Monday, January 29, 2007

We left Yuma this morning headed west for the border crossing at Andrade/Algodones.  We had a couple of things to take care of in Mexico including a cracked and broken cap on Sharon's tooth and a pair of glasses for me.  It took us about twenty minutes to get to the parking lot of the Quechan Indians and it was quite full already.

By the time we got into Mexico it was loaded with people.  I guess most of them want to beat the system by coming early and leaving early to avoid the long wait getting back into the states.  The line was already forming however at 10:30 in the morning when we entered.

We found a Dentist for Sharon and she went in for her examination and I sat in the office to wait for her.  After about 45 minutes she came out and told me to go to Best Optical and take a number and wait for her.  So I left and went to order my glasses.  She arrived about a half hour later and I was still waiting.  There were still about 10 people waiting ahead of me.

Sharon had another appointment on Wednesday so I arranged to pick up my glasses on Wednesday also.

On the way back to the border we stopped at the Purple Pharmacy and picked up a couple of bottles of liquor and then stopped at Pueblo Viejo Restaurant to eat lunch.  It was going to be about a 2 hour wait to get out of here and we didn't want to get hungry waiting.  It actually only took us just over an hour and a half.

I got a call from my sister Cookie about my mother having fallen twice in the last couple of days.  We spoke for a while being in complete agreement with what we should do.  This situation may have gone past my mother's ability to decide for herself how best to handle the situation.  We'll have to see over the next few days.

We had been invited to Clay and Jerie Nye's after we got back into the states and we called them as soon as we could connect with a US phone tower.  We first stopped and picked up our mail and then continued on to Clay and Jerie's.  When we got there we sat around and talked and had a few cocktails and took up right where we left off last year.  Jerie served a wonderful meal at suppertime and as a matter fact it was one of my favorites.............meatloaf.  She also had corn and homemade baked beans which were excellent.  We stayed and laughed about everything under the sun until just before 9 and then we left to come home.

As luck would have it,  it was just before Prison Break and "24" on TV so I plopped myself in front of the picture box and remained glued there until 11.  There really wasn't much happening tonight on either show but a person hates to miss them.  There's too much catching-up to do when you resume watching.  I took a couple of short naps during my shows.  They were so short I hardly knew I took them.  At eleven I was ready for the sack.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

We got up this morning with little to do but lounge around til Wednesday when we go back to Mexico and get Sharon's tooth fixed and pick up my glasses.  I am especially good at lounging around so I was going to have a good day.

I formulated the new Newsletter this morning and got a couple stories written along with inserting the last two pictures of Grandchildren for the "grandchildren editions."

With the new developments on the homefront with my mother, Sharon and I have discussed leaving early fo go home this year.  We're hanging right on the edge right now and it would be more practical for us to leave from here instead of driving back to Desert Hot Springs and then leaving from there.  Besides the last month in California, truth be told, was not as satisfying as it had been in previous years.  The weather played a large part in our disappointment.

Henry and Arlene were planning on going for a swim this afternoon.  We had thought about going, and then Sharon decided that she would do some grocery shopping instead.  She left for the Fry's located on the end of Fortuna Road just across the Interstate.  She was gone for about an hour and a half.

By the time they all got back it was time for Happy Hour.  The couple from next door joined us and we sat outside until after dark.  Henry walked over and brought back his portable campfire and we sat there talking until about 7:30.  Finally it got a little too cold to sit outside anymore and we all retired to our own units.

We had Chicken and Noodles in Alfredo Sauce, Squash and Garlic Bread for Supper tonight.  It was very tasty.

We settled in for repeat TV tonight.  Nothing was new on the tube.  I've had my portable dish set up since we got here in order to have uninterrupted TV while we're here.  Unfortunately the only shows that are new are "24" and Prison Break.  But those two shows were the reason for setting up the portable dish anyway.

Sharon read her newspaper and did some banking online tonight before we shut it all down and headed for the feathers.  Today had been a long day even though we hadn't had anything planned this morning.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Our day today was going to be quite busy.  We left about 9 headed toward Mexico, and we3 stopped in town to pick up Henry and Arlene, and by the time we arrived in Algodones it didn't seem as busy as Monday.

Henry had a couple of dishes that he wanted murals painted on, and we dropped those off first, and he selected the paintings he wanted done.

A block from there was the Optical Company that I had make my glasses and I picked them up.  Arlene had decided she wanted new lenses put in her old frames, and stayed there as Sharon and I moved on to the Dentist where she was slated to have her crown repaired on her tooth.  As luck would have it the new tooth was stained and had to be sent back to the laboratory.  It would be another hour for them to fix it.

Meanwhile we went back to the Optometrist's and Arlene was now having her eye exam.  She got in there at just the right time because I was still waiting for 10 people ahead of me on Monday when I went in.  We left and decided to do some shopping while we waited for Sharon's Dentist and Arlene's lenses.  We actually walked down one alley and then decided to sit in the sun and have a beer.  The wind had come up since we arrived in town and walking through the shaded shops was quite nippy.  It really didn't matter because we were only here to pick up the things we had already taken care of and a few bottles of liquor that the four of us would carry out for Sharon and I.

It was about noon by the time Sharon was done and we only had to wait for Arlene's lenses.  We decided to pick up Henry's dishes and then go to lunch at Pueblo Viejo, a restaurant just across the street from the border.  We all had a couple more beers and a great lunch and then Henry and I headed across the street tod wait in the "exit" line while Sharon and Arlene walked to two blocks to pick up her lenses.  They were back in a flash and then we waited the hour in line to get back to the states.

On the way home we dropped Henry and Arlene in town and then headed off to Bob and Bonnie Barr's in the Foothills at Fortuna de Oro Campground.  We had been invited to Dinner last night and it would be the culmination of a very long day indeed.

Bonnie had prepared a delicious Dinner of Stuffed Cabbage Rolls and Garlic Bread, along with Bob's homemade Pickled Beets and Bread and Butter Pickles.  It was capped off with a dish of Chocolate Mint Ice Cream.  It was a feast fit for a King.

We were finally back home at about 8 PM and ready to just crash and watch TV.  As we drove up to the camper we noticed that the wind had tipped over our dish and it was laying on it's side.  It was a little chilly outside by this time but I had to stand the dish back up and adjust it before I could go back in and watch any TV.  Luckily it didn't take any longer than a minute or so to get it up and running again.  Although standing out there in shorts and T-shirt made for a "chilly Billy" by the time I came inside.

By 10 o'clock and after Sharon read her newspaper online we were ready to call it a day.  As I fell asleep Sharon was still doing a puzzle.  I can sleep through anything when I'm tired.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Today would be an official "do nothing" day.  We got a call from Jerie Nye asking if we would be available for Dinner tonight but we will be awaiting the arrival of Norm and Sue Jones, friends from Great Britain.

Sharon had decided that she was going to catch up on laundry today since our stay here is now in jeopady.  While she was gone I disassembled the bathroom ceiling fan and cleaned the screen.  After putting it back together I found that the motor on the fan might have burnt out.  At least it doesn't seem to be working anymore.

After talking with my sister a couple of times today Sharon and I have decided it would be best if we cut our winter short and returned home.  It's not a situation that I relish but it may be the most practical solution to the circumstances that have arisen.  We will have completed all our business and seen all our friends and are now contemplating Wednesday as our departure date.

I got a call from Mike at RV Lifestyles in Quartzsite saying that our Tenna Tool had arrived and that he was shipping it out immediately.  Hopefully we'll get that by tomorrow and I can repair our satellite dish and correct our "wind" problem before we start home.  We've been using our portable dish for TV since we got here.

This afternoon we walked across the street to Henry and Arlene's and sat outside and had a couple of nectars before Dinner.  It was a little windy and not really warm, but what the hell it's not getting any better than this.

Just after we sat down to Supper Norm and Sue popped in.  They had a problem getting propane and they just arrived at Gilligan's Island. (A popular boondocking spot just outside the campground) They stayed for about an hour or so talking and then left to eat Dinner.

We settled in for TV and a couple of new shows tonight.  We also started talking about where we'll stay and how long on the way home.  We can make it to Casa Grande, AZ in about 3 hours and that will be our first stop on the eastward route.

We had to stay up until 11 to catch all our shows since we started watching late.  But we both made it to the bewitching hour.

Friday, February 2, 2007

I was up almost before the sun this morning.  We didn't have anything especially important to do today so I was watching the news until Sharon started rattling around.  After she had her coffee and got her s____together she informed me that we would have to do some shopping today.  Grocery and Stuff apparently.

We showered up and had a leisurely Breakfast before we took off and headed for town.  On the way out we passed the UPS truck that apparently was delivering my Tenna Tool.   Henry told us  later they came just after we left the park.

We decided we would find the Wal-Mart on 95 since we could also check out church times on the way back home.  We were in Wal-Mart for only about an hour as we quickly picked up the things that Sharon needed for supper and cross-stitching.  I also picked up the oil and a filter for the motorhome oil change that would be required before we head East on Wednesday.  On the way home we decided to make a pit stop at In-N-Out Burger and gulp down a couple of Double-Doubles and fries.

By the time we got home I found that UPS had dropped off the Tenna Tool and I decided that I would attempt to fix the satellite dish.  Unfortunately the $40 ($25 tool, $15 shipping) tool was not the only problem with our antenna.  But I think I've fixed it for the time being until we get home.  At least part of the "wobble" has been taken care of.

Henry and Arlene stopped over for an early Happy Hour and never went home.  We sat around outside until Dinner Time and then Sharon invited them for a Shrimp Creole Dinner.  A Salad and Garlic Bread finished off the meal It was a lovely offering.

After Dinner, Henry and Arlene decided to head back home across the street.  Me and the Mrs. settled in for TV for the rest of the night.  Because of our late Supper we had to stay up until 10:30 to catch everything.  But as soon as the last show was on we crashed and burned and headed for the padded room.

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Our day today started with a brief Breakfast and then a visit to the Yuma Marketplace, a huge flea market out near our campground.  We wandered around there for a couple of hours and ate our lunch at one of the eateries.  After looking all winter for another Fire Hydrant to replace the one I had at home serving as a fountain, I had found the same one here at Yuma.

A problem that I encountered was the moisture from the fountain at home had pretty much destroyed the insides of the interior and causing the outside to fall apart.   I had already repaired it once very extensively last year and found the easiest way to keep it active was to find a new hydrant.  I may have to make a silicone mold of the entire hydrant and then make a new one out of fiberglass in the future.

Norm and Sue called us on the phone while we were there and asked us where we were.  We had already been through the area where they were so we didn't see them during our shopping spree.  After leaving the Marketplace Henry and Arlene offered to take us to Red Lobster for Dinner tonight.  We declined to have them pay for our Dinner but later accepted.

After getting home we sat down outside for an early Happy Hour which turned out to last almost til dark.  Norm and Sue stopped over after they got done with the market and eventually agree to join us at Red Lobster.  Henry and Arlene seemed to hit it off with them real well. 

We left late for the restaurant, and accordingly we ate late, Which finally interpreted in getting home late.  I think we got back home about 9:30.  It was time enough to watch a little TV and then hit the rack.  A quiet rest was not to be had tonight as the house in back of us was having a little party.  It might have been little but it was quite noisy.  The laughing and giggling and general all-around party noise ceased when the motorcycle left at 4 AM.  Our fitful sleep was replaced with blissful slumber.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

This morning Sharon was actually up before I was.  She was up as I rolled out about 8:45.  It was a new record for me since I retired.  I'm usually up around 6.

I had an agenda planned for myself today.  There was a few things that I had to do to get ready to leave on Wednesday.

Sharon took off for church and I decided that I would change the oil on the motorhome.  The only problem was that she had the supply of oil and filter in the trunk of the car.  I drained all the oil out and then waited for her to return to get my oil.  While I was waiting I decided to install the motor on the fan in the bathroom that burned out the other day.  I took the whole fan assembly apart the other day, but then found out that the motor for the fan was shot.  A half hour later I had the motor changed and was still waiting for my oil to return from church.

I also broke down the outside dish and put it away as I believe that the temporary repairs I made on the mounted dish on top of the motorhome will last us until we get home.  At least that's our hope.

Sharon got back about noon and we sat down for lunch.  I waited til after lunch before I put the filter and the oil in the motorhome.  While working in the sun today I realized that today was one of the nicest days we've had so far this year.  It was toasty warm and the sun was shining brightly.  Nice days are going to be here just as we leave for home.  Damn!!!

The Super Bowl was going to be on TV this afternoon and we sat and watched it.  It was pretty exciting for awhile until the Colts took over the lead from the Bears.  After that it was pretty much "all she wrote."  We got a chance to see a new episode of Criminal Minds after the game.  An hour of America's Funniest Videos brought us right up to the slumber hour.(10)

I had seasoned the ribs for tomorrow night during the AFV hour.  24 hours in the refrigerator and we'll be ready for Dinner tomorrow night.  We've invited Henry and Arlene to come over and finish them off with us.  It'll be quite good I hope.  It always has been in the past.

We went to bed as visions of baby back ribs floated in our heads.