This journal got its start back in 2005 when we started full-timing in a motorhome and traveling around the country, visiting with family and friends and seeing the sights of America. The focus has changed through the years as we became more stationary and no longer travel by motorhome. Since October of 2018, it is the story of the journey of Tom and I and me flying solo again. To view entries before June of 2013, go to http://archive.bridgeccs.com
Monday, December 28, 2015
December 28 - 31, 2015, AZ
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
December 21 - 27, 2015, AZ
Friday, December 18, 2015
December 14 - 20, 2015, AZ
Saturday, December 12, 2015
December 7 - 13, 2015, AZ
Sunday, December 13. Yesterday was Max and Cookie's 10th Anniversary party at the Canadian enclave (Paul & Ulla and Larry and Linda's). They have converted their back yards that meet into a very large paved patio, complete with fire pit, heaters and tables and chairs. The party was held outdoors and it was a cold, cloudy 50 degree day with a few drops of rain. The heaters and fire kept us warm. We all shared drinks, pizza, and music in the company of good friends.
I think I have spent more time at home this week than I have since my return from summer travels. I guess it is just a matter of doing it. I have found plenty of ways to keep myself busy.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
December 1 - 6, 2015, AZ, CA
November 30, 2015, AZ
Next stop was for a short visit with some old friends of mine and Mike's - we worked with Gail and Elaine at the San Francisco RV Resort back in 2007. Both couples were there because we had sons in the area - needless to say, we became pretty good friends. They now live in El Cajon, both are in good health, and we had a nice visit and it seemed like we caught up on our lives in the hour that we had together. A short but sweet visit.
On to our hotel in downtown San Diego - my niece made the reservation for us and got us a really good rate - there was a glitch though. We were not made aware that the cost to park our car was going to be $48/night and there was a $100 charge for pets PLUS $25/dog/night - an additional $300 that we were not willing to pay. Sorry, Ashley! We cancelled the reservation and headed to the La Quinta (pet friendly) hotel in Old Town - very nice accommodations in a really cool part of town. All is well.
We had drinks and ordered pizza for delivery for dinner and settled in for a good night's rest. Just as we were settling in to watch some TV, the power went out and stayed out for almost an hour. Nobody knew the cause but some guest said that they saw fire trucks down the street.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
November 23 - 29, 2015, AZ
Monday, November 16, 2015
November 16 - 22, 2015, AZ
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
November 9 - 15, 2015, AZ
An exhibition by Frida Kahlo Museum – Casa Azul/Diego Rivera Museum; Banco de Mexico Fiduciario en el Fideicomiso Museos Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo
The Heard Museum presents a selection of more than 240 images from the 6,500 which are part of the Blue House archive. The photographs, along with Frida Kahlo’s personal items, were locked in a room of the Blue House, the residence where she spent most of her life, and revealed to the public in 2007. The images have served as memories to Frida, as work tools or as a means to exorcise solitude. The exhibition Frida Kahlo—Her Photos, curated by the well-known Mexican photographer and photography historian Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, shows the importance of this medium in Frida’s life.
The photographs – taken by Man Ray, Martin Munkácsi, Tina Modotti, Edward Weston, Nickolas Muray, Manuel and Lola Alvarez Bravo and others – were cherished by Kahlo when she was immobilized and isolated in her bed.
Frida Kahlo had a very special relationship with photography. Besides her personal background – both her father, Guillermo Kahlo, and her maternal grandfather were professional photographers – she brought different uses to photography: she collected daguerreotypes and visiting cards (carte de visite in French or tarjeta de visita in the original) from the 19th century, she kept photographs upon which she put her personal stamp, cutting things out from them, writing dedications on them and personalizing them as if they were paintings. Some of the images have red lipstick kisses, others are trimmed or folded. Some have personal notations on the reverse.
These images give visitors an intimate view of Kahlo’s life. The exhibition does not intend to depict a chronological biography, but rather to exhibit parts of the personal history of an artist, of a country and of a period. It is a photographic collage made up of images that allow us to discover new facets of a key figure of the 20th century.
For Frida Kahlo—Her Photos 241 photographs have been chosen, organized into six main subjects: The Origins; The Blue House; Politics, Revolutions and Diego; Her Broken Body; Frida’s Loves and Photography. The images throw new light on Frida Kahlo’s work as an artist, a way of understanding her life in historical and cultural context, and a demonstration of her passion for Mexico.
After riding the train to the end if the line and back to the parking lot, we found Roger's tire to be flat and they had to call AAA for assistance.
Tonight's news was all about an ISIS terrorist attack on the people of Paris, over 140 people were killed at various public events, a concert, a soccer game and on the streets. Sad, Sad, Sad!
This evening, Connie, Arlene, and I went to the Desert Botanicsl Gardens to see Big Nick and the Gila Monsters - a lively blues and jazz concert. It was a beautiful evening, kind of cool, but there were heaters scattered around to help keep us warm. The music kept you moving and that helped too. Thanks to Sharla for giving us her tickets and I hope that she gets to feeling better soon.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
November 2 - 8, 2015, AZ
Saturday, October 31, 2015
October 25 - 31, 2015, AZ
I have stayed busy this week, gathering items for our upcoming garage sale, getting them priced and ready for the big day. I also spent some time cleaning up and trimming one of Arlene's trees that had become quite overgrown. Since she has a hard time seeing, I offered to help her out. While I was working on it, Tom came back from his walk and helped me with some of the taller branches and with the cleanup. We still have another tree to trim but have to wait for available trash cans since we filled Arlene's and Betty's to the brims.
On Wednesday, Connie, Kathy, and I headed out to the library to get free culture passes to Arcosanti, an arcology project near Cordes Junction, about 70 miles north of Phoenix. It is the work of Paolo Soleri who died about 2 years ago. His dream was to create an urban community that was self sufficient and made a small footprint on the earth, thereby reducing pollutants such as roads, cars, etc.and creating a sense of community. Some of the housing units looked like honeycombs to me. Our tour guide, Mary Claire, or MC was very knowledgeable and informative, after fifty years of involvement, who wouldn't be. The project is funded by the sale of sand cast windbells and has been for many years, since 1970 to be exact. Its a little odd but kind of cool too.
This morning was busy. I checked on Jan and Jim's cat (a few days of cat sitting) and then walked to the clubhouse for Saturday morning coffee. It was enjoyable, I will try to do it more often. When I got back home, I emptied my shed and scrubbed all of the shelves and floor and then put everything back together again - a project that took me until 1:00 to complete. All is good, it no longer smells like the latest dust storm just went through there.