(I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIIMES TO PUBLISH THIS EDITION OF THE JOURNAL WITH ABSOLUTELY NO LUCK. I CAN'T GET MY PHONE CONNECTION TO WORK AND WI-FI IS NOT WORKING AT DESERT POOLS OR CATALINA SPA.)
Monday, December 31, 2007
NEW YEAR'S EVE
We're sleeping until 9AM these days or at least staying in bed until 9. I'm still not getting a good night's sleep yet but it seems that if I stay in bed longer in the morning I can catch up.
Sharon took off for town this morning to mail the Newsletters and to do a little shopping. She is still looking for a daily calendar and hasn't been able to find one. She also thought that if we went anywhere tonight she would pick up a snack or two for the outing. On the way home she stopped at McDonald's for Double Cheeseburgers and Fries. Love those Double Cheeseburgers and it's just about enough food for my appetite.
Corky stopped over about 3 this afternoon and invited us to the pool room tonight for a little get-together with them and Jack and Roseann. It would start at 4 and would probably break up early tonight. That sounded right up our alley.
We got ready and by the time we got on the road to walk down there (150 ft.) we heard a loud shout of glee from Jack having won the first game of LCR. We didn't know what was happening until we actually got to the pool room. After we settled in we started winning the game. We were playing for quarters and each game was worth $3.75.
Let I be known "far and wide" that this was not a good night for the Zimmermanns. Although Deb did win a couple of games, Corky got skunked, and they were the big losers. Debby had much too heavy a load to bear and she finally crumpled under the pressure. I think Sharon and I were the "big" winners but we don't know how much money we started with. No matter.
Another interesting occurrence made a showing after the party was going for awhile. Rosann put a plastic cup on the floor and attempted to drop a coin into it having first placed the coin in the cheeks of her butt. That was an absolute hoot. Corky quickly joined her but cried foul when he realized that he was wearing corduroy and she was wearing a silky jogging suit. His protests fell on deaf ears as we were laughing too hard to give it much serious consideration.
We had a wonderful time and thank the Zimmermanns and Derleins for providing it. We had intended in spending a quiet night at home tonight, but this was much better. Our party was over at about 8 with the cracking of the bottle of Champagne. We came home and watched the ball drop in New York on FoxNews at 9 and by 10 we were in the rack with our eyes jammed shut. It was an early New year's but a fun one.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008HAPPY NEW YEAR
We had nothing planned for today except to just lay around. It's a good thing cause I had another lousy night last night. It seems like they're just running together now. Although I didn't feel like I lost much sleep I was awakened about 10 times.
Sharon made a fantastic Breakfast for us today consisting of Eggs, Bacon, Hash Browns and Toast. It slid down very well as I was so disappointed in the Breakfast at the Dillon Roadhouse. It wasn't that it wasn't good, it just wanted back out right away and I spent the afternoon in the bathroom.
There was a marathon of "Dirty Jobs" on Discovery today and since we hadn't anything planned I watched that for most of the afternoon. Henry stopped over and asked if we wanted to come over sometime this afternoon, and we said yes. But later I was "bathroom visiting" again and I didn't want to have to get used to a second bathroom so we stayed home. Besides he didn't invite us over for me to use their bathroom.
Sharon stopped over there and asked if they wanted to come over here instead and they agreed.
Sharon made us a wonderful New Year's Dinner tonight. We had Grilled Steak, and she had a Baked Potato and Salad, and I had Butter and Garlic Sauteed Shrimp and a little dish of Spaghetti. It was absolutely perfect with a couple of Old Fashioneds to wash it down.
By the time Henry and Arlene stopped over it was dark and they stayed for about an hour or so. They will be leaving for Yuma tomorrow and we probably won't get to see them again this year. They aren't due there for a couple of days yet but they plan to camp out at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Coachella.
We stared at the tube til about 9:30 and then headed off to our respective beds.
Sharon was reading when I passed out. Nite, Nite.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Another rotten night was had by me. Man, pretty soon I'm going to get used to no sleep or at least being awakened 10 times a night.
We had our regular Breakfasts this morning. Me with Oatmeal and Toast and Sharon with cold Cereal with a Banana. Nothing exotic today since we will be going to Taco Wednesday at the VFW at noon. Phil called last night and said he and Joyce would meet us there, and Henry and Arlene were on a moving day and we'll pick them up on the way to the club.
We were ready to go by 11:50 and I started making my way to the car. I knew it would take me a few minutes and besides I wanted to take a couple of pictures of the carnival across the street from us. Three people in a mini-motorhome about 18-19 feet long with a dog. They've got stuff strung all over their site. How they fit all that stuff in that vehicle is beyond us.
We made it to the VFW just after noon and Phil and Joyce came just a few minutes after we sat down. We stayed for about 4 pitchers of beer and then we came back to Catalina and Phil, Joyce and Sharon went to the pool. I went over and sat on a chair on the apron of the pool. After the swim Phil and Joyce stopped over for a beer or two. While they were here Corky, Jack and Rosann stopped over. Deb was back at the RV making phone calls. They stayed about a half hour and then they all decided to leave almost together.
We didn't have a real supper tonight but Sharon made me a couple of Turkey sandwiches. I was hungry from the tiny Burrito I had for lunch. I should have ordered something else but I remembered from last year that the Burrito was enough to eat. Well it ain't anymore.
We cornered the tube for the night and watched it until about 9. We're having a tough time making it past 9 on any given day. Maybe tonight will be the magic night of undisturbed sleep. Yeah right!!!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Today is a "move" day and we will be leaving Catalina Spa for Desert Pools just a stones throw up the road. It'll be about 2 miles by the time we leave here and get settled in there. Everything was going according to plan until the left front jack wouldn't come up like it was supposed to, and Sharon had to get out the scissor jack and get it under the motorhome jack. It came right up with a little help from Corky as he and Deb were walking by at just that time. I drove the motorhome to our destination and Sharon checked us in at the office. It took about 15 minutes from start to finish. A tough move to say the least.
I hung around the motorhome for most of the day and Sharon went into town grocery shopping. I think she's happy that I don't go shopping with her, but she doesn't say anything. She got back about 12:30 carrying a McDonald's bag with Big Macs in it. We had a coupon that was buy one, get one free. We sat and ate lunch and that was my treat for the day. Actually she also picked up some fresh Doughnuts at Von's and I had one of those for dessert.
We sat around the motorhome for the rest of the afternoon watching TV. There isn't much on these days but I can always catch "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe on Discovery Channel.
Sharon whipped up some Jambalaya with Sausage for supper tonight. She also picked up some Egg Rolls that we had along with it. It was a very nice combination. After Dinner we retired in front of the tube again. We watched the Caucus returns from Iowa. I was so pleased to see Hillary come in 3rd. The rest of the night was repeats until we found American Chopper on TLC Channel. I used to always watch it when it was on Discovery but lately I just haven't bothered to see it on TLC.
Sharon had also picked up some new sleeping pills for me but when I took them at 10 I was wide awake at 11. I don't think that's the way they're supposed to work. So here I sit typing my Journal for today at 11:30, when I would usually do it the next morning. Oh well maybe I'll go back to the old pills tomorrow.
Friday, January 4, 2008
We got up this morning with a couple of things to do but whether we would do them or not was still in question. We ate a leisurely Breakfast and then sat silently wondering if we, "I" would be able to go to the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Fantasy Springs Casino. By noon it was decided that we would drive down there (30 miles) and see if we could just get a good spot to watch from the car, We knew the it started at 2 PM but it would take about an hour for the Balloon Pilots to get their rigs ready and start the ascension. We arrived right around 3 and found a perfect spot to watch the mass ascension on the sunny/leeward side of the field. As the balloons took off they flew right over us. We couldn't have found a better spot for pictures with the sun at our backs. We were there for about 90 minutes while all the balloons that were going to fly, did.
On the way home Sharon asked me if I was up to having a fish fry at the VFW. I was and we stopped and ate while we were still on the road. We both had the Fish and Chips and an order of Onion Rings between us. It was very good and we left sated for the night.
This had been a very good day and we finished with loads of good pictures
The rest of the night would be taken up with the usual repeats on TV. This Hollywood writer's strike is absolutely killing us. TV really isn't that good anymore and when it's all repeats it's really bad.
We did however hang in there until 10 before we called it quits and headed for the sleep chamber.
It had been a long day if nothing else. I was out in the fresh air for a time, however.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
I had a good night last night for a change. I was up early but at least I slept last night, but not without Tylenol sleeping pills.
We really had nothing to do or nowhere to go today, so I guess we'll be laying around close to home for the day. I suggested that we take a trip down to the Thrift Bakery but that didn't fly to well. Corky had informed us of the bakery when we arrived a few weeks ago, but we haven't made it down there yet.
There was a multitude of things on the Discovery Channel today and I'll probably be watching most of them. We also had a couple of NFL Play-off games on the Telly today. Green Bay has a bye in the first week so they won't be playing til next week. And as luck would have it Seattle won the game today so they'll be going to GB next weekend. Mike Holmgren returning to Packerland. Hopefully it'll be a good contest, with GB winning, of course
Sharon made stuffed Meatballs for Supper tonight. She takes a ball of Dressing and covers them with a meatball and then bakes them in Cream of Onion Soup. Yum, Yum. We also had squash and peas to round out the meal. It was all very good.
We tried to watch the 2nd game tonight while we switched back and forth to the Presidential Debates. But the wind that came up was giving the dish fits. It was more irritating than anything else. But at least we managed to see who won. (Jacksonville) It was a squeaker but they won in the end.
We had had a few cocktails with supper tonight and I thought that would help me sleep tonight but that wasn't to be. I took Vicadin, Sleeping Pills and when none of that worked I gave up at 3:30 and got dressed and came out of the bedroom. Another wonderful night of sleep. I went back to bed at 4:30 and did sleep for a little while.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Sharon was off to church this morning as soon as she got up. I slowly lumbered out of bed after another rotten night. Man, these have got to stop pretty soon.
Sharon, as usual, was off to church as soon as she could get ready. I generally watch the Sunday political shows, FoxNews Sunday, Meet the Press and This Week with George Stephanopoulus while she's gone. This morning however, the wind was howling and I never could get a picture on the dish. By the time Sharon got home I had one of my Seinfeld DVDs plugged in and was watching that. I asked my Honey to stop at Von's and pick up some fresh bakery this morning on her way home, and she didn't fail me. She also made us a couple of Scrambled Egg sandwiches for Breakfast.
Today will be a rotten day for TV because of the wind, and my dish doesn't handle the wind very well. In fact it doesn't handle it at all. By this afternoon the wind had died down somewhat and we got the score for the two playoff games in the NFL.
We took a ride over to Corky and Deb's this afternoon and picked up what looked like a Drywall screw in our right front tire. It looked like a leak at first with the tire just low on air, but by the time we left, it was flat as a pancake. Corky, Bless his Soul, changed it for us with minimal help from the three of us. We stopped over to wish Cork and Deb a Bon Voyage, as they will be leaving tomorrow for points further southwest, in the San Diego area. We got home just before dark but in time for the wind to let up enough to watch TV.
There were a couple of new shows on tonight and we watched them along with 60 minutes. We had TV until 10 and then it started raining again. No matter, I was ready for bed and I went there regardless. The rain kept Sharon awake for awhile but I went right to sleep full of sleeping pills and Vicadin.
