MEXICAN SPECTACLES

I guess I'm a sucker for a bargain, whether it's at a flea market, garage sale, or as was the case yesterday, across the border in Algodones, Mexico. Now, I probably have more sets of optical hardware, than any 10 persons combined, but as I said, I can't pass up a bargain. So, after Patty had picked up her 2 pair of bifocal, progressive lens glasses for under $100, I just couldn't let her out do me. It was back across the border yesterday morning, for more glasses that I really didn't need. At about 11am, I was finished with my eye exam, had picked out some frames, and they were sent off to the lab, along with my new prescription. I was going to come back and pick the glasses up on Friday, when I have my last dental appointment, but Patty suggested we hang out, and pick them up today. So, we had lunch, (that's me eating the best shrimp tacos in the hemisphere), walked around, and killed a couple of hours. At a little after 1pm, I picked up my new bifocal, progressive shaded lens sunglasses, and paid an astounding $59 for them, including the eye exam! To top it off, I have 2 weeks to get a second pair for $29.50! Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have a feeling that when we return to Algodones on Friday, I'll most likely have to have that 2nd pair of glasses for 1/2 price! The only bad part about yesterday, was we were ready to come back across the border at probably the worst time of day. The picture is the waiting line, and it goes all the way up to where the big American Flag is flying. We waited in line for about an hour, before crossing back across. The good part about the line was we ran into Art, Linda, Randy and Emily, who had driven down from Quartzsite. Not much more than a hi, but it was nice to see them again. This wave of storms moving through the southwest, hit us yesterday afternoon, and even the desert isn't immune from moisture, as it probably dumped an inch of rain in less than an hour. Glad we're hi and dry in the Indian Casino parking lot.

ALGODONES, MEXICO

The proper name of this small border town is Los Algodones, but most everyone shortens the name to Algodones. About 8 miles west of Yuma, AZ, an exit off Interstate 8 takes you about one mile south to the border crossing into Algodones. The vast majority of folks park in the huge parking lot adjacent to the border, and make the short walk into Mexico. When you leave, a $5 fee is charged by the Quechan Indian Tribe. We've been coming to Algodones for many years, and yesterday, I spent several hours taking care of dental issues while Patty got 2 pair of glasses. She had purchased one set of frames at Wal-Mart for $9, and already had the second pair in an old prescription pair of sunglasses. Her exam, and bifocal lenses in both pair of frames came to $89. When I finished at the dentist around 2pm, we picked up her new glasses (yes, that's same day, out the door service), and walked back across the border. Well, not exactly. Even though U.S. Customs has opened a new building, replacing the old single wide trailer, it sometimes still requires a wait in line. We waited approx. 30 minutes before showing our passports, and then walked back to the car. Last year, the wait could be as long as a couple of hours. I have one more visit scheduled with my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando. It takes just a couple of days for the crowns to be made, but this is the busy time of year, and the earliest that Carmen could get me back in, is this coming Friday. So, we have 3 days to relax, and then, when we're finished in Algodones on Friday, it's back to Quartzsite for a week or so.

ON TO YUMA

Even though it was a short visit, we enjoyed getting together with our friends in Quartzsite. When we were in Modesto in mid November, Linda & A.J. were in the early stages of recovery, after Linda gave one of her kidneys to A.J., who had been on dialysis. Even though they were doing well, there were a few issues, which have now disappeared. It was so good to see Linda feeling better, and she and Art able to get away for a week or so. Yesterday, we drove the 90 miles south to Yuma, where we parked at the new Indian Casino, west of Yuma, at the I8 exit to the border crossing into Algodones, Mexico. This morning, I have two dental appointments, starting at 10am. I'll be glad to get past, what seems like an annual ordeal with dentists, and get on with the fun stuff, like riding my KLR in the desert. When we're finished with dentists, optomitrists, and pharmacies here in Algodones, we'll be heading back to Quartzsite for some more camping in the desert. When we opened email last night, we were surprised to find that Patty's brother Michael, had designed and sent a "Travel by Chance" poster, which I displayed this morning. Thanks Mike, it's a great addition to our travel blog!

DOIN THE "Q"

Quartzsite, AZ is a small little community of about 2,000, that is situated in southwestern Arizona, about 20 miles east of the Colorado River. It sits in a large desert valley, and is an oasis along I10, between Phoenix and Los Angeles. This is the time of year when tens of thousands of RV'ers migrate to Quartzsite for a conglomerate of flea markets, mineral and gem shows, and an RV show under one of the biggest tents I've ever seen.
The B.L.M. has designated thousands of acres of land around Quartzsite for RV camping, and that's exactly where the above photos were taken. We're parked next to our friends, Art, Linda, Randy & Emily, about a mile south of Quartzsite, in the BLM La Posa West area. The fee for 14 days is $40, and there is access to water, Dumpsters and a dump station. We've enjoyed the visit with our friends, and one short motorcycle ride in the desert, but we are leaving today for more dental work in Algodones, Mexico. I have an appointment tomorrow to finish what was started last week. We'll most likely park at the new Indian Casino which is west of Yuma, and only about a mile from the border crossing. When I was there last week, I noticed a large area full of RV's and trucks next to the casino. As I suspected, it's OK to park there for free, and that's where we are headed this morning. It's about 90 miles from Quartzsite to Yuma, and we'll be making the return trip when we're finished with dental and optical stuff in Algodones. Looking forward to parking with another group of friends here in Quartzsite, next week.

CATS AND DOGS

It's been almost a month, since we rescued Gracie, and brought her home from Flagstaff. The first few days around the Chance household, with a new cat, were rather interesting, to put it mildly. Sami, our 12 year old Beagle, had become accustomed to being the only 4 legged child, since we lost our last cat of 18 years. That was about 2 years ago, and even though Sami was raised from a puppy with a cat, she still has the hound instinct of chasing smaller critters, especially cats. With Gracie new in the house, she spent quite a bit of time under our bed, which was a safe haven from Sami. Gradually, the two started to adjust to each other, and now, except for a few hisses, and a strong left hook (paw), they are now very tolerant of one another. Gracie, is into everything, as the pictures show. We think she is about a year and a half old, but the kitten in her is still very much alive, and her antics are sometimes hysterical. Our two 4 legged kids are doing well with each other, and the entertainment factor has gone up several levels with Gracie in the house. The weather has been typical, winter, low desert, with daytime temps around 70, and the lows in the mid 40's. We're looking forward to seeing many of our friends in a few days, down in Quartzsite.

MEXICO DENTISTRY - PART II

My appointment yesterday with the Periodontist in Algodones, Mexico, went well, and now, the infamous broken tooth is exposed enough for the Endodontist to install a post. The total charge for the minor surgery was $160. The bad news is that I have to wait about a week for the gums to heal before taking the next step. So, today, it's back home to Lake Havasu for a few days, then we will be meeting Art, Linda, Randy, Emily, Jerry, Sue, and perhaps some of our other friends in Quartzsite on the 14th. We had intended to hang out in Quartzsite for a week or so, but, I have to be back at the Dentist(s) on the 18th, to continue the process of fixing the broken tooth, and some other dental stuff. While in Algodones this next trip, we'll also be doing some optical upgrading, and take the opportunity to pick up some meds for ourselves, and a few friends. Our plan is to return to Quartzsite after all of my dental work is done, which hopefully will be around the 23rd. Another group of friends (Jim, Megan, Len, Ellie, and ?) will be arriving on the 25th, when they finish working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction. On this second stop, we should be able to stay put for a week or so, and relax a little bit, before heading back home.

MEXICAN DENTISTRY

The photo above, is a view from the U.S. side of the border crossing, at Algodones, Mexico, and I took the picture in the huge parking lot, run by the local Quechan Indian Tribe. From the parking lot, it's a short walk across the border into Algodones, where this small Mexican border town is well known for it's multitude of pharmacies, dentists, and optical businesses. Patty and I have been getting our glasses and some meds here for years. Last winter was the first time I tried the services of a Mexican Dentist, with good results. I must admit, for the first time visitor, this scene isn't one that inspires a lot of confidence in what lies on the other side of the border. In fact, if one pays attention to all of the violence going on along the Mexican border, particularly in border towns like Juarez, Laredo, and Tijuana, you might take a look at the above, get back into your car, and dismiss the idea of obtaining any services in Mexico. Despite what is happening along other parts of the Mexican/U.S. Border, we have never felt unsafe in Algodones. Yesterday, I had an appointment with my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando, who I saw last winter. It turned out that my broken front upper tooth is more problematic than I had thought. The good news is that despite being broken near the gum line, it can still be saved but, a post has to be installed in the tooth. Carmen sent me to an Endodontist who after examining the tooth, said he could install a post, but, I need to have minor gum surgery, in order for enough of the tooth to be exposed. This morning, I have an appointment with a Periodontist, who will trim back the gums around the tooth. I know this is a lot of specific information, but the point of all this, is that all the dental services available at, or through your local dentist, is also available in Algodones. One of the other positives, is that you don't have to wait a week or two for crowns, or other lab generated prosthetics. Generally, your crown, or bridge is ready the next day. The really big positive of utilizing the services of Mexican Dentists, is the much lower cost. About 75% less than U.S. costs is the general rule. My dental insurance pays the same percentages, and with a yearly maximum of $2,000, I'm able to have a lot more work done, without getting into a purely out of pocket situation. I'm sure there are some horror stories out there, but so far, I have had only a positive experience with the dental services in Algodones. If you are staying in the Yuma, AZ area, Algodones is a short 5-10 mile drive. I still have a lot more work to be done, so stay tuned.

HELLO 2010

Happy new year everyone! January is going to be a busy month for us as we transition into 2010.
Right before the Rodeo in Las Vegas, (About late Nov), I broke a front tooth, and pretty badly.
Facing 2 weeks of working with the public, and no time for a dental appointment, I got out the super glue, and stuck the tooth back where it belonged. After a few minutes of pressure, it seemed to be holding, and then the problem became the excessive glue that had adhered to my gums and tongue. After a few days, the glue disappeared and the tooth was still in place. Well, this self dentistry worked for about a month, until the day after Christmas, as I was chewing on a piece of bacon, the tooth came out. I knew that it was a one shot deal, as my attempt to glue it back for a second time didn't work. Next week, I have an appointment at my Mexican Dentist, and with any luck, the toothless, Bubba smile, will be a thing of the past.
On January 16th, the Quartzsite RV Show and Flea Market kicks off, and we'll be parking the motor home in the desert for about a week. Then, we'll be headed to Yuma for another trek across the border to Algodones, Mexico for new glasses, and possibly some more dental work. We probably will be back at Quartzsite near the end of January, to meet some other friends who will be arriving, after they finish working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction. So, the wheels on the motor home will be turning for most of the month.
My political opinion blog the other day, generated some emails that were mostly supportive. I'm not using this very small blog as a means to sway opinions, but I think there comes a time when one must speak out about issues that are important, at least to them. When I talk about excessive federal spending, and unsustainable budget deficits, it's not a partisan issue. It's an American issue that really started to get out of control under the Bush administration, and continues, way out of control under the Obama administration. I just finished reading Sarah Palin's book, and despite the pundits who criticize her, she understands the consequences of an out of control federal government. It's a good read, and if nothing else, I admire her courage to be different, and her willingness to stand up to entrenched political practices, which have become increasingly corrupt. These political ramblings will probably alienate some folks, and that's OK. The last time I checked, the first amendment was still intact, and my tolerance for remaining silent has just about reached it's limit. My son Mike sent me an email link that is very informative, and if you want to get involved in the current health care debate, I recommend checking it out - http://www.actionarmy.org

GOODBYE 2009

2009 is about to become a memory, and it seems like only yesterday that the year started! Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new decade, and with it's inception, many challenges face our country. Perhaps a step up on the proverbial soapbox is in order, as tonight we step into the new year, and I believe that our country has come to a crossroad. I'm neither Republican, nor Democrat when it comes to politics. My philosophy about life in general is a conservative viewpoint, that attempts to utilize good old common sense, with a strong emphasis on individual rights, limited government, and a firm belief in "We the people" as the foundation of all government actions. It seems to me that many of our national elected politicians have forgotten that government is supposed to work for the people, not the opposite. When I hear, and read about the federal government spending money by the TRILLIONS, that they don't have, I'm starting to wonder if any of these bureaucrats have any common sense at all. Instead of fixing existing programs like Social Security and Medicare that are about to go broke, the wisdom in Washington is to borrow more money, funding new trillion dollar programs, that the majority of the people don't want. When I have to balance my checkbook, my city, county and state have to balance their checkbooks, why is it that the feds just print more money, and don't adhere to the same principles that everyone else must live by? Congress just extended the federal deficit again, to the tune of over a trillion dollars. That is on top of an existing deficit that was already at more than 10 trillion dollars! This is madness that will have severe consequences down the road. If this so called health care reform passes, more unfunded mandates in the billions of dollars will be passed on to the states via Medicaid, unless you live in Nebraska or Louisiana, where 2 senators received backroom deals to buy their votes. As the old saying goes - the crap rolls downhill, and you are starting to see the effects at the local levels. Everything from budget cuts in local police and fire, to the State of Arizona closing Interstate Rest Areas because of a lack of money. Yet, the priorities at the federal level seem to be all about "social reform", " social justice", the expansion of the federal government with new multi billion dollar entitlements, and a blind eye to the impact all of this is having on local and state governments, and their people. Am I angry? You bet I am. It's easy to be apathetic, and turn a blind eye, and unfortunately, that's exactly what most Americans have done for decades. The people do have power, but it's not an individual power, it's a collective power. For "We the people" to have any meaning, it's the consensus that develops on election day. In order for this madness to stop, we the people must send a new message to Washington, and tomorrow, starts the year that this message must be heard.

LAZY IN QUARTZSITE

We left Tucson on Saturday morning, after Marc and Laila joined us for breakfast in the motor home. The drive to Quartzsite was mostly freeway, and just before sunset, we parked in the desert, about a mile east of town. We're a little bit ahead of the huge wave of RV'ers that will be arriving in the next 2-3 weeks. There's lots of activity at the various vendor areas, as many were in the process of setting up their booths, and displaying their stuff. Yesterday, we spent several hours at two of the larger swap meet locations, and of course, we found a few things we just could not live without. The weather was almost perfect, in the high 60's, and not a cloud in the sky. I picked up a Sunday paper, and when we returned to the motor home, it was mostly an afternoon of reading and relaxing. After all, that's what we do best, and it looks like Gracie is fitting right into the family. For dinner, I BBQ'd a couple of New York steaks on the brand new Weber that I purchased before we left for Tucson. I've been using what I call the "throwaway" gas grills for years, and decided it was time for a nice motor home BBQ. It worked so well, I almost overcooked the steaks. Today, we'll check out a few more swap meet locations, then head for home tomorrow.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Patty and I brought a prime rib roast to Tucson, for our Christmas Day Dinner, and it turned out perfectly! A quick thanks to Chef Dan in Coos Bay, OR. for the expert telephone advice to Patty, as neither of us had cooked a prime rib in a long time. It's nice to have a Chef in the family. Seated at Marc & Chandra's table are from the left - Our favorite girl, Laila, Patty, Sami, Marc, Chandra, Stacey, Troy, Hanna, and Stacey's dad, Cliff. It was a nice day in the Chance house, and the only thing that would have made it better, is if our other two boys, Mike and David, would have been there.
This morning, Miss Laila will be visiting the Chance house on wheels, where Grandpa will be fixing Laila's favorite breakfast, a plate full of pancakes. She will also be seeing our new kitty cat for the first time. About mid day, we'll be traveling west to Quartzsite for a few days parked in the desert, then home for a few weeks before returning to Quartzsite, and a meeting with many of our friends. Life is good!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

I have always believed that Christmas is a magical time for young children, and watching our Grand Daughter Laila opening some of her gifts last night on Christmas Eve, was very special, and exciting. After she put on her new sponge bob pajamas, the wrapping paper was flying in all directions. She was having a great time, and at age 4, she has a much better grasp on all things connected to Christmas. Thanks to Claudia and Marty, (Laila's Aunt & Uncle), we had a Mexican dinner, with homemade Tamales that were some of the best I've ever eaten. Aunt Sami joined Grandma and Grandpa for the Christmas Eve celebration. This morning, we head back to Marc & Chandra's house for a Christmas Day Breakfast, then later, we'll put in the Prime Rib Roast that we brought from Lake Havasu. I think there will be more than enough in the feed trough today, for everybody. It's days like these, that I have to pause, and reflect on the many things that Patty and I have, and are grateful for. Even though our other 2 boys are many hundreds of miles away, Mike and David have navigated their way through life's challenges, and are both doing quite well. It's been many years since we have had all 3 boys together, but we both have vowed to make that happen in the future. Can anybody say Caribbean or Mexican Cruise? Tomorrow, we'll be heading for one of our favorite winter destinations, Quartzsite, AZ, which is right on the way home to Lake Havasu. This is the time of year that thousands of snowbirds in their RV's, start to gather in Quartzsite. We will only be there a couple of days, kind of like a reconnaissance run, before we return to Quartzsite in a few weeks for a longer stay.
Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, and happy birthday to Dan's Aunt Martha in Stockton, who's birthday was yesterday.

CHRISTMAS IN TUCSON

We arrived in Tucson yesterday afternoon, and made a quick stop at Beaudry RV, to pick up a part that had been on order from Monaco for about 2 months. Even though Beaudry has emerged from a Chapter 11 filing, it is but a shell of it's former self. It seems that the person who called me about the part, was one of many who have been laid off, and no one could find the part that I had ordered. After about 45 minutes of searching, the part was finally located, and we were on our way to the Pima Co. Fairgrounds, which has become our home when we park the motor home in Tucson. At $20 a night with full 50 amp hookups, it's quiet, and only about 7-8 miles from Marc and Chandra's house. We spent the evening with the kids, and had a nice Spaghetti dinner, before heading back to the motor home. The picture was taken this morning, as Gracie continues to explore the motor home on her first trip away from Lake Havasu. There are a lot of firsts going on in her life right now, like becoming roommate to a dog, traveling in a moving house, and adjusting to new surroundings and a new life. Amazingly, she is adapting quite well, and except for her fear of ceiling fans, has pretty much taken over the Chance household. As Patty says, she now owns the house, the dog, the motor home, and of course has captured our hearts. She and Sami aren't the best of buddies quite yet, and it's doubtful that they ever will be, but, their relationship has progressed to one of tolerance. We left them "Home Alone", yesterday evening, and despite a little anxiousness on our part, we returned to the motor home, and found everything to be normal. Today is Christmas Eve, and we will be spending the afternoon/evening with Marc, Chandra and Laila. Uncle Marty and Aunt Claudia will be joining us later today, and it will be fun to experience the excitement of Christmas with our granddaughter Laila.

MOVING FORWARD

Since bringing Gracie home on the 14th, things around the Chance house have been interesting, to say the least. When we first introduced the newest member of our family to just our bedroom, Sami was instantly aware of something different. She smelled at the bedroom door, barked to get in, and before seeing the new cat, just knew there was a critter in there that she had to chase. The second day, we left Gracie in the bedroom undisturbed, in order for her to get adjusted to her new surroundings. On the 16th, we let Sami in the bedroom to smell, and see Gracie on a limited basis. More of the same on the 17th. Yesterday, we left the bedroom door open for most of the day. Even though there were a few doubts in the beginning, yesterday proved that the new relationship between dog and cat will evolve into at least one of tolerance. What we've discovered, is that Gracie's personality is naturally inquisitive like most cats, but also a bit aggressive when necessary. In other words, when confronted with Sami in her face, she stands her ground, and actually causes Sami to back away. This is what we had hoped for, and not a cat that would always look to run away, which would accelerate Sami's naturally instinct to chase and hunt. So, even though we have a ways to go, it looks like at the very least, these very loved animals of ours, will eventually have a relationship of tolerance. Today, Gracie gets her first introduction to the motor home, where she will spend a good part of her life.

A RIDE IN THE DESERT

It's about a week until Christmas, and even though some parts of the country are cold and miserable, that's not the case here in western Arizona. Yesterday's temperature was just shy of 70 degrees, and the Kawasaki KLR had been sitting in the garage for over 6 months. It felt like a day to do some exploring in the desert, so I headed toward the north end of town and rode for a couple of hours on roads and trails that I had not yet tackled. Since I've always done a lot of riding by myself, which I enjoy tremendously, I have a healthy respect for my capabilities, my bike's potential, and the terrain where I'm riding. As I get older, I try to limit my riding to areas where I don't get into any serious trouble. Except for one 4 wheel drive road up to where I took the bottom picture with Lake Havasu in the background, the ride yesterday was mostly on dirt roads north of the airport. One area that I have been wanting to check out for a long time was Craggy Wash, a BLM primitive RV/camping area, just past the airport. Even though the limit is supposed to be 14 days, it looked like some of the RV's were there for the winter. In a few weeks, we'll be parking our motor home in the desert near Quartzsite, for the annual RV show and flea market. It looks like we'll most likely be parking in our usual spot near mile marker 99 on hwy 95, south of Quartzsite, on or about January 15th. The big tent opens on the 16th, and some of our friends won't be arriving for about another week. When the Barrett-Jackson auction is over on the 24th, a few of our friends working that event will be heading for Quartzsite. Hopefully, Art & Linda, and Everett & Lori will be able to make the trip from California this year.

A CAT IS SAVED

It's finally official. After about a month of emails to and from Flagstaff, Gracie is ours, and at a safe and loving home for the rest of her life. When Patty saw her picture on an internet Pet Rescue site, she knew it was the cat she wanted, and the wheels started turning. It's hard to believe that Gracie was snatched from the pound by the rescue group Paw Placement, back in August of this year, right before she was to be euthanized. Why she had not been adopted was a mystery to Patty and I, because she is a beautiful cat, and seems to have a loving personality. She has been fostered by several volunteers for the past months, and has been spayed, micro chipped, and treated for a skin disorder. Her unknown future is now secured, and we're happy to have her. Now, if we can smooth the introduction process with her and our Beagle, Sami, everything will be perfect. Even though Sami was raised from a puppy with our last cat, she still has the hound instinct of chasing what she perceives to be a prey animal. One good scratch on her nose, will probably cool that instinct very quickly. We have kept Gracie mostly isolated in our bedroom since bringing her home 2 days ago. Today, we will let the two of them see each other a little more, and hopefully, Sami will start to accept Gracie as a member of the family. Once again, it's always good to be home, this time from our 2 weeks in Las Vegas, working the National Finals Rodeo. As is the case most of the year, there won't be any grass growing under the wheels of the motor home. We will be heading to Tucson in about a week, to spend Christmas with Marc, Chandra, and Laila.

THE LAST NFR RODEO

The pictures show our workplace for the last 10 days, inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, and it will probably be the last for Patty and I. The company we work for, (MainGate) has had the NFR official merchandise license for the last 31 years, but, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has awarded next years contract to another company. The bottom line is - we are out of a job next year! Even though it is a long 10 days of dealing with mobs of people, we have enjoyed the NFR much more than any of the other events we have worked for MainGate. This year, our gross sales were down considerably, mostly due to the economy. But, even with reduced sales, this event provides us with a nice boost to the bank account right before the holidays. Our partners in the booth for the past 3 years have been Jim & Megan Stebbins, and we will miss working with our good friends, who have made the entire experience much more enjoyable. Today, we are enjoying the morning of leisure, and will make the 3 hr drive back to our home in Lake Havasu City. Tomorrow, if we can dodge the snowstorms, we will be driving to Flagstaff, where a 1 year old Siamese/Snowshoe kitty cat awaits our arrival. Patty has been on the "countdown to kitty" for the last few weeks, and with any luck, tomorrow she will fill the kitty void of the last 2 years.

COWBOYS & COWGIRLS

Today will be the 4th of our 10 days here at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. Patty and I share a merchandise booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center with our partners of 3 years, Jim & Megan Stebbins. We first met Jim & Megan in Skagway, Alaska, the first year we work camped in 2004, and we have been friends ever since. Our booth, which I hope to have pictures of for the blog, (left my camera at home), is one of about 15, in several venues around Las Vegas. We have been busy working, with not much time for anything else. The hours of the Cowboy Christmas at the convention center are 10-5, but we have to be at our booth much earlier in order to put away our merchandise that is replenished from the previous days sales. Then, when the doors open, it's pretty much non-stop sales for the next 7 hours, with maybe time for a quick potty or lunch break. Last year, the 50th anniversary of the NFR, we set records, with sales reaching into the multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars. This year, sales have declined, but by the time we're done, our commission check will still be substantial. Patty is still on "countdown to kitty", and is very anxious to get to Flagstaff to pick up her rescue cat, and bring her home to Lake Havasu.

RODEO SUPER BOWL

Today we start working in our merchandise booth, in the Las Vegas Convention Center, at the 51st Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), National Finals Rodeo (NFR). This is the 8th year for us at this huge event that not only includes 10 nightly performances of rodeo events, but 3 convention centers that are full of vendors, selling ranch lifestyle merchandise, and a lot of other stuff. We have been busy the last 3 days, setting up our booth and getting it ready for the thousands of people that will visit the convention center during the next 10 days. Last year we set sales records because it was the 50th NFR. This year our goals are set a little lower, due primarily to the state of the economy, and the fact that "the big one" was last year. We're looking forward to getting past these next 10 days, because Patty has made arrangements for us to pick up her kitty cat in Flagstaff, the day after we get home. As she says this year at the rodeo, "it's countdown to kitty".

LAS VEGAS RODEO

This morning, we are pointing the motor home toward Las Vegas, where we will spend the next two weeks working our 8th, and probably last National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The company we have contracted with on a part time basis for the last 6 years has lost the contract for the right to sell the
NFR official merchandise, and as a result, next year at this time, we'll probably be right here at home in Lake Havasu City. Patty will be excited for this event to be over, as she has made arrangements to pick up her new kitty in Flagstaff, as soon as we return from Vegas. I'm usually the one who counts down the workdays at the rodeo, but I have a feeling, this year she'll be more anxious than I, for the event to be over. We don't have a lot of free time while working the NFR, but I suspect that I'll get a few entries and pictures posted on the blog while we're in the city of lost wages.

FAST TOP FUEL HYDROS

Yesterday was all about who got to the liquid quarter mile finish line first. Even though there were only 5 top fuel hydros, the final race was worth the price of admission. After picking up Mike and Marc at Marty & Claudia's house, we again started the day with a Cracker Barrel breakfast, then headed for Firebird. The pictures show Mike & Marc at the TFH pit of Hot Licks, then 2 BAH going down the track, and the final picture shows the aftermath of the spectacular alcohol hydro crash on Saturday. Watching the slower classes isn't all that exciting, but one of the added attractions, was the circle boat racers, which is very exciting. There were 6 super stock boats, sporting mostly big block Chevy motors, that run around 100 mph on the straights. When those boats go hard left to make the sharp turn, anything can happen, and it makes for a fun race to watch. We walked over to the pit area, and talked to a couple of the circle boat racers, and told them that it looked like they were having too much fun. As with lots of fun activities, it's not hard to picture yourself involved, until you start to reconcile all of your other obligations, like family, work, and everything else that requires your time. No doubt, it would be a blast! The final race of the day was of course, top fuel hydro. The boat, "problem child" needed to run a little over 260 mph to back up an earlier run of 260, and they did it, running 265 mph in 4.53 seconds. That run upped the national record from 255 to 26o. It's hard to believe these boats accelerate so hard, that they cover the quarter mile in almost the same time as the top fuel cars. It was a good, no, a great weekend, especially the opportunity to spend some time with my two sons, Mike and Marc. This morning, I drive the motor home back home, and Patty and I will be getting ready to travel to Las Vegas, where we'll be working our 8th National Finals Rodeo.

DRAG BOATS & SUNSHINE

I arrived at Phoenix's Firebird Raceway on Thursday night, the day before my two sons, Mike and Marc were to meet me. Mike flew into Tucson from Augusta, GA on Friday, and the two of them and my grand daughter Laila drove up to Phoenix Friday afternoon. They are staying at Aunt Claudia & Uncle Marty's house in Chandler for the weekend, where Claudia fixed dinner for all of us on Friday and Saturday night. Yesterday, I picked up the boys in the morning, and we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, before heading out to the race track. The weather this weekend is almost perfect, in the mid 70's, no clouds and more importantly for the boat racers, no wind with glass smooth water. Drag boat racing has always been a passion for the 3 of us, ever since we first watched a race at Turlock Lake, outside of Modesto, CA in the mid 1970's. There has never been a lot of money in drag boat racing, so the racers have always been true enthusiasts who participate in the sport, not because their is a potential pay off, but because they just love to go fast, down the liquid quarter mile. There are quite a few entries, for this final race of the season, but the number of Top Fuel Hydro's is less than normal, with the entry number at only 5. We watched one of the big boys detonate a motor yesterday, and when we got over to their pit, we witnessed exactly what mass destruction really is. Almost every part of the motor was destroyed, costing the owner tens of thousands of dollars in a heartbeat. Considering that the payout for winning Top Fuel is ten thousand dollars, it's easy to see that these guys aren't here for the money. There was one spectacular crash in Blown Alcohol Hydro, but with the safety capsules that are mandatory in the faster boats, the driver was recovered quickly, and appeared to have not suffered any injuries. It was a good day, and fun to share the enjoyment with my two favorite guys.

HOME AGAIN

We left Art & Linda's at about 9:30 am, yesterday morning, and drove the 532 miles home to Lake Havasu City, AZ, arriving at 8 pm. I usually make this trip in two days, but we were anxious to get home, the traffic wasn't bad, and we had a tailwind, so I just kept driving. I'll be home today, then leave tomorrow in the motor home, headed to Phoenix for the drag boat races at Firebird. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my two boys, Mike and Marc. As I mentioned, Patty is on a mission for a new cat, and thinks she has found one that needs to be rescued in Flagstaff. If she doesn't drive to Flagstaff this weekend, I'm sure we'll be headed that way when I get back on Monday. This picture was sent to us from the Pet Rescue folks, and unless there's a major road block, I have a feeling that we're about to have a new addition to the family.

BACK TO ARIZONA

We finished with our annual medical appointments yesterday afternoon, and after reviewing the lab reports, everything looks good for another year. We don't have mammogram results yet, but Patty is convinced, that report will also be normal. We picked up Sami from the vet, after she had her teeth cleaned, and unfortunately, one of her upper, front canines had to be extracted. We have been watching the tooth for about a year now, and knew that eventually, it would have to come out. So, yesterday evening, and this morning, she's getting lots of loves and sympathy. We stopped at Jamestown H-D, and visited with Allen, and learned that his wife Karen (Art & Linda's daughter), is recovering nicely from a broken leg. We didn't get a chance to see Karen, but wish her a speedy recovery. We also stopped at Jerry and Sue Turnshek's house for a short visit. They did a really nice job in remodeling their house, and were busy working on one of their rentals nearby. By the time we got back to Art & Linda's, it was well after dark, and I hit the sack fairly early. Sincere thanks to the Mitchell's for their parking spot, and hospitality. Today, we head back south, and I'll be taking the motor home to Phoenix this weekend for the Drag Boat National Finals at Firebird Raceway. My oldest son Mike will be flying into Tucson on Friday, and he and Marc will also be headed to Firebird for the races. Patty has found a cat on the internet that needs to be rescued in Flagstaff, AZ, and will be making the 3 hr drive while I'm at the races. Not sure if I'll come home to a new member of the family, or if the kitty will remain in Flagstaff until we finish working the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Stay tuned!

A BEAUTIFUL HOME

We have known Art & Linda Mitchell for about 25 years, going back to the early 80's, before they bought Modesto Harley-Davidson. After I retired from the CHP, I was elected Director of the Modesto Harley Owners Group in 1990 & 91, and worked closely with Art & Linda on various projects and events. In 92, I went to work for Art at the shop, after he & Linda bought out their partner, and I took care of most of the motorcycle sales for the next 3-4 years. In 95, Patty & I formed a partnership with Art & Linda, to build a second Harley-Davidson Dealership
in Jamestown, CA, which we operated for the next 6 years. In June of 2001, we exited the business and Art & Linda's daughter & son-in-law, Karen and Allen, took over management of Jamestown H-D. We retired & headed for Alaska that summer of 2001, and ended up going back to Alaska in the summers of 2004, 05, 06, and 07. Most business partnerships don't work for a number of reasons but, our relationship with the Mitchell's has always been positive, and we regard them as the very best of friends. We will always be grateful for the opportunities that unfolded for us, through our friendship and business relationship with Art & Linda.
Yesterday, we drove to Sonora for the start of two days of medical appointments. We stopped to visit with Barbara Sistek, a nurse buddy of Patty's, who helped us move from Jamestown to Arizona, back in 2002. When we got back to Modesto, we had dinner with Bruce and Karen Pryor, and we caught up with all that's going on in both of our lives. After dinner, when we got back to Art & Linda's, we had a chance to see George & Alexa Mitchell and their new 6 month old baby boy, Drake, who kept a smile on his face most of the evening. Their daughter, Taylor is about to turn 5, and has grown a bunch since we last saw her. It was a busy day, but one where we saw lots of old friends, and learned what's going on with many more.

THE MITCHELL CLAN

We spent a good part of the morning visiting with Art & Linda, then drove over to John & Mary's house, where we saw their new baby girl Morgan, for the first time. What a cutie! John & Mary live on the southwest side of Modesto, and have a great older home, on acreage that is in the transition from old walnut trees to new ones. When we left, it was just about time for dinner, so we stopped at the grocery store, picked up a few things, and headed back to Art & Linda's, where we have the motor home parked. We had a nice dinner, visited some more, and enjoyed a campfire in their fire pit, in the back yard. Patty's son David called as he was driving to work at Doctors Hospital in Modesto, and we arranged to meet him at work, so we could at least say hi. When we got to the emergency room where Dave works, Patty told me not to breathe until we left. There were lots of sick people in the waiting room, and I was glad I wasn't one of them. We got the quick tour of the 43 bed ER, of which Dave was the night shift RN supervisor. We are both so proud of Dave, and where he has taken his career. His job is not only recession proof, but also very portable, not to mention the fact that the pay for skilled medical professionals is not too bad! We couldn't visit very long, as most of those 43 beds were filled, and Dave was quite busy with his responsibilities. When we got back to the motor home, it was time for bed, and a busy day looming on the horizon.

A TRIP TO CA

We left Lake Havasu in the motor home on Friday morning, and drove as far as Bakersfield, where we stopped at the Wal-Mart on the north end of town. It's about 525 miles from home to Modesto, and this stop is one we've made many times, as it's a little over half way. We arrived at Art & Linda's house about mid day, and after getting parked, drove the jeep to Mitchell's Modesto Harley-Davidson. Yesterday was the annual "spin the discount wheel" party at the store, so there was a pretty good crowd when we arrived. It was good to see AJ and Linda recovering nicely, after AJ received one of Linda's kidneys only a few weeks ago. Art was busy most of the time we were at the store, but when we all returned to the house, we caught up with what's been happening in our lives. While at the shop, we went next door to Modesto Yamaha, and said congratulations to John, who is a new father. Mary gave birth about 6 weeks ago to a baby girl named Morgan, who became Art & Linda's 8th grandchild. Before leaving the shops, we saw some old friends, Bill & Diane Todd and Scooter. Patty and I have know Scooter for almost 30 years, and we hadn't seen him for about 4 years. Except for a little more gray, the man never changes. We vowed not to wait another 4 years before seeing each other, and talked about a Yuma reunion run before we're all too old to ride our Harley's. Today, we're just visiting before we take care of our medical appointments on Monday & Tuesday, then head for home on Wednesday.

A QUIET MORNING

Yesterday, we drove the 160 miles from Lake Havasu, to Buckeye, and met Marc, for the transfer of our Granddaughter. As many situations are, it was bittersweet saying goodbye to a very special little girl, who brightened our life for a full week. On the other hand, this morning is a return to our normal routine, and the quietness is almost deafening. A 4 year old is at the age where communication isn't much of a problem any longer but, reasoning with a 4 year old, well, that's another story altogether. Even though it wasn't a frequent event, by the end of the week, Patty was a master at turning "No", or "I don't want to" into something else entirely. Grandpa was still having a little trouble, but it's kind of surprising how quickly parenting skills have a way of not ever disappearing completely. We joked with Marc that it was kind of like dejavu all over again. With only a couple of small bumps in the road, we had a great week, and look forward to the next visit, which should be around Christmas. Tomorrow, we point the motor home north for a quick trip to CA for our annual medical checkups, and a teeth cleaning for the super spoiled Beagle.

A BEDTIME STORY

Yesterday was the end of a week that we have had Laila with us at our house in Lake Havasu. Our Grand Daughter just turned 4 in October, and is at the age where you can explore many different things through conversation. There isn't a lot that she doesn't understand, and it's a joy to engage her mind, that often surprises us with insightful, and sometimes comical analysis of whatever the subject happens to be. Sami, our 12 year old Beagle, has been a trooper during this past week. She has nothing but patience with Laila's attempts to make her a play partner, and never growls or acts aggressive. They are often inseparable, with Laila taking on the role of caretaker whenever it's breakfast, dinner, or treat time. This morning, we will be driving back to Buckeye, west of Phoenix, where Grandma and Grandpa will say goodbye, and Laila will go back to Tucson with Mom and Dad. It's been a wonderful week with our Grand Daughter, that has provided us, and hopefully her, with some great memories. Today is Veterans Day, and there is a blog by Nick Russell, that says it all - http://badnickblog.com

BOB & SHIRL IN HAVASU

Bob & Shirl Kase, our friends who we visited at their home in PA this summer, were in Lake Havasu City yesterday. They had driven their motor home and Lucas Oil/Geico merchandise trailer from Las Vegas, where the recent NHRA drag race had been held. There is an awning business in town, that builds many of the awnings for the race teams and several of the merchandise trailers. With an appointment yesterday morning, an awning was being fitted for Bob & Shirl's trailer pictured above. Since it was an all day job, I picked them up in the morning, and we hung out at the house, catching up on all of the latest. They brought a small, inflatable Geico for Laila, and she carried the thing around for most of the day. When it was bedtime, she still had it in her hands, and it replaced one of her stuffed toys in the bedroom. It probably won't continue to be a constant companion, but it's sometimes amazing that the simplest toy can be such a hit. It was mid afternoon when we dropped Bob & Shirl off at their motor home, and after the good byes, we took Laila back to Rotary Park for a visit to another playground that she hadn't yet experienced. When the sun started to set, it was time to reluctantly leave, and call it a day.

A NEW FRIEND

Yesterday, we drove back to London Bridge Park on the Bridgewater Channel, for some more play time on the playground equipment. This time, we were a little better prepared, and had some duck food for the many water birds that hang around the channel. While feeding the ducks, there was another family close by, with a similar aged young lady named Courtney. Laila shared some of her hot dog buns with Courtney, and they had fun, throwing bread into the water for all of the ducks that had gathered for a bite to eat. Even though they only spent a few minutes together, when we were leaving, they spontaneously gave each other a hug, and said goodbye. It was a very cute moment, and of course, I didn't have the camera ready to capture it digitally. Lake Havasu City has some very nice parks, so we drove across the London Bridge to the other side of the channel, and stopped at Rotary Park, where there was an even larger playground structure. When Laila had climbed to the 3rd level, Grandma was hovering around the bottom, trying to coax her back down to a lower level, where the anxiety level would be a little lower. During the course of the next half hour or so, Laila was up and down a few more times before it was time to get home and watch the Dallas NASCAR race. I showed Laila on the TV where Mommy and Daddy were sitting in Bombardier's corporate suite, watching the race, but she was a little frustrated, that race coverage didn't include a close up shot of Mom & Dad. It was another good day with our grand daughter, and we wrapped it up with a new movie that Laila picked out at the store - Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.

SAND AND SEAPLANES

Since moving to Lake Havasu City in 2002, we become more and more aware each year, of the many different activities that take place here, particularly during the so called winter months. One such event, that we had not known about, is the remote controlled sea plane classic, that is taking place this weekend at Windsor Beach State Park. After standing on the beach for a few minutes, watching the planes landing and taking off right in front of us, a lady came over and asked Laila, if she would like to help fly her seaplane. Being a bit tentative, we encouraged her to "go for it", and we walked the few steps to the water, where Laila watched her new friend control the take off, flight, and landing of her seaplane. With a maximum of 7 seaplanes in the air at any given time, it was a little difficult for Laila to keep track of her friends plane. But, each time it made the circle and passed in front of us, we would point it out to her. When the flight was over, and the plane was being taken out for a prop change, we thanked the couple for including Laila in the experience. Next year, we'll bring chairs so we can relax and watch a little longer. We did stay for a little while, watching the aerobatics, which including one plane running out of fuel and land where it shouldn't have. The rest of the day was spent at the house, where a variety of activities took place. One thing you can count on with 4 year olds, attention spans never last very long, so Grandma and Grandpa, (mostly Grandma) have become pretty good at mixing things up. Our Beagle Sami, has the right temperament and patience, because she is often the focus of Laila's attention, and there's always something going on with the two of them. Today is race day, and I'll try and show Laila on the TV, where Mommy and Daddy are enjoying the corporate hospitality suite at the Dallas racetrack.

LOTS OF CONCRETE

I remember as a kid, concrete driveways and sidewalks were often the most popular areas in the neighborhood. Armed with the trusty ole "skate key", and our metal wheeled roller skates, we would tighten the clamps around the front of our shoes, (tennis shoes wouldn't work), and off we would go. Then, either the soles of the shoes would come apart, or the clamps would slip, just as we made that huge 6 inch jump off the wooden ramp we had built out of scrap lumber in the backyard. By the time roller skates had evolved into actual shoes, with the skates permanently attached, I had reached the age when other things became more of a priority. Watching Laila on her scooter in our backyard this morning was reminiscent of those good ole days on roller skates in the neighborhood. Yesterday, we drove out to Pet Smart, where there were several cats of various ages waiting for adoption. Since returning from our summer trip around the U.S., Patty is officially in the market for a kitty cat. She is trying to wait until after we work the Rodeo in Las Vegas, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Fortunately, our neighbors, Michelle and Tony have several cats, and Patty can pop in next door for her kitty fix. Today is the day that Marc & Chandra are flying to Dallas for the NASCAR Race. If you get a chance to read this, hope you guys are having a great time.

LAILA AT THE LAKE

We picked up our Grand Daughter Laila, yesterday afternoon in Buckeye, where we met Marc late in the afternoon. Chandra has been a little under the weather, and is trying to kick the bug before she and Marc fly to Dallas for the race this Sat. Fortunately, Laila hasn't caught it, and hopefully by the time Mom & Dad get home, everyone will be healthy. By the time we got home, it was just about bedtime, not only for Laila, but also for Grandpa. This morning I got a polite request for breakfast pancakes, so after eating a couple of flapjacks, and a morning bath, Laila helped Grandma make some delicious chocolate chip cookies. Then, it was off to the park near London Bridge for a picnic lunch (sort of), and some play time on the playground equipment. The weather has been perfect, topping out today at 88 degrees, with a clear blue sky. Not a whole lot of boat traffic in the channel, but a few cruised by, along with the tourist paddle wheeler, as it started its' journey around the island. This is the time of year that the snowbirds are starting to arrive for the winter, and the boating community scales back from the hectic summer months. It's a good time of year on the lower Colorado River, and we're not only enjoying the weather, but we've got our favorite girl with us for the next week or so.

TIME WITH LAILA

Today, we're driving half way to Tucson, to meet Marc, and pick up our grand daughter Laila for about a week. As I mentioned previously, Marc and Chandra are flying to Dallas this weekend for the NASCAR race, so we have the opportunity to have Laila with us here in Lake Havasu. Our winter schedule is always quite busy, but we don't have to be anywhere for the next 10 days, and are looking forward to spending time with Laila. After we take her back, we'll be heading to CA for our annual medical appointments. Thanks to Art and Linda's offer for a parking spot at the Mitchell RV resort, we should get to Modesto on Nov 14th. It looks like we will miss seeing our other buddies, Everett and Lori, because they are planning a motor home trip while we're in CA. It will be a quick trip, with not much extra time, because we have to be back in Phoenix on the 18th or 19th, when my son Mike will be flying out for the boat drags at Firebird Raceway. Then, at the end of November, we will be working our 8th National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This will probably be our last Rodeo, due to the fact that the company we work for has lost the contract, and this is the last year. Out of all the events we've worked for MainGate, the NFR Rodeo was the one we actually looked forward to working the most. Being home next year for the first 2 weeks in December, will be a little different.

RACE DAY

The weather was picture perfect, nitro filled the air, and the next to the last race of the season was about to unfold. In the pro categories, championships in 3 of the 4 classes will be decided at the last race in Pomona. Mike Edwards has all but locked up the title in pro stock car. Pro stock bike, Funny Car, and Top Fuel are too close to call, and probably will go down to the wire.
The racing yesterday was pretty awesome, and the sheer spectacle of NHRA drag racing at the top level, is in my opinion, in a class by itself. In addition to being a race fan, and visiting with lots of friends, I had a few other things to take care of while at the track. Thanks to Bob and Shirl, who work for Lucas Oil, I picked up 4 gallons of fuel conditioner at a great price. We look forward to seeing Bob & Shirl in about a week, when they will be in Havasu to have an awning installed on the Lucas Oil merchandise trailer. I also collected checks from 7 couples, who will be staying at the Vegas Thousand Trails under our membership, for the National Finals Rodeo in December. Thanks to Kurt & Phyllis for coordinating with everyone at the race track. This morning, I will be turning the checks over to Thousand Trails here in Vegas, then will be heading back to Lake Havasu.

THE STRIP

The strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of the premier drag strips, anywhere in the country. I haven't seen the new "Bellagio of Drag Strips" in Charlotte, N.C., but the Vegas complex, including the NASCAR track, is a first class facility. When we were a part of the N.H.R.A. family in 2002-03, we worked, and parked our motor home at many tracks across the country, and at that time, the Vegas facility was right at the top of the list. Yesterday, I again visited with lots of friends, catching up on the latest in the drag racing world. Most everyone is glad that this is the next to last of 24 races, and the grueling travel around the country is almost over, at least for a few months before they do it all over again. I consider myself a motor sports junkie, and have attended just about every type of motor sports event there is. I've sat in the bleachers at NASCAR races, and have seen the Vegas and Dallas NASCAR races from the luxurious corporate suites, with all of the amenities. Through work connections, my son Marc has shown me the corporate hospitality side of NASCAR, and in fact, he and Chandra are flying to Dallas next week, where they will enjoy the NASCAR race in Bombardier's corporate suite. I still favor the drag races however. The drivers are visible and accessible, as the pit area is open to everyone. There are all kinds of displays, from corporations like Ford, Harley-Davidson, US Army, well you name it. There are usually various car displays like pictured above. There's a little bit of everything, but nothing compares to the smell of nitro-methane, and the raw, body shaking energy of an 8,000 horsepower, top fuel dragster, traveling 1,000 feet, at over 300 miles per hour. Nothing even comes close to the incredible acceleration of these beasts. It's about time to head back to the track, and watch some of the action.