Dinner and lunch

Weds. we didn't do much just messed around and did some shopping much to Joe's horror. We decided to have lunch at the Big Apple.  This is a place we frequented in Phoenix and in later years the one they opened in Mesa.  I remember one time when Kristy was little, maybe 6 or 7, she didn't want to finish her dinner, so Joe told her that is why the waitress carries a gun to shoot kids that don't eat all there food and all the sawdust on the floor is to soak up all the blood.  You can imagine how she felt, she started crying saying but I just can't eat any more. Joe finally let her off the hook.  She still likes to go there once in a while.  They have great deep dish apple pie.  YUM!!!  
Thurs. we went to lunch at a old favorite place on Main St. called Carbajal's.  All our long time hiking friends will remember this place, we had many a after hike meal here.  Will not at this one but at her old place before it burned down.  It is in the same plaza just in front instead of around the side.  The food is still just as good. After lunch we went to see Captain America The Winter Soldier, not a bad movie, we both enjoyed it.  Lots of action and they left it wide open for a another one.
For dinner we met Tracy and Rick Lambrecht for dinner at Streets of New York.  It was good to see them again and talk over old times.  Tracy has been my hiking buddy for almost 20 years, Chris Seals is the only one that I have hiked with longer.  We will miss them while we are traveling, thank goodness for text and email not to mention phone calls.  Will look forward to seeing them again in the fall.



Today was spent at REI, need rain pants and a pair of hiking capris. Getting ready for the rain of Oregon and Washington.  Then over to Honeyville Farms, they have all kinds of dehydrated food in large quantities. You can make up your own backpacking meals.  They have dehydrated Jalapenos that are really good, aslo dehydrated yogurt that is to die for, this is just a few of the great things they have at this store.  It is a little pricey but worth it.  Once we are done shopping we pick up our friend Dagmara Ochal and went to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.  It was nice to be able to see her one last time before we leave.  We have been hiking buddies for 6 or 7 years.  My how time flies!!!!!!

We will be leaving on Sunday morning and will miss all of our friends while we are traveling over the next six months and look forward to seeing everyone in November.

Mesa

The drive to Yuma was uneventful, I always worry a little when we go down dead cow road to Maricopa.
We arrived at Val Vista Village about 4pm and got checked in and parked.  Parking is always an ordeal for us, even with a pull thru.
Once we are set up, (30 min, record time),we went to the club house for happy hour and music.  They have $1.50 beers and a very good two piece band called Guilty Pleasures. The singer, Kristin Rovse does a great rendition of Rolling in the Deep by Adell.  It ends at 5pm so we have a short swim and then head over to Kristy's house.  Went to dinner at Wildflower, one of our favorite places for breakfast, dinner is not bad either.

Tues we spent in the Allstate office getting setup for long term care insurance and going over life insurance and IRA's.  I think we are all set now for anything that can happen while on the road.  Came home and took a nap, all this financial stuff makes me tired.  We picked up Kiernan and took him to the Country Buffet on Southern, don't know why he loves to eat there!!!!!  Came back to the fifth-wheel then Kiernan and Joe went to play ping pong.  Sounds like it was a very exciting game since Joe hasn't played in some time and I don't know if Kiernan has ever played.  I thing they spent more time chasing the ball instead of hitting it.
We left at 6pm to go to Paxton's concert with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.  This is the last one for this season.  They played a great rendition  Beatles songs which they titled the FAB Four.  Division II did a really cute number called The One Bow Concerto.  They had a violin, viola and cello  sit up front and they passed one bow around to each other and ended up fighting over it until the conductor takes it away from them ending the number.  It was very fun to watch.

After the concert we went to Dairy Queen another tradition.  We followed them home where the kids were surprised with their new pet, a Hedge Hog named Norman.  Someone at Pat's work was moving and couldn't take it with them so she gave it to Pat.  It is really cute but is full of spikes like a porcupine. It was funny to watch them jump every time he balled up and stuck them.