December 29, 2010

Well, Arizona is finally getting the terrible weather that has hit most of the US.  By terrible, I mean it is overcast today and temps are around 60-62!  Still not too bad.

We went to the Phornix Coyote hockey game - they played like turkeys and lost 3-1 but we had fun with all the excitement and the fans.  The fans howl like a coyote everytime they score a goal or for any other excuse they can find.  It was a hoot!

Christmas was so quiet and peaceful.  We spent the day bike riding and going on a 2-3 mile hike up Silly Mountain.  I thank God every day that my stamina is coming back - we had a blast on that hike.  We were surrounded by the huge saguero cacti and lots of other strains of cacti. Thank God we didn't run into any snakes or that would be the LAST time I went on a hike.

We are getting organized for our little 3 day trip back to Canada next week, having company for most of the month of January with a few days break in between.  We take possession of our new home on January 26th (we hope) so will be spending a few days cleaning and getting things settled before we leave for home around the end of January.  Escrow closing on houses are a lot different than in Canada.  It might close on the 25th, 26th or the 27th, depending apparently, on many things.  One gal here in Mountainbrook Village has waited over 4 months for her house to close..............I think there is more to the story than she is revealing.

We are off to a Livestock Show in Phoenix (of course not to see the Livestock but to visit all the vendors associated with the show), then head to Tucson on Friday to visit a Tres Amigos Retail location and attend a Pow Wow the Indian Tribes have to celebrate New Years.

Dianne

December 24th

What another nice day today - beautiful sunny 72 degree weather.  We dropped into the fabulous flea market in Mesa, ran a few errands and ended up at an Olive Garden for dinner.  We could NOT BELIEVE the number of cars in the parking lots of shopping centers!!  Cars were circulating, trying to get a parking spot AT 5:30 PM!!!  Do most people wait until the last minute to shop?

We drove to Phoenix where they had a mile long display of over 7 million Christmas lights, most animated - we stayed in the car and drove through the display.  Waterloo Park looks a little 'small' compared to this.

Upon entering this subdivision,  the streets are lined with luminaries - little tea lights in paper bags, glimmering in the night.  Apparently hundreds of volunteers set them out and light them approximately at the same time.  What a sight!

Gret news - we bought a beautiful house with possession date of January 26th.  We have it rented out for February and March and hope to get back down here in April.  We are pretty excited about it!

Dianne

Tuesday December 21st

We went to see the Judds Sunday evening in Phoenix - what a great show!  Almost 3 hours long.  Momma Judd (Naomi) was such a joy to watch.  She loves life and it shows.....she just flits around like a little butterfly (and you can tell she drives her daughter nuts!)  It's fun to watch.

It was a bit sad because they called it their final tour and Phoenix was the last show of the tour, so it was very emotional, especially for Naomi.  Wynonna, as usual, put on a great show - has such a strong and beautiful voice.

We've been busy doing 'nothing' but enjoying the stress-free and relaxation of not running around like crazy chickens before Christmas.  We went into Kohl's, a department store the other day and there had to be 50 people standing in line, the line snaking through the store.  Unbelievable - do people wait until the very last day to do their shopping?

We are trying to get something to do Christmas Day (other than golfing) to help others.  We have a contact to work for a Soup Kitchen and will get volunteering we hope.

Dianne

December 16, 2010

WOW - Can't believe it's the 16th of December ALREADY!!  After golfing on Tuesday in 75 degree weather, it's a bit cooler today and raining.  That's okay - a good day to work at the jigsaw puzzle.

Our visit to Las Vegas was great.  We stayed at a new location, a few blocks off the Strip and really enjoyed it.  We had tickets to two shows Cirque Du Sole (Elvia) and the Terry Fator Show.  Both were really good.

During the day we went to two different Cowboy Xmas Craft Shows.  They each are equivalent to the One Of A Kind Show in Toronto - AWESOME!

Time seems to go quickly here and we are taking advantage of the beautiful weather.

I promise to update more often.   D.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

We had a great today - temp was 75 degrees.  We had breakfast and lunch on the patio then left to go to Tempe to the Art/Craft Show.  It was awesome.  Bob bought a tomahawk decorated with feathers, etc.  I'm sure we will find a place for it somewhere.

We stopped at Chili's for dinner.  The excitement is so nice but we were happy to get back to the house where it is QUIET and peaceful - without all the commotion and traffic.  Does that mean we are getting old??

Talked with Ethel today.  She sounds frail and weak but determined to get stronger and better.  She knows she has to go back to the surgeon in January for him to remove the tumour on her colon.  Yikes.  She's one tough woman!

D.

Friday, December 3rd

We drove for an hour to get to Chandler to experience the tree lighting ceremony (made of over 1,000 tumbleweeds) and found out it is scheduled for TOMORROW!!!

Just found out that Ethel has been released from hospital and is at home - can you believe that?????  She can hardly walk, is so weak, refused to go to Sunnyside for recuperation and refused night care.  Her useless grand-daughter who lives in Waterloo and only has contact with Ethel once or twice a year, decided to be a Great White Knight and 'rescue' her - took her clothes to the hospital this morning at 7:30 am so Ethel had something to wear to go home.

Tomorrow she (the Grand-daughter) is leaving for Florida for two weeks........................so Marg, a friend in the building and Audree, her daughter-in-law have to pick up the pieces.  It's really too bad that these decisions are made without thinking it through and then everyone else has to pick up the pieces.

Oh well, now that I've vented I can go to bed.

Getting Settled

We arrived yesterday (around 5:30 pm) in Gold Canyon and had dinner with Bonnie and Sheldon.  We played Solo last night with them.  They left this morning to fly to Detroit for two months.

We are unpacked and settled in.  After getting groceries and touring around to see the changes during the past three years, we came back and vegged out.

What beautiful weather - ate breakfast and lunch on the patio.  It's been unusually warm and it is expected to be this way for the rest of the week.

We are off to attend a tree lighting ceremony tomorrow night.  It consists of over 1,000 tumbleweeds so it should be quite a sight - different from what we normally visualize a Christmas tree to be.

Saturday we are attending the Tempe Festival of the Arts with over 400 vendors and Sunday we are going to see what has been happening at the Mesa Flea Market.  I just read that there are 1,600 vendors there.  Yippee - we will be busy........

D.

Tuesday November 30th

We went through some snow today between Texas and New Mexico.  It is very cold here - temperature is around zero!  We are in Albuquerque New Mexico, toured Albuquerque Olde Towne and staying at a fabulous Best Western.  We walked to Olde Towne and wandered around for a few hours then had a nice mexican dinner.

Got bad news today - my cousin's wife Pat Haffner died Monday am.  She and I were buddies during my single days and spent a lot of time and holidays together.  We toured New York City and area and she spent time with me when I was in Florida during my Fleamarket days. 

We are off to Arizona tomorrow and will get there in the afternoon and get settled finally.

Gas City, Indiana

Being here reminds me of when I had Xplornet as our server in Mount Forest!  It's taken me 4 hours just to get a few emails - get kicked out every few minutes. 

Talked with Ethel's daughter-in-law tonight and she said Ethel is doing okay, just okay.  We will see how things are in the next week. 

We played Skip-po tonight and I won - yippee!  We will be on the road early tomorrow.

Getting Packed

I'm still trying to get the hang of this, so please bear with me.  I am giving my mobile stick to our neighbour to use for 2-1/2 months.  I won't need it because most motels have WiFi and my cousin Bonnie has internet at her house that I can use.

Last minute packing is done so just have to get ready to go out for dinner, then sleep time.  We hope to be on the road by 7 am................that is according to the 'driver'.

November 19th, 2010

Still trying to figure this thing out.  Getting REALLY excited about leaving.  Got insurance coverage and go to last minute Doctors visits, then ready to pack!

November 1st

Just trying to figure out this "BLOG" thing. I still don't know how to invite friends to share with.

Getting Excited

October 17, 2010

I'm getting excited about going to Arizona - getting maps ready and planning our trip.  I am trying to set up a blog so friends know where we are each night and I don't have to put it on Facebook or send many emails.  This just seems to make it easier (and also provides a challenge to my brain to try and figure out how to start a blog).

Here goes..........................................