Monday, 27 March, Tucson

Yuk! I hate colds.  Luckily, I am not coughing.  I slept fairly well, but this morning I still have a pounding head ache and am stuffed up.  To make matters worse, I keep getting nose bleeds.  I need to get my nose cauterized.  I get them way to easily.  
I had gotten some Alka seltzer cold medicine at the Commissary, but it really wasn't doing the trick.  I need Day/night quill. 
Rob and I both have packages that we ordered on line and are waiting for them to be delivered.  He gat a call from the FAMCAMP office saying that we had packages.  Yippee.  He left to pick them up and went to the PX as well and got me the day/night quill.
My package was two pairs of capris with shorts of the same colors and 4 tee shirts to go with them.  I had originally order them from Mom's house and they were the ones that the stupid Post office delivered to her house while we were gone (when the mail was supposed to be on vacation hold) and they were stolen.  I have to wait until the 10th before I can get my money back for that package, but in the meantime I reordered and had them delivered here.  Rob received some shoes and a couple part for the RV.
I holed up on the couch all day alternating between sleeping and reading.  I finished the book Mom left which ended abruptly.  Errrr, but I suppose happily, and then started another.
Rob, feeling absolutely fine, decided he was going to go for a bike ride.  So he did.  He rode out to the trail that we had done together when we first got here.  It was 4 miles to the trail, then he rode about 10 miles of the trail and then the 4 miles back.  It was a good ride for him.  

I'm glad he did it.
Bella would lay with me until I would sneeze  (she is afraid of sneezes,) and then she would go outside or get on the bed.  Eventually she would come back.
When Rob got back he took her out for a long walk again.  
I eventually went to bed at about 8:30.  

Sunday, 26 March Tucson

I definately have come down with a cold and it sucks.  My head is pounding and that is the worst part of it.  I'm really glad I got all the cleaning done yesterday.  
I slept in and then took Bella for her walk about.
Rob texted that he was on the 8:10 flight.  
I just lazed around reading the book Mom had left.  It is really good.
Rob got home.  It was nice to have him back. I asked him if he was going to be home next Sunday, but he has a trip.  I am concerned about being sick and going to Lori & John's tonight.  We are going to meet their daughter, son-in-law and grandkids.  I don't want to get them sick.  
Rob took the movies back for me and took Bella over to the park for a nice walk and run.  She needed to get out.
I just stayed home and took drugs.
In the late afternoon I made a salad to take over to Lori & John's, showered and got ready.
It was a fun eve.  Jonnell is very sweet and her husband Matt is really nice as well.  Matt is into making beer and he brought some to share with Rob and John.  I, naturally, had some sips and it was really good. Their two boys, Cowin and Jase are very cute.  Jase is very shy, but Cowin makes up for it.  We had a really nice dinner of Bar-B-Q pork loin, grilled veggies, salad and rice.  Jonnell made a really good desert that tasted sort of like French toast with cream cheese in the center.  It was great meeting them.  John and Lori have a really nice home with desert landscaping in the back and beautiful view of the mountains.
I started to fade out, face throbbing and head pounding so we said our goodbyes and headed for home.
Oh; we took Bella with us.  Tucker and Molly were so happy to see her and she was thrilled to see them and John and Lori as well.  She doesn't especially like kids so she totally avoided them, but she made up for lost time with Tucker and Molly. It was very sweet.
When we got home we just went to bed.

Saturday, 25 March, Tucson.

I had a good sneeze during the evening and spent the rest of the time plugged up.  When I talked to Rob on the phone I told him I felt like maybe I was coming down with a cold.  My face is throbbing, my head is pounding, I'm plugged up.  Great!!
I woke up feeling the same way.  Definitely coming down with a cold.  
I took Bella out and then came back and got all caught up on the blog.  Barbara called during the midst of it and was excited to tell me that Mom had had a good time on the trip and that she (Barbara) had finally sold the lot at River Island.  Great news!  She has been having to pay HOA dues and property taxes on that vacant lot for many years.  What a relief for her to finally have it gone.  We chatted for a while which was nice.  
I finished up my blog.  Mom called while I was on the phone with Barbara, so my plan for the rest of the day is to call Mom, finish the deep cleaning of the sills, windows, bathroom and bedroom, hopefully to include going through all my clothes again in the closet and shelves and get rid of things.  And then to go to the Commissary for groceries and perhaps pick up another movie.  Oh, and to also get some cold medicine.
Well, congratulations to me!  I accomplished all my goals.  Well, all except for one.  I sprayed down the shower with Dow cleaner, but will come back later to wash it down.
The place looks sooooo much better and smells fresh when I first walk in.  
I did go to the commissary and I went to two red boxes.  I tried to return the movie to the box I had originally gotten it from, but the machine wasn't working. It was right by the Commissary, so I did my grocery shopping and hit the other machine on the way home.  I ended up getting two movies.  
One was a movie Mom has been telling me about with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant where she is a bit past her prime but wants to sing opera.  He is her loving husband who encourages her and protects her at the same time.  It was very sweet.  The second was Allied with Brad Pitt and another lovely lady.  They met as spies, fell in love, got married, had a child, and then the Canadian Air Force suspected her of being a German Spy.  It was really good.  I had wanted to see it for a long time.
Backing up a bit.
When I got back from the Commissary and put everything away it was time for the news, so I thought I would watch it before settling into the movies.  Unfortunately, somehow I lost the remote for the TV.  I have hunted everywhere and cannot find it.  It is making me crazy.  It is not in the trash or in the couch or behind or under the couch.  It is not in the recycle or in with the clothes I am giving away.  I cannot find it.  I had to do everything manually with the buttons behind the TV.  I cannot believe it.
Anyway, my cold is kicking my butt so it was nice to have the two movies so I could just snuggle up with Bella and watch.
I was rewarded as the sun was setting with a beautiful sunset.

I texted good night to Rob and went to bed.

Friday, 24 March, Tucson & Costa Rica

I slept pretty well in those nice new sheets.  I got up and made coffee.  Took Boo out for a little walk and then jumped in to cleaning.  
I put the audio book on again and listened to it while I cleaned.  I cleaned all the window seals in the living room which were filthy from all the dust and dirt of Mexico.  I washed all the window in the living room all well.  I dusted and waxed the furniture and the cabinets in the kitchen.  I cleaned the stove, micro, refrigerator, sinks and counters.  I cleaned out the pots and pans cabinet and rearranged things so they were more accessible.  
I headed up the stairs and did the window across from the bathroom and the window over the dresser in the bedroom.  Then Lori called.
We had agreed to go to the street fair today.  It happens twice a year, at Christmas and now.  She had just returned from the gym, needed to get a bite to eat and a shower and so we agreed to meet at 12:30.
I took a shower and got dressed and then took Bella for a nice long walk.  Taking her to street fairs with a zillion people is not fun for either one of us.  So the walk would have to do for now.
I met Lori and we wandered through the fair ooing and ahing at all the stuff for sale.  She bought some lavender spray, I didn't buy anything.  We went into the Congress Hotel which is really old and sat out on the patio and had a Bloody Mary and chatted.  It was a fun day.
Afterward, I headed home and picked up Bella.  She was happy to see me and so I grabbed her and drove her over to Freedom Park which is only about 3 miles away.  They have a big park with picnic tables,  a jogging/exercise path and a baseball field.  I wanted to take her to a nice grassy place where she could run around and sniff.  She loved it.  We stayed there for about 30 minutes letting her run from ground squirrel hole to ground squirrel hole to her hearts content.
Afterward, we stopped by a red box and picked up a movie.  Girl on a Train.  I had wanted to watch it.  Rob had started reading the book but said it was to depressing and didn't finish it.
I fixed a salad, watched the news and then settled into the movie.
I chatted with Rob.  He is in Costa Rica.  and then went to bed.

Thursday, 23 March, Tucson

I got a pretty good night's sleep.  It is a bit overcast.  It rained some during the night and there is only supposed to be a 30% chance of rain for this morning and then it is supposed to be partly cloudy the rest of the day.
We took the laundry over and put it in the washer and then took Bella out for a long walk.  When we got back I went and put the stuff in the dryer and started another load of stuff that had been forgotten for the first loads.
Rob left for LA.  He has another trip starting tomorrow morning.  I was going to spend the day finally doing the post-Mexico cleaning.
I got the laundry and as I was folding the sheets realized that they appeared to be permanently soiled.  YuK! So, after folding the first load I realized it was to heavy and to far to carry all the way back by myself so I decided to go get the car.
I grabbed Bella and went back to the laundry.  I put the last load in the dryer, the already folded stuff in my car and we headed off to the BX.  We bought 2 sets of sheets and a couple kitchen towels.  we went back to the laundry and put the new sheets and the dish towels in the wash.  
We came back to the RV and I straightened things up, but couldn't get into the serious cleaning.  
When the new sheets were done I made the bet and put things away and then I chilled for the rest of the day.  I still do not feel great.  I have a headache and feel blah.
I listened to the Nicholas Sparks book Mom and I had started listening to for awhile and played on the computer. Later I watched TV and then went to bed.

Wednesday, 22 March, FAT to LAX to Tucson.

It was nice sleeping in a real bed.  I got up, showered, and had a cup of coffee with Mom.  I gave her big hugs good bye.  We had a fun trip and time together in Tucson. 
I was on the road by 8:30.  Rob had purchased ID90 tickets for United, Delta and Southwest.  The first flight is at 5:50, nest is 7:15 and the last 8:40.  I realized I was going to be in LAX by noon so I asked Rob if there was an earlier flight.
Yes indeed.  There is a flight at 1:30.  
Traffic was super easy.  I got to the Teton, locked up the Prius and called Uber.  
I made it to the Airport and to my flight with no problem.  It was kind of bouncy though and I wasn't feeling real good.
Rob and Bella picked me up.  She went crazy when she saw me.  She climbed all over me and licked me and squiggled and carried on for the rest of the afternoon.
We went to Souplantation for lunch.  It was good, but no meat to give to the Boo Dog.  
We ran a couple errands.  We thought about going to a movie because it was still hot, but I like to eat popcorn in the movies and I was way to full to even think about popcorn so we ended up getting a Jason Bourne movie for the evening and headed home.  
We chilled outside for awhile sitting in the shade and catching up on Facebook and mail and then came in to watch the movie.
It was good.  Then we went to bed.  Wow, it's really nice to be sleeping in my own bed with my hubby and my puppy!

Tuesday, 21 March, LAX to FAT

I slept pretty well, although I really missed Bella.  She always snuggles up right next to me, even on the nights I slept on the recliners at the Seville, but she is back at home with Rob.  
We had decided last night that we would just get up and go this morning and that is exactly what we did.  We were out event before 8:30.  
We headed directly to Noah's Bagels and got bagels and coffee to go.  We ate and drank in the car.  Rob had warned me that traffic would be heavy for the first 10 miles on the 405 until we got past the 110 and then it would lighten up.  It was true.  Not horrible, but slower than one would prefer.
The rest of the drive was easy.  We stopped once for gas and potty and then went all the way to Bravo Farms, just before Fresno.  It is where I pretty much always stop on the way to Fresno.  We got some cheese and a couple other items, and then got a Try Tip Sandwich with coleslaw.  It was really good.  We ate there, and each were only able to eat half so we took the rest with us.
We got to Fresno just before noon and went by the post office to pick up her vacation hold mail.  I was very disappointed that the outfits I had ordered were not there.  The tracking said they had been delivered on the 15th.  Unfortunately, even though her mail was on vacation hold, the mailman apparently left the package on the front porch.  My brother had been over there a couple days ago and there were no packages.
After the post office we went to the grocery store.  We got all the essentials she needed for a while.  We called her tax accountant to see if we needed to go by and pick up her returns, but they were not ready yet so we went on home.  Yippee, we were done running around!
I carried everything, groceries, mail, and luggage into the house and began the task of putting things away.  I decided to call the postoffice to see what my options were since my package was missing and it was going to be a 30 to 40 minute hold.  Hell, it is only a 5 min drive.  So, I went back.  I talked to the man who told me the package had been delivered and told him it was supposed to be a vacation hold and the package is missing and what were my options.  He said I could go on line and file a claim.
I went back to Mom's.  We had some wine, chilled watching TV, had the rest of our sandwiches for dinner and finally went to bed.  It was really nice to sleep in a real bed, it has been about a week.

Monday, 20 March, Tucson to LAX

I have a dentist appointment and Mom is ready to go home.

We got up at our regular time and Mom and I packed up to fly away.  

We had a little breakfast and then at at 10:00 headed to the airport.  A Southwest sky cap met us at the street and helped us get our luggage inside. I gave Rob and Bella big hugs goodbye and then went on in.

We checked our bags and got a wheel chair for Mom and headed on thru security. No one helped us through the gate, so I pushed Mom in the wheelchair while she pushed her walker along in front of her.

We made it through security with ease and headed over to our gate.  We stopped and bought water and a sand which for the flight.

Everything went smooth until we arrived in LAX.  We didn't have a wheel chair waiting, but someone did finally get us one, but no attendant to push her.  So, again, I pushed while she pushed her walker.  As we were looking for the elevator someone said we couldn't be doing this on our own, and I explained that we were given the chair with no assistant.  So, as it turned out, he was the department manager and took us to the elevator and down to baggage.  He parked Mom and then he left and I went to retrieve our bags.  Now, we have a big problem.  We have to get back upstairs and out to the street to the Uber stop.  We have Mom in the wheel chair, the walker and two roller bags and no one to help us.  Finally, after about 20 minutes someone came to help.  She took us back up and all the way out to the Uber.  Somehow I screwed up the Uber summons and had to do it again and after about 20 more minutes we finally got picked up.

By the time we got to the Teton, got everything inside and got Mom squared away I was late for my 3:00 dentist appointment.

I jumped in Rob's car and headed off.  I called the dentist and told them I was running late so them moved my appointment back a half hour.  As it was, I was still 10 min late even for the later appointment.  But, not to worry.  We picked out the type of temporary plates I wanted for my missing teeth, the took the casts of my teeth (three times on the uppers) and I was finally sent on my way.  I was starving.

I headed back to LA.  Mom was happily waiting and hungry so we headed off to a nice Italian Restaurant in El Segundo and had dinner.

We picked up a couple bottles of wine, a white for her and red for me and a bag of ice and headed back.  

We watched a little TV while sipping our wine until bed time.

I slept on the recliners again.

Sunday, 19 March; Breakfast in the Mess Hall

Breakfast on base is from 8-10 on the weekends so we went about 9.  Mom had never been to a Base dining facility before and she insisted on paying. We got omelets, bacon, hash browns, coffee and yogurt and she was amazed that it was only $11.  It was fun.
After that, we went to the PX.  We got there at about 9:30, but it didn't open until 10.  There was a Starbucks there so Mom and I sat on the couch and read and waited for it to open.
The clock in the Seville ticks really loud.  If I wake up in the wee hours I find it very difficult to fall back asleep due to the ticking.  The clock we have in the Teton does not tick, so I wanted a new clock.  
The PX opened, as did the little kiosks in the little mini-mall inside.  So Mom and I wandered around the kiosks before going in.  She actually found two cute capri outfits that she liked.
Once inside the PX I left her perusing the clothing while I went off to find a clock.  I did find one and when we got home I was extremely pleased to discover that it did not tick.
Rob went for a run and Mom and I played cards.
Rob got the movie "loving" so we watched it that night.  It was really good.

Saturday 18 March, Tucson Conquistadores Classic Golf Tourney

John is volunteering at the Tucson Conquistadores-Seniors-Classic Golf Tournament.  I think he was volunteering for Thurs.-Sun. They gave him a bunch of tickets which he passed on to us.
Mom, naturally was not interested so she stayed behind, at the RV to read, watch TV, and entertain herself.
We met Lori and her Dad in a parking lot near the course and then drove with her to "Princess" parking right there at the course.  We met John right away and he gave us a program.  It had all the starting times for the various threesomes on both holes one and Ten.  We met John on hole 11.  We watched a couple teams tee off, and then wandered around for a bit.  Lori and her dad headed off to the Veterans tent to get a bite to eat, and Rob and I headed over to the 1st hole to watch Steve Stricter's team and Eddie Couples' team tee off.  
We caught up with Lori and her Dad again and he was tired and was ready to leave so Lori took him home.  We would meet up again when she got bac

Steve Stricter on one of the greens

Freddie Couples teeing off

We followed Freddie around for a little while.

Then I went on ahead so that I could watch Stricter.  He was two holes ahead of Freddie.

I was happy to get this video of him making this putt.

It was difficult to get video of Couples because there were to many people in my way.  But....

I did get him putting on this hole.

We were getting hungry so we met Lori back at the Veterans tent.  They were serving hamburgers, so Rob and I got one and watched a bit of the players coming in on 9.  

We finished eating and then the three of us went over the the 9th green to watch Stricter come in and then Freddie.  Freddie had started the round in the lead with Stricter in 3rd, but by the 9th Stricter was in the lead.

We went back to 11 and said our good byes to John and then Lori took us back to our car.  

We got back home and Mom w and Bella were happy to see us.  We talked about going to the Base Dining Facility for dinner, but in the end decided to just chill tonight and go in the morning.

Rob and I took Bella for a walk and then retired for the evening.

Friday 17 March ; Reunion dinner with John & Lori

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Today really is St. Patrick's Day.  It has always been my favorite holiday for some reason.  
Rob and I left Mom and took Bella for a run/ work out.  There is a 1.5 mile course along the golf course.  It has three workout stations through out the course.  They are each about 1/2 mile apart.  At the station you can do pull ups, sit ups, push ups and other type exercises. It is about 1 mile to it, which we walk, then we run the course and stop at each of the stations.  It is a loop, so two of the stations get hit twice.  Then we continue to jog until we get to the road at which time we walk back.  All total it is about 4 miles.  Bella and I are pretty whooped by the time we get back.
We chilled for a while when we got back.  
Rob went and ran some errands and Mom and I played cards.
Later that eve.  We met Lori and John at a nice pizza restaurant.  It was really good to see them and we were glad that Mom got to meet them.
We had a cocktail, then headed to our table.  We had some really yummy pizzas and a really nice visit. It was great getting together again.

We said our good bye and headed back to our little abode.  We watched a little TV before heading to bed to read.

Thursday, 16 March; Rob Returns and FAMCAMP celebrates St. Patty's day

It is still quite warm here in Tucson.  We sat outside for a little while until it got to warm.
I cleaned things up as best I could in preparation for Rob coming home.
He arrived around 10 am.  It was really nice to see him as it has been about 12 days.  That may be a record as far as time being apart goes.  No, actually, I think the Air Guard sent him to Turkey for three weeks once.
Anyway.  Today some RV sales company is bringing in some RVs and they are sponsoring a St Patty's Day with corned beef sandwiches, coleslaw, drinks, chips and potato salad.  We had planned on participating.
It was hot, and at first we had to sit in the sun, but eventually some people moved away from a table in the shade and we filled in behind them.  It was much better in the shade.  The sandwiches were good.  It was supposed to be from 12 - 3, but by 12:45 they were packing up.  Even all the RVs were gone by 1:00.  I guess they had somewhere else to be.
Rob went for a run and Mom and I played cards for the rest of the afternoon.
I fixed a nice spinach salad for dinner.  We rented Midnight (best movie for 2016) and started watching it.  Mom couldn't get into it and went to bed to read.  Rob and I watched the whole movie and were not impressed.  We really could not figure out why it won out over LaLa Land.  It was soooo much better.
We blew up the mattress and slept on it.  It was much better than the recliners/love seat.

Wednesday, 15 March; Tombstone & Bisbee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAT; # 62 AND STILL KICKIN IT!
Last night I slept sort of a combination of the recliner and the love seat.  It was not the greatest sleep ever, but it was ok.  Perhaps it is just these 62 year old bones screaming at me.  It probably wouldn't have mattered where I slept.
The plan for the day is Tombstone and Bisbee. Rob and I went to Tombstone many years ago and we were lucky enough to visit during Helldorado Days.  It was a big celebration of the time of the shoot out at OK Coral.  All the ladies were dressed up for that time period either as saloon gals, proper ladies or farmers/ranchers wives.  The men were cowboys, Doc Holliday types or other gunmen.  It was really cool.
Today, however, it was just an old western tourist town.  It was still fun.

This is the store where Rob purchased his Stetson during Heldorado Days

The stage coach is still running and the driver was giving the history of the town
Mom was taking a breather as we waited for the stage.

We stopped in here for lunch.  Good sandwiches.

This was another popular Saloon that we popped into.

They had some live entertainment going on.

From here we drove on over to Bisbee.  It was about 30 miles away.  It is an old Coper Mining town.  It was real cute.  We just mainly drove through it as we were kinda tired at this point.

 

The Copper Queen Hotel was a nice spot to sit on the patio and sip a Margarita

We drove on back to the base and had left over lunch and salad for dinner and then watched TV until bed time.  

It was a fun day.

 

Tuesday 14 March; Chill day in Tucson

It's nice to be home.  Bella seemed happy to be home as well.
I slept on the recliner last night because I was to lazy to blow up the mattress. I generally sleep in the recliner when I have a cold so that I don't cough my head off, so it was no big deal.
It is still hot here in Tucson, so we just stayed inside and chilled all day.  We played some cards and in the evening watched our favorite programs.
It was nice not to be in the car anymore.

Monday, March 13, Tempe, AZ to Tucson

Slept pretty well.  The room we had in Banning was a handicapped room with two beds.  It is designed for wheel chair access so it had a lot of space around and between the beds.  This one was a bit tighter but still nice.
Their handicapped room here was already occupied so I asked for something near the elevator so Mom wouldn't have to walk to far. We were on the second floor just around the corner from the elevator so that worked out well.  The bottom of the elevator was just across from the breakfast room so that also worked out quite well. Mom didn't have to walk very far to or from breakfast.
Bella, on the other hand, is so funny.  She always knows exactly where we are in a hotel.  She knows either from the stairs or the elevator.  When I open the door to take her out for a walk so goes either right to the stairs (when alone with me) or right to the elevator (when we are with Mom).  Same thing when we come back.  She always goes right to our door and waits for me to unlock it.  Smart little cookie that one is.
Breakfast was good.  They had the perfectly measured out waffle batter and the maker that you turn over to start and then it beeps when done.  I love those.  This one was pancakes and they were yummy.  We both had yogurt as well.
Then back to the room, packed up and headed out.
We drove through Tempe and I showed her the ASU campus and some of the fun surroundings and the lake that they made by damming up part of the river.  There were sail boats on it and other water craft.  I think no motorized are allowed.
Then we stopped in at a Walmart.  Mom has been living in winter conditions and didn't really bring proper attire for the heat of Arizona.  She wanted some short sleeved Ts and some capris.  She is also turning into a skinny mini and her clothes are to big.
She did well.  3 pairs of capris and about 5 tops for only $59.  not a bad haul.
Tucson is only two hours away, so we hit it.  We were both getting really hungry, so we stopped in Marana at a Cajun place and had a margarita and Bar B Q pulled pork sandwhiches.  We both elected to have side salads rather than fries. The salads were huge.  So was the sand which, and the sand which was super spicy.  I couldn't give any to Bella.  She, of course was not to happy about that.
Back in the car we drove in accordance to the directions given to us by destination assist.  Unfortunately, it was to the base golf course rather than to the RV park.  It is a good thing Rob and I had played golf on it, and especially good that we had wogged the exercise course along side of it.  Once I found it, I just followed the jogging course back to the RV park.
It was nice to be home.  Mom's roller walker does not work over the gravel so I helped her to and over the little fence step and parked her on the bench inside the patio.  Then I went back and grabbed my purse for the keys.  It was hot inside so I fired up both air conditioners.  
I unloaded the car, then swept off the patio, laid out the rugs, pulled out the chairs and set up the little tables and then collapsed out there with a beer.
We both sat out in the shade reading face book and emails until 5pm.  I fixed us each a plate of cheese and crackers and poured us each a margarita  and we enjoyed sitting outside in the shade until it started getting dark.  
Finally we all came inside.  I turned our salads that neither of us could eat from the restaurant into Greek salads and we ate that for dinner while watching the news and the Voice until we were both so tired we went to bed.
Rob, meanwhile, had a busy day.  He flew from LAX to Mazatlan, Mex; back to LAX and then on to Salt Lake City, Utah where he spent the night.

Good night!

Sunday, 12 March; Banning to Tempe, AZ

We woke up to daylight savings.  We sprung forward.  In stead of it being 7:00 it was 8:00 and breakfast was over in an hour.  So, we got dressed and went the the breakfast room.
It was really packed.  We ended up joining a man who was sitting by himself.  There is a Tennis tournament going on in town and the hotel is full of players and watchers.
We sat with a man who was there with two of his kids (one in College one grown)and watched yesterday.  His daughter joined us.  She works for the NFL.com network.  Very cool.  She works with David Carr (Derik= younger brother and quarter back for Oakland Raider)  It was fun talking to her about her job and those she works with.
I showered and then packed up and we hit the road.
We drove to Palm Springs so Mom could check it out.  We went on Diana Shore Blvd, Frank Sinatra, Gene Autry,.  It was really pretty

 It was fun driving through Palm Springs, Cathedral City; Palm Desert and all the little towns in that area.  I showed Mom some of the pretty golf Resorts and stuff.
We got fuel and then headed out on Why 10.  
Our destination for today was Blythe, CA.  I had hotel reservations and everything.  But, then realized that Blythe was only about an hour and a half away we decided to go on down to Phoenix.
The area is so green and awesome hills and beautiful wild flowers along the road.  It was a pretty drive.

Phoenix, is like Las Vegas;  it is huge with small cities attached to it.  I didn't really want to stop in Phoenix, but rather an area I was more familiar with.  Only problem was that I couldn't remember if it was Tempe or Mesa.
It was Tempe.  That is where ASU is and it is a very cool area. We FINALLY found a hotel.  We checked in, got settled, had a glass of wine and then went next door for dinner and a margarita.  The drink and the food was good.  I had a Cobb Salad with my margarita and Mom had a giant burger. There would be no way that I could have bit into her burger with my jaw, and Mom couldn't either.  She had to cut into it with a knife and fork.
Bella got a bit from both.
After dinner we returned to the hotel room. We watched TV, got caught up on the Blog and Face book and then finally went to bed.

Saturday, 11 March; Banning, CA

Mom tossed and turned during the night.  As it turned out she was getting tangled up in the bedding.  I mostly slept ok, but it was hot for me in the room.
I made mom a cup of coffee and then Bella and I went out for a little walk about.  I stopped into the breakfast room and grabbed a cup of coffee.
Mom took a shower and then we went for breakfast.  It was OK.  I had oatmeal and a cinnamon roll.  Mom had cinnamon roll, yogurt, and sausage.  
We went back to the room and watched the news and checked out the internet, Facebook, email, etc.  
At about noon  I took Bella out for a long walk and then brought her back to the room. It will be to noisy for her in the Casino, not to mention the smoky environment.

Mom and I drove over to it.  It is really pretty around the area.  There are mountains nearby that are snow capped. The area has received a lot of rain and everything is nice and green right now.  It is really pretty

 We gambled for about an hour or maybe a little longer.  We both started with $20.  When I lost my last quarter Mom cashed out $8.00 and then we went to brunch. It was really good.  There was tons of salad fixins; breakfast items; pork loin, roasted Turkey and Prime rib; fried, peel and eat; and coconut shrimp; Mexican; and Chinese.  Everything was soooo good.  And then beside that, It was a champagne brunch.  They were generous with their champagne.  Don't even ask me about their desserts.

I smuggled a slice of Prime Rib that I cut off the fat, sliced into small bites and hid in a napkin out for Bella.  Actually, Mom smuggled it out in her purse.

After our yummy lunch we played the Poker Machine again. I donated another $10.00 and Mom donated the rest of her $8 from her original $20.  We decided that was enough, not to mention the fact that we were still stuffed, and so went back to our hotel room

Mom and Bella took naps immediately!  I watched HBO.  I watched the 2nd half of a Bruce Willis movie, then the second half of one of the Divergent Movies = allegiant.  Mom woke up and we started watching Cider House Rules.  But, Mom fell asleep and I watched the rest of the movie.  After that, I went to sleep.

Mean while, back in Mendocino; Rob played golf and I am not sure what else, but here are the pics.

Rob seems to have a new 'do!

He looks kinda like Robert Redford!  I like it!