A RAINY RODEO

Who says it doesn't rain in the desert? This picture was taken yesterday, from inside our trailer, after quite a bit of rain had already fallen. Even though the trailer has big doors, that provide some protection, we were constantly wiping the counter with towels, to keep the water out of the display cases. After about 2-3 hours of rainfall, the system passed, and the rodeo started right on time, at 2 pm. Judging from the photo I took, one can imagine what the rodeo arena looked like, especially with all of the horses mixing the water and dirt into a soupy mess called MUD! Glad I wasn't one of the contestants who had to try and wrestle a steer in those conditions. Despite the weather, our sales exceeded last years opening day, by about 20%. For a couple of hours, our rain ponchos, and umbrellas were the number one selling items. This is our 5th year at this event, and we've gotten to know quite a few people who are involved with the rodeo. It's kind of nice to be a small part of the family, and be recognized as more than just another vendor.
One down, and eight more days to go. Hopefully, the weather will be a little more cooperative, and sunscreen will become our best seller.

TUCSON RODEO

Today is the start of the 9 day Tucson Rodeo, the 85th edition of the "Fiesta de los Vaqueras", and the first big outdoor rodeo of the year. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Ass'n (PRCA) sponsors hundreds of rodeos around the country, leading up to the grand finale National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, just before the XMAS holidays. The new season is underway, and the Tucson Rodeo attracts most of the Rodeo stars, as it has a long history, and a large payout for those cowboys who do well in the competition. We started working the NFR in 2002, and have been working the Tucson Rodeo since 2006, but unfortunately, the company we contract with will not be involved with the Vegas Rodeo next year, and it's doubtful that they will want to do the merchandise for Tucson next year. So, our Rodeo merchandise careers may just about be over. It's been fun, and if we're back here next year, it will be just another excuse to visit Marc, Chandra, and Laila. Marc brought Laila over to the motor home, so she could play with her buddy Sami, and see Gracie for the second time. We also recorded this acrobatic trick that is new since we were last in Tucson a couple of months ago. We are parked on the rodeo grounds, which is convenient to our work trailer, and we will be here through Sunday the 28th.

2 WEEKS IN TUCSON

We arrived at the Tucson Rodeo grounds yesterday afternoon, and did a little bit of work, getting our mobile store ready for business, when the rodeo begins this Saturday. We left the house on Tuesday, and spent the night at Firebird Raceway, near Phoenix, where we met up with several of our "race friends". It gave us an opportunity to visit with Jim & Megan, Len & Ellie, Harold & Betty, Bob & Shirl, Kurt & Phylis, and Ken & Diana. Last night, we drove over to Marc & Chandra's, and were treated to steak sandwiches for dinner. Our Grandaughter, Laila had to show us some of her new toys, and Grandma gave her the magic pen set that she had purchased in Quartzsite. We were last in Tucson for the XMAS Holidays, and I'm always amazed at her intellectual growth during our absence. It's sometimes hard to believe that she's in pre-school now, and will be starting Kindergarten in less than a year. Where does the time go?

A SURPRISE PARTY

A week or so ago, Jeanette approached me and said that she wanted to have a little birthday party for Patty, whose birthday was yesterday. So, I made up an excuse to take Patty over to Bob and Jeanette's about noon, where this banner was prominently displayed on their garage door. Judy and Ron drove over from Kingman, and thanks Judy for a great job on the banner.
Jeanette baked a turkey and we had a nice afternoon meal on Bob and Jeanette's new patio. Thanks Jeanette for the party, you did a great job of keeping it a surprise! I got Patty a new Cannon digital camera, that she has 9 months to learn how to use before her trip to Greece in November. Today is our last day at home for a couple of weeks, as we leave tomorrow for Tucson. We haven't seen Marc, Chandra, and Laila since XMAS, so even though we'll be working the Tucson Rodeo most of the time, it will be good to see the kids.

PROJECT COMPLETED (REALLY)

After about a week of digging new irrigation trenches, building 2 new planters next to the shed, and just generally wearing out my body, I was going to wait till next year to build the 3rd planter adjacent to the fence. I should have known that just wasn't going to happen. With all of that extra block just sitting in the yard, it began to drive me crazy after only a day or so. The thought of having to look at an incomplete project for the next year, became an obsession to "get er done". So, off I went to Home Depot and Lowes, to pick up everything else I needed, and yesterday afternoon, this latest backyard/patio improvement project is complete. I must admit, it looks pretty good, and, as with any finished project, there comes a good feeling of seeing the fruits of ones labor. Now, the focus for the next couple of days will be to get the motor home and everything else ready for our trip to Tucson, and our annual 9 days of work at the Tucson Rodeo.

IT'S A WATER CAT

It doesn't take much to amuse Patty and I. Watching our cat Gracie discover water, and then try to catch it, is pretty entertaining. We first noticed that when we shower, she would try and catch the drops from the outside of the shower as they rolled down the glass. Whenever the shower goes on, she's right there, waiting for the water on the glass shower doors. A few days ago, she started jumping up near the sink, when she heard water coming out of the faucet. She now tries to catch the water either by swatting at it with her paw, or actually sticking her head under the faucet, and trying to bite the water stream. Now, I realize that some folks might wonder why we would even allow our cat to be on the counter near the sink in the first place. The reality, is that a young cat pretty much goes, and does exactly what it wants. Second, unless she is being destructive, (which she sometimes is), we really don't care where she goes. This fascination with water can be pretty fun to watch sometimes. I wonder if this means she will love to be bathed? Somehow, I kind of doubt it.

PROJECT COMPLETED

The pictures show 2 new planters, and about 70 square feet of patio pavers. With all of the trench digging for the new irrigation, this project took me about a week. By far, the hardest and most time consuming part was digging, and leveling this rock infested ground. If anyone is interested, the other half of the rock of Gibraltar, is now dug up, and in my back yard! I still have some block left, and I'll probably start a third planter next to the fence. When I run out, and I will, that will be it for this year. At least most of the digging is done.

BACKYARD BUILDING

Despite the rain, lightning, and general bad weather for a couple of days, I've been forging ahead with the backyard improvement projects around the shed. I feel like it would have been wise to have stock in Lowes and Home Depot, since I know we've boosted their bottom line considerably during the past week. Speaking of Lowes and Home Depot, they both have an unadvertised policy of giving a 10% discount to vets, well, sort of. At Lowes, with proof of service (DD214), there isn't any question, they automatically give the discount. At Home Depot, (at least the Lake Havasu store), it depends on who you talk to. While checking out at Home Depot yesterday, the cashier insisted that I had to have a picture ID, or no discount. With a military picture ID, one would have to be either active, or retired. The supervisor said my DD214 was acceptable, and I was on my way. Not sure exactly if Home Depot's policy is only active or retired military, or all vets, like Lowes. It may just be this local Home Depot, but it seems like I often have issues at that store. Since the new Lowes opened last year, I try to take most of my business in that direction. I'm trying to complete this project in the next few days, since we'll be leaving to work the Tucson Rodeo in about a week.

THE HOME PROJECTS

We've been home now for about 5 days, since camping in the desert near Quartzsite and Yuma, and I've been busy with a couple of projects in the backyard. When we purchased this new home in 2002, there was no landscaping, no perimeter wall, no concrete in the backyard, and no plants or trees. I finished the front yard several years ago, and have been seriously working on the backyard for about 4-5 years. It's about 90% done, and the most recent project was to paint the shed I had built last winter. Two coats of paint and the trim took about 2 days. From my days in the Army, where it seemed that painting was a second job, I've always said that I hate to paint. Actually, I kind of enjoyed this small project, especially seeing the fruits of my labor when the job was completed. Next, I started digging extension trenches for my irrigation system, which will allow some additional areas for plants and trees. I had almost forgotten how hard it is to dig in this ground, which is full of rocks, both big and small. After 2 days of digging, and the removal of one rock that I called the other half of Gibraltar, I finished the trenches yesterday afternoon. Today, I'll get the plastic irrigation pipe laid in the ditches, and start covering everything up. The next part of this project is to build a planter on the house side of the shed, and eventually, another planter next to the fence. If the old muscles hold out, I'm hoping to get all of this done, before we take off for Tucson, and our annual gig at the Tucson Rodeo.

HOME FOR 2 WEEKS

We said good bye to our friends yesterday, and traveled the short distance from Quartzsite, to Lake Havasu, arriving back home about mid afternoon. By the time we unloaded the motor home, took the motorcycle off the back, and got our house on wheels parked under the shade cover, it was late afternoon. Now that it's out of the way for a little over 2 weeks, I have a few more projects in the backyard that I need to finish before we leave to work the Tucson Rodeo in mid February. As much as I enjoy parking in the desert, which we did for a little over 2 weeks, it feels good to get back home, and start catching up on a few things that have been on the back burner for awhile.

LEAVING QUARTZSITE

Today, starts our third week of being parked in the desert, near Quartzsite, and Yuma, AZ. Tomorrow, we head back to Lake Havasu, where several projects are waiting to be completed. We have enjoyed these last 2 weeks, visiting with our friends, getting new eye glasses, having my teeth fixed, (Not so enjoyable), riding my dual sport bike in the desert, (went for a ride yesterday), and just being lazy around the campfire. This is a time of year when the temperatures are generally in the 60's, and except for an occasional storm, the sky is pure blue. Last night with a full moon, there was almost enough light to sit outside and read a book. Camping in the desert has always been a highlight for me, going back to the days when Mike and Marc were just little guys, and we used to camp in the high desert, north of Bishop, CA, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My definition of camping has evolved just a little, from the days of sleeping bags in the back of a pickup, to a rolling house on wheels, with all of the modern conveniences. We'll be home for a couple of weeks, then we're off to Tucson, where we will be working the Tucson Rodeo, perhaps for the last time. We'll have to see how that plays out, but with the loss of the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas, the company we contract with, may elect not to continue with the Tucson event. We haven't seen Marc, Chandra and our grandaughter Laila since XMAS, so we're already looking forward to the trip to Tucson.

RV ELECTRICAL POWER

Perhaps, the list is never ending, but, one of the things on my list for the motor home, has been a power management device. Most, if not all RV manufacturers, do not install a device that guards against low or hi voltage. With the multiple circuit boards and electronic devices in our motor home, they are the most susceptible to low RV park voltage, or conversely, spikes or surges in AC current. Camping World sells the most popular device, with the Surge Guard brand name, and it protects against low, or high incoming voltage by shutting down the power if it is too high, or too low. What it doesn't do is to boost the voltage in the event that it's too low, as we have found at a few RV parks. As the saying goes, we've been "rolling the dice" for many years, as I have never purchased any type of voltage protection device, and fortunately, we have never had a problem. There have been multiple times however, that I have either known people, or heard of folks who have had serious problems with unregulated AC voltage, that has caused damage to their RV electrical components. Yesterday, I solved this particular problem by purchasing a Power Master voltage controller and the installation kit. After a lot of research, I had narrowed the decision down to this company, and the Hughes brand. When we went into town yesterday, we made a tour of the big tent that has transitioned from the RV show, to the Arts and Crafts show. Many of the vendors who were there last week, are still there, and one of those vendors is Power Master. My friend Jim Stebbins and I talked to one of the owners of Power Master, Todd Coffelt, who previously worked for Hughes, his current main competitor. Todd answered a lot of my questions, and demo'd his 50 amp Power Master. I'm always a bit skeptical, when someone is trying to sell a product, but after about 30 minutes of questions, I was convinced that this is the best product of it's kind. It not only protects against voltage spikes and surges, it also boosts low voltage 12%, which takes away the worry of circuit board damage in appliances like our refrigerator, air conditioners, microwave, etc. In the end, Jim and I both bought a Power Master voltage controller, and even with my reluctance to mess with electrical stuff, the installation is pretty straight forward, and I'll install it when we get home in a few days. And guess what? The Power Master is actually made in the U.S.A.!

CAMPFIRE IN QUARTZSITE

We've been parked in the desert near Quartzsite, since last Friday, the 22nd. Yesterday, our friends arrived, after they finished working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale. Sitting around the campfire last night, (left to right), Jim, Len, Harold, Ellie, Betty, and Patty. Megan is the only person missing from this photo, where the marsh mellows were being roasted, and in Patty's case - mostly burned. It was a pleasant weather evening, with no wind, and nice conversation with good friends. We now have 4 motor homes circled around the campfire pit, and we'll be here until about Saturday, when we'll head for home. The other 3 couples will be here for about another week, before they travel west to Pomona, for the first NHRA drag race of the new season. Today, the big tent opens back up for the Arts and Crafts show, and that's high on Patty's priority list of things to do. Oh, almost forgot. I stopped by the window awning vendor day before yesterday morning, to find out why I didn't get a phone call from them, regarding the new awning I wanted to purchase. It turns out that in this high tech world, my information was lost, in the process of being emailed to the mobile tech, (yes, they have computers in their trucks), who was supposed to call and schedule an appointment. After a bunch of apologies, the awning got ordered, was here in less than 24 hours, and was installed yesterday afternoon.
Life is good in the desert, where the temps have been in the mid 60's, and lots of sunshine.

GETTING CLOSER

A best buddies scenario, where our new cat (Gracie), and our 12 year old Beagle (Sami) snuggle in the same bed to keep warmer, is probably never going to happen. However, a lot of progress has been made, since we brought Gracie home, a little over a month ago. There's still the occasional attempt by Sami to be the alpha animal, but a few hisses and spits from Gracie, combined with a left hook, and Sami backs down pretty quickly. We are now very comfortable leaving the two home alone, even though this house on wheels is very small, and requires all of us to be in close proximity to one another. Yesterday, we enjoyed the warm sunshine, and did some reading on our desert patio. I even took a short power nap in the sun, which almost never happens. We did venture into town, and wandered through another swap meet area near the post office. I found an old iron wagon wheel for $25, which will look good somewhere in our backyard. I also arranged for an awning vendor to come by the motor home and check a window for an additional awning that I want to install. "He'll call sometime after 5pm for directions", were the parting words from the salesperson, as we headed back to the motor home. Well, it's now the next day, and no phone call. If that person was too busy to take a couple of minutes to call and explain that he couldn't make it yesterday, I might be too busy today, and they may have just lost a sale. One of my 10 commandments as a former business owner, was to always follow through with my promise, no matter what that involved. I know, it's a small thing, but in these economic times, businesses need that competitive edge, and customer service should be their top priority. We'll see how this plays out today?

BACK IN QUARTZSITE

With most of the dental work finished, we're back in Quartzsite, at a different location than last week. About 5 miles south of town, off Hwy 95 @ mile marker 99, a large BLM area exists for RV's. This area is a little farther out of town, and has no support systems, like access to water, dump station, or garbage Dumpsters. There is however, no fee involved to park here, and right now, there are hundreds, if not thousands of rigs within a mile or so radius. We're here for about a week, with some of our friends starting to arrive tomorrow. Yesterday morning, it was all about filling out insurance forms, making copies of dental receipts, and getting it all mailed to my dental insurance company. The other paperwork that we mailed yesterday was the initial forms and deposit for a trip that Patty is taking with her son David. They're going to Greece in November, and the 10 day trip includes a 4 day cruise in the Greek Isles. She's excited about the trip, but probably more thankful that she will be able to spend some time with David. Last year it was China with her brother. This year it's Greece with her son. We found out about this trip from Lori East, who is going with her sister, and son Trevor. I'm sure they will have a great time, but that kind of travel, that includes very long airplane rides, just isn't for me. About 2-4 hours in the air is all I'm willing to endure. The picture was taken yesterday, showing my new flagpole that I just could not live without. I have a collapsible 20' pole at home, that was originally purchased for the motor home, but, it was just too big and heavy, so I only used it a couple of times while traveling. It ended up as a semi-permanent structure in front of the house. This new pole is fiberglass, collapses to about 4 feet, and with permanent mounts on the rear ladder, will be much easier to set up and take down. There's just something about seeing our beautiful flag waving in the wind, that brings out my patriotic spirit. This is a great country, I just hope that our path stays true to the traditional values that were set forth by our founding fathers.

MEXICAN DENTISTRY RECAP

Last year was my first experience with a Mexican Dentist in Algodones, just across the border near Yuma, AZ. I don't believe that there's such a thing as a good experience with a dentist. There's just something about getting needles in your mouth, the sound of the drill, and the occasional sharp pain, that negates a visit to the dentist as a good experience. Having said that, the care and quality of work from my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando, was as good as any I have ever received from the multitude of dentists I have visited in the U.S. Based on that experience last year, I returned a few weeks ago, and started a series of visits with Carmen and 2 other dentists, an Endodontist and a Periodontist.
Because of a broken front tooth, I had to have the Periodontists do minor gum surgery around the broken tooth, and the Endodontist placed a fiberglass pin in the tooth so it could be crowned.
Carmen prepped 3 front teeth for crowns, and filled 4 cavities. Total bill from all 3 dentists was $1,360. My estimate of that cost in the U.S. is about $4-5,000. When I discovered last year, that my dental insurance will pay the same percentages to Mexican Dentists that it does to U.S. Dentists, it was quite a pleasant surprise, particularly when you start looking at out of pocket expense. Of the $1,360 that I just paid, I should be reimbursed about $1,100 from my insurance company. Since I have a maximum $2,000 yearly cap on dental benefits, my out of pocket expense in the U.S. would have been $2-3,000. Quite a difference! I'm not suggesting that everyone has good experiences with Mexican Dentists. After 5 visits to Carmen, and 2 visits to specialist dentists, I can say that I will continue to take care of my less than perfect teeth in Algodones, Mexico. When I consider the cost factor, it seems to be a win - win for me.
Now that the gap is filled in, and the Bubba smile is gone, I think my IQ has now gone back up!

RAIN IN YUMA

When the jet stream recently dipped to the south, it has caused several storms to hit the west coast, and some of that moisture has made it's way into southern Arizona. Yesterday, we did some shopping at Sams Club, then ventured over to the super Wal-Mart for some groceries. When I first pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that it was almost empty, and initially thought that the heavy rain was keeping shoppers away from this very busy Wally World. When we actually got into the parking lot, we discovered it was more of a shallow lake than a place to park your car. Since it doesn't rain a whole lot in Yuma, (average rainfall is about 3 inches), it appears that the emphasis on designing adequate water drainage wasn't a top priority. There were 3 water tanker trucks in the middle of Lake Wal-Mart, attempting to pump the water out of the parking lot, and into their tanks. I suspect this is their contingency plan when it rains really hard, like it has for the past couple of days. This morning, I have my last dental appointment, and since the rain has stopped, we'll be heading back north to Quartzsite for some more flea market action, and a few days of quiet camping in the desert.

YUMA PRISON

With 3 days between dental appointments, Patty and I played tourist yesterday, and stopped at the Yuma Prison State Historical Park. I first visited this old prison site, about 29 years ago, when I started riding my Harley to Yuma for the "Prison Run". That gathering of motorcyclists is still going strong, and takes place in mid April. The spring ride to Yuma was something we all looked forward to, because the weather was always nice and warm, and often, quite a contrast to the cold and foggy central CA weather. One year, about 8 of us left Modesto in the rain, and by the time we stopped in Kettleman City, a couple of hours later, we were wet, cold, and not looking forward to any more miles in the rain. So, we rented the largest U-Haul available, and Art Mitchell drove all the way to Palm Springs, where we got rid of the truck, and rode the bikes from there, to Yuma. The truly amazing thing, was that the bikes were not tied down, and due mostly to Art's skillful driving, not a scratch was to be found on any of the bikes. That was indeed a trip for the memory bank, in more ways than one! The old prison hasn't changed in the last 3 decades, but is due to be one of about 20 Arizona State Parks to close, because the state is broke. I won't get started on government ineptitude, but it's pretty sad when the congressional leaders find hundreds of millions to make corrupt, backroom deals, and states like Arizona, don't have enough money to keep State Parks and Rest Areas open.
On a more positive note, we visited with Charlie and Bev Thompson yesterday at their winter home here in Yuma. We first met Charlie and Bev during our first summer in Skagway, Alaska. We all worked for the same company, and stayed in the company RV park, where it was like an extended family. We hadn't seen Charlie and Bev for a few years, and we had heard that they dedicated themselves to a more healthy lifestyle. They both looked great, and told us how they had lost a combined 140 pounds through better eating and exercise. It was nice to see Charlie and Bev, and catch up on the latest happenings in Skagway. It's raining this morning, and the forecast is for more of the same throughout the day. Who says it doesn't rain in the desert?

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".