Home the fast way

Rainy in Mequite after a beautiful Saturday. We're "boondocking" in Lyle & Melissa's yard, that's running on batteries and the generator. We saw thousands on them in thedesert of AZ. How will they be counted in the census?


Lyle takes Dolly & Muffin for their evening walky.

What a great husband. He never reads this so I don't have to say something to butter him up, but he said fly home when weather was bad and I was getting antsy with activities like Makoshika Basketball tournament back home. Flew from St. George,UT to Billings Tuesday where Joyce Fry picked me up, we had dinner at the new Ciao Mambo on MT Ave. and she dropped me at the bus depot for the 6PM-10PM trip to Glendive. Matt picked me up. and delivered me to the house. It's so BIG after the RV! and I guess I don't need all the stuff I've been hording.

Even the snow Wednesday didn't dampen my spirits. Helped Bruce with Leadership Glendive in the morning and caught up on Farm to Table in the afternoon. The best was a hug from grandson Jayden and pizza with Matt, Leisha, Jayden and grandma. Great trip, but good to be back. Mike will be cruising in by Sat. weather permitting. Sure tossed and turned without him.

Weather

Poured rain Sat night and Sunday night. Melissa said they've had more rain in the new months of 2010 than the last 3 years and they are sick of it. Trees are in bloom here and grass looks great. Because Mike doesn't want to travel in snow and ice, we've been studying the weather and road conditions like it was the final exam for law school. Looks like we may not get out of here until Thursday so I'm debating whether to fly from Vegas. Makoshika BB tournament looming. I realize I'm not indispensible but I'm struggling to change gears when that was the original plan. Homesick for Jayden and all. Chris will be home Friday.

Honey Dos and Whist in Mequite

Nephew Blain comes to visit.

Mike did honey dos around the house - Saturday he and Pam cleaned the garage. Sunday he changed filters and light bulbs, both high in the ceiling. We caught up laundry in Melissa's beautiful washer/dryer.

Lyle and Melissa and Mike & I played a rousing game of whist. Mike & I won the first set. The 2nd set isn't complete yet as was interrupted by dinner and academy awards. Sure to be a rematch! We haven't played for years , but so fun.

They paid us each $1 for winning the first night but we gave that $1 right back as they retaliated the next night. Melissa said she was going to frame it.

My nephew Blain came down from Las Vegas for dinner Monday. Lyle quizzed him on investment stategies and Blain shared about the opportunities he is having there as a financial advisor. He is an Alliagiant Air regular. You can buy the cheap tickets when you see them and pay the $8 change fee when you want to change the date. There's your bargain tip for the day.

Movies & Academy Awards

Saw Avatar in Yuma - was awesome. Saw the Hurt Locker in Billings during the February waterwell convention. I didn't know the directors were X-spouses. Avatar got my vote. I took my 3-D GLASSES TO SEE ALICE IN Wonderland as the previews looked so good in 3-D. It wasn't in 3-D in Mequite, even with the magic glasses....but very creative show.

We watched the Academy awards as ate dinner of shortribs, rice, barley bread and tasty salad of beet, bleu cheese and arugala. The Western Trails Loaf of Gold I brought along mixed & kneaded well in the Kitchenaid mixer and was pleased the directions were accurate for conventional cooking.

Mesquite, NV with Mike's family

Pam & Linda both came down for the weekend. Friday night it was deja Vu' of France as we enjoyed Cassoulet with duck comfit (duck meat and fat). It's about a three day process to make the famous peasant dish of white beans, garlic sausage and duck from southern France. (gluten free crumbs - for Pam). Melissa's a "foodie", Linda too and Pam has become quite a resource on gluten free since both she and her daughter Megan have been diagnosed with seliac disease.

In the morning as the gals were already playing Yatzee at 6AM, Mike gave them the dice cup we found at the Yuma swap meet. Melissa had such a noisy plastic cup we always use for dice so I was thrilled to find the leather cup for them. Once I got up an hour later, we had show and tell on the reading glasses, juicy raisins and shoes found at the Yuma flea market. The lemons from Dan & Barb's tree were a big hit here. We may make lemon curd but in the meantime have used them in the water.

The next day Mike & Pam didn't golf with the busy tournaments in town. It was a gorgeous day and all enjoyed the sunshine, and a trip to the "office" casino. Made chocolate Mousse for Mike's early birthday. I didn't realize ovens are contaminated for 24 hours after making or reheating bread. When I went out to ask if the 3 silblings wanted a lick from the bowl, I told them the WIi fit scale story reading 10# heavier. Mike laughed saying "look at this picture" as I licked the batter clean; it didn't look very convincing. Guilt got the best of me and went for an hour walk on this gorgeous day. All of these subdivisions are gated, but have beautiful landscaping of various rocks and cactus. Much prettier and greener than Yuma.

Mike barbequed steaks and Linda made roasted potatoes. Parboil the chunked potatoes 5 minutes, then roll in olive oil, season and bake at 400 till crisp on outside. Yum!

Hoover Dam new road

We unloaded the pickup and went to see the new road going by Hoover Dam. WOW! The pictures show it all. Lyle said the road will be done in 2013 but it looks close to done.

Colorado River Jet Boat cruise

Thursday we were up and on the road early to arrive at Fisher's Landing, an hour from Yuma by 10AM. The jetboat heldup to 30 and we had 27 that day. The entertaining tour guide would be giving a similar tour to 4th graders the next day. He's third generation giving tours. We got to bring our own beer cooler but they did have a generous box lunch for each of us and great coffee nd lemonade. We stopped at an old gold mine as this river was how many miners reached their prospecting opportunities. Also saw Indian petroglifs and got the guide's 4th grader's version of the Indian culture.

Through years of erosion, the Grand Canyon silt came down the Colorado River - too thick to drink, too thin to plow. The silt would equal as much as 8 acres 1 foot deep per hour which filled in the Imperial valley in California. Now that the dams, it's very clear by comparison. On the west side was California and the Chocolate Mountains. On the East the Kofa mountains in AZ. This was the CHIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. We didn't see bighorn sheep or donkeys ( abandoned by miners).They haul out 1200 a year for adoption.

Fun DAY. LUNCH AT NORTON'S LANDING where the steamboats came up in the 1880 - again bringing people and supplies for mining. It used to be a town of 2500 mining gold on the ca SIDE. NOW IT'S 5 RANGERS.

Mexico

Mexico is only a half hour from Yuma but you must have your passport. Mike didn't have his, but the rest of us -Dan & Barb Uhl, his two sisters Jane & Sue and her husband Rocky all piled into Dan's pick-up after Barb did an 11am swim at the spa.

You have never seen so many dentist signs in your life. Dan said there are 500 dentists in a two block radius. Rates are typically 1/10th the price. Optometrists are plentiful too. Susy ordered glasses BUT SINCE WE WERE late getting there and they wouldn't be ready for 2.5 hours, she will pick up her prescription glasses Friday. The Pharmacies also did a brisk business.

Lots of stained glass and that great hand painted leadfree pottery we saw in San Antonio and Cancun. This time I bought the sink bargained down to $50 and a set of 3 canisters $60--they're beautiful. Susy and Jany also bargained and bought pottery and purses. Thanks to Rocky for helping carry my load. We enjoyed margaritas in the plaza as we enjoyed American 80's music played by Mexicans.

THE LINE to cross thru the border was riddled with young and old Mexicans peddling jewelry, paper flowers Chiclets, turtle trinkets, playing the accordion or just looking forlorn with an empty basket for your change. I got taken to the cleaners on bracelets I got earlier in comparison. Going thru customs they just asked what you bought and said "Have a nice day." No one had any delays in our party.

We went back home for Walleye dinner we'd brought along and the guys watched the hangover on the BAY TV OUTSIDE lined up in their lawn chairs like they were at the outdoor theater, which they were.

Montana Breakfast

In the Yuma Sun newspaper they have an extensive calendar of events. The Montana Breakfast at a local restaurant was listed for Monday morning. ( last week was ND,SD & IA). We went at 8AM and the restaurant was packed. We sat with some folks from Hamilton - He was a pilot/instructor during WWII and had some great stories. She's an avid quilter - there's all sorts of guilds here and shows. The wife of the Swan Lake folks was a Prevost from Sidney. Another Sidney gal with cancer warned us of the dangers of eating foods together like protein with carbs. What are the casserole folks to do? They're doomed.

I missed yoga but just used the machines. Mike went golfing with Lawrence. We will pick up Dan & Barb from the airport at 11PM, back from Calgary - his 88 year-old-dad died of a stomach anurism after just passing his health test for driver's license last week..

Flea Market Business Opportunity.

After a peach wine and OJ Mimosa, stuffed mushrooms and fruit salad with fresh strawberries from a street vendor, Carol, Sheryl and I went to the Yuma Swap Meet or flea market that runs every weekend. Acres of booths are under white plastic tents. You pay 50 cents to enter. A great entrepreneurial opportunity awaits anyone who would make a map of the vendors in each of the rows A-G. You would easily make $500 to $1000 A DAY charging $1/ map. There's booths of clothes, RV stuff, food, flags, $1 stuff, art and on and on- including miracle cleaners and Dakota Barbecue which had quite a following. An entertainer croons out music on a stage in the center of the tents and tempting smells from food booths permeate the air.

My mother-in-law wanted 10 pair of reading glasses and California raisins so that gave me a mission to shop for. When I bought the wrong strength, Mike and I went back the next day to swap. That's when I would have paid dearly for a map.

Apparently a Mexican flea market that also runs on weekends, is the next best thing to going to Mexico - Hope I get to do one or the other before leaving here Friday. Mike didn't bring his passport so he won't be going to Mexico. People go for haircuts -$7 and dental work which is about 1/10 of the US price. Dan went to his Dentist back in Claresholm, Alberta who was quite inpressed with his crowns and dental work. Dan didn't tell him it was done in Mexico.

KARAOKE

After the flea market, we met the guys and went to Parrish's Bar & Grill for Fish & Chips. We had fish & Chipos for $5.95 there the first day we arrived too. It was Margarita 2 for 1 time...only to be followed by Karaoke. Turns out Carol is quite a singer when she isn't an LPN and Leonard plays the piano by ear and croons out a good tune too. So we stayed until 8 and then some. The waitress could be on American Idol. Went home in the pouring rain at 10 after a fun evening. He had a great preshow of videoclips and there was a lot of talent - Karaoke rule-no song can be repeated.

Marine Drum & Bugle Corps

Talk about awesome~! The Washington DC Marine Drum & Bugle Corps comes to Yuma to practice for 3 weeks before doing a west coast tour. We watched "The Commandant's Own" free performance for the public at a local football field. Matt would have loved it since he was a drum major for the MSU Marching band.

The Marine Corps silent drill platoon is hand picked as they are all the same height and size as they spin rifles with such exact precision, it is awesome. Afterwords we went down of the field to shake their hands and thank them for service. I asked if any knew Nathan Farber as he is serving in DC as a Marine Corps ceremonial guard, selected for his height and size.

There is a military base right near here so we get to see some pretty amazing planes like the harrier - that can hover. http://www.yumaairshow.com/

Make you proud to be an American.

Yuma Territorial Prison

Have you seen the movie 3:10 to Yuma? They are trying to catch the 3:10 train to this prison. It was an isolated hilltop overlooking the Colorado River and housed over 3000 prisoners in its history 1876 - 1909- - six prisoners to a cell that was 7 x 9'. The Dark Cell if you acted up held up to 14 and had no urinary facilities. They cleaned it out every 3 months whether it needed it or not.

The prisoners built most of the prison and made horsehair braidwork, just like they do in Glendive. I have some pictures to share with Sheriff Craig. Actually they say it was quite ahead of its time with electricity, a library and hospital. Inmates cut a haircut every week. The prison housed 14 poligamist and 29 women over the years for crimes like adultery and larceny.

After it closed, the school used some buildings for classrooms. To this day, the Yuma High School sports team is the Yuma Criminals. Iwonder if they have striped uniforms.

Speaking of uniforms, Levi Stauss Co. supplied the striped fabric for prison uniforms until local folks protested and wanted them to "Buy Arizona". So "buy local" has been going on for years.

A number of movies have been filmed here. Worth the trip.

Ray the Electrician

The coach's AC blew the breaker so Dan called a friend of his from "Beer-30", a guys-only shop gathering spot. As they fiddled with amperage like in the Apollo 13 simulator, they determined we could live on 30 amps ( or one beater in the mixer) but would do better on 50 ( or two beaters). He talked our ears off most of the morning with his fantastic biography and a list of supplies to get to up the amperage at the pedestal in Dan's yard and he would install for $100.

We took Dan to the airport. Figured out the antenna and TV. Walked in the morning checking out the neighborhood and did the Wii this afternoon. Redid the body test with the Wii board on cement and found I'd only gained 2 pounds instead of 9.5. Going with the gals to flea market tomorrow.

The wireless stick hasn't worked all day so spent an hour on the phone tonight and found I'd used all my time up for the month. We got another month started early and I'm back in business. This isn't fast like at home and I had it running unconsciously while on the highway. Will be more aware of my use or misuse.

Yuma Lenten service

While the guys were at Beer 30 I went to lenten services Wednesday as the LUTHERAN CHURCH near here had a sign of services at 4 & 6PM. Schedules all run early here ( see beauty blog). I noticed there's only one size of bulletin - large print. I loved the message in the bulletin:

Before the service, speak to God.
During the service, let God speak to you.
After the service, speak to your neighbor.

The choir was great and the church had people in every pew for 6PM service. Instead of a traditional sermon, the pastor and a member acted out a Readers Drama between a Zoololgy professor with lots of animals to care for including a donkey and Nico, a Mexican needing a job. The message was animals have a story to tell. We learned about the donkey and how even kings rode donkeys (there goes the humble story) but donkeys won't lead their master into harm's way. They are safe animals. Matt 21:1-11. He also mentioned there is no Biblical reference to Mary riding a donkey into Bethlehem altho is pictured that way.

Glad I went. The guys asked if I prayed for them but they weren't on the top of my list-- tough day with Miss MT Scholarship Program, and Eileen Switzer Solberg passed away from cancer. Dan Uhl's 88 year old dad died of a stomach aneurysm after just passing his medical drivers exam . Dan's leaving Thursday for Calgary.

Beauty at 4:30AM

Our first full day in Yuma had Mike & Dan Uhl busy digging a trench for drain tile, then filling and spreading 6 yards of gravel. Yuma has already surpassed their year average of 5" of rain causing puddles in the driveway which at one time had a thin layer of pavement which didn't allow water to soak in. Dan lives in a bricked wall area where mostly mobile homes and xeriscape landscaping fill the big lots. Fun to walk and see ideas.

I ventured to the Laundromat which was buzzing with activity and friendly snowbirds. Met some folks from Langden,ND/Lewistown,MT (2nd marriage-thus the 2 locations). Went to the grocery store in the strip mall there and found it filled with Chinese food from vegetables and sea creatures I'd never heard of to noodles and rice of many varieties. Barb, Dan's wife- a vegetarian, who's on a trip with her sister, uses a lot of Chinese spices and sauces from this grocery store. We used a Chinese spicy chicken sauce on our barbecued steak that was very good. If anyone wants something from the Chinese grocery store, let me know in the next 10 days. (not perishables - as we aren't going straight home from here.)

Also walked down to the beauty salon that said "walk-ins welcome" so I did, inquiring about a haircut. There were about 8 beauticians working - with the chairs full of waiting gray hair. The receptionist hollered to the staff if anyone had any cancellations today. With no response, the closest beautician to me said she had an opening at 4AM tomorrow. I said, "In the morning?!!" Yes. Well someone else had a 4:30AM so I jumped at the chance to sleep another half hour.

Lo and behold, three beauticians were there the next morning when I arrived at 4:20 in the dark. A grandma came in after me and said her daughter thought she had Alzheimer's when she said her hair appointment was at 4:30AM. When two of the beauticians looked identical, she asked if they were twins. Yes, all three were sisters, but the 2 were identical twins. "Thank God," she said, " I thought I had Alzheimer's."

The beauty shop takes appointments until 4PM daily, but it's so busy this time of year, that's the only way they keep up is starting earlier. Starting in March snowbirds start going home so the beauty shop is closed Monday & Tuesday. The 3 beautician sisters return to Washington in April and play all summer.

Today was actually hot 79. but when the sun is not shining on you, it's cool so about 5PM you want a sweater or jacket.

Wii Reality

Got out the Wii board this morning at Dan Uhl's where we are camping for a week or so. My trainer had missed me. Yikes, the body test showed I'd gained 9.5 pounds and reminded me at every time I stepped on the Wii for a new exercise, "Your weight has changed." I know that - that's why I'm putting up with your nagging....let's get on with it. Anyway - out goes the Irish Cream in the coffee for breakfast.

Arizona

Going to fill up with gas Mike toticed the light come on that would not allow him to shift grears. We parked in back of the Flying J and nervously turned off the engine and called buddy Cass, even resorted to reading the manuals - which are extensive. We gave it some time and analysed Mike's driving --this was the trip thru the snowstorm and rain. Mike, wanting to clean that bus, hit every waterpuddle he could after getting it sprayed with red rock snow in the mountains. That was my bet - was water. Anyway it started back up and we filled up. Highest price yet $2.88 for diesel, and worse mileage as 40 mph headwinds. You can't put a price on fun!

Since all that took time, we weren't going to make the 3:10 to Yuma (watched that along the way). SO- GOT ON LINE TO FIND A CAMPGROUND. That is a time consuming process - figuring what town, reading the reviews - you have to find a balance between "noisy, near interstate" and "convenient access" and then call to see if they have room for a "big rig". When my choice on the west side of tucson did not and recommended another, by the time I had called them, we had to take the very next exit . Thank God for Alice, our GPS. It sure saves a lot of yelling at the co-pilot --it is permissable to yell at Alice.

What a place, It was a huge campground with a 12 bay repair shop and "Camping World" store. Beautifully landscaped and the website invited us to help ourselves to lemons from our tree by the campground. ALMOST EVERYONE HAD ONE. The low pickings were gone, but Mike reached me a couple which I added to my hard lemonade at cocktail hour.

Made lasagna for dinner --well -- not exactly made but heated deli lasagna that wouldn't pass the truth in advertising packaging. It was a container inside a container which on the outside certainly looked to feed 4. Thank goodness, there wasn't company as it was only 2 servings. In the future will get the frozen food version. Great tasting tho. Beat Mike in 3 games of gin. How about that Olympic skating area reverberating with O, Canada. Wasn't that inspiring for the skate dancing. Wish we had an anthem that didn't cover 2 octaves.

Went swimming and Jacuzziing at 7AM before free breakfast 37 degrees this AM. Met some folks from Manitoba while I devoured 3 warm powder-sugar coated deep-fried scones. Back on the road to Yuma.

SNOW & WIND in NM - Monday

The shortest miles was the longest route and at 8750' we were in snow with a 6% downgrade through the Sacramento Mountains of NM. Mike had to change his shorts after that. Now that we are on I-10 in south NM & AZ, it's 40mph headwinds and rain. There was a ski area on that mountain! In 50 miles we went from flat desert and cactus to cedar shrubs and then mountain spruce and snow then back down to desert....scenic but nervewracking with the weather.

Aliens & Caves - Roswell & Carlsbad Caverns

We changed routes to take in Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM and check out the aliens story. Carlsbad Caverns are huge - one we were in covered as much as 6 football fields and the stalactites and stalagmite formations were awesome.
The alien cover up of July 4-9, 1947 UFO landing there had a convincing story at the UFO Museum and Research Center (a 501c3 so can get grants.) THE AIR FORCE BASE REPLACED THE EVIDENCE WITH WEATHER BALLOONS, THEY DOCUMENTED. How fitting that we came home to the Independence Day movie on TV. UFO museum was pretty cheesy - just blow-up copies of articles on display in a former theatre but the belief is there. I wonder if their sport teams are the Roswell Aliens.

West TX, like KS and WY HAD LOTS OF WIND FARMS. This country has lots of pumping oil wells in the sagebrush flatland. ONCE WE GOT right OUT OF Carlsbad, they had irrigation and pecan orchards, and finally saw some cattle.

We're staying at the Carlsbad KOA which charged $95 for 2 nights - the most of anywhere. I was speechless but I didn't asked when I called cuz this is the middle of nowhere and we'd been to some fancy, highly rated campgrounds and I never dreamed it would be higher than the big cities. Mike said he would have paid twice that cuz he was done traveling after driving 500 miles Sat.
I'm like a pampered woman -Mike does everything to do with hook up, water, sewer and even cleaned out the frig and wash the outside and make coffee. He barbequed steaks and burgers the last 2 nights, made taters & onions, plus he does all the driving. It's quite the life. I'm spoiled and loving it.

I found a new storage drawer today under the dining bench. We have an ongoing rivalry claim if we find a new hidden storage place on the coach and call dubs on the place to store our stuff. Mike's in the lead cuz he claimed all the bays.

Like all of you, I'm watching the Olympics at night. When we're in a campground we get cable and wifi. Off to Yuma tomorrow, It's 700 mi so don't know that we'll go all the way.

Fredericksburg on Friday

Rene,' the tour guide, had found that the German town of Fredericksburg also had wineries, so the designated ndriver changed to Cassco as he no longer touches the stuff. We stopped at the first one we saw-Das Peach Haus which had great TX products too so we tasted wines and even got "free" insulated wine bottle carriers, and all sorts of great food. See store page.

We then went in search for German lunch. On the way into a German restaurant we talked to the Miller beer distributor, a former cop, who confirmed it was a good place to eat. His family had a long history there and was on the wrong side during the war but their town kept to themselves. I had a Fireman micro brew from Blanco,TX and we split a great sausage kraut lunch. The guys went to Admiral Nimitz WWII -Pacific Front museum (Fredricksburg was his hometown). The town was filled with unique shops so Rene & I explored kitchen stores, Quilt shops, home furnishing shops, Christmas store and sampled more wine until the guys called.

We ate at Rudy's for dinner. Great BBQ. The brisket reminded me of GARTH'S FOR HARVESTFEST AS THEY SERVED IT WITH a cheap white bread. Best cream corn ( like the corn I made and froze with leftover corn on the cob from tailgate party). Luckily we have some leftovers we will have going down the road as we travel tomorrow.

Came home and I lost a tennis match but beat Cass in a couple rounds of golf == on the Wii that is ( the only way I'd ever win at golf. ) TV fixed itself. SAtillno word on the PDC stolen TV. Cal said the police in the Ranger said they had no leads which she couldn't understand as we know who did it. I figure the police aren't ready to tell the press while still waiting to capture the suspects

Altho I haven't expounded on all the bus details = that's a story unto itself especially since Mike watched RV. He's cleaned out fecal matter and is enjoying his new ladder Cassco got him at Camping World - it collapses to 6" x 6" x 7' Mike has the bus shining.

Local foods store ideas

Great Farm to Table store ideas.
It's impossible to leave "FTT" with an empty stomach or car trunk. Saying at store/winery

IGunpowder = Groundpepper. Free recipes. Samples to try. Reminded me of friendly attitude of SodHouse Sundries. Peach Haus was located in German town Fredricksburg, TX.

Mexican Market

You would think you were in Mexico as we were at the El Mercado - Mexican Market Thursday in San Antonio. They had more dishes there that Sandi loves than in Cancun - and cheaper, the shop tender said. I almost went home with the kitchen sink - a beautiful sink in the same colorful terra pottery. I want it for a bathroom at the lake when we build. Will get that another trip--Mike said...ha.

Got some leather stuff : Mike got a new wallet to flash like FBI, a ditty bag, I got some dishes, a pinata and Spiderman wrestling mask for Jayden. Rene' got this Texas size cowboy hat that will prevent sunburn on head and shoulders. Cassco finally fulfilled his dream and got a globe made of beautiful stones and gems. It's very detailed. THAT'S THE BONUS OF NOT FLYING -- ROOM TO HAUL.


Oysters again - Mike loves those raw oysters and they are very fresh here. Learned something from Cassidys - You don't have to buy seafood cocktail sauce. Use ketchup and add ground horseradish - more if want more bite...and a touch of lemon juice.

We had great margaritas today at "La Margarita" Restaurant and Mike & I shared a fajita. We can't keep eating at this pace or we'll have to add another axle to the bus
.

San Antonio

http://www.thealamo.org/history.html

Spent the day exploring the Alamo and the Riverwalk. No wonder the Texans are so proud of their state. I didn't realize 6FLAGS has signigficance that Texas has been under the governance of six different flags - Mexican to confederate.

We ate at Joe's Crab Shack with a dancing black waiter. Great food and enough for crab salad for lunch.

Rene and I visited St. Joe's Catholic Church built by Germans in the early 1800s. It's Ash Wednesday so we got the cross of ashes, which is something also done at the Wolf Point Lutheran church.

The guys are in their glory scrubbing their coaches this AM. I went to line-dancing at the campground this AM but looked at wrong clock set on Mountain time so got there for last dance. Ihought tI had everything for the Wii but forgot the Wii board. Matt & Billy Ball had it sent down here so should arrive today. We will do that in the bay TV outside so should be quite a show as we bowl or golf or do Wii Fit! ha

The previous owner has an expandable file on every appliance and system that operates this Marathon. Washing clothes in the W/D combo this AM and resorted to the directions for the convection oven for the Pillsbury grands this AM. Key- put in the time first, then push convection.

Dallas = visit friends and family

Gerald & Mrs. Harless of Plano,TX were a delight to reconnect with. Gerald is a Corrosion Engineer and oversaw corrosion installations for the AirForce in the 1980s and is now retired but sharp as a tack. Gerald designed corrosion installations for Mike.

My X sister-in-law Kathie and I can pick up just where we left off, so even though not officially related, we're still friends. She is one of the 8000 that EDS laid off a year ago. HP bought out EDS but has hired back few former employees. She and David were going to get married around Thanksgiving but he got a brain tumor and is doing radiation and chemo. He looked good- hair growing back; he and Mike are about the same size. She is a gifted interior designer and can rewrite techno goop into consumer lingo so has marketable skills so hope jobs materialize.

Running late, we met my brother Clayton and his new love Priscilla at her beautiful home. She is a tall willowy mother that bubbles with merriment. She has two kids, both in college that are the same age as Justin & Lauren except sex reversed. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and got home about midnight - At least traffic light. Only one wrong turn. A FUN day.

Day 4 in the OK campground

>Here's Mike & Rene's 45' Newell Coach. This 2004 motorhome has 4 pullouts so looks like a homey living/dining room as we watch the Olympics. Was a cold windy day - snow this morning in Ok City so no one wanted to go back to the flea market to get channel lock pliers or exchange the wranglers. Went to wallyworld (WalMart) last night to get the pliers and they must have dropped out of his bag cuz he couldn't find them this AM.

Went for Valentine's dinner at the Casino - usually not into buffets but this had shrimp cocktails, prime rib, oyster appetizers, catfish, great asparagus, and a dessert fountain of chocolate with fresh strawberries and pineapple , pecan pie and a 6" chocolate layer cake/mouse. We waddled home. Wimpy gambler: won $5; spent $3.

RV people go on line to look for RV spots and read the reviews of other RVers. They are pretty picky " Heard gunshots, gravel, potholes, have to pay for WIFi."

While I was making brownies in honor of Valentine's day, the crew must have been making plans for camping in Dallas. When I joined them we were making plans for San Antonio and watched the movie RV with Robin Williams, a training video of what not to do! I looked for some places near McKinney/Plano where Gerald, Kathie and Clayton all live. When I'm calling for reservations Monday morning as we're leaving for Dallas, the guys announce we are staying in Burlesen ( south of Ft. Worth, 70 miles from where we are going to visit. ) I sure thought that was inconvenient but didn't win that battle as the reviews weren't good enough. Mike was willing to drive up and back in the pick-up. Here's what we drive thru- thank God it wasn't rush hour.

Day 3 -Oklahoma City

Sat morning the Cassidys and Mike & I headed to Franks Trailer Sales to pick up the new trailer. On the way we saw a flea market across the street, so Rene' and I headed there as the guys got trailers swapped. Great looking trailer and the guys got a great deal on clip-on heavy-duty ratcheting straps to secure a vehicle to the trailer.

The flea market had at least 5 vendors selling chickens of all varieties. The 5-acre field had tailgate booths of tools, guns, broken drumsets, toys, VCR tapes, plus a few tin and wood sheds of junk including piles of wranglers for $4. Rene' got a couple of champagne classes that matches her set she had priced at $15 ea which she got for $2. I got Mike a pair of 36x40 jeans but they were missized, even tho that's what the label said. Either Smiler gets a pair of Wranglers to cut off or we'll make a jean quilt! A guy from Kalispell had a booth of carved bears. We discussed the state of the nation with him while we admired his log carved fishing bear. It looked the the same artist that did the bears for the Book'n Bear, but I forgot to ask. We wondered how they could sell guns and ammo at a flea market but the trailer sales guy laughed and said we're in hillbilly country.

Went to the Oklahoma bombing site (see blog) and us girls went to a science museum especially for kids where they showed kids how to blow up stuff. Go figure!

Went to Spencer's Barbecue last night for great ribs and apple fritters. I found it on the internet. The owner took a liking to us and gave us extra fritters to go. When Cassco ordered cinnamon rolls to take home, he threw them in for free too. Had pulled pork sandwiches from the leftovers for lunch Sunday.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial made such an impact on us. Remember Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, terrorists who drove a van filled with explosives that took down the federal building killing 168 in 1995? From the chairs representing those that died to the gates of time where you enter the memorial grounds. The east end says 9:01, the time of innocence, and the west end 9:03, the time of healing, with the reflecting pool between. 9:02AM was the time of the terrorist explosion.


This is all funded by private donations, but the National Park Service rangers are on hand to answer questions. It was impressive there is still a chain link fence of personal memorabilia outside the memorial grounds. Across the street where the Catholic Parish used to stand, the Catholic Church erected a statue of Jesus with his back to the memorial. At the base of the statue the only words it says are "Jesus wept."