the Tom Bolack game reserve and took a tour of his 3 buildings of electrical and transportation collections--everything from train to plane to a quonset wall of circuit boards, and generators that weigh 96 tons. We then drove and saw the Aztec Ruins National Monument, a fascinating 400 room pueblo built about 1100 and deserted about two hundred years later. The workmanship is amazing and a good film gave some archaeologists view of what it might have been like to live then. We also walked the Farmington River Walk which is excellent until we saw a festival which turned out to be Rotary sponsored as a family event with the theme "Meth--do not do even once"--very good young speakers and prizes of frisbees, etc. given away (and we enjoyed their hot dogs). Now we are heading out to a barbershop area performance at the college and will head on to Colorado tomorrow.
The irony is that I chose Farmington because I had heard about the Methodist McCurdy School way back in high school. No one seemed to know about it so I called Dakota friends that had volunteered there and it turned out they moved about 150 miles away, possibly when the EUB and Methodists united in 1968. Have you ever known something and been wrong for 40 years??? Well, we'll try for Espanola NM next time!
Friday, May 9, 2008
A nice, quiet week at home
First, I think my eye work was laser, not lasik--think there is a difference. After coming home, H and I kept looking at Prius cars both by online and in Bakersfield so came home what was to be one hour before 9 of us from church were gathering at our house for "Dinner for 8". Within minutes I realized eye flashes again and then door bell rang early with guests. Had Harry inform the couple (they had never been at our house) where dishes, etc. were and that they were in charge as we might have to leave. Fortunately, phone to dr said wait till morning and then come up. Dinner was delicious--Harry grilled little filet mignons from Costco, one couple brought shrimp cocktail appetizers, others brought spinich and strawberry salad, lasagna, broccoli and ice cream and we all had fun. H even provided two songs on uke and they all sang.
Then after checking eye (no tear) we took train to Kevin's last Friday (great way to travel) and while they went about 200 miles for triathalon we watched Friday afternoon baseball practice on their field that Kevin has carved out and met the parents, coaches and players from Ryan's team. Saturday, Harry took Landen to his game and I took Ryan to his. Both boys hit a triple plus Ryan hit a homerun so that was big news. Kevin and Sara stopped for a movie Saturday night and we left boys for 3 hrs at their babysitting co-op and had a hot date--off to Coldstone Creamery for sundaes and then driving to see the 2 new hospitals--one of which was to have fancy mural. That one turned out to still be med offices and urgent care so we never got to mural, but the new Kaiser Hospital at Antioch is impressive.
Sunday after church and saying goodbye, Kevin dropped us at Walnut Creek Toyota (because Bkfd where we first bought could no longer get the car we wanted)where we bought the base model of Prius (#1) and the saleslady had it already for us to sign papers and drive to Bkfd. Fortunately, their shop would even add leather to seats and recover so we are happy Prius owners--silver pine--light green. We got 52.6 miles to the gallon according to the gage on our first 328 miles coming to Bkfd. Unfortunately it can be towed "4 on the ground" so we will keep Malibu till after South Dakota trip.
Sunday we are driving to Renee's for Mother's Day and coming back Monday. The prettiest sight out our back window are two apricot roses. The bush took 8 months to produce but they are worth it.
Then after checking eye (no tear) we took train to Kevin's last Friday (great way to travel) and while they went about 200 miles for triathalon we watched Friday afternoon baseball practice on their field that Kevin has carved out and met the parents, coaches and players from Ryan's team. Saturday, Harry took Landen to his game and I took Ryan to his. Both boys hit a triple plus Ryan hit a homerun so that was big news. Kevin and Sara stopped for a movie Saturday night and we left boys for 3 hrs at their babysitting co-op and had a hot date--off to Coldstone Creamery for sundaes and then driving to see the 2 new hospitals--one of which was to have fancy mural. That one turned out to still be med offices and urgent care so we never got to mural, but the new Kaiser Hospital at Antioch is impressive.
Sunday after church and saying goodbye, Kevin dropped us at Walnut Creek Toyota (because Bkfd where we first bought could no longer get the car we wanted)where we bought the base model of Prius (#1) and the saleslady had it already for us to sign papers and drive to Bkfd. Fortunately, their shop would even add leather to seats and recover so we are happy Prius owners--silver pine--light green. We got 52.6 miles to the gallon according to the gage on our first 328 miles coming to Bkfd. Unfortunately it can be towed "4 on the ground" so we will keep Malibu till after South Dakota trip.
Sunday we are driving to Renee's for Mother's Day and coming back Monday. The prettiest sight out our back window are two apricot roses. The bush took 8 months to produce but they are worth it.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
April 25, 2008--a day of surprises!
What a day--Jane and Les are snowbound in Sioux Falls after helping Tracy and Kathy close and move out of their Yankton house yesterday and close and move into their Sioux Falls house amid rain, sleet, and then snow. What a long winter! Hope we don't get snow as we start back there about May 15th!
We began the day parked by eye clinic in Fresno. Sunday night the rest of the family was in Kevin and Sara's house and I was reading fascinating and incriminating story about Pentagon on computer when it finally dawned on me I wasn't seeing all the letters but was reading on determinedly. I began wondering if I was having the light flashes two doctors had warned me that if it ever happened I should call. So I went into dark bedroom and yes, there were little Z shaped flashes so I called Sara out (leaving Dad and Grandpa to read the boys' bedtime stories)while I called my Fresno clinic. Sara began researching on internet while dr on call listened to my description of probably 3 or 4 minutes of flashes and said this was most likely a sign of migraine headache and I might or might not get a headache but that since it was longer than a couple of seconds, I did not have to be alarmed but needed to check it out. Sara found the same info on internet so instead of driving into Walnut Creek and finding a new dr the next day, I was able to schedule a time with my retinal specialist in Fresno early Fri morn. (I was sent to him after my staghorn kidney surgeries in 2004 when I realized I wasn't reading signs as clearly while driving and he discovered scarring which might eventually continue as macular degeneration--but fortunately hasn't.)
So Fri April 25 we are in office early and dr has been in emergency eye surgery since 6:45 am. He comes up to see me after it. It turns out he doesn't normally see patients on Friday so another post-op gal and I are checked before he returns to do his lasik procedures which were scheduled. As soon as he hears my story and checks it out, he tells me that my retina did tear but I was very lucky. A little gel popped out immediately and therefore as I understand it, it did not keep tearing. "But we will have to repair this so I need you to go down to the second floor where there are 3 ahead of you." His nurse then said she would take me down and I called Harry back from the hospital cafeteria where I had suggested he go eat breakfast. This has been another of my amazing medical discoveries. I have always been very sensitive to eye work and while going into nurse's training had wondered if I could handle that part of it. Dr. Roy is the only one I have felt that might be able to do work on my eyes (no one can even get mascara on my jumping eyes) so to have gotten to him without any suspicion of a real problem and to go into the lasik without having time to worry about it, is pretty miraculous!
It went well tho must admit gal's hand on back of my head was good as I tended to jump as each ray hit the eye. It probably took less than a minute and I seem to be doing well and Harry has as much luck getting the drops in my eye as anyone!
We did have good time at Anderson CA fairgrounds with our club RV rally as both Jim McCracken retired as president after 3 years and Diana Hill after 6 as secretary. We took Jim and Joan out to celebrate their retirement in Harry and Jim's usual place--Burger King. Diana is homebound now for a good reason--knee replacement on Thursday which will be a real relief after waiting six months to get in on the surgery schedule.
It was neat to watch boys and Kevin practicing baseball and I got to watch Landen's game (4-6 year olds and some of their bird watching instead of ball watching makes for great entertainment) but Landen is a committed player and caught the thrown ball to 1st base to put out the runner and then while in left field ran down the player who thought he would go for home. Meantime Kev and Harry were over with Ryan's game where he is pitcher and does well (but feels badly if he doesn't hit every time) and Sara was delivering the treats including coach's birthday cake for Ryan's team after game.
I enjoy driving boys to and from school with their Prius and it makes us more eager to get a Prius. Sara has been leased a tall beautiful horse so she keeps busy taking care of two horses, two boys, one husband, two parents-in-law, one dog and 3 cats. Meantime Kevin's mother taught him well how to use the telephone so it is his mainstay as he keeps up with the needs of the many fire-proofing jobs his crews are working on--including a 21 story new office building in Sac for the state where he has 2 crews and 2 foremen working on different sides of the building. How lucky Landen and Ryan are that both parents operate their responsibilites out of their home/office and take time to get to kids' activities and listen to them. And how lucky we grandparents are to watch all four parents of our four grandchildren taking full part in the younger generation's activities.
On the 22nd we took the RV to a retreat center outside Sacramento for the 24 hour clergy and spouse spring fling. We had an excellent theologian from a Catholic seminary in Tulsa OK who used contemporary films to help illustrate his learnings about the Parables. The highlight, of course, was either Harry leading off the first ever talent show with a sing-a-long for 2 songs --or after the show when another guy who used to play the uke came over and we soon had a crowd of about 12 who stayed to spend an hour singing all the old campfire songs of the 50's, the civil rights songs of the 60's as Harry and Bud took turns playing the ones each knew.
We began the day parked by eye clinic in Fresno. Sunday night the rest of the family was in Kevin and Sara's house and I was reading fascinating and incriminating story about Pentagon on computer when it finally dawned on me I wasn't seeing all the letters but was reading on determinedly. I began wondering if I was having the light flashes two doctors had warned me that if it ever happened I should call. So I went into dark bedroom and yes, there were little Z shaped flashes so I called Sara out (leaving Dad and Grandpa to read the boys' bedtime stories)while I called my Fresno clinic. Sara began researching on internet while dr on call listened to my description of probably 3 or 4 minutes of flashes and said this was most likely a sign of migraine headache and I might or might not get a headache but that since it was longer than a couple of seconds, I did not have to be alarmed but needed to check it out. Sara found the same info on internet so instead of driving into Walnut Creek and finding a new dr the next day, I was able to schedule a time with my retinal specialist in Fresno early Fri morn. (I was sent to him after my staghorn kidney surgeries in 2004 when I realized I wasn't reading signs as clearly while driving and he discovered scarring which might eventually continue as macular degeneration--but fortunately hasn't.)
So Fri April 25 we are in office early and dr has been in emergency eye surgery since 6:45 am. He comes up to see me after it. It turns out he doesn't normally see patients on Friday so another post-op gal and I are checked before he returns to do his lasik procedures which were scheduled. As soon as he hears my story and checks it out, he tells me that my retina did tear but I was very lucky. A little gel popped out immediately and therefore as I understand it, it did not keep tearing. "But we will have to repair this so I need you to go down to the second floor where there are 3 ahead of you." His nurse then said she would take me down and I called Harry back from the hospital cafeteria where I had suggested he go eat breakfast. This has been another of my amazing medical discoveries. I have always been very sensitive to eye work and while going into nurse's training had wondered if I could handle that part of it. Dr. Roy is the only one I have felt that might be able to do work on my eyes (no one can even get mascara on my jumping eyes) so to have gotten to him without any suspicion of a real problem and to go into the lasik without having time to worry about it, is pretty miraculous!
It went well tho must admit gal's hand on back of my head was good as I tended to jump as each ray hit the eye. It probably took less than a minute and I seem to be doing well and Harry has as much luck getting the drops in my eye as anyone!
We did have good time at Anderson CA fairgrounds with our club RV rally as both Jim McCracken retired as president after 3 years and Diana Hill after 6 as secretary. We took Jim and Joan out to celebrate their retirement in Harry and Jim's usual place--Burger King. Diana is homebound now for a good reason--knee replacement on Thursday which will be a real relief after waiting six months to get in on the surgery schedule.
It was neat to watch boys and Kevin practicing baseball and I got to watch Landen's game (4-6 year olds and some of their bird watching instead of ball watching makes for great entertainment) but Landen is a committed player and caught the thrown ball to 1st base to put out the runner and then while in left field ran down the player who thought he would go for home. Meantime Kev and Harry were over with Ryan's game where he is pitcher and does well (but feels badly if he doesn't hit every time) and Sara was delivering the treats including coach's birthday cake for Ryan's team after game.
I enjoy driving boys to and from school with their Prius and it makes us more eager to get a Prius. Sara has been leased a tall beautiful horse so she keeps busy taking care of two horses, two boys, one husband, two parents-in-law, one dog and 3 cats. Meantime Kevin's mother taught him well how to use the telephone so it is his mainstay as he keeps up with the needs of the many fire-proofing jobs his crews are working on--including a 21 story new office building in Sac for the state where he has 2 crews and 2 foremen working on different sides of the building. How lucky Landen and Ryan are that both parents operate their responsibilites out of their home/office and take time to get to kids' activities and listen to them. And how lucky we grandparents are to watch all four parents of our four grandchildren taking full part in the younger generation's activities.
On the 22nd we took the RV to a retreat center outside Sacramento for the 24 hour clergy and spouse spring fling. We had an excellent theologian from a Catholic seminary in Tulsa OK who used contemporary films to help illustrate his learnings about the Parables. The highlight, of course, was either Harry leading off the first ever talent show with a sing-a-long for 2 songs --or after the show when another guy who used to play the uke came over and we soon had a crowd of about 12 who stayed to spend an hour singing all the old campfire songs of the 50's, the civil rights songs of the 60's as Harry and Bud took turns playing the ones each knew.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Ukelule
Harry is practicing for a performance --sing along--for the senior center tomorrow. I guess I will even be on stage for "Home on the Range" so he can do harmony while I carry the main tune. It will be interesting to see the response to his old-timers songs. First United Methodist started a Wednesday program for seniors when he was a minister here so it has gone for close to 30 years. The participants are not necessarily from the church. They have a good corp of volunteers, many of whom are our contemporaries. They begin with serving tea/coffe and cookies as we arrive and sit. Then comes a time when someone volunteers a funny story and reports on anyone not present of the regulars. Then a good exercise program for us is led while we are seated. Then there is about 45 minutes when they individually choose to do crafts, play a card/board game, go to Bible study, or just visit with those who aren't interested in any of the above. Then a wonderful lunch is served and a program offered. We are fortunate to have about 5 individuals or couples who are great cooks and offer to do the cooking on their week of the month. For $2, you get a 3 or 4 course meal. The second Weds is normally the no program--we play bingo day, so Harry will only play about 15-20 minutes for there may be many who would be disappointed not to play bingo (I'm not among them!)
I wish I knew how to attach pics to this blog but without the helper at Catalina Spa who helped us start this blog, I can't do it. Our 32 year old peace rose has 25 huge blossoms on it and the orange, apple, and grapefruit trees are amass with blooms also, tho it looks like an off year for the apple. We keep marveling how fortunate we were to have a friend in the county extension office 31 years ago who helped us get and plant these trees. The challenge becomes giving away about 400 grapefruit, but we succeeded again this year. We have a box we pack each Sunday we are here and put in the coffee fellowship room with plastic bags and a sign to "help yourself" plus we take them along on RV trips or wherever we go. When it got so warm in Palm Springs in Feb before our FMCA convention where we meant to give them away to friends, we just put the box out in front of our rig on the day for the patio sale at Catalina Spa with a sign "help yourself and donate" with a box with dimes and nickels in it and someone took them all and was leaving $3 and asked H who was outside if that was enough and he said "Oh, that's too much" so she left $2 and the 40 grapefruit went where they would be used.
After the cruise, we went to Santa Barbara and stayed with Brooke and Brittany. J Paul, Renee and we watched Brooke win 3 blue ribbons and the championship for her 3 horse jumping events on Sunday before JP and R went to a retreat at Ojai. Brooke had won 2 blue and 1 red the day before so for her first horse competition, she did well. I have informed her that she must not be related to me for my horses never went where I wanted but she might be related to my dad. Wonder if we could still find the Horsemanship book he spoke of getting early in his life. Both Brooke and Brittany are very involved in softball right now but fortunately Monday was their first school day after vacation and think the teachers were still in relaxed mode so they had very little homework and we had some time for TV "Extreme Makeover" and a card/board game.
I wish I knew how to attach pics to this blog but without the helper at Catalina Spa who helped us start this blog, I can't do it. Our 32 year old peace rose has 25 huge blossoms on it and the orange, apple, and grapefruit trees are amass with blooms also, tho it looks like an off year for the apple. We keep marveling how fortunate we were to have a friend in the county extension office 31 years ago who helped us get and plant these trees. The challenge becomes giving away about 400 grapefruit, but we succeeded again this year. We have a box we pack each Sunday we are here and put in the coffee fellowship room with plastic bags and a sign to "help yourself" plus we take them along on RV trips or wherever we go. When it got so warm in Palm Springs in Feb before our FMCA convention where we meant to give them away to friends, we just put the box out in front of our rig on the day for the patio sale at Catalina Spa with a sign "help yourself and donate" with a box with dimes and nickels in it and someone took them all and was leaving $3 and asked H who was outside if that was enough and he said "Oh, that's too much" so she left $2 and the 40 grapefruit went where they would be used.
After the cruise, we went to Santa Barbara and stayed with Brooke and Brittany. J Paul, Renee and we watched Brooke win 3 blue ribbons and the championship for her 3 horse jumping events on Sunday before JP and R went to a retreat at Ojai. Brooke had won 2 blue and 1 red the day before so for her first horse competition, she did well. I have informed her that she must not be related to me for my horses never went where I wanted but she might be related to my dad. Wonder if we could still find the Horsemanship book he spoke of getting early in his life. Both Brooke and Brittany are very involved in softball right now but fortunately Monday was their first school day after vacation and think the teachers were still in relaxed mode so they had very little homework and we had some time for TV "Extreme Makeover" and a card/board game.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Home for apple, orange and grapefruit blossoms
Thanks to cousin, Betty, I can blog again. My method for getting in was no longer working but she told me how to do it--guess after a 5 month hiatus, I forget!
We had a good time on the Mexican Riveria cruise. Kevin and Sara's friend and partner in a Friday night babysitting co-op, Rick wound up with 25 of us going including 7 children with the oldest 3 being 8 years old--Ryan's age. It was delightful to be around these couples and Carnival was a good cruise line for them for they have a program that even keeps the kids for their own mini-formal and casual dinners and takes them as a group to the evening program. It certainly gave the parents more visiting time. When I asked the boys if they could only have done or had one thing on the cruise, what would it be--Ryan replied "Playing with Aiden" Rick's son and Landen said "playing basketball". However, I would have guessed for Ryan and Sara, it would be swimming with the dolphins and for Landen, swimming in the ocean with some unexpected undertows which made the dads go in to pull the kids back in occasionally. There was a Basketball small court on the 10th outside deck and the one time H& I went up to watch, was the last day when the wind was blowing between 22 and 30 mph so when they made baskets, it was amazing. Kevin became the basketball supervisor for the first time they went up there were about 22 littler kids wanting to play but the 17-20 year olds were not sharing the court so he worked out a system for half court playing and wound up dividing 22 kids into teams! He figured he was not too popular with the older group which thought they could have the court full-time.
We took a taxi from downtown in Zihuatanejo and asked the driver to take us to see his favorite spots with no shopping. He was great and we got to overlook 3 different bays each of which has different wave action and to see this fishing village which also has moderately priced tourist accomodations including condos right on the ocean. Then we asked for another 1/2 hr to see the twin city Ixtapa which was built by the govt as a tourist attraction so we got to see their hotels and waterfront.
Since we had been in Acapulco on our Panama Cruise trip, we decided to go on our own off ship but got lassoed by 2 separate men who walked with us and said oh this is the way to the cathedral and we'll show us--we never got to the cathedral and the second one was disappointed that we didn't buy from his family stores where he had taken us. They have nice things; we just have enough stuff! We did go out with Rick and the group for an Aztec dinner and to watch the cliff divers (as we did on our previous trip) but this was at night.
In Manzillo we signed up for the colonial tour and went to La Colina and saw the governor's mansion, the cathedral and the museum before being taken to the newly discovered pyramids (found as they were digging for a shopping center) Our guide was a geography professor on his week off from the U and was excellent so we learned about the 3 different settlements beginning about 2000 BC. Apparently the first 2 groups abandoned when the volcano erupted with the last in 900 AD. We saw puffs from the volcano 20 miles away. But it didn't erupt on us.
More tomorrow. Anita
We had a good time on the Mexican Riveria cruise. Kevin and Sara's friend and partner in a Friday night babysitting co-op, Rick wound up with 25 of us going including 7 children with the oldest 3 being 8 years old--Ryan's age. It was delightful to be around these couples and Carnival was a good cruise line for them for they have a program that even keeps the kids for their own mini-formal and casual dinners and takes them as a group to the evening program. It certainly gave the parents more visiting time. When I asked the boys if they could only have done or had one thing on the cruise, what would it be--Ryan replied "Playing with Aiden" Rick's son and Landen said "playing basketball". However, I would have guessed for Ryan and Sara, it would be swimming with the dolphins and for Landen, swimming in the ocean with some unexpected undertows which made the dads go in to pull the kids back in occasionally. There was a Basketball small court on the 10th outside deck and the one time H& I went up to watch, was the last day when the wind was blowing between 22 and 30 mph so when they made baskets, it was amazing. Kevin became the basketball supervisor for the first time they went up there were about 22 littler kids wanting to play but the 17-20 year olds were not sharing the court so he worked out a system for half court playing and wound up dividing 22 kids into teams! He figured he was not too popular with the older group which thought they could have the court full-time.
We took a taxi from downtown in Zihuatanejo and asked the driver to take us to see his favorite spots with no shopping. He was great and we got to overlook 3 different bays each of which has different wave action and to see this fishing village which also has moderately priced tourist accomodations including condos right on the ocean. Then we asked for another 1/2 hr to see the twin city Ixtapa which was built by the govt as a tourist attraction so we got to see their hotels and waterfront.
Since we had been in Acapulco on our Panama Cruise trip, we decided to go on our own off ship but got lassoed by 2 separate men who walked with us and said oh this is the way to the cathedral and we'll show us--we never got to the cathedral and the second one was disappointed that we didn't buy from his family stores where he had taken us. They have nice things; we just have enough stuff! We did go out with Rick and the group for an Aztec dinner and to watch the cliff divers (as we did on our previous trip) but this was at night.
In Manzillo we signed up for the colonial tour and went to La Colina and saw the governor's mansion, the cathedral and the museum before being taken to the newly discovered pyramids (found as they were digging for a shopping center) Our guide was a geography professor on his week off from the U and was excellent so we learned about the 3 different settlements beginning about 2000 BC. Apparently the first 2 groups abandoned when the volcano erupted with the last in 900 AD. We saw puffs from the volcano 20 miles away. But it didn't erupt on us.
More tomorrow. Anita
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