SPRING BREAK 2015

For the third year, I went to Tucson for Spring Break to visit family and friends.  As usual, it was

A BLAST!!!!

Mark, Cindy and Cinnamon were once again my hospitable hosts.

I arrived Saturday, and we hit the ground running.  Brother Mike and his wife Karen stopped by for a nice visit and stayed for supper.

Sunday was Cindy's Mom Dorothy's 93rd birthday.  There was a party, of course!

Son-in-law Bob had the cake cutting honors.  His wife Debbie made the beautiful cake and the delicious selection of cookies on the bottom tray.

Many family and friends attended.  All of Dorothy's great-grandchildren were present.  Here she enjoys watching Cindy with the youngest addition, Bobby and Carly's son Hudson.

Monday Mike and I hiked at Catalina State Park.  Mike wore Dad's hiking hat, and it was a nice remembrance.

We enjoyed beautiful views of the Santa Catalina Mountains

as well as an abundance of spring wildflowers.

Tuesday Cindy and I went to LA Fitness, where I was generously given a free 3-day guest pass.  We stayed for a water aerobics class and some lap swimming.

That afternoon, Cindy and I started one of our favorite activities of the week.   Both she and Mark have read many of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.  Recently Starz movie channel took the books on as a movie series, to rave reviews.  The first 8 episodes just came out on DVD, and Cindy bought them.  Tuesday we watched the first two episodes. The transformation from book to movie always necessitates modifications.  I decided rather than compare the movie series to the books, I would watch with open eyes.  Plus, Diana Gabaldon had her hand heavily in the movie series, and if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me.  In the event, QUITE GOOD ENOUGH.   Oh, we were in heaven!

 

 Wednesday Cindy and I went to another water aerobics class, which juiced us up for the event of the day, which was SWIM SUIT SHOPPING!  In the past we've shopped around for swimsuits and ended up at JC Penney for both selection and style.  This year, no shopping around. Straight to JC Penney.  We shopped 'til we dropped.  Cindy found two great suits, and I over-indulged with four.  

 Thursday we met M&C's daughter Monica and niece Lisa and their five youngsters at the Reid Park Zoo.  Dorothy went along as well.

Feeding the giraffe was a very favorite activity.

Friday Cindy and I went to the 4th Avenue Street Fair.  The fair is juried, and there are a lot of very high quality arts and crafts.  Lots of people, too.

Saturday Mark, Cindy and I went to Scottsdale for a pizza reception and church dedication for Bobby and Carly's son Hudson.  Not being familiar with dedications, I asked and really liked the answer.  The dedication is the parents' commitment to raise the child in the ways of God.  Later, when the child is informed and able, they make the choice to be baptized.  

Sunday Cindy and I got up at zero-dark-thirty to participate in the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure.   We met family and friends and walked the course favored by beautiful and balmy weather.

We were cheered on by this exciting group,

and grateful to see this sign.

Afterward, Cindy and I recovered by watching the final episode of Outlander before Mike came over for dinner.

Monday morning I took a bike ride on the Rillito and Santa Cruz River Parks, then spent the rest of the day with good friend Pat.  We talked and laughed hilariously for hours.

In the evening we went to the movie "Birdman".

Tuesday I drove home, thoroughly satisfied with another enjoyable and busy Spring Break, well spent with family and friends.

We all have a cherished garden we tend -
It is planted with love of family and friends.
The memories and dreams we treasure and share
Are like beautiful roses found blooming there.
The comfort and care on which we depend
Is given with love between family and friends.
The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear
Only make our love grow with each passing year.
We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend
Because of the love of family and friends;
They notice the rainbows and weather the showers.
They overlook weeds and praise all our flowers.
The most valuable thing is the time that we spend
Tending this garden with family and friends.
When counting our blessings, we know from the start
That family and friends come first in our heart.

                                   Lizzy Pureheart

also attributed to    Jill Wolf

MARCH MERRIMENT

 

The Activities Report

March came in like a lion, with our second significant snow of the winter.  This is our front yard.  As it is with spring snows, it didn't last long.

The third week of March, I went to Tucson for spring break.  A separate blog will follow.

My super-favorite TV show started its 20th season, so I'm in heaven every Monday night for the next 10 weeks or so. 

The Movie Report

The theater season is winding down for us.  No offense, but when the reviews for any movie starring Will Ferrell start coming out, I know it's time to renew my Netflix subscription.

I did see Birdman, which won Best Picture at the Oscars, in Tucson.  Interesting in that art-movie way, which is to say I sorta didn't get it.

We opened our Netflix season with a movie I completely got, completely loved, and completely think should have gotten best picture instead of Birdman:  Boyhood.

What a complete delight this movie was.  The director's choice to film the same actors once a year for 12 years was genius. Watching the two children grow from 6 and 8 year olds to 18 and 20 year olds was amazing.  

Ron's caught up in March Madness.  He's interested and knowledgeable, but not rabid.

Finally, I celebrated a "zero" birthday.  Our Hawaii trip was the big ticket event, so here at home we grilled chicken, steak and veggies and ate outdoors in our gazebo for the first time this year.  Boyhood followed.  Our neighbors Peter and Deb came over with this unique and delightful surprise:

Yep, it's 60 (count 'em!) daffodils. VERY cool!

For Your Amusement

A man takes his hamster to the vet, and after a short look at the creature the vet pronounces it dead. Not happy with the vet's diagnosis the man asks for a second opinion. The vet gives a whistle and in strolls a Labrador dog. The dog nudges the hamster around with its nose and sniffs it a couple of times before shaking his head. "There" says the vet,” Your hamster is dead". Still not happy the man asks for a third opinion. The vet opens the back door and in bounds a cat. The cat jumps onto the table and looks the hamster up and down for a few minutes before looking up and shaking its head. "It's definitely dead sir", says the vet. Convinced, the man enquires how much he owes. "That will be $1,500, please". "$1,500 just to tell me my hamster is dead" fumes the man. "Well", says the vet, "There's my diagnosis, the lab report and the cat scan".