CHECKING IN

JUST CHECKING IN TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WE ARE FINE.  IT’S BEEN AT LEAST A WEEK SINCE WE POSTED ANYTHING ON THE BLOG AND I DIDN’T WANT ANYONE TO START WORRYING ABOUT US.

MARY BANGED HER KNEE AND HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO GET HER MORNING WALKS IN.  THIS LACK OF ACTIVITY MAKES FOR A GROWLY MARY, INSTEAD OF A HAPPY CAMPER, SO NO BLOGS.

REX STILL HASN’T GOT HIS SCOOTER BACK FROM THE SHOP THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CRAFTING NEW STEEL HANDLE BARS.  IT’S BEEN WELL OVER A MONTH, AND THESE SUNNY AND 70 DAYS MAKE FOR A GROWLY REX, INSTEAD OF A HAPPY CAMPER, SO NO BLOGS.

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS IS SPRING BREAK AND THOSE GRANDSONS AND KIDS ARE SURE TO GET THE BLOG BACK ON TRACK.

SWAP MEET

ON OUR DAYS OFF THIS WEEK WE WENT TO LAKE HAVASU AND THE BIG SUNDAY SWAP MEET.  THIS SWAP MEET RUNS EVERY SUNDAY BETWEEN LABOR DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY, BUT HITS THE HIGH DURING SNOWBIRD SEASON IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.  THE VENDORS BEGIN SELLING AT 8 AM AND ARE PRETTY MUCH DONE AT NOON.

 

I THINK IT’S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE WE HAVE VISITED.  THE CROWDS ARE STILL HUGE, AND YOU CAN BUY NEARLY ANYTHING.  LAKE HAVASU CONTINUES TO GROW AND WINTER TRAFFIC IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.

ON MONDAY WE LAID LOW, AND ENJOYED 76 DEGREES ON THE PORCH.  IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN I SHOULD BE BRAGGING ABOUT THE ARIZONA WEATHER.

   “SUNNY & 76”

SNOW?

I’VE GONE TO EXTREME MEASURES OVER THE LAST DOZEN YEARS TO STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM ANY SNOW.

LAST SUNDAY ON OUR TOUR OF RED ROCK CANYON WE ALMOST GOT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE SPRING MOUNTAINS AND SNOW.

CHECKOUT THOSE SNOW SQUALS IN THE BACKGROUND.

 

IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS MOUNTAINS AND SNOW, THEN YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN AND HAVE A COUPLE BEERS WITH PAUL. IN FACT THIS NEXT WEEK HE WILL BE ON VACATION IN PARK CITY, UTAH, HOME OF THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS, JUST OUTSIDE OF SALT LAKE. PAULIE, HIS 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK-UP, AND HIS SNOWBOARD……

WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT A FLATLANDER FROM IOWA WOULD GROW TO LOVE THE MOUNTAINS AND SNOW OF ALL THINGS?

RED ROCK CANYON

THIS WEEK-END WE WERE OFF TO LAS VEGAS IN SEARCH OF RED ROCK CANYON.  THE CANYON IS A FEDERAL CONSERVATION AREA, AND THEY HONORED MY LIFE TIME NATIONAL PARK PASS TO SAVE US THE $7 ENTRY FEE.




THE CANYON INCLUDES A 13 MILE SENIC DRIVE AND LOT’S OF HIKING OPPORTUNITIES.



IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE ABOVE IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE, WHERE THE SAGE BRUSH TURNS TO ROCK, YOU’LL SEE FIVE LITTLE DOTS, THESE ARE PEOPLE HIKING.



THE AREA IS PRETTY, AND BEING A SUNDAY WAS CROWDED WITH HIKERS, BIKERS, AND MOTORIST.





OF COURSE A TRIP TO VEGAS INCLUDES A NIGHT ON FREMONT STREET. ABOVE YOU CAN SEE IT’S THE CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE SNAKE.

THE D CASINO AND RESORT WHERE WE USUALLY STAY HAS A NEW LATE SHOW. THE SHOW RECENTLY MOVED DOWNTOWN FROM THE HOOTERS CASINO OUT ON THE STRIP.  HERE’S THEIR OLD AD FROM HOOTERS.



OF COURSE I LIKED THE BLOND THE BEST …..
AHHH........ VEGAS!

The Family Silver

Buy Uncle Hans

In the olden days, the servants polished the silver tea service on days when there was nothing else to do. This silver tea service belonged to Renee’s Grandmother. Her name was, of all things, Florence. Renee polished this service when she was young, for something to do. She dug it out of the archives the other day...........




......she remembers the foul-odored stuff she used to do the polishing then. It was called Tarnex. We found some at the local hardware store.......



.......and away she went, full of nostalgia and reeking of rotten eggs (hydrogen peroxide!)....




.....soon the silver was polished and the house was uninhabitable! We went for a beer at the Tamarack as Jake was bartending (three times a year---a Superbowl thing).....

A couple of days later we sold the stuff to a local antique dealer for a song. Renee was heartbroken as she promised her Grandmother she would never part with stuff, but it was of no use to us and would mean even less to her kids. Like so many things taking up space in this house.....



By Uncle Hans

NOT MUCH GOING ON

NOT MUCH GOING ON AROUND HERE.  THE WEATHER IS WARMING UP AND 70 DEGREE DAYS ARE WELCOME. THE SCOOTER IS STILL IN THE SHOP, SO NO NEW SCOOTER ADVENTURES.

ON OUR DAYS OFF WE RAN UP TO LAUGHLIN AND WALKED THROUGH FIVE CASINOS, HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS, AND DIDN'T LOSE ANY MONEY. WHEN WE GOT HOME IT WAS SUPER BOWL GAME TIME, AND NOW THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS REALLY OVER.  MONDAY I REARRANGED THINGS IN THE SHED AND ENJOYED ANOTHER SUNNY DAY.

UP COMING ON THE AGENDA IS A TRIP TO VEGAS INCLUDING A "WALK ABOUT" AT RED ROCK CANYON, AND SPRING BREAK IS COMING UP IN MARCH!

"SUNNY & 70"