The Ladies and Hair.

The sister in laws(6), bride and her daughter and the

female nieces(3).  

Well, it was finally time for a hair cut and color.  Yes, I color my hair.  I know it's a shock.  It had been 4 weeks since it was cut or colored and it needed it.  So this morning, in our personal way of doing things we took off for Nellie's to get cuts and a color for me.  I miss Nell and her friendly family and shop in the back of her home.  She's a very talented artist.  Just not with hair but paint and wood.  She makes the most beautiful pictures and carvings from wood.  I'll have to remember to take pictures next time and post after Christmas.
Then a big treat, McDonalds down the street from Nell's.  I actually tried an Angus burger for the first time.  It was larger than Ron's and really tasty.  The fries were piping hot which made them delicious and the Coke tasted just like a fountain coke.  
There are more sister in laws and more nieces.  We'll get to the male side another time.  Sure glad I'm an only child.

Back to Normal Wednesday

We've been here in beautiful sunny southern Arizona for almost a month now.  It's been full of things to do but not part of our routine.  Today starts the first routine Wednesday.  Some grocery shopping, I know we did that Monday, to  pick up the single items Sam's Club and Costco doesn't sell.  To the discount Bimbo Bakery for bread and with a little bit of luck, no Entenmanns.
Wednesday is our late lunch day.  With Wednesday evening being big money Bingo, we try to have lunch late enough that it's the last meal of the day.  Of course, if you've been to Bingo you'll know that it isn't really true on my part.  The goodies that people bring, including sweet and savory, plus the free popcorn make it feel like another full meal.
BTW, the big money Bingo money has eluded me this season but I'm still going to keep going.  The friends are worth the price of admission.  OK, there's no admission and the price of the bingo cards is 10 cents a card for the first 9 games.  Last game is 25 cents a card but it's a cover all and they're all winner take all.
With the help of my friend, Larry, I finally figured out how to change my security so it's easier to comment.  Hope it helps my son and others and that I won't regret it.
Today's destination for lunch is "Sweet Tomatoes".  We have free meal certificates to use because we bought gift cards.  Sure hope our children don't think that they were bought for them.  Wouldn't want to spoil their surprise.

Easy Access

Well, I've been informed that some people can't respond to my blogs so I've tried to make some changes to make it easier.  Sure hope it works cause I love hearing people's opinions.
It's been another beautiful Arizona weekend with perfect weather unless you were in something that might blow away.  We did have a "breeze" for a day or so but I enjoy them.
This looks like it will be a normal week here at Cactus Country.  Coffee and donuts on Tuesday with quilting/sewing/crochet and knitting afterwards and bingo on Wednesday night.  I need to win one.  Haven't won one yet.
Please let me know if you still have trouble posting comments on my blog.

Black Friday

Not really in this house.  This is probably going to be a stay at home day.  I was fortunate this morning that the first e-mail was the answer to 9 Christmas presents.  Thanks Bob.  Only have two more to purchase.  That's my idea of a perfect Christmas Shopping .  Now we can relax and enjoy the real reason for the season.
Yesterday was a very good day.  After breakfast of cereal and sausage I made lemon icing for the lemon bundt cake.  The rest of the day was a breeze.  Walked to the Rec Center, Ron carried the cake.  The other Ron had saved six seats in an excellent section so we just roamed around talking to people.  Friends are coming in every day so when there's something going on at the Rec Hall you never know who's going to be there.
The Adventure Bound Corp bought the turkeys and fixings.  The Activity Directors with a little help from the residents made the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy and were they ever good.  The only thing wrong was no left overs waiting at home.  The dish to pass consisted mostly of desserts but there was enough veggie dishes to allow everyone a serving.
We enjoyed out meal with Larry and Gerry and the other Ron and Dee.  After a quick dinner and cleanup (felt like they were throwing us out the door) we went back to our unit and relaxed for awhile before heading down to Gerry and Larry's new bus for a tour, conversation and pecan pie.
I am familiar with the manufacturer of their new home and knew it was going to be nice but it was more than nice.  It has all the bells and whistles you could possibly think of and then a lot more.  I loved it all but that electric fireplace sure made me jealous.  Happy for them though.
We came home around 9 pm and once we chilled out the bed was not far behind.  

No Hot Water Redux

Yes, you read it correctly.  No hot water.  I discovered it last night when I was trying to wash up after Ron ran the dishwasher and hand washed the pots and pans.  At first I thought I hadn't waited long enough but when Ron checked the hot water heater, sure enough, pilot light was out.  He started it and I waited about fifteen minutes to a half hour and tried again.  Water was luke warm and by all standards not hot.
I really didn't want to tell Ron that but wasn't sure how dangerous it was not to have the pilot light lit.  Out he went and sure enough the pilot light was out again.
If finally heated the water up enough so I could wash up for bed with an emphatic statement to call the Plummer this morning.
When I got up this morning Ron informed me that now the hot water heater pilot light wouldn't even light.  Before I knew it he was on the phone to Cummings Pluming with a request for a service call.   They obliged with an appointment between 10 am and 2 pm today.  Good thing we hadn't planned our usual Wednesday running errands and eating a late lunch.
Well, while Ron was occupied, his phone rang around 8:30 so I answered it after seeing it was the pluming company.  They had a tech on his way.
The thermocouple went out.  He replaced it, under warranty of course, and was on his way before 9 am.
So to celebrate, Ron stripped the sheets off the bed and is doing laundry.  Who said we don't live a wild and crazy life in Arizona?

Tuesday Morning Just not the Same.

Thought it was going to be a typical Tuesday morning here in the park but it hasn't turned out the way I'd planned.
Coffee and donuts were the same and so was the pitch from John from Freedom RV.  No he hasn't changed, he's still not a salesman and he doesn't work for Freedom RV.
They did bring a motor home but it didn't trip my trigger but it seemed to Ron's.
No Quilting today cause the leader hadn't gotten around to doing anything to get ready.  It's not on the calender and she didn't bother putting out a notice either.
So, I instructed Ron to pretend like I was a quilting and go about what he had planned to do.  Of course, just like a man, he didn't.  In stead he decided to wait and eat lunch with me.  I got tired of waiting for lunch time and started unloading kitchen cabinets and moving canned goods and dishes around.  Now we have more room than we had before and it's in order so I can find a can of purple sage berries if I want them.  BTW I don't have a can of purple sage berries nor do I know if they even exist but if I had a can of purple sage berries I would know were to find them.
Ron's off to "Harbor Freight" and places unknown and I'm here in the mobile all by myself listening to the sounds of planes flying overhead, thank you USAF, and silence in between.  I love the sound of the planes flying over, they give me a sense of security.  Sometimes it sounds like they are going to land on top of us but that's OK.   They're guarding our boarders.
As for me, when I finish this I'll start working on finishing touches to the 8 quilts I put together this summer for the Linus Project.

Happy Birthday

Today 237 years ago a group of men met in a tavern and declared the United States of American would be protected.  The United States Marine Corps was founded in that tavern and some say that's still the place you can always find one.
If you get a chance to be at a Marine Corps Birthday Party, consider yourself blessed.  I have had the honor of being at three of them.  One being the 200th Birthday.  It's a beautiful ceremony conducted by Marines, for Marines.  The Marines (they are not soldiers) are in "Dress Blues" with blue wool trousers and a "Blood Stripe" down the outer seam.  With white gloves and swords it's a moving tradition.
So with that I say a personal Happy Birthday to SSGT Gregory Cummings, 20 years retired, fought in lands unnamed.  SSGT Ronald Cummings, 10 years, fought two tours  in Vietnam,  left his beloved Marines to take care of me in my time of need.  Wayne Metz,  medically retired Marine at 18 from a land mine in Vietnam.  Robert Darr, black shoe Marine (air wing) tried it but decided not to make it a career. SSGT Michael Darr tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, present duty, Mount Fuji, Japan.   Michael Schiek, served without public knowledge of his whereabouts.

Semper Fi

Another day closer to NORMAL

It's a beautiful morning in Tucson.  Sun is out, 76 degrees at 10 am and my water heater closet has walls and a floor.  Just waiting for the plummer this afternoon to install the water heater.
The floors in the hallway and bedroom are the same height.  That means the part those nasty men tore out last Friday has been replaced and they are in the process of putting new paneling on the walls they tore out.  All this thanks to our handyman, Glen, and my wonderful husband, Ron.  They worked all afternoon yesterday after a trip to Home Depot in the morning to purchase their supplies and bragging on the deals they got.  Now this morning they're at it again.
After one entire week since we arrived in Tucson our lives are getting back to normal.  My sanity was at stake when they were tearing it all out and the climbing over and around the fans and dehumidifier was a bit  unnerving but I learned to adjust.
Looking forward to enjoying those beautiful desert sunsets.  There's none like them anywhere else, so I say.
I even went to bingo last night and saw some friends that are back for the winter.  Really enjoyed myself despite not winning a dime.  I did bring good luck to a friend who hadn't won a game all summer so that was as good as winning myself, maybe even better.

They're out of here......

Well, the restoration person showed up unannounced this morning and Ron signed a waver so all the machines are gone.  5 + days, can't wait to see the bill.  Ron and a handy man he hired are off to Home Depot to buy supplies for the reconstruction.  I doubt if we'll have hot water by the weekend since we'll have to depend on the plummers to put in the new hot water heater.  But the sound of silence is overwhelming.  I'm wondering if I'll be able to sleep tonight without the sound of two commercial fans and a dehumidifier running.  Ha Ha ! That was a joke.

I'm not happy about all the election results from last night.  Some I voted for won and some didn't.  A late surprise came this morning when a push for a Constitutional Amendment we thought passed had actually failed.  The failure was a good thing for a lot of our friends who work for the State of Illinois.

So we're on the road to normal......

Day 5 and counting

The  restoration person came Saturday and today (Monday) to check the moisture content of the floors.  They flunked on Saturday but by then the sound of the blowers and dehumidifier were "normal".  Today's visit the outside dehumidifier in the hot water heater space passed and it was removed.  The two blowers and dehumidifier inside still haven't don't their job so they stay another day, at least.  This guy rolled the carpet back so the bare floor is showing so maybe it will be removed on tomorrow's visit.
The sad thing is I'm getting used to the noise of the fans and sleeping pretty good at night but crawling over the fan in the bedroom doorway and bathroom doorway plus the hose going from the dehumidifier thru the bathroom into the shower drain is a little tricky so I try not to get up in the middle of the night.
Tomorrow one guy is coming to give us an estimate to restore the floors when they finally dry out.  Ron got a number from a neighbor who had a similar problem last year plus had their doors replaced and called him for an estimate but he hasn't called back with an appointment time.
Things actually feel back to normal in the rest of the house.  I cook and Ron does dishes.  Tonight will be Mexican night, as usual, but Ron cooks the beef.  Tomorrow is pork roast, sauer kraut and potatoes  in the crockpot.;    Wednesday is bingo so on goes our life in sunny Tucson for the winter.
I'll try and remember to keep up on how our mini disaster cleanup is progressing.
Nothing like the one one of our Grand daughters is going thru in New Jersey.  They were Blessed in that the trees all fell away from their home on already dead power lines.  They haven't had electricity since last Monday night but they have their home and two fire places with wood and a gas generator but gas has been difficult to obtain because of Hurricane Sandy.
How's it going at your home today?

Water, water where's the hot water.

I'll warn my readers now that this isn't going to be a funny blog today.  We arrived in Tucson with smiles on our faces and a promise of a wonderful winter.  The water heater wouldn't start up and Ron said it looked like it was leaking.  Well, that was the understatement of the month.
We called the plummer right away to come out Friday morning and replace the original water heater with a brand spanking new one.  He was to be here between 8 am and noon and call first.  He fulfilled the last two promises but brought bad news for the new water heater.  It had leaked for a long time rotting out the floor underneath it and into the mobile as well.
He called a fire and water restoration company who promptly came out and declared to Ron what all needed to be done to make ready for the repairs.  Not even talking about a new water heater yet.  It's down the road aways.
We gave him a deposit with the balance do upon completion of the drying out and the amount depending on how long it would take to dry out.  The actually workers showed up in short order, I think they were all setting on the drive in waiting their turn like the cement trucks do at a construction sight.  They tore out part of the outside wall and some of the flooring inside, set up dehumidifiers in the space where the water heater was and one inside the back door on the other side of the wall from the water heater.  Then they installed two huge fans to help dry it out, one in the bathroom door and one inside the bedroom door, turned them all on and left.  To be continued when the next step comes up.

Tucson, we call you home.

Again, sorry I didn't keep you up to day but we're in Tucson for the next 5 months or so.  Everything went well from Lordsburg, NM this morning.
I want to say if you need to spend the night in Lordsburg or any where near, I highly recommend the Best Western.  We had a huge room with a king size bed.  Table and two chairs, desk with a office chair and a double bathroom with a long counter top and sink in one room and another sink with a good sized counter in the ample sized bathroom.  There were night stands on both sides of the bed.  If you stay at a motel with any degree of regularity, you'll appreciate all the things I've mentioned.  The price was they cheapest we paid the entire trip out.  Believe me when I say it was the nicest Best Western we stayed in.
Enough said.
The mobile looks pretty good. The plastic storm protectors on two of the windows were ripped but they're saying they had some bad storms.  There were a couple large dead bugs on the floor and of course, little ones here and there that we sweep up with no hassle.
The only problem we have is a broken water heater.  Upon close inspection, Ron determined it was the original one that came with the mobile in 1980, if Google is right.
Of course we brought to much clothes but we'll get that straightened out eventually with what stays here and what stays in IL.  "My room" as Ron calls it has plenty of "stuff" on the floor but in due time it will be put away.  Had a little glitch with my laptop but got it straightened out and working.  DUH.  I haven't figured out how to use my smart phone for blogs yet.
Since we didn't have anything thawed out for dinner we decided on a hamburger at the new restaurant off of Houghton.  Very interesting.  It's one of a kind but if it succeeds, there will be more.  It's hot car themed and has cars being worked on and built in the garage next to the dining room with a large glass window in between.  There is a list of the cars on the tables.  The food?????  Well the shrimp bacon wrapped poppers were fantastic.  Don't order your hamburger well done unless you want it black.  The onion rings with chewey but I'm spoiled since we just left Illinois, Crest Hill to be precise with Merchikas home made onion rings that they have been making for 70 years to perfection.  Ron said his bacon cheddar burger was good and so was the fries but he wouldn't tell me if it wasn't.
I did notice they had a Ruben sandwich on the menu and it sounded really good till I got to the choice of meat.  Pastrami, black forest ham and turkey.  I'll leave you with that.  You decide.
Wish we would have gone with our friends, Gerry and Larry, to Guadalajara.