THE REDS ARE COMING! THE REDS ARE COMING!

Sterling, AK July 19, 2007

THE REDS ARE COMING! THE REDS ARE COMING!

At least we hope they are! The sockeye salmon count is still low, however, word has it that the fish were schooling up in Cook Inlet, just outside the mouth of the river, getting ready to run upstream, where, hopefully, some of them will be found on the end of our fishing line. The run is late again this year. Usually you can count on 4 days on either side of July 13 for the run. However, in the past few years Mother Nature has changed her mind and the run has been late, later, or latest. Most of the regulars are here in our fishing camp now, and all of us are just waiting. Every year “The Germans” come over to fish. There are 4-8 men from Germany that come every year to fish here and boy are they ever fishermen! From early morning to late at night they are beating the water to a froth and usually catching fish. I enjoy listening to them talk…only two or three speak any English, and then not the best English, so it is fun trying to communicate with them.

Al went down to fish yesterday while I went to town to do the laundry. Yes, more laundry! I swear we dirty more clothes here than anywhere else, or maybe my laundry basket is just smaller here! At any rate, while he was down at the river fishing with some of the guys from camp, they saw a huge grizzly bear not far from them on the bank. ULP---they’re back! Of course, the bears have probably never left, but I haven’t seen one, yet. Al said it was the biggest bear he has ever seen! After the bear looked them over, he/her retreated back up the hill, towards our camp. However, no one has seen him/her since. So I am on bear alert now! Boy, if it isn’t snakes in Odessa it’s bears in Alaska! I still think I would rather encounter a bear than a snake, but right now, it’s a pretty close toss up which one I would encounter. I think I want to go back to Tucson where I only encounter an occasional Javalina or Coyote!!! I feel like I am living in the Wild Kingdom!

Dan and his dad, Rod, left Tuesday morning to fly back to LA. We really enjoyed our time with them here and hope they will return next year. And yes, there will be a next year here, at least we hope so. We had talked about selling this trailer, but have decided to try one more year here. The owners of the camp have the camp up for sale, so who knows, we may not have an option for next year if the camp sells and the new owners decide to do something different with the land. Anyone want to buy a fish camp on the Kenai? Only $1.7 million! Come on, I know some of you have some loose pocket change you can gather up and buy this place!

Not much else happening here. I am enjoying watching the eagles fly up and down the river, and watched one catch a fish yesterday. They really are exciting to watch and especially when they do catch a fish. They circle around and then, whoosh, they dive and grab a fish! We also have a little red squirrel in residence at our trailer. He/she is sitting on our picnic table right now looking for food. Billie, our squirrel girl would like watching this one, and taking a million pictures of it!

It’s been cold, rainy and windy; then hot and sunny; then cold , rainy and windy again. Both of us have a cold….courtesy of the weather I am sure. Dan left with a cold and I was hoping he took it with him, but he left just enough here to share with us! Al has really been feeling down with the cold and I am just starting with the sore throat, stuffed up nose, etc. Woo hoo..what fun!

So, until next time, when I hope I can say, The Reds are HERE, we hope you are all happy and healthy and enjoying life to the fullest!

Halibut and a Sinking Boat

This is a view from our trailer of the Kenai River. Great view to get up to every morning!

Sterling, AK July 13

We had a great day yesterday! However, according to my body it was a rough day. Guess I need to start at the beginning.

Son-in-law Dan and his dad, Rod, arrived as scheduled on Tuesday.

We sat around and yakked and visited. On Wednesday they tried their hand at fishing for some sockeye, but the run isn’t really strong yet and they didn’t catch any. Late afternoon we headed to Homer to spend the night before going out on our halibut charter on Thursday. We enjoyed the drive down, scenery beautiful as expected. This is Dan’s first time in Alaska and we hope he is enjoying it. We had dinner at the Elks Lodge in Homer, which sits right on the water and has wonderful food. We were all stuffed to the gills as we waddled back to the hotel.

Thursday we were up at 5:30 a.m. (there isn’t much I will get up for at that time, however, Halibut fishing is one thing I will get up early for!) and off to the Silver Fox Charters.

We were assigned to the Silver Fox II boat; just a luck of the draw. “Silver Fox I” was the other boat and then the charter company had leased a boat for the month, the Fat Kat, to handled the seasonal crowd. This charter company runs their boats together, in other words, they never go out with just one boat, a minimum of two always go out for safety reasons. The ride out was uneventful…a little rough, but we have been in worse. There were 7 of us on board, besides us four, Matt the captain, and Mike and Mark, long time buddies from Minnesota. OH, and by the way, it was raining a good, steady, cold rain the whole time we were out fishing. We got out to the “fishing grounds” after a two hour ride, so we were probably about 45 miles out. We immediately began catching halibut. OW, OW, OW. Hey, I forgot how much work this is! My arms are complaining loudly over how much I am working them! First reel in and dang, I have a halibut. Woohoo….I only have to catch one more and I am done for the day! However, getting this first halibut into the boat was harder than I remembered…but finally, with help from Dan, I pull in a measly 25 pounder. The captain asked if I wanted to keep it, HECK YA! By now Dan has caught his first, at 52 pounder (show off!!) and Rod has caught a nice size one as well. Al is still fishing, Mike and Mark have both caught fish as well. To make a long story long, we all caught our limit, which is two each, however, we threw back smaller ones we caught and in all we also caught (and brought up from a depth of 250 feet) 6 sharks (dog fish) and 3 skates (relative to the sting ray). Just checking your bait got to be a challenge as we are fishing in 250-300 feet of water and dragging the bait and a 10 pound weight up time and time again is hard on the body. At least on Al’s and mine….Dan, didn’t seem to have any trouble with it….young whippersnapper! Rod did well, even though the day he flew up here he had a kidney stone blasted out! OW OW OW.

Halibut!! Our catch is 8 of these! The two largest are Dan's.

We had just finished fishing, eating our lunch when over the radio came a “MAY DAY, MAY DAY, FAT KAT TAKING ON WATER”! WHAT????? Fat Kat is the other boat in our fleet! Our captain literally threw our boat in gear and off we go! In the mean time we are getting out our life vests and throwing them out on the deck incase they are needed. We are looking for the Fat Kat, which by now is sinking at a very fast rate. We are literally flying over the water…. Still can’t see her! Over the radio, Silver Fox I says they have all the passengers and crew (total of 7) rescued and on board. We arrive, mind you only 7 minutes after the first may day, and the boat is already two thirds under! And remember, the water is a whopping 50 degrees! I have never seen anything like this. No one is injured and they even managed to rescue the halibut they had caught. The crew of the Fat Kat said she belched a lot of black smoke and started taking on water immediately at a rapid rate. Since this is a leased boat, and only the first time the charter company had her out, one has to wonder. At least everyone is safe, scared, but safe. Both Silver Fox boats circle Fat Kat, waiting for her to completely go under, but she never did while we were there….must have a big air pocket somewhere! Our boat picks up what we can of the stuff floating around that has came off the Fat Kat, but we were unable to retrieve much. We finally take off back to Homer. After getting back to shore and learning that it was an exhaust problem on the Fat Kat they think that sank her. WOW! What a day!

The Boat "Fat Kat" sinking in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

We finally get our fish to the processing plant where they will be packaged in to one pound packages and flash frozen and shipped home. We have a total of 141 pounds of filleted and trimmed halibut…not bad. Dan, Rod, Al and I split up the total, 70 pounds each. Yummmm….halibut for next year. But our halibut fishing trip was just a little more exciting than we anticipated. We are just glad the passengers and crew of the Fat Kat were okay. I talked to one of the men on board and he said it was very frightening from the time they started taking on water to when the Silver Fox 1 arrived…just over 4 minutes and they were already capsizing. Thank goodness Silver Fox 1 was just a little closer than we were or those passengers and crew would have been in that 50 degree water. Makes me wonder why these boats don’t have life rafts on board. I know the next time we book a charter that will be question I ask. And, I will also ask if they boats go out in pairs just for this reason! If they had been out alone, they wouldn’t have survived as most other boats were at least 10-15 minutes away.

We finally got home around 9:30 last night, after a stop at Suzi’s, our favorite restaurant here. We were all exhausted and it didn’t take us long to get to bed.

We all woke up this morning a little sore, but moving. At least Dan and Rod are, Al and I are still wondering if all our body parts are working!!! Dan and Rod and my nephew Bruce are out in his boat on the river today fishing…Al is resting and I am on my way to do my favorite thing…yep , laundry!

So until next time, we are here, fighting mosquitos, hoping for more sockeye to run and having a great time.

Cold, wet Alaska

Sterling, Alaska Kenai River July 9, 2007

BRRRRRRRRRRRR -- it’s cold. Even Al says he is cold! Yes, we are in Alaska…land of the midnight sun. We arrived last Thursday after an uneventful flight. Rescued all of our luggage, got our rental car and went to my brothers house in Anchorage. We spent Friday and Saturday with him, just visiting and getting supplies (aka groceries) to take to the river. My brother seems to be doing well, he has various heath problems, heart, diabetes, breathing, etc., but for his age we think he is doing well.

The weather in Anchorage was cool…in the 60’s, and we did have 2 sunny days. Of course, it had to rain part of the day, which I am beginning to believe is normal for this area.

We came to the river yesterday. It is such a beautiful drive down here. I can’t even begin to describe the beauty of the mountains, rivers, glaciers, trees, etc. It is really breathtaking. There was a lot of traffic going to Anchorage, but traffic was fairly light coming this way. One thing we have noticed is the reduced amount of RV’s on the road from the lower 48 states. The last few years it has been amazing to see the number of RV’s from the lower 48…however, this year it is really evident the reduced numbers. Still plenty of RV’s bearing Alaska license plates. Along the upper Kenai, near Cooper’s Landing, it looks like the fishing war has begun! We saw wall to wall anglers, or combat fishing as they call it here, on the river yesterday.

In our fish camp, only a few of us are already here, only 4 trailers opened up so far, including ours, thanks to Bruce, our nephew. He is really good to us, closing up our trailer for winter and opening it up for the season. The salmon are beginning to trickle in; however, it looks like a few days before the run starts in earnest….but up here one never knows.

We have pretty much settled in…most everything is unpacked; now the problem is where to put the empty suitcases….never thought of that! They will probably be stored in the shower, so when we take showers, we will have to rearrange, but that is the only place I can see to store them.

We both remembered why we love it here after we got here…it is so beautiful and tranquil (at least until everyone arrives in camp) and the scenery is something we never tire of. We haven’t seen any critters yet, unless you want to count the moose size mosquitos! I am back to wearing my favorite perfume, “Off, with deet” and walking around with my bug zapper in hand. I am looking for my bald eagles that had a nest in the tree above us, but haven’t spotted them yet.

Today is cold, (59), cloudy and breezy and some rain. I bet some of you roasting in the heat wave would trade with me right now, and as cold as I am, I could use some of your heat. The fire near Deep Creek (Ninilichik) is contained, so there is no smoke in the air and so far there are no other fires burning. I still don’t see how a fire can burn up here…everything is so green.

Dan (son in law) and his dad Rod are due to arrive here tomorrow. Sure hope the fish start to run while they are here. We do have a halibut charter scheduled for Thursday out of Homer (and these fishing boats have the very needed bathrooms on board, unlike the ones we took last year out of Ninilchik) and we hear the halibut fishing has been great. I can’t wait to hook on to one…then I will need someone to help me get it in the boat probably…it’s like pulling up a barn door!

July 10
It is busy raining here today...a nice, gentle, steady rain, which we are enjoying right now. However, if it continues this way, I am sure in a day or so I will be cussing the rain. And it is a toasty 55 degrees! brrrr

At least we aren't burning up as most of you are....more later

Ready, Set...fish?

Seattle
July 3

Happy 4th of July early....

We are in Seattle, getting ready to fly to Anchorage on Thursday. The dogs are on their "vacation", aka...staying at Ardis and Jerry's and being spoiled rotten (and hopefully, watching out for snakes!)

We got here on Sunday after stopping in Moses Lake to have lunch with good friends Gordon and Denise, who are the owners of Sun Country RV. We got some real bad news from them...as of the end of this month Sun Country RV is no more! Oh woe is us....now we have to sell our 5th wheel...they are the only ones we trust to work on it. They lost their lease and with only 30 days to find another place (which is damn near impossible) they decided to bag it and retire. It just isn't going to be the same without them there. On a good note, they will still have their mobile RV repair business and they are planning on coming to Tucson for a few months this winter...so we know where they can park their trailer and operate out of...we seem to have the room since we have decided not to take the 5th wheel to Tucson this year. That is another story for a later blog.

Al had his sleep test on Sunday night....and yes, he passed! He has been studying for it for weeks. His results were fine, CPAP working fine so he is good to go for another couple of years.

I saw something on Monday morning I haven't seen in a long time! A SLUG! I had conveniently forgotten how much I detested those slimy things! I almost stepped on it...that would have been a big, gross mistake...ick, ick, ick!

Traffic here is not any better...not that I expected it to be. We drove to La Conner today (a favorite place of mine) to meet friends Ann and Gene for lunch. I-5 was moving fairly well for a Tuesday...about 45 mph! UGH. And coming over I-90 on Sunday we were roaring along at 7o mph when all of a sudden everything came to a dead stop! WTH? We then did the stop and crawl for over 40 miles and for over an hour....never did figure out what slowed traffic down! Again, too many cars and too little roads. And the roads in this state are in the worse repair we can ever remember....rough, worn and pot hole city!

La Conner was a blast today. For those who don't know what La Conner is, it is a small city north of Seattle that has charm charm and more charm. And the drive through the Skagit Valley was absolutely beautiful....I had forgotten how pretty it is. And we stopped and bought berries..strawberries, blueberries and raspberries that all were picked this morning and oh boy are they ever good. And we had oysters for lunch...and then stopped and bought more at this tiny, country store and we fixed them for dinner tonight and needless to say, my tummy is very happy...they were excellent. There is nothing better than pacific northwest oysters.

Tomorrow Ric and Janet and Sherrie are coming over to Jennifer's (that is where we are now...our home away from home...thanks J!) for a bbq for the 4th. From the sounds of it outside, a lot of people have started to celebrate tonight. Poor Pookie, our grandkitty, is scared of the loud noises going on outside. I feel sorry for the animals.

Thursday Al has a doctor appointment in the morning and then we head to the airport and will fly to Anchorage. Plan is to go to the river on Friday...we shall see.

Jennifer is going to the UK for a week, leaving the 7th. I am not sure I am too happy about that given all that is going on over there right now. She is going on business as the company she works for, Content Master, is headquartered outside of Bristol. She is excited, but I think a little apprehensive as well, again, due to the terrorist crap going on over there now. All we can do is hold our collective breathes and pray.

So, until next time, here fishy, fishy, fishy...................

Trains?

Odessa


For those of you who don't know this, our house in Odessa is located fairly close to the train tracks. We hear/see about 20-30 trains a day. Going BOTH directions. That got me to thinking last night...when I couldn't sleep, what or who, keeps trains from running into each other? Now I know, given my previous profession with Boeing, I should know the answer to this question. Apparently I was missing or asleep during trains 101. Do they have a FAA controller type for trains? They must since the trains know when they should be on the siding to let another train go by. And did you know that trains have different sounding horns/whistles? And Amtrak has a completely different sound of a horn/whistle than freights do. And speaking of that, who controls how long and loud the whistle is? If it is someone on the train, I would like to have a talk with a few of them who seem to keep their finger on the whistle button waaaaaaayyyyyyy to long! One thing we have noticed since being home this time is that there seems to be more trains on the tracks this year. Fuel costs???? Hmmmm And I still can't go to sleep until Amtrak goes through at night...it usually goes through at 10:45 p.m.....although, some nights is has been as late as 12:30 a.m.....I know, I will still be awake waiting for it!!!! And some of you Boeing people can answer this question for me....are we still shipping 737 fuselage's from Wichita to Renton?? I haven't seen any this year.





Other than listening to/for trains, we have been sticking pretty close to home. Last week Joyce, (Al's sister), Ardis and I went to Spokane for a girls day. Joyce needed to do some clothes shopping, so Ardis and I decided it would be a good time for us to just go and look around. Neither of us bought a whole lot, we let Joyce do that! Then yesterday Ardis and I took the dogs, Beau and Schuster and her Simon to Ephrata to be groomed. We decided to stay there and bum around for the day. We went to Moses Lake and got a pedicure...which was Ardis' first pedicure...I think she is hooked. I got even with her...she hooked me on quilting and I hooked her on pedicures!!!

The weather has been bizarre here. Cold one day, warm the next, then windy, cold and rainy, then sunny and cold. I can't figure it out! And apparently neither can the weather guesser....he is always wrong.

We are getting ready for our trip to Alaska. We leave on July 5 and I am "gathering" and sorting things to take. And worse of all, I can't remember what I left up there last year. I have been watching the weather and it has been fairly nice in Sterling, but I still can't figure out what to take as far as clothes. This year I am going to make a list.......... then be in the same position I am now next year, as I probably won't remember where I put the dumb list!!!!

Until next time..................

Lookee, lookee, what I can do!

Odessa



Look what I learned to do today! I did my very first quilt top!



I can hardly wait to get it finished now. I had NO IDEA how to quilt, but thanks to daughter-in-law Ardis and her mom, Maryann; who own the Quilt Crossing in Odessa, I AM HOOKED! Now all I want to do is sew another one! What fun! How exciting to see it all come together. Albeit, this is a very simple pattern, and very easy to put together, I had a blast doing it. And, you have to start some place, right? The next step I have to do on this quilt is put more border on it so it will be big enough to cover the bed in our cowboy room in Tucson. Then, I will have it quilted professionally. I don't have a quilting machine and I can't hold a needle long enough to quilt by hand. But this still was fun. I already have the fat quarters purchased for my next quilt...and I am trying to decide on a pattern. It will have to be easy tho....no hard ones for this person.

You should see the quilts that Ardis and Maryann have made! WOW! Maryann is working on one right now that is absolutely beautiful. Ardis finished a quilt top today that would knock your socks off! They are so talented.

Anyway, just had to share my first quilt.

Jo

Walk for the Cure

Our son, Ric, is walking the 60 mile walk for breast cancer and is looking for support. Please read the following:


Friends & Neighbors;

My name is Ric Wraspir, and in recent years many persons in my family and inner circle of friends have been affected by breast cancer. Most recently, my mother and my cousin have battled and are currently celebrating survivorship. With this inspiration I have decided to participate in the 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men with a common goal to “end breast cancer forever.”

Without a cure, 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer – a devastating disease with physical, emotional, psychological and financial pain that can last a lifetime. These numbers have created a scary awareness to me with a wife, two daughters, aunts, sister, nieces and contact with scores of young ladies in youth sports. The realization that one of these women may become one of these statistics is disheartening. Everyone deserves a lifetime.

Now you understand why this is so important to me and understand why I'm asking for your financial support. I've committed to raise at least $2,200 in donations. My personal goal is set at $4,000. So, I need your help. It's hard asking my friends and neighbors for money, but this cause and this event are very important to me. I hope that you can make a tax deductible donation of $50, $100, or more. I trust you will designate the amount that's right for you. The net proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

There are several easy ways to donate.

By Mail: Mail your contribution to me and I will submit proper paperwork to get your donation acknowledged and a receipt sent to you. Check payable to “Breast Cancer 3-Day”

Ric Wraspir
3810 NE 113th St
Seattle Wa, 98125

By Phone: Call 800-996-3DAY. Mention that I am participating in Seattle and my Supporter Number (160764370) and your donation will make it to my total and a receipt will get sent to you.

By Web: Donate through my personal webpage (www.the3day.org/seattle07/ric_wraspir)
Receipt will be sent to you.

So, yes, this is a plea for your emotional and financial support. I thank you in advance for your support and taking this journey with me. I look forward to seeing your name on my honor roll of donators.



Ric Wraspir
savingsecondbase@cs.com
2007 – Breast Cancer 3-Day

This 'n That -- Here 'n There

Odessa

Since our last blog we have been busy, busy, busy. At least I have no more snakes to report about!!!

Bruce, Holly and Cortney arrived here on schedule in late May, but unfortunately for us, only stayed a day or so. They were off to discover the beautiful states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. We were glad to have them for a the time they were here and enjoyed our short visit.

Holly and Cortney

After they left, we packed up the old Explorer (commonly known as the "Exploder" any more -- it's so old!) and headed for Seattle. We had our usual round of dentist and doctor visits and Al's doctors were all pleased with his current health state...thank goodness! We have decided Seattle and the surrounding area is one big traffic nightmare! Too many cars, not enough roads!

We were able to have lunch with friends Frank and Lynn Conger while we were there and also visited with Jan, another long time friend. We also got in a dinner with Ric, Janet and Cammie one night at the Keg and another night with friends Rowland and Kathy Brasch....so we did some visiting in-between doctor appointments.

On Saturday, June 9 we loaded up dogs and our belongings again and headed south to Portland (in a driving rain I might add...) with Jennifer following in her car for a visit with oldest daughter Melanie and her family. Grandson Victor was graduating from high school and Melanie and Ron hosted a graduation party on Saturday. It rained all day of course...as it usually does in the Pacfic NW when you plan a party outside! Oh well, we managed. Also grand daughter Lori was graduating from Jr. High; so we celebrated for her as well. Don Miller, Jo's ex-husband was there as well and we had a great visit with him. And yes, we are still all friends.

Jennifer, Mom, Melanie

Al, Jo, Victor, Lori

Jennifer headed home on Sunday (something about having to work?) and we decided we would all go to the movies to see Shrek 3. You have to know that Shrek movies are my absolute favorite, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. We met up with Don for dinner that night at a great Chinese Restaurant (I have no idea what the name is).

Monday and Melanie and Ron had to go to work (I just don't understand this concept any more!!) so we took advantage of the day and went tire shopping. The Exploder needed new shoes! Sears we found had the best deal....so $700 later for tires and shocks, we reeled out of Sears. OUCH!

Tuesday was graduation day for Victor. The ceremony was held at University of Portland, Chiles Center....way the heck across town from where we were staying. Vic graduated from Oregon City High School, class size of 400+. The ceremony was great, however, a bit moving for me realizing that yet another grandchild has graduated from high school. The score now stands at 6 graduated and 2 still in High School...ugh! Darn, we are really getting old! Graduation wasn't over until 10:00 p.m. and we were starved. We had to be there at 5:00 to get seats (even though we had tickets, getting seats was still tough), so we had had a late lunch, but didn't expect to be there that late. And of course, getting out of the parking lot was a challenge, along with the other 600 or so cars! Don had gone with us, so the three of us only had one thing on our mind...food. We were in an unfamilar part of Portland so we made a beeline back to where we were staying and wound up at a hamburger joint for dinner and it was very good.

Wednesday was Lori's graduation day. We spent the day just taking it easy, taking the dogs to the park, etc. She graduated from Ogden Middle School, but the ceremony was at Oregon City High School, where she will attend next year!

Thursday we drove back to Odessa. We got home around 5:30 after needed stops at the grocery store in Kenniwick.

Friday I spent the day unpacking and doing laundry and straightening up the house. Friday night Ric, Cammie and Jennifer came rolling in to spend Father's Day weekend with Al. We barbequed ribs Friday night and Ardis and Jerry joined us. It is fun to have family around.

Yesterday Jennifer, Cammie, Myrna (Al's cousin) and I headed to Spokane to attend a baby shower for Kali, Gary and Jeannette's daughter. Kali and Scott are having a baby boy, Joshua Dylan, which is due on Aug. 8. She really looks healthy and happy and has that special glow that pregnant women have. We had a great time and I can't remember the last time I was at a baby shower...oh, wait, it was for friend Nancy in Seattle and I think that was 6 years ago! OUCH! Of course, not many of my friends are having babies these days --- can't imagine why!

Kali Wraspir-Mason & Joshua Dylan

That brings us to today...Ric, Cammie and Jennifer left around 10:30 this morning and we are just being lazy today. AL is reading the paper and I have been reading my book. All of the kids have checked in to wish Al a happy father's day, so all is well with us.

The weather here has been cool....only 68 right now and the wind is blowing....brrr! Hope it warms us soon. We will be leaving for Alaska in two weeks for a month stay, so I hope I get some warm weather here before I leave!

We have closed on the new Tucson house, and work is starting to begin on it. We have actually had 2 people call us wanting to know if we were going to rent it....how they got our phone number is beyond us! For the time being, we have decided to not rent it and see if my brother and nephew from Alaska want to stay in it this winter. If they don't they we will rent it. Time will tell....

So, until next blog, we hope this finds you happy, healthy and living life the way you want.

Oh Boy...Company and a SNAKE

Odessa



WHY? WHY????? Why do I have to be the one to find the damn snake???? Why can't some one who ISN'T AFRAID of snakes find it? But, I am starting in the middle....

Memorial Day in Odessa is a really big day and many of Al's extended family gets together after visiting the Bohemian Cemetery for a pot luck lunch on Monday. So we know we will have some company to drop by over the weekend. AND, Jennifer and Cammie were coming over to spend the weekend with us.

Friday evening, about 9:00 p.m my cell phone rings and it is Dwight Uhrich, Al's cousin from Texas and one of our favorite people calling. I answer the phone by saying "Okay, where are you?" to which he replies, "Ephrata", which is about 40 miles from here! He asked if we had room for him to stay, which we always do.

Saturday and Jennifer and Cammie arrive and that night we have a family BBQ, along with Al's cousin Lillian and husband Lynn from South Dakota (Dwight's sister) who are here for Memorial Day and staying at the local motel. Along with them Myrna, another cousin who I absolutely love and lives near by, are here for dinner. After dinner, Mandi (good friend) and her two kids stopped by and brought us some rhubarb (yum). Everyone was getting ready to leave and I decided to take the rhubarb to the refrigerator in the garage. For those of you who haven't been here, we back the 5th wheel up behind the house (this is important to the story, trust me). It is almost dark (9:30 ish) and I am walking between the house and the 5th wheel heading to the garage when I hear a "rattle"...WTH??? I look and under the trailer is a rattlesnake, coiled and rattling! I took one HUGE leap to the corner of the house and RAN between the garage and the house to the front yard screaming AL, Al, Al, Al. Well, everyone else thought I was screaming OW OW OW! Not funny. I was so scared I could barely get out the words SNAKE, let alone tell them where it was! I finally told them where it was; by that time Dwight and Jennifer had came out the back door and were standing at the corner of the house, asking me what was wrong! I screamed at them RUN...SNAKE, and of course they had no damn idea which way to run! Finally they saw the snake (they were standing next to it) and in a few steps Jennifer was next to me. At any rate, Al and Dwight killed the snake...Al said it was about 26-30 inches long....I say it was 26-30 FEET long and 15 feet around! Damn Snakes...God's big mistake! My heart slowed down to a normal beat about 24 hours later. I tell you this, I don't go off the deck after dark and I am constantly looking for those long, slithering creatures that God shouldn't have made. I think I will move to Hawaii so I won't have to worry about those things!

The rest of the weekend was great. Had a big BBQ here again Sunday night; with everyone mentioned before, plus Jerry and Ardis. Then yesterday we went to the memorial for one of Al's cousins who had died last year and then to the Pot Luck in Irby. Fun day, but exhausting.

Lillian and Lynn left today...we really enjoyed our visit with them and we are only sorry we don't see them more often. Dwight left this afternoon to take his rental car back to Seattle (long story) and then take a bus back here. This morning he found a motorcycle to buy and left it here until he can get back later this week to pick it up and ride it home to Texas. He is also a great guy and we really enjoy having him here. Both Al and I agree we are very fortunate to have some really great cousins that we enjoy so much. Unfortunately, we don't get to see them all as often as we would like. There is nothing like having a good family.

Bruce, Holly and Cortney are due in tomorrow...and we are looking forward to seeing them. It has been less than 2 weeks since we have seen them and it seems like FOREVER. They will only be here a couple of days, but we take what we can get.

We really had a good time with Jennifer and Cammie this weekend. Jennifer is a worker bee and so is Cammie. The both jumped in and helped me get things ready. Heck, I barely had the trailer unpacked...oh wait, I didn't have it totally unpacked until they got here! That's right! :-)

Now things should settle down to a dull roar for a while. We head to Seattle June 5 for a round of doctor/dentist appointments and seeing friends/family. Then on the 9th to Portland for 5 days. Our grandson Victor graduates from high school and granddaughter Lori from Jr. High. I am really looking forward to spending time with them as last year I didn't see them very much.

Until next time....watch where you step...there may be a snake near by!

Odessa

Odessa, WA
Home again, home again...at least our summer home. We arrived home on Tuesday night, about 11:00 p.m. We were going to stay in Richland, tri-city area that night, but like the old horse, going to the barn, once we got to Richland, we stopped and loaded up on supplies at Costco, and came on home! While we were unloading needed supplies for the night, it started to rain on us and the wind was blowing....Washington, welcoming us home!

Our trip was good. We stopped in Salt Lake at Cabela's...a HUGE store and Al got his fishing reel and a few other goodies. We spent the night in Salt Lake, and it got cold again that night! A cold front moved through and we were scrambling for blankets once again.

From Salt Lake to Boise was pretty uneventful. I might add that Al drove the entire trip, with the exception of a few hours and he did a great job and his ankle wasn't bothering him that much. As long as he could get the ankle elevated at night, he was okay. We noticed along the way that diesel fuel was less costly than unleaded. The highest we paid until we got into Washington State was $2.91 a gallon! Once we reached Washington however, the price jumped and it is well over $3.00 a gallon....and here in Odessa it is $3.49 a gallon. OUCH!

Yesterday we spent most of the day getting things done in the house and reading 3 weeks worth of mail. Today I am starting the laborous job of unloading the trailer. The weather has been great, in the mid 70's and sunny. We had Directv installed today, so we finally have some television to keep us up on what is happening in the world. HOwever, the last two days being kept in the dark have been nice! :-)

Jennifer and Cammie are coming over for the Memorial weekend and we are looking forward to seeing them. Jerry and Ardis were over last night for dinner and we had a good visit. Jerry is helping Al get the garden in and someone has left us one tomato plant that is thriving. We don't know who did this, but we are thankful for it.

I guess I have to admit, Odessa feels like home to me now, along with Tucson. Everyone here has gone out of their way to stop and say hello to us. Neil and Bobbi Wraspir stopped yesterday...they are currently in Pasco, but will be back here in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of Tucson...hmmm...uh, the day before we left Tucson we bought another house! HUH? Yup. We bought the house right below ours for investment purposes. It was in foreclosure and we got an excellent price on it; however, it needs some work, which we will have done this summer. So now we own 2/3'rds of our "hill"...a little over 5 acres. WE plan on renting the new house out as soon as we get it cleaned (and it really needs cleaning...ick!) and repairs done on it. The previous owners took everything out of the house, including the a/c and heater!! However, they left one, very, very, dirty, greasy, grimy stove! I have already decided to just haul it out and put a new one in. I don't think you could get that stove clean! Bleechk! We close on June 5...just one more place for me to keep track of!

The cats and dogs are glad to be out of the trailer and home. The dogs are loving the grass....much easier on their feet. And yes, the cats have explored and re-marked their territory and have laid claim to all!

So, until next time, if you are in the area, stop by! Call first, as you never know where we will be wroamin' next!

Panguitch

We are finally on the wroad! We left Tucson Friday, later than planned,but that is just the way it is. We stayed at one of our favorite RV parks Friday night, Distant Drums, in Camp Verde, AZ. Traffic through Phoenix was HORRIBLE....it took us almost 2 hours! And people have no clue when they cut in front of you that you can't stop this big rig on a dime! I had my brake on the whole time....and I wasn't driving! Al decided he felt like driving, and has done a great job. His ankle is bothering him some, but it hasn't stopped him from driving. The temperature was 119 in Black Canyon City and the truck was telling us all about it. Going up the hill from there our thermometer in the truck (which reads outside temp) said it was 140 degrees! I think it was telling us it was too hot to be correct!



Saturday----We are currently in Panguitch, Utah, not far from Bryce Canyon. We drove 342 miles yesterday. I know that doesn't sound like a lot to most of you, but to us it is...we usually average 300 miles a day and we are definitely taking our time. We have driven this so many times we can ALMOST do it in our sleep. We stopped for lunch yesterday in Cameron, AZ and at the Cameron Trading Post and had the best Navajo Taco! We have stopped here before and we decided we would stop again.

The weather has been alittle bit cooler, in fact we had a nice cooling rain in Flagstaff. We usually take highway 89 all the way into Page, then into Kanab, Ut. BUT, we decided to take 89A, which goes through the valley on the Arizona side. Well, part of the way through the valley. We did manage to find a nice, high, pass that tops out at 8900 feet! The climb wasn't too bad, lots of "snake" curves and the gps map showed them well! It was a beautiful drive and we enjoyed the cooler weather up on the top (it wa 84) and we wound up in Kanab anyway, just a prettier drive for us. We were tired of going by Lake Powell and seeing how low the lake is.

Sunday
We are getting ready to pull out. It was COLD last night! Night before we had the a/c going full blast! Even when we got here yesterday it was still in the 80's, and we had all of the windows open. Around 2:30 a.m. I woke up and I was cold, cold, cold. Evidently, so were the animals, as both cats and Beau were cuddled up next to us on the bed! And of course, I had taken the blanket off the bed the night before and put it away making the statement "We won't need this!"...right! I dug out the blanket again and settled back in bed, but the animals didn't move!

We are off to Lehi, Utah today to stop at the Cabela's there so Al can spend his gift certificates he got for his birthday and it will be a nice brake for us.

Oh yeah, where is Panguitch, UT??? We are about 250 miles south east of Salt Lake City on highway 89. Nice little town! And Panguitch means "big fish" in Piaute! That is my learning lesson for the day! And don't ask me how to pronounce Panguitch!

Until the next time, we are
The Wroamin' Wraspir's,
Al, Jo, Beau, Jose, Juanito and Schuster!

The day the Ice Melted!

Tucson

Today the ice melted in the Santa Cruz River! Yup, today was the day! BREAKUP! You ask yourself what in the world is she talking about???? Well, here in this fine city, the first day of the year the temperature officially reaches 100 degrees is the day the ice melts in the Santa Cruz River. HUH??? EXPLAIN! Well, first of all, the Santa Cruz river is usually a dry river bed (mostly used by illegals to cross into our fair country from the country to the south of us), unless it is monsoon season; when the dry river bed turns into a vicious, treacherous, swift moving river! But only for a while! Then it goes back to its former self...dry. The local media (ahem) has dubbed the first day of 100 degrees as the day the ice melts in the river! Don't ask me why! All I know is today was the first official day it reached 100 degrees here. However, yesterday my thermometer read 103, the day before it read 100....and today it read 109, which I know it was not....at least I don't think it was. But in retrospect, maybe it was. The outdoor temperature gage on my car decided this afternoon to drop from it's current reading of 104 to 75! And it stayed there most of the afternoon, but by 4:30 it had crept back up to 102! Go figure that one out! And yes, I was foolish enough to have to go outside of our frigid house to run some errands. Speaking of our frigid house, (Al has the thermostat set at 70, but it feels more like 50!) I can't wait to get our electric bill for this month! UGH!

On another note, I have to laugh at myself! I am playing a twisted mind game with myself! For some unknown reason, I won't let the gas in my car get lower than a half a tank. At least this way it doesn't hurt so much to go fill it up at $2.90 a gallon and spend $30! I know, I know, it is a sick game, but it makes it hurt less. I still look for the person with the gun who is holding us at gun point and robbing us at the gas pumps! Surely, that person must be there! And I am THANKFUL that gas it ONLY $2.90 a gallon (at Costco)....I have heard in California it is up to $4.00 and in Seattle at $3.58...that's a gallon right? Not a fill up? In Odessa it was $3.60 the last time I checked...think I will buy a horse!

AL is on the mend...finally. Not only does he have a sprained ankle, but cellulitus also attacked him on the same ankle. The two have nothing to do with each other either, except both of them are holding us hostage here until he gets better. The swelling on his ankle has gone down considerably, and IF we get the doctors okay, we will be heading north on the 17th...of this month I hope. However, I am learning to count on nothing! That way I won't be surprised if it doesn't happen!

Computers and I are having a hard time of getting along lately. In a previous blog I was expounding on my laptop being down. Well, I got it back, all fixed....uh huh. It worked for two (count 'em --2) days, and crashed again. So back I go to Best Buy to the Geek Squad...yup, my hard drive is toast! I am so glad I had backed up the laptop before I took it in last time. So they replace the hard drive and ask me to bring in all of my recovery disks from Dell. Okay...no problem. Ya' right! I can't find the recovery disks! I have looked high and low for them...torn apart my office (well, it needed cleaning anyway) and still haven't found them. I found things that had been missing for months, but no recovery disks. AH HA...friend Bob has the same computer, I will just borrow his! But guess what? He can't find his either! I think the two sets are out having a party---without us! I have looked in all the logical places, the illogical places and everywhere in between....I CAN NOT FIND THEM! It is making me nuts. And the worse part of it is, I remember seeing them right before we went to St. Louis and I remember putting them in a safe place...if only I could remember the SAFE PLACE! GRRRRRRRRR!

Until next time, we remain UNWROAMIN'!

Old

Our son sent us this link to youtube...it pretty well describes us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yN-6PbqAPM

Best Laid Plans............

Tucson

Yup...Still Tucson! We have been trying unsuccessfully to head to the great (?) town of Odessa (usually known as Odessolet by two of my grandchildren) for the last week. Planned departure date? TODAY! So, what are you still doing in Tucson you ask? Well, it all started last Tuesday. I had been busy cleaning the 5th wheel and getting it ready to load. Tuesday evening AL is going to haul the trash cans to the road (no easy feat I might add, since the road is a quarter mile away). He has them loaded in the truck and he started to get into the truck and his left food slipped and he twisted his ankle. I think it is all a ploy to get me to help him...but being the good person I am (No comments from the peanut gallery) I help him with the trash. Later that evening he says "my ankle hurts"...I look and at it and it is swollen up like a balloon. Oh-oh. I asked him if he wanted to go to ER, and of course the reply was "NO". Well, at 9:30 p.m. he decided he had better go to the ER (of course I was ready for bed). So off we go to ER HELL! They xrayed, did blood work up (?) etc. and determined he had a bad sprain. At least it isn't broken I say, so we can continue on with traveling plans. We get home at 3:00 a.m. ... pain killers in had and instructions for him to keep it elevated and iced.

Next morning I suddenly realize that ALL of the packing, loading, closing this house down is on my back! AAARRRGGG! Well, if that is the case...things will be slowed down drastically! I have discovered I am not as young as I once was and what used to take me 10 minutes to do usually takes 30 now! So now we are at a crawl.

AL's ankle is still very swollen and he can't travel very far in a car/truck, etc. See??? If we had a motor home he could just go lay on the bed and I could drive (since I have to anyway). We still have no idea how long he will be layed up (pardon the pun) so I am taking my sweet time loading. The ankle is still very swollen and sore. I know what that feels like since I broke my LEFT ankle this winter...however, it didn't really seem to slow me down much. So I have to think that a sprain must be more painful.

At any rate...we are still here in Tucson. I am enjoying the weather tremendously, we have even had a couple of short rain/thunder storms which I LOVE!

Last Friday we had our annual "Al's birthday and our Farewell" party here. Al barbequed about a million ribs (at least it looked like it!) and we had good friends over to help him celebrate his birthday.

So until we can wroll....we are the un-wroamin' wraspirs!

Computers....UGH!`

Tucson

Why is it when one thing decides to go wrong, everything else in the world joins it? I mean, really!?!?!?

This all started a while ago..my laptop (not quite a year old) was acting up. Then it started to crash when I would put a cd in it. After waiting on hold for 15 minutes with Dell, I gave up. Remember, my patience for these type of things is about a nanosecond long. Anyway, I lugged the laptop with me through Missouri...sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't...it was a crap shoot! So, I finally took it in to the Geek Squad at Best Buy last Saturday. Of course, I would not act up for them! GRRRR...figures. Well, I told them to keep the ^&*()@* thing and check it out.

Then yesterday, I fire up my desk top (which was working fine) and get this message that windows could not load, it was missing a ????? file! WTH? So, of course, being who I am, I turned the computer off, let it set for the required nanosecond (remember my patience) and turned it on again...same message. Hmmmm??? I had installed a "window washer" a couple of days ago...wonder if that was the problem? However, I had no way to find out...seeing how I am somewhat limited when I don't have Windows running. So, I call Dell. Glory...I get my call answered in less than 15 minutes. Of course, I am speaking to SOERUPOEWHKS NDFK but I can call him "Mike", from India! However, amazingly, his English is good and I can actually understand him. After trying this and that and more of this and that, nothing, and I mean nothing is restoring Windows (I am, by then, cussing Microsoft)! "Mike" wants to reformat my hard drive, which, of course, I would lose everything! Uh, No, not yet. After two hours with Mike (and my left hand holding the phone all this time and is soundly asleep)I finally tell him I will probably just swap this one for the one that the Geek Squad has. I get a case number and hang up. I am still puzzled that my F8 key on my keyboard wasn't working, nor, when I would reboot the screen would say it didn't recognize my keyboard. Now, my keyboard is a Microsoft Ergonomical keyboard that I absolutely love. But just what was going on? The computer devils were really after me!

I finally have a bright idea! I call a local repair person here and he tells me to unplug the Microsoft keyboard and plug in the regular Dell keyboard and see if that makes any difference! Okay, now, where in the heck did I stash the Dell Keyboard 5 years ago when I got my computer????? After a search, I find it and plug it in and restart the process...and when I got to the point that I was suppose to hit F8 it worked!!! But, of course, that took me to another screen that kept asking me questions I couldn't or wouldn't answer. So back to Dell I go. Now, mind you, this has already taken up most of my day. Now I am talking to Rosa at the Dell call center in El Salvador. She was a little harder to understand, but she walked me through several different processes, and, Viola, Windows is running again! Whoopee! However, I asked her to help me get AOL off my computer. We worked and worked and WORKED, deleted, deleted, deleted...I tell you when AOL gets ahold of your computer, it doesn't give up! We thought we had it, so I thanked Rosa profusely and went on my merry way. Finally, my computer is running again and hopefully, AOL is gone.

Well, this morning I booted up and guess who is still here? Yup, AOL...I give up. I guess I will let it haunt me for as long as I have this computer. And, oh yeah, my laptop is ready to pick up today...all fixed....we shall see.


Ahhhhh...computers, can't live without them, and can't live with them! Or something like that...anyway, I can't live without mine and it is back to it's normal slow self, so I am happy!

What did we do in the days before computers???????

Warm weather again!

Tucson, AZ

Home again. We arrived home on Tuesday night and it was WARM! YEEHAW! But I am sorta starting at the end, so let me back up a bit.

After freezing at Lake of the Ozarks, on April 12 we headed to Kansas City. About 50 miles out of Lake of the Ozarks this thing appeared in the sky....it was the sun! It wasn't warm out, but at least we could see blue sky! We stopped in Clinton, MO and had lunch with Al's cousins...thanks again Les and Fern! Clinton is such a cute town and so much history! Clinton is the town where the Elk's Lodge building collapsed about a year ago killing one member. Les had been in the Lodge that morning before it collapsed. They are now rebuilding and the new building will be completed in a about a year. There is a little coffee shop we like there, so we had lunch there and it is always good.


Al's cousin Fern and husband Les

From there we went on to Kansas City to see grandson David. We had a great visit with him and he is doing well. We noticed he has matured a lot in the last year and he looked more settled, or happy. We were just very glad to see him and spend some time with him.

David and Gramma

April 13...didn't even realize it was Friday the 13th! We headed back to St. Louis. Bev took me to her Bunko group that night and got me hooked on Bunko. So now I will have to either find a group to play with in Tucson or start my own. What fun!

April 14...the day dawned dreary, COLD and rainy and yes, we even had some snow mixed in with the rain. Bev and Mike took us to a spice store in south St. Louis (I think) called Penzey's. I have never seen so many spices in one place! Then we went to Kimswick, MO for lunch at the Blue Owl cafe. Bev and I went there last year for lunch, so this time we took the guys with us. Unfortunately, it was raining so hard we couldn't get out and walk around the town. Cute town, right on the Mississippi...but since the great flood of 1993, the city has built dikes to protect the town.
The famous Blue Owl Cafe

April 15...Sunday. We really didn't do too much today. Bev fixed a wonderful dinner and we just rested most of the day. We did get out to the new Cabela's that just opened in St. Louis and Bev and I wandered around the St. Louis Mills Outlet mall.

Mike and Bev have the neatest dog (next to ours of course)...Herbie. He is a riot! Always busy, always happy.

And, as usual, we get fed very well while we are here. They are both great cooks. Here is what Bev fixed for dinner tonight...not only taste wonderful, it is pretty!



April 16...Today we went back to Cabela's as AL wanted to buy a new fishing reel...however, the service was so poor, he finally gave up and walked away. And yes, I will write a letter to Cabela's about it.

April 17....the weather is finally nice in St. Louis...of course, we leave today. FIGURES! However, the weather has been nice since Sunday, just not as pretty as it is today. Long flight home, only had a 40 minute layover in Dallas but we made the change okay and so did our luggage. We got home about 8:30 p.m. to two dogs and two cats who were very glad to see us.

April 18...I hit the floor running this morning. Jeannette is flying in today and I had to get the house clean and drop the dogs at the groomers (we couldn't see their eyes!!!). I picked Jeannette up and we headed over to the Voyager RV Resort as she was looking at Park Models (11x35 trailers) to buy so they can spend the winters here. She found a cute one and they bought it! It has an Arizona room attached to it and also another room that Gary can use as an office.

April 19. My kids do like to keep my life interesting! Billie called this morning apparently while I was having my nails done, and left a message that Dan had crashed his airplane. He was okay, but the plane was totaled. Of course, I was worried out of my mind until I talked to her and CONFIRMED that he was okay. Apparently he was landing at the airport in Pacoima (California where he keeps his plane) and he landed hard, which caused the plane to "bounce" back into the air. And as the news write up said "The pilot reportedly applied full power with the wing flaps extended. The aircraft subsequently stalled, and the left wing impacted the ground. The plane then cartwheeled off the runway and into the infield area, coming to rest near the administration building." Scary stuff! That just took years off my life! But, most importantly, Dan is okay, a few bumps and bruises, but okay. Thank you God.

Jeannette left today after doing some measuring at the park model and making arrangements for inspection, etc. We are so glad they will be here during the winter months --- it will be great having them close.

April 20...
Cortney is staying with us for a few days while her parents are gone on a camping trip for their anniversary. We love having Cortney with us....it is so nice to have young people around. I can remember hearing my mom say that and I always wondered why she said that....now I know!

April 21
Every time I fill up the car with gas I look around for the person with the gun! I feel like I am being robbed! Good heavens, when will the extortion of the American people by the oil companies end??? Gas is nearing $3 a gallon here and I understand in Washington it is running about $3.22 a gallon. We may rethink driving the truck and trailer anywhere!

Cortney is at work tonight (she works at the very exclusive spa, Miraval, which is down our street about 3 miles), last night she came in dead tired. Apparently the spa is at full capacity and she had 24 rooms to do last night. She "refreshes" the rooms every evening, meaning, clean towels, bed turn down, etc. AH, to be young and energetic again!

Tomorrow I will start working on the 5th wheel...getting it ready for the big trek north which will probably take place around May 3. Yes, I am starting to pack AGAIN! I have to say, I am really good at it...since I get plenty of practice!

So, until next time, be happy and pray for the families and friends of the slain students from Virginia Tech.

Spring? SPRONG!

Four Seasons, Missouri
April 10, 2007

After arriving in St. Louis last Friday, to 32 degree weather, and the weather deteriorated from there....I think spring has NOT sprung here! We arrived at Mike and Bev's and of course, they could hear me whining about the weather from the corner! I AM COLD! AL IS COLD! Of course, it couldn't be because we were both dressed for Arizona (it was 90 in Phoenix when we left!) Al had shorts on and I had capri's and short sleeved top. It didn't take us long to find our coats! And that night St. Louis broke all records for cold..it was down in the low 20's! I kept checking the calendar to make sure it was not Christmas and it was really April! BRRRR

Saturday
Today was a bit better...it got up to a whopping 38 during the day! Our great granddaughter, Natasha, age 7, went on a Easter Egg hunt at the church and all she could say was "it was cold!" Granddaughter Sarah and Natasha and I went out to lunch and did some shopping so I could buy a couple of long sleeved tops and some long pants (I packed when it was 90 degree's in Tucson...couldn't imagine it being this cold anywhere!) Despite the cold, we are really enjoying visiting with Mike, Bev, Sarah and Natasha...haven't seen Chris (Sarah's boyfriend)yet...he is too busy working.

Easter Sunday
Today dawned bright, sunny and cold. I was convinced that Santa was going to be delivering Easter eggs this year! We went to church and it was cute to see all the little girls dressed up in their Easter dresses and big heavy coats! The BIG FREEZE (as the media is calling it) has frozen all the crops in the entire state and most anything that had blossomed was dead! The poor tulips are drooping and some tree's are still bare. Dinner was wonderful (hey, it is at Mike and Bev's and the food is ALWAYS outstanding at their house!)..Sarah and Chris provided the Honey baked Ham, Bev made a wonderful layered salad, Natasha helped make dessert. Everything was very low keyed, which is just what we wanted. We watched the movie "Happy Feet" and then the classic Sound of Music. It had been years since I had seen it and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. All in all it was a great Easter...except it was cold enough to be Christmas!!!!


Sarah, Chris, Natasha and "Herbie" Mike and Bev's dog

Monday
We took off today for our timeshare exchange at Lake of the Ozarks. It was an easy drive to "Four Seasons, MO" -- now, I know, you are asking, WHERE? We are actually 8 miles from Osage Beach, which is a resort town on Lake of the Ozarks. We usually visit our friends, Carl and Ruby Skidmore down here at this time of the year, however, they aren't here yet. So we are just kicked back, relaxing and doing not much of anything. The weather is still not cooperating. Tonight we decided to barbecue a steak...however, we ran into a small problem. After stopping at the store to pick up a few food supplies for our few days here and we even remembered to pick up barbecue briquet's and lighter fluid-- we were pretty proud of our selves to remember those. HOWEVER, what we didn't remember was matches to light the barbecue! Hmm---rubbing sticks together was out of the question! So I walked down to the INDOOR pool and found someone with a book of matches. This wasn't the easiest task...no one seems to carry matches anymore. At any rate, Al braved the cold and barbecued.

Tuesday
Today we woke to------yup, you guessed it... dreary, cloudy, and yes, cold weather. Mid-morning it started to sprinkle. We decided to take the toll bridge across the lake to Laurie (where the Skidmore's live) and have lunch at one of our favorite little places, "Cousins". Skidmores have been going there for years and when we are here we have to have either lunch or breakfast there. It was a short drive over there since we took the bridge, but the road was really a narrow, curvy road. On the way back, it started to rain. Then we decided to take in the outlet mall in Osage Beach...a huge outlet mall. We made a stop at Le Crueset to pickup a pan Bev wanted and next door was the Coach Outlet Store. I couldn't pass it up! And I wound up buying a Coach purse! Something I have always wanted! YEEHAW! I am no longer allowed in a Coach store however! This afternoon it was raining, gray, cold and downright ugly. At times we swore it was going to snow!

Our view from our condo,tennis courts and the lake beyond.

Tomorrow we are going to hang around here and do some exploring, IF it isn't pouring down rain, (who am I kidding??) which, is the forecast. At least we are getting some rest! However, the bed in this condo is hard...I said it felt like I slept on a table!

Thursday we will pack up and head towards Kansas City where we will visit with grandson David. We will stop on the way in Clinton, MO to visit with Al's cousin Fern and her husband Les. Then Friday back to St. Louis for the weekend before flying back home and to warmth on Tuesday. So until then....we hope all is well with you and yours and that you are warm, happy and living life the way you want.

From Mexico to St. Louis

Tucson March 29.2007

WE have just returned from a few days in Puerto Penasco, (Rocky Point) Mexico. Our friends Jack and Sue have a beautiful home there on the beach and we spent 3 wonderful, relaxing days there with them. What a treat! We always love going there...it's the getting there that bothers me. I don't particularily like to drive in Mexico. You need eye's all around your head and be very cautious. The drivers in Mexico don't exactly obey traffic laws and rules. And it seems that is just isn't the residents there, but everyone else from the U.S. drives like they do! I guess when in Rome....or Mexico in this case. At any rate, driving is a frightening proposition for me there and I don't like to drive down there. Jack does just fine, but then again, he is somewhat used to thier driving habits. I, on the other hand, felt like I was back in Saudi!

Jack and Sue Waddick in Puerto Penasco




"Rocky" Jack and Sue's Mexico cat...he is the neighborhood cat and he is well taken care of!



And since my oldest daughter is named "Melanie" I had to take this picture for her!


The weather was so-so while we were there...we had one absolutely beautiful warm day, one day that was cool and one day a dust storm blew in and made a mess of everything! We took Beau and Schuster with us and they really loved running on the beach and chasing the ball on the beach. Beau, of course, made friends with everyone on the beach....our little goodwill ambassador! Of course, to Beau, everyone is a potential ball thrower!

Once we got back to Tucson we hit the floor running. Al had a doctor appointment yesterday and the doctor doesn't feel that all the fluid is gone, so Al is still taking lasix twice a day along with the potassum. But Al is feeling much better and has more energy. Right now he is out on the deck planting a tomato plant in a pot....his passion...tomatoes! If we can just keep the javelina's from eating the plant we will have it made. The Javelina's have taken big, huge, bites out of some or our cactus...OUCH!

April 5, 2007
The last week has been busy with doctor appointments, helping a good friend celebrate his 60th birthday (he is older than I am!!! Tee Hee! -- and he knows who he is!) and generally just doing our normal "stuff"!

Today we are leaving for Phoenix to spend the night, because at 0'dark thirty tomorrow morning we are flying to St. Louis (via Dallas) to spend Easter with Mike, Bev, Sarah, Chris and Natasha. We are both really looking forward to this trip and hope this trip won't get interrupted like our trip to St. Louis did last year when AL's brother died. So, all of you, stay well and safe!

Our plans are to spend a few days with Mike and Bev, then we are off to Lake of the Ozarks for a few days in a time share. We usually meet up with the Skidmores at their house on the lake, however, this year due to medical problems, they won't be in Missouri until sometime in May. We will get in a visit with AL's cousin Fern and husband Les in Clinton and try and see our grandson David (if he will ever answer my phone calls...I think he may be trying to avoid seeing the Grandparents---however he should know me well enough to know I will track him down!) We are looking forward to this trip. The dogs have their dishes packed and ready to go to Holly and Bruce's while we are gone and the cats know they will be "home alone" again...Holly looks after them as well.

Weather here in Tucson has heated right up....92 yesterday and right now at 2:00 p.m. it is 91 -- my kind of weather. Al is starting to make noises about heading north, but he has a doctor appointment on May 8, so I know we will be here that long, but I bet we will be heading north on May 9!

So, until next time, we wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope you are living life the way you want!

Things are a lookin' better around here

Tucson March 22, 2007

Before I even start on this blog, I have to say, we are in the middle of one heck of a storm! We have thunder (Schuster is trying to get UNDER the bed...he's too big!), lightning and rain....lots of water falling from the sky. We had just about forgot what rain was like! And boy, do we need this rain. Everything here is sooooooo dry. (Maybe the snakes will go back into hiding??? Not likely!!) At any rate, we are enjoying the storm and the rain.



Al has finally gotten all the results from all of the tests but one. The echocardiogram showed the right chamber of his heart wasn't emptying completely, therefore the remaining blood would flow back into the liver, kidneys and cause the edema. After mega doses of lasix and potassum, he has lost most of the fluid. He had gained 20 lbs in 3 weeks, and lost 20 lbs in 3 days with the lasix. I tell you, you didn't want to be in his way when he was heading to the bathroom!!!! We saw the cardiologist this week and he is pretty happy with the progress. He said Al's heart is strong and he changed some of Al's meds, reducing the lanoxin he is taking and we hope that will solve the slow heart rate problem. WHEW!!!! Al is feeling much, much better, he even has some energy and isn't as tired and weak anymore. That sure was a scary few days!

We have been laying low for the last two weeks, just trying to get Al well. It seems like I haven't gotten too much done, but I have been busy. Just can't figure out what I have done that kept me so busy...oh, wait, I know...it was running after things for Al. And it seems like a gazillion doctor appointments! WOW! Now I will have the headache of sorting through all the medicare and insurance paperwork. ICK.

BEWARE you drivers in Tucson....Cortney has her driver's license! She is a very good driver however. She was so excited when she got her license.....and rightfully so. Do you remember when you got your driver's license? I think I remember when I did....it was so long ago!!!!


Well, that's about all the news from this end of the world...hope this finds you all happy and healthy. Until next time............

Company, Fun, and a sick Husband

Tucson

All of our company has left. We have had non-stop company since March 1 and we have enjoyed every bit of it...however, it has taken it's toll. The washer and dryer haven't stopped for two days....and I haven't even had time to clean the house...but I am getting ahead of myself.

After Billie and Dan left, we had a day to get ready for the next round of company. This time it was son Mike and wife Bev from St. Louis and good friends Rowland and Kathy Brasch from Seattle area. They all arrived within an hour of each other on the 6th. I had made a killer Emerile Lagasse sausage and chicken gumbo for dinner that night. We all got to just sit and visit and the weather, I might add, that Bev had ordered, (warm, hot, warm) was cooperating. The evenings are so nice to sit on the deck and enjoy our view. Anyway, that was the first night.

Next day, Mike starts working around our house on the yard, cutting back some cactus and weeds....some vacation, huh? Bev and I putz around, doing a little shopping...remember, I still have a broken ankle, but I am not letting it slow me down much. We all had lunch with Jude and Roger Hubbell today at their club in Saddlebrooke. Tonight for dinner we join Bruce, Holly and Cortney at Benihana's for dinner. For some reason, Benihana's wasn't as good as I was expecting.

Thursday - Rowland and Kathy take off to go to Tubac and Nogales Mexico for the day. Mike is still working in the yard...he says he loves it, but I have to wonder...these plants we have BITE! Bev and I do a little more shopping. Tonight for dinner we also have Jude and Roger Hubbell and Pat and Patti Voss for dinner. Mike and Al do a standing rib roast on the grill and it was sooooo good. Weather is still great.

Friday - Big day for us. First off, the guys cook breakfast for us. What a treat.

Rowland, Mike, Al


After we clean up the kitchen Kathy, Bev and I go to the new shopping mall, La Encantada, very up scale to do some looking. We had lunch at a restaurant called Firefox....must remember to bring Al here...it was great. After we cruised through places like Coach, Louis Vitton, etc. we decided this mall was out of our league. They do have a cute pet store "Muttropolis" there, for the very, very, very spoiled pet in your life. Tonight our friends from California roll in (they are staying in a hotel) Bill and Eva Davey and Donna and Gary Bearden. We were really happy to see them and get to visit a bit. They were here for dinner along with friends Dona and Bill Bender and Jack and Suzie Waddick. The Brasch's are staying with the Benders tonight and Jack and Suzie move into our other spare guest room. Are you still with me here? Mike and Bev basically did dinner tonight...French Dip Sandwiches, I madea pasta salad, potato chips and great toffee bars that Bev did. I must add here that Bev and Kathy have really been a big help for me...and Rowland keeps telling me to sit down and get off my sore ankle...right, as if I will listen!

Donna & Gary Bearden


Eva Davey and Gary Bearden


Jack & Sue Waddick


Bill Davey and Sue Waddick

The wonderful Kitchen Helpers....Kathy and Bev




Saturday...The California crowd goes off to do some exploring for the day. Mike, Bev and Al went to the Mesa Swap meet for the day. I am alone!!! I took Jose into the vet with a sore tail....yes, another vet trip. I should get a frequent visitor card for the vet! Jose has a cut on his tail that is infected....when will it end with the pets in this house???????
Tonight is the Santa Maria Barbecue here. Al grilled tri tips and I made a big pot of pinquito beans. Pinquito beans are native to the Santa Maria valley in California...they are a small pinto like bean. I did the traditional Santa Maria recipe for the beans and boy were they ever good. Bev made a killer chocolate cake and we all celebrated Jack's birthday (I won't give away his age). The California crowd was here....still need to visit more with them and I am feeling bad because we didn't have a lot of time to visit with them. Too much company. The weather has been absolutely fabulous all week...in the mid to high 80's -- just perfect for me. We have spent a lot of time on the deck enjoying the weather and our great view of the mountains.

Sunday...Mike and Bev leave. We both hated to see them leave. We really enjoyed their visit. All of a sudden, the house is quiet. Jack and Sue are at the craft fair, so we are all alone. I want to insert at this point, our dogs, have been played with by everyone...so now I am left with two dogs who EXPECT to be played with all of the time. Tonight we (Al and I, Jack and Suzie) met the Californians at Carrabba's for dinner. We had never been there, but we will go back...it was good. We didn't know that Carrabba's was part of the Outback chain, or I should say part of the same corporation that owns Outback, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chili's, Macaroni Grill and many other restaurants. We say goodbye to the California crowd....hope to see them again soon.

Monday. Jack and Sue leave early this morning. I take Al to the doctor this morning for a follow up appointment for his blood pressure. However, last night Al said his legs were "weeping" or seeping water. Huh??? What's that all about? And he has had a dry, hacking cough for over a week and has had trouble breathing when laying down flat in bed. He blamed the breathing on his C-Pap, but he also has a very dry mouth. Sooooo...I mention all of the above to the doctor, who gets a frown on his face and starts going over Al with a fine tooth comb. Al has gained 17 pounds in the last 3 weeks as well. Yup, he is retaining fluid. Doctor puts him on mega doses of lasic's and potassium, sends him for a chest X-ray and orders a echo cardiogram asap. We got the chest xray done today and the echo cardiogram scheduled for tomorrow. AL is not feeling to well today, however, he said he felt fine while all the company was here and he was pretty active while everyone was around to keep him busy. I am scared spit less.

ALSO, tonight on the news, the word is out...SNAKES ARE AWAKE!!! The warm weather have woken up the snakes and they are hungry...many people have found them in their yards in the last few days. SWELL.....now I don't want to go outside!

Tuesday
Okay, back to the snakes. I dreamed about snakes all night. I would wake up and my heart would be pitter patting along at a rapid pace... I tell you ...I am scared spit less of snakes.

Al had the echo cardiogram today and I got to watch. Interesting to watch his heart beat....and kinda' scary. His heart rate is at 40, not very good. He is weak, tired and very dizzy, which we think might be from the lasic's and potassium, at least we hope it is. Hopefully we will hear some news on the results of this test soon. I will keep you all posted in my next blog...but we sure could use your prayers for him.

More later..........