Sunday ; Happy 68th Birthday to our good friend Lynne
Sunny and warm. A perfect "June 18" type of day. We cooked one of my favourite Sun Oven recipes today, served as a "Birthday Dinner" to Lynne ( and Bill ).
This morning and half the afternoon I worked on reinstalling the reupholstered dinette seating in the truck camper. WHEW ... tough job. And while the seating is reinstalled
... the project is not finished. I had to remove a fire extinguisher compartment and a tail light assembly and the generator storage compartment door ( and moulding and trim and insulation and ... ) to access mounting bolts and nuts under the dinette seating, so ... old weatherstripping and caulking must be removed, and resealing must be done. < sigh >
Mid -afternoon our Connecticut friends Bill and Lynne came over. Joanne had prepared and I had cooked a Mexican Chicken recipe in the Sun Oven. Bill and Lynne provided a bottle of Forbidden Fruit Winery's Pearsuasion that they bought when they visited us in B.C. last summer on their to Alaska. T'was a very well travelled bottle of wine ! B.C. to Alaska to Connecticut to Colorado to Texas to Arizona. And we all enjoyed it immensely !
After the "birthday dinner" and much visiting and chatting we all went to have "birthday dessert" at the regular weekly Sunday evening ice cream social. More chatting, then Joanne and I returned home to watch two episodes of Downton Abbey.
After five days of illness, Bo seems completely healthy again. Hope it was just a routine upper respiratory infection ... a "doggy cold".
< right eye twitching rapidly > We lost how much investment money in the stock markets so far this month / year ? ! ? ! ?
Monday ; Sunny and warm. AHHHHH ! ! !
We spent the day out with Laszlo and Gail, exploring the desert. We went in their truck, there was the four of us, and both dogs, Bo and DeeOJee. We headed northeast out of Yuma to an area near Mitry Lake where Laszlo frequently "mines" for gold nuggets and dust. We wandered around the desert, Bo and DeeOJee romped and played. When we got hungry we drove a short distance over to the boat launch and picnic area at Mitry Lake and had our picnic lunches.
After lunch we drove to an area known as Picacho Peak Recreation Area so that Joanne and I could show the area known as "Hill of Names" to Gail and Laszlo. It's an area way out in the desert where for a lot of years people have been using rocks to write their names. < sigh > I was a bit uncertain of the exact location and, following my directions, we made a wrong turn and did not find it. < sigh > Better luck next time !
We drove over to Imperial Date Gardens and all had date shakes. Including Bo and DeeOJee. HA HA HA ... we keep "corrupting" other people and their dogs with date shakes. Bill's and Lynne's Pomeranian Windsor loves date shakes thanks to us, and now so does DeeOJee. Ever seen a pit bull have a date shake ? HA HA HA HA HA !
We returned to Yuma, and home, arriving just in time for us to go with Bo on the daily pack walk at 5 PM. Afterwards I watered all my pants and gardens before going bicycling at sunset.
We had a great day, second in a row !
However ... at bedtime Joanne became very suddenly very ill. Probably food poisoning.
Tuesday ; Sunny and warm.
I spent the morning in an audit committee meeting. Very interesting ! Joanne slept late, recovering from her bout of food poisoning.
This afternoon we went to our regular Tuesday afternoon shift at the Humane Society.
I walked dogs, Joanne "cuddled" cats. There's no real cat cuddling involved. Unless if you consider litter box cleaning to be "cat cuddling". Our neighbour and friend Carol Mae was also at the Humane Society this afternoon walking dogs. We returned home just in time for the daily pack walk.
At Joanne's request we went out for supper to Famous Dave's Barbecue. MMMMM !
Wednesday ; Sunny and warm.
I did an obedience session with Bo this morning. Well done, Bo, good dog. First obedience session we've done in a few weeks. I did some gardening, planting some new acquisitions, including a small Fishhook Barrel Cactus. Very pretty ! I polished shoes.
After lunch I got Joanne set up at the truck camper working on removing old caulking and weatherstripping from a taillight assembly and I went to the clubhouse office to do some audit committee work. When I was finished doing the audit work I returned to the truck camper in the storage area to help Joanne finish up for today. But not before
I ripped a knuckle open on a sharp metal edge as I tried to scrape off some difficult to remove old caulking. OUCH !
Today's 5 PM "potluck social" was a "burn your own meat" barbecue event. There were many salads and other side dishes, and some desserts. I cooked some petite sirloin steaks for us and we chatted with friends until ... 6:05 PM when the "cleanup crew" began to mumble and grumble because I was the only person left sitting at a table with a plate in front of me that still had a bit of food on it. GEEEEZZZZZ ... this park's eat and run mentality annoys me ! ! !
This evening Joanne did laundry and we watched the "Bell Let's Talk" special event on TV featuring Canada's new Prime Minister discussing mental health issues. What an impressive man !
Thursday ; Happy 62nd Birthday to Joanne
Sunny and warm. This morning Joanne baked a cake ( but not a birthday cake ) in the Sun Oven. This afternoon she cooked a beef pot roast in the Sun Oven for dinner tonight. It was very good !
When we arrived here in mid-December I ordered a Christmas gift online for Joanne. It arrived today ! Merry Christmas / Happy Birthday !
This afternoon I went shopping by myself. First stop was Arizona MarketPlace to buy some Max1 glue. Then Lowe's for some weatherstripping and silicone sealant. Then Harbor Freight for a TV mounting bracket. And finally Fry's Fuel to refill with diesel.
While I was out shopping Joanne worked on removing old weatherstripping and caulking from the truck camper's generator compartment's door. Once I returned home she helped me apply new weatherstripping to the door, and helped me reinstall it on the camper.
We went on the daily pack walk, then I went bicycling at sunset. Just as we were preparing to sit down for dinner our friends Bill and Lynne came over to wish a Happy Birthday to Joanne.
After dinner I prepared a Famous Dave's Barbecue take home dessert for Joanne.
Happy Birthday, my love !
Friday ; Sunny and warm.
Joanne went out shopping by herself, leaving late in the morning, returning in
mid-afternoon. I busied myself with annual maintenance chores. I trimmed Bo's claws. That job is easier to do when I have Joanne's help. I mounted our TV in the trailer. It has always been in a TV "cubby hole" in the "entertainment centre". Now it is "wall mounted" over the cubby hole left empty by the removal of the stereo unit ... two years ago.
At 4 PM we left for a ( very ) early birthday dinner at Julieanna's, an "upscale" restaurant. We went for the "early bird" prime rib dinner so that we could attend a play tonight. The food was good, very overpriced, in pretentious surroundings. I was very displeased that the waiter refused my request to substitute another vegetable for the asparagus served with the prime rib. I can't digest asparagus. One would think that for a plate costing thirty five dollars it would be possible to substitute a vegetable. But NOOOOO ! ! !
Don't spend that big tip I left you all in one place, asshole !
After dinner we drove to Harbor Freight to return an item for refund, and purchase another item. Joanne truly hates shopping at Harbor Freight. The Harbor Freight shopping trip resulted in a teensy squabble on the way to the play. We attended the Yuma Community Theater performance of Agatha Christie's play "The Mousetrap".
HEY ... < shrug > ... what can I say ? It's Yuma Community Theater ! It was ... an enjoyable "date night" / birthday dinner and theater outing.
Saturday ; Sunny and warm. A little bit windy.
This morning we went to a potluck brunch in the clubhouse at 10 AM. Joanne contributed a baked French Toast dish. Good brunch !
Shortly after 11 AM we left with Bill and Lynne, in their ( towed ) car, to Historic Downtown Yuma, to attend the Date Festival. About four blocks of downtown was closed to traffic and was the locale for the Date Festival 2016. It was like a street fair, with many of the vendors being date farms and related retail businesses. We wandered around for a couple of hours, but didn't buy anything. The turnout was good, resulting in slightly crowded conditions. The fair organizers were likely pleased.
Afterwards we went to McDonald's for soft drinks ... and ice cream, of course. We chatted inside McDonald's for too long and returned home just in time to go on the daily pack walk at 5 PM.
DSK
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
January 17 to 23, 2016
Sunday ; Happy 17th Birthday to Joanne's niece Madeleine
Seventeen ! WOW ! Wasn't that the age that I was when I ... no, never mind ! HA HA HA !
Sunny and warm again today. Joanne cooked a sausage and bean cassoulet in the Sun Oven today.
Today I finished the resealing project on the roof of the trailer. It is obvious to me now that the brutality of Yuma's summer sun makes it essential that I inspect and repair / reseal the trailer roof on an annual basis now that we leave the trailer here all summer in storage. We visited with our neighbours / friends Joe and Alene, and their Dachshund Lucy, who have just arrived. We will be "dog sitting" Lucy soon while Joe and Alene are on a cruise.
I printed and distributed the invitations to Bo's birthday party in a few weeks. We went on the daily pack walk. The pack has now grown to three dogs ; Bo, Riley, and Spanky. The "three musketeers" who started it all a few years ago. They are all happy to once again be "roaming" as a "pack".
We attended the weekly ice cream social. Afterwards we watched Doc Martin and Downton Abbey while having supper. This is the first time in the last few weeks that we have been able to receive PBS, and even so the reception today was poor.
Monday ; Mostly cloudy, warm.
This morning I did some truck maintenance then Joanne went shopping by herself. After she left I did some trailer maintenance.
After lunch I napped then did some gardening work. I watered all my plants and gardens. I "pruned" one of my Cholla Cacti. OW OW OW OW OW ! SHIT ! What a deadly plant ! I went to the storage area and "exercised" the generator in the truck camper. We took Bo on the daily pack walk. I went bicycling at sunset.
Yes, yes ... another routine day, but ... life is good !
Tuesday ; Sunny and warm. Buds are forming on my three Ocotillo Cacti. Winter is over !
Bo was very ill this morning. He slowly improved throughout the day so that by now ( 10 PM ) he is sleeping peacefully and seems to be healthy again. Yesterday as were walking around the dog park on the daily pack walk, one of this park's Landscape Committee members was sprinkling ant poison on ant hills in the dog park. I don't think that one has to be a rocket scientist to realize that sprinkling poison in a dog park is an exceptionally bad < read that "stupid" > idea ! I believe Bo may have ingested ant poison by sniffing.
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. It was nice to walk dogs in warm weather. First time this winter season that I didn't need to wear a sweater on my dog walking shift. Tonight I have a bit of a sore, stiff shoulder and neck from walking a large, difficult to control, Shar Pei mix.
After our Humane Society "shift" we went to Wally's World where I bought some hardware items I need. Back at home we went on the daily pack walk around the dog park, then I "demonstrated" our little generator for Laszlo. Their large generator was stolen from their truck last spring in California on their northward migration back to B.C. and now he is contemplating buying a small generator like ours.
I cooked Manitoba / Lake Winnipeg Pickerel for supper again tonight. It was SOOOOO good !
Wednesday ; Sunny and warm. Wore shorts for the first time since arriving here more than a month ago. Joanne prepared and I cooked a sausage and bean casserole in the Sun Oven today. It was our contribution to tonight's pot luck social.
Bo was once again very ill this morning, improving throughout the day. Now I don't believe it is an illness caused by ant poison. I think it's a viral illness.
Joanne spent the morning in the clubhouse working on a group sewing project. She was "unskilled labour". HA HA HA ! I spent the morning doing a truck repair that has been on my "to do" list for at least six months. I cut off and replaced a battery cable terminal clamp that had cracked. Easier said than done !
This afternoon I did some planning and preparing for some yard landscaping work
I want to do. And I did some computer maintenance work. We attended the weekly potluck social, chatting afterwards with table mates. We were pleased to share a table with Fred and Judy, neighbours of ours. Fred had open heart surgery eight days ago ! It was wonderful to see him already home, and active.
Thursday ; Partially sunny, thin clouds, warm. Joanne prepared and partially cooked a cake in the Sun Oven. Eventually it had to be moved to the oven in the trailer.
We had planned a day trip outing with Gail and Laszlo but Joanne cancelled. She has a UTI and did not want to be out tramping around in the desert when she has to urinate every half hour or so.
Bo continues to be ill. I stayed home with him, pampered him, and did some chores while Joanne went shopping, mostly for advertised grocery specials. I paid some bills, and cleaned some items we wish to sell at this park's upcoming yard sale.
I went on the daily pack walk ... without Bo. He was too ill to want to go. Afterwards
I went bicycling at dusk. While eating supper we watched a depressing documentary on CBC about the unnecessary use of deadly force by Canadian ( and American ) police forces. Both nations could and should learn a lot from the Brits, and their mostly unarmed police, about "de-escalating" tactics.
Friday ; Partially sunny, thin cloud cover, warm.
This morning I attended a meeting of the audit committee. It was the audit committee's first meeting of this year. And my first meeting as a member of the audit committee. It was interesting. And not surprisingly ... I didn't make any new friends. HA HA HA ! BUT ... if one wants to make new friends ... I don't think an audit committee is where one should try ! If one wants to make new friends ... try the Welcome Committee. HA HA HA ! Which I am also a member of !
After lunch we went to run some shopping errands. AND ... pick up the reupholstered truck camper dinette seating components. Nice reupholstery work ! Well done !
While shopping at the 99¢ Only Store I witnessed shoplifting. I brought it to the attention of store management, and the shoplifter was apprehended as he was leaving the store. Well done, Daniel ! Before the shoplifter was caught, as we continued shopping,
I noticed that he was part of a shoplifting "Gypsy gang" of six people ; four men and a couple. As soon as the first was apprehended, four of the remaining five discarded the merchandise they were each hiding / stealing, and left. Very well done, Daniel. Only the gang "boss" remained in the store, probably "safe" because he never actually steals anything. He has minions to do that for him ! He left the store ( without making a purchase ) at the same time as we did, and climbed into a very old camper van bearing out of state license plates. The rest of the gang were probably already inside the van waiting for him.
As a retired retailer, I have little tolerance for shoplifters. Well ... I have little tolerance for most things, but less for some than others. HA HA HA !
We returned home in time to join the daily pack walk. Bo seemed to be feeling slightly better today. He barked for the first time in four days. So ... maybe his throat was not as sore ? Although ... he was very cranky. He snapped at his buddy Riley. Bad dog, Bo !
Saturday ; Partially sunny, thin cloud cover, warm.
Late this morning we headed out to run some shopping errands. After finishing our shopping ... at Wal-Mart, in violation of my "no Wal-Martin' on weekends" rule ... we had lunch at Subway. After returning home we applied fabric protector spray to the newly reupholstered truck camper dinette seating components.
We took Bo on the daily pack walk. His health is improving. We're relieved ! At sunset
I went bicycling, as usual. Very lovely desert sunset tonight. I barbecued petite sirloin steaks for supper.
DSK
Seventeen ! WOW ! Wasn't that the age that I was when I ... no, never mind ! HA HA HA !
Sunny and warm again today. Joanne cooked a sausage and bean cassoulet in the Sun Oven today.
Today I finished the resealing project on the roof of the trailer. It is obvious to me now that the brutality of Yuma's summer sun makes it essential that I inspect and repair / reseal the trailer roof on an annual basis now that we leave the trailer here all summer in storage. We visited with our neighbours / friends Joe and Alene, and their Dachshund Lucy, who have just arrived. We will be "dog sitting" Lucy soon while Joe and Alene are on a cruise.
I printed and distributed the invitations to Bo's birthday party in a few weeks. We went on the daily pack walk. The pack has now grown to three dogs ; Bo, Riley, and Spanky. The "three musketeers" who started it all a few years ago. They are all happy to once again be "roaming" as a "pack".
We attended the weekly ice cream social. Afterwards we watched Doc Martin and Downton Abbey while having supper. This is the first time in the last few weeks that we have been able to receive PBS, and even so the reception today was poor.
Monday ; Mostly cloudy, warm.
This morning I did some truck maintenance then Joanne went shopping by herself. After she left I did some trailer maintenance.
After lunch I napped then did some gardening work. I watered all my plants and gardens. I "pruned" one of my Cholla Cacti. OW OW OW OW OW ! SHIT ! What a deadly plant ! I went to the storage area and "exercised" the generator in the truck camper. We took Bo on the daily pack walk. I went bicycling at sunset.
Yes, yes ... another routine day, but ... life is good !
Tuesday ; Sunny and warm. Buds are forming on my three Ocotillo Cacti. Winter is over !
Bo was very ill this morning. He slowly improved throughout the day so that by now ( 10 PM ) he is sleeping peacefully and seems to be healthy again. Yesterday as were walking around the dog park on the daily pack walk, one of this park's Landscape Committee members was sprinkling ant poison on ant hills in the dog park. I don't think that one has to be a rocket scientist to realize that sprinkling poison in a dog park is an exceptionally bad < read that "stupid" > idea ! I believe Bo may have ingested ant poison by sniffing.
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. It was nice to walk dogs in warm weather. First time this winter season that I didn't need to wear a sweater on my dog walking shift. Tonight I have a bit of a sore, stiff shoulder and neck from walking a large, difficult to control, Shar Pei mix.
After our Humane Society "shift" we went to Wally's World where I bought some hardware items I need. Back at home we went on the daily pack walk around the dog park, then I "demonstrated" our little generator for Laszlo. Their large generator was stolen from their truck last spring in California on their northward migration back to B.C. and now he is contemplating buying a small generator like ours.
I cooked Manitoba / Lake Winnipeg Pickerel for supper again tonight. It was SOOOOO good !
Wednesday ; Sunny and warm. Wore shorts for the first time since arriving here more than a month ago. Joanne prepared and I cooked a sausage and bean casserole in the Sun Oven today. It was our contribution to tonight's pot luck social.
Bo was once again very ill this morning, improving throughout the day. Now I don't believe it is an illness caused by ant poison. I think it's a viral illness.
Joanne spent the morning in the clubhouse working on a group sewing project. She was "unskilled labour". HA HA HA ! I spent the morning doing a truck repair that has been on my "to do" list for at least six months. I cut off and replaced a battery cable terminal clamp that had cracked. Easier said than done !
This afternoon I did some planning and preparing for some yard landscaping work
I want to do. And I did some computer maintenance work. We attended the weekly potluck social, chatting afterwards with table mates. We were pleased to share a table with Fred and Judy, neighbours of ours. Fred had open heart surgery eight days ago ! It was wonderful to see him already home, and active.
Thursday ; Partially sunny, thin clouds, warm. Joanne prepared and partially cooked a cake in the Sun Oven. Eventually it had to be moved to the oven in the trailer.
We had planned a day trip outing with Gail and Laszlo but Joanne cancelled. She has a UTI and did not want to be out tramping around in the desert when she has to urinate every half hour or so.
Bo continues to be ill. I stayed home with him, pampered him, and did some chores while Joanne went shopping, mostly for advertised grocery specials. I paid some bills, and cleaned some items we wish to sell at this park's upcoming yard sale.
I went on the daily pack walk ... without Bo. He was too ill to want to go. Afterwards
I went bicycling at dusk. While eating supper we watched a depressing documentary on CBC about the unnecessary use of deadly force by Canadian ( and American ) police forces. Both nations could and should learn a lot from the Brits, and their mostly unarmed police, about "de-escalating" tactics.
Friday ; Partially sunny, thin cloud cover, warm.
This morning I attended a meeting of the audit committee. It was the audit committee's first meeting of this year. And my first meeting as a member of the audit committee. It was interesting. And not surprisingly ... I didn't make any new friends. HA HA HA ! BUT ... if one wants to make new friends ... I don't think an audit committee is where one should try ! If one wants to make new friends ... try the Welcome Committee. HA HA HA ! Which I am also a member of !
After lunch we went to run some shopping errands. AND ... pick up the reupholstered truck camper dinette seating components. Nice reupholstery work ! Well done !
While shopping at the 99¢ Only Store I witnessed shoplifting. I brought it to the attention of store management, and the shoplifter was apprehended as he was leaving the store. Well done, Daniel ! Before the shoplifter was caught, as we continued shopping,
I noticed that he was part of a shoplifting "Gypsy gang" of six people ; four men and a couple. As soon as the first was apprehended, four of the remaining five discarded the merchandise they were each hiding / stealing, and left. Very well done, Daniel. Only the gang "boss" remained in the store, probably "safe" because he never actually steals anything. He has minions to do that for him ! He left the store ( without making a purchase ) at the same time as we did, and climbed into a very old camper van bearing out of state license plates. The rest of the gang were probably already inside the van waiting for him.
As a retired retailer, I have little tolerance for shoplifters. Well ... I have little tolerance for most things, but less for some than others. HA HA HA !
We returned home in time to join the daily pack walk. Bo seemed to be feeling slightly better today. He barked for the first time in four days. So ... maybe his throat was not as sore ? Although ... he was very cranky. He snapped at his buddy Riley. Bad dog, Bo !
Saturday ; Partially sunny, thin cloud cover, warm.
Late this morning we headed out to run some shopping errands. After finishing our shopping ... at Wal-Mart, in violation of my "no Wal-Martin' on weekends" rule ... we had lunch at Subway. After returning home we applied fabric protector spray to the newly reupholstered truck camper dinette seating components.
We took Bo on the daily pack walk. His health is improving. We're relieved ! At sunset
I went bicycling, as usual. Very lovely desert sunset tonight. I barbecued petite sirloin steaks for supper.
DSK
Sunday, January 17, 2016
January 10 to 16, 2016
Sunday ; Mostly sunny, mild.
This morning we went shopping to Yuma Swap Meet Los Perros, the "Mexican" flea market at the old "dog track". I bought some hardware items I needed, Joanne bought some cosmetics, and together we bought some produce. That place is a "zoo", so much less civilized than Arizona MarketPlace, the "gringo" flea market. Its lack of "civility" is a large part of its appeal. HA HA HA !
This afternoon I did more work on the trailer's roof repair. My work was interrupted by a visit from Carol Mae, who wanted to show me the compilation of pictures framed by the Humane Society of the dogs and cats adopted in 2014 whose adoption fees were sponsored by our Escapees group. How nice ! A little late, but still very nice.
This evening we attended the weekly ice cream social. Afterwards we chatted with a couple who are new full time RV'ers, and who are about to make their first visit to Los Algodones, Mexico.
Monday ; Sunny and mild. Joanne cooked Beef Provencal in the Sun Oven today.
I spent the morning visiting and chatting with friends and neighbours, mostly in the context of planning our hosting of a table at the upcoming Renters' Appreciation Dinner.
This afternoon I watered all my plants and gardens. I did some refurbishment project work in the truck camper and the fifth wheel trailer. Our friends / neighbours Bill and Liz and their little dog Riley have arrived from their home on Vancouver Island. Liz asked if we could / would "resurrect" the daily pack walks. Riley was very eager to resume the daily pack walks. HA HA HA ! Okay ! Bo and Riley were very excited when they saw each other in the dog park this afternoon after an absence of nine months or so. HA HA HA ! Welcome back, Riley. You too, Bill and Liz.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I continued working on the trailer's roof leak. I applied a large rubber membrane patch over the leak area which was already resealed with rubber roof cement. Two solutions to one problem !
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular weekly shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. It was a big day for me ! I facilitated the adoption of a senior dog. Congratulations and good luck, Bijou. After the Humane Society we headed to The Foothills for some shopping at Al's RV Service & Supply and The 99¢ Only Store. After shopping we did some used car browsing.
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning we loaded up the five pieces of the truck camper's dinette seating ... two large pieces, one medium sized piece, two small pieces ... and headed off to a reupholstering business that we have used before. Their price to reupholster the five pieces was more than we would have liked, but not really more than we had expected. We selected the material we want, paid a deposit, and ... the job will probably be finished in about two weeks.
We browsed for used cars. We washed the truck at a self-service car wash. And after we left the car wash and everything dried, I could see ... YUCK ... what a poor job I had done ! I will have to hand wash the truck to get it clean. We had lunch at Wienerschnitzel. WOO-HOO ... chili cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries. I refilled with diesel at Fry's. Oh my goodness ! $1.79 per gallon for diesel ! ! ! I think that's the lowest price we've seen for diesel in the United States in twelve years of travelling. While I refilled the truck with diesel Joanne went into Fry's to buy a few advertised grocery specials. Final stop before returning home was Walgreens for a few more advertised grocery specials.
Yes, yes ... it's true that the U.S. / Canada exchange rate is approaching $1.50, but ... our diesel fuel / travel costs and grocery costs are so low that the pain of the exchange rate is mitigated.
Back at home we visited briefly with Bill and Lynne, chatting about their trip to Los Algodones, Mexico today with other friends of theirs who have ... < ahem > ... "reservations" ... about visiting Mexico. All things considered, the trip went well. Bill and Lynne are enthusiastic visitors of Mexico, so their enthusiasm and encouragement allowed their other friends to push their boundaries and overcome their ... < ahem > ... "concerns".
We attended the weekly Wednesday potluck, which continues to be poorly attended.
Thursday ; Sunny and warm.
This morning I visited and chatted with friends and neighbours ... again. I set up the Sun Oven and cooked eggs and potatoes ... for potato salad tomorrow.
This afternoon Joanne went shopping by herself. I did maintenance chores, both routine daily / weekly chores and larger annual maintenance and cleaning chores on the trailer. While up on the trailer roof I found more sun damage that will require repair / resealing. At 5 PM I took Bo on the daily pack walk. The current "pack" is Bo and his buddy Riley. Afterwards I went bicycling at sunset. I love desert sunsets.
Friday ; Sunny and warm. Windy. I broiled chicken in the Sun Oven today.
This morning I went downtown to have a meeting with a Yuma City Public Works Manager about the upcoming annual road cleanup event I am organizing at Kofa Ko-op. After the meeting I went shopping for "guy stuff" at Arizona MarketPlace.
Back at home, after lunch and a nap, I worked on cleaning and reassembling / reinstalling the trailer's ceiling vents. Tough and dangerous job ! Too windy to work on the roof today ! I modified and installed a new trim ring for the Fantastic Fan in the ceiling of the truck camper. We took Bo on the daily pack walk. I went bicycling at sunset.
Saturday ; Sunny and warm. Daytime temperatures are consistently reaching into the 70's. I think "winter" in Yuma is over !
Today I did a landscaping job that I have been procrastinating doing for four years. Better late than never, I suppose. HA HA HA ! I also continued working on the roof of the trailer again. I think I have figured out what to do, and how. Maybe ! HA HA HA !
We went on our daily pack walk, as usual. I went bicycling at sunset, as usual.
I prepared invitations for Bo's upcoming twelfth birthday party. I barbecued a lamb chop for supper. This evening we watched a movie ; Cadillac Records. I spent the late evening trying ... < ARGH > ... to send an e-card to Joanne's niece for her seventeenth birthday tomorrow.
DSK
This morning we went shopping to Yuma Swap Meet Los Perros, the "Mexican" flea market at the old "dog track". I bought some hardware items I needed, Joanne bought some cosmetics, and together we bought some produce. That place is a "zoo", so much less civilized than Arizona MarketPlace, the "gringo" flea market. Its lack of "civility" is a large part of its appeal. HA HA HA !
This afternoon I did more work on the trailer's roof repair. My work was interrupted by a visit from Carol Mae, who wanted to show me the compilation of pictures framed by the Humane Society of the dogs and cats adopted in 2014 whose adoption fees were sponsored by our Escapees group. How nice ! A little late, but still very nice.
This evening we attended the weekly ice cream social. Afterwards we chatted with a couple who are new full time RV'ers, and who are about to make their first visit to Los Algodones, Mexico.
Monday ; Sunny and mild. Joanne cooked Beef Provencal in the Sun Oven today.
I spent the morning visiting and chatting with friends and neighbours, mostly in the context of planning our hosting of a table at the upcoming Renters' Appreciation Dinner.
This afternoon I watered all my plants and gardens. I did some refurbishment project work in the truck camper and the fifth wheel trailer. Our friends / neighbours Bill and Liz and their little dog Riley have arrived from their home on Vancouver Island. Liz asked if we could / would "resurrect" the daily pack walks. Riley was very eager to resume the daily pack walks. HA HA HA ! Okay ! Bo and Riley were very excited when they saw each other in the dog park this afternoon after an absence of nine months or so. HA HA HA ! Welcome back, Riley. You too, Bill and Liz.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I continued working on the trailer's roof leak. I applied a large rubber membrane patch over the leak area which was already resealed with rubber roof cement. Two solutions to one problem !
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular weekly shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. It was a big day for me ! I facilitated the adoption of a senior dog. Congratulations and good luck, Bijou. After the Humane Society we headed to The Foothills for some shopping at Al's RV Service & Supply and The 99¢ Only Store. After shopping we did some used car browsing.
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning we loaded up the five pieces of the truck camper's dinette seating ... two large pieces, one medium sized piece, two small pieces ... and headed off to a reupholstering business that we have used before. Their price to reupholster the five pieces was more than we would have liked, but not really more than we had expected. We selected the material we want, paid a deposit, and ... the job will probably be finished in about two weeks.
We browsed for used cars. We washed the truck at a self-service car wash. And after we left the car wash and everything dried, I could see ... YUCK ... what a poor job I had done ! I will have to hand wash the truck to get it clean. We had lunch at Wienerschnitzel. WOO-HOO ... chili cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries. I refilled with diesel at Fry's. Oh my goodness ! $1.79 per gallon for diesel ! ! ! I think that's the lowest price we've seen for diesel in the United States in twelve years of travelling. While I refilled the truck with diesel Joanne went into Fry's to buy a few advertised grocery specials. Final stop before returning home was Walgreens for a few more advertised grocery specials.
Yes, yes ... it's true that the U.S. / Canada exchange rate is approaching $1.50, but ... our diesel fuel / travel costs and grocery costs are so low that the pain of the exchange rate is mitigated.
Back at home we visited briefly with Bill and Lynne, chatting about their trip to Los Algodones, Mexico today with other friends of theirs who have ... < ahem > ... "reservations" ... about visiting Mexico. All things considered, the trip went well. Bill and Lynne are enthusiastic visitors of Mexico, so their enthusiasm and encouragement allowed their other friends to push their boundaries and overcome their ... < ahem > ... "concerns".
We attended the weekly Wednesday potluck, which continues to be poorly attended.
Thursday ; Sunny and warm.
This morning I visited and chatted with friends and neighbours ... again. I set up the Sun Oven and cooked eggs and potatoes ... for potato salad tomorrow.
This afternoon Joanne went shopping by herself. I did maintenance chores, both routine daily / weekly chores and larger annual maintenance and cleaning chores on the trailer. While up on the trailer roof I found more sun damage that will require repair / resealing. At 5 PM I took Bo on the daily pack walk. The current "pack" is Bo and his buddy Riley. Afterwards I went bicycling at sunset. I love desert sunsets.
Friday ; Sunny and warm. Windy. I broiled chicken in the Sun Oven today.
This morning I went downtown to have a meeting with a Yuma City Public Works Manager about the upcoming annual road cleanup event I am organizing at Kofa Ko-op. After the meeting I went shopping for "guy stuff" at Arizona MarketPlace.
Back at home, after lunch and a nap, I worked on cleaning and reassembling / reinstalling the trailer's ceiling vents. Tough and dangerous job ! Too windy to work on the roof today ! I modified and installed a new trim ring for the Fantastic Fan in the ceiling of the truck camper. We took Bo on the daily pack walk. I went bicycling at sunset.
Saturday ; Sunny and warm. Daytime temperatures are consistently reaching into the 70's. I think "winter" in Yuma is over !
Today I did a landscaping job that I have been procrastinating doing for four years. Better late than never, I suppose. HA HA HA ! I also continued working on the roof of the trailer again. I think I have figured out what to do, and how. Maybe ! HA HA HA !
We went on our daily pack walk, as usual. I went bicycling at sunset, as usual.
I prepared invitations for Bo's upcoming twelfth birthday party. I barbecued a lamb chop for supper. This evening we watched a movie ; Cadillac Records. I spent the late evening trying ... < ARGH > ... to send an e-card to Joanne's niece for her seventeenth birthday tomorrow.
DSK
Sunday, January 10, 2016
January 3 to 9, 2016
Sunday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning we turned the Welcome Committee chores ... and golf cart ... over to the couple who will be the Welcome Committee for the next week. We're glad to be done with that. Until our next stint in a month or so. In the two weeks that we were the Welcome Committee we welcomed twenty-nine new arrivals and one new leaseholder / lot owner. It was a lot of work !
I did some minor maintenance chores. I did "Bo-gility" with Bo. He's still pretty agile for an older dog. I mounted the Cummins High Mileage Club "300,000" grill badge on the front of the truck. It arrived in the mail today. I spent the latter part of the afternoon sorting and purging my clothing, both in the trailer and in the camper. I'm not finished yet.
At 6 PM we attended the weekly ice cream social. Big crowd tonight, a bit more than a hundred people ! Afterwards we chatted with Bill and Lynne for a couple of hours, then we returned to our trailer where I cooked Manitoba / Lake Winnipeg Pickerel for supper. MMMMM ! We were hoping to watch the premiere episode of season six of Downton Abbey, but we were unable to receive PBS tonight. So ... we watched an old movie, Steel Magnolias. We've previously seen Steel Magnolias as a stage play.
Monday ; HMPH ! An entire day of rain !
We did some difficult annual cleaning jobs in the trailer today. I wasted a lot of time waiting for Tracfone's Technical Support, both on the phone and on "online chat".
I failed to contact them via either method. At 6 PM we went shopping. More time wasted ! Time wasting problems with coupon and gift card processing at Wal-Mart !
By the time we finished shopping at Fry's, it was after 8 PM and we didn't feel like preparing supper at home. We bought some Church's chicken and Rally's burgers to take home for supper.
Not a particularly good day !
Tuesday ; HMPH ! ! ! A second day of rain ! Pretty rare for Yuma !
This morning I puttered around with chores and minor maintenance. I took my bicycle to the park's air compressor station and adjusted the tires' air pressure. I repaired a dinette chair. I brushed Bo's teeth, a weekly chore. Joanne did cleaning in the truck camper.
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. I walked six dogs in two hours, despite the cold rain and wind.
After we returned home I got up on the trailer's roof to see if I could identify the cause of a leak into a kitchen cupboard. I mounted a new thermometer outside. Last summer's storm broke our previous exterior thermometer. Joanne did laundry. After supper ( Gnocchi from Trader Joe's ) I summarized our 2015 medical expenses for income tax purposes.
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I puttered around with minor maintenance chores, then did both an obedience session and an agility ( Bo-gility ) session with Bo. Well done, Bo, good dog.
This afternoon I removed the sacrificial anode from the truck camper's water heater and flushed all the mineral deposit "scale" out of the water heater with a special tool, then cleaned, Teflon taped, and reinstalled the sacrificial anode. Another annual maintenance chore done !
Late in the afternoon we went to run shopping errands before going out for dinner. Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Harbor Freight ( WOO-HOO ), and lastly, Smart & Final. We went to Copper Miner Kitchen for their Wednesday evening all you can eat spaghetti dinner. It was very good ! And as a surprise bonus ... it was free ! And I didn't even have to throw a hissy fit to get a free dinner ! HA HA HA !
The waitress took our order and the orders from two nearby tables at the same time. The other two tables received their salads and / or soups, and were already getting their main courses when the flustered waitress came over to our table to tell us that she or the kitchen had lost our order. HA HA HA ! I thought that was somewhat amusing. She apologized profusely, asked us again what we wanted, then advised us that there would be no charge. What good customer service a generous gesture like that is, following a screw up !
Thursday ; Mostly cloudy and cool.
This morning we watched the very entertaining and amusing process of three Mexican men removing the large shed from our next door neighbour's yard. They attempted to remove it intact. They failed. Larry, Curly, and Moe could not have done it any better. HA HA HA !
Joanne went out around noon today with Lynne. They spent the entire day thrift store and grocery shopping. I spent the day puttering around with maintenance chores.
I started, but did not complete, repairing a roof leak on the trailer.
Friday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I set up the Sun Oven. Joanne prepared a chicken and rice recipe that is a favourite of mine. I put it into the Sun Oven just before noon and we headed out to The Foothills for a day of shopping errands.
First we looked at some used cars. We are considering purchasing a cheap used car for here in Yuma. Our purchase of a minivan in B.C. a year and a half ago has worked out well, so ... maybe we'll do something similar here. Our primary shopping objective for today was Al's RV Service & Supply. Today was their monthly 15% off sale day, the first since we've arrived in Yuma. I had quite a lengthy list of minor maintenance and repair items to buy, both for Elsie ( the truck camper ) and Harvey ( the fifth wheel trailer ). Joanne went to The 99¢ Only Store while I shopped at Al's. Afterwards we went to Burger King for a late lunch.
After lunch we shopped for quite awhile, and I purchased quite a lot of clothing, at Goodwill. There was better selection of men's clothing in my sizes in The Foothills store than in the main Yuma store. Joanne bought an electric blanket for our bed. On our way home we made our final shopping stop at Wally's World. WOO-HOO ... guy stuff ! Shopping at Wally's World is even more fun than shopping at Harbor Freight. HA HA HA !
When we returned home, around 4:30 PM the Sun Oven had just become shaded behind the trailer. Supper was cooked to perfection !
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
WTF ? ? ? < blink blink > How could it be that we lost over $23,000 this week in the stock market ? ? ? ! ! ! ! !
Joanne went out shopping by herself again today. Before she left she prepared a meal for me to cook in the Sun Oven. I set up the Sun Oven and ... did as instructed. HA HA HA ! I worked on repairing the leak at the top rear edge of the trailer's roof. I tried, but failed, to apply a long strip of rubber roof repair membrane. SO ... I applied a thick coat of rubber roof cement, and will apply another tomorrow or the next day. I worked on my inventory of clothing in the truck camper. I want enough of everything in the camper that there is no need to "pack clothing" when we want to travel.
My big job for today was to work on removing the truck camper's dinette seating. We want to have it reupholstered. Removing the dinette seating ... which "folds" into a bed ... was very difficult. And required much more disassembly than could have been imagined. DARN ! Sometimes ( most times ? ) working on an RV renovation / refurbishment project is like that ! Joanne returned home while I was in the midst of this project, so she helped me with the most difficult parts. I have all the components of the dinette seating removed for reupholstery, but now I also have a whole lot more repair / reassembly work than anticipated.
In the evening I worked on completing our IRS 8840 forms, an annual task required by the U.S. Government. Too bad so many / most Canadian Snowbirds don't know that ! Or they know but don't comply !
As usual, our sun cooked meal was spectacular ! A new recipe. A keeper !
DSK
This morning we turned the Welcome Committee chores ... and golf cart ... over to the couple who will be the Welcome Committee for the next week. We're glad to be done with that. Until our next stint in a month or so. In the two weeks that we were the Welcome Committee we welcomed twenty-nine new arrivals and one new leaseholder / lot owner. It was a lot of work !
I did some minor maintenance chores. I did "Bo-gility" with Bo. He's still pretty agile for an older dog. I mounted the Cummins High Mileage Club "300,000" grill badge on the front of the truck. It arrived in the mail today. I spent the latter part of the afternoon sorting and purging my clothing, both in the trailer and in the camper. I'm not finished yet.
At 6 PM we attended the weekly ice cream social. Big crowd tonight, a bit more than a hundred people ! Afterwards we chatted with Bill and Lynne for a couple of hours, then we returned to our trailer where I cooked Manitoba / Lake Winnipeg Pickerel for supper. MMMMM ! We were hoping to watch the premiere episode of season six of Downton Abbey, but we were unable to receive PBS tonight. So ... we watched an old movie, Steel Magnolias. We've previously seen Steel Magnolias as a stage play.
Monday ; HMPH ! An entire day of rain !
We did some difficult annual cleaning jobs in the trailer today. I wasted a lot of time waiting for Tracfone's Technical Support, both on the phone and on "online chat".
I failed to contact them via either method. At 6 PM we went shopping. More time wasted ! Time wasting problems with coupon and gift card processing at Wal-Mart !
By the time we finished shopping at Fry's, it was after 8 PM and we didn't feel like preparing supper at home. We bought some Church's chicken and Rally's burgers to take home for supper.
Not a particularly good day !
Tuesday ; HMPH ! ! ! A second day of rain ! Pretty rare for Yuma !
This morning I puttered around with chores and minor maintenance. I took my bicycle to the park's air compressor station and adjusted the tires' air pressure. I repaired a dinette chair. I brushed Bo's teeth, a weekly chore. Joanne did cleaning in the truck camper.
This afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. I walked six dogs in two hours, despite the cold rain and wind.
After we returned home I got up on the trailer's roof to see if I could identify the cause of a leak into a kitchen cupboard. I mounted a new thermometer outside. Last summer's storm broke our previous exterior thermometer. Joanne did laundry. After supper ( Gnocchi from Trader Joe's ) I summarized our 2015 medical expenses for income tax purposes.
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I puttered around with minor maintenance chores, then did both an obedience session and an agility ( Bo-gility ) session with Bo. Well done, Bo, good dog.
This afternoon I removed the sacrificial anode from the truck camper's water heater and flushed all the mineral deposit "scale" out of the water heater with a special tool, then cleaned, Teflon taped, and reinstalled the sacrificial anode. Another annual maintenance chore done !
Late in the afternoon we went to run shopping errands before going out for dinner. Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Harbor Freight ( WOO-HOO ), and lastly, Smart & Final. We went to Copper Miner Kitchen for their Wednesday evening all you can eat spaghetti dinner. It was very good ! And as a surprise bonus ... it was free ! And I didn't even have to throw a hissy fit to get a free dinner ! HA HA HA !
The waitress took our order and the orders from two nearby tables at the same time. The other two tables received their salads and / or soups, and were already getting their main courses when the flustered waitress came over to our table to tell us that she or the kitchen had lost our order. HA HA HA ! I thought that was somewhat amusing. She apologized profusely, asked us again what we wanted, then advised us that there would be no charge. What good customer service a generous gesture like that is, following a screw up !
Thursday ; Mostly cloudy and cool.
This morning we watched the very entertaining and amusing process of three Mexican men removing the large shed from our next door neighbour's yard. They attempted to remove it intact. They failed. Larry, Curly, and Moe could not have done it any better. HA HA HA !
Joanne went out around noon today with Lynne. They spent the entire day thrift store and grocery shopping. I spent the day puttering around with maintenance chores.
I started, but did not complete, repairing a roof leak on the trailer.
Friday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I set up the Sun Oven. Joanne prepared a chicken and rice recipe that is a favourite of mine. I put it into the Sun Oven just before noon and we headed out to The Foothills for a day of shopping errands.
First we looked at some used cars. We are considering purchasing a cheap used car for here in Yuma. Our purchase of a minivan in B.C. a year and a half ago has worked out well, so ... maybe we'll do something similar here. Our primary shopping objective for today was Al's RV Service & Supply. Today was their monthly 15% off sale day, the first since we've arrived in Yuma. I had quite a lengthy list of minor maintenance and repair items to buy, both for Elsie ( the truck camper ) and Harvey ( the fifth wheel trailer ). Joanne went to The 99¢ Only Store while I shopped at Al's. Afterwards we went to Burger King for a late lunch.
After lunch we shopped for quite awhile, and I purchased quite a lot of clothing, at Goodwill. There was better selection of men's clothing in my sizes in The Foothills store than in the main Yuma store. Joanne bought an electric blanket for our bed. On our way home we made our final shopping stop at Wally's World. WOO-HOO ... guy stuff ! Shopping at Wally's World is even more fun than shopping at Harbor Freight. HA HA HA !
When we returned home, around 4:30 PM the Sun Oven had just become shaded behind the trailer. Supper was cooked to perfection !
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
WTF ? ? ? < blink blink > How could it be that we lost over $23,000 this week in the stock market ? ? ? ! ! ! ! !
Joanne went out shopping by herself again today. Before she left she prepared a meal for me to cook in the Sun Oven. I set up the Sun Oven and ... did as instructed. HA HA HA ! I worked on repairing the leak at the top rear edge of the trailer's roof. I tried, but failed, to apply a long strip of rubber roof repair membrane. SO ... I applied a thick coat of rubber roof cement, and will apply another tomorrow or the next day. I worked on my inventory of clothing in the truck camper. I want enough of everything in the camper that there is no need to "pack clothing" when we want to travel.
My big job for today was to work on removing the truck camper's dinette seating. We want to have it reupholstered. Removing the dinette seating ... which "folds" into a bed ... was very difficult. And required much more disassembly than could have been imagined. DARN ! Sometimes ( most times ? ) working on an RV renovation / refurbishment project is like that ! Joanne returned home while I was in the midst of this project, so she helped me with the most difficult parts. I have all the components of the dinette seating removed for reupholstery, but now I also have a whole lot more repair / reassembly work than anticipated.
In the evening I worked on completing our IRS 8840 forms, an annual task required by the U.S. Government. Too bad so many / most Canadian Snowbirds don't know that ! Or they know but don't comply !
As usual, our sun cooked meal was spectacular ! A new recipe. A keeper !
DSK
Sunday, January 3, 2016
December 27, 2015 to January 2, 2016
Sunday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I set up the Sun Oven for the first time this winter season. Joanne prepared a beef pot roast in a slow cooker marinade and we had our first sun cooked meal of the season. It was very good !
I took an empty propane tank to be refilled. I repaired a leak under the kitchen sink. The brutal desert heat of the summer dries out plumbing seals and gaskets. I did some routine annual maintenance on Lanoire ( the truck ). I did some routine annual maintenance on Harvey ( the fifth wheel trailer ). I cleaned and polished shoes.
We did our daily "Welcome Committee" visits ; two arrivals today. We attended the regular Sunday evening ice cream social, then one of today's arrivals came over to visit with us and Bo in our Arizona room. Their dog died only six weeks ago, and the woman needed a "dog fix".
We had our wonderful sun cooked supper while watching Downton Abbey. Oh, boy ... the new and final season begins next Sunday. I posted last week's journal to my blog. How nice it is to have good Wi-Fi again.
Monday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning Laszlo and DeeOGee the Pit Bull came over for a visit. This afternoon Carol Mae and Osita the foster puppy came over for a visit.
I realized the other day that I have not yet paid our 2015 Yuma County tax bill. BECAUSE ... I have not yet received a 2015 Yuma County tax bill. We must have left home ( on Sept. 18 ) just before it was to arrive in our mail. I phoned Yuma County this morning and found out how much we owe, and we'll have to go downtown and pay it before the end of the year.
We both worked on annual cleaning chores inside the trailer today. I cleaned and polished another pair of shoes. We did our daily Welcome Committee visits ; two today.
At 5 PM ... two hours late ... Benjamin's RV Wash crew showed up. They had been having some equipment problems during the day that delayed them. And their equipment problems continued. They washed and waxed Harvey the trailer, and then Lanoire the truck. By then it was 6 PM, a few minutes until darkness, and they were not able to wash Elsie the truck camper. They will return tomorrow morning to do the truck camper. I was not completely satisfied with their work. They rushed, and their equipment problems continued. I had to have them redo the rear of the trailer because they had done it poorly. And they broke two plastic pieces on the trailer, partially due to the plastic pieces being made brittle by the brutal summer heat, but also because of their rushing and carelessness. Yes, yes ... it is hard to find good help !
After supper we went grocery shopping at Albertsons.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
Yesterday the Benjamin's RV Wash crew was two hours late. Today they were six hours late ! Isn't it fun doing business with Mexicans ? ! ? < gritting teeth >
I got up early. To accommodate the expected 8 AM arrival of the Benjamin's RV Wash crew. < fume > When I finally got tired of waiting ... around 10 AM ... we went out to run some errands. I dropped Joanne off at the "99¢ Only Store" then drove downtown to pay our 2015 property tax bill at the Yuma County offices. After paying the tax bill
I returned to the "99¢ Only Store", picked up Joanne, and we went off in search of a recycling business. The one we usually use is temporarily inaccessible due to a bridge repair. We went from recycle business to recycle business, each one referring us to the next. One took only cardboard, one took only plastic, some of them don't deal with consumers, only commercial recycling ... and so on !
Back at home we had lunch, then the RV wash crew finally showed up to wash the truck camper. < sigh > That made us a little late for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift at the Humane Society. I spent two hours walking dogs and Joanne cuddled cats. As soon as we got home we went to do our daily Welcome Committee visits ; one new arrival ... from Ontario, Canada. We chatted with them until dark.
Wednesday ; Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico
Sunny, chilly in the morning and evening, mild in the afternoon.
This morning we headed off to Mexico for dentist appointments. I had a rescheduled periodontal examination by my periodontist who had to leave unexpectedly while I was having my teeth cleaned two weeks ago. On that same day Joanne had cancelled her dental cleaning and examination because of her cold. Today after having her teeth cleaned she told the dentist about a problem she was experiencing with a back molar tooth. An x-ray revealed a crack in the tooth. The dentist was able to do the filling repair today. While Joanne was having her tooth repaired I walked across town to the veterinary pharmacy to buy some medications for our friend and neighbour Jeanine back home in B.C. She wanted me to buy for her four tubes of one medication, and six little bottles of another. < sigh > I bought one tube of the first and none of the second.
I back ordered the rest, with expected arrival date of February 1. I hate going to Los Algodones in January and February due to long line-ups to cross the border back into the U.S.
We returned to Yuma as soon as Joanne was finished at the dentist. We stopped at Lowe's where I needed to pick up a special ordered item. I had received a phone call yesterday advising me that it was in. < sigh > I got a surly, disinterested, Hispanic young man at Customer Service who could not get beyond his computer telling him that my special order item was not yet in. Then I got a young Hispanic female supervisor who simply echoed him. < sigh > Finally ... when I got the store manager involved, miraculously my special order item was found ! ! ! Yes, yes ... it certainly is hard to find good help, especially around the holidays !
We had a very late lunch at Subway then returned home. We did our daily Welcome Committee visit ... a couple that we know from B.C. arrived today ... then quickly got ready for the regular Wednesday late afternoon "light duty" potluck. Didn't we just have lunch three hours ago ? ! ? Joanne's contribution to potluck was a dessert recipe that she got from our friend Lynne a month or so ago in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It was a big hit at today's potluck.
New Year's Eve ; Sunny but chilly.
Joanne now has her third cold in as many months ! ! ! Maybe the flu ! < sigh > My third cold is just ending. Wish me luck ! ! !
I puttered around with some minor maintenance chores. I trimmed my beard. I did some cactus gardening. When I began cactus gardening four years ago I assumed that cactus gardens were low / no maintenance. I was wrong ! Especially if they're left unattended for eight months. We did our daily "Welcome" visits. One new arrival and one new leaseholder / lot owner.
For supper I barbecued the last of our B.C. Sockeye Salmon. Joanne prepared a risotto with Crema CentroAmericana. After supper we went to the clubhouse for Kofa Ko-op's New York New Year's Eve party. That means ... at 10 PM local time everybody celebrates the arrival of New Year in New York, then leaves to go home to bed ! Isn't it fun to live with old folks ? ! ?
Joanne was feeling quite ill and left a few minutes after 10 PM. I stayed for another hour.
New Year's Day ; Happy New Year / Bonne Heureuse Année / Prospero Año Nuevo
WELL ! ! ! Wasn't that a boring and depressing New Year's Eve party ? ! ? HMPH !
Today was sunny and mild.
Joanne went Wal-Martin' this morning. By herself, mercifully ! I worked on trailer repairs. I took my bicycle to be serviced by a neighbour.
We were quite busy this afternoon welcoming new arrivals. Five of them ! Including our friends Bill and Lynne and their Pomeranian Windsor.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning Joanne "undecorated". I did some minor truck maintenance. We trimmed Bo's nails. Then we headed out to do some thrift store shopping. We bought nothing at Salvation Army. I bought some clothing at Goodwill. On the way home we stopped for a late, all you can eat / ETYS buffet lunch at KFC.
This afternoon I completed the repairs to the Arizona room made necessary by the violent storm here last summer. I installed a new turbine vent on the roof of the shed. And I replaced three of the Arizona room's acoustic ceiling tiles and the bats of fiberglass insulation above them in the ceiling. Both jobs ... easier said than done !
In the evening I worked on reconciling month end and year end financial statements, and analyzing our financial performance for 2015. Not bad ! Not good ! Better than the overall performance of the stock market indexes, so ... better than "average", I guess. We’re not getting any richer, but we’re doing okay !
DSK
This morning I set up the Sun Oven for the first time this winter season. Joanne prepared a beef pot roast in a slow cooker marinade and we had our first sun cooked meal of the season. It was very good !
I took an empty propane tank to be refilled. I repaired a leak under the kitchen sink. The brutal desert heat of the summer dries out plumbing seals and gaskets. I did some routine annual maintenance on Lanoire ( the truck ). I did some routine annual maintenance on Harvey ( the fifth wheel trailer ). I cleaned and polished shoes.
We did our daily "Welcome Committee" visits ; two arrivals today. We attended the regular Sunday evening ice cream social, then one of today's arrivals came over to visit with us and Bo in our Arizona room. Their dog died only six weeks ago, and the woman needed a "dog fix".
We had our wonderful sun cooked supper while watching Downton Abbey. Oh, boy ... the new and final season begins next Sunday. I posted last week's journal to my blog. How nice it is to have good Wi-Fi again.
Monday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning Laszlo and DeeOGee the Pit Bull came over for a visit. This afternoon Carol Mae and Osita the foster puppy came over for a visit.
I realized the other day that I have not yet paid our 2015 Yuma County tax bill. BECAUSE ... I have not yet received a 2015 Yuma County tax bill. We must have left home ( on Sept. 18 ) just before it was to arrive in our mail. I phoned Yuma County this morning and found out how much we owe, and we'll have to go downtown and pay it before the end of the year.
We both worked on annual cleaning chores inside the trailer today. I cleaned and polished another pair of shoes. We did our daily Welcome Committee visits ; two today.
At 5 PM ... two hours late ... Benjamin's RV Wash crew showed up. They had been having some equipment problems during the day that delayed them. And their equipment problems continued. They washed and waxed Harvey the trailer, and then Lanoire the truck. By then it was 6 PM, a few minutes until darkness, and they were not able to wash Elsie the truck camper. They will return tomorrow morning to do the truck camper. I was not completely satisfied with their work. They rushed, and their equipment problems continued. I had to have them redo the rear of the trailer because they had done it poorly. And they broke two plastic pieces on the trailer, partially due to the plastic pieces being made brittle by the brutal summer heat, but also because of their rushing and carelessness. Yes, yes ... it is hard to find good help !
After supper we went grocery shopping at Albertsons.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
Yesterday the Benjamin's RV Wash crew was two hours late. Today they were six hours late ! Isn't it fun doing business with Mexicans ? ! ? < gritting teeth >
I got up early. To accommodate the expected 8 AM arrival of the Benjamin's RV Wash crew. < fume > When I finally got tired of waiting ... around 10 AM ... we went out to run some errands. I dropped Joanne off at the "99¢ Only Store" then drove downtown to pay our 2015 property tax bill at the Yuma County offices. After paying the tax bill
I returned to the "99¢ Only Store", picked up Joanne, and we went off in search of a recycling business. The one we usually use is temporarily inaccessible due to a bridge repair. We went from recycle business to recycle business, each one referring us to the next. One took only cardboard, one took only plastic, some of them don't deal with consumers, only commercial recycling ... and so on !
Back at home we had lunch, then the RV wash crew finally showed up to wash the truck camper. < sigh > That made us a little late for our regular Tuesday afternoon shift at the Humane Society. I spent two hours walking dogs and Joanne cuddled cats. As soon as we got home we went to do our daily Welcome Committee visits ; one new arrival ... from Ontario, Canada. We chatted with them until dark.
Wednesday ; Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico
Sunny, chilly in the morning and evening, mild in the afternoon.
This morning we headed off to Mexico for dentist appointments. I had a rescheduled periodontal examination by my periodontist who had to leave unexpectedly while I was having my teeth cleaned two weeks ago. On that same day Joanne had cancelled her dental cleaning and examination because of her cold. Today after having her teeth cleaned she told the dentist about a problem she was experiencing with a back molar tooth. An x-ray revealed a crack in the tooth. The dentist was able to do the filling repair today. While Joanne was having her tooth repaired I walked across town to the veterinary pharmacy to buy some medications for our friend and neighbour Jeanine back home in B.C. She wanted me to buy for her four tubes of one medication, and six little bottles of another. < sigh > I bought one tube of the first and none of the second.
I back ordered the rest, with expected arrival date of February 1. I hate going to Los Algodones in January and February due to long line-ups to cross the border back into the U.S.
We returned to Yuma as soon as Joanne was finished at the dentist. We stopped at Lowe's where I needed to pick up a special ordered item. I had received a phone call yesterday advising me that it was in. < sigh > I got a surly, disinterested, Hispanic young man at Customer Service who could not get beyond his computer telling him that my special order item was not yet in. Then I got a young Hispanic female supervisor who simply echoed him. < sigh > Finally ... when I got the store manager involved, miraculously my special order item was found ! ! ! Yes, yes ... it certainly is hard to find good help, especially around the holidays !
We had a very late lunch at Subway then returned home. We did our daily Welcome Committee visit ... a couple that we know from B.C. arrived today ... then quickly got ready for the regular Wednesday late afternoon "light duty" potluck. Didn't we just have lunch three hours ago ? ! ? Joanne's contribution to potluck was a dessert recipe that she got from our friend Lynne a month or so ago in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It was a big hit at today's potluck.
New Year's Eve ; Sunny but chilly.
Joanne now has her third cold in as many months ! ! ! Maybe the flu ! < sigh > My third cold is just ending. Wish me luck ! ! !
I puttered around with some minor maintenance chores. I trimmed my beard. I did some cactus gardening. When I began cactus gardening four years ago I assumed that cactus gardens were low / no maintenance. I was wrong ! Especially if they're left unattended for eight months. We did our daily "Welcome" visits. One new arrival and one new leaseholder / lot owner.
For supper I barbecued the last of our B.C. Sockeye Salmon. Joanne prepared a risotto with Crema CentroAmericana. After supper we went to the clubhouse for Kofa Ko-op's New York New Year's Eve party. That means ... at 10 PM local time everybody celebrates the arrival of New Year in New York, then leaves to go home to bed ! Isn't it fun to live with old folks ? ! ?
Joanne was feeling quite ill and left a few minutes after 10 PM. I stayed for another hour.
New Year's Day ; Happy New Year / Bonne Heureuse Année / Prospero Año Nuevo
WELL ! ! ! Wasn't that a boring and depressing New Year's Eve party ? ! ? HMPH !
Today was sunny and mild.
Joanne went Wal-Martin' this morning. By herself, mercifully ! I worked on trailer repairs. I took my bicycle to be serviced by a neighbour.
We were quite busy this afternoon welcoming new arrivals. Five of them ! Including our friends Bill and Lynne and their Pomeranian Windsor.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning Joanne "undecorated". I did some minor truck maintenance. We trimmed Bo's nails. Then we headed out to do some thrift store shopping. We bought nothing at Salvation Army. I bought some clothing at Goodwill. On the way home we stopped for a late, all you can eat / ETYS buffet lunch at KFC.
This afternoon I completed the repairs to the Arizona room made necessary by the violent storm here last summer. I installed a new turbine vent on the roof of the shed. And I replaced three of the Arizona room's acoustic ceiling tiles and the bats of fiberglass insulation above them in the ceiling. Both jobs ... easier said than done !
In the evening I worked on reconciling month end and year end financial statements, and analyzing our financial performance for 2015. Not bad ! Not good ! Better than the overall performance of the stock market indexes, so ... better than "average", I guess. We’re not getting any richer, but we’re doing okay !
DSK
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