Friends and Family

Casa Grande, AZ

I have no idea where the days have gone, but we've been busy morning until night.  

There were a few "honey do" jobs that needed done.  One was to repaint the front door.

This was a detail type job and anyone that knows me, knows I'm "that's close enough".  It's good that I married a detailed and patient man.

It's unreal how fast the sun can bleach out the color.  

The next job was buying a new TV.  We had our old one 14 years and it was time to replace it.  I checked out the Black Friday App to see if the one I wanted would be any cheaper on Black Friday.  

Off to Costco we went when we found out the $700 off on the model we wanted was until the stock was gone.  We remembered about the limit per day we had placed on our debit card, as the card was declined twice.  Talk about embarrassing.  No problem, we can write a check.  You did bring the checkbook didn't you?  Okay, all we have to do now is call the bank and have them release enough to pay for the TV.  I called and when no one answered remembered they closed early on Saturdays.  Ended up applying for a credit card rather than drive back home 45 miles to retrieve the checkbook.  

We manhandled it out of the vehicle and then had to move the old set.  Remember the days of the older computers and how big they were?  Well this old TV was a 65 inch screen with huge speakers and almost 5 feet tall.  Bud Walsh came over to help us get it out the door.  It was on wheels, so we just rolled it out to the sidewalk.  Minutes later someone stopped and asked if he could have it, he said he'd be back before 3.  As it turned out it was still on the sidewalk at 3:30 and a neighbor came and wheeled it to his house.  

Bud was a lot of help.  He hooked everything up in no time at all.  We need to get a media stand but want to wait until the carpet has been installed.

Had an appointment for my mammogram but as I was called back, they discovered it had been exactly one year and needed to be one year and a day for Medicare to pay.  Why didn't they know this when I called for the appointment?

The window finally came in and the installer came out to install it.  This was the window that Bill broke when he threw a rock at the pigeons and followed through too much on the throw. 

You see the handcuffs on the wall, do you think I should cuff him the next time he picks up a rock?

Our Thanksgiving with family and friends was very nice.  We are so blessed to have such a good happy and healthy life and such great friends.  Bill and I are thankful daily.   There are a lot of people in this world that aren't happy.  

Bill, Vern and Polly Fogler, Dave and Sherry Sweetman.

Sherry Sweetman, Dad (who's 94), Jim and Sandie Dixon

I posted all the photos I took, because Sandie wants to use them for her blog.  They weren't the best, but all I have.  

I hope your Thanksgiving was as special as ours was.  

Turtle Safely.......

It's Been Awhile

Casa Grande, AZ

I've set down a few times to write a blog, but just couldn't get into it.  The one thing that happens when I don't blog is we get phone calls asking us what's happening and how are we doing.  Which isn't a bad thing at all.

Where to start since it's been 10 days.  I'll start with today and go backwards.  Bill had an appointment with his dermatologist today and other than a few pre-cancerous spots, no sign of any new skin cancer.  Bud and Susie Walsh arrived in town yesterday and we told them if we got out of the doctor's office in time, we'd drive up to Apache Junction for the Escapees Chapter 45 luncheon.  I didn't want to commit for sure, as last week we went to Bill's scheduled appointment with this doctor only to find out that six month's ago he changed his day coming down to this office to Wednesday's.  No one bothered to call and change our appointment.  Customer service at it's best.  Bill was the first patient he saw and we had plenty of time to make a stop at Walmart and fuel up the car.  

Speaking of fuel......why is gasoline $2.47 a gallon and #3.49 for diesel?  There's no way there should be that much difference at the same station.  All of them in Casa Grande are a dollar more for diesel.  Do you think they know the snowbirds are in town?  Of course, there's no price fixing!

There was a good turnout at the luncheon and a lot of noise.  I wish I could say that we were served faster, but when we did get our food we were very hungry.  No problem, it gave us more time to talk.  Half of their cooking grill stopped working.

It was good to see Mike and Maureen Woodward who've had some medical issues.  

Dick and Judy George were there and he's looking better every time we see them.  We ran into them last week when we took Dad to the doctor office.  He has a long way to go, but you finally can see progress.  They celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary yesterday.  

John and Gerri Beckman are celebrating their anniversary today.  We are looking forward to going to Lake Havasau City with them.  That is, if they can manage to get back to Arizona before the spring thaw.  I think she told me it was 14 degrees where they are staying in Ohio.  It was in the 70's here today but out of respect for those in the cold climate I wore jeans and socks today.  

We've been busy since we made the commitment to re-carpet the house.  I went back and forth with the two big box home improvements.   

Store #2 had the house measured last Tuesday.  When I went into the store to sign the contract, a different employee started figuring the price.  If you haven't bought carpet in a while they nickel dime you to death with furniture moving, tear up, haul away, new tack strips, and installation.  I'm watching the guy adding up stuff in the computer and I see $2,000 for installation.  I said your sign says $37 for whole house installation.  He says, you didn't pick out that kind of carpet.  The sample card, which I had to pay $25 deposit to take home was left at the customer service desk.  He went to get it.  Two more associates came by (you can never find anyone usually to wait on you).  At this point I asked to speak to a supervisor.  The supervisor said no problem, he'd straighten everything out.  Yes, I did get the $37 install.  I knew we were ordering a higher ounce carpet than store #1 which was $2,000 more.  By the time he finished taking care of us the price was reduced considerably more.  Of course, you have to pay in full before they order the carpet.  Now that I'm looking at all the stuff we have to move and the closets that need emptying out I'm wondering if ours is really that bad.  We figure it should be in after Thanksgiving.  

I promptly cancelled the measurement appointment with Store #1 last week when I signed the contract with Store #2.  I received a call last night scheduling the time to measure.  I told the guy I had cancelled last week.  I received another call this morning asking if I was cancelling. It took three phone calls to get someone to answer the phone when I did call to cancel.  

I keep looking at the calendar and trying to figure when we can go to Pilot Knob with friends.  We were hoping to go next week but we've been so busy with emptying closets and stuff that I'm not in the mood to go.  Trying to pick a time when we both can go is difficult.  Before we know it, it will be time for Quartzite.  

Last Saturday we visited with Jim and Sandie Dixon.  Skittlez was intrigued with Bill's mustache.  Do you think she remembered seeing him this summer in Indiana with his beard?  Scooter still wags her tail and says "hello", but she's a Daddy's girl.  We stopped at Costco on the way home.  It was so busy, I couldn't stand it and we left.  Today we stopped and it wasn't quite so bad, but still busy.  

Bud and Susie Walsh

Bill and I are looking forward to tomorrow.  Susie and Bud invited us for dinner.  She is an excellent cook.  Of course, we do get our doggy fix with their beautiful golden retrievers, Khaki and Zoey.  They greeted us when we took Bud and Susie home. 

Turtle Safely.......

  

Balloons and Customer Service

Casa Grande, Arizona

We had our annual check up with our family physician.  You can tell the snowbirds are in town by the occupied seats, but we got in right on time.  Bill had some followup x-rays taken and we got right in for them also.

It's time we replace our carpeting and we visited both home stores in town.  When we went to the first one we stood around the carpet department for about a half hour.  No one ever offered to help us.  OK, no problem, off to store number 2.  Store number 2 said they could measure the house on Friday.  I asked what time and was told they would call me.  We waited around all day and finally I called the store.  Someone took my number and said they'd call me right back.  I waited a couple hours longer and then called the store.  I asked to speak to a supervisor.  I was connected to the person who took our order for measurements. I asked to speak to a supervisor.  I waited a few minutes and then they hung up on me.  Yeah, customer service, isn't it great?

This morning I made a trip to store number one,  they can't get anyone to measure until the third week of the month.  I scheduled it and then went back to store number 2.  They were very professional today and phoned the installer to set up a time to measure.  This is the worst time of the year to do this, but the only time we're around long enough to get the job done.  I'm wondering if it would be better to get it installed right after Christmas.  Time will tell, who gets the job.  

Our subdivision had a yard sale today.  We got up bright and early and walked the community.  I did find a bundt pan to make Sandie Dixon's recipe for bubble bread for a dollar.  

When we returned we had our own balloon festival.  They landed on the other side of our fence.  I know Cool Judy told us when she and Luke were in town for dinner with us that they were coming in, but I didn't know where in town it would be.  Judy, this would have been directly across the street from the park you and Luke stayed in.

You can see our fence in this photo.  Notice the ultralight flying around in the background.

This is our patio roof with the satellite.

Here's a better shot of the ultralight.

One thing all our neighbors know is that we don't have as many pigeons on our roof as they have.  Bill has always thrown rocks at them and they recognize him and fly away when a vehicle leaves or Bill is outside.  We must have a new batch because one of them didn't fly away when he saw Bill.  Bill threw a rock, but he must have been out of practice.  When the rock broke the window, the pigeon flew away.  

Turtle Safely......

Good News

Casa Grande, AZ

It's three days of good news.  Monday Bill and I went to the Valley for my follow up appointment with the eye doctor.  There was an accident on I 10 but we were able to detour it.  We walked in the office right on time and they took me right back.  It took about an hour and half with all the testing and waiting for my eyes to dilate.  They escorted me into the retina doctor's office and he poked his head in to say it would be a few minutes.  When he came back he said, "other than your cataracts, your eye pressure for glaucoma, and your retina separation, everything looks good."  He said based on my age and family history, my eyes were doing good and I didn't need to see him for another year.  I still have to see the ophthalmologist but his issues were looking good.   He said lots of doctors would proceed with surgery, but he is more conservative.  My kind of doctor.  Another accident on the way home on I 10 but it was a semi on it's side that had the westbound lane backed up about 6 miles.  

We stopped for a few items in Costco and a hundred and half dollars later we left.  I love the portable machines you use and check yourself out.  Not all the Costco's have them.

On Monday, I also tried to call HP.  It was a good thing they didn't take my blood pressure that day.  I had ordered a new power cord from Amazon.  During the summer I received notification from Amazon that the cord had been recalled and who to contact.  I went to the website and because I bought the cord separate, couldn't explain that on the form.  I emailed them explaining that the form was asking about my computer, not the recalled power cord.  I got an auto response from them before we attended Amado, that they would respond within 48 hours.  Since I'd given them 10 days, I called.  The person on the other end couldn't speak English well.  I asked to speak to someone who spoke English.  I was told there was no one else to speak with.  I tried explaining that I purchased the cord separately.  He wanted the serial number of the computer and told me the cord was safe to use.  I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told there wasn't one available.  He finally gave me another number to call HP.  I swear it was the same person.  He spoke broken English the same way.  He still couldn't understand that the computer and cord didn't come together.  Yep, it was safe to use.  

Tuesday I e-mailed Amazon to explain my contacting HP.  Within about 15 minutes, I got an e-mailing saying they credited me with the price of the cord and if I wanted to order another one, they would send it overnight.  Now that's customer service.  I wonder why I order so much from a company that treats you so well, and why I'll never buy another HP product.  Customer service means everything to me.  If you can't communicate with a company, why support them.  

We had an appointment in Mesa at 8 am to have the coach serviced.  We think our antenna must have gotten a lot of dust and dirt in it during the dust storms we were in this past summer.  They were really swamped today and asked what time we were coming back to pick it up.  Since we aren't being charged for this, I told them to take their time.  We aren't going out again for a week or two.  If they had anyone with an emergency problem to put them ahead of us and we didn't want to wait around for it anyway.  I think Bryan could have kissed us.  They were packed and all bays were full.  

We visited with Jim and Sandy at Santa Fe and then went to the Chapter 45 luncheon.  It was the first of the season and there were a lot of people we haven't seen in a while.  The good news for today was Dick George was there.  He's had some very bad health issues but he came all the way to Apache Junction from Rover's Roost.  He was smiling and we offered to set him up, if he went to the Escapade.  He's thinking of the future now, and working hard to regain his strength.  

Every time we go to the luncheons, we always stop at The Ranch produce store.  Sandie told me they went in Sunday for the first time since they came back and couldn't find anything worth buying.  She said maybe they didn't get their shipments and it would be better today.  Lettuce was $1.69 a small head.  There weren't any bargains like we used to get.  The produce was terrible looking compared to what they had last year.  I'll shop at our local supermarket next time.  

Bill and I stopped at a furniture store on the way home.  We really want to replace the sofa in the coach.  Nothing really jumped out at me.  I love the way they describe something that isn't real leather.  I know I don't want a fancy name for plastic.  We did find a nice comfortable all leather one, but it was the same burgundy color as what we have in the house.    I want it to blend with our rocking recliner love seat and I just wasn't sure it would look good together. 

Turtle Safely....... 

The Party is Over....

Amado, Arizona
De Anza RV Resort
Site 91

Yesterday we got up early as breakfast was at 7:30, so that those who were taking the tour to Whipple Observatory could be there by 8 am.  

It's amazing but everyone showed up for the included breakfast of sausage and pancakes.  

Bob and Amy did everything possible to ensure we had great food and accommodations.

Bill and I took a tour of the Observatory when we were here with Chapter 21 a few years ago.  Polly asked us if we wanted to go to the sawmill tour.  It sounded like fun, and it was.

Tumacacori Mesquite was not far away and yet we've never been there in the 4 years we've been coming to Amado.  

These are some of the pieces they had in the showroom.

They were much prettier than the photos show.

The tour guide wasn't there, but one of the workers gladly took us around. 

They did have kits that you finished.  This one was a coffee table at $450.

All of you that do pyrography or woodcarving, they have some beautiful mesquite already cut.  

I'm not much of a shopper, but it was fun looking through all the wood.

We were told we could go down in another yard of "remnants".  Polly thought a little bit about walking down in that yard, when we were told to watch out for critters.  

Pretty soon the guys were looking through the piles of wood.

The wood was a dollar a pound and I'm already for the woodcarving week at North Ranch.  Can you tell what day it is by our clothing?

After all that hard work, we stopped at the famous Wisdom Cafe.  You can't tell by the photo, but there are antlers on the chickens head.

There was seating outside and inside.  Since it was in the 90's, we took the inside with the AC.  

The margaritas were very strong.  Bill had a shrimp dog which tasted very good.

We stopped at the flea market.  Notice the folding loom  to the right of me.  I asked how much and the vendor said $400 but he'd take a lot less.  It didn't look like it had been used.  I thought of Terry Russell when I saw it.

Vern started kicking tires, so Polly was holding her breath that he didn't want to take this home.

I saw a Dodge bumper and Bill lost one of those round rubber things in it.  I offered a dollar for it, but I couldn't get it out.  The vendor then offered the whole bumper for $20.  I didn't think we needed another bumper.

We all played billiards until it was time for the margarita party.  Like I said, this park has a lot to do.

No one was late for the margarita party.

These were not near as potent as the Wisdom's.

Notice the empty glasses.

Bob and Amy enjoy this tradition at their park.

Dinner consisted of either a chicken or ribs dinner.  There was a generous serving and it was delicious.

The annual meeting followed dinner.

This morning's sky right before we went for the continental breakfast and our farewell hugs.  

And before you knew it, it was gone.  

We headed out early as the weather forecast was for 30 mph winds.  Anyone who has ever traveled I 10 knows about the chain reaction accidents from dust storms.  

We had a great time, except for all the extra pounds I'm sure we gained.  

Turtle Safely........