Places We Have Called Home in 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:   UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix 

Dec 21, 2019

Temperature 71 Degrees

Another Couple Had to Leave

Graybeard Projects

The Nutcracker, Ballet Arizona

We received an urgent text message when we got home last night from Steve and Jean – please stop and see us when you return.  So we walked on over to their rig and discovered that they were leaving the following day – not next Friday.

Jean’s surgery wound has opened up again.  She wants to get home to her own doctor.  Steve is feeling just good enough to drive.  The weather heading back to Minnesota looks good for the next three days.  Time to go.  Their kids purchased a home for them this past summer so that is where they are heading.  Their kids, I wonder if any of mine are reading this.  Highly doubt it.  LOL.

Now there are only two rigs still left, ours and Bob’s.  He can’t go because he put unleaded in his truck instead of diesel.  However, he is nervous and anxious.  His mother had a minor heart attack a few days ago and he desperately wants to get to her.  Hopefully his truck will be ready by the end of next week.

I decided to tackle one project on the Graybeard list of Projects.  I wanted to get the last blind up, the small one in the bedroom.  Tools in hand I went to work.

Off came the old blind and valence.

Up went the new 1 inch slat blind and valence.  Now, all the old string blinds are gone.

Two more projects to tackle:  replace the bathroom sink faucet; and, replace the water supply valve on the toilet.  Not today, though.  We had an afternoon appointment.

I decided to give my sweetheart an early Christmas present.  Something she has been wanting to go to for a long, long time.  Something she figured I would never go to in a million years.  Did I shock her!

It was presented by Ballet Arizona.  Ballet Arizona is a professional ballet company directed by Ib Anderson.  The company was created in 1986 by a merger of three smaller Arizonan dance companies that were struggling to survive.  Today, the company of thirty-one dancers occupies a prominent place in American ballet.

It was presented at Symphony Hall.   The hall is home to the Phoenix Symphony, Ballet Arizona and Arizona Opera.  It is also the site for Broadway touring companies, a variety of dance productions, and appearances by popular entertainers.

The Ballet Company was accompanied by the Phoenix Symphony.  Founded in 1947 when Phoenix had a population of less than 100,000, the orchestra began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year. Today, the orchestra appears before 300,000 subscribers, ticket holders, and music enthusiasts each year, offering 275 concerts and presentations in an annual season running from September to May.

 

 

 The Nutcracker is the magical tale of Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and other delightful dancing characters.  With 150 performers, 100,000 Swarovski crystals, and Tchaikovsky’s cherished score performed live, Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker was a winner in our book.  The few pictures I’ve been able to post, the words written really do not do the performance justice.  You have to be there.  Maybe some day you can.

I am so glad I was able to fulfill a long time wish of my sweetheart.  She – and yes me too – was enthralled with the performance.  How fortunate we were to be able to witness this stirring performance of an annual Phoenix tradition.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  It was with heavy hearts that we bid goodbye to two new and very dear friends.  One Graybeard project is in the books.  We were able to enjoy a great performance of the Nutcracker.  Life is good.  Thank you Lord for this day that you gave to us.

Thanks for joining us again as we traveled along hand in hand.  We only wish you could have actually been at the ballet with us.  It was awesome.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:   UMOM New Day Centers, Phoenix 

Dec 20, 2019

Temperature 68 Degrees

We’re Beginning to Believe This Place is Jinxed 

Three Down, Many, Many More To Come We’re Sure

Organ Stop Pizza 

Ah, so nice to just snuggle down under the covers and not have to worry about when we had to get up.  It’s Friday, Project Sixteen is Finished, so we don’t have to worry about getting up and out – at least not until the end of January.

Breakfast was absolutely fantastic!  A big plate of cheese potatoes and a side of spicy Spam.  Yup, they have a new one on the shelf and it’s great.  I added in a glass of orange juice and a couple cups of coffee and I was ready for the day.

What’s that old saying?  If I didn’t have bad luck I would have no luck at all?  Unfortunately, this has been so true of so many here these last three weeks.

To wit.  Last night Bob went and filled his truck up in preparation for moving out.  He filled it with unleaded.  Problem?  His pickup is a diesel.  Repair cost?  $10,000 and down time of about two weeks.  Fortunately, whatever kind of insurance he has it paid for all of it.

Today, Anton and Sandy were flying out to be with family for the Christmas Holidays.  Problem?  He couldn’t leave his 5th wheel here because others would be coming in before he returned.  What to do?.  Move it across the street to a secure, locked UMOM lot.  Unfortunately, the lot was way to short for his truck and trailer.  In the end trying to jockey the rig into the lot he ripped off his patio awning.

So far we have escaped the jinx that seems to be hovering over this place.  To say the least, though, I’m moving very, very cautiously and checking everything twice before I do a thing.

Then there is that other saying If its too good to be true then it probably is.

This is what we went to check out today.  A 2007 Newmar Mountain Air.  The price was much lower than any others I had recently viewed.

We were thrilled with the color.  No accident damage and no delamination.

Then we started looking closer, especially inside.  First knock, old fashioned string blinds

A bad job of throwing in a new TV.  Doesn’t even fit the cabinet.  And oh so small.

A shower enclosure that is so flimsy that it appears in imminent danger of falling down.

Cracked woodwork.  And the list goes on.  Chips in the kitchen counter.  Outdated TV in the back.  No washer and dryer.  Frayed carpeting.  A kitchen cabinet held up by a 2 by 4 bolted to a wall stud.  None of the lights have been converted to LED.  We would have to start at square one with this one if we were to buy it.

Still, I thought I’d take it for a test drive.  That clinched it.  Cross this one off.  It sounded like it was trying to shake itself apart.  Going over a set of rail road tracks it shook like a bowl of jello.   It was very, very noisy.   Compared to this coach, Graybeard is whisper quiet.  So the hunt goes on.

Exhausted, deeply disappointed, and very hungry – it was now 4 pm – we knew where to go.

Funny name for a pizza shop, hey?

Yes, they have pizza but they also have something unexpected in a pizza joint.

Can you remember the last time you saw organ pipes in a pizza shop?

More pipes to the left and the right.

You hear it first then it begins to appear.  Slowly coming up.

Ever so slowly it arises turning in a complete circle as it does.

Then there it was.  And now you know why they call it Organ Stop Pizza!  Organ Stop’s Wurlitzer theatre organ was built for the Denver Theatre and was installed in 1927.  The organ was used regularly until the early 1930s.  With the advent of the talking picture and the 1930s depression, the organ was rarely heard.   But then it came to Mesa and found a new home.  In the theater, the Denver instrument had 15 ranks, or sets of pipes. The instrument was totally rebuilt, and the decision was made to enlarge the organ to 23 ranks for its debut in the new Mesa Organ Stop.  Over the course of the ensuing years, careful acquisition of rare pipework and percussions were made, culminating in what is now the largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in the world.

You are treated to a thirty minute mini concert.

There were Christmas carols.  Military marches.  Patriotic Songs.  Big Band tunes.

What goes up must go down – true, so true of the organ and the organist.  Just like that the concert was over and the organ had disappeared.

Time, finally, to head for home.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We came, we saw, and we walked away very disappointed from what we though would be a first class coach and a worthy successor to Gray Beard.  We, however, salvaged the day with piece of pizza and an organ concert.  Yup, life is so full of surprises.  That’s what makes this life so fascinating, you never know what is coming around the next corner.

Thanks for coming with us again today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

 

Places We Have Called Home in 2019

Dec 19, 2019

Temperature 57 Degrees

Project Sixteen, Week Three, Day Four – It’s A Wrap

Remind Me If I Ever Even Think Of It To Never Buy a Keystone Light Trailer

I just sat down to breakfast, my phone rang, I answered and then I heard How is your supply of popcorn.?  It was our good friend LD, the Popcorn King of Sumter Oaks in Bushnell, Florida.  What a joy to hear his voice.  Due to medical reasons he is no longer able to travel the country by RV but you’ll never hear him complain.  Rather he is as upbeat as ever.  He is currently staying with his son in Virginia and enjoying life.  I hope I can always maintain a positive outlook on life like he has.  Thanks, LD for starting my day off in such a wonderful way.

No time for breakfast now.  But that’s OK.  Time talking with LD was better than any breakfast.  We shot out the door and toward the chapel.  It was our turn for devotions.

Devotions over a few small things to take care of.

The donations room was beginning to overflow.  That being the case it was time

to load the truck and then take load, by load to

the storage pod.  From here a staff member will go through everything separating and identifying items that can be sold through the thrift store.

The ladies spent a few hours in

the toy room wrapping presents.

Noon time and it was a wrap.  Project Sixteen is now in the books.  It’s been a whirlwind  from start to finish.  When I look back at all that we accomplished, all of the new friendships made, all the shared experiences, all I can say is WOW!  We are two of the most fortunate people in the world to have been a part of all that went on these past three weeks.

One more personal task to accomplish.  Steve has been and still is sick.  But his Keystone trailer needed the cardboard belly pan put back up.   It was taken down when they rebuild the floor due to water damage.  I roped Anton into working with me, in the end he did almost all the heavy lifting.   The underside of this trailer in a word was a mess.  Wires hanging down, nothing properly tucked up, black and gray tank valves sticking and hard to work, and the list goes goes on.  It’s obvious when they built it no one took any pride in their work.  It’s obvious the attitude must have been throw it together and roll it out the door.  So sad.  We straightened wires out and tucked them up in place.  Got the gate vales working.  Finally, the belly pan was put back up.  Steve and Jean are now ready to roll.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.   Thank you Lord for this absolutely awesome day.  Thank for the joys of these past three weeks.  We are so blessed to have been a part of this whole experience at UMOM.  Now, if you don’t mind we’re going to bed.  We’re exhausted to say the least.

Thanks for traveling with us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

 

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2019

Dec 18, 2019

Temperature 63 Degrees

Target Came and Painted – Painted Like A Bunch of Pro Painters

Target Came and Took Over the Toy Room – It Is Better Organized Than Ever

When is the best time to take in your patio awning?  The answer is:  when you first think about it.  Was this ever so true last night.  Just before supper something told me to take it in and leave it in until we leave.  I am ever so glad I did.  Last night about 4 am in the morning the winds picked up with such force.  We rocked and rolled.  The slide topper on the bedroom slide above our heads slapped like crazy.  The roof vent covers danced like impatient reindeer on the roof.  But at least I didn’t have to rush outside and bring in the patio awning – if it ever would have survived the onslaught.   Dodged a bullet.

This morning breakfast with as real winner.  Barbara made me a heaping plate of cheese potatoes and a side of bacon.  I added a glass of orange juice and a couple cups of coffee and oh was I full when I finished.

Time to go.  Devotions in the chapel and then we had to get ready for our target painters.

We brought over all that we believed we were going to need.  We had paint brushes, rollers, ladders, stir sticks, drop clothes, buckets of paint and all of our team that was still standing.

We pushed tables back out of the way and laid the drop clothes.  We stirred the paint and prepared to fill trays and buckets.  Then we waited.

 

Slowly they began to file in, by twos and threes, and all with smiles spread across their faces.

Their smiles were contagious.

 

They came prepared and eager to paint.

They brought their own supplies.

The gentleman were right behind.

  Have you ever seen such a beautiful smile as this?  Their smiles, their enthusiasm, their we can do this attitude was so refreshing and contagious.

We filled their paint trays, gave them brushes, paint trays and rollers and turned them loose.  Take a look . . .

This young lady was everywhere.  She came to paint and proved it.  She moved from wall to wall never stopping for even a minute.

Two hours later they were done.  How did they do?  You would have thought that they did this for a living.

The serving line wall before.

 

The serving line wall after.

The beverage line wall before.

The beverage line wall after.

The brick wall all finished and looking the best it ever has.

The office wall and the back wall.  In a phrase they knocked it out of the park!

But they weren’t finished yet.

A group of them moved into the toy room and began to sort and organize.  Barbara stated that the toy room is the best it has ever looked.

I’ll remember a lot about their volunteering today.  The great job they did painting and in organizing the toy room.  One thing I will never forget, though, is the beautiful smiles always spread across their faces.  Wherever they went they lit up the room that they were in.

Thank you Target Volunteers for your contagious smiles, your enthusiasm and the great work you did today.  You have reminded all of us that the heart of the season is all about giving.  Give of yourself you did with willing hands and hearts of love.

Week Three, Day Three is in the books.  What an awesome day it was.  We’re so glad that we were a part of this fantastic day.

Our day on The Road of Retirement is coming to a close.  Oh my what a day it has been.  We will cherish the memories of this day forever, and ever.  Thank you Lord for letting us be a part of such a beautiful day.

We hope you enjoyed your day with us today.  We hope those Target smiles lifted you as they did us.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!