tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84873672024-03-14T10:50:31.761-07:00RVODYSSEYRich & Sue's Odyssey from the world of full-time RVing into the world of desert living.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.comBlogger620125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-52065357381065149582010-01-02T15:51:00.002-08:002010-01-02T15:56:01.102-08:0020091231 - Year end2009 was a very busy year for us. <br />We did a fair amount of traveling. We: <br />1. Went on an Exotic Mexican Cruise (Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Mazanillo)<br /> the first part of February, <br />2. Visited Mazatlan in March-April, <br />3. Went on a Baltic Capitals Cruise (Copenhagen, Berlin, Tallinn, St<br /> Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm) in May-June, <br />4. Visited family in Arroyo Grande in September, <br />5. Went on a Western Caribbean Cruise (Tampa, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, <br /> Isla Roatan) with neighbors in September-October, <br />6. Went on a RV Trip with neighbors to Moab in mid-October, <br />7. Visited family in the Northwest over Thanksgiving, and <br />8. Went again on the exotic Mexican Cruise (Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and<br /> Mazanillo) <br /><br /> I was invited to join the community Activity Committee but after attending several meetings decided it was not a good fit for me and declined. I was also invited to join the Communications Committee and have decided to join. They are working on setting up a series of web pages for the community. Every club and activity has one or more pages. I am currently working on the pages for the Wellness Committee, the Quilters and the Diabetes Forum. I have something out there for all of them but it is not very sophisticated so I am trying to learn a bit more about HTML and CSS so I can do a better job.<br /><br /> I am finishing a 2 year term as one of the Program Committee Co Chairs for Valley Quilters Guild and just beginning a the second year of a 2 year term as Lead Coordinator for the Quail Creek Quilt Covey. This year the Quilt Covey is putting together a request for a Long Arm Quilting Machine. One of the really nice benefits of the Guild job has been that the non-local lecturers have been staying in our Casita. It has been a real joy to get to know these women.<br /><br /> The year was sort of up and down as far as my health goes. In 2007 I joined Weight Watchers and did pretty well for a period of time. Last summer I completed a finess challenge but between the 2 I started having serious blood sugar lows which scared me. It is odd but during the low my mind is so fuzzy that I am not scared, but after when I imagine all the things that could have happened I get scared. Anyhoo, I started erring in favor of too high sugar, stopped exercising and stopped doing a good job of counting anything. So, as you can imagine my blood sugar is not good and my weight is creeping upwards again.<br /><br /> Rich is doing well although not biking as much as he wants to. And Max is still recovering from his ACL surgery. He seems to be OK but the muscle on his injured leg is still substantially smaller than the other. <br /><br /> Happy New Year to all.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-77221325786067162482009-10-09T16:21:00.031-07:002009-10-09T22:27:18.770-07:00200909 - 200910 CruiseRich and I went on Caribbean Cruise out of Tampa. We drove to Phoenix, spent the night in a very nice hotel, flew to Tampa, spent another night in a very nice hotel, and left on the cruise. As usual before you even leave port you must participate in an emergency drill. You can see how much fun this is but it is a legal requirement (or at least they tell you it is)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvyxbf_SV_sbAAQKWyWvZl0cDePmJlKZqv7UEezMGLbRUxJtHZw22vbQVT5NbGDcarauicMs_3QOrzJjm6ylgrnTgxUOjmU7erOJYqrH5U66RGUHjKgxl42ShtdzT4NmJQoleRA/s1600-h/IMG_8719.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvyxbf_SV_sbAAQKWyWvZl0cDePmJlKZqv7UEezMGLbRUxJtHZw22vbQVT5NbGDcarauicMs_3QOrzJjm6ylgrnTgxUOjmU7erOJYqrH5U66RGUHjKgxl42ShtdzT4NmJQoleRA/s400/IMG_8719.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390746249355260978" /></a><br /><br />As we left the dock we had a very pretty view looking back at the city<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VPvu3NKTZma1pj9t_KTjAuzf1LquV2Lypsnxp54ITz43ZO4NyYREEk_MCwm_JrFw89NidXvTXnrwLdNzy9_R2KxZjZQYJ9TgA8Yt9Qyv4FsEsf8GboGLLcP1x4fQ6oHLLVp54A/s1600-h/IMG_8721.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VPvu3NKTZma1pj9t_KTjAuzf1LquV2Lypsnxp54ITz43ZO4NyYREEk_MCwm_JrFw89NidXvTXnrwLdNzy9_R2KxZjZQYJ9TgA8Yt9Qyv4FsEsf8GboGLLcP1x4fQ6oHLLVp54A/s400/IMG_8721.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390746253880876242" /></a><br /><br />As we traveled toward the ocean, we went past some very beautiful homes<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF0jbsKvaw9tJFie67X_VMvNlgZ58_Jkn4j7xYWg-fPNCTp-zjkHWr9Y5lJnuz5aO-eit9YdVjAHLmJ3D7CGc0RMBg-4qpnGGHbNy9-1WBxsCKgiHoQHMNdxMFHiaFb1HgxN3Cw/s1600-h/Tampa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF0jbsKvaw9tJFie67X_VMvNlgZ58_Jkn4j7xYWg-fPNCTp-zjkHWr9Y5lJnuz5aO-eit9YdVjAHLmJ3D7CGc0RMBg-4qpnGGHbNy9-1WBxsCKgiHoQHMNdxMFHiaFb1HgxN3Cw/s400/Tampa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390747794768957826" /></a><br /><br />The last home had this lighthouse<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqOAzAaONRQJimAre_pTPmkyxE6-hwk4pMxaDX-Q0tUqedmp0yaaI1EBnteiiC5zmhM5ctyvXGtbV8aD79_kVAOCbPtG-hI2M_4_3Abl-XJiBT4J2KGzQ5VwY-jaKEMg6I8OOXA/s1600-h/IMG_8757.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqOAzAaONRQJimAre_pTPmkyxE6-hwk4pMxaDX-Q0tUqedmp0yaaI1EBnteiiC5zmhM5ctyvXGtbV8aD79_kVAOCbPtG-hI2M_4_3Abl-XJiBT4J2KGzQ5VwY-jaKEMg6I8OOXA/s400/IMG_8757.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390748420447824290" /></a><br /><br />Some pictures of the very last bridge as we entered the ocean<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ijtDV11EZBqQl7cCdasGbIODSm84DwlTdR4wzoPNGB5htiH3NkWHwP9TAvLlPZFXzlRZ2J20hogEJwfWS108spgWOgvbl5EoMn4m0-0D4V3lFGZ9VBKpfR59u_S4wBXkb7y-yw/s1600-h/Tampa1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ijtDV11EZBqQl7cCdasGbIODSm84DwlTdR4wzoPNGB5htiH3NkWHwP9TAvLlPZFXzlRZ2J20hogEJwfWS108spgWOgvbl5EoMn4m0-0D4V3lFGZ9VBKpfR59u_S4wBXkb7y-yw/s400/Tampa1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390747811302044610" /></a><br /><br />We traveled with a group of friends and neighbors. Somebody commented that we clean up nice. I agree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvRdlRL71UIAuTxh_5DvTLUQrVkjqy8kaYh8N0VAtvlJNwm4kcvOC-GM_tvb9uT6moboA6OMpphGdIIrPXiLTkMOaceT7OFXsSAUl7zZNyMt-swRAMXYsPy0ATtanaPWHUxf5Cg/s1600-h/Unit+31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvRdlRL71UIAuTxh_5DvTLUQrVkjqy8kaYh8N0VAtvlJNwm4kcvOC-GM_tvb9uT6moboA6OMpphGdIIrPXiLTkMOaceT7OFXsSAUl7zZNyMt-swRAMXYsPy0ATtanaPWHUxf5Cg/s400/Unit+31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390748699815344082" /></a><br /><br />In Grand Cayman, our first port, the Legend shared anchor space with the Carnival Destiny and the Carnival Valor. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANg1vqv3vLGueYapIqkq-05e9SeM3gWkkXDTJxZEsr0EoHgYoAJEu3dqnatwU2IQ4TN96kYZOPZcoiKs-eaH0n5wie3X8jeXeksUQJbrcW7CpH9q3ExMxf7KOm9tUnnNGeum-ow/s1600-h/Grand+Cayman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANg1vqv3vLGueYapIqkq-05e9SeM3gWkkXDTJxZEsr0EoHgYoAJEu3dqnatwU2IQ4TN96kYZOPZcoiKs-eaH0n5wie3X8jeXeksUQJbrcW7CpH9q3ExMxf7KOm9tUnnNGeum-ow/s400/Grand+Cayman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390750006270201842" /></a><br /><br />Rich and I went snorkeling in a park 5 minutes walk from the dock in the morning and walked a little around the town in the afternoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYCpdVbUVWKOR2dEI5jb4QSf94djV49XSsKdcVPMHMe8GSZPg-0TzsuRt_5fQ7Gfvv5zdkXVZCrM8iejHxqvbgA4suM4bzT-_bqg7578kFm9ThN3tJbKGERVqvDKpSP9FFw8XXQ/s1600-h/IMG_8843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYCpdVbUVWKOR2dEI5jb4QSf94djV49XSsKdcVPMHMe8GSZPg-0TzsuRt_5fQ7Gfvv5zdkXVZCrM8iejHxqvbgA4suM4bzT-_bqg7578kFm9ThN3tJbKGERVqvDKpSP9FFw8XXQ/s400/IMG_8843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390751338857461954" /></a><br /><br />In Cozumel, Rich and I walked 1 kilometer to Discover Mexico, a craft museum.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7u44nKre9QRI5p1FJm_SHdqB4JyyGbddrd4JrD_DtDkrtqwtV7p_rh4advj_Y5-H_CHrImq-8Sw3yzfWlz3bwM3217axkxIdR7IUm0TGMf-h39yVJDbMAjI7LA1QFMbEecVEQA/s1600-h/Cozumel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7u44nKre9QRI5p1FJm_SHdqB4JyyGbddrd4JrD_DtDkrtqwtV7p_rh4advj_Y5-H_CHrImq-8Sw3yzfWlz3bwM3217axkxIdR7IUm0TGMf-h39yVJDbMAjI7LA1QFMbEecVEQA/s400/Cozumel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390757252779246162" /></a> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_TF6XTBfAcQ-HGDs-QlmEu9YXXvLPEQQ2GpLOwDLI6Iy71pVAfGPaf1QN8g3A6G6gryG3v_Ax400hIfqQPw6YpJdvMb-K-7M1aueNHOOTMoxXrhEow8XWLwplyi8EeS1zWr_A/s1600-h/IMG_8886.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_TF6XTBfAcQ-HGDs-QlmEu9YXXvLPEQQ2GpLOwDLI6Iy71pVAfGPaf1QN8g3A6G6gryG3v_Ax400hIfqQPw6YpJdvMb-K-7M1aueNHOOTMoxXrhEow8XWLwplyi8EeS1zWr_A/s400/IMG_8886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390758446883832050" /></a><br /><br />They also had an outdoor area devoted to scaled miniatures of important Mayan, Aztecan, and current buildings in Mexico. <br />These first buildings are Mayan from Chichen Itza<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaFCpcvr4pCx_ekU0l4PiSVfta6XsxWCsrCrUgo-0kD1sKpVst8-YphMGEZLd5gKDILB6YnjwWhLEM0Ggp5-T1bnlIK_cS7tWLADl3EKgIjhbUrOvI6_nVVbZJJjx7TJHVxok2w/s1600-h/IMG_8891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaFCpcvr4pCx_ekU0l4PiSVfta6XsxWCsrCrUgo-0kD1sKpVst8-YphMGEZLd5gKDILB6YnjwWhLEM0Ggp5-T1bnlIK_cS7tWLADl3EKgIjhbUrOvI6_nVVbZJJjx7TJHVxok2w/s400/IMG_8891.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390759407580287938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAwJ7fKPw9Qa6V6ydDzv1FEkU9RTmTxN2d3O2EBHRg0FElB3zXZFxPJ9itJ-rBhQb4Z5MrCU19GkyAL0b2hxWFbuuG4AUK8z3NK2t_FxMcEsqNsPeR98jnYBAzVKrJZivPrLXnw/s1600-h/IMG_8895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAwJ7fKPw9Qa6V6ydDzv1FEkU9RTmTxN2d3O2EBHRg0FElB3zXZFxPJ9itJ-rBhQb4Z5MrCU19GkyAL0b2hxWFbuuG4AUK8z3NK2t_FxMcEsqNsPeR98jnYBAzVKrJZivPrLXnw/s400/IMG_8895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390759422001755074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4niPrTFIcegGCntkNd9_rm9WVDe-9t0wsMRWE_5JT_X8tZCYxTxE1MEeYApwpiChe8UZeMe3htJpwRj-80SsLhsacoRjt00CfMrxVmXasmNicUnZ3YxLOrPUq5PymxTSrLFISg/s1600-h/IMG_8898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4niPrTFIcegGCntkNd9_rm9WVDe-9t0wsMRWE_5JT_X8tZCYxTxE1MEeYApwpiChe8UZeMe3htJpwRj-80SsLhsacoRjt00CfMrxVmXasmNicUnZ3YxLOrPUq5PymxTSrLFISg/s400/IMG_8898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390759417538733698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt14V6ksdypcPrwF724AOPPJ6WcNEln1b8K6MRg5hZbU4NWM7XcGO05XAzc7ABOoA85ZW-Oj94xNl8yJGaYGun-VHh_Tn5ozwMZoEPo2l5nztPxIE0mFCBujwYTn7r_0ydhN2VQ/s1600-h/IMG_8901.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt14V6ksdypcPrwF724AOPPJ6WcNEln1b8K6MRg5hZbU4NWM7XcGO05XAzc7ABOoA85ZW-Oj94xNl8yJGaYGun-VHh_Tn5ozwMZoEPo2l5nztPxIE0mFCBujwYTn7r_0ydhN2VQ/s400/IMG_8901.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390760892252445074" /></a><br /><br />These are Aztecan from Teotihuacan<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT-Or_YdJNEk4tEPw9U8D7U1OgssQLwuDCllTuzW99rEH3xZAKQso4UndTRb4-Kc9MkCreMxsou9TORbsWCBkg5fLZu9QP0OHNVYp-LbVYfWMVzjXfRKk4VzQVaEf-ig82yEk9Q/s1600-h/IMG_8908.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT-Or_YdJNEk4tEPw9U8D7U1OgssQLwuDCllTuzW99rEH3xZAKQso4UndTRb4-Kc9MkCreMxsou9TORbsWCBkg5fLZu9QP0OHNVYp-LbVYfWMVzjXfRKk4VzQVaEf-ig82yEk9Q/s400/IMG_8908.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390761500338593346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8HSguwtv1u_cOotZXc-9x947OhiU-ezujQHbuljhHtMjS7EL1r5rk-j472PM6kakjKLfOXsZpnAKqNrj4OIQOSbd5Ch5Cd3oubIFpKmOPXp3f6UauB6K8fvhPn1HMtExuB7enQ/s1600-h/IMG_8907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8HSguwtv1u_cOotZXc-9x947OhiU-ezujQHbuljhHtMjS7EL1r5rk-j472PM6kakjKLfOXsZpnAKqNrj4OIQOSbd5Ch5Cd3oubIFpKmOPXp3f6UauB6K8fvhPn1HMtExuB7enQ/s400/IMG_8907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390761491338117778" /></a><br /><br />These are buildings from Mexico City<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63DiOsKu_10K0iF9BlqeuwIicM7CYeoxYlBvKuZCeSQFV69bbHWl9L28ajiecJsybS-P5A3rYvt2ZRuY60S0tWXvWQ8JV6Cj3MFb20bpwXfwQY2pX0XcsyBjim0aUyE-p5ajm6A/s1600-h/IMG_8921.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63DiOsKu_10K0iF9BlqeuwIicM7CYeoxYlBvKuZCeSQFV69bbHWl9L28ajiecJsybS-P5A3rYvt2ZRuY60S0tWXvWQ8JV6Cj3MFb20bpwXfwQY2pX0XcsyBjim0aUyE-p5ajm6A/s400/IMG_8921.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390763711687368418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjlkZJsTmd1ah-NNzjYjcv4G-ujgbJlKFNGJYsyJ4ix3NYhUNY11tsnd6ZQVRuq7Bt9Gfs_-muYOK1uUZ00E6Kn7ZU1Q8KxZb0NC0ZXe6-YF7mvtAXEYtuPJBue-Q4zmZ28AwDA/s1600-h/IMG_8933.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjlkZJsTmd1ah-NNzjYjcv4G-ujgbJlKFNGJYsyJ4ix3NYhUNY11tsnd6ZQVRuq7Bt9Gfs_-muYOK1uUZ00E6Kn7ZU1Q8KxZb0NC0ZXe6-YF7mvtAXEYtuPJBue-Q4zmZ28AwDA/s400/IMG_8933.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390763718411069282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJkryw68zl6ijypusVgXF2UNg4NmEH9NZrwYAwzxfm7bSlg2DWrigtzonWIiOg8_k_SSxB7Yjhqt7TVARvzdRFylLUr9z28NzuELSbnPB0rQBMtTp3GBAE_wxYgDE2AkZBgx1zg/s1600-h/IMG_8940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJkryw68zl6ijypusVgXF2UNg4NmEH9NZrwYAwzxfm7bSlg2DWrigtzonWIiOg8_k_SSxB7Yjhqt7TVARvzdRFylLUr9z28NzuELSbnPB0rQBMtTp3GBAE_wxYgDE2AkZBgx1zg/s400/IMG_8940.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390763733699546018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcyP0SrVxXUZe_jsTOIyDMCEpONOaEWqZu0KVOBTQuTCfDuQj45JXcRqB3BSojQdd3dGAuvlQYgLIY9Fu7QmufxLGdQ7dih66atEHXaHWaofLjiHoUl7l7Cg-5HRV9jjwkgmMmA/s1600-h/IMG_8942.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcyP0SrVxXUZe_jsTOIyDMCEpONOaEWqZu0KVOBTQuTCfDuQj45JXcRqB3BSojQdd3dGAuvlQYgLIY9Fu7QmufxLGdQ7dih66atEHXaHWaofLjiHoUl7l7Cg-5HRV9jjwkgmMmA/s400/IMG_8942.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390763739465440994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH8GGzBhlwAiHgEF8zFwreFvST7du007CVtMDmjec1_uZKmTL0rA-PyGWgEFagpuajcvY6nf1uJ8c3Q4PyCQ0oS9p3Lny2ZIu9SgysMCtKAQLt-PZhGhnvsAYWQ7Ct8eQf3LNlQ/s1600-h/IMG_8951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOH8GGzBhlwAiHgEF8zFwreFvST7du007CVtMDmjec1_uZKmTL0rA-PyGWgEFagpuajcvY6nf1uJ8c3Q4PyCQ0oS9p3Lny2ZIu9SgysMCtKAQLt-PZhGhnvsAYWQ7Ct8eQf3LNlQ/s400/IMG_8951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390763750880237202" /></a><br /><br />Late in the afternoon of September 30th as she was leaving the port of Cozumel, the Carnival Legend was hit by an unexpected gust of wind and was blown into the Enchantment of the Seas. There was minor damage to both ships but neither was prevented from continuing their voyages. Our cabin was on the Port side so we saw the whole thing happen.<br />We crunched<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXret-bWU-dBE5V4-ZHwIMj9wpQ9d_TBlHsBQrvaPHDT0SdfjiMK_dvYfUMPo0Saa8qtdtU3zVCrfOaAwyodG3gW2p0qAGOV69zo38TGnbeFYkTxZ8goQRT2qXiHN6HPtM8d-ow/s1600-h/IMG_8992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXret-bWU-dBE5V4-ZHwIMj9wpQ9d_TBlHsBQrvaPHDT0SdfjiMK_dvYfUMPo0Saa8qtdtU3zVCrfOaAwyodG3gW2p0qAGOV69zo38TGnbeFYkTxZ8goQRT2qXiHN6HPtM8d-ow/s400/IMG_8992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390766988608679090" /></a><br />The Enchantment of the Seas was damaged<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEvjtbqmEFXPHeindrA9O1wZz2NwxToOOAVQXDBGGtahdCFbpvjxaZwSDNfDIOVThxISeEyKNJxzj3lGyxBdAfsCBkUFw7Mgee4MN8Tvs8ItDU7eZ1LDeyujz5yeMTueLkA3v8Q/s1600-h/IMG_8994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEvjtbqmEFXPHeindrA9O1wZz2NwxToOOAVQXDBGGtahdCFbpvjxaZwSDNfDIOVThxISeEyKNJxzj3lGyxBdAfsCBkUFw7Mgee4MN8Tvs8ItDU7eZ1LDeyujz5yeMTueLkA3v8Q/s400/IMG_8994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390766978703553890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1Qp267PJvkzJGnucOmQ3nQscPJSzG3bOt9FkaCQUJYScKDK70YVDysHR0imQg5Fcz6LLynZW7gU04NKCYnGsIJYwzhiUlt8XnZOTNuZlXyX7adyn5EaVy7O6-uSb8Ex4L7l_CQ/s1600-h/IMG_8996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1Qp267PJvkzJGnucOmQ3nQscPJSzG3bOt9FkaCQUJYScKDK70YVDysHR0imQg5Fcz6LLynZW7gU04NKCYnGsIJYwzhiUlt8XnZOTNuZlXyX7adyn5EaVy7O6-uSb8Ex4L7l_CQ/s400/IMG_8996.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390766972233323346" /></a><br />We were damaged<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1bFSas3VxZo8QS3h4mzDqgDh5A3FJ5PfGJHtpY3NKXNCl2_XLCU36I4g3mRvxuDSLt_EVIxABpkZ6mtPYNSBcoUVQGFNrbYM1DhO_clMEoLc0Lpc2TcoJj6s6Ho4rGcPkqj4pQ/s1600-h/IMG_8995.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1bFSas3VxZo8QS3h4mzDqgDh5A3FJ5PfGJHtpY3NKXNCl2_XLCU36I4g3mRvxuDSLt_EVIxABpkZ6mtPYNSBcoUVQGFNrbYM1DhO_clMEoLc0Lpc2TcoJj6s6Ho4rGcPkqj4pQ/s400/IMG_8995.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390766967179002962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE05O6gTfdTZaUn9Gh9D5JUMGfZyzQg2_nEF2JMed3UsCrt1xI0S_mAqg6E3cFkujlS2a6vsJjk8la0psjSYk1uf8kJtlQwc4sj4gAQSO7EQk75hHFrbxfybbZKOxbn_p5Iyac6Q/s1600-h/IMG_9008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE05O6gTfdTZaUn9Gh9D5JUMGfZyzQg2_nEF2JMed3UsCrt1xI0S_mAqg6E3cFkujlS2a6vsJjk8la0psjSYk1uf8kJtlQwc4sj4gAQSO7EQk75hHFrbxfybbZKOxbn_p5Iyac6Q/s400/IMG_9008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390769252286559362" /></a><br />They photographed<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9mz5LwKLghNr6wXc0Zsa8bzqCZJqfll39F1U5tuHREo6THkAx6vJdPqdmovGqYfR50hgB3HP0SLQ77z6LnbA46Gy3880WXz60FVKq0GEDIxg3Uf0RWA2NFUKYSpbSI0WI-w0MQ/s1600-h/IMG_9022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9mz5LwKLghNr6wXc0Zsa8bzqCZJqfll39F1U5tuHREo6THkAx6vJdPqdmovGqYfR50hgB3HP0SLQ77z6LnbA46Gy3880WXz60FVKq0GEDIxg3Uf0RWA2NFUKYSpbSI0WI-w0MQ/s400/IMG_9022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390769246631809650" /></a><br />And looked<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79zK1Gncmrn20a7g2jDPal5WAHrqSkGGpVwJTbm7RbPkBVwZcyR2URO35aWRdMeW3hWMbTAJkWYQvHnkq70hHTGnQKlE6_skYFYoNNN2H8-4ZPd__OKDcNnkSNbNWZNvcQxWtCQ/s1600-h/IMG_9031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79zK1Gncmrn20a7g2jDPal5WAHrqSkGGpVwJTbm7RbPkBVwZcyR2URO35aWRdMeW3hWMbTAJkWYQvHnkq70hHTGnQKlE6_skYFYoNNN2H8-4ZPd__OKDcNnkSNbNWZNvcQxWtCQ/s400/IMG_9031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390769236581686082" /></a><br />And looked<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcZE7ccVw4EN-YVqajJ1mxtyle7E5QdR6hjGgvHAe7lleKNFf6ESOXcV7N17yPDqY0jR9vWW4r5KQupFyes31KWQdNUY7Db7PlPwufVDwCpuA81ITrEuHhHVEj0iYLVrVYFja1g/s1600-h/IMG_9033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcZE7ccVw4EN-YVqajJ1mxtyle7E5QdR6hjGgvHAe7lleKNFf6ESOXcV7N17yPDqY0jR9vWW4r5KQupFyes31KWQdNUY7Db7PlPwufVDwCpuA81ITrEuHhHVEj0iYLVrVYFja1g/s400/IMG_9033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390769230202929010" /></a><br />And looked<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopSUmhY3I_0gZrlslosPTdk8ccp0j5bnY0qLJaJrVhg2JyTnmBgkPrO2Ufdec3ysgSu90oO5WvVYKrzOP6Uh2EfYRzadKbrtSZpdfrRuBt5MTrCrjMN4JcxRI3AIxvWoTfWP8oA/s1600-h/IMG_9034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopSUmhY3I_0gZrlslosPTdk8ccp0j5bnY0qLJaJrVhg2JyTnmBgkPrO2Ufdec3ysgSu90oO5WvVYKrzOP6Uh2EfYRzadKbrtSZpdfrRuBt5MTrCrjMN4JcxRI3AIxvWoTfWP8oA/s400/IMG_9034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390769222311856770" /></a><br />And cleaned up overnight<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGR6Bt-4C85iig8XdArgmkKa_Py9WMZvn4WDwrfE84-t07c4BIRx6WMj79K9NQuHh2_33TaflYfoIJyUbayBdfuRGRZLPAob8TBbGdlJBMMTslcAYPlaEuQTqs6GlYDIOcznleg/s1600-h/IMG_9043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGR6Bt-4C85iig8XdArgmkKa_Py9WMZvn4WDwrfE84-t07c4BIRx6WMj79K9NQuHh2_33TaflYfoIJyUbayBdfuRGRZLPAob8TBbGdlJBMMTslcAYPlaEuQTqs6GlYDIOcznleg/s400/IMG_9043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390772128130126626" /></a><br />But we were crunched<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SvqVjVu8Y27vtDL5my3gr3Rz4AiivsG30dUT0si5CCnyLpl878HGx3jLf9a9-5tRY9Ao-uHndATFNRTeA-fzTu0xiai2HnYBpxCiw7-ra9lZj3yfZlTFwx0d973mPUhp0R4jdQ/s1600-h/IMG_9216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SvqVjVu8Y27vtDL5my3gr3Rz4AiivsG30dUT0si5CCnyLpl878HGx3jLf9a9-5tRY9Ao-uHndATFNRTeA-fzTu0xiai2HnYBpxCiw7-ra9lZj3yfZlTFwx0d973mPUhp0R4jdQ/s400/IMG_9216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390772125352461458" /></a><br /><br />In Belize we went cave tubing. I do not have any photos as we do not have a wet camera (Have to get one one of these days). We drove to an underground river that went into a large limestone cave. The tour guide outfitted us with headlamps (It is dark in there) and inner tubes. 6 of us linked up (my feet under her arms, etc) and we proceeded through the cave. Every so often the guide would have us all turn off our lights so he could point out formations. The trip was great. <br /><br />In Roatan, Rich and I took a Zip & Dip tour. The Zip portion was 12-15 zip lines (we forgot to count) in the canopy in the foothills. We had a great time. Since I had the camera, I took several pictures of Rich as well as other members of our tour. We started with 12 people, broke into 3 groups of 4 each with a guide per group of 4. The guide went first and then helped stop us at each of the platforms. We were not in the first group so we had a chance to learn the first thing to do - jump off (If you did not, the platform hit you in the butt as you started down. We went from platform to platform, sometimes climbing a few stairs or walking a hanging bridge to the next platform.<br />This is the pair of us waiting to go<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLJyXpzYO6489D1sSbDXPSJ8mEY1iZMrNBq77PIhTEbBRVClydD-pgFxoA9sBW6T1PlRPD1myfII4YXEnXGMII4MLIYlHDfwkpKc_xzDY0_ul725bR0iK7VApQeNMtac_Xyd7Rw/s1600-h/IMG_9066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLJyXpzYO6489D1sSbDXPSJ8mEY1iZMrNBq77PIhTEbBRVClydD-pgFxoA9sBW6T1PlRPD1myfII4YXEnXGMII4MLIYlHDfwkpKc_xzDY0_ul725bR0iK7VApQeNMtac_Xyd7Rw/s400/IMG_9066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390774863179171298" /></a><br />This is of Rich in the gear<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSyHgwfVKQE63njA2rTm_HEN9MhPOGGQG2k_4hw0W4XwGzWwYg6sp2yFu4b4h5qrX9gJBG5zE6jmOV75qXjh3AH4eoG14H87MNdJwFmFr9K_WT74X7qXgyIC9_1NHb3-mj-d5hg/s1600-h/IMG_9064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSyHgwfVKQE63njA2rTm_HEN9MhPOGGQG2k_4hw0W4XwGzWwYg6sp2yFu4b4h5qrX9gJBG5zE6jmOV75qXjh3AH4eoG14H87MNdJwFmFr9K_WT74X7qXgyIC9_1NHb3-mj-d5hg/s400/IMG_9064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390774854077101010" /></a><br />This is a couple of the other guys<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFf9zzuP0HEXOCqSta-C-umBnPCrQmiFTgakdAB6TyUHevLPhxN9FzhBWD7XMFmD9wJXp8HcmSXjKbHxZd5nCXLiaB-lnR0lzr5H6nYU3AAIFYnSUw1_2tizCUXwXslLNHrLWQ/s1600-h/IMG_9067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFf9zzuP0HEXOCqSta-C-umBnPCrQmiFTgakdAB6TyUHevLPhxN9FzhBWD7XMFmD9wJXp8HcmSXjKbHxZd5nCXLiaB-lnR0lzr5H6nYU3AAIFYnSUw1_2tizCUXwXslLNHrLWQ/s400/IMG_9067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390774848473949522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEjsxCVxURMsjdglsrBFaINAB_15XaZ6qMg1uEa-MlnSujFwnw0WN3EhsvD9FesAU8rysMXxqYnczOqoX_Xdu_y-HqlHiy1-zfqh-QedsO_RN3pwXUpwI4gvA_3GZLohdnOlfmQ/s1600-h/IMG_9068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEjsxCVxURMsjdglsrBFaINAB_15XaZ6qMg1uEa-MlnSujFwnw0WN3EhsvD9FesAU8rysMXxqYnczOqoX_Xdu_y-HqlHiy1-zfqh-QedsO_RN3pwXUpwI4gvA_3GZLohdnOlfmQ/s400/IMG_9068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390774837636710290" /></a><br /><br /> We sometimes climbed to the next platform.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_thShH_8VzeN6H_uUnhAiCqXekEa7Jl96NkpSujPiAW3DLdab6BmbcNKMp9jRKYOYRKkPKqkR0SMoO6q2a6xVIepCzCfO3BQTJCeuoRi4yf8vId4lY3D_vFbuDfq7uqyeMJ37Uw/s1600-h/IMG_9073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_thShH_8VzeN6H_uUnhAiCqXekEa7Jl96NkpSujPiAW3DLdab6BmbcNKMp9jRKYOYRKkPKqkR0SMoO6q2a6xVIepCzCfO3BQTJCeuoRi4yf8vId4lY3D_vFbuDfq7uqyeMJ37Uw/s400/IMG_9073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390775869602488466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9dYDB-VY5Q78U6wkod8sL6umF6jVkPD7Gy7IfwiYR3cBeJaUQ2eEJP6qkFXzUdd-_xNA-3jr5_yWIWL6s2N0t_kGR857NBEn8DXvU_8T0QkIm6nYktmSZBuZ41neFs-XQRz9bw/s1600-h/IMG_9090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9dYDB-VY5Q78U6wkod8sL6umF6jVkPD7Gy7IfwiYR3cBeJaUQ2eEJP6qkFXzUdd-_xNA-3jr5_yWIWL6s2N0t_kGR857NBEn8DXvU_8T0QkIm6nYktmSZBuZ41neFs-XQRz9bw/s400/IMG_9090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390775863899475922" /></a><br />Some guys got pretty crazy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUU2K5C3cnyWju-w1ruSNF88LFOBfbx9pSw4bzX0_lIMC71oWF-puTM-cT-DIZaHEvQJyiXviFqiGV3F3FtcRpcQNK9o0ffMqCt8JBJCA6rhyphenhyphena5S4EkcxZudg9bldL1o1GSodAg/s1600-h/IMG_9080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUU2K5C3cnyWju-w1ruSNF88LFOBfbx9pSw4bzX0_lIMC71oWF-puTM-cT-DIZaHEvQJyiXviFqiGV3F3FtcRpcQNK9o0ffMqCt8JBJCA6rhyphenhyphena5S4EkcxZudg9bldL1o1GSodAg/s400/IMG_9080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390775859222050162" /></a> <br /><br />Rich on one of the lines coming in fast<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OrUxd4VazEY7VOwl_8GdJhRdjzdf0WCzYXQlXJVUqBbKra2g61uSS_eZwiHrEFrg25MKahsyAKjNFxQpzXujKR_XR_A9bp7A0nwiZomXJ-ZfXzw1kNYWVwQb1htxphHWH6UgnA/s1600-h/IMG_9075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OrUxd4VazEY7VOwl_8GdJhRdjzdf0WCzYXQlXJVUqBbKra2g61uSS_eZwiHrEFrg25MKahsyAKjNFxQpzXujKR_XR_A9bp7A0nwiZomXJ-ZfXzw1kNYWVwQb1htxphHWH6UgnA/s400/IMG_9075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390776671447662018" /></a><br />Some of the lines were pretty long<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2J0CY_tsK34JZ-VMF2HZUJT1Ub_AetBYIg6xSSYpdpdeflYN3uCjnfF1MpLsfOM9XBLsCmffIwJzLlZGMbGo-L93Y96kvdJkQflzZsQN8PQZ2dsVKKGA2_yMuWrGpmTe2CM6Hg/s1600-h/IMG_9084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2J0CY_tsK34JZ-VMF2HZUJT1Ub_AetBYIg6xSSYpdpdeflYN3uCjnfF1MpLsfOM9XBLsCmffIwJzLlZGMbGo-L93Y96kvdJkQflzZsQN8PQZ2dsVKKGA2_yMuWrGpmTe2CM6Hg/s400/IMG_9084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390776663910174546" /></a><br /><br />The Dip portion was a trip to a luxury condo beach and swimming pool. After the heat of the Zip the Dip was awesome. We had not brought our Snorkling gear with us for this excursion so although their was an awesome reef there we did not get to see it. Maybe next time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw9ZlhpqJogHwfNZZb9WmzHSfZYkLLCqsl_OiAbJtkl6ttKJg7yOzOx34F7BnhbeQsnKCHP-OH01odxD_9EdHBObQN_gSpyOZ_p4r8cCzHXnoj2YWfIXJ5foaKtxPl_KVl7DEhQ/s1600-h/IMG_9129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw9ZlhpqJogHwfNZZb9WmzHSfZYkLLCqsl_OiAbJtkl6ttKJg7yOzOx34F7BnhbeQsnKCHP-OH01odxD_9EdHBObQN_gSpyOZ_p4r8cCzHXnoj2YWfIXJ5foaKtxPl_KVl7DEhQ/s400/IMG_9129.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390776654101265202" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rzt_dXM8g1TiEaN1-1K9YhSllrb0pyP3_8xrxs8DY9RGIyvJWfpUrZ8jpEDey4QVbt8U2kQwDgyd3O0ecQxFULQchvUzFW4dQNqht7DJt_FqYn_va5CEHSD7PCkill10AUtqhw/s1600-h/IMG_9165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rzt_dXM8g1TiEaN1-1K9YhSllrb0pyP3_8xrxs8DY9RGIyvJWfpUrZ8jpEDey4QVbt8U2kQwDgyd3O0ecQxFULQchvUzFW4dQNqht7DJt_FqYn_va5CEHSD7PCkill10AUtqhw/s400/IMG_9165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390776644768882338" /></a><br /><br />On our return to Tampa we went to Busch Gardens.<br />When we first came in to the park we saw the stilt walkers. I love them - so graceful and alien.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x-TCFIYfIDTKN1fmkf0yN6IaHwerUMxdy9dL77tT7Se9IGJ2kn-rwxJfEzWC-Z-BAbF7ESPjy3aa8H7eUNKv5mXK1HxVEWChnCghu5ubl0_nHDI9nZLp-PdpoKIWlUksK5bhRA/s1600-h/IMG_9286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x-TCFIYfIDTKN1fmkf0yN6IaHwerUMxdy9dL77tT7Se9IGJ2kn-rwxJfEzWC-Z-BAbF7ESPjy3aa8H7eUNKv5mXK1HxVEWChnCghu5ubl0_nHDI9nZLp-PdpoKIWlUksK5bhRA/s400/IMG_9286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390780659069934450" /></a><br />The first thing we did was ride the Skyway to get our bearings <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h5qVaV9xOkcT_Wk518VOt9RG6r3tqzZG39TZxHZVd2sWdAUKIzrn6MYMChFK-R58ideABteA9bAKkfaKdkWN9olHbyMgJc_VyuqaXekHSXKZG4s-N4TWruPPIujSGCkfgjFBQ/s1600-h/IMG_9360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_h5qVaV9xOkcT_Wk518VOt9RG6r3tqzZG39TZxHZVd2sWdAUKIzrn6MYMChFK-R58ideABteA9bAKkfaKdkWN9olHbyMgJc_VyuqaXekHSXKZG4s-N4TWruPPIujSGCkfgjFBQ/s400/IMG_9360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390780650970306322" /></a><br />Next we rode the train<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSlzCfUgk9Pt_TshAi4V1nFqY3C57zY5JGiBvBGboK2S1YMmzYjRP-jMKxh0DFw53izHFOpU0rPjSuVr8OzZtX3FDbvUeHo6OsCRxvZSAv7d8F1_UA_gfk9nhSk6KQQqrj27W2w/s1600-h/IMG_9370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSlzCfUgk9Pt_TshAi4V1nFqY3C57zY5JGiBvBGboK2S1YMmzYjRP-jMKxh0DFw53izHFOpU0rPjSuVr8OzZtX3FDbvUeHo6OsCRxvZSAv7d8F1_UA_gfk9nhSk6KQQqrj27W2w/s400/IMG_9370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390780644166485586" /></a><br />We were very hot so we cooled off<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTJOr4-GlT3DinYPp76ELntlK9scuXjyv5wT5CuwvDtSH4BrenG_auuy-JE457og9tprpI8NmnlcF2Ha3Pc5MyUpvfl-eOB_uXQu8mZIARpBJ7OuXW9aG9x94-O9-tfyOus5uKw/s1600-h/IMG_9323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTJOr4-GlT3DinYPp76ELntlK9scuXjyv5wT5CuwvDtSH4BrenG_auuy-JE457og9tprpI8NmnlcF2Ha3Pc5MyUpvfl-eOB_uXQu8mZIARpBJ7OuXW9aG9x94-O9-tfyOus5uKw/s400/IMG_9323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390780630822909570" /></a><br />Then we rode one of the 5 roller coasters<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVszlyEtwR3ExD9B2nzGmNcTuBscWjG3uAYmKwKafXAYpsoxM9WvDrky4uShXegYkNuJpbIhyphenhyphen6EqRgdCGKHjc34OGbEPIuAshwpBDCkeNFhHVtVSxoVt32-ZwIWhLN9mBrwr-Nw/s1600-h/IMG_9298.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVszlyEtwR3ExD9B2nzGmNcTuBscWjG3uAYmKwKafXAYpsoxM9WvDrky4uShXegYkNuJpbIhyphenhyphen6EqRgdCGKHjc34OGbEPIuAshwpBDCkeNFhHVtVSxoVt32-ZwIWhLN9mBrwr-Nw/s400/IMG_9298.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390780628076744642" /></a><br />And then we rode another but this one had 1 too many loops<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHTHouIHPbYbxteRabGGk809JAxhkKiVhPiTCR3i_rNKr6qJdFFBaCCSZ1-A6hu94RLvybNbvCsGnGtczBSWwMk5KARahbuBpkd-DsXVd5r93Et4fPHCQTL3NIa_vuPzlnc8o9g/s1600-h/IMG_9353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHTHouIHPbYbxteRabGGk809JAxhkKiVhPiTCR3i_rNKr6qJdFFBaCCSZ1-A6hu94RLvybNbvCsGnGtczBSWwMk5KARahbuBpkd-DsXVd5r93Et4fPHCQTL3NIa_vuPzlnc8o9g/s400/IMG_9353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781564524523154" /></a><br />And we were very hot<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj676rhe-TJaueCKFv8KAa7rKqqac91qLsCcuf-lBjqcTXjTkGeP2cfGYKV_X03JS8FrGYlpuPLZdXe95gMVKk3JvmResyjVkPagTphUFl_hPFYQ4NRqybxh6UtCJaPeQdHaG1ulw/s1600-h/IMG_9346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj676rhe-TJaueCKFv8KAa7rKqqac91qLsCcuf-lBjqcTXjTkGeP2cfGYKV_X03JS8FrGYlpuPLZdXe95gMVKk3JvmResyjVkPagTphUFl_hPFYQ4NRqybxh6UtCJaPeQdHaG1ulw/s400/IMG_9346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781554107343858" /></a><br />So was this tiger who backed into the water and laid down<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo5Et7lXpVVeLCjWEWmAtosVWviDsQ1oC8W0WDhv4lc-_fuz7KCwJjOaup0dq_sZYI1Q35OW0eKuIaYdsKZ9gwhDJ7lF35pIEPRwrEwPDCxEmwkECMzuOQg4CwOjZ5N0bJsxBsQ/s1600-h/IMG_9342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo5Et7lXpVVeLCjWEWmAtosVWviDsQ1oC8W0WDhv4lc-_fuz7KCwJjOaup0dq_sZYI1Q35OW0eKuIaYdsKZ9gwhDJ7lF35pIEPRwrEwPDCxEmwkECMzuOQg4CwOjZ5N0bJsxBsQ/s400/IMG_9342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781547788180162" /></a><br />Who could resist a road rally<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiGSREcT99gHSp5b3KrPdkY5p0S9lY8QM6pAVBjNPhD6OfBYFxMWJjBMHaeJwNsBlFYoIe8kCDApqZfxgYKxtGGSujeYA2A-DeqOUA8E37lO00qEcaOXgYrok7fvP-l3YwdAmQw/s1600-h/IMG_9420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiGSREcT99gHSp5b3KrPdkY5p0S9lY8QM6pAVBjNPhD6OfBYFxMWJjBMHaeJwNsBlFYoIe8kCDApqZfxgYKxtGGSujeYA2A-DeqOUA8E37lO00qEcaOXgYrok7fvP-l3YwdAmQw/s400/IMG_9420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781544217345250" /></a><br />with a busted bridge<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6Z3IFq4eKtkw7uWqF12yOkHhdoQ9x3MXdRnGlsOYCvJ93H4ioUbJmnPbahEwDYYSTpomsePUTnbBrrawCvWlioD4AuBHFD__pEjeZ5pmlZLCjmpoZ0vXeSW8JDi1ov6iLRzegQ/s1600-h/IMG_9387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6Z3IFq4eKtkw7uWqF12yOkHhdoQ9x3MXdRnGlsOYCvJ93H4ioUbJmnPbahEwDYYSTpomsePUTnbBrrawCvWlioD4AuBHFD__pEjeZ5pmlZLCjmpoZ0vXeSW8JDi1ov6iLRzegQ/s400/IMG_9387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781534133308242" /></a><br />You cannot be in Florida without seeing crocs and turtles <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl02XeA7wB0sHxIdj1M9jiRZrVYyiPYR6tWT_yS0GFG6u0CRcdF_-EiubEh9JWfYtLA8KZApjDIVK-d9qG03T72C5_ixe-jihD86P47JUhJB6NhHI-V8amGPjObOMHIyudPB8uA/s1600-h/IMG_9289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl02XeA7wB0sHxIdj1M9jiRZrVYyiPYR6tWT_yS0GFG6u0CRcdF_-EiubEh9JWfYtLA8KZApjDIVK-d9qG03T72C5_ixe-jihD86P47JUhJB6NhHI-V8amGPjObOMHIyudPB8uA/s400/IMG_9289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390782602908684962" /></a><br />And birds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0fc6HGdENqI2psK2LLJjl6iuLb2tSDhMeMU5X4K4xW0tLFBjfVGNJ18ziZGCKufRc6LXOaG8YH98o6UMOONOdqrRKtF5OcOt3f8cR8zzijYpwwvCmlR4YlYeKbACFWhFzRPddw/s1600-h/IMG_9494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0fc6HGdENqI2psK2LLJjl6iuLb2tSDhMeMU5X4K4xW0tLFBjfVGNJ18ziZGCKufRc6LXOaG8YH98o6UMOONOdqrRKtF5OcOt3f8cR8zzijYpwwvCmlR4YlYeKbACFWhFzRPddw/s400/IMG_9494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390782594607607826" /></a><br />And more birds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76KBZpmKmqeUsiXKC5gP2O1ytH1kFp5cBXcdF5gsUHdRWQXfx_lFrdh-UxMIRUTbfsw-VZBISZDUy7UCAOc5aQmjgpQQMtN8EUDrfkBWZ34n-c_2t2bGAk-IaweaKiBl5zfub2Q/s1600-h/IMG_9464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76KBZpmKmqeUsiXKC5gP2O1ytH1kFp5cBXcdF5gsUHdRWQXfx_lFrdh-UxMIRUTbfsw-VZBISZDUy7UCAOc5aQmjgpQQMtN8EUDrfkBWZ34n-c_2t2bGAk-IaweaKiBl5zfub2Q/s400/IMG_9464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390782586363304610" /></a><br />And even birds on the walkways<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAJetqgDokzQHst0KO7X9j8hCZJc5C6N-TBZmO5H4H1dUEvrmIwUFgBLHXrKud2VHUmp5XD3gl7o1DX2HLwK6GBUeY-sAvcB5JZjvEhJ86NacbnAJcnF3LGwicwC7oMJOAnAycw/s1600-h/IMG_9476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAJetqgDokzQHst0KO7X9j8hCZJc5C6N-TBZmO5H4H1dUEvrmIwUFgBLHXrKud2VHUmp5XD3gl7o1DX2HLwK6GBUeY-sAvcB5JZjvEhJ86NacbnAJcnF3LGwicwC7oMJOAnAycw/s400/IMG_9476.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390782582693783714" /></a>rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-81602943694977871822009-10-09T16:04:00.003-07:002009-10-09T16:20:30.359-07:00200910 - MaxWe just got back form a Caribbean cruise on Monday (I will be publishing some photos very shortly) When we picked up Max at the Kennel he was not using his right back leg at all. The kennel had a bunch of small dogs so they let them play together and it seems that Max was having a little too much fun. The kennel said it had happened on Sunday and they thought it was something wrong with his hip. We went immediately to our vet who took X-rays and diagnosed a torn ACL. I did not know this happened to dogs as well as Skov soccer players. Anyway, long story short, Max had surgery yesterday and is back home with us today. He seems to be in a lot of pain. He is talking a lot and walking not at all. Poor baby. We are not supposed to let him jump or run which right now seems easy but when he starts feeling better, who knows. They shaved his entire leg and he has a bandage from his toes to his hip. The surgeon said his knee was supposed to have a groove in the patella and he did not have one so he (the surgeon) made one while he was in there fixing the ACL. Sounds awful to me. Max is supposed to take it easy but still get a little exercise for the next 2 weeks. After that he gets the bandage removed and we will be giving him some PT. Sounds like manual stretching the leg. Should be very interesting. Hopefully the pain will be long gone by then.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-51943168161569184882009-09-24T20:59:00.007-07:002009-09-24T21:39:54.500-07:0020090924 - Quail Creek Quilters 200909 Round RobinMy small quilt group had the final reveal today of our 200909 Round Robin. We divided into 2 groups of 5 and made the round robins. For you non-quilters, (A Round Robin is a process wherein each participant makes a central block, then the blocks are passed to each of the other participants as they each add something to the quilt (generally a border). In the end the creator of the initial block receives back a quilt top. These came out great. Here they are. The first one is mine.<br />Sue<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXU64XiTF-wWFbZhz2OguWZWMw4RBuSBIEJCSVOne0KBi89Pm89S7EGCGbaWmD86LlsKWqO-X960kdy5bQAztoO4qBApncr4QWtDwCKAoDqB9Ygcu_YgGxj7zg22-hR29vW1tuw/s1600-h/IMG_8682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXU64XiTF-wWFbZhz2OguWZWMw4RBuSBIEJCSVOne0KBi89Pm89S7EGCGbaWmD86LlsKWqO-X960kdy5bQAztoO4qBApncr4QWtDwCKAoDqB9Ygcu_YgGxj7zg22-hR29vW1tuw/s400/IMG_8682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385253371175473666" /></a><br />Pam<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRCxhZmLLSgFHyonrV3kzQuXRmpfHq24aHfhUFw5gTRNHZosQvKiW-Mvn8AmUayAd_nyA_S2_y_pMNGNZp8mK53yxXjvFEciwYoi3O91igiuYGxaDm0XbOQdcmSh2Bvot8CkPUg/s1600-h/IMG_8685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRCxhZmLLSgFHyonrV3kzQuXRmpfHq24aHfhUFw5gTRNHZosQvKiW-Mvn8AmUayAd_nyA_S2_y_pMNGNZp8mK53yxXjvFEciwYoi3O91igiuYGxaDm0XbOQdcmSh2Bvot8CkPUg/s400/IMG_8685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385253392314080514" /></a><br />Sally<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ithsBC_5eX9reeFMW5sSx8ziWnJLyctUvWWLMfcPhZvYngWE0UqzTbo3fma0011g3BtXcwRxruB3YtzmhLx_ao6Vd70iK0DdnImFnw7NGWF4CY5OeWzWhgh6h5_OWxMnp0qFAg/s1600-h/IMG_8684.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ithsBC_5eX9reeFMW5sSx8ziWnJLyctUvWWLMfcPhZvYngWE0UqzTbo3fma0011g3BtXcwRxruB3YtzmhLx_ao6Vd70iK0DdnImFnw7NGWF4CY5OeWzWhgh6h5_OWxMnp0qFAg/s400/IMG_8684.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385253385619712898" /></a><br />Ann<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXvxzkQCvfSrztku7eTnHl9OvfSt-LHRs0alDlD5UL7QwimzNw9OarE41f6pjIGxy_vN9VID49a9zUmlRf0NgoepSZt4VKqrKujLolaBln69jxSICzhScH9HV3D43TEj5P7T7lA/s1600-h/IMG_8683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXvxzkQCvfSrztku7eTnHl9OvfSt-LHRs0alDlD5UL7QwimzNw9OarE41f6pjIGxy_vN9VID49a9zUmlRf0NgoepSZt4VKqrKujLolaBln69jxSICzhScH9HV3D43TEj5P7T7lA/s400/IMG_8683.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385253379399629122" /></a><br />Carmen<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygEBzfCXLqQ1jhRNhYDCIdiuuehH_Zv37OdbzDfo6t1XsKCBBz67-MYyNG6EzFVCzw9RwNNJQSDw6bAh_tH4J_l5Dz_skR7d7WgNGLdW1psRajSG8Jnt3i2K-R2mDyHjk9vdocQ/s1600-h/IMG_8689.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygEBzfCXLqQ1jhRNhYDCIdiuuehH_Zv37OdbzDfo6t1XsKCBBz67-MYyNG6EzFVCzw9RwNNJQSDw6bAh_tH4J_l5Dz_skR7d7WgNGLdW1psRajSG8Jnt3i2K-R2mDyHjk9vdocQ/s400/IMG_8689.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385254450701971458" /></a><br />Nancy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RRthDrf9mjCKZRXpWiqaeL2Gc9zMYYyXHET5QBntaKK5_NyQXybZbB07FXphqkontBdg0AeGy7N1Wd6e6pcCP6AV3iSsdFSwgHdycP-IFtaV150enkdPub1ajLaRYS5IET4l_w/s1600-h/IMG_8688.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RRthDrf9mjCKZRXpWiqaeL2Gc9zMYYyXHET5QBntaKK5_NyQXybZbB07FXphqkontBdg0AeGy7N1Wd6e6pcCP6AV3iSsdFSwgHdycP-IFtaV150enkdPub1ajLaRYS5IET4l_w/s400/IMG_8688.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385254438220598402" /></a><br />Carol<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tt3mBkrM1mznFvaNGkR5fNqMyd3J6XHtElt9CCBHjVOqi0B_Yo-HDLgxUcLppCxV8vFGvzjteloPXaZrgAuwg28_BbvrH8FeAXxD_y0_GJdgf9HHW80eNvMnYqPcfliHA5kCBg/s1600-h/IMG_8686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tt3mBkrM1mznFvaNGkR5fNqMyd3J6XHtElt9CCBHjVOqi0B_Yo-HDLgxUcLppCxV8vFGvzjteloPXaZrgAuwg28_BbvrH8FeAXxD_y0_GJdgf9HHW80eNvMnYqPcfliHA5kCBg/s400/IMG_8686.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385254426001444450" /></a><br />Jeanne<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl9DjRLx_PqyOiwAj7Nrfz54Z5M1muLVZkScPaQ-VTwPsv48kTyKq2qPyYvVQmQwMTrhcyKGfdvdInKzZID3IfHeTSCnuE5oP-4hu9SIEz2xr68UKH6MhRIM67lMfqrgexVyhZg/s1600-h/IMG_8692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl9DjRLx_PqyOiwAj7Nrfz54Z5M1muLVZkScPaQ-VTwPsv48kTyKq2qPyYvVQmQwMTrhcyKGfdvdInKzZID3IfHeTSCnuE5oP-4hu9SIEz2xr68UKH6MhRIM67lMfqrgexVyhZg/s400/IMG_8692.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385255742055353394" /></a><br />Margaret<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6T_lrXd80NQ3bUz1PUHYYCZL412sC90coCJeuuAz4e6PB-ZaLCURmB1dSjCDEYJNRNmLHrE7p-z7cj_-6xEAWc4XoHoEXpl9i2LtDmT-h812dVbLu-g_PqB7FSiLx-4jp7pARA/s1600-h/IMG_8693.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6T_lrXd80NQ3bUz1PUHYYCZL412sC90coCJeuuAz4e6PB-ZaLCURmB1dSjCDEYJNRNmLHrE7p-z7cj_-6xEAWc4XoHoEXpl9i2LtDmT-h812dVbLu-g_PqB7FSiLx-4jp7pARA/s400/IMG_8693.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385255734960373602" /></a><br />Judy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7czuVgelDiAFHDC0tKjkCBCN4TwEn3k5iOWqDZJZMgoVWfP_aUSVB5DkZP7zp6-IYen0ao2BXGg8M2QnssiNz3zsmmAZooMnkYvNz-9m-yIsOj_N2NflWlxLUerHktXXi1WECw/s1600-h/IMG_8694.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7czuVgelDiAFHDC0tKjkCBCN4TwEn3k5iOWqDZJZMgoVWfP_aUSVB5DkZP7zp6-IYen0ao2BXGg8M2QnssiNz3zsmmAZooMnkYvNz-9m-yIsOj_N2NflWlxLUerHktXXi1WECw/s400/IMG_8694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385255727524359554" /></a>rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-92069980719768452342009-09-21T23:47:00.018-07:002009-09-23T00:09:51.588-07:0020090921 - Arroyo GrandeRich, Max and I just got back from a family reunion with Rich’s cousin John, his wife Ruthanne, and three of their sons and their families. John and Ruthanne have a 2nd home in Arroyo Grande, which they have been fixing up as a vacation site. It is lovely place to visit family. Here are some photos of the families:<br /><br />Everybody enjoys reading<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABuMTkvT8ej8YgCP0NCR6jG0RegvzZz-LBdYuZJ9aPZfUDO6TGOntM-PN-v8hgGtXsfTaWCe5JxKTMIPX-dtBjC0ShTDiAzRqNZgh0cUQEa9uvm0ltPig9wWUwofej0pXa3WHcQ/s1600-h/IMG_8635.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABuMTkvT8ej8YgCP0NCR6jG0RegvzZz-LBdYuZJ9aPZfUDO6TGOntM-PN-v8hgGtXsfTaWCe5JxKTMIPX-dtBjC0ShTDiAzRqNZgh0cUQEa9uvm0ltPig9wWUwofej0pXa3WHcQ/s400/IMG_8635.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384183608797600210" /></a><br />Eleanor, Josh, Ann Marie (Girl’s Mom) and Georgia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhJuoC2o9sopbShHkFaJuL9QvLa70WaydwjSdEBCIKrbuMDF1cpFCIoLHT_Cq0EKH6O24-_6Q7W1UvztFC64ZT4WdV1Mxqc9osxReJu1mqLsTi_9i5k1pTqZsNKk42c-wBToekg/s1600-h/IMG_8573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhJuoC2o9sopbShHkFaJuL9QvLa70WaydwjSdEBCIKrbuMDF1cpFCIoLHT_Cq0EKH6O24-_6Q7W1UvztFC64ZT4WdV1Mxqc9osxReJu1mqLsTi_9i5k1pTqZsNKk42c-wBToekg/s400/IMG_8573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384181095428352754" /></a><br />Lucy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9AovI74KOUZ3zUvXTaAgbhGiBiTwuY4fDi3KrmekCMXVjR1I2Osc0ggm19icza-JDBfR9mY2srcEOYkVigblgKcIkHIdIMJDinNTSsuoqLjvteo4xv7eZlATuVqiEGIq73moA/s1600-h/IMG_8677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9AovI74KOUZ3zUvXTaAgbhGiBiTwuY4fDi3KrmekCMXVjR1I2Osc0ggm19icza-JDBfR9mY2srcEOYkVigblgKcIkHIdIMJDinNTSsuoqLjvteo4xv7eZlATuVqiEGIq73moA/s400/IMG_8677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384181302302004322" /></a><br />Max<br /><br />The kids at play:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn_zozsRYRD7PVhCJpa6wM19EVD0Bi95o4wXcHhpilr6dTd16CMKKhL5twLxUmFdmFnLaJccSlz03k9lSajK2HvILDcuDePb4KhpA4JPqsK1CrDrEgpuUbrCRsQvlF5RrMgEh8A/s1600-h/IMG_8617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn_zozsRYRD7PVhCJpa6wM19EVD0Bi95o4wXcHhpilr6dTd16CMKKhL5twLxUmFdmFnLaJccSlz03k9lSajK2HvILDcuDePb4KhpA4JPqsK1CrDrEgpuUbrCRsQvlF5RrMgEh8A/s400/IMG_8617.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384183935725850978" /></a><br />Josh & Eleanor in the trailer<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Yh62WDfmyB6LPRZZ6cMSBxbh8zrV5MSMfMmPQ3QlSz0p54N68GzkmsyThKX6l-g4PA84Bmpu6teBsOH13ejMM-yWUM5Q2SnYrr__w_gP6UPqbA8jRItOgdYOPfbyqIJxz1UDQ/s1600-h/IMG_8622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Yh62WDfmyB6LPRZZ6cMSBxbh8zrV5MSMfMmPQ3QlSz0p54N68GzkmsyThKX6l-g4PA84Bmpu6teBsOH13ejMM-yWUM5Q2SnYrr__w_gP6UPqbA8jRItOgdYOPfbyqIJxz1UDQ/s400/IMG_8622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384184190781142258" /></a><br />Georgia, Eleanor, and Josh form a train<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x1SGAqh0JtgbXYJqj63J6pXkyE4vcyu3hdGeOI8ES6QJI2ljrU7Oj_UZ14GI24FWEUYRT5C5pSeA4nN-jPbndI9qUwYQEry9XXP1RVSiCMeYpdw39OOmTrBICZ-me73U9mJC5A/s1600-h/IMG_8652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x1SGAqh0JtgbXYJqj63J6pXkyE4vcyu3hdGeOI8ES6QJI2ljrU7Oj_UZ14GI24FWEUYRT5C5pSeA4nN-jPbndI9qUwYQEry9XXP1RVSiCMeYpdw39OOmTrBICZ-me73U9mJC5A/s400/IMG_8652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384184542604500674" /></a><br />Chris (Dad) and Lucy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYkF92EI76GcNnFeat4ooHeeqcQBSWfMoC8TK96XvFARDQziv1LJfKPWxQvAg5zrgn0MAkwrNGxd-GNs2CzKcLsx_Nb13cHRVk109MUfAv6v3r58EjiiqZ5TOh9_SDdQVWv0pvQ/s1600-h/IMG_8666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYkF92EI76GcNnFeat4ooHeeqcQBSWfMoC8TK96XvFARDQziv1LJfKPWxQvAg5zrgn0MAkwrNGxd-GNs2CzKcLsx_Nb13cHRVk109MUfAv6v3r58EjiiqZ5TOh9_SDdQVWv0pvQ/s400/IMG_8666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384184785574970786" /></a><br />Lucy and Max<br /><br />Several of us went to Pismo Beach<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_K5XIwhN5cjFszywx88oSPbMEBjc0krs63tbnl9WW_AoOXLRTgiie7tBQ168Al5ILR5YeO3tdmCEa4i7ym_ugQulMMMlXi9CJDkVzk6iYpWdVrYxRj8nFwNzekmKAp24OBESQw/s1600-h/IMG_8579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_K5XIwhN5cjFszywx88oSPbMEBjc0krs63tbnl9WW_AoOXLRTgiie7tBQ168Al5ILR5YeO3tdmCEa4i7ym_ugQulMMMlXi9CJDkVzk6iYpWdVrYxRj8nFwNzekmKAp24OBESQw/s400/IMG_8579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384185176656075794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9ynUzR51tUG9YBt3s9rAcS0H-O3NNy7agOWEdAUkktz0gi9wR5SVQqZd6Si0MwP2qzP49-CeziMgUf994zEXMf2K_RsZSoFO7qhgSnJUAE7sci3GUmNIPt91GIGXZccgYVUMdg/s1600-h/IMG_8577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9ynUzR51tUG9YBt3s9rAcS0H-O3NNy7agOWEdAUkktz0gi9wR5SVQqZd6Si0MwP2qzP49-CeziMgUf994zEXMf2K_RsZSoFO7qhgSnJUAE7sci3GUmNIPt91GIGXZccgYVUMdg/s400/IMG_8577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384185175519603522" /></a><br />Max enjoys the mud<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MRBGKOlWhQZfFAoAsR7F5C2sOcA56eTE_53qzOzbizw1uWi-t-Ffp6rRpXvLs2z5MJQeQkdvKygXW6J88TS7PEtcmvgJ2cAmfwuAJR4VnDV2OAIyITDBngmteuAqUQMoVeDWMg/s1600-h/IMG_8581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MRBGKOlWhQZfFAoAsR7F5C2sOcA56eTE_53qzOzbizw1uWi-t-Ffp6rRpXvLs2z5MJQeQkdvKygXW6J88TS7PEtcmvgJ2cAmfwuAJR4VnDV2OAIyITDBngmteuAqUQMoVeDWMg/s400/IMG_8581.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384185454390200930" /></a><br />Josh, Georgia, Eric (Girls Dad)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcwl4qgBqgI36rs7r1YXiI-3kGf9vy1G8v4Sgb3OPks-44wX3W0iw_cs2bIJ04dQL8Xmw_860DtVoYde_t4GalC-MHN3HGAB7v5NuITyEzq1HclrZDzeqfKjE6PYNGywGeBpd9Q/s1600-h/IMG_8586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcwl4qgBqgI36rs7r1YXiI-3kGf9vy1G8v4Sgb3OPks-44wX3W0iw_cs2bIJ04dQL8Xmw_860DtVoYde_t4GalC-MHN3HGAB7v5NuITyEzq1HclrZDzeqfKjE6PYNGywGeBpd9Q/s400/IMG_8586.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384185734485739906" /></a><br />Chris (Dad) & Josh<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UOroI8NPsE9Mct4esqmqPJR8RSCebm0h7_T0jcfMIn7rnWBEIzXNCvRMjti9smiVEDlC7vRjsqktqdT35MRm9DMM1IyAr4XOhGI0xB11v7MexyDNwhJ3hFDVnhuy2sDqfrJ7qQ/s1600-h/IMG_8600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UOroI8NPsE9Mct4esqmqPJR8RSCebm0h7_T0jcfMIn7rnWBEIzXNCvRMjti9smiVEDlC7vRjsqktqdT35MRm9DMM1IyAr4XOhGI0xB11v7MexyDNwhJ3hFDVnhuy2sDqfrJ7qQ/s400/IMG_8600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384186069005085506" /></a><br />Louise(Mom) & Lucy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXczIUBLuV4uUtdlAGbpX9IAExZsTwYWDT50L9yR72sSwQcIcAQTT2gN2dyGiibqAVk3NcGCh3f9xePrLR0uuRfoRm1nlX_ugLv4BEUn-9aqg5ue6Fhy_UQgbolId53nCxGtQgQ/s1600-h/IMG_8605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXczIUBLuV4uUtdlAGbpX9IAExZsTwYWDT50L9yR72sSwQcIcAQTT2gN2dyGiibqAVk3NcGCh3f9xePrLR0uuRfoRm1nlX_ugLv4BEUn-9aqg5ue6Fhy_UQgbolId53nCxGtQgQ/s400/IMG_8605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384186300689429586" /></a><br />Eric & Georgia<br /><br />We also went Wine tasting, and Rich and I walked around Solvang during Danish days but I forgot the camera on both of those occasions. All in all we had a great time seeing out cousins, nephews, and grand nieces and nephew.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-62015294605963835812009-08-03T17:39:00.002-07:002009-08-03T17:50:12.212-07:0020090803 - Busy JulyJuly was a very busy month for me. In May, I had this idea for a Christmas in July Charity Sew for our Quilt Guild. I thought making Christmas Stockings would be fun and maybe nice idea for some charity. I checked with the Green Valley Assistance Services to see if they could recommend an organization. And they were the one! Turns out that they, along with the Salvation Army, make up Christmas gift boxes for the local families in need. Last year the families that they provided for had 492 children. <br /> I modified a pattern I had of a Christmas Stocking to make it simpler and easier to make. It is just a matching stocking cut from 2 fabrics one of which becomes the lining and the cuff and the other the outside of the stocking. I made a sample stocking and a presentation to the Guild Board and they approved the idea. Part of the idea was to publicize the event to the Guild Members as both a stash buster (most of us have Christmas fabric in our stashes) and charity sew-in with the goal of making 500 stockings. We asked people to donate any Christmas fabric they had during May and June and provided copies of the pattern and instructions to anyone who wanted to make stockings ahead of time. <br /> Along the way, the Quail Creek Quilters decided to help so they too began collecting fabric and making stockings.<br /> The Guild Charity Bee took the early fabric and made up fat quarter kits. On July 9th the Guild Board, the Guild Program Committee, and the Quail Creek Quilters had a “Prime the Pump” Party where we made more stocking templates, cut stockings, and made more kits so that the members arriving to the Sew-In would have something to start with no matter what task they wanted to do. I and my Programs partner made up 60 baby stockings as Thank You’s and name tags for the participants at the event. The babies are the same stocking pattern just much smaller<br /> On July 23rd the Guild had an all day session where about 40 ladies made about 300 stockings. We started the day with 100 Stockings that members had already made so by the end of the day we had close to 400 stockings. We spent from 8:00am until 3:00pm working, with a lunch break for Pizza. People arrived and left according to their own schedules. Some folks cut Fat quarters sets, others cut the fats into stockings and linings, others sewed the stockings and others were turned and ironed the finished stockings. It was a great day!<br /> On July 31st the Quail Creek Quilters had their sew day. We also spent a full day with about 20 ladies working. We had 95 completed stockings at the end of the day. We also had some stockings at the beginning of the day.<br /> Regina Ford, Lifestyle Editor for the Green Valley News came to the Christmas Charity Sew on July 23rd and took pictures for the newspaper. It has already bee published, although I have to admit I did not see the photo or the article. <br /> I pretty much used up all my “Moving & Shaking" energy for the month as the lead for both events. I believe that leading a group takes “Moving and Shaking“ energy. Moving & Shaking energy is either a different kind or different level of energy and there is a limit on how much I have at any time. <br /> We will not be delivering the Stockings until October so we are continuing to receive stockings from both groups. The Guild members have completed at least 85 more stockings and the Quail Creek Quilters have another 20-30. I believe we will have in excess of 600 stockings. Pretty exciting! <br /> Green Valley Assistance Services usually provides their families with school supplies in September but this year the Salvation Army is going to do this. Then in December, Green Valley Assistance Services will provide a second set of school supplies with their Christmas. The kids will get 1 wish gift and additional school supplies (I expect in the stockings).rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-85034652223200910412009-07-29T17:04:00.001-07:002009-07-29T17:07:16.878-07:0020090729 - Predisposed to getting lostEver since my little “low blood sugar, cannot find my house” episode I have been trying to understand how our ability to remember directions works. Several times during that evening I was at streets whose names I remembered as being near my house but I still could not put together the directions (picture) of how to get home. Even when not confronted with a blood sugar low, I have a hard time figuring out how to get to places. When I am remembering directions, my mind remembers a series of left and right turns. Since I have a finite list of things I can remember in a list I have a hard time remembering more complicated routes.<br />Anyhoo, I have been wondering how other people do it. I have always assumed that other people see more of a birds eye view of the route. Is that how you do it? Or do you see the route in some other way? Please comment if you are one of the lucky people who having driven somewhere once, can always find it again.<br />When I was younger I thought that having good fashion sense was an innate ability. However, one of the Asimov Robot books presented the idea that a robot could learn from books and show a woman how to do it. That got me to thinking that it was interest not skill that was innate. Which meant anyone who wanted to, could learn. Recently I read The Outliers where Malcolm Gladwell presented the idea that practice was the deciding factor. So instead of believing that I am genetically predisposed to getting lost, I am thinking that maybe if I could identify the skill and then practice, perhaps I could get better at this. Not 10,000 hours worth of better, of course, but better for me.<br />So, now I need help identifying the skills involved (since obviously I completely lack them). And of course, that begs the question how come I missed it. But let's not focus on the past but instead the wonderful future when I do not immediately turn the wrong way when leaving a building. (My husband’s observation about my lack of any sense of direction).<br /><br />On another note, I have done a couple more things as a result of the low.<br />1) I give myself half the normal amount of Humalog insulin at the meal prior to exercising. This was my doc’s recommendation in response to my low.<br />2) I now have blood sugar monitor in the car. So the plan is: <br />If you feel low, park the car and check your blood sugar. If it is low, take 4 sugar pills (turns out they only have 4 carbs each), wait 15 minutes, check again and repeat as necessary. <span style="font-weight:bold;">DO NOT START DRIVING</span> again until the blood sugar is 80 or above.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-28925328612022704322009-07-27T16:56:00.001-07:002009-07-27T21:20:56.409-07:0020090727 - Odds & EndsOne of my quilting friends here in Quail Creek recently died. She was the leader of one of the small quilting groups. We met at her house on Monday afternoons. We rotated bringing food to the meeting and since most of the members cook, we generally had some kind of home made treat. Since she has been gone we have been rotating the meeting site and we decided we did not need to have food.<br />Last week her husband spoke to one of the members and asked us to meet at their house again for old times sake. He also mentioned that he looked forward to a “treat”. So I started thinking about what his meals might be like now that his wife was gone. And from there I started thinking about what Rich would be eating if I were gone. Suddenly I realized that since he is the cook in our household, he would be eating what he eats now, The real question is What would Sue be eating? How many times a day can you eat eggs?rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-16606659107649634112009-07-22T12:20:00.002-07:002009-07-22T12:28:15.705-07:0020090722 - Sugar Low cont.Last time I said I thought there were more things I need to have learned. Here are a couple…<br />1) You know when the ad says talk to your doctor before you try… Well, apparently I am one of the people who need to do it. The last big low I had was after I started Weight Watchers. I take 2 kinds of insulin: 1) Humalog which I take with meals and match the dosage to the carbs I eat and 2) Lantus which I take at night to provide a base level of insulin. As I started eating differently I changed the Humalog dosage to match the carbs but I never thought to change the Lantus dosage. And eventually that led to a big low. And to a discussion with the Doc where we changed the Lantus dosage.<br /> This time I added exercise to the picture without changing either of the insulins and I expect that that was what led to this second big low. I have an appointment with the Doc this afternoon, so hopefully we can work out a new plan, <br />2) In the past my eyesight was affected by sugar lows. When I spoke to my doc he said it was not my eyes that were having the problem but my brain. It did not have enough fuel to process all the information my eyes were sending. I used to say that if my brain did not have fuel to process vision, imagine how good my judgment was.<br /> So my sister (the nurse) is trying to convince my dinosaur brain that the my first thought after realizing I am having a low is “GET HELP”. I am not sure how to get that thought into that part of my brain. It never feels that bad in the beginning and so I keep making poor judgments. At least the thought is in there now. Hope it comes out.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-18970190868045581932009-07-14T14:09:00.001-07:002009-07-14T14:13:58.821-07:0020090713 - Sugar LowThose of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I am diabetic. Last night I experienced my second major blood sugar low. Here’s my story, and I am sticking to it.<br /><br />I entered a fitness challenge July 21 (to “walk” to Page, Arizona) so I have been trying to work out most days. I started out walking on the treadmill, but now I bike about 4-6 miles. Yesterday evening, as I had not been to the fitness center yet, I decided to go after dinner. I normally eat dinner and within an hour have some popcorn and ice cream so I figure the snacks into my dinner insulin shot. So I took my shot, had dinner, and left for the fitness center. I carry sugar pills (just in case, since the first incident) and while I was biking took one, and after biking my 4 miles, I left the fitness center to go home. Well, in between my genetically inherited poor sense of direction, the darkness, (because of the proximity of Quail Creek to a telescope, Quail Creek does not have street lights), and my sugar low, I could not find my house. Mind you, my house is within 5 driving minutes of the fitness center. Nothing was recognizable to me, lots of fairy (small yard) lights, and no street names I could see or read. I kept driving around thinking I would eventually recognize where I was but it did not happen. I also kept eating the sugar pills but they did not seem to help (I was not giving them time, I just wanted to get home). In between the exercise and the delayed snack my blood sugar just plummeted. I drove to dead-end streets and kept thinking there were no dead-end streets in Quail Creek. Actually there are, and in fact, one is about 3 blocks from my house. I finally ended up out at the guard gate and thought to myself “now that I know where I am, I can find the house”. Unfortunately, that was not true, I still did not recognize the turn. Luckily I was staying on the main roads and they keep circling around. The second time I came to the gate I realized I needed help, and that the gate was the perfect place to get it. So I stopped and told the guard what was going on and asked for help. They looked me up (to check my address) and one of the guys volunteered to drive or lead me to the house. Finally, 1.5 hours after I left the fitness center I arrived home. And still did not recognize it, if he had not stopped I would have driven by it again. Rich came out, parked the car, and I was home. <br /><br />What did I learn? <br />One, Always take the cell phone, you never know when you are going to need it.<br />Two, Either change the insulin, or no exercise after dinner. (Most likely no exercise after dinner since it solves 2 & 3.) <br />Three, Do not drive after dark, things here do not look the same. <br />Four, How lucky I am to live in Quail Creek (a limited place to get lost in) and to have the Patrol. I am always grateful to the guard who greets me with “Welcome home” when I come through the gate (such a warm feeling). Now I have a more personal reason to be thankful for existence of the gate and the Patrol who man it. Thank you guys!<br />Five, If what I got was a small taste of dementia, I do not need a bigger taste, thank you very much.<br />Six, Well, I am sure there is a six, seven, etc but right now I can’t think of them.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-14009126501830376202009-07-11T11:18:00.002-07:002009-07-11T11:31:16.083-07:002009 07 CrittersWe had another monsoon the other day. I happened to be at the fitness center when it arrived. That is a very cool place to be, lots of windows to view what is going on. First came the wind, followed by thunder, lightning, rain, some hail, and then lots more wind, thunder, lightning and rain. The only scary thing was that there was a gentleman in the pool when it started. I was wishing he would get out but when he did, he was hanging on the metal handrail which did not feel very safe to me. He made it out OK. Since I was at the fitness center and had to drive home, I decided to do something I have wanted to do for some time: drive around the compound and take a look at the washes while they were running. It was interesting but the most interesting thing was I finally saw a bobcat. People have been talking about bobcats in the compound but I had never seen one and now I have. I would not want to run into him (or her) alone and outside but in the car watching him enjoy the rain was all right. <br />The hawk has been hanging around our backyard again. First I saw him watching one of our bushes. He kept flying in, hopping around and flying out again. That bush is near an animal hole so I was hoping he was after that critter but he started swooping around so we decided he was trying to flush out a bird. With that in mind I went out to scare him off. No bird flew out so I was peering into the bush to see what he was after. I saw some movement and was peering closer when it occurred to me it might be a snake. You should have seen me jump back.<br />The next day another bird killed itself flying into my quilt room window. This time it was one of the quail which made me very unhappy. Pretty soon the hawk was back to get his prey. He walked onto the patio and jumped on the bird and hopped around to get a good grip and started to fly away. I say started because the quail was too heavy for the hawk. He got as far as the top of the wall before he had to stop. He set the quail down, hopped around for a while and finally had to leave it. I also left it, thinking perhaps a stronger hawk or a coyote would get it. And someone did since it was gone later that day. Also later that day there was an adult quail calling and calling. I hope the darn hawk is not planning to use our yard as his hunting ground and my quilting room window as a weapon.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-25069459686216534092009-07-05T16:14:00.002-07:002009-07-05T16:18:16.173-07:00200907 - What Bird is this?This little guy came to the hummingbird feeder, drank a bit, and then flew to this perch, and sang his thanks. What is he?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoVQQlU0o0LzLq9LyBlKEI4eMejO63Krf-jLG9v5Kafj0iFTZO7eRrK7xmxLL93Drnn_Hcsobj7tvNnpdIxQHJJFEZY5FRQ4cirSJQnNXUHZtY9M0qeQuv-AoMP7kiLeq7yGi8w/s1600-h/IMG_8400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoVQQlU0o0LzLq9LyBlKEI4eMejO63Krf-jLG9v5Kafj0iFTZO7eRrK7xmxLL93Drnn_Hcsobj7tvNnpdIxQHJJFEZY5FRQ4cirSJQnNXUHZtY9M0qeQuv-AoMP7kiLeq7yGi8w/s400/IMG_8400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355119242566656226" /></a>rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-44411878955947647582009-07-05T15:23:00.006-07:002009-07-05T15:33:21.196-07:00200907 - Fourth of JulyRich, Max, and I went to the 2nd Annual Quail Creek Fourth of July Parade. I think it id the first Fourth of July Parade I have ever been to as a adult. In the past they have been too crowded, to difficult to park, etc, etc. This one was less than 5 minutes from the house (by very slow Golf Cart), No parking problems, and as someone told me, My friends were there. It was, of course, little. But the RV Club (we just joined) won the Grand Prize for their entry. And I did know a lot of the people there. Here are some photos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXAXVTzryx_TIDZSIVm3j7bThpkdlmH1fEDb4c1F4f6LMGe4wa17gLMrX4Oer_890me5ncOX-Iqaqklv2_TF99qr85L_iUdZj90SBNBxM82gwZg2yAP4mZe-sefgK5fWDQ4pi_Q/s1600-h/IMG_8413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXAXVTzryx_TIDZSIVm3j7bThpkdlmH1fEDb4c1F4f6LMGe4wa17gLMrX4Oer_890me5ncOX-Iqaqklv2_TF99qr85L_iUdZj90SBNBxM82gwZg2yAP4mZe-sefgK5fWDQ4pi_Q/s400/IMG_8413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355105757507978018" /></a><br /> These guys apparently live underground for 10 months, come up with the monsoons, mate, have babies, kill dogs who lick them and go back underground. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov0wT1rnx-giGb9cbUU9CYceMHzFw0UTud6rzTx9W-OpWbv_hfm7vdHfG-2HRcLTdj9PKiUZtGej-0D9AaJILRLe9B3DDgna-Pma5oi8YoZRgFDCLpL6mdsxhVk_3CxxmyJiLHQ/s1600-h/IMG_8417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov0wT1rnx-giGb9cbUU9CYceMHzFw0UTud6rzTx9W-OpWbv_hfm7vdHfG-2HRcLTdj9PKiUZtGej-0D9AaJILRLe9B3DDgna-Pma5oi8YoZRgFDCLpL6mdsxhVk_3CxxmyJiLHQ/s400/IMG_8417.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355106031891815554" /></a><br /> Max will go anywhere with anyone in a golf cart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAavxTBijbr5nJozkc4quLIdlbBBVuHo6KUoM8tGf_ZwSzjmUijyownJGpzmLOvQKjDUasaWh8ChaTuoba_ArNbSQ_HQejiK9W0g1jBJgxiteAQoBQMkZgYUK1J1Cz11H4EXRGw/s1600-h/IMG_8435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAavxTBijbr5nJozkc4quLIdlbBBVuHo6KUoM8tGf_ZwSzjmUijyownJGpzmLOvQKjDUasaWh8ChaTuoba_ArNbSQ_HQejiK9W0g1jBJgxiteAQoBQMkZgYUK1J1Cz11H4EXRGw/s400/IMG_8435.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355106451168194162" /></a><br /> Waiting for the Flag, and the National Anthem<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHbDuxxngJLnU5Ny9Y7_9u4AafJlT_Tfiqszl4BDclPDDCUiDRlQSIBtIP_YAgeOneaEFJyD3hyphenhyphenAxDpvjV_AJdwFWB2dfSTf5mjks3OO-V1fxefXtkB5hRKj_IE93wsNov-DFQA/s1600-h/July+Fourth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHbDuxxngJLnU5Ny9Y7_9u4AafJlT_Tfiqszl4BDclPDDCUiDRlQSIBtIP_YAgeOneaEFJyD3hyphenhyphenAxDpvjV_AJdwFWB2dfSTf5mjks3OO-V1fxefXtkB5hRKj_IE93wsNov-DFQA/s400/July+Fourth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355107126095917314" /></a><br /> These are some of the entries in the parade, not just golf carts. Top Right is the winning entry from the RV Club.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJZzQASoj-yOTXq9YtmPOcswTPD7F5Pz6yeN8myZPt6S8ARSn6U6pS4Pf7_7zvacvRMcwHew3DxNPxwZGBLXyD8GWyXlrVH_qkVGR8aB_IIRjCZd9AwBfsBuf73pbkHsJLfrnKg/s1600-h/IMG_8452.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJZzQASoj-yOTXq9YtmPOcswTPD7F5Pz6yeN8myZPt6S8ARSn6U6pS4Pf7_7zvacvRMcwHew3DxNPxwZGBLXyD8GWyXlrVH_qkVGR8aB_IIRjCZd9AwBfsBuf73pbkHsJLfrnKg/s400/IMG_8452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355107521928874258" /></a><br /> The monsoons have arrived. July 3rd evening we had a major rain. This is a photo taken in the early afternoon on the fourth of the normally dry wash across the street from us.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-81042759532668774062009-07-04T00:30:00.002-07:002009-07-04T00:35:03.769-07:00200907 - Health Care ReformI am still learning and thinking about Health Care reform and of course I have strong opinions. <span style="font-style: italic;">If you know me, you know I rarely have weak opinions.</span> I thought I would share some ideas on the subject. If you too have strong opinions, feel free to share them via comments. All evidence to the contrary, I am able to change my opinions on occasion. And needless to say the opinions expressed here are my own.<br /> Three of the most important items that must be addressed (in my opinion) are:<br />1) We must have some kind of universal medical coverage that is available to everyone at a reasonable price. I believe that all taxpayers (and their families) should be covered by this insurance. By taxpayer I do not mean you have to pay taxes - but you must submit a tax return to the IRS. Many people feel that medicare may be the start of this.<br />2) We must have additional health coverage available for those people who can afford it and want it and<br />3) We need to eliminate the too high administrative expenses of the health care providers created by dealing with many different insurers.<br /> As you can no doubt see these three items are in direct conflict. What I suggest to resolve this is to establish a single payer system for the health care providers. That is, the health care provider bills only the universal medical coverage system and the patient. The patient with additional insurance will then work with their insurance carrier to get reimbursed for covered items. Among other benefits, this should encourage the insurance carriers to simplify their systems in order to keep clients.<br /> I also find myself wondering “Should we take the profit out of insurance by requiring insurance companies to be Mutual?” Seems to me that in the beginning Insurance Co-Ops were formed by groups of people working for their mutual benefit. Maybe we should consider returning to the system where the benefits (read profits) of not misusing the system were shared by all of the insured. That thought also addresses another issue facing the health care system: the “why not, it does not cost me anything” thinking.<br /> Another important item which must be addressed is our health records. I think it is crazy in the 21st century in the USA that all my doctors cannot see all my records. Yes, I am a complicated patient. And yes, I have a lot of doctors, but for them to depend on me for detail medical information is ridiculous. I hear that the VA has a good system. Since it is already in the public domain - lets share it. Every doctor in the USA should have access to view history and on-going treatment plans for their all patients.<br /> Another sore point for me is prescription costs. First, I believe we should make it illegal for drug companies to market directly to consumers. The health care system pays twice for that service; once when the marketing costs are passed on the consumer and second when the advertisements artificially raises the demand for the drug. I would like to see all generic drugs covered under the public insurance plan. Somehow we need to create a powerful negotiator working for the general public to lower drug prices. I have to ask myself: How is it that some Chain stores (Walmart, Fred Meyer, etc) are able to charge less for certain prescriptions than the insurance co-pay for the same drug?<br /> I know there is a lot more that needs to be done but these items seem doable to me and as such are a place to begin.<br />I would also encourage anyone interested in Health Care reform to view this video. Just "play chapters" at http://www.ourailinghealthcare.com/rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-3895213867375910782009-07-03T11:41:00.002-07:002009-07-03T11:48:09.990-07:00200906 - Quail AddendumYou remember earlier this week I said that the baby quail could not get into our backyard. Well, I was wrong. Apparently they learn to fly much earlier than I thought. This morning when I went to feed the birds, I interrupted 2 families of quail: 1 large (8-10 babies) family of very young birds (3-4 inches tall) and a smaller (3-4 babies) family of larger babies (6 inches or so). As I opened the slider the birds just scattered. All I saw was babies heading for bushes. I immediately closed the door and left the area. In a few moments the adults from the larger family were collecting the babies on the patio. It was very cool to watch. Unfortunately by the time I found my glasses (I lose them at least 20 times a day) and got the camera the family was scurrying across the gravel to the bushes and the fence. The other family stayed around for a little bit longer but it is very hard to get a good picture of them while they are on the gravel. They blend in so well. Also unfortunately (for the quail) in the desert it seems like almost everything except bunnies and lizards eat baby quail; snakes, coyotes, road runners, other birds, etc..rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-46875000716353226912009-07-02T13:52:00.002-07:002009-07-02T13:55:37.896-07:00200906 - Quilt ChallengesMy local quilt guild “Valley Quilters Guild” has 3 challenges going on right now. One is a guild-wide challenge and the other two are associated with Bees that I attend: The Out of the Box Bee and the Beading Bee. <br /><br />The VALLEY QUILT GUILD 2010 CHALLENGE<br />The theme for this year's challenge is Simply Delicious. Members are challenged to celebrate the bounty of our tables and kitchens and portray the festive and nourishing foods and beverages that enrich our everyday lives and special occasions. Challenge Rules:<br />1. The quilt may be no larger than 120 inches measured as the sum of all sides.<br />2. The quilt must include at least one piece of appliqué (hand or machine)of any size on the front of the quilt.<br />3. The edges must be bound or otherwise finished and the quilt must be quilted or tied.<br />4. The back must have a sewn label with the maker's name, phone number and the title of the quilt.<br />5. The quilt must be new work.<br />6. Deadline for delivery of the quilt is the guild meeting on the fourth Thursday in January 2010.<br /><br />The Out of the Box Bee focuses Art Quilts and embellishments. The theme for this years challenge is “Out of the Box”. Members are challenged to think outside the box with the freedom to do something out of the ordinary. Challenge Rules:<br />1. The quilt may be no larger than 120 inches measured as the sum of all sides. It can be variety of sizes and shapes. Do something Out of the Box.<br />2. The quilt must have a “Box” on the front but it doesn't have to be a 'cardboard' box, with flaps or a lid. A box can also be a square. <br />3. The edges must be bound or otherwise finished and the quilt must be quilted or tied.<br />4. The back must have a sewn label with the maker's name, phone number and the title of the quilt.<br />5. The quilt must be new work.<br />6. The quilt must include a new technique for the quilter. <br />7. Deadline for delivery of the quilt is the OOB Bee meeting on the third Thursday in January 2010.<br /><br />The Beading bee started out using beads but now has branched out to making beads. Challenge Rules:<br />1 Make 1 or more beads from “Fabulous Fabric Beads” by Kristal Wick, “Creative Beads from Paper & Fabric“ by Ann Kristen Krier, or your favorite Bead book and use them in a project. <br />2 This project can be jewelry, a wearable item, a quilt, a purse, a scissors fob or anything else you want to put beads on. <br />3 Deadline for delivery of the project is the February Beading Bee meeting (Feb 18, 2009).<br /><br />I love challenges like these but have a real problem with long term delivery dates. I have a new idea every month. Since I am constantly being exposed to new techniques, I keep thinking of how to use the new technique in a new design. Since I change my mind so often, I don’t start. Since I don’t start, I don’t finish. You get my meaning, don’t you.? Currently, I am actively working on the Out of the Box Challenge, actually drew out some designs, and selected potential fabric. So far I have gone 2 months without changing my mind so maybe I will actually finish this one before the very last moment. I also have initial ideas for the other 2 challenges but we will see if I actually do something. My hopes are high. After all, I have been blogging again.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-3225165102039386042009-07-01T10:49:00.001-07:002009-07-01T10:56:04.830-07:00200906 - QuailWe have baby quail running around the area. You see them everywhere. Unfortunately, since our backyard has a tall fence we don’t get babies until they can fly over but my friends do. Last week I was visiting a friend when she had a family of quail come running across her patio. The babies look like walnuts (or cotton balls) with toothpick legs but they are fast and so so cute. <br />Another friend tells this story.<br />She opened her front door to go out to pick up something in the front of the house. All of a sudden these 2 quail started cussing at her. She said she had never heard such language from a bird before. She left the front door open and went into her living room and noticed a baby quail, and then she noticed several more running around the house. She and her husband tried to corral the babies and shoo them out but the babies were too fast. <br />Finally she thought “I’ll let mother nature take over”. So she and her husband sat down and stopped moving. Pretty soon the parents started clucking and after a short time 4 babies ran out of the laundry room and out the front door. Still they waited. And after a few more minutes several more babies ran from the another room and out the door. And Mom and Dad and the babies outside started to leave. Now my friend and her husband are getting worried. They know there is one more baby in the house and the family is leaving. Finally that one last baby runs from under the couch, out the door and chases after the family. With quail as with many other families there is always one straggler!rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-27234361009645767342009-06-30T16:49:00.001-07:002009-06-30T16:51:26.477-07:00200906 - Fitness ChallengeThe Fitness Center here in Quail Creek issued a Summer Challenge to all the residents to use the aerobic equipment in the center and the pool to “walk” to Page, Arizona. If you logged enough mileage to get ½ way there, you will earn an achievement award. They selected a “scenic” route which worked out to be 528 map miles. They decided that 6 laps in the pool or 2 aerobic machine miles equal 1 map mile. The challenge began June 21 and ends September 21 and I accepted the challenge. The first week I logged a little more than 8 miles on the machines (16 map miles) which means I need to do a little better if I am going to earn the achievement award. They figure if you go 5 times a week at 2.03 equipment miles you will complete 264 mile trip in the 13 weeks. This week I am ahead of schedule but since we will be gone some portion of the time I need to get ahead of the curve. I will keep you posted as to my progress.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-43559565496866830942009-05-19T01:59:00.004-07:002009-05-19T02:15:23.569-07:0020090518 - Lucy’s QuiltI finished a family quilt. (Only 3 more to go so far this year.) Lucy, your quilt is in the mail. Hope you enjoy it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqqrfIwk1_xrZBtTR9QT1vJt8EXaZzqSqS36qZE-vWdIvkkl9G5G0O5B9hzIPx0vTMMdSj4gu2BoID_WJOtzeO4vOy7LMU1EU4pPmXCMVADRGSmjrm8JRlaKKEWCgKPxQLp_wA/s1600-h/IMG_6214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqqrfIwk1_xrZBtTR9QT1vJt8EXaZzqSqS36qZE-vWdIvkkl9G5G0O5B9hzIPx0vTMMdSj4gu2BoID_WJOtzeO4vOy7LMU1EU4pPmXCMVADRGSmjrm8JRlaKKEWCgKPxQLp_wA/s400/IMG_6214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337458224029471218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In addition to finishing the quilt, I had a very good visit with my cancer doctor. The tumor markers in my blood test are normal, where normally women with recurrent breast cancer have slightly elevated markers. If my next checkup (in 6 months) is as good as this one was I will begin annual checkups and will be able to stop taking Femara, my cancer med.<br /><br />Now I am getting ready for a 15 day trip to Europe. We fly to London where we will board the Norwegian Jewel for a 12 day cruise on the Baltic Sea. We will visit Copenhagen, Stockholm, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Berlin, and Helsinki. I hope to have lots of photos when we return.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-7880967981718501492009-05-03T01:17:00.004-07:002009-05-03T01:27:40.903-07:0020090503 - Cactus in BloomLast week, while Rich was recuperating from surgery and I was walking Max, many neighborhood cactus were blooming. So, as I walked Max I shot these photos. Aren’t they lovely?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtdScmMFsH2aj3z4ihYiv9UO5uJf9Py6xuntUIZdO4Y7vUZdVzEzyW4pNEHCP6UhAlmXfYvw5J8NdRvEBL2bu8h8GuJqwlhkWZKeK7roeFv_m-966u-RDawdOwbwRoLy2O3zKUw/s1600-h/IMG_6213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtdScmMFsH2aj3z4ihYiv9UO5uJf9Py6xuntUIZdO4Y7vUZdVzEzyW4pNEHCP6UhAlmXfYvw5J8NdRvEBL2bu8h8GuJqwlhkWZKeK7roeFv_m-966u-RDawdOwbwRoLy2O3zKUw/s400/IMG_6213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331510104868405810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EobINLMnY5o7VT6xEMcagoPVkwRoyMisL3ImIeXdoLuww3Vzn6p7BLhwvT6GZkcyVsLjLkNMOSnEVdFJIc-fwBOu3FiX-xcqBxmEMUH41PCqHvKyw_QM3XyA1gFyXQynz3Z7hw/s1600-h/IMG_6210.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EobINLMnY5o7VT6xEMcagoPVkwRoyMisL3ImIeXdoLuww3Vzn6p7BLhwvT6GZkcyVsLjLkNMOSnEVdFJIc-fwBOu3FiX-xcqBxmEMUH41PCqHvKyw_QM3XyA1gFyXQynz3Z7hw/s400/IMG_6210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331510107370722610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkb-3yfyP685mjalwN0tYCT3BEs0FVAyHKQUDjq7Ko4m0-ijLrrLYZ9dDdQglLedN0uBStGQsQStKeoVv6v0LcsOkBn7svzNzMx1mnfXBzYvF5ix1KnW6u_Cd_GWjh_c6I5xNuA/s1600-h/IMG_6196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkb-3yfyP685mjalwN0tYCT3BEs0FVAyHKQUDjq7Ko4m0-ijLrrLYZ9dDdQglLedN0uBStGQsQStKeoVv6v0LcsOkBn7svzNzMx1mnfXBzYvF5ix1KnW6u_Cd_GWjh_c6I5xNuA/s400/IMG_6196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331510099967580562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJAr9wKX8WouZOntO4ZRJSCG9f2ohqlaFFDjrce3h8wbfWWIISBkP0moSekwuT-0bBjnT_VFSm7QiTVTE2sUCiMR7pZPAmPDGdos3B-6mA9DgExM6ylfhhfhbtoKYeMF1LQMk0Q/s1600-h/IMG_6192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJAr9wKX8WouZOntO4ZRJSCG9f2ohqlaFFDjrce3h8wbfWWIISBkP0moSekwuT-0bBjnT_VFSm7QiTVTE2sUCiMR7pZPAmPDGdos3B-6mA9DgExM6ylfhhfhbtoKYeMF1LQMk0Q/s400/IMG_6192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331510098960221122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zoPfzUtlP4g-PrNSEkfLjLCgxrNccF6bpYCZb7LCZcZBhm9OhuITlIdVuGoJWhHaGoyg7T54HmVdFUO-6EGOyR4madK_hXXFzrVa1LOlADv3tyOXYffRW4KOJKXsJeIf_DzXMQ/s1600-h/IMG_6191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zoPfzUtlP4g-PrNSEkfLjLCgxrNccF6bpYCZb7LCZcZBhm9OhuITlIdVuGoJWhHaGoyg7T54HmVdFUO-6EGOyR4madK_hXXFzrVa1LOlADv3tyOXYffRW4KOJKXsJeIf_DzXMQ/s400/IMG_6191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331510093295247410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXbyAjzG2wYVG4r5QQLDBppkhJZ18xIbQiMonwvk-owPGd3XZILxRI_UFTAK0WYRHP2kym_jYpcyVLQASsQmG2cd_vDHBgGnZJ82uZCdg0t_nZs5Jlyni35GhHPz3P9uAmWxLAg/s1600-h/IMG_6209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXbyAjzG2wYVG4r5QQLDBppkhJZ18xIbQiMonwvk-owPGd3XZILxRI_UFTAK0WYRHP2kym_jYpcyVLQASsQmG2cd_vDHBgGnZJ82uZCdg0t_nZs5Jlyni35GhHPz3P9uAmWxLAg/s400/IMG_6209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331511022763969730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZRf7_SVwlLam3eh9L_XXvcW0KngS4a3HQ4dnIknlGmeIJyhf-lZ2gedtJvb1pdL4FGNF-MQkHHTHr5UENP7SqjDHxHs6keciZYKlLEbn8OQGxffTqO8pugxyfMdDn7S6CwZOqA/s1600-h/IMG_6203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZRf7_SVwlLam3eh9L_XXvcW0KngS4a3HQ4dnIknlGmeIJyhf-lZ2gedtJvb1pdL4FGNF-MQkHHTHr5UENP7SqjDHxHs6keciZYKlLEbn8OQGxffTqO8pugxyfMdDn7S6CwZOqA/s400/IMG_6203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331511021409340162" border="0" /></a>rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-90263154781531164982009-04-26T16:18:00.001-07:002009-04-26T16:23:02.805-07:0020090426 - ChaosThis last week has been pretty chaotic. Monday was pretty standard, but starting Tuesday….<br /><br />Tuesday Richard had 2 hernias repaired. It was laparoscopic surgery so he ended up with 3 little holes which were covered by 3 band aids, but it was still surgery. We went into the ambulatory hospital at 6:30AM, his surgery was scheduled for 9:30AM (but actually started at 10:30AM), he was in recovery at about 12:30PM, and we were home about 3:00PM. He was still pretty much out of it for the rest of Tuesday and most of Wednesday. Tuesday evening I went to a Public Health presentation on Chocolate. Did you know that they sell dark chocolate based on where it was grown? Almost like varietal wines and coffees. As part of the presentation “Eat Chocolate, Be Happy” they brought chocolate from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Madagascar for us to sample. I could actually tell the difference between some of them. <br /><br />Southern Arizona’s Quilt Shop Hop was this week so on Wednesday I went Shop Hopping with a friend. There were 11 shops in this years Hop: 2 are southeast (a little farther away then we wanted to drive); 3 are in central Tucson (we went to these on Wednesday); 4 are pretty far north (also a little farther away then we wanted to drive) and 2 are in Sahuarita/Green Valley (I went to these on Saturday). Last year several of us took 3 days and went to all of them. Just with those three (and a little shoe shopping) I was gone from before 8:00AM until 6:00PM.<br /><br />Thursday I had lab work done at 8:00AM. One of those “do not eat from midnight on” tests. Then at 9:30AM I went to a Quail Creek Quilting group session where we worked on charity quilts. Last year we decided to make charity quilts for the Sahuarita Police dept. They took us on a tour of their new offices and were really pleased with what we gave them. This year the chief wants to have 3 quilts in every car (they like to end every encounter by giving the victim a quilt). They have 48 cars so we are really hustling to get them their quilts. Then we need to find out how quickly they need more. At any rate the group is working hard to get quilts to the police. By 11:30AM I was at the Valley Quilters Guild in Green Valley for a guild meeting and lecture. I am the new Senior Program Committee Co Chair (starting in April). We had a committee meeting from 12:00PM to 1:00PM and then the guild meeting until 3:00PM. The guild schedules a lecturer on Thursday and a workshop with the same person (whenever possible) on Friday. Michelle Watts, our guest lecturer from Roswell, New Mexico, spent Thursday night in our casita. She and I went out to dinner that evening as Rich was not yet up to visitors.<br /><br />On Friday Michelle gave her workshop and as one of the Co Chairs, I angeled the class. To angel the class means to set up for the class, to be there to give assistance to anyone who needs it, especially the instructor, to pay the instructor, and to clean up after the class. You cannot really take the class as you cannot focus on helping and learning at the same time but you do get to see a lot about the technique. Michelle’s class was on stenciling on fabric using Shiva paints and was excellent. I was there from 8:30AM until 3:00PM.<br /><br />By Saturday Rich was feeling a little more energetic. Because he is the dog walker, the grocery shopper and the chef, I struggle with Max and meals when he is down. I have to remember to allow time to take Max out especially in the morning and figure what I am going to eat at dinner. Saturday Rich felt well enough to go grocery shopping with me and tired enough to let me finish the Shop Hop in the afternoon.<br /><br />Sunday we met a gentleman selling a class ‘C’ RV and bought it. It is a 24 foot 2003 Four Winds Majestic. We still need to pay him and get the title before it is ours. After that we will need to figure where to store it and begin to stock it because, of course, we got rid of everything we had for the fifth Wheel. Then we will begin exploring the southwest with Max the dog.<br /><br />Busy, busy week Big breath.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-4436459325668684652009-04-14T15:46:00.006-07:002009-04-14T16:06:25.272-07:0020090414 - NewsI told you we sold the truck. Well, we did not last long as a 1 vehicle family. This week we bought a Golf Cart. It is not new but has been re-conditioned. We will use it to get around Quail Creek since we do not have to License it if we stay on campus. Over ½ of the things I do are in Quail Creek and the Golf Cart is electric so we should save on fuel. It is a little strange to drive - no seat belt, no sides, no speed, and no noise. You just sort of glide around. Here’s a photo of this newest member of the family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRiNbvwwyjJY1DqvXspVPho1UfgDk_Sv56UqyZ8Ae5IpXRxJfcUg-eVi68YEpnA_ysN2cKXYltJ-KVOatL0wd738shwXfhGpr0EhPfhnEMgIGlqdBs_5GEDstoKVIsPExEjkMNQ/s1600-h/IMG_6190.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRiNbvwwyjJY1DqvXspVPho1UfgDk_Sv56UqyZ8Ae5IpXRxJfcUg-eVi68YEpnA_ysN2cKXYltJ-KVOatL0wd738shwXfhGpr0EhPfhnEMgIGlqdBs_5GEDstoKVIsPExEjkMNQ/s400/IMG_6190.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324686026432322690" /></a><br /><br />I belong to the Out Of The Box Bee in my Quilt Guild. One of the Challenges we set ourselves was a “Crayon Challenge”. With this challenge everyone takes 2 crayons out of a paper bag. Then you design and execute a quilt using those 2 colors (and 1 other optional color). You may use various shades of the colors. It must be a quilt, that is quilted. You must use some technique you have not used before. We have been working on these for months, we keep delaying the due date. I must have had a dozen different designs. Well, today they were due, and last night (actually this morning) I finished mine. My colors were Red-Purple and Red-Orange. Colors that I actually like. I used a technique where you cut a design and use it as the background on one side and the foreground on the other. (Actually I cheated since the purple was not reversible. In addition I used Shiva paint sticks to paint the vase and to create the Geckos. The Geckos were a little too subtle with just the paint so I used sequins and beads to liven them up. Here it is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HRSSjHuOqsWReiTf2dpsGqUvTYo9FPeaQ9Hjrr7y9j8tPZ93NutUDJuiai12ImByQ0woB1WxOAgveGYMYXmREJdZUfPEO0n6swss5XChGnt6CLlzNqoH1XArb2d7fD51GBIu-Q/s1600-h/IMG_6189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HRSSjHuOqsWReiTf2dpsGqUvTYo9FPeaQ9Hjrr7y9j8tPZ93NutUDJuiai12ImByQ0woB1WxOAgveGYMYXmREJdZUfPEO0n6swss5XChGnt6CLlzNqoH1XArb2d7fD51GBIu-Q/s400/IMG_6189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324687037266884834" /></a>rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-73269425777834696112009-04-07T01:18:00.016-07:002009-04-07T02:27:37.540-07:0020090327 - 20090403 - MazatlanWe spent a week at the El Cid Marina Resort in Mazatlan, Mexico. We had a great time and are planning to go again sometime in the future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 1</span> was mostly a travel day. We left early in the morning and drove to Phoenix where we had a direct flight to Mazatlan. We originally planned to drive but the US State Dept was sending out warnings about the road and Rich found a cheap airfare so we decided to fly. In between staying up late to pack and getting up to leave early I slept pretty much all the way from Green Valley to the Resort. Once we arrived at the Resort, we unpacked and walked around taking pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlTlgCBo66tWIwWybLfBu8AFJb5jtN1_qa8wTKjoW-tqAlCx5xXxGYIKW39-ajp-Zg7D8h0lUNpE4DIceSZy8ZsdXm1vEQBNNWKrOhjO2u_2g15vIFTkUnUjX0jNtm53ZEGC6wQ/s1600-h/El+Cid+Marina.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlTlgCBo66tWIwWybLfBu8AFJb5jtN1_qa8wTKjoW-tqAlCx5xXxGYIKW39-ajp-Zg7D8h0lUNpE4DIceSZy8ZsdXm1vEQBNNWKrOhjO2u_2g15vIFTkUnUjX0jNtm53ZEGC6wQ/s400/El+Cid+Marina.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321865989097830178" /></a><br />This first collage is of our room from the outside (our room is the first sliding glass door on the lower floor, and from the inside (2 big beds and a sitting area). I love the clean white, blue, and tan coloring of the room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn9rLYbPcDy2VOePk-J4YVMpnRfFDndEBXJcxYYkU70HtDQ6KNOCjP-w0C9cqstjTnENM2H8iIvVdLWrj878s9o-fntbQtmYnnPLG7otVRaS5Y_xA18PbCmes0p8tp9C5s4SPXQ/s1600-h/El+Cid+Marina1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn9rLYbPcDy2VOePk-J4YVMpnRfFDndEBXJcxYYkU70HtDQ6KNOCjP-w0C9cqstjTnENM2H8iIvVdLWrj878s9o-fntbQtmYnnPLG7otVRaS5Y_xA18PbCmes0p8tp9C5s4SPXQ/s400/El+Cid+Marina1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321866521661925026" /></a><br />This is a collage of the some of the other areas of the resort: the entrance to the Marina; our building from across "our" pool; the ferry running from the Resort to the beach; and the pool bar in the "other" pool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUExe9vvoTTG9ilHF4lb_maVQ9ykYDOUHBx1bBB5go0rM9HMYL1T9CnNW5fIzzt_Z4IKs6kN45mSBKr_FJibzZQ6AkYS75667fSn4ai1rR0sPNkdj_Y9zT_oSnOqbbOpLMys2Yw/s1600-h/El+Cids+%26+Iguanas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUExe9vvoTTG9ilHF4lb_maVQ9ykYDOUHBx1bBB5go0rM9HMYL1T9CnNW5fIzzt_Z4IKs6kN45mSBKr_FJibzZQ6AkYS75667fSn4ai1rR0sPNkdj_Y9zT_oSnOqbbOpLMys2Yw/s400/El+Cids+%26+Iguanas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321867080420462274" /></a><br />This is a collage of some of our fellow sunbathers. Sometimes I felt like I had traveled to the Jurassic Park Island and they were getting ready to leap.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 2</span> We took the El Cid Shuttle to the other 3 El Cid’s in Mazatlan. They each had their own special items but we were very happy with our choice. (Especially with Rich’s love of all things nautical.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbAugLgRpvnUN_0g3awkrluBnHxusj890cTNPXk-llr8W0PLV1TGK7-3UKLzFkkq5Iu0W-Cuf_TEhZq4Z-rd_fgaJpvUxoeJrlA44OMfU_0bIm0m-5dNjg7DvznmbAEPoMi_p-A/s1600-h/El+Cids+%26+Iguanas1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbAugLgRpvnUN_0g3awkrluBnHxusj890cTNPXk-llr8W0PLV1TGK7-3UKLzFkkq5Iu0W-Cuf_TEhZq4Z-rd_fgaJpvUxoeJrlA44OMfU_0bIm0m-5dNjg7DvznmbAEPoMi_p-A/s400/El+Cids+%26+Iguanas1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321868738745124738" /></a><br />This is a collage of the pools and beach area in the other resorts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 3</span> We took the ferry across the marina entrance to the beach area and spent the morning on the beach and the afternoon by the pool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnjl1iUjLs0dXr47RXE_mncOjFCV1GTYfzpNfUzGqvyA17lp4jkdcfe3bR8T0Yx3Fqj5eowLGalOf7huHcj-qeoZBEOX3WxwTJ44y47mU5-hr8JkEMWPsXK7dkf2BSwwirv2kpw/s1600-h/El+Cid+Marina+Beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnjl1iUjLs0dXr47RXE_mncOjFCV1GTYfzpNfUzGqvyA17lp4jkdcfe3bR8T0Yx3Fqj5eowLGalOf7huHcj-qeoZBEOX3WxwTJ44y47mU5-hr8JkEMWPsXK7dkf2BSwwirv2kpw/s400/El+Cid+Marina+Beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321870634499512050" /></a><br />This is a collage of: Our Building from the marina entrance; Part of the marina itself; The beach looking back towards our building; and looking down the beach in the other direction.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 4</span> We took a sailboat to Stone Island, not a real island but an isolated peninsula which is easier to reach by boat than driving. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Pk5tCcBThs13UKjBf2iTcKGAey6s0HGL50_-LyUVhc6684Sqodc4gZs03jXQ5c0iRCoq2MIaD8oVZ4LNu-9zP_5lRfZoOfACY8SzYHDd-U6ma13XQhCXRk3YyHYqHOrFViTdQ/s1600-h/Stone+Island.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5Pk5tCcBThs13UKjBf2iTcKGAey6s0HGL50_-LyUVhc6684Sqodc4gZs03jXQ5c0iRCoq2MIaD8oVZ4LNu-9zP_5lRfZoOfACY8SzYHDd-U6ma13XQhCXRk3YyHYqHOrFViTdQ/s400/Stone+Island.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321871206668555474" /></a><br />On the trip to the island we saw a small island of sea lions as well as several rock islands that the birds have been painting for decades. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zGchX8EdDM6bX5EsskV6X4d84RaxdHGxZjjyK_4oYT10CF-iExA66d3dkgOTPZXSk8Rek4SIsGaUvCzHaeeWpirl2v9KdG7QtZCohlGAqQXKTKCqeSys46VJKgOL8ORLGFMdvw/s1600-h/Stone+Island1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zGchX8EdDM6bX5EsskV6X4d84RaxdHGxZjjyK_4oYT10CF-iExA66d3dkgOTPZXSk8Rek4SIsGaUvCzHaeeWpirl2v9KdG7QtZCohlGAqQXKTKCqeSys46VJKgOL8ORLGFMdvw/s400/Stone+Island1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321874835437327074" /></a><br />Getting closer to Stone Island we saw the lighthouse (the highest active lighthouse) (somewhat misleading as it is quite short but on a tall island). This breakwater is augmented with I think of as giant toy jacks. That sailboat was our tour boat. And the beach where we spent the day.<br /> <br />Stone island itself was a study in contrasts. As part of our tour we were able to do 2 activities. The first activity we chose was a horse driven carriage around the “town”. The town felt like a sleepy Mexican Fishing Village. No real streets, some trucks, lots of horses, lots of construction, but with tourists everywhere. You could take a horseback ride, a horse drawn carriage or an ATM.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt0yUMRIT9s67EBzK-sqq4K8jN3hOt24bLdKBnnMEYI2WSB2iT7-7kr7HVZ6bvVu2JErAWtLs30SgmoSU5gdVA0LyZuJDJmEAu1vsyHV6Dr5lbGCAoH01T-2zKfOgvjVfVyYYZA/s1600-h/Stone+Island2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt0yUMRIT9s67EBzK-sqq4K8jN3hOt24bLdKBnnMEYI2WSB2iT7-7kr7HVZ6bvVu2JErAWtLs30SgmoSU5gdVA0LyZuJDJmEAu1vsyHV6Dr5lbGCAoH01T-2zKfOgvjVfVyYYZA/s400/Stone+Island2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321875619710800242" /></a><br />For our second activity we decided to take the banana boat ride (that is Rich getting on in the front and me trying to figure out how to get on in the back.) Definitely not a sleepy ride. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 5</span> We took the shuttle into town and walked around the Golden Zone. I did not take my camera (not sure why, but I am sure I had a good reason) 2 years ago we drove to Mazatlan and stayed in another resort while we visited with our friends Bob & Connie who were staying in their fifth wheel in a RV Park (since closed - we tried unsuccessfully to find it.) This day was full of “this is where we *** with Bob & Connie”. In addition we revisited the hotel where we stayed that time, and the shop where we purchased several items for the house. Since we were traveling by air this time purchasing items was not an option. I did manage to get plenty of steps on the step counter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 6</span> We took the Mazatlan City Tour. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-EKYViP1RX0gppWpHWgPs6ltsJVfpdMPf9n-b3Re4QqbjNuA5LYTfrpxj8Z7C5qJQw4_a023nLd1L-rs0S5rMWFABEk896oOPdwmnlWZH_e86h_0w5qq_tfn5JOf3jhPj4pY5Q/s1600-h/1972+Christmas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-EKYViP1RX0gppWpHWgPs6ltsJVfpdMPf9n-b3Re4QqbjNuA5LYTfrpxj8Z7C5qJQw4_a023nLd1L-rs0S5rMWFABEk896oOPdwmnlWZH_e86h_0w5qq_tfn5JOf3jhPj4pY5Q/s400/1972+Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321876814713414194" /></a><br />The first place we stopped was the big public Market. Mazatlan's answer to Walmart. You can buy just about anything you want, pretty good prices, just not one owner. I went for color here not odd. I did get some photos of the Pig’s heads and the whole steer they had for sale but decided not to share.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXos3dWhzp4g26yVVCpU_IXjnEFW5uTxwuIxyXoHFSWLaSDoMDKN4P11G6qlMDXaOcYqV0SEnaVA8md2K-Aef_4VRVcAIax6fIL2Wcl2BUsB5O02LVUiC0N1rULojkPCqVkZlTpg/s1600-h/City+Tour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXos3dWhzp4g26yVVCpU_IXjnEFW5uTxwuIxyXoHFSWLaSDoMDKN4P11G6qlMDXaOcYqV0SEnaVA8md2K-Aef_4VRVcAIax6fIL2Wcl2BUsB5O02LVUiC0N1rULojkPCqVkZlTpg/s400/City+Tour.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321877342461759906" /></a><br />Next we went to see the Cathedral. Lovely from the outside and the inside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhfv0PQETHXWUVmYamtOekPnhyphenhyphentQIRJScnN_ZPascUm_hKkF2J2SN-TMOynWOZp0AJzrgIzzr8QgR2M7YCOt2bbUHvBDiMAkyZ6VDVXF82UtzxOIVIZ4bKWrUs33rQmyd58K9aA/s1600-h/City+Tour1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhfv0PQETHXWUVmYamtOekPnhyphenhyphentQIRJScnN_ZPascUm_hKkF2J2SN-TMOynWOZp0AJzrgIzzr8QgR2M7YCOt2bbUHvBDiMAkyZ6VDVXF82UtzxOIVIZ4bKWrUs33rQmyd58K9aA/s400/City+Tour1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321877854160625618" /></a><br />Then we went for panorama views from a hilltop: Including the main Boardwalk and beach; the smaller beach area; one of the 2 Cruise ships in port that day; and the Cathedral from a distance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6DcV4Go-rE_mCABlqAv2BDcrr6IDPoRtwdVrtRYgFSjlwI0fB-l6pf2H3O52NvthdRT13XV1ALVg-PMDwmaoxP73WUrii4VJ6MXFYcKhnviwRHyo4frimSS6WK34f_ekmkvZpw/s1600-h/IMG_6154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6DcV4Go-rE_mCABlqAv2BDcrr6IDPoRtwdVrtRYgFSjlwI0fB-l6pf2H3O52NvthdRT13XV1ALVg-PMDwmaoxP73WUrii4VJ6MXFYcKhnviwRHyo4frimSS6WK34f_ekmkvZpw/s400/IMG_6154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321878287535449074" /></a><br />And lastly we went to see Mazatlan’s Cliff Divers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 7</span> We hung around the pool all day saving up energy for the next big travel day<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 8</span> Was the reverse of day 1, although at the end of the day we were not completely unpacked and definitely not ready to continue with life at home. We were very happy to see Max, as was he to see us.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-23222089893378002532009-03-25T15:23:00.001-07:002009-03-25T15:29:09.496-07:0020090325 - RV StatusLast month we sold the Fifth Wheel and today we sold the truck. We are now officially out of the RV Lifestyle. From now on when we travel we will be staying in H/Motels. I am not exactly sure how I feel, hope we still travel in the US, there are still a lot of places I would like to visit.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487367.post-8395885161560645552009-02-18T16:02:00.011-08:002009-02-18T16:24:19.440-08:0020090218 - Western Mexico Cruise Part 1We took an 8 day cruise starting January 31 down the western side of Mexico from San Diego to Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, and Mazanillo. This is the first of several blogs I plan to do on that cruise. Today I am talking about the ship. Upon arrival to the ship Rich and I usually try to walk the shipand to discover as many things about the ship as we can. The ship we took for this cruise was the Carnival Spirit: not the largest or the smallest of cruise ship available. It is not real new (someone told me that it was going to be refurbished fairly soon. It is very elaborately decorated. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ7nwy4Gsuusgr709gZpfUw9BdyS6ZkzNegAsZQtkrd13hByJB0176JfmNUvycj8HyX2RlEccLaAYCg8kkbzQ0D6Oalbdpy2iihTC9_l3ER39Y22iX9qkvafK28CuUV0zIe3IDw/s1600-h/IMG_4895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ7nwy4Gsuusgr709gZpfUw9BdyS6ZkzNegAsZQtkrd13hByJB0176JfmNUvycj8HyX2RlEccLaAYCg8kkbzQ0D6Oalbdpy2iihTC9_l3ER39Y22iX9qkvafK28CuUV0zIe3IDw/s400/IMG_4895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304293825996677410" /></a><br />This is the interior atrium. It was very nice. Our stateroom was very near these elevators so I was always able to find my way to the Atrium and the dining rooms. Not so much the exercise area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkTQz9P2vsGmi61w7pH2Leodrb4-fDkuRYB7GZkO_xphNne26bPlHdewbySNL_StGkk0rDzcZs9UWvgzS2205DIa6oYNYNXzZrx42LlBZhcetAZnREgMZgGL9ioY6sEp1c0eB1g/s1600-h/IMG_4905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkTQz9P2vsGmi61w7pH2Leodrb4-fDkuRYB7GZkO_xphNne26bPlHdewbySNL_StGkk0rDzcZs9UWvgzS2205DIa6oYNYNXzZrx42LlBZhcetAZnREgMZgGL9ioY6sEp1c0eB1g/s400/IMG_4905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304294122649522450" /></a><br />We especially wanted to find the Sports Bar to see if that was where we were going to watch the Superbowl. Unfortunately all they had were small TVs and smokers. So we ruled that out fairly quickly. In the end we watched most of it in our stateroom (Missed the end for dinner & as it turned out we were not sorry to miss that end).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nRQq1c3vQr0EySTMK3aWSy-1xC0EqFIZc2Ebj80Vr8WKVkqkwV_TXQM1zx5kXDGPES327FiXTr-6CcTxtrhMzcOW_N1qTycwkeuYPFRw0UTGtd0GlKdlWdwSjFFqsTi7iOsdUA/s1600-h/IMG_4890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nRQq1c3vQr0EySTMK3aWSy-1xC0EqFIZc2Ebj80Vr8WKVkqkwV_TXQM1zx5kXDGPES327FiXTr-6CcTxtrhMzcOW_N1qTycwkeuYPFRw0UTGtd0GlKdlWdwSjFFqsTi7iOsdUA/s400/IMG_4890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304294375407129602" /></a><br />This is a photo of our room and its balcony - pretty standard<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJZgM25BpVWoJcu0OLfP_h-cz7OOKEoKe2Yk-HsLHKhVZ6_MfE2U2NjfbMG6QX1exnKp8mLjZJGxxq4jL5Hsp0h7J47t9mZirhxtV3mc220G9e4i-IIfKtFkgKAkVgdReolZnpg/s1600-h/Towel+Critters1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJZgM25BpVWoJcu0OLfP_h-cz7OOKEoKe2Yk-HsLHKhVZ6_MfE2U2NjfbMG6QX1exnKp8mLjZJGxxq4jL5Hsp0h7J47t9mZirhxtV3mc220G9e4i-IIfKtFkgKAkVgdReolZnpg/s400/Towel+Critters1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304295699046667618" /></a><br />This collage shows several other interior views of the ship as well as our towel critters (love those little guys)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIENj4rB6QPJBbkEptRiZPCHGck0aqTAQ30mmHRFVfxOroWJ-Xz6oAplJPHndnVWTIWCtc-GXA5MdQypcdC_Ic0LuBOTPm7mJdz4tLkKsfLaIz1JFPUznbhvU__RFqB5XJClPwA/s1600-h/IMG_4857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIENj4rB6QPJBbkEptRiZPCHGck0aqTAQ30mmHRFVfxOroWJ-Xz6oAplJPHndnVWTIWCtc-GXA5MdQypcdC_Ic0LuBOTPm7mJdz4tLkKsfLaIz1JFPUznbhvU__RFqB5XJClPwA/s400/IMG_4857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304296201910377762" /></a><br />On the first day of the cruise - before you leave the dock, you must attend a Life Boat Drill. They are so much fun - thought I’d share.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGvH9mKlKU3tFRck9CpyLlIcVxUc9JA5nZldB_Bm-KJSHRvRoIVJpuh1e7_KyHCCG-EH0P89Uul7rps8qVdJYqpcN2WCjDOjQWUQz5B3_5m74E9J9xjk23Xx2rqlEBT8Y_tcugQ/s1600-h/IMG_4841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGvH9mKlKU3tFRck9CpyLlIcVxUc9JA5nZldB_Bm-KJSHRvRoIVJpuh1e7_KyHCCG-EH0P89Uul7rps8qVdJYqpcN2WCjDOjQWUQz5B3_5m74E9J9xjk23Xx2rqlEBT8Y_tcugQ/s400/IMG_4841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304296747054263730" /></a><br />The Carnival Spirit has a water slide. It was a little odd in that you did not slide into a pool. Instead the slide just ended. This is a picture of the top of the slide.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7J-YiXat4w4IJwipBi_Gkzm9FHsEj2KNg_BAgyVrMd7qm0Tm9P8kVjqPVawxI96by9JiGbozM3mVH5y-OsoSNsw3fTeuSTFS9yAgpHKj9l2y_iVBXWe7_PHPhq33CuxfQR8PjQ/s1600-h/IMG_4907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7J-YiXat4w4IJwipBi_Gkzm9FHsEj2KNg_BAgyVrMd7qm0Tm9P8kVjqPVawxI96by9JiGbozM3mVH5y-OsoSNsw3fTeuSTFS9yAgpHKj9l2y_iVBXWe7_PHPhq33CuxfQR8PjQ/s400/IMG_4907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304297024943712930" /></a><br />And this is Rich arriving at the end. This picture is before the big splash back<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMLRkbKsIiiwyhxw-Oqu8jAh9gTzSp0F1fuJcTEKoH9sIU65z-yS-XDz11fx0F68IGRzxOYa1VFSTnerA0sMMo3BVxoPJ1JLOgyW31MM_NKGtMLNfzXDbD9rSRwnsAd-g8MU_g/s1600-h/IMG_4910.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcMLRkbKsIiiwyhxw-Oqu8jAh9gTzSp0F1fuJcTEKoH9sIU65z-yS-XDz11fx0F68IGRzxOYa1VFSTnerA0sMMo3BVxoPJ1JLOgyW31MM_NKGtMLNfzXDbD9rSRwnsAd-g8MU_g/s400/IMG_4910.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304297224619659010" /></a><br />And this is Sue arriving at the end This picture is after the big splash and as you can see the photographer is hiding behind a shield.rvodysseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16931788757900307152noreply@blogger.com1