Indio

A final comment from Happy Trails. I was reading the rules for the Hot Tub a couple weeks ago. I found it was really funny, the people that were not suppose to use the hot tub. The only rule that is most likely not broken is the Pregnant Women clause. With the average in the tub being over 70. That would be a good one. Some of the bobbers. I miss the pool already.

So we are now in Indio, California visiting Elaine, Cuz and Bonnie. We got here Sunday afternoon. We ended up parked right behind Gary and Janice Herring. They are members of Twin Lakes and next door neighbors to Ken and Elaine. We did a little visiting in the afternoon.

Monday we went to Elaines with Charlie of course. The girls made potato salad and a key lime pie. While they were at that I went out and picked up some supplies to bring home. The liquid kind. Now I'm ready. I took this picture of the entrance to Heritage Palms. It is really pretty going in there. Their gardeners really do a bang up job.

Monday night was a hamburger cook off. Neighbor Jim and Ellie were there as well. I got to be the cookie. Potato salad and pie were good as well.

Tuesday we played golf with Elaine and Jim. There course is always a pleasure to play. The maintenance is great. After golf it was cocktails for a bit then we went down to the club for dinner. Ray, Bonnie and Bonnie's mom were guests as were Gary and Janice Herring. They put out a very good meal. Charlie was guarding Elaine's house while were were gone.


Not too sure what is happening today. I have a bit of a cold so and not too ambitious. Elaine wanted to go the the General Patton Museum south of town. We are suppose to go out to dinner tonight. Tomorrow we leave to start the trek home.

Last Days in Arizona

With Steve and Mad in town we had to show them how classy we are. While we were at it we invited some of our other friends that are here. Where else should you take someone go for a touch of class. Why Roman's Oasis of course. So that's what we did.

Here are a few. From right to left Carolin Nelson, Jan Holt, Sue, Linda Abbott, Ellen Edwards, Elvis Presley and Mad. They posed the group photo. Also around besides Steve and me was Kent Nelson and John Ward.

Jan and I beat John and Carolyn on the shuffleboard. I forget how came next but we beat them too. Jan and I were killers. We all order lunch along with a few drinks. Everybody had a good time. We might make this a regular event.

That pretty much took care of Wednesday. I'm going to miss the tough days down here. Anyway, Thursday was just a hang out day. I was going to play golf but didn't quite feel up to snuff so I just sat around. About 3:30 we went to the Brookside Sports Bar and Grille to have some food and watch the Husky game. As I'm sure most know the first half was good while the second half was not. We had a good time even thought they lost. It was apparent that there were quite a few Husky fans in the room. As they say, Better luck next year.

Friday morning we got up and met Steve and Mad at the Enterprise Car rental place. They dropped off their rental car and we took them to the airport. They were flying to Las Vegas and then driving to the AVI casino in Lughlin to meet friends. We told them that we should have planned differently and all driven in the motor home up there. That would have been a real gas. See you guys when we all get home.

As things are down here we had the next stop. We had been invited to Mary Ann and George's house to see it. We had talked about this when we at, where else "Roman's Oasis" They have a very nice home in Pebble Creek. Pebble creek in about 12 miles south of Happy Trails. They have a home on the end of a Cul-d-sac which makes for a huge back yard. It is beautiful. They have so many Cactus some of which were blooming. That is one cool thing about being down here this time of year is the Cactus bloom. After a beer and checking out their place we went to Wadells Longhorn Salon. We were there last with John and Linda during a Cardinal play off game last year. We good to see them. Again more plans for next year.

So here we are on Saturday. Sue has some laundry, going to clean house, is at the store now and generally READY to go home. I on the other hand am not excited about that plan. I already have WORK (A nasty 4 letter word) scheduled at home. Tomorrow morning we pull out for Palm Desert for a few days. We will be seeing Elaine and Cuz and Bonnie. I'm sure I will make more reports from there.

Seeing the sights

We have been doing the tourist thing. Monday we took Steve and Mad out to Scorpion Bay and Dillons restaurant. The weather was in the 80's so it was a really nice day to go. We had lunch and then went for a walk on the docks. I got a shot of the fire boat testing the equipment.

I don't know if you can see them or not, but there was a swarm of bees inside this boat. We didn't want to get to close.

On the way back from Lake Pleasant we stopped at Richards house. I had taken my cooler with some wine and stuff for a picnic at the park. We decided to do it at Richards instead. Sue gave a tour of his house. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the day.

Yesterday Steve wanted to check out booze prices. So we went the the Adult Candy Store (Totl Wine and Spirits) We also went to Cosco. Costco ad a coupon for &3.50 off on Absolute Vodka, That made a 1.75 ltr bottle less than $20 bucks. It's $54 in Washington and most likely going higher thanks to our Governor and her spendy friends. On the way back home we stopped at the Desert Palms for lunch.

Later in the day Steve and Mad came over here and we went to Virginia's for a visit. We sat around on her patio for a couple hours before we came back here for some cheese and crackers. So far we have had two great days.

Today will be the biggest adventure. We are going to Roman's Oasis. We also invited some of the Twin Lakes gang and Traditions gang. We will have a crowd, I'll report on all that tomorrow. Sadly our time in Arizona is coming to an end. We will starting home Sunday. AHhhhh............

They are here.

Steve and Mad are coming, so we had to get ready. We made a trip to the adult candy store. "Total Wine and Spirits" I have talked about this place before. They carry 8000 different wine brands. On the way we were hungry so we stopped at In and Out Burger. We watched a Documentary on this place a few weeks ago. We decided to try it out. They are a family owned burger chain that started down here in 1948. Still family owned. Their burgers were really good. There posted menu is short, but there are lots of secret things you can order.

Total Wine. This place is about the size of a super Safeway store. It's all booze. The prices are very good as well. They have lots of customers.

Sunday we got up and watched the NASCAR race at Bristol. We didn't get to see the end because we went to pick up Steve and Mad. They got in about 3:00. We drove to their hotel in Surprise. They are about 5 miles from us. They have an nice room with a little deck outside overlooking the pool and a small lake. We took advantage of the time a for a little splah.

After our splah we drove over here to check out Charlie. We all went for a short walk and the went out to the Olive Garden for dinner. Did a lot of catching up over dinner.

Today we are going to pick them up and take them to get their rental car. Then I think we will go to Scorpion Bay for lunch. The weather today is suppose to be 85. Suppose to be cooler the next couple days so it looks like today would make a good Lake Pleasant trip.

Dinner with friends

Wednesday I commandeered Virginia's house for a party. It all started at JB's restaurant. Janet Swanson was in town and wanted to know if I had any spaghetti. I said well I can make some. So I invited Janet, John and Linda, Jan Holt and her sister in law and Virginie and Bo to dinner at Virginia's house. Virginia said cool. She likes my spaghetti too. It was fort of an ASGA (American Single Golf Association) reunion. Again. I cooked some Sweet Italian sausage along with salad and the sauce. Not to brag, but I think I out did myself this time. Everybody liked the food. A good time was had by all.

Looks like we will be gathering again this coming Wednesday. Steve and Mad will be in town and we will be taking them to Romans. Looks like most from the party will be there as well. Watch out Romans.

On Thursday they had a big dog day. I went and played golf with the guys from the ranch, so I will let Sue tell you all about the event. We will see if there are any Sueisms. :):):)

Sue speaking.... We had a pet expo at Happy Trails. Below are pictures from it.

This was the pet contest. It consisted of cutest costume and obedience training. Charlie won't wear clothes, and he doesn't mind..so Charlie and his friend Toby didn't get entered.

This is Cocoa..one of Charlie's friends

This is Suzy wearing her doggles. She came in 4th place



The Mariner girls came in 3rd

Waiting to go before the judges

They also had lots of girl dog clothes for sale. Below is the pet Psychic. She gave a talk that was really amazing. She really talks to the dogs. Made me a kida believer..

..They also had a k-9 unit come in and do demonstrations. The dog was a gorgous german shepard.
The big great dane and little Suzy. He was worried...



Back to the pet contest and Katie, another of Charlie's friends who has an apointment with the Pet Psychic because she doesn't like people!!!

Seaking of Steve and Mad. They are arriving Sunday. Steve said there should be beautiful weather in the Pacific Northwest and that if Arizona still has a drought he will fix it. Blog readers might remember the last time Steve came to visit us during a trip we were in Maui. The day he got there it snowed on the mountain for the first time in forever. They even let the kids out of school so they could go see what snow looked like. Typhoid Steve always brings bad weather. So far he is looking OK for next week. At least according to the weather man. We will know more then.