Chris Beth 'n Pugs - 2010

The End of the Year Summary

10 Jan 2011 - Okay, so I'm slow...

What did we do this year?

January - A short trip to Quartzsite - the rest of the month sitting in Yuma. Beth had some gourd-teaching classes in the garage.

February - The Gourd Festival in Casa Grande; more gourd classes in the garage - had some really great new students.

March - Chris turned 65, we attended the MATO car show and went to the swap meet and county fair. Julie won a blue ribbon for her gourd.

April - The Civil War happened again at the local park; Mikey's birthday party was at the Q Casino...

May - The neighbors began migrating north; we hit the road to Texas, stopping along the way for a visit to Big Bend Natl Park. We stopped in the Hill Country and looked for a house to buy, but didn't find one. We did have great visits with friends Walt and Roxie.

June - Spent the entire month at the Escapees CARE facility in Livingston - cooking, cleaning, vacuuming, suffering from the heat and humidity, meeting really terrific CARE residents. Also managed to find some new budgie birds to fill our empty cages, along with one to live in Seattle.

July - On the road again...  Fredericksburg, Roswell, Four Corners, Provo, Boise... it's just like being a traveling RVer! - visits with family and friends.

August - Northwest Washington state - visits with Todd & Lisa's family, including parades, birthdays and gourd cleaning.

September - Colorado - after a fast forced march from Seattle - in time for the Rock Ledge Ranch (?) Craft Show, where sister-in-law VeAnne has a booth and sells tons of stuff. I did not sell tons of gourds... but we had fun. We camped at Grand Junction on the way and visited the National Monument, stayed with Nate and Tanya in Florissant and remembered why we like them.

October - Just meandering - as RV folk are supposed to - Las Vegas, NM to Gallup to Flagstaff to Phoenix. A new windshield at Phoenix. Missed the tornado (barely) at Flagstaff. The end of the month found us in Yuma.

November - Just sittin' in Yuma.

December - The big black blues cloud hit both of us in November and December. Not much happenin'. Not much done. No one cared much. Santa brought Chris a new Kindle and Beth a big screen to plug into her laptop. It was a good year to be done and gone.

Hope you had a good one. Welcome to 2011 and a new blog.

Blog for 2011

 

Merry (Technology in 2010) Christmas

15 Dec 2010

     Grandson Trevor shared this with us - it has to be forwarded on to the world... (click for the YouTube link)

Merry Christmas!!

 

     Christmas is upon us in Yuma - the parades have happened. Santa arrived. The neighborhoods are lit. Trees are decorated. Dinner and party invitations have been proffered and accepted. Music is heard. Presents have been purchased. Hmmm... Must be the Season.

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Quotes for the Season:

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:10-12

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree."
~ Charlotte Carpenter.

They err who thinks Santa Claus comes down through the chimney; he really enters through the heart."
~ Mrs. Paul M. Ell.

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"
~ Bob Hope

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."
~ Garrison Keillor

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold

Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal. - Lenore Hershey

Even before Christmas has said Hello, it's saying 'Buy Buy'. - Robert Paul

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Some businessmen are saying this could be the greatest Christmas ever. I always thought that the first one was. - Art Fettig

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? - Dr. Seuss

 

Dear Diary...

4 Dec 2010

    Friend Joan reminds me this is not just posting 'stuff' on a website - it is our family diary. So I guess I'd better get back to updating mine also. Thanks, Joan!

    I've been sick since Thanksgiving - some combo of junk that I think included a shot of strep throat. I haven't had that in years and years - it used to be a regular visitor in my life. It also came with a nasty, unable to get rid of headache(s), fever, instability and general malaise... going along with the huge depressed field I've been in for weeks. All in all, not a nice place to be - physically nor mentally.

    And now Chris has some of it - but he never suffers physically as badly nor as long as I do - so I'm a wimp. It's my definition.

    We have been thru another session of deciding not to buy a home - the major cause for my being down. I really thought we were on the way - as a team effort. But that was all shot down by the major voter in the household. I'm still in the long term thinking of what I'm going to do about that. Yuma is all negative to me now. I no longer care what friends are doing, what's going on in entertainment, what's on sale at the Mall (OH NO!!! Not that bad!!!) I'm even re-thinking the whole RV travel thing. After this spring's trip to the Civil War, I may decide to just settle down. 

    I drove down the only access street to our subdivision the other day and took some photos. I was going to publish them as an essay on the world I live in (that I wish to escape) but realized I'd be embarrassed for friends and family to see them. It's all a 3rd world country look - trashy yards... falling apart trailer houses... deserted buildings... weeds and dead trees... I've never wanted to live in a designer home, but this is way below what I am comfortable with.

    The trips to Algodones have been my only entertainment lately. I found a new dentist accidentally (by going in the wrong office) and she appears to do fairly decent work, but is very slow and painstaking and now obviously doesn't care if I ever come back. I have an extremely small mouth (boca muy pequena!!!) which makes working in it apparently similar to working on children. Dentists have never liked me! This crown was in a less than easily accessible location, which added to the frustration. The receptionist didn't even ask me if I wanted to schedule further appointments to finish the $1000 worth of work needing to be done.  Should I feel offended? Nah.

    However, there was excitement this week - the acquisition of my birthday present. Chris gave me $$$ for it in July, which were carefully tucked away in a very safe place (which I remembered!!! wonder of wonders.) Thursday was the very first day I could upgrade my phone (cheaply) on my Verizon account. Thursday morning we went to the Verizon store! and came home with my very own Droid X. Cool! I've spent many many hours since learning just some of its tricks, and downloading lots of 'aps'...

    (Did you know you can read barcodes and get comparable prices from other merchants?)

    (Did you know you can scan all your grocery key chain discount cards and just have the checker scan your phone?)

    (Did you know you can link your Kindle books to read when you are really bored standing in line? and it's not half bad reading that way!)

    (Did you know it has unlimited internet access, but it's not quite the same... the mouse seems to be missing...)

    The camera and camcorder appear to be really quite good - now to learn how to upload and share. Ah, the educational experiences, once again.

    This was the entertainment in Algodones this week: (yes, it was taken with 'droid'!)

    Enjoy your weekend, world.

'Tis the Beginning of the Season(s)

24 Nov 2010

Some people have partridges in their pear trees.

We have Panchos in our Palm...

Hope your Thanksgiving Day is filled with love and hugs, food and good company, friends and family...

 

Paraprosdokian Sentences borrowed from Pat...

These are called paraprosdokian sentences. The  first half has one
meaning and the second sentence gives the phrase a  whole new meaning. 


I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a
bike and asked for forgiveness.  

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and  beat you
with experience. 

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming
and yelling like the passengers in his  car. 

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than  standing in a
garage makes you a car. 

The last thing I want to do  is hurt you. But it's still on the list. 

Light travels faster than  sound. This is why some people appear bright
until you hear them speak.  

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. 

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. 

War does not determine who is right - only who is left. 

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a
fruit salad.  

Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both  be
changed regularly, and for the same reason. 

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. 

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to
tell you why it isn't. 

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To  steal from many is
research. 

If God is watching us, the least we can do is be entertaining. 

A bus station is where a bus stops. A  train station is where a train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station.  

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of
payments. 

How is it one careless match can start a forest fire,  but it takes a whole
box to start a campfire?

Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you
can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs. 

Dolphins are so smart that  within a few weeks of captivity, they can train
people to stand on the  very edge of the pool and throw them fish? 

I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted pay checks. 

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't
need it.  

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a  laxative on the
same night. 

I didn't fight my way to the top of  the food chain to be a vegetarian. 

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. 

Why does someone believe you when you  say there are four billion stars, but
check when you say the paint is wet?  

Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the  street with a
bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.  

Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president  and 50
for Miss America ? 

Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful
man is usually another woman. 

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a  bad memory. 

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need  a parachute to
skydive twice. 

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas! 

Always borrow money from a  pessimist. He won't expect it back. 

Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish
they were.  

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with. 

I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a
great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.  

Change is inevitable, except from a vending  machine.

Wormy Dirt Cake

25 Oct 2010

    The "old" neighbors (as opposed to the "new" neighbors on this side of the freeway) invited us over for Sunday Night Dinner yesterday, so I got creative. Must have been my new Martha Stewart book/magazine influence. I checked out my faithful cooks.com and made a Wormy Dirt Cake. It's fun. It's messy. It's high in calories. It's more like a pudding than a cake. And the kids love it. Especially the over-age-65 kids.  There are great photos of variations on the theme - just Google 'Dirt Worm Cake' and click Images. People with imaginations!

  See the worms?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't find a bucket, so I used a green pumpkin.

    And then I really hit overkill and also made oatmeal raisin cookies. I'm not used to doing this, you understand - we have a couple of terrific grandsons that usually do it for us! Trevor and Trey are awesome cookie makers, but it's almost necessary for us to be in the same town in order to get the results. (There was one time when the person responsible for transporting them to the post office stopped off at his office and they magically disappeared before reaching the sending stage. We don't trust his delivery services anymore!) "In the same town" isn't happening right now - Trevor's in West Point and Trey's at BYU.  Mine might not have been up to their standards, but they were quickly munched down by the smiling dinner guests.

    One of today's scheduled tasks is to buy some flowers and plant the patio pots. Yuma in winter is not totally barren - the bouganvillas are marvellous. When I stopped at City Hall the other day I couldn't resist a photo.

    I finally sat down in the gourd workshop the other day and began a couple of projects. A leafy gourd for Dawn and a lizard one for Gwen. But, after I turned on the air compressor and started looking for all the parts for my TurboCarver, I discovered I'd lost all the carving bits. Yikes! It's just a little case, but it holds almost $100 worth of little bitty dentist drill bits... I've searched everywhere. Not to be found. So, I ordered new ones, of course. Maybe I'll go carve a Halloween scene instead...

The beginnings...

    Howard and Lynda are supposed to arrive in town fairly soon - it's about time! My freezer is full of duck that is begging to be "rotisserated." Lynda might be hiding under a wig when they arrive - she complains of suffering from 'road hair' - a really, really bad haircut. We talked and laughed about it at dinner last night - we all have had similar experiences. 

================================

Quotes for the day (I can't recall where I quit on this list.... sorry....)

18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.

21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'

22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'

23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'

25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

Back to Yuma

9 Oct 2010

    Back to Yuma... y'know, this is getting old. I remember in the old days of traveling all the time that we used to make fun of people that went back to the same old place every winter... for 27 years... we are now in our 7th... 20 to go?

    We didn't find a new home in Texas this summer, as I wanted to. In order to make the move, it has to be perfect, y'know? Is that too much to ask?

    So we survived the tornado in Flagstaff (tornados in Arizona????)... the glass repair (finally) in Phoenix... the trek across the desert (with Chris bouncing in his seat at the welcome sight of saguaro cactus and even cholla!)... and the arrival on our little RV lot amidst our neighbors and friends.

Dinner at Black Bart's  in Flagstaff - it's fun!

    We drove by the rental house the next day - the cover over the playhouse/workshop didn't quite survive the gale-force winds they had here this summer. But, the silver lining - we don't have to spend a couple of hours uncovering it and putting it away... See, there's always a silver lining. The interior of the house is (dead) bug infested and stinky from all the bug bombs we left for their entertainment. I cleaned the kitchen, wiped down all the cupboards, plugged in the fridge, mopped the floor, ran a duster thru the major living room stuff and plopped in a chair on the beautiful clean, washed, and shined patio. Chris does such a good job when he is motivated! (Beer will often motivate.)

    Today we'll go back over, drag out the vacuum to harvest the rest of the monster bug bodies and finish cleaning out the garage so the cars will fit in. Give us a few days and we'll probably move in. We have to have an offset to leaving our comfortable, easy-to-clean because it's small motorhome - a lure, if you will. And that is the high speed internet being put into service today. Okay, that works. Our satellite dish is Wonderful in the wilds. But slow and creaky when something else is available.

    Our overnight stop in Phoenix was expensive, but worth it. A new windshield (yet again...) and the "pilot's" side window repaired. Our month in Livingston revealed a leak between the dual panes - we had full-scale cumulous clouds inside that puppy, I swear. Definitely a hazard to the driver's vision whenever we got into similar hot and humid weather, and even when it was nice, it was cloudy.

    So Mark, of RVGlass Solutions, took it out, took it apart, scraped the old gunk off, inserted new marvelous spacers so this wouldn't happen again, and put it back in. YAY!  Mark is a former production supervisor for Country Coach in Eugene and knows motorhomes inside and out.  The best part was that he allowed Chris to hang over his shoulder the entire time and supervise his work. The worst part was his working us into his busy schedule, which meant he showed up on our doorstep, where we were parked in the back lot of the warehouse, at 6 AM. Y'all know Chris' aversion to such times. But he was almost polite and cooperative and we were out of there by shortly after noon.  PS. As we were leaving, Mark gave us a bunch of cards for referrals, and said we get a bonus if any of our friends use our name when making repairs. Yay. Go for it guys. Just remember Chris Pany's name!!!!

Chris supervises...

Their warehouse is well-stocked!

Now That's a BIG windshield! Our little two-piece baby would fit in about a quarter of it...

... insert advertisement...

 

 

 

Bits and Pieces from the Road

2 Oct 2010 - Happy Birthday, Howard!

    We've been meandering for what seems like weeks, ever since leaving Mt. Florissant. Haven't accomplished much in miles nor activities, but it's been fun.

    We did not purchase a windshield in the Springs - they wanted too much money. We located a warehouse full of them in Phoenix, so we'll try there next.
(See the photo from my previous posting. You will be pleased to know it has not suffered further damage since then.)

    We visited old quaint downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico and had a mediocre meal at El Rialto, which should have been terrific.

Nearby are the old classic town plaza and Highlands University. Las Vegas was a primary stop on the old Santa Fe Trail. North of town is an old fort that we visited years and years ago in time for the nightly taps routine that put goosebumps on my arms.

    We had dinner at a classy old 1930s hotel in Gallup that used to serve as the headquarters for movie crews on location. The furnishings and photos are terrific.

Notice the fantastic steer-horn furniture!

A mere sampling of those who have stayed here.

Soft, warm lights of the courtyard...

    We stayed in some really rinky-dink parks along the way, with interesting neighbors. Yes, that is a sheepherder's wagon, a teepee and a satellite dish.

 

    We stayed in a nice clean, flat, friendly, well taken care of park in Gallup that has terrific driveway decorations and a gift shop to die for.

    We stopped for lunch at a truck stop along the freeway and found some terrific homemade tamales, fry bread, and jewelry. I'm thinking Dawn is trying to sell her stuff in the wrong neighborhoods. She needs dust, dirt and a little breeze.
(sorry, missed taking a photo)

    We visited the old Hubbell's Trading Post in eastern Arizona - just west of Window Rock. This has been on my list of places to visit for years. It's mentioned in a whole bunch of old western novels, especially the Tony Hillerman ones. 

It was a beautiful day with fantastic clouds.

Over the trading post door.

Approaching the Nat'l Park Offices.

There are thousands of dollars worth of baskets lining the ceiling...

Chris liked the rifle collection.

Lousy photo, but perhaps I was all shook up over the prices on all these rugs that were scattered hither and thither...

All over again, I'm pleased not to have to travel by horse and buggy!!!

It's a beautiful setting - dating from the late 1800s.


    We had sushi in Gallup, New Mexico! (What a concept. Give us points for even trying it.) We sat at the bar and chatted with the chef and trainee chef. The food wasn't bad; the price wasn't bad; the conversation was great. The chef last worked in Meridian, Idaho... but is originally from Los Angeles.

    Life is great on Route 66.

   

Still in Recovery.

26 Sep 2010

    Wow, how time flies when you are doing NOTHING! We are still in recovery from the Rock Ledge Ranch show in Colorado Springs that ended a week ago. Methinks I'm getting old, when recovery takes this long...

    We had a wonderful time. Some people rent hotel rooms and plan games and activities for family reunions - we just show up in the Springs and work our fingers to the bone at a craft show! Three out of four of us, along with spouses, spent 4 days together - with very little bickering, teasing, nor whining. Better than it used to be!

Beth, Dawn, Mike, Chris (the virtual witch...lol - we put a sign to hold his place), VeAnne and Derrel. The only no-shows were Gene & Brenda, and that might have been a wise decision.

    I sold a few gourds. Dawn sold a bunch of African jewelry. VeAnne & Derrel sold pounds and pounds of fantastic crafty kinds of things (like the witch.) However, this is not fun! This is work! The setting up and the tearing down and the storing stuff every night and the unloading the truck and trailer, and the loading of the truck... Yuk! I'm too old for this!

 

My tower of gourds - plus some were on a table.

VeAnne rearranges stock...

The 2nd worst part -- first was unloading. But at least most of it had been sold!

    We really, really enjoyed spending the time on the mountain top with Nate & Tanya! Their kids are terrific (almost as terrific as our grandkids...) Nate kept Chris amused with all his projects and toys. Mike & Dawn were there for a couple of days and gave us some more visiting time. The chickens ate anything we gave them - and furnished eggs in return! The change in temps and scenery came as I was commuting into the show each day. Gorgeous aspen tree foilage! But Lynda's photos from Wyoming show variety is even better...

    So now we are in southern Colorado hiding out. We've spent some time fighting with glass companies over how much a new front windshield should cost - we may have to wait until Phoenix to replace it - double the cost from last year???? I think not. Even in the wilds of Colorado.

The combination of twisting the frame, dropping the airbags, climbing the mountains, and hitting huge temp changes... it has quit growing and mutating since we moved down the hill.

    Chris keeps hinting he is going to buy a new Vet - this has been going on ever since I got a new car! - and so we stopped by a Chevy dealer show to see what's happenin'

 

    Howard & Lynda, as well as AJ & Irene, are heading for St. George for the Huntsman Senior Games. We were there, accidentally, last year. Sorry we'll miss them this year.

    Happy Trails!

To the top of Mt. Florissant

12 Sep 2010 - Happy Birthday Thaddeus!!!

    Okay, so there really isn't a Mt. Florissant, but we definitely had to painfully crawl to the top of a small mountain - almost blocked by the silly auction attendees at the critical corner where we had to turn left. We persevered. We accomplished. We made it to Nate & Tanya's plot with no complaints. We parked in their front yard. We sat down and had an adult beverage and smiled.

    The last time Pugs the Contessa made it up to this location was about 4 months after we took delivery in 1999! We were young and dumb and didn't know you shouldn't drive big rigs up narrow mountain roads! We forgot to check to find out the weight limit of their culvert, which may have bent a few inches. We made do with a garden hose for water and an extension cord from the garage for power. I'm not sure I recall what the sewer did - they were using an outhouse in those days for the cabin/garage/shed, so we probably just did the same. It was fun. Caitlin and Taft spent a week with us - two 8-year-old cousins that had never been out in the wilds. Nate showed them how to hang and gut an antelope, how to fire an automatic pistol and a .22 rifle, and made them bows and arrows from tree branches. Emilie was just a few months old, so she was also amusing for us all.

    Well, things have changed. We  know you shouldn't drive a big rig up a narrow mountain road, but choose to disregard this knowledge. The road up was recently graded (but not tarred), the culvert is wider and stronger, the trees have been thinned back, there is a chicken coop which furnishes daily fresh eggs, a dog pen filled with cute little puppies, and a (now) flat dirt pad built for a 40' motorhome, with accompanying power pedestal and sewer connection. Life is good!

    Emilie is now as tall as I, younger brother Colt is 6 and full of life and Legos constructing abilities (which are the best entertainment when you spread them out in the entryway to Auntie Beth and Uncle Chris' motorhome...), Nate and Tanya don't appear to have grown older, but surely they did.

The puppies chase the chickens. The rock fire pit isn't quite constructed yet - but it will be...

 

Emmy on one of the dirt bikes - how fun can life be when you have 5 or 10 acres of mountain top ground to explore?

We all sit around feeding our faces in the afternoon - hmmm, this is just like RV living.

    We introduced Colt to our Wii today. (After 24  hours of begging.) Chris hadn't yet hooked it up this summer, so the re-wiring and configuration took some time. We have repeatedly been invited to move into Mom & Dad's place and leave the MH to the kids! We keep declining.

    We'll be here for 10 days or so - the big craft show is next weekend in Colorado Springs where I will try to sell a few gourds and see if this is a viable solution to the growing collection of gourds in the basement... and the back of the car... and the bottom of the closet... and over the bed... Another great opportunity in life.

    See ya down the road.