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 and continues to evolve through the years. To view entries before June of 2013, go to http://archive.bridgeccs.com
Sunday, December 30, 2018
December 28 - 30, 2018, AZ
Tom was helping Chaney yesterday with a project at his house, so Pat and I went girl shopping - for shoes, swimsuits, and bedding at the Superstition Mall, and at Kohl’s, Tuesday Morning, and DSW Shoes st SanTan Village. It was a good afternoon and always fun to hang out together.
Tom ended up going back to Chaney’s again today to finish their project and I spent the day doing my own projects - submitting a bill to my health insurance for reimbursement before the end of the year deadline, making phone calls to wish my brother, Ron, a Happy 57th Birthday and to my sister, Rene, for a girl chat, a couple of walks with Frisco, cleaning the coffee pot, making oyster cracker snacks for New Years Eve, and grocery shopping.
Tom and I are both gearing up to try a Ketosis diet to lose a few pounds, starting next week. I can’t really say that it is a New Year’s Resolution but we have kind of had that goal for a few weeks but didn’t want to start over the holidays. The worst part will be cutting out carbs and I just realized that the Tonic that I use for my cocktails is 2/3 of my future daily intake. I guess I will be finding something else to drink at happy hour - one thing that I am not willing to give up.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
December 24 - 27, 2018, AZ
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
December 17 - 23, 2018, AZ
I have also been scurrying to get Christmas gifts packed and sent to Wisconsin and Minnesota before the deadline. Unfortunately, a gift for the girls that I had shipped to me did not arrive until Tuesday, so I finally got that package in the mail this morning. It should arrive in time.
Today, Tom and I both had appointments with Dr. Roland this morning. I am amazed at how much better I feel, almost like I am getting psychological treatment rather than chiropractic. He says that he helps to reset the circuit breakers and I am becoming a believer in his methods. An alternate focus or distraction from the hurting area somehow leads to its feeling better. And then he gives a homework assignment that has you focus on some stressor in your life and then to let it go gets you feeling less stressed and the muscles, nerves, joints, and mind feel so much better.
We decided to go see the movie, “The Mule”, Clint Eastwood’s latest. We miscalculated the traffic and got to the first theater too late (and it was fully booked), so went to another theater and got there in plenty of time. The movie and the soundtrack were enjoyable.
Sunday, December 23. Early morning coffee and the weekly presentation of activities and updates started the day off on Thursday. I had a haircut appointment scheduled for the afternoon, but they called and changed it to Friday afternoon. No problem.
One of our neighbors delivered a package in the afternoon, a ‘giving plate’ that started out with our managers on November 9 and has been passed from site to site since then, each person keeping a gift and replacing it with another, then passing it on. I did have to shop for something, as there is no extra space for keeping ‘in case’ things in this trailer.
We did our grocery shopping yesterday, after taking a nice, long walk around the neighborhood. The days have been beautiful, in the low 70’s but the nights dip down to the upper 40’s - perfect for sleeping.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
December 10 - 16, 2018, AZ
Friday, December 14. We ran errands and finished up our Christmas shopping today, mostly gift cards, wrap and a timer for the lights around our RV. Many of the lots in the park are decorated to the hilt.
We met Pat and Roger at What the Hell, a bar in east Mesa, for fish fry. The food was pretty good, but my usual cocktail, a Vodka Tonic was served in a tall glass rather than a tub, and it tasted a lot more like tonic than vodka. After that, we went to the Gilbert Riparian and walked through the natural areas where the walkways were all lit up with luminaries and there were lots of lighted Christmas figures and music along the way. It was definitely geared for the kids, but we enjoyed it.
We decided to head into downtown Mesa to check out the lights at the Mormon Temple but there were none. And then I remembered that a brand new temple was built in Gilbert a few years back and that must be where the lights are. Another contributing factor is that downtown Mesa is all under construction, as they are extending the light rail lines farther to the east. So...we took a long ride and didn’t get a Christmas light display as a reward.
Regardless, it is always good to hang out with good friends.
Sunday, December 16. Our weekend was pretty busy. On Saturday, I really felt the need to go to some estate sales, so I spent a couple of hours doing that in the morning. They were both great sales, but I walked out empty handed - no room at the inn.
We met up with Ron, Linda, and Manual for breakfast on Sunday morning, another good time.
Back home, it was a relaxing afternoon and I was able to finish my crochet projects for the girls, leg warmers in their favorite colors.
I made a tasty dish for dinner, a sausage and shrimp dish with zucchini, onions, and peppers.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
December 3 - 9, 2018, AZ, CA
Sunday, December 9. The early part of the week was routine, other than an appointment with Doc Roland and a Vet appointment for Frisco. My appointment went well, the discomfort in my left side is relieved and I feel I should continue through the winter. My plan for treatment is to increase circulation, therefore relieving stress in joints and nerves, while keeping the mind healthy too. A vegetable only detox is in my future but not during the holidays.
Frisco has another bacterial infection in his right ear, and has been shaking his head a lot recently. I'm not sure why, but this has been the only health issue that he has had throughout his life and it affects only the right ear. The vet was surprised when I told her that he was 14.5 years old and felt that he is generally in good health for his age.
Shiprock RV Park had their annual residents meeting on Thursday morning and we learned a lot about the governing structure of the place and some of the benefits for residents. After that, we loaded our bags into the car, dropped Frisco off at the Bark Avenue Pet Resort and headed to Blythe, CA to visit Tom's sister Geri for the weekend. We checked into the Emerald Inn, a very basic but clean and tidy motel room and then headed to Geri's house.
Geri fixed us a nice spaghetti dinner, we visited, and played with the cat, Smokey, a lovable 7-month old gray tabby who gave us lots of laughs. We stopped at the lounge at our motel for a drink before settling in for the night.
We took a drive to Parker, AZ along the California side of the Colorado River and returned along the Arizona side on Saturday afternoon and then to the Steaks and Cakes restaurant for dinner. We all opted for the fish fry, although Tom and Geri both had liver and onions on their minds, changing at the last minute.
It was scary Saturday morning when my phone slipped out of my back pocket and dropped into the toilet as I was sitting down. I quickly grabbed it and dried it with a towel and everything worked as it should. Lucky for me, it could have been a dirty and costly disaster.
Geri had something on her calendar for the day, so Tom and I headed to the Blythe Intaglios for some hiking on Saturday. We hiked a couple of miles along a 4-wheel drive road, then along the top of a huge mesa, before stopping to see the Intaglios. They are geoglyphs (pictures) drawn on the ground by ancient peoples. They were made by scraping the surface of the ground and tamping it down to prevent weeds overtaking, and the stones that were cleared away form a border. A few are surrounded by fences but there are many scattered throughout the area, although we only saw the fenced ones. There were 2 human figures, that of a 4-legged animal, a swirled design, and some arrows. They are much better viewed from the air, so my photos didn't turn out very well.
Geri met us at Rebel BBQ for dinner and then she stopped by the hotel to chat for a while. After she went home, Tom and I walked to Courtesy Lounge for a drink. The bartender, Dominique, was a fun gal to talk with and the lounge decor is preserved from its creation back in the late 60's. There are several large circular booths upholstered in tufted red Naugahyde (it may have been manufactured in Stoughton at Uniroyal), all in very nice condition. The tufted Naugahyde went half-way up the walls and there were a few walls covered in rock - all very dated, but cool.
This morning, we walked to McDonalds for breakfast, then stopped for a short visit with Geri before heading back home.
December 1 - 2, 2018, AZ
Pat and I went to Monica's annual Jingle and Mingle Christmas ornament exchange on Saturday night. The drive is about 45 minutes longer, as I am much farther to the east. I got to Pat's and realized that I left my gift sitting next to the door at home, so that made it an even longer drive. Regardless, we got there only a half-hour late. The turnout was good, with Nan, Lindsey and her mother plus many of Monica's long-time friends and co-workers in attendance.
We had lots of good food to eat, a glass or two of Sangria, and lots of fun with the ornament exchange. I had stolen a couple of great items that would be nice for the trailer and at the very end, they got stolen from me. I ended up with a fancy, girlie ornament that doesn't fit me or any of my decor, so I will be passing it on to someone. The party broke up pretty early as several people had obligations in the morning and Monica had an early flight out to NYC.
Scooter had fun opening gifts too.
Tom and I met Manuel and Linda for breakfast on Sunday morning at the Black Bear Diner. It was nice to see them again and we had plenty to talk about as they are approaching retirement age and always have lots of questions. It was fun.
Later in the afternoon, we went to the Christmas Tree lighting event at the clubhouse, complete with punch, cookies, and Christmas music.