Feb 6 2008

We have been down and out with terrible colds. Bob got his last thurs. and is still bothered with it. He coughs all day and all night. Mine started Monday, I missed work yesterday because I felt so awful. Today, I'm on the mend! I have been pouring juices and water down and just keeping hydrated and resting. It works and usually my colds will be overwith in 3 - 4 days.

I got a call from Terry on Sunday when we had such strong winds. He said the big tent had blown down. I grabbed my camera and headed to the scene. I felt like a reporter getting the first scoop on the event. Here's some shots of the sunken tent. At least all the antique cars had all been moved out.

Our good friends Joe and Donna Wallingford left this area to head further south today. They stopped by to say their farewells. They even gave me an early birthday present. Thank you for that Joe and Donna, I won't open it till my birthday tho. I was sad to see them go. We have become great friends this year after meeting just last year. Hope to see them in the fall.

I finished my beading project. I made a 3 D hummingbird and then did another one just so I wouldn't forget how to do it. They turned out good. I'll get some pictures when I get them hung in the window.

Bob is off to the vendors this afternoon. He is going to buy some leather and make a sheath for my knapped knives I make.

Feb 1, 2008

February 1st---can't beleive it is here already!
More and more people are starting to leave. Now it's becoming the desert we saw when we 1st arrived in Oct. Kinda nice not to have so many people here.

I took my job application up to the Super 8 motel. Come to find out the guy that owns it is also owner of Big Market (grocer) downtown. He said he would hand it over to the shift supervisor and have her give me a call.

I have been taking a beading class since last Thurs. I took 3 classes and finished my project, also while doing some of it at home. I made a 3 D hummingbird. It was a difficult thing to do but fun too. I counted up the hours and it took me 12 hours to complete. I was working with seed beeds and boy is that a challenge, might have to get a magnifying glass next project.

John, Marie and I are headed to Mexico today. John has a dental appt. and I am going to get my eyes checked.

Bob ended up with a cold yesterday morning. He spent most of the day in bed and will probably do the same today. Sure hope he doesn't pass it to me.

UPDATE 9:16pm
I did go to Algodones Mexico today. I had a blast. I got new glasses at Algodones Optical. $119 total cost for transition lenses, bifocals, frames and exam. They were done in 2 hours.
John had some dental work done. While he was there, Marie and I went shopping and had lots of fun. Got some Rx's and had lunch of fish and shrimp tacos. They are wonderful! I'm hooked!
It took 2 hours in line to get out of Mexico. Not a bad wait.
We then went to Mr. Lu's Super Buffet (Chinese) 1960 E Palo Verde, Yuma AZ. for supper. My gosh the buffet was huge. It is well worth going to. The food is fresh, tastes great and you go away very full.
It was a great day and I thank John and Marie for allowing me to tag along with them.

Jan 28 2008

Well, today Bob and I went to work at the check in station. The day started out nice, calm and sunny. By mid morning the wind had come up and blew all day. One guy stopped in to try to find some people (he was on his bicycle). He said the wind was blowing so hard that it just stopped him in place and held him up. He couldn't go anywhere. Now that is WINDY!
We only had 13 to check in, very slow day. We watched RV's leave all day long. They are leaving as soon as the Big Tent RV show is over. Now we don't have neighbors back to back.
After work, I had Bob take me up to the Super 8 motel. He wants me to get a higher paying job than the volunteer job I'm working at. I picked up an application and will take it to them on Wed. when I have off.
I came home and made Shepherds pie for dinner. Sure was good and today we will have leftovers for lunch.
It's starting to get nice and sunny out and supposed to be calm today. Hope the weather forecaster is right.
Might write more tonight after work.

Jan 26, 2008

I haven't been posting too much lately. We've been working at the check in station and while doing that, nothing exciting happens in our lives.

One day last week we checked in 149 people, all for a short time (14 day) permit. Larry and Phyllis were kind enough to help us.

Bob got some new tires on his truck. We went to Blythe and got them at Valley Tire. It only took about an hour to get them all on. While Bob was getting that taken care of I walked over to Starbucks coffee shop and got a couple of lattes. My sister, Donna, gave us a gift certificate for Starbucks for Christmas and I'm still loving it.

Here's the new tires on the truck.

Also some pics of palm trees.

I started taking another beading class. I'm making a 3 D hummingbird out of seed beads. It is difficult to do, too. There is one vendor that is selling them for $250.00 each. It will take several classes to finish this project.

Bob and I went to Beaudry's RV yesterday and had the free lunch that they were having. They are only going to have it 2 times this year instead of 4. It was good, we had BBQ chicken sandwiches, macaroni salad, baked beans and cookies.

Bob then came home and took a nap and I went to the water site and got water and filled up the trailer.

Bob got some more trade beads yesterday at the pow wow. Some he got were made in the 1700's.

This morning about 6:30am I headed to town to do laundry. I like going at that time and miss the crowds. Now, I just have to let it dry on the clothes line outside. And today, the wind isn't blowing so it will take longer.

We had some terrible news the other day. Jim Canody, who had been down here for several years and last year worked at the check in station with me, Phyllis and Larry, had gone back to Alaska in Nov. to be with his family. He was diagnosed with cancer and last Monday passed away. I am going to miss him greatly. He was a wonderful friend. Jim will always be remembered as a truly caring person.

The big tent

Just a few pics tonight of my walk to the Big Tent opening.




The little yellow car looked like it would be fun to drive.
How about an inflatable hot tub? It stores in a bag and can be taken anywhere you travel!
Some of the trailers and motor homes on my way to the Big Tent.
Last picture is a motor home with a fold down big screen TV on the outside of the RV. How cool is that?

I brought home some reading material for Bob to look at tonight. And picked up a few free items. The one I liked the best was a free aerosol can of pancake batter. It's called Organic Batter Blaster. It comes in an 18 oz aerosol can. How can you top that? Just hope it tastes as good as it looks.

Bob and I are going back on Monday since the check in station is closed. Maybe he will find some new things too.
I did get a jar opener at one vendor and come to find out they were promoting nude recreation. The guy asked me if I wanted to learn more about skinny dipping. I politely declined.
I won't go back to that place!
I'll get some more pictures on Monday and post again.

Jan 18. 2008

Here's a picture of the Famous BLM Ranger Clyde. He is working on putting a carbon monoxide device in the check in station.

2nd pic is of a Quartzsite Police car sitting outside the courthouse. Didn't know they came in these wild colors!!

This week has been very busy and I haven't been keeping up on my posts.

We worked at the check in station on Mon and Tues. This week the number of check ins ranged from 30 to 150 per day. Bob and I worked again today and checked in 120. Thom and Judy and Phyllis and Larry worked with us. We worked well together. Pic of Larry and Phyllis!!!

On Wed. I went to the concert of the New Christy Minstrels. They were popular back in the 60's and 70's and are still going strong. I was able to get all their autographs after the show and shake their hands.\ Here is a picture of the mayor and Dianne Abbott on stage with them. I talked with Dianne and she said it was hard to negotiate a contract with them. They wanted to sell tickets at $17.50 each but she fought it and said it was a retirement community and they couldn't pay the higher price. After negotiations, she got them to bring it down to $10.00 per ticket. I talked to Randy Sparks ( head of the New Christy Minstrels) and he said he hopes to come back next year for 2 days instead of one. They were a great group and put on a wonderful performance. But they were still older than me!!! ha ha

Wed. during the afternoon, I attended the Rock club meeting. It was important that I go, I had to cast a vote for Terry to be voted in as a trustee. HE WON! He has the term for 3 years. Congrats Terry===You will do a great job~!!!!

Yesterday (Thurs) I was able to show Judy and her friend Misty how to make wire wrap trees. They were great students and did a wonderful job. The town is becoming so busy. This will last only about 2-3 weeks and then everyone will disappear until next year at this time.

I am watching an MP3 player on ebay. I have some CD's that I want to put on one. Ron said he would be able to help me with it if I win the auction. My sister, Donna, has helped me to pick out one. Since I thought Sony Walkman was still just a radio with a cassette player,,,this is a big adventure for me...Just hope I can operate it when I get the tunes downloaded. My sis told me to get with the times and not stay back in the 70's...Guess I'd better take the advice.

Here's a picture of a roadrunner I captured while working today. I need to get together with Judy and find out how to make this bird bigger. I couldn't figure it out tonight.

Jan 13, 2008

On Saturday Bob and I went to the Bad Boys Cafe at Rice Ranch for biscuits and gravy. This will be a short post because it is all related to pets.

These pets are inside the outside cafe.

Wilbor and Hambone, the pigs..

There were a few of the dogs and puppies that people were walking with thru the vendors. The one guy was walking his dog in the stroller. We see everything down here. Some people even have the baby carriers strapped to the front of themselves.

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