December 19 to 25, 2021 ; Yuma, Arizona

 Sunday ; Sunny and mild.

<sigh> Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike wrapping Christmas gifts ? ! ?

My overwhelming depression and negativity persist.

This afternoon I had my time wasted by a STUPID OLD WOMAN who came by to “view” our lot and Arizona room for sale. SHE IS NOT EVEN ON THIS PARK’S "WAITING LIST”. She is 3 ½ to 6 ½ years away from being eligible to purchase it !!!!!

<SPUTTER>

Monday ; Sunny and mild.

Took the truck at noon for a new windshield. Went to Wal-Mart for a few items, then Green Tree Grocers for a few items. Driving home the minivan overheated. <sigh> I suspect the thermostat has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced.

Two potential purchasers of our lot came over today. Met the first guy about five years ago when he was a renter on the lot next door. Nice fellow, I hope he becomes the purchaser of our lot. Second guy was … a total asshole !

Late this afternoon we went to pick up the truck with its new windshield. Then while Joanne waited in the overheated minivan I drove to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and bought a new thermostat for the minivan. I will install it tomorrow. I hope.

Tuesday ; Mostly cloudy, mild.

This morning I replaced the thermostat in the minivan. And decided that I should also change the radiator cap. Just in case.

This afternoon I continued working on purging the contents of our shed. And had a second visit and discussion with yesterday’s … <ahem> … second potential purchaser of our lot.

In the evening we went out to run a few errands, and have dinner. While Joanne refilled the minivan at Fry’s Fuel Bar I walked next door to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and bought a radiator cap. Then we went to look at folding chairs at a redneck outdoor store. No masks, lots of guns. We didn’t buy chairs.

We went for dinner to EAT ASIAN Super Buffet, our favourite local “Chinese” food restaurant. While Joanne selected from the buffet, I stuck to the sushi bar. EXCELLENT !

AND … the minivan’s overheating problem is solved ! Well done, Daniel.

Wednesday ; Sunny and warm.

This morning we purchased our tickets to five movies at the upcoming Palm Springs Film Festival, sort of our Christmas gift to ourselves. We had wanted to attend six movies, but were unable to obtain tickets for one of our choices. Reviewing all the movies, making selections, and purchasing tickets is a complicated and time consuming process.

This afternoon I continued working on shed and Arizona room purging while Joanne went out grocery shopping, hopefully for the last time before Christmas.

Thursday ; Sunny and very warm. That will change very soon.

Today I worked online making an RV park reservation in Desert Hot Springs (across I-10 from Palm Springs), posting more items for sale in the White Sheet, and making a COVID-19 booster shot appointment in Palm Springs. That was a teensy bit complicated. Joanne continued working on purging and packing possessions. I made a quick visit to the lot transfer committee meeting to confirm that our “lot for sale” posting has been mailed to the top fifty people on our RV park’s waitlist.

We are certain that there is a concerted “back room” effort to sabotage our lot sale. Given the existence of the “all foreigners are unwelcome” mentality of the United States, and in particular this RV park community, it seems counterproductive for them to thwart our efforts to “get the hell out of Dodge”. <shrug> Rocket scientists ! <sarcasm>

Friday ; Christmas Eve

Today I sadly and fondly remember my father, who died on Christmas Eve twenty-six years ago.

Rain early in the day, clearing in late afternoon, mild temperature.

Today we made Christmas sugar cookies with sprinkles on them. It was Joanne’s idea of a fun thing to do on Christmas Eve. I did the “work” under Joanne’s supervision and guidance.

I paid our MC bills today, both Canadian and U.S. I was dismayed to find that Bank of America MasterCard upcharged 3% for a “foreign transaction” on our purchase of eyeglasses in Los Algodones, on an amount charged by the merchant in U.S. dollars. Any excuse for more fees, right, Bank of America ? ! ? <fume>

As I am typing this Joanne is preparing Tourtière, French Canadian meat pie, her family’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

Saturday ; Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thin, high clouds, mild.

Twenty-two years ago, the day after our 25^th anniversary, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, I bought a painted wood carving of eight parrots, carved into a five foot section of cypress tree. From the time we got off our cruise ship around 8 AM until we were due back on the ship at 6 PM I watched the artist carve, then paint it. I was fascinated … and parted with my money. From Ocho Rios it has travelled first to Ottawa, then Winnipeg/Lorette, then Keremeos, then Yuma, over a twenty-two year period.

We have no practical way to move it from Yuma to our current summer home in Steinbach. So … today I gave it to our friends Carol Mae and Larry as a Christmas gift. I will be happy knowing that it will be appreciated by someone we know. That’s a better choice for “disposing” of a cherished piece of art than giving it to an auction house, and having it sold for “a few pennies on the dollar” as I did with some of our art in BC a few years ago.

Please take good care of my parrots, Larry and Carol Mae.

Late in the afternoon we had a long Zoom call with Joanne’s sister and nieces. It was a wonderful connection with family on Christmas. Thank you, Lorraine, Madeleine, and Amelia.

Joanne made a traditional Christmas dinner, with a roasted chicken instead of a turkey. The camper’s oven is not large enough for a turkey. Great Christmas dinner. Thank you, my love.

DSK

December 12 to 18, 2021 ; Yuma, Arizona

 Sunday ; Sunny and cool during the day, cold in the evening.

This morning we completed preparing the fifth wheel trailer for its (final) departure, and after lunch the buyers arrived to pay for it and tow it away. Farewell, Harvey … you were a great home for a long time, and for many adventures.

After the trailer was gone we moved (Elsie) the truck camper onto our lot 52 and moved into it again. It will be our home until we return to Canada in about four months.

Late this afternoon and into the evening, while Joanne was out running errands, I listened to the Grey Cup game online. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the game, but barely, and … probably didn’t deserve to.

Monday ; Mostly cloudy and cool.

At noon I went over to our friend Linda’s home to take some photos of her home which she will be selling soon. I had a lengthy chat with her husband David. Our social and political views are similar. Linda and David are a couple of our few remaining friends in this community.

And we consoled our friend Carol Mae who took responsibility today for euthanizing a sick feral kitten in the park. Well done, Carol Mae … and Larry. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to “do the right thing”.

This afternoon I went to Wally’s World to buy some hardware I needed to finish a camper repair. Late this afternoon I completed the repair job.

Tuesday ; Cloudy and cool early in the day, windy in the afternoon, a very brief, extremely windy, violent rainstorm at suppertime, lasting just a few minutes.

At 1 PM I attended the lot transfer committee meeting and presented my “lot 52 for sale” ad/poster. It was posted on the clubhouse bulletin board this afternoon and our lot will be made available to current residents within the park for three days before being presented next week to the top fifty names on the park’s “waiting list”. Wish us luck. <whispering> I seem to be faced with passive aggressive “hurdles” at every step of the process so far, and I expect that will continue.

We went to the Foothills area this afternoon and donated a lot of stuff to Goodwill. Then we went into Goodwill and I bought three pairs of pants. On the way back home we stopped at Green Tree Grocers, a “scratch & dent” grocery store. WOW ! What a lot of groceries we bought for twenty bucks !

While Joanne baked some home made buns I barbecued cheeseburger “sliders” for supper. DARN ! I overcooked the burgers a bit. Not surprisingly, Joanne thought they were perfect. HA HA HA !

We spent the evening planning our attendance at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in a month. It’s complicated and confusing. So many films … so little time !

Wednesday ; Sunny and cool. BRRRRR … winter !

Did our Christmas decorating today. Minimalist approach ! While Joanne ran some errands I created and sent our 2021 Christmas card. Again … minimalist approach !

Day 2 of our three day offering (mandated by community rules) of lot for sale to current residents of community. No interest so far. <sigh > Very discouraging !

Thursday ; Sunny and mild.

Ran some errands this afternoon. Picked up one of the Arizona room’s vinyl wall panels from the upholsterer where I took it more than two weeks ago to be repaired. Took my Rolex watch to Watch Hospital for cleaning and adjustment service. Been seven years since last serviced ! Went grocery shopping at Food City. Woo-Hoo … pan dulce. And freshly made tortillas. And turkey “ham”, always available at all Mexican supermarkets.

Attended the lot transfer committee meeting and “kept the ball rolling” on selling our lot. Visited with friends David and Linda. Barbecued very nice steaks for supper. Bought some T-bone steaks recently, and “home butchered” them into Filet Mignons and New York Strips.

Friday ; Sunny and cool.

Felt overwhelmed by depression and negativity today. <sigh>

Joanne went grocery shopping by herself this afternoon. I wasted about forty-five minutes showing our lot, shed, and Arizona room to time wasting “tire kickers”. Well … there goes ¾ of an hour of my limited remaining life that I’ll never get back ! Maybe I can get better at “evaluating” the sincerity of potential purchasers and better at screening out those that are simply nosy neighbours ! ! !

Early this evening we went out to see a local Christmas lights display in our neighbourhood. WHEW … some people have too much money and too much time on their hands. BUT … it was a very nice display of Christmas lights … and stuff ! With … HA HA HA … Hallowe’en and el Día de los Muertos displays thrown in for good measure. It was a “drive through” display on a wealthy (and evidently a bit eccentric) local family’s large rural property, and included all the family members as costumed characters ; Santa, elves, Grinch, etc.

Saturday ; Sunny and mild.

With much “persuasion” by Joanne, today we began the process of reviewing and purging the contents of our shed. YIKES ! How did we compile so much stuff here in the last ten winters ? And we weren’t here for two of those years, so … actually only eight winters. Most of what we purged from the shed went to the dumpster, with just a few barely used power tools added to our “yard sale” pile of items for sale. Nothing in the shed’s purge worthy of donation to charities.

We removed the camper from the truck, in preparation for taking the truck on Monday to have the windshield replaced. We did some minor Arizona room maintenance. I did some minor camper maintenance. For supper tonight I cooked Lake Winnipeg pickerel purchased in Gimli last September. MMMMM … well done, Daniel.

DSK

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2021

December 5 to 11, 2021 ; Yuma, Arizona

Sunday ; Early this morning I received the very sad news that my childhood best friend, and Best Man at our wedding, Dwight has died after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Rest in peace, old friend. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife, Jennifer.

Sunny and warm. Joanne went grocery shopping by herself this afternoon. I did maintenance on the minivan, in preparation for selling it. And I listened to the CFL Western Final (Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders) football game online on CJOB radio. WOO-HOO … THE WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS ARE GOING TO THE GREY CUP!

Monday ; Sunny and very warm.

Tuesday ; Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico

Overcast and mild, a few drops of rain late in the afternoon.

This morning we left home at 10 AM heading for Los Algodones where we both had dental cleaning and examination appointments for 11 AM. I was seen promptly at 11 AM. EXCELLENT Covid protocols and procedures in our dentist’s office, including spraying disenfectant spray head to toe on each patient and putting surgical gowns on them prior to entering the examination rooms. When my dental cleaning, and periodontal examination, including X-rays were completed at 12:05 PM Joanne was still sitting in the waiting room … seething. I paid my bill (fifty bucks), Joanne tossed a bit of a hissy fit at the receptionist, and … we left. And while my dental cleaning was excellent, my periodontal examination was done by a very young and inexperienced “general” dentist, because my periodontist was “delayed by surgery at another location”.

We went for lunch to our favourite restaurant in Los Algodones. Dos tacos el pastor, uno taco carne asada y Fanta Naranja for Joanne, uno taco carne asada, uno taco pollo, uno taco camaron, y Coca-Cola Lite for me. Fifteen bucks. After lunch we went to three different optical shops and got prices on eyeglasses. Over the years we have previously purchased eyeglasses at each of those three opticians. Today we got eye exams and purchased three pairs of eyeglasses at Algodones Optical ; single vision eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses for Joanne, Transitions trifocals with anti-reflective coating eyeglasses for me. Eighty-one dollars for Joanne’s two pairs, a hundred and sixty bucks for mine, frames and eye exams included.

Joanne bought some medications, I bought another leather belt, after buying two leather belts last week, and we wandered around town browsing dental cleaning prices (for Joanne) at various dentist’s offices. We got tired around 3:30 PM and headed to the border crossing line-up.

A minute or two after we got into line an old, unmasked, American man got into line inches behind us. I turned around and politely asked him to “please back up six feet and give us some ‘social distance’ ”. He got “lippy”. I snapped at him to “fuck off and back up !” Well … that worked ! Joanne was displeased with my methodology. HEY ! Plan A didn’t work, so … I deployed Plan B, and it worked well, didn’t it ? ! Today’s border crossing line-up was twenty minutes, less than usual.

Wednesday ; Holtville and El Centro, California

Sunny and hot.

Late this morning we headed west on Interstate 8 across the Colorado River into California. About an hour later we were in Holtville where we bought a couple of California burritos at Holtville Taco Shop. A California burrito is a carne asada burrito with french fries also in it. Joanne thinks it’s very efficient to include french fries in a food item. HA HA HA! We went to the beautiful municipal park at the centre of town (like in every town, large or small ... in Mexico) and had a picnic lunch.

A few more miles west and we were in El Centro where I picked up our truck at Imperial Valley Chrysler Dodge Jeep. I had taken it there six days ago to have a problem diagnosed, but after a preliminary check, they quoted US$1200 as the cost of diagnosing the problem. PHHHHT … I don’t think so! After picking up the truck we went to Cardeñas, the Mexican supermarket in El Centro. WOO-HOO … more pan dulce. And Dos Equis beer!

We returned to Yuma in both vehicles. As we crossed the Colorado River back into Arizona Joanne headed to Fry’s to refill the minivan with fuel, and I drove straight home. After our sunset exercise walk I prepared Scotch eggs for supper. MMMMM … well done, Daniel!

Thursday, Friday, Saturday ; Mix of sun and clouds, cool during the day, cold in the evenings and overnight. Winter has arrived!

We sold our fifth wheel trailer on Thursday. We spent the last three days moving everything out of the trailer and into either the camper or temporarily the Arizona room. The buyer is supposed to take the trailer tomorrow/Sunday afternoon.

We bought the trailer in Ottawa in the fall of 2003, and in June 2004 began living in it and travelling full time for about ten years, and about 400,000 km./250,000 miles! For the past eight years or so it has been our winter home here on our lot in Yuma. It has served us very well. We sold it (very cheap!) to a Hispanic family business that buys and refurbishes old, inexpensive trailers, then sells them as winter season housing to migrant farm workers. And so, like us, Harvey the RV is embarking on a new phase of life in its “golden years”.

DSK

November 28 to December 4, 2021 ; Yuma, Arizona

 Sunday ; Sunny and very warm. Cooked a beef stew in the Sun Oven today.

Gave away my bicycle today. Took the camper off the truck, in anticipation of taking the truck in for service later this week, probably to the Dodge dealer in El Centro, California, about an hour west of here. Was going to take it to the Dodge dealer here in Yuma, but got a recommendation from a friend to consider the smaller (and more “Mexican”) Dodge dealer in El Centro.

Monday ; Sunny and hot, temperature this afternoon reaching 91°F.

Spent the afternoon running errands. Got a lot done. Dropped off recycling. Refund at Lowe’s. Large donation of stuff to Goodwill. Paid Yuma property tax bill. Took Arizona room vinyl wall panel for repair. Bought and installed windshield wiper for minivan. AHHHHH … milk shakes at Sonic!

Tuesday ; Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico

Sunny and hot. WOO-HOO … Nugs and Coconugs!

After an early lunch at home we headed west out of Yuma on Interstate 8, crossing the Colorado River into California, then a very short distance south to the Mexico border. We parked and walked across into Los Algodones. First stop was our dentist’s office to make appointments for cleanings and examinations next Tuesday. Next was a new “spa” where I got a haircut and Joanne got a pedicure and haircut. We were both very satisfied with the results. I went to Meyer Optical to see if they could repair my broken sunglasses frame. They couldn’t, but they might still be able to order that frame. I left it with them and will check back with them in a week. I shopped for and bought a couple of leather belts. Joanne and I both bought some needed medications. We bought Nugs and Coconugs chocolate bars! And some Zuko drink mixes. And a huge chocolate cookie. And some cajeta (Mexican goat’s milk caramel). And a cold bottle of iced tea to share while we waited in the border crossing line-up.

The three people in front of us in the border crossing line-up were Canadians. They were masked, and socially distanced. The four people in the line-up behind us were Americans. Drunk obnoxious Americans. No masks. No social distancing. After “Karen” lurched and stumbled into me repeatedly, I finally turned around and told her to “move back and put distance between us”. I could tell when she explained my “request” to “Chad” that she did not understand why. What a ****ing Covidiot!

After a half hour in line we crossed the border around 5:15 PM. As was the case a couple of years ago it seemed today as if the CBP agents on the U.S. southern border are operating under “leave the Canadians alone” guidelines. It became dark as we drove home. It was Joanne’s idea to stop at KFC and buy dinner. <shrug> Fine by me.

Wednesday ; Sunny and hot.

Trailer maintenance today. Preparing to sell it.

Thursday ; El Centro, California

Sunny and hot.

Late this morning we headed out in both vehicles, west on Interstate 8 into California to El Centro, about an hour from Yuma. The truck HVAC repairs done in Steinbach a couple of months ago failed to resolve the problem, and further diagnosis and repairs are required. I made a decision to take the truck to the Dodge dealer in El Centro, a small city, rather than take it to the big city Dodge dealer here in Yuma.

Thanks to our outdated GPS database I had difficulty finding my way in El Centro to the dealership. After leaving the truck with their service department we went off in search of a place to have a late lunch. Found Cardeñas, the Mexican supermarket. We are familiar with the Cardeñas supermarket chain, having shopped at their Palm Springs store a few times. Their El Centro store is even larger and nicer than their Palm Springs store. We had a wonderful Mexican lunch at the in-store cocina (“fast food” restaurant). After lunch we decided to buy some of this week’s advertised specials, and replenish groceries. WOO-HOO … pan dulce for breakfasts and bed time snacks!

Before leaving El Centro we stopped at the Bank of America, the El Centro branch now being the closest location to Yuma since they closed their Yuma branch a few years ago, to update our Canadian address on file, which I was unable to do online. After sitting in their “customer lounge” area for about fifteen minutes, watching four glass offices occupied by staff trying everything humanly possible to avoid having to serve me … I stomped out!

However … the good news is … everybody in El Centro was masked. At the Dodge dealership, in the supermarket, in the bank. I don’t know if that is reflective of California attitudes, or Hispanic attitudes. El Centro, like Yuma, is very near the Mexican border, and El Centro is as Mexican as a city in America can possibly be.

We returned to Yuma just in time to refill the minivan with fuel before heading to Historic Yuma Theater for this month’s foreign art film presentation by Arizona Western College’s film studies program. Tonight’s movie was Corpus Christi, a Polish film nominated last year for an Academy Award in the category of “Best Foreign Film”. It was a powerful film, albeit a bit disturbing. It was about 10 PM by the time we got home and had our very late supper of carrot cheddar soup from MJ’s Kafe in Steinbach. The initial plan had been to buy a burrito for supper at Holtville Taco on our way back from El Centro, but … we were running late.

Friday ; Sunny and hot.

Saturday ; Sunny and hot.

DSK