Monday, January 22, 2007

We had some shopping to do this morning and when we got all our s___ together we took off for Wal-Mart.  Phil and Joyce needed to pick up a few things also so they came with us.  We went to the new store in Rancho Mirage.  By the time we finished up it was a basketful of groceries and time for lunch.  We left at about 10 and it was noon by the time we got back home.

We ate lunch which was a sandwich and chips before we put away the groceries.  After putting away the groceries Sharon started on the dishes and I went up on the roof to calculate the repairs on the dish.  The wind had finally let up for awhile and the sun was shining.  I spent about a half hour up there and the only remedy I could find was to change the guts in the elevating mechanism.  There didn't seem to be any other adjustments I could make to steady the floppy condition.  I'm not even sure that new insides will make the difference.

By the time I got done and put the dish back together it was time for the pool.  With wind blowing for the last couple of days it was sure to be cooler but by how much.  It didn't take long to find out.  The Thermometer reported that it was down to 87.  I figured that if I took a shower and then walked slowly to the pool it would at least feel like it was warm.  It was a correct strategy and we stayed in the pool for about an hour and a half before retiring to the hot tub.

On the way home I stopped in the store to check out the jackets that I saw in the park in the last couple of days.  They had them in all colors with the Catalina Spa Logo on them.  I don't know if I want one but by the time I decide they'll probably be sold out anyway

We had Chicken, Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole smothered with Cream of Onion soup for supper tonight.  Sharon also made us a lettuce salad.  She better get used to doing without those salads in a month or so.  The California Deep Freeze should skyrocket the price of lettuce in the near future.  I'll be happy that I don't have to eat salad as often.

The new season started tonight for "24" and "Prison Break."  Both shows were very good as usual and were  off to a flying start.  I hung in there until after 11 because I wanted to watch CSI Miami.  I don't know why I watch that arrogant jerk and his so-called "acting."  I guess I like the rest of the people in that show.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Today was Agua Caliente Casino day.  We lit out at 8:30 headed for the best Breakfast in the west.  As usual, the crowd was non-existent again today and has been since they raised their prices a couple of years ago.  It is however the best selection of food on the buffet than anywhere around.  And also as usual we walked away aching from the amount of food we ate, but I never tire of the place.

By the time we turned for home and got back this had turned into one of the nicest days we've had for a week or so.  The wind was down, the sun was out and it was comfortable being in shorts and t-shirts.  Just a nice all-around day.

When we got home we just marked time until the Manager's meeting at two o'clock this afternoon.  With the exception of the laundry that Sharon did to catch up on the clothes.  It really wasn't necessary to do it tody but she didn't want to save it until we get to Yuma.  There would also be no lunch today since the Breakfast would carry us through to Supper tonight.

We also checked out a Fleetwood Terra that was in the park courtesy of Giant RV and found it to be a pretty good value for the money.  It wasn't good enough for us to deal on it however.  We're not in the market for a vehicle.

The Manager's meeting was a complete bust as far as I was concerned.  Not a single person brought up anything about the $4 daily charge for miscellaneous to the members.  The members of this park are definitely sheep being led to the slaughter.  How they expect it to get any better in the next few years I'll never know.  I kept my mouth shut because Sharon didn't really want me to bring it up.  I took all my problems with this park to the Swimming pool after the meeting was over with.  Unfortunately the pool was the soothing environment that I apparently needed.  The water was now 90 degrees but it seemed warmer than that.  Just our luck as the weather turns nice, the pool is warm and we're headed to Quartzsite for the "ultimate boondock" for the next 4 days.  Damn!!!

We saw Jack and Rosann when they came down to check out the bulletin board in the Lower Pool.  We chit-chatted for a few minutes before they left.

Phil and Joyce stopped over before Dinner to have a couple of cocktails before our exodus tomorrow morning.  They'll be staying on for a couple more days before going to Two Springs RV Resort for a free stay.

Supper tonight was leftovers with a twist.  We were having the Chicken, Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole again tonight but Sharon cooked up some Egg Noodles and put the mixture on the noodles.  It was a very tasty option for the leftover casserole.  I also choked down a small salad.

We plunked in front of the tube for the night.  Sharon read her final newspaper on Wi-Fi and we both headed off for the "sleepy time blues" at 10.  It hd been day to say the least and we both were tired tonight.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

We were on the road and headed east this morning by 8:30.  At 11 we rolled into Quartzsite and got right into a gas station on B-10.  Gas in Ehrenberg is $2.17 but the crowd waiting to get into the Flying J was ridiculous, so we just continued on to Q and the Pilot station that was selling for $2.19.  We also had to fill up with LP before we drove out to the desert and our regular parking spot.  We found the LP on 95 about a mile north and we got in and out without any hassle and we were on our way again in about 45 minutes after having stopped for gas and LP.

The traffic in town was pretty much non-existent as we found our way through all of it without any trouble.  It was about noon here now having lost an hour after crossing the California Border.  We made the trip out to Mile Marker 99 in about 5 minutes and found Henry and Arlene LeDuc waiting for us.  Henry and Arlene are friends from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada.  We got settled into our spot and then proceeded to set up the satellite dish.  What a waste of an hour that was as I didn't get even a peep out of the receiver during the attempted set-up.  (I later got the roof dish working just fine as there was absolutely no wind)

We sat around outside for the afternoon just shootin' the bull and catching up on the last year.  That took us until suppertime and we  retired to our units to make and eat supper.  Sharon whipped us up a couple of Patty Melts and French Fries  and we were done eating in about a half hour.  Sharon got her flashlight out and tried to signal them to come over and play dominoes.  We didn't realize they saw the signal until after they got here.  But it was quite funny watching her with the flashlight.

We played two games and my back was aching from sitting for two hours and playing Dominoes.  I think Sharon and I both won a game tonight so that was a nice cap to the day.  Henry and Arlene left about 9 and because the dish was working I watched TV for awhile including part of Criminal Minds before I realized it was a repeat.  So I switched it off and went to bed.  I had taken an Aleve about an hour before and my back was feeling much better by the time I hit the hay.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

We left home this morning about 10:30 and headed toward the Good Sam tent in town.  It took us about a half hour to get to town because the traffic was backed up about a mile at that time.  I decided to go to Lifestyles RV before we did anything this morning and once we got to Kuehn Street the traffic was moving right along.  We arrived at the RV place in about 10 minutes.

I wanted to find out why the satellite dish on top of the motorhome was wiggling and how to fix it.  Unfortunately the guy I talked to knew exactly what I was talking about and that it would take a $25 tool to tighten it up and they didn't have one.  Although I wasn't happy at least I now know how to get it fixed.

We left for the Good Sam tent to check out the goodies there and the best thing they had there was a 75' Houseboat from Lake Powell.  Obviously they didn't sail that baby down here it was trailered, but even so it was 15' wide.  The price tag to take it home was $477,000.00.  We passed on the deal since there the closest water to float it  is a couple of hundred miles away.  Renting that behemoth was also reported at $10,000.00 per week but it could accommodate 12 people very comfortably.  VERY COMFORTABLY!!  The rest of the vendors were pretty much the same stuff we see every year with few exceptions.  Canada was well represented this year with an entire section of the tent.

After leaving Prospector's Panorama we drove down to the Municipal Area on Plymouth Road to see the "Vietnam Wall" which is temporarily in Quartzsite for a week or so.  It was all set up and the Grand Opening is set for tomorrow but we thought we'd beat the crowds.  Sharon and I had been to the original wall in Washington, D.C. a few years ago.  After that we visited Celia's Rainbow Garden which Henry and Arlene had heard about and wanted to see.  We had also been here a couple of years ago when it was first planted.  It's a park with every conceivable type of cactus which will grow at this elevation.

After leaving the park we went to the Quartzsite Yacht Club where we ate Dinner and then waited for the Karaoke to start.  We were there til about 9:30 and "the Kid" got up once and crooned a tune.  It's been a long time and there was a little rust in the pipes.  They must have had at least 60 people waiting to sing.

We got back home about 10 and I logged onto the web and downloaded our e-mail.  We had one thing on there that took 15 minutes to download, from Jack Derlein.  It was a movie that had been faked..  I tried to do it this morning but realized I was going to chew up a bunch of minutes on the cell phone.  After I got that downloaded I went to bed.

Friday, January 26, 2007

After Breakfast we headed toward town and RV Lifestyles.  I broke down this morning and figured if I had the "Tenna Tool" I could fix my own satellite dish and if it ever loosened again I'd have the tool to fix it again.  It's a freak situation but it makes no sense to pay $75 in labor and then have the same problem again anyway.  Buying the tool is the cheapest way to correct the problem right now and possibly in the future. 

After we ordered the tool we headed over to Tyson's Wells.  We found an excellent parking spot and walked 50' and started shopping immediately.  We didn't really have anything to buy but we were there any way for about 3 or so hours.  When we got hungry we stopped and had a couple of Tri-tip sandwiches and giant onion rings.  They were absolutely delicious.

After eating lunch we finished up the rest of the marketplace and then went back to the car.  We were out of there in a jiffy and headed back toward home.  We knew that Henry and Arlene were home and going to have a Happy Hour at 3 o'clock.  We arrived back home just before three and sure enough they were ready for Happy Hour.  We grabbed a cooler of beer and headed over to their trailer across the ravine on the next plateau.  We stayed until dark and then came home to eat Dinner.

Sharon whipped up some Chicken Strips, Noodle Casserole and a Salad.  I really wanted to try out the Cherry sauce that I made last week from some frozen fresh cherries.  The Chicken strips dipped in the cherry sauce was excellent.  It was just the right amount of sweetness.

After Dinner we settled in front of the TV for a couple of new shows.  We hung around until after 11 and then crashed and burned.  We were tired from a long day and tomorrow was going to be an early one.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

We (Henry, Arlene, Sharon and I)were off and running at 8 o'clock  to the Pancake Breakfast at the Queen of Peace church this morning.  They always put on a pancake Breakfast with Scrambled Eggs and Sausage on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays during the winter months.  By the time we got there the church was almost crowded with hungry people.  We got served our food even before we sat down at a table.  Who would have ever thought we'd complain about excellent service.  The food was excellent as usual and for $3.50 a person we left with our stomachs bulging.  Shame on us.

We drove by the Snowbird Information Center several times to pick up our new pins for 2007 but apparently it's closed on Saturdays.  We should have picked them up when we got here, but I didn't think of it earlier.  We'll have to pick them up next year because we won't be coming through here when they're open this year even though we have to make one more trip.

For the rest of the day we shopped at the Main Event picking up a few things here and there.  As we got to the far end of the Main Event we saw an Elvis impersonator on top of a trailer just a singing away.  He was actually very good even dressed up in a white jumpsuit.  He even had a tootsie up there with him just dancin' to the music.  She was a fine looking specimen.

When hunger overtook us again we sat down to eat.  I had a Corn Dog and a Funnel Cake and Sharon had a mound of Chili-Cheese Fries.  She couldn't eat all the fries so I helped her and then I shared my Funnel Cake with her.  What a guy!  Henry and Arlene had a mound of Fries and a Bloomin' Onion.

We finished up the Main Event and then headed back toward the Snowbird Information Center.........again.  Needless to say they were still closed, so we turned toward home and the cold beer that was waiting for us there.  We were home in a flash, and sitting in the sun, sipping suds.  We were still there til almost dark when Henry and Arlene had to head home so they wouldn't have to walk through the ravine at night.

After a "fend for yourself" supper Sharon headed off to church and I settled in to watch a little tube.  There wasn't much original on tonight but I managed to be entertained until it was time to fold up my tent and head for the padded room.  This had been another long day especially for me and the bulging disc in my back.  I was glad when it was time to take my aches and pains to bed.  Good Night Sweet Prince.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

The weather was looking very nice this morning with no wind and very sunshiny.  It'll be a nice drive to Yuma today.

I was up and got our stuff together before I headed out to Sweet Darlene's for Sweet Rolls.  I found out that they bake their rolls the day before but still charge the same price for them.  They've been doing this for two years that I now of.  It's not very honest if you're still charging a buck and a half each for them.

After I came back we (Henry, Arlene, Sharon and I) hit the road for Yuma and arrived at Yuma Lakes in about and hour and a half. It's only about 70 or so miles.  We managed to get sites across from each other for the next two weeks.

It didn't take but an hour for us to get set up, dump the holding tanks and get the outside dish set up.  It looks like we'll at least have TV for the next 2 weeks.

I got a call from Phil tonight telling me that Verizon is cracking down on the free data service users.  It looks like I'll be cut off soon if not already.  I will not be happy because we have no other service until we get back to Catalina.

We called Clay and Jerie, Norm and Sue and Bob and Bonnie this afternoon. . We arranged to see all of them in the next week.

We had a Happy Hour with Henry and Arlene before supper tonight.  When it got dark we headed across the street and Sharon whipped up some BBQued Chicken Wings, Sweet Potato Fries and salad for supper.  They were all quite good.

After Supper I logged onto the Internet and checked out an item for Henry on the Panasonic website.

After that, I settled in front of the tube for another night of repeats.  Sharon went south early and I hung in there until 10.  Man I can't wait until the new season is in full swing.  It looks like it'll be another week for sure.  At least we're here in a different location for a while.