LIFE ON G STREET

I WAS STRUGGELING  WITH MY NEW JOB....WONDERED IF I WOULD EVER  GET IT!! BARB WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGING! I KEPT TRYING.........WE WERE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA SUNSETS!

EVERY ONE IS DIFFERENT!

.MEANWHILE  WE WERE SHOPPING FOR RECLINCERS IN MESA EVERY CHANCE WE GOT.AFTER FOUR YEARS OURS WERE SHOWING WEAR.  WE WERE GOING TO THE HOT TUB IN THE EVENINGS AS MUCH AS WE COULD. THE POOL WATER WAS SO WARM! I STARTED DOING SOME EXTRA CLEANING IN THE RV. IT HAD GOTTEN SO DIRTY AT THE PUMPKIN/CHRISTMAS TREE LOT.WE LOVE THE SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS IN MESA!
DARRELL GOT FREE TICKETS TO THE FAB FOUR THROUGH DECOR.......A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES. IT WAS A GREAT SHOW!

DARRELL WAS WALKING TO WORK, SO WHENEVER WE COULD, MAGGIE, MARLEE AND I WOULD WALK OVER  PART WAY  AND MEET DARRELL AT NOON WHEN HE GOT OFF WORK.

ONE FRIDAY WHEN  DARRELL WAS WORKING, JOHN, KERRY AND I WENT OUT FOR BREAKFAST AND THEN FOUND SOME YARD SALES.

WE HAD NOT HAD ANY TIME TO GO SIGHTSEEING......ONE SATURDAY WE DROVE OUT SAGUERO LAKE.

A LAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT!! WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO FISH. NOT MUCH SHORE FISHING HERE. WE DROVE ON DOWN THE ROAD AND FOUND THIS LITTLE PLACE.

THERE WERE A FEW FISHERMEN.  

WE WERE STILL LOOKING FOR RECLINERS! WE HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY FURNITURE STORES IN THE MESA AREA!  WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO YUMA AND NEWERRY'S FURNITURE.  THIS IS MY YEAR TO HAVE A COLONOSCOPY, SO I ASKED RON AND PAM IF THEY COULD RECOMMEND A DOCTOR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DOCTOR, DR. JARVINA. I REALLY LIKE HIM!  ONE SATURDAY WE TOOK THE GIRLS AND DROVE OVER TO YUMA TO GET OUR NEW RECLINERS......WE LOVE THEM!!

DARRELL WASN'T SURE OF THE COLOR.....BUT THEY LOOK NICE!

OUR NEW JOBS

I WORKED 3:00 TO 7:00  ON TUESDAY, BARB WAS TRAINING ME  TO BE A GOOD WAITRESS! DARRELL AND I WILL WORK TWELVE HOURS EACH FOR OUR SITE. I WORKED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 3:00 TO 7:00.  IT WAS HARD! MY LEGS ACHED FROM BEING ON MY FEET FOR FOUR HOURS AND I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME LEARNING THE CASH REGISTER. THIS IS A VERY BUSY POOLSIDE BISTRO! DARRELL COMPLAINED HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO! THE TIPS WERE GREAT!
BEFORE ARRIVING HERE  WE FOUND OUT THAT PAM AND RON BRUNER, A COUPLE THAT WE WORKED WITH IN WESTPORT, WASHINGTON   AT AMERICAN SUNSET HAD BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE.  WE HAD LUNCH WITH THEM ON SATURDAY AT WALDO'S BARBECUE. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM AND CATCH UP.  WE MADE PLANS TO MEET UP AGAIN!
ON MONDAY WE WENT BACK TO LOS ALGODONES TO GET MY NEW CROWN PUT ON. THIS TIME DARRELL WENT OVER WITH ME.  THE DENTIST DIDN'T LIKE THE FIRST FIT, SO HE SENT IT BACK TO THE LAB AND TOLD US TO COME BACK IN A HALF HOUR. WHILE WE WERE WAITING WE WALKED THROUGH SOME OF THE SHOPS.

DARRELL DECIDED HE SHOULD  GO BACK TO THE TRUCK TO CHECK ON  MAGGIE AND MARLEE, WHILE I WENT IN TO GET THE CROWN. THE DENTIST STILL DIDN'T LIKE THE FIT, SO HE SENT IT BACK FOR A SECOND TIME. I WAS GRATEFUL HE WAS SO PARTICULAR!  THIS TIME IT FIT THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO. HE 

WAS VERY APOLOGETIC. I TOLD HIM NO WORRIES.  THE LINE TO GET BACK TO THE U.S.  WAS EVEN LONGER THAN THE FIRST TIME. I STOOD IN LINE FOR OVER AN HOUR. AGAIN, I FOUND THE NICEST PEOPLE TO VISIT WITH!  DARRELL WAS WAITING FOR ME ON THE U.S. SIDE, HE WAS STARTING TO GET WORRIED!  WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH AND THEN NEWBERRY'S FURNITURE TO LOOK AT RECLINERS. WE FOUND SOME WE LIKED, BUT DARRELL THOUGHT WE COULD FIND SOME IN MESA. THIS WAS ANOTHER TWELVE HOUR TRIP, WE WERE TIRED AGAIN! I WAS GLAD TO GET THAT NEW CROWN!

A NEW CROWN

WE LEFT MONDAY MORNING AT 7:30 TO GO TO LOS ALGODONES TO THE DENTIST. WE WANTED TO GIVE OURSELVES PLENTY OF TIME TO GET TO MEXICO. WE GOT CAUGHT IN MONDAY MORNING TRAFFIC, IT WAS SLOW GOING.  I LOOKED ONLINE AND DECIDED LOS ALGODONES WAS ONE HOUR LATER THAN ARIZONA TIME. WE GOT TO THE PARKING LOT AND TOOK M AND M FOR A SHORT WALK BEFORE I CROSSED OVER TO MEXICO. TURNS OUT, I WAS FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE FOR MY APPOINTMENT, THEY HONOR ARIZONA TIME.
 THANKFULLY, IT WAS NO PROBLEM.

 DARRELL STAYED IN THE TRUCK WITH THE GIRLS.

 AFTER DRILLING AND DRILLING THE DENTIST FINALLY GOT THE BROKEN CROWN OFF AND IMPRESSIONS TAKEN FOR THE NEW CROWN, AND A BRAND NEW TEMPORARY CROWN. I OPTED FOR A TITANIUM CROWN FOR $400, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A PORCELAIN  CROWN FOR $200. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST  $1200.00  IN MINNESOTA.   THIS WAS A DEAL!   IF I COULD HAVE COME BACK THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN READY. I HAVE TO WORK TOMORROW, SO MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.  I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE LONG LINE TO GET BACK TO THE UNITED STATES!  I  VISITED WITH A COUPLE FROM OREGON WHO HAD FLOWN IN, WERE RENTING A MOTEL ROOM AND CAR, AND STILL COULD SAVE MONEY ON THEIR DENTAL WORK! THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS!

WE WERE HERE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR AND THERE WAS NO LINE AT ALL! IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR TO GET BACK ACROSS TO THE U.S. WE HEADED FOR  HOME AFTER HAVING A BITE TO EAT! WE WERE ALMOST HOME WHEN TRAFFFIC SUDDENLY  STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE. WE SAT THERE FOR OVER AN HOUR NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON. A SEMI HAD CAUGHT FIRE, WE GOT HOME AT 7:30. IT WAS A 12 HOUR TRIP. WE WERE EXHAUSTED!

TOMORROW I START MY NEW JOB!!

GETTING SETTLED

WE SPENT THE WEEKEND CHECKING OUT THE RV PARK AND FINDING WALMART. THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM ALL AROUND US. WE ARE IN A VERY CONVENIENT LOCATION. WE FOUND THE POOL AND HOT TUB.

THE CACTUS GRILL............. WHERE I WILL BE WORKING.

THE DOG PARK........

AT  10:00 ON  MONDAY MORNING WE WENT OVER TO DECOR AND MET MIKKI. SHE IS VERY NICE! DARRELL WILL BE WORKING IN BRAD'S ROOM AT DECOR. HE WILL WORK WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY 8:00 TO 12:00.  IT WAS RAINING AND MIKKI  SAID  I WOULDN'T BE NEEDED AT THE CACTUS GRILL THIS WEEK, SO I WAS TO COME TO WORK WITH DARRELL ON WEDNESDAY, SO WE CAN GET OUR HOURS IN. SHE SENT ME OVER TO  FOOD SERVICE, WHICH IS RIGHT BY DECOR AND I  MET CHRIS, WHO TOLD ME HOW TO GET A FOOD SERVICE CERTIFICATE.  TUESDAY MORNING I WALKED OVER TO THE CACTUS GRILL AND MET MY BOSS, BARB GILL. SHE SEEMED VERY NICE! I  MET SOME OF MY SOON TO BE COWORKERS AND GOT MY SCHEDULE. I WILL BE A SERVER. BARB ASKED IF I HAD EVER DONE THIS BEFORE, I TOLD HER ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE PIZZA PLACE AT ADVENTURELAND. SHE SAID THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME!  ON WEDNESDAY DARRELL AND I WENT TO WORK AT DECOR.  I WORKED WITH DOLORES, SHE AND I WORKED WELL TOGETHER. EVERYONE WAS SO WELCOMING AND FRIENDLY. I REALLY LIKED IT AT DECOR AND ASKED MIKKI IF I COULD STAY...SHE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE FOOD SERVICE MANAGER, LANCE, SIGN OFF ON IT. I HAD HEARD HOW SHORT HANDED THEY ARE IN THE CACTUS GRILL, AND AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO STAY IN DECOR, I DECIDED TO HONOR MY COMMITTMENT AND STAY IN FOODS. ON FRIDAY, MY LAST DAY AT DECOR I WENT IN AND TALKED WITH MIKKI AND TOLD HER I DECIDED TO STAY IN FOODS, BUT NEXT YEAR I WANTED TO WORK IN DECOR. SHE SAID SHE WOULD TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR ME.

I  MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GO TO THE DENTIST IN LOS ALGODONES, MEXICO  THAT I HAD SEEN LAST YEAR WHILE WE WERE IN YUMA.  IT WAS TIME TO GET THE CROWN REPLACED THAT I HAD BROKEN IN MINNESOTA IN SEPTEMBER. THE APPOINTMENT IS FOR MONDAY AND  IT IS A THREE HOUR DRIVE!!  NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT!

WE WENT TO THE ARIZONA MARKETPLACE ON SATURDAY AND I WENT TO CHURCH AT THE RV PARK ON SUNDAY.

SUN LIFE RESORT

WE GOT PACKED UP AND ON OUR WAY FAIRLY EARLY NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY, WE WANTED TO GET TO SUN LIFE BEFORE ALL THE REVELERS WERE ON THE ROAD.

WE WERE IN ARIZONA FOR THE  REST OF THE WINTER!

WE DROVE PAST PHOENIX  TO GET TO MESA, A BEAUTIFUL CITY SKYLINE.

MRS. GARMIN TOOK US RIGHT TO SUN LIFE!

WE GOT CHECKED IN AND WE WERE LED TO OUR SITE ON G STREET.

SUN LIFE IS ALL BACK- IN SITES, DARRELL WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT!

IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET BACKED IN AND WHILE WE WERE GETTING SET UP WE MET SOME OF OUR NEW NEIGHBORS. KERRY AND JOHN ARE NEXT DOOR TO US FROM CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA. KERRY SAID "G" STREET IS A FUN STREET! WE MET CONNIE, WHO LIVES NEXT TO JOHN AND KERRY. KERRY INVITED US OVER FOR SOUP AT CONNIE'S PARK MODEL THAT EVENING. WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH HOW LARGE THE SITES ARE. DARRELL CALLED MIKKI  TO SEE WHEN WE WERE TO  START  WORK. SHE SAID TAKE THE WEEKEND OFF! 

WE ENJOYED AN EVENING WITH NEW FRIENDS!  I SLEPT ON THE COUCH WITH MAGGIE THAT NIGHT, FIREWORKS ALL AROUND US. TOMORROW WOULD BE A NEW YEAR! LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRAND NEW YEAR WITH BRAND NEW ADVENTURES!

LEAVING SAUGUS

AFTER WE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS EVE WE WENT TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL MEAL. ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE WENT TO THE MOVIE, STAR WARS. IT WAS REALLY GOOD!

WALKING TO THE MOVIE THEATRE WE CAME UPON THIS ICE SKATING RINK....IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!

ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, WE STARTED GETTING READY TO LEAVE. WE WERE HEADED TO TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA FOR A FEW DAYS OF REST  BEFORE GOING ON TO MESA, ARIZONA.

WE  HAD RESERVATIONS AT PECHANGA  CASINO RV RESORT IN TEMECULA. WE GOT AN EARLY START THE NEXT MORNING. IT WAS STILL CHILLY FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

WE GOT DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE WAYS....TRAFFIC JAM....SAT ON THE INTERSTATE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR!

WE FINALLY GOT TO TEMECULA!

AND PECHANGA RV RESORT!

WE COULD HARDLY WAIT TO GET IN THE HOT TUB!

WE HAD ACHES AND PAINS THAT NEEDED  TO BE SOAKED AWAY!

IT WAS CHILLY IN TEMECULA TOO, EXPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS WHEN WE USED THE HOT TUB. 

WE LOVED OUR LARGE SITE WITH GRASS....FIRST TIME MAGGIE AND MARLEE HAD BEEN ON GRASS IN THREE MONTHS.

WE FOUND A WONDERFUL SPORTS BAR THAT SERVED THE MOST DELICIOUS HAMBURGERS!

WE ENJOYED OUR STAY HERE, BUT IT WAS TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN. WE LEFT FOR BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 30.  MRS. GARMIN SENT US ON SOME CUT ACROSS ROAD TO THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DRIVE, BUT IT WAS A VERY NARROW,  CURVY ROAD, WITH  SNOW!!

I FOUND OUT I HAVEN'T MISSED SNOW AT ALL!!

FINALLY WE WERE IN PALM DESERT!!

WE DROVE ON TO BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA TO ARIZONA OASIS RV PARK, A PASSPORT AMERICA PARK. WE WEREN'T TOO  IMPRESSED, VERY SMALL SITES. THANK GOODNESS WE ARE ONLY HERE ONE NIGHT!