This week Manny's health was going downhill...
Yesterday I went to his house after making his favorite meal Corned Beef, cabbage and potatoes...
When I arrived he was in bed... he was sleeping... so I rubbed his arm to wake him up and let him know I was there...
He declared in a raspy voice "I think I am dying" I said softly "I know Honey"
"You do?" "Ya, you have been declining all week" "Do you think I will make it through the night?" "I don't know... Do YOU think you'll make it through the night?"
"I don't know... I don't think so..." "Okay then... what do you want to do?" "I don't wanna go to the hospital" "Ok... you dont have to go to the hospital... I'll stay with you" "Ok... I'm sorry Kid, you won't get paid anymore" I laughed "Manny it was never about the money... I would have done it for free" "I know"
"Do you want some food? I brought your favorite meal" "Ok... just some potatoes"
So I went and got some out of the bowl... It was very hot when I brought it over to him... So I mushed some of the potatoes up and started spoon feeding one to him...
He looks at me... frowns and says... "I'm dying and your feeding me cold potatoes!" I laughed so hard... then teased him "Ok... I'll go heat them up... sheesh... who knew you were gonna get all picky for your last meal..." and he laughed back...
He had a few bites and then started drifting between this world and the next... I sat on the side of his bed, spoon in hand, when he starts talking to someone... looking at them, using hand gestures... I just sat there... Ive seen that happen before and it always fascinates me... It happened with my Mom and Grampa... I find it comforting... It solidifies my belief that there is something on the other side waiting...
Suddenly, he comes back to this world... smiles embarrassed and shrugs his shoulders... as if to say "Oops... you busted me acting crazy"
"It's ok... are you seeing people from the other side Honey?"
"No" he says too quickly and I know he is lying
"Its ok if you do... its common to see those who have already died coming to help you to the other side... Are you sure your not seeing anyone?"
"No" [translation... I am a Marine from WWII and that is too weird to talk about]
"Ok, I gotta go call Sam and tell him I am staying with you..."
"Ok" and he drifts back to the other side...
A few hours go by... I just sit there in a chair, playing with the kitten... watching him, constantly moving... He can't get comfortable... His poor body is full of cancer and he is not on any medication for pain... Its his Marine mentality... He is a tough guy...
Finally by 8pm, he decides he wants to go to the VA Hospital... [Its 80 miles away but I dont care... Its the hospital he wants]
I called Sam to help me get him into the car because Manny can't walk...
Sam comes over and carries him to the car...
On the drive there he says... "You did a great job taking care of me Kid!" "Awww thanks, you better become an angel in heaven and watch over me okay?" "Ok... I'll wave at you once in awhile" I laugh... "Ok" "I'm going to miss you Manny" "I'm gonna miss all of you too" [he means Sam and the kids]
and he drifts off again...
Long story longer...
I stayed with Manny till he was admitted to the VA hospital... "I am going to die here" he states in a whisper by now..."You want to die here Manny?"I need to be sure I understand "Yes" "You dont want to go home?" "No I want to die here" "Ok... I love you and I will be back this weekend if your still here..." He smiles and he is asleep again...
He is still alive... but barely at the VA...
It was THE perfect dying conversation I ever could have had with him... I said what I needed to say, he did the same, it wasn't emotional and sad... it was matter of fact and funny...
It was PERFECT...
Then...
At 3am...
I cried all the way home... because I would really miss 'My Manny Man the Marine'
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Moonshine &
Yesterday my oldest son Kris [27] and two of his friends came up to our house... to ride motorcycles... one of his friends just got a bike...
Anyway... I had already invited Manny for some of my famous baby back ribs... I make THE BEST ribs you have eaten... Seriously... I do... Ask Nurse Pam or Gram Pam they are the BEST!!!
So I was a little worried I might not have enough with Kameron and Kieffer up here also... but I did... Whew...
Wait... that is not the point of my story... The point is 'My Manny Man'...
{For those of you who don't know...Manny is my 83 yr old neighbor who I thought died a couple of months ago because he was in the ICU at the VA Hospital for 2 months and when I found out he didn't die... I have been spoiling him rotten... He said he loved baby back ribs one day and I said "Manny you haven't had good ribs till you've had mine"}
So back to my story...
At 5pm on the dot... here comes Manny with a bottle in his hand... He hands it to me and says "I brought some white wine for dinner" I thanked him and left him with the boys to talk... I was laughing to myself as I walked in the house looking at the bottle...
If this bottle had white wine in it... I was the Pope!!! My first clue was the screw off top... my second clue was the 80 proof title!!! My third clue was the name... OMG... ever heard of "AALBORG AKVAVIT" The Danish National Drink??? Jim? You guys drink this in the Area 51??? Hhhhhhmmmmm??? I was cracking up...
I didn't serve it with dinner... I knew this stuff was more like Russian vodka than white wine... So I waited till afterwards... Hey I didn't want to be rude and NOT serve it yanno...
OH BOY... I think it was 'Danish White Lighting Moonshine'... Whew... one sip was enough! Even Manny takes a sip and says "I feel dizzy' LOL
Kameron took a sip and then said in a Russian accent "Make you strong... like Bull"
Anyway... I had already invited Manny for some of my famous baby back ribs... I make THE BEST ribs you have eaten... Seriously... I do... Ask Nurse Pam or Gram Pam they are the BEST!!!
So I was a little worried I might not have enough with Kameron and Kieffer up here also... but I did... Whew...
Wait... that is not the point of my story... The point is 'My Manny Man'...
{For those of you who don't know...Manny is my 83 yr old neighbor who I thought died a couple of months ago because he was in the ICU at the VA Hospital for 2 months and when I found out he didn't die... I have been spoiling him rotten... He said he loved baby back ribs one day and I said "Manny you haven't had good ribs till you've had mine"}
So back to my story...
At 5pm on the dot... here comes Manny with a bottle in his hand... He hands it to me and says "I brought some white wine for dinner" I thanked him and left him with the boys to talk... I was laughing to myself as I walked in the house looking at the bottle...
If this bottle had white wine in it... I was the Pope!!! My first clue was the screw off top... my second clue was the 80 proof title!!! My third clue was the name... OMG... ever heard of "AALBORG AKVAVIT" The Danish National Drink??? Jim? You guys drink this in the Area 51??? Hhhhhhmmmmm??? I was cracking up...
I didn't serve it with dinner... I knew this stuff was more like Russian vodka than white wine... So I waited till afterwards... Hey I didn't want to be rude and NOT serve it yanno...
OH BOY... I think it was 'Danish White Lighting Moonshine'... Whew... one sip was enough! Even Manny takes a sip and says "I feel dizzy' LOL
Kameron took a sip and then said in a Russian accent "Make you strong... like Bull"
Moonshine &
Yesterday my oldest son Kris [27] and two of his friends came up to our house... to ride motorcycles... one of his friends just got a bike...
Anyway... I had already invited Manny for some of my famous baby back ribs... I make THE BEST ribs you have eaten... Seriously... I do... Ask Nurse Pam or Gram Pam they are the BEST!!!
So I was a little worried I might not have enough with Kameron and Kieffer up here also... but I did... Whew...
Wait... that is not the point of my story... The point is 'My Manny Man'...
{For those of you who don't know...Manny is my 83 yr old neighbor who I thought died a couple of months ago because he was in the ICU at the VA Hospital for 2 months and when I found out he didn't die... I have been spoiling him rotten... He said he loved baby back ribs one day and I said "Manny you haven't had good ribs till you've had mine"}
So back to my story...
At 5pm on the dot... here comes Manny with a bottle in his hand... He hands it to me and says "I brought some white wine for dinner" I thanked him and left him with the boys to talk... I was laughing to myself as I walked in the house looking at the bottle...
If this bottle had white wine in it... I was the Pope!!! My first clue was the screw off top... my second clue was the 80 proof title!!! My third clue was the name... OMG... ever heard of "AALBORG AKVAVIT" The Danish National Drink??? Jim? You guys drink this in the Area 51??? Hhhhhhmmmmm??? I was cracking up...
I didn't serve it with dinner... I knew this stuff was more like Russian vodka than white wine... So I waited till afterwards... Hey I didn't want to be rude and NOT serve it yanno...
OH BOY... I think it was 'Danish White Lighting Moonshine'... Whew... one sip was enough! Even Manny takes a sip and says "I feel dizzy' LOL
Kameron took a sip and then said in a Russian accent "Make you strong... like Bull"
Anyway... I had already invited Manny for some of my famous baby back ribs... I make THE BEST ribs you have eaten... Seriously... I do... Ask Nurse Pam or Gram Pam they are the BEST!!!
So I was a little worried I might not have enough with Kameron and Kieffer up here also... but I did... Whew...
Wait... that is not the point of my story... The point is 'My Manny Man'...
{For those of you who don't know...Manny is my 83 yr old neighbor who I thought died a couple of months ago because he was in the ICU at the VA Hospital for 2 months and when I found out he didn't die... I have been spoiling him rotten... He said he loved baby back ribs one day and I said "Manny you haven't had good ribs till you've had mine"}
So back to my story...
At 5pm on the dot... here comes Manny with a bottle in his hand... He hands it to me and says "I brought some white wine for dinner" I thanked him and left him with the boys to talk... I was laughing to myself as I walked in the house looking at the bottle...
If this bottle had white wine in it... I was the Pope!!! My first clue was the screw off top... my second clue was the 80 proof title!!! My third clue was the name... OMG... ever heard of "AALBORG AKVAVIT" The Danish National Drink??? Jim? You guys drink this in the Area 51??? Hhhhhhmmmmm??? I was cracking up...
I didn't serve it with dinner... I knew this stuff was more like Russian vodka than white wine... So I waited till afterwards... Hey I didn't want to be rude and NOT serve it yanno...
OH BOY... I think it was 'Danish White Lighting Moonshine'... Whew... one sip was enough! Even Manny takes a sip and says "I feel dizzy' LOL
Kameron took a sip and then said in a Russian accent "Make you strong... like Bull"
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Vegas story number 1
Above Lance and Kieffer at the Go Carting place
Kieffer and Kameron
The Go Carts
Kieffer after taking his helmet off
Time for practice at the World Mini Grand Prix Weeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Ya'all,
Back from racing in Las Vegas at the World Mini Grand Prix... We left last Saturday to put the truck and trailer in line [so we can get a good place inside the gate]
Usually there are 3,500 racers attending this race...
After dropping the truck and trailer off we went to Sam's Town and checked in...
Sam, Me, Kieffer, Kameron and Kieff's friend Lance... We had 2 days to play in Vegas before the racing started... We took the boys over to a cart racing place... They have these really fast go carts... Kameron and Kieffer had the top times of the week... LOL
Afterwards, we went to New York, New York and Kieffer and I rode the roller coaster... Kameron doesn't like roller coasters... WTH is up with that? This is a kid who flies through the air on a motorcycle, 5th gear tapped... but he won't ride a roller coaster? He says its because he is in control of it... Doesn't like it when he is not the one in control... I still think its weird...
Later we took the boys to the 'Body Exhibit' at the Luxor... They loved it... If it comes to your town go see it... Its real human bodies... An Anatomy Book come to life!
Monday - The gates opened and we were allowed in to set up camp at the races...
Tuesday - Practice started... Kieffer was complaining about his wrist all day... When Kieffer complains about pain, I take it seriously... He has a HIGH pain tolerance! So I took him over the mobile x-ray unit at the track... Its free, but they like donations... I have NO PROBLEM giving them a donation... WAY better than going to an orthopedic yanno!
So they xray Kieffer's wrist and say "Oh its your broken wrist from a couple of years ago acting up" Kieffer and I look at each other? We were thinking... Uhhhh What broken wrist? See what I mean... he has a very high pain tolerance! That kid is going to drive me to drink!!!
Back from racing in Las Vegas at the World Mini Grand Prix... We left last Saturday to put the truck and trailer in line [so we can get a good place inside the gate]
Usually there are 3,500 racers attending this race...
After dropping the truck and trailer off we went to Sam's Town and checked in...
Sam, Me, Kieffer, Kameron and Kieff's friend Lance... We had 2 days to play in Vegas before the racing started... We took the boys over to a cart racing place... They have these really fast go carts... Kameron and Kieffer had the top times of the week... LOL
Afterwards, we went to New York, New York and Kieffer and I rode the roller coaster... Kameron doesn't like roller coasters... WTH is up with that? This is a kid who flies through the air on a motorcycle, 5th gear tapped... but he won't ride a roller coaster? He says its because he is in control of it... Doesn't like it when he is not the one in control... I still think its weird...
Later we took the boys to the 'Body Exhibit' at the Luxor... They loved it... If it comes to your town go see it... Its real human bodies... An Anatomy Book come to life!
Monday - The gates opened and we were allowed in to set up camp at the races...
Tuesday - Practice started... Kieffer was complaining about his wrist all day... When Kieffer complains about pain, I take it seriously... He has a HIGH pain tolerance! So I took him over the mobile x-ray unit at the track... Its free, but they like donations... I have NO PROBLEM giving them a donation... WAY better than going to an orthopedic yanno!
So they xray Kieffer's wrist and say "Oh its your broken wrist from a couple of years ago acting up" Kieffer and I look at each other? We were thinking... Uhhhh What broken wrist? See what I mean... he has a very high pain tolerance! That kid is going to drive me to drink!!!
Stay tuned... LOL
Monday, April 20, 2009
I'm HOME... Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am home from the National races in Las Vegas... Had a blast!!! Are you ready for some stories?
Oh boy... the stuff that happens to me LOL...
However I need some sleep...
Missed you guys!! Bunches!!!
Oh boy... the stuff that happens to me LOL...
However I need some sleep...
Missed you guys!! Bunches!!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
What I wanted to say... but I have been drinking... shhhhhh
Ok... forgive me for this entry but I am 3 sheets to the wind...
3 Ameretto Disarrono's with O.J.
Not O.J. Simpson... orange juice... I did meet O.J. Simpson once but that is another story...
Whoa time out...
3 sheets to the wind... what does that mean anyway?
Where in H E double hockey sticks did that come from anyway?
Was someone doing laundry drunk and lost a sheet?
I mean...seriously?
Ok... never mind... anyway...
Your probably wondering why I decided to have a few 'toddies' on a Tuesday night right?
Well I had to 'play' real estate agent yesterday... Sometimes in life... you have ta be a grown up and sometimes people drive you crazy... yesterday was one of those days...
I won't go into details... just this... I am the listing agent on a commercial building...
this agent brought in buying clients...
I have never met this agent before but I was a little taken back by his dress attire...
Normally.... Real Estate Agents dress in suits... or nice slacks and button up shirts...
however this is in Southern California... so technically anything goes... ok...
Now... imagine... a white guy in his 50's maybe 60's... balding...
Walks in wearing... white tennis shoes, white socks, white shorts - mid thigh,
white polo shirt... collar up...
Message to me was clear...
"Hi... I wish it was the 80's... I just finished watching 'Risky Business' for the 800,000 time,
I wish I played tennis this morning... but my tan says I did not... hopefully you won't notice that... I think I know more than you in real estate... and every chance I get... I am going to act like that for my clients.... and your name is?"
I wanted to say...
"Hi... my name is... 'I think you look ridiculous'... why don't you go sell that car you are driving [1974 white convertible Mercedes coupe] while I talk to your clients... I mean after all... we are 'ALL' ignoring you anyway... I mean seriously... "Dude... WTF?"
Can you guys tell... This guy bugged the HELL outta me...
We were ALL ignoring him... I guess he decided he needed to EARN his commission because he says at the end of the meeting...
"We need to have a meeting on ...."How you decided on your asking price" with a fake laugh...
like I was out in left field with my price...
I wanted to say so bad...
"Ohhh I just pulled the number outta my ass..."
"Really... it was because the numbers flowed together so well... don't you agree... they just roll off the tongue in a natural way..."
HELLO... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Your clients are salivating, wanting to move in next week...
You better shut up before I FIND a tennis racquet and smack you upside the head with it...
Opps... Did I say that?
Sorry it was the laundry...
I am 3 sheets to the wind...
Where the HELL is that other sheet anyway?
3 Ameretto Disarrono's with O.J.
Not O.J. Simpson... orange juice... I did meet O.J. Simpson once but that is another story...
Whoa time out...
3 sheets to the wind... what does that mean anyway?
Where in H E double hockey sticks did that come from anyway?
Was someone doing laundry drunk and lost a sheet?
I mean...seriously?
Ok... never mind... anyway...
Your probably wondering why I decided to have a few 'toddies' on a Tuesday night right?
Well I had to 'play' real estate agent yesterday... Sometimes in life... you have ta be a grown up and sometimes people drive you crazy... yesterday was one of those days...
I won't go into details... just this... I am the listing agent on a commercial building...
this agent brought in buying clients...
I have never met this agent before but I was a little taken back by his dress attire...
Normally.... Real Estate Agents dress in suits... or nice slacks and button up shirts...
however this is in Southern California... so technically anything goes... ok...
Now... imagine... a white guy in his 50's maybe 60's... balding...
Walks in wearing... white tennis shoes, white socks, white shorts - mid thigh,
white polo shirt... collar up...
Message to me was clear...
"Hi... I wish it was the 80's... I just finished watching 'Risky Business' for the 800,000 time,
I wish I played tennis this morning... but my tan says I did not... hopefully you won't notice that... I think I know more than you in real estate... and every chance I get... I am going to act like that for my clients.... and your name is?"
I wanted to say...
"Hi... my name is... 'I think you look ridiculous'... why don't you go sell that car you are driving [1974 white convertible Mercedes coupe] while I talk to your clients... I mean after all... we are 'ALL' ignoring you anyway... I mean seriously... "Dude... WTF?"
Can you guys tell... This guy bugged the HELL outta me...
We were ALL ignoring him... I guess he decided he needed to EARN his commission because he says at the end of the meeting...
"We need to have a meeting on ...."How you decided on your asking price" with a fake laugh...
like I was out in left field with my price...
I wanted to say so bad...
"Ohhh I just pulled the number outta my ass..."
"Really... it was because the numbers flowed together so well... don't you agree... they just roll off the tongue in a natural way..."
HELLO... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Your clients are salivating, wanting to move in next week...
You better shut up before I FIND a tennis racquet and smack you upside the head with it...
Opps... Did I say that?
Sorry it was the laundry...
I am 3 sheets to the wind...
Where the HELL is that other sheet anyway?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
How sad... our thoughts and prayers are with the family
We just found out the families killed in that plane crash in Montana were family members of Glen Helen Raceway... [Our hometown track that we race at] When I go to Glen Helen, I always stop in to see Betty Feldcamp, the mother of Bud Feldcamp... She is 80 something years old and I always enjoy visits with her... [Betty called me last year and wanted me to have Bud do my teeth but I had already had the oral surgery with someone else] Anyway, my point was... That
is how well we know the family...
Our thoughts and prayers are with them... We were driving home from Texas when we heard the story on the radio...
First we heard of the plane crash... an hour later they reported about the families with children
on board... then they reported they crashed into a cemetary... and I said to Sam... "Could this story get any more tragic? How horrible!"
My prayers go out to Bud... I can not imagine losing 2 daughters and 5 grand children...
Below is the AP story in case you have not heard...
The Associated Press is now reporting that the plane owned by Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp that crashed in Montana on Sunday contained three California famlies traveling to the Yellowstone Club for a skiing vacation. Among those killed in the crash were two of Feldcamp's daughters and their families.
The victims included two of Feldcamp's daughters, Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, California, and Vanessa Pullen of Lodi, California, Jacobson's husband, Erin. Their children, Taylor, 4, Ava, 3 and Jude, 1, also died in the crash as did Pullen's husband, Michael, and their children Sydney, 9, and Christopher, 7.
Feldkamp, a pilot, was not flying the plane and instead was driving with one of his sons to meet family members for the ski trip in Bozeman, Montana.
The flight was scheduled to fly from Oroville, California, to Bozeman, but after the single engine turboprop plane was en route, the pilot notified air traffic controller he was diverting to Butte, according to an Associated Press report.
The plane ended up crashing just short of the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte. National Transportation Safety Board members are currently investigating the area of the crash - the Holy Cross Cemetery. So far, no cause of the crash has been given.
Butte Silver-Bow Sheriff John Walsh told the AP that there were a few people at the cemetery at the time of the crash, but no one on the ground was injured.
It was the worst plane crash in America since a commuter plane last month fell on a house in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 passengers and a man in the home.
Phone calls to Glen Helen haven't been returned.
The plane took off from Brown Field Municipal airport in San Diego on Saturday evening and flew to Redlands. It then left Sunday morning for Vacaville. From there it flew to Oroville and on to Butte, according to AP reports.
is how well we know the family...
Our thoughts and prayers are with them... We were driving home from Texas when we heard the story on the radio...
First we heard of the plane crash... an hour later they reported about the families with children
on board... then they reported they crashed into a cemetary... and I said to Sam... "Could this story get any more tragic? How horrible!"
My prayers go out to Bud... I can not imagine losing 2 daughters and 5 grand children...
Below is the AP story in case you have not heard...
The Associated Press is now reporting that the plane owned by Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp that crashed in Montana on Sunday contained three California famlies traveling to the Yellowstone Club for a skiing vacation. Among those killed in the crash were two of Feldcamp's daughters and their families.
The victims included two of Feldcamp's daughters, Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, California, and Vanessa Pullen of Lodi, California, Jacobson's husband, Erin. Their children, Taylor, 4, Ava, 3 and Jude, 1, also died in the crash as did Pullen's husband, Michael, and their children Sydney, 9, and Christopher, 7.
Feldkamp, a pilot, was not flying the plane and instead was driving with one of his sons to meet family members for the ski trip in Bozeman, Montana.
The flight was scheduled to fly from Oroville, California, to Bozeman, but after the single engine turboprop plane was en route, the pilot notified air traffic controller he was diverting to Butte, according to an Associated Press report.
The plane ended up crashing just short of the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte. National Transportation Safety Board members are currently investigating the area of the crash - the Holy Cross Cemetery. So far, no cause of the crash has been given.
Butte Silver-Bow Sheriff John Walsh told the AP that there were a few people at the cemetery at the time of the crash, but no one on the ground was injured.
It was the worst plane crash in America since a commuter plane last month fell on a house in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 passengers and a man in the home.
Phone calls to Glen Helen haven't been returned.
The plane took off from Brown Field Municipal airport in San Diego on Saturday evening and flew to Redlands. It then left Sunday morning for Vacaville. From there it flew to Oroville and on to Butte, according to AP reports.
Friday, March 27, 2009
All my stalkers live in Texas, thats why I hang my hat in CA
I have been so busy I forgot to tell ya'all about my stalker in Texas!
I don't know why weird stuff like this happens to me but it does...
Last week, we desperately needed our trailer pumped out... The pooper pumped! So my sister in law Tina and I head out on the golf cart to find the pooper pumper guy... Sam said he saw the guy driving around looking for customers... We look and look... NOTHING... this is not good because its coming up the toilet in the trailer... [sorry I know that was graphic but you need to know how desperately we were looking for the guy...] We went to the main gate and asked if he left for the day? Nope he is still in the MX park they tell us... "Ok well DON'T let him leave, until he comes by site 171" Ok they say...
Then we find him... I must have looked so HAPPY to see him! because for some reason the guy hugged me as I approached him... Can you say... EEeeeeewwwww... The pooper pumper guy hugged me!!!!!!!!!!!!
I asked him to come by site 171 when he left this motorhome and he said "I was next on his list... be right there"
An hour later... ? He shows up... but I am leaving on the golf cart to watch a race... so I leave him with Sam...
I guess he asked Sam "Is that your wife?" Sam said "Yes" "Awww too bad, I kinda like her, she is purtee" Sam laughed
I get back and Sam is teasing me... "You got a secret admirer... Kendra... you might want to consider leaving me for him... start a new life... you could be Mrs. Pooper Pumper"
everyone laughs
"Hey... you better knock it off... I just might do that... he is number 1, in the number 2 business" everyone laughs...
Later that day... we see Mr. Pooper Pumper in the food court area...
"Kendra don't look now but here comes your secret admirer" Tina says
I am sitting in the golf cart... he touches my knee.... eeeeeewwwww...
"How long ya gonna be here? I'll be here till Sunday" he says all excited
"Yup me too" I say and think... please don't kidnap me
"Well if ya need another pumping... let me know"
"I don't think we will, but if we do... Ill come find ya" inside my head I'm thinking please don't touch me again...
[Sam said he never wore gloves during the pumping... Ewwwwww]
Hang on... I gotta take another shower just typing this story....
The next day... Tina and I are on the back of the golf cart when she spots him... So she calls out to him and waves...
I coulda killed her...
Not 5 minutes later, he comes into our camping area and makes a beeline for me...
Please dont touch me... Please don't touch me... I am thinking
Everyone stops what they are doing to enjoy the show... with smirks on their faces...
"Hi... what camp is this? because I am looking for site 164... I have to go there next"
"Uhhh.....This is 171"
"Oh ok... thanks and he walks off"
Everyone waits till he is gone... then they bust out laughing... "TINA... don't do that again!!!" I chase after her like I am in high school
I heard so much crap about him... LOL
"Awww Kendra, Even Pooper Pumper Men need love"
"I bet he pumps really good too"
"They don't call them Honey Dippers for nothing!"
"OMG... you guys need to SHUT the HELL UP"
"Oh... I bet he could clean your potty mouth... really well"
All I can say is... At least my stalker... was number 1 in the number 2 business!!!!
I gotta go take another shower...
EEEEeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...........................
Thursday, March 26, 2009
My day with Manny yesterday... that man can EAT!!
Ok so yesterday I took Manny to town with me... He was so happy to have someone else driving... I took him to his bank, we went to my bank and then I asked him to lunch at Sizzler... I told him he would be doing me a favor, because no one in my family likes Sizzler and I crave double Malibu chicken... [Gram Pam and Nurse Pam know this huh!]
So he was all excited... I ordered my Double Malibu Chicken with salad bar and he ordered a salad bar... then he ordered coffee... and then he asked if they had 'Sanka' coffee...
WTH I haven't heard the word Sanka in years... then he changed it to diet Pepsi...
Oh boy... let me tell you... I have never seen anyone eat so much in my life! We were there for 3 hours!!! He had broccoli cheese soup, then ate the french fries off my plate, then he ate 4 plates of spaghetti with meatballs, with chicken wings... then he ate 2 bowls of ice cream... and drank 4 large glasses of Diet Pepsi! WHOA!!!
Two months ago, I would have been chanting 'patience is a virtue' in my head... but yesterday I sat back and enjoyed it all... soaking it in... grateful for the second chance...
A Marine and his son were seated next to us... when they got up to leave Manny says
"Are you a Marine?" the man says "Yes, 13 yrs now" then they start talking Marine tech talk... Manny says "What is your M something or other" the guy says "Recruiting" then Manny says "No your original M something?" the man says "artillery" Manny says "Me too"
The man says "Its all different now... kind of like a video game" "Does your son do the 30 inch walk?" they laugh, I have no idea what they are saying LOL "Where did you go to boot?" blah blah blah... then Manny has to shake his hand... and does that "Go ahead squeeze as hard as you can... not too bad for 83 huh" The man laughs... He clearly enjoyed this conversation... Manny thanks him for serving...
I just sit back and watch... Manny is having a good day... Which I realize is a blessing to see... He tells me its a great day for him "I got to go to town with a beautiful woman, and she bought me lunch! It doesn't get any better than this!!" I laugh..
He calls me 'Kid' a lot...
"You know Kid, life is short... in the blink of an eye its gone... it goes by too fast... enjoy every day!"
"Manny, maybe the other side is pretty good too yanno?"
"Ahhhh... I wanna stay here... I got things to do... the VA says I only have 2 months... I hope they are wrong... what do you think? You think I only got 2 months?"
"Nah... I think you got longer than that... look how good you eat!" he laughs
"I don't wanna go yet... I got things to do..."
"Ya? Like what? What do you want to do?" I am ready to start a 'Bucket List' LOL
the things he wants to do are all home maintenance... [stuff that would take a day to fix]
"Ok so when those things are done... you'll be ready to go then?" I tease and he laughs
He just wants to stay...
He is struggling with his mortality... he is afraid he will get so sick he can't stay in his house...
"For the first time in my life... I FEEL old..." he says reflecting
"Well, I hope the first time I feel old is when I am 83 yrs old, Manny!" he laughs "I know... I keep forgetting I am 83... my mind says I am much younger"
I know the feeling!
In my mind I am much younger and then I pass a mirror and think "OMG I am getting old!!"
"Your not old Kid! You got 40 more years... I wish I had 40 more years!"
He makes me feel young... I like that! He makes me see the flowers on the side of the road... He makes me realize everyday is a gift, no matter the struggle... He makes me enjoy life more...
I am so happy he came back from the dead to teach me about LIFE...
So he was all excited... I ordered my Double Malibu Chicken with salad bar and he ordered a salad bar... then he ordered coffee... and then he asked if they had 'Sanka' coffee...
WTH I haven't heard the word Sanka in years... then he changed it to diet Pepsi...
Oh boy... let me tell you... I have never seen anyone eat so much in my life! We were there for 3 hours!!! He had broccoli cheese soup, then ate the french fries off my plate, then he ate 4 plates of spaghetti with meatballs, with chicken wings... then he ate 2 bowls of ice cream... and drank 4 large glasses of Diet Pepsi! WHOA!!!
Two months ago, I would have been chanting 'patience is a virtue' in my head... but yesterday I sat back and enjoyed it all... soaking it in... grateful for the second chance...
A Marine and his son were seated next to us... when they got up to leave Manny says
"Are you a Marine?" the man says "Yes, 13 yrs now" then they start talking Marine tech talk... Manny says "What is your M something or other" the guy says "Recruiting" then Manny says "No your original M something?" the man says "artillery" Manny says "Me too"
The man says "Its all different now... kind of like a video game" "Does your son do the 30 inch walk?" they laugh, I have no idea what they are saying LOL "Where did you go to boot?" blah blah blah... then Manny has to shake his hand... and does that "Go ahead squeeze as hard as you can... not too bad for 83 huh" The man laughs... He clearly enjoyed this conversation... Manny thanks him for serving...
I just sit back and watch... Manny is having a good day... Which I realize is a blessing to see... He tells me its a great day for him "I got to go to town with a beautiful woman, and she bought me lunch! It doesn't get any better than this!!" I laugh..
He calls me 'Kid' a lot...
"You know Kid, life is short... in the blink of an eye its gone... it goes by too fast... enjoy every day!"
"Manny, maybe the other side is pretty good too yanno?"
"Ahhhh... I wanna stay here... I got things to do... the VA says I only have 2 months... I hope they are wrong... what do you think? You think I only got 2 months?"
"Nah... I think you got longer than that... look how good you eat!" he laughs
"I don't wanna go yet... I got things to do..."
"Ya? Like what? What do you want to do?" I am ready to start a 'Bucket List' LOL
the things he wants to do are all home maintenance... [stuff that would take a day to fix]
"Ok so when those things are done... you'll be ready to go then?" I tease and he laughs
He just wants to stay...
He is struggling with his mortality... he is afraid he will get so sick he can't stay in his house...
"For the first time in my life... I FEEL old..." he says reflecting
"Well, I hope the first time I feel old is when I am 83 yrs old, Manny!" he laughs "I know... I keep forgetting I am 83... my mind says I am much younger"
I know the feeling!
In my mind I am much younger and then I pass a mirror and think "OMG I am getting old!!"
"Your not old Kid! You got 40 more years... I wish I had 40 more years!"
He makes me feel young... I like that! He makes me see the flowers on the side of the road... He makes me realize everyday is a gift, no matter the struggle... He makes me enjoy life more...
I am so happy he came back from the dead to teach me about LIFE...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I'm backkkkkk.................
Home again, Home again, Jiggidy jig LOL
OMG I am so wiped out... its a good tired... it was a great week... Kieffer holeshot one of his moto's and was in first place for all five laps... [with a guy on his ass the whole time] I cried after it was over... Taking first at a National is huge...
HOWEVER... that is NOT my biggest news of all!
You guys are NEVER going to believe this... you better sit down... LOL
I get a call from Kameron last week... "Mom are you sitting down?"
OMG I am so wiped out... its a good tired... it was a great week... Kieffer holeshot one of his moto's and was in first place for all five laps... [with a guy on his ass the whole time] I cried after it was over... Taking first at a National is huge...
HOWEVER... that is NOT my biggest news of all!
You guys are NEVER going to believe this... you better sit down... LOL
I get a call from Kameron last week... "Mom are you sitting down?"
"Uh Oh... what Kameron"
"No its good news" I was thinking.. Candice must be having twins... but no...
"Mom, Manny came over today... he is alive..."
"WHAT?" "Ya the VA sent him to a nursing home for 2 months, he has been trying to get a hold of you but he only had our home number at the other house" [Which I disconnected a month ago]
so much for those weird signs... I'll prefer to think of them as Manny trying to call me... LOL
So yesterday as I was typing this Manny came over... I guess he had a bad reaction to his chemo and it almost killed him... He was in ICU for weeks... [GD VA Hospital for not telling me where he was... Sheesh]
He worked pretty hard to get out of there... [he would stay at his rehabilitation session a couple of hours more than he had to!] Anyway... finally he was released on March 19... and then he came over here...
Then you will never believe what happened... he drove into town to get some food... and some idiot tried to pass another car... he had to drive into the desert to avoid him! He is all bruised up from the accident! The guy just kept driving... his tire was flat.... so he had to jack it up and change his tire afterwards...
Survives the hospital, and then almost gets killed in a car accident! Then has to change his own tire in the desert at 83... Is he a tough old bird or what? I think it rattled him pretty good... because he asked if he could go to town with me next time I go... so I am taking him today...
Manny said he would put our names on the list for the VA emergency contact... and keep a copy of our numbers in his wallet...
It sure is nice to get a second chance with someone you care about...
Stories and pictures of Texas to follow next entry... Ok I'll give ya a few right now... LOL
"Mom, Manny came over today... he is alive..."
"WHAT?" "Ya the VA sent him to a nursing home for 2 months, he has been trying to get a hold of you but he only had our home number at the other house" [Which I disconnected a month ago]
so much for those weird signs... I'll prefer to think of them as Manny trying to call me... LOL
So yesterday as I was typing this Manny came over... I guess he had a bad reaction to his chemo and it almost killed him... He was in ICU for weeks... [GD VA Hospital for not telling me where he was... Sheesh]
He worked pretty hard to get out of there... [he would stay at his rehabilitation session a couple of hours more than he had to!] Anyway... finally he was released on March 19... and then he came over here...
Then you will never believe what happened... he drove into town to get some food... and some idiot tried to pass another car... he had to drive into the desert to avoid him! He is all bruised up from the accident! The guy just kept driving... his tire was flat.... so he had to jack it up and change his tire afterwards...
Survives the hospital, and then almost gets killed in a car accident! Then has to change his own tire in the desert at 83... Is he a tough old bird or what? I think it rattled him pretty good... because he asked if he could go to town with me next time I go... so I am taking him today...
Manny said he would put our names on the list for the VA emergency contact... and keep a copy of our numbers in his wallet...
It sure is nice to get a second chance with someone you care about...
Stories and pictures of Texas to follow next entry... Ok I'll give ya a few right now... LOL
My honey [above] [below] my neice Michelle
or Kieffer's lady luck cousin LOL
The beautiful sunsets in Texas
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Damn Texas mud... LOL
So yesterday we headed over to the track to park the trailer... and we got stuck in the mud... It was bad... a bunch of RV's got stuck! We have 4 wheel drive too... Oh boy... even the tractor started slippin...
but eventually we got the trailer set up...
Good news ... its going to be in the 70's & 80's this week for racing... FINALLY
but eventually we got the trailer set up...
Good news ... its going to be in the 70's & 80's this week for racing... FINALLY
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Day 3 Its raining, its pouring, and we are outta here
Standing in the tower watching the race
See the river [below]
Can you say... Eeeeeewwwww
The pond starting in the back 40 by our trailer
This is called a Skunk egg... it has Ham, Turkey, Cheese etc...
Check out the tractors on the starting line... the water was a foot deep a few hours before
The whoop section
Day 3 - RACE DAY
Finally its Tuesday... RACE DAY... Whoo Hoo and although Kieffer was racing in 5 classes, he only had 1 race on Tuesday... You have to remember there are over 3,000 racers at this National from all over the US...
So Sam and Kieffer head over to the staging area... [A staging area is where the next 3 races line up waiting to go to the line] Only a racer and his mechanic can go in there... and the mechanic has to have a pass... this eliminates a bunch of people in staging...
Ok... so a father of one of the racers starts talking to me... while I sit in the golf cart with a book...
"This is our first National and I don't think we should be here" He is scared for his son
"Awwww everyone has to get their first National under their belt, then you know what to go home and work on!" I told him
"I know but my son is 10 seconds behind every racer in his class"
Finally its Tuesday... RACE DAY... Whoo Hoo and although Kieffer was racing in 5 classes, he only had 1 race on Tuesday... You have to remember there are over 3,000 racers at this National from all over the US...
So Sam and Kieffer head over to the staging area... [A staging area is where the next 3 races line up waiting to go to the line] Only a racer and his mechanic can go in there... and the mechanic has to have a pass... this eliminates a bunch of people in staging...
Ok... so a father of one of the racers starts talking to me... while I sit in the golf cart with a book...
"This is our first National and I don't think we should be here" He is scared for his son
"Awwww everyone has to get their first National under their belt, then you know what to go home and work on!" I told him
"I know but my son is 10 seconds behind every racer in his class"
[He knows this by practice transponder times]
"You know what tho... nobody comes to their first National and wins... we didn't... it was a shock to us too, I think my son took a 38th out of 40 at our first National" this seems to make him feel better...
"Which one is your son?" he asks me
"He is number 921"
"You know what tho... nobody comes to their first National and wins... we didn't... it was a shock to us too, I think my son took a 38th out of 40 at our first National" this seems to make him feel better...
"Which one is your son?" he asks me
"He is number 921"
The next race starts and we can't hear very well...
He leans in "9 WHAT?" I lean in closer "Number 9-21, its his BIRTH DATE"
"Oh Wow, OK"
So eventually... Kieffer gets up on the line, the gate drops, with 40 racers going into the first turn...
Kieffer comes out of the pack in 2nd place... Oh boy... my heart is pumping... I get more nervous when he is in front, than working his way up the pack! About the 3rd lap, he starts falling back... I can tell something is wrong...
He hung on for a 6th place... which is GREAT at a National... afterwards we found out he got 'arm pump'
Arm Pump is when your arms cramp up and you can barely hang on to the bike... like riding with a charlie horse going down both arms... it happens... its not fun...
So after we get back to the trailer... Sam says to me...
"Kendra, did you tell some guy it was Kieffer's birthday?"
"What?"
"Ya some Dad, lined up next to us and said Happy Birthday to Kieffer... then said "Hey your Mom said it was your birthday today, what a great way to spend your birthday"
Then it dawns on me...
"No I told him Kieffer's race number is 9-21, his birth DATE, I didn't say "Its his birthday" then I laughed "Sam, what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything... Kieffer and I just looked at each other... I thought maybe you got a free hot dog or something if it was your racers birthday so you said it was... Hell I don't what your up to half the time..."
I laughed... OMG... I got a kick out of that...
That night the rain started... and I mean it poured ALL NIGHT 2 inches of rain... It cleared up for about 5 hours in the morning but it was supposed to start again around 2pm... The track spent the morning TRYING to get the track groomed for racing... Kieffer was race 4... Oh boy... It is NOT good to race in the mud...
First of all, the chance of getting injured goes up exponentially...
Second, you can blow up a bike engine fairly quickly because the radiator gets clogged with mud, plus your graphics on the bike get tore up!!
and last but not least... The racer becomes a mess, you get caked with wet mud in 38 degree weather, and then the trailer becomes a mess as the racer heads to the shower...
Kieffer is NOT a 'mud runner', he HATES the mud...
As Kieffer was in staging... it starts raining... the race before him was the 50 yr old plus race... they took FOREVER to race... When your 50 and racing... you tend to go pretty slow... nobody wants to break a hip!
LOL
Soon the race was over, and they asked if anyone wanted to do the hot lap practice lap before the race... [You have to be crazy to do a hot lap in those conditions, you would come back caked with mud, your tires would be caked with mud, your goggles would be wiped out... its just stupid to do]
So 39 racers decline the hot lap, but 1 guy decided to do it... Oh brother... So the rest of the class has to wait for Mr. Stupid to do his Hot Lap... in the pouring down rain... for 4 minutes... which is a life time while your waiting to go... Finally he comes around probably feeling pretty stupid...
The gate drops and its a mud fest into the first turn.... Kieffer gets a really crappy start, he is in about 30th place... but after about a half of a lap he worked his way up to 10th... I am trying to stay dry under a building, watching... oh it just looks miserable... then I notice the red flag waving at the finish line...
A red flag means the race is over, go back to the starting line... I was like... WTH? They only red flag when half the field goes down or someone is really hurt... I didn't see a big pile up... hhhhmmm this was weird... I realize Kieffer probably needs fresh goggles then, so I race back to the trailer to get them...
Next thing I know, Kieffer is back at the trailer... He said "Go back and get Dad, we decided not to race anymore" as I went back to get Sam we find out that they canceled the racing for the day... It was that bad!!!
So long story longer... The rain kept coming... and they were expecting 2 more inches over the next 2 days... The track already told the 50, 60 and 80cc racers they wouldn't be racing...
The next morning we decided to leave... it just wasn't worth it... Not when you have another National to go to... You need fresh bikes... plus we were afraid we would get stuck in the mud and wouldn't be able to get the trailer out of there...
It was a good thing we decided to pack up and leave... They were crazy... They scheduled Kieffer to race that day in race Number 2, 4, 5, and 9... Right, I don't think so... a racer can barely race back to back in good conditions... never mind trying to do it in muddy 38 degree weather... no way... we love racing... but we are not going to take a chance like that...
Kieffer and I went to watch his moto that morning from the tower...
"Do you wish were out there?" I asked him
he laughed "Uhhh NO"
We left 2 hours later... and drove to the next National at Oak Hill where we got a hotel room for the last 2 days... [While it continued to pour down rain!] We have been watching the website for the National we just left... they canceled all racing yesterday... no kidding... you can't race in that stuff!...
So we are currently in a holding pattern... LOL
Sam's sister Tina, her hubby Ciro, and my nephew C.J. arrived this morning... they drove straight through also... so right now Tina and Ciro are sleeping in their hotel and C.J and Kieffer drove to go see a movie...
C.J races in the 80cc classes, Kieffer races 250cc and 450cc...
We can take the trailer in the gates after 6pm tonight... Sign in starts on Monday, Practice starts on Tuesday, Racing Wednesday through Saturday...
So stay tuned... LOL
He leans in "9 WHAT?" I lean in closer "Number 9-21, its his BIRTH DATE"
"Oh Wow, OK"
So eventually... Kieffer gets up on the line, the gate drops, with 40 racers going into the first turn...
Kieffer comes out of the pack in 2nd place... Oh boy... my heart is pumping... I get more nervous when he is in front, than working his way up the pack! About the 3rd lap, he starts falling back... I can tell something is wrong...
He hung on for a 6th place... which is GREAT at a National... afterwards we found out he got 'arm pump'
Arm Pump is when your arms cramp up and you can barely hang on to the bike... like riding with a charlie horse going down both arms... it happens... its not fun...
So after we get back to the trailer... Sam says to me...
"Kendra, did you tell some guy it was Kieffer's birthday?"
"What?"
"Ya some Dad, lined up next to us and said Happy Birthday to Kieffer... then said "Hey your Mom said it was your birthday today, what a great way to spend your birthday"
Then it dawns on me...
"No I told him Kieffer's race number is 9-21, his birth DATE, I didn't say "Its his birthday" then I laughed "Sam, what did you say?"
"I didn't say anything... Kieffer and I just looked at each other... I thought maybe you got a free hot dog or something if it was your racers birthday so you said it was... Hell I don't what your up to half the time..."
I laughed... OMG... I got a kick out of that...
That night the rain started... and I mean it poured ALL NIGHT 2 inches of rain... It cleared up for about 5 hours in the morning but it was supposed to start again around 2pm... The track spent the morning TRYING to get the track groomed for racing... Kieffer was race 4... Oh boy... It is NOT good to race in the mud...
First of all, the chance of getting injured goes up exponentially...
Second, you can blow up a bike engine fairly quickly because the radiator gets clogged with mud, plus your graphics on the bike get tore up!!
and last but not least... The racer becomes a mess, you get caked with wet mud in 38 degree weather, and then the trailer becomes a mess as the racer heads to the shower...
Kieffer is NOT a 'mud runner', he HATES the mud...
As Kieffer was in staging... it starts raining... the race before him was the 50 yr old plus race... they took FOREVER to race... When your 50 and racing... you tend to go pretty slow... nobody wants to break a hip!
LOL
Soon the race was over, and they asked if anyone wanted to do the hot lap practice lap before the race... [You have to be crazy to do a hot lap in those conditions, you would come back caked with mud, your tires would be caked with mud, your goggles would be wiped out... its just stupid to do]
So 39 racers decline the hot lap, but 1 guy decided to do it... Oh brother... So the rest of the class has to wait for Mr. Stupid to do his Hot Lap... in the pouring down rain... for 4 minutes... which is a life time while your waiting to go... Finally he comes around probably feeling pretty stupid...
The gate drops and its a mud fest into the first turn.... Kieffer gets a really crappy start, he is in about 30th place... but after about a half of a lap he worked his way up to 10th... I am trying to stay dry under a building, watching... oh it just looks miserable... then I notice the red flag waving at the finish line...
A red flag means the race is over, go back to the starting line... I was like... WTH? They only red flag when half the field goes down or someone is really hurt... I didn't see a big pile up... hhhhmmm this was weird... I realize Kieffer probably needs fresh goggles then, so I race back to the trailer to get them...
Next thing I know, Kieffer is back at the trailer... He said "Go back and get Dad, we decided not to race anymore" as I went back to get Sam we find out that they canceled the racing for the day... It was that bad!!!
So long story longer... The rain kept coming... and they were expecting 2 more inches over the next 2 days... The track already told the 50, 60 and 80cc racers they wouldn't be racing...
The next morning we decided to leave... it just wasn't worth it... Not when you have another National to go to... You need fresh bikes... plus we were afraid we would get stuck in the mud and wouldn't be able to get the trailer out of there...
It was a good thing we decided to pack up and leave... They were crazy... They scheduled Kieffer to race that day in race Number 2, 4, 5, and 9... Right, I don't think so... a racer can barely race back to back in good conditions... never mind trying to do it in muddy 38 degree weather... no way... we love racing... but we are not going to take a chance like that...
Kieffer and I went to watch his moto that morning from the tower...
"Do you wish were out there?" I asked him
he laughed "Uhhh NO"
We left 2 hours later... and drove to the next National at Oak Hill where we got a hotel room for the last 2 days... [While it continued to pour down rain!] We have been watching the website for the National we just left... they canceled all racing yesterday... no kidding... you can't race in that stuff!...
So we are currently in a holding pattern... LOL
Sam's sister Tina, her hubby Ciro, and my nephew C.J. arrived this morning... they drove straight through also... so right now Tina and Ciro are sleeping in their hotel and C.J and Kieffer drove to go see a movie...
C.J races in the 80cc classes, Kieffer races 250cc and 450cc...
We can take the trailer in the gates after 6pm tonight... Sign in starts on Monday, Practice starts on Tuesday, Racing Wednesday through Saturday...
So stay tuned... LOL
OMG Kieffer just called from the movie theatre... He says its the nicest one he has ever been in... They hand you a menu and you order your snacks from the seats... How cool is that!!! He said the menu had
"Ocean's Eleven shrimp cocktail", you could order beer, besides popcorn... and if want something else... you push a button and the waitress comes...
"Ocean's Eleven shrimp cocktail", you could order beer, besides popcorn... and if want something else... you push a button and the waitress comes...
I said "How much was it to get in Kieff?" he said "$5" "NAh... your playing with me..." "Mom I swear... I am going to take a picture"
Everything is bigger and better in Texas...
Ya'all come back now...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Day 2
Kieffer after practice
Are you ready for some more crazy stories? Ok... here we go... LOL
We arrived after driving straight through... I do not EVER want to be a long haul trucker... EVER... that kicked my butt and Sam's!!!
You know your starting to lose it while driving when you start singing the 'Smokey and the Bandit" song...
"We've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there... We gotta do what they say can't be done..."
Great.... now its stuck in my head again...
We arrived in time for Kieffer to get 3 practices in... Whew... actually they were really nice and allowed him in the 'Pro" practice because we were late... we checked in, got his transponder... [its for scoring him in a race, and giving him lap times]
The weather was PERFECT... warm, a little humid, but very nice!!!
We unloaded the trailer and got set up... out in the back 40... all the RV spaces were taken so we parked in a field, next to a field with longhorns and horses... Hey we are in Texas...
We heard rain was coming in a couple of days so we parked on a high spot...
and then...
Manny sent me another sign...
for those of you who don't believe in signs... you can skip this part then...
No it wasn't another balloon either...
Before I tell you what happened... I have to give you some information on Manny... his family was Greek and his last name was Gregor-opolis, only when his father came to the US he dropped the opolis... Ok... did you follow that?
Ok... good... so there we are sitting in chairs outside of our campsite... out in a field all by ourselves I might add....when a family comes up to us... A Grandma, A Father and a Daughter...
"Hi, we are new to racing and this is our first National... Can you answer a few questions for us?"
"Oh sure..."
"Is there another practice in the morning before racing?"
"Well you get what they call a Hot Lap... meaning you get one lap to look at the track before racing"
So this conversation led to more questions and they stayed talking to us for awhile... it was nice...
When they went to leave I said "By the way what is your name?"
the father says "My name is Manny, this is my Mom, she is visiting from Greece... helping me out"
Sam and I looked at each other.... Whoa...
We explained about our neighbor Manny who was also Greek, we told him about the Gregor-oplois thing...
Then the guy says... ""Oh wow, that is really weird my last name is Opolis!"
Hhhhmmmm? Ooooooo Eeeeeee Ooooooo..... LOL
So all I have to say is Manny is still trying to say Hi from the other side... whatta think about that?
Next entry will be a funny story about racing the next day... stay tuned...
We arrived after driving straight through... I do not EVER want to be a long haul trucker... EVER... that kicked my butt and Sam's!!!
You know your starting to lose it while driving when you start singing the 'Smokey and the Bandit" song...
"We've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there... We gotta do what they say can't be done..."
Great.... now its stuck in my head again...
We arrived in time for Kieffer to get 3 practices in... Whew... actually they were really nice and allowed him in the 'Pro" practice because we were late... we checked in, got his transponder... [its for scoring him in a race, and giving him lap times]
The weather was PERFECT... warm, a little humid, but very nice!!!
We unloaded the trailer and got set up... out in the back 40... all the RV spaces were taken so we parked in a field, next to a field with longhorns and horses... Hey we are in Texas...
We heard rain was coming in a couple of days so we parked on a high spot...
and then...
Manny sent me another sign...
for those of you who don't believe in signs... you can skip this part then...
No it wasn't another balloon either...
Before I tell you what happened... I have to give you some information on Manny... his family was Greek and his last name was Gregor-opolis, only when his father came to the US he dropped the opolis... Ok... did you follow that?
Ok... good... so there we are sitting in chairs outside of our campsite... out in a field all by ourselves I might add....when a family comes up to us... A Grandma, A Father and a Daughter...
"Hi, we are new to racing and this is our first National... Can you answer a few questions for us?"
"Oh sure..."
"Is there another practice in the morning before racing?"
"Well you get what they call a Hot Lap... meaning you get one lap to look at the track before racing"
So this conversation led to more questions and they stayed talking to us for awhile... it was nice...
When they went to leave I said "By the way what is your name?"
the father says "My name is Manny, this is my Mom, she is visiting from Greece... helping me out"
Sam and I looked at each other.... Whoa...
We explained about our neighbor Manny who was also Greek, we told him about the Gregor-oplois thing...
Then the guy says... ""Oh wow, that is really weird my last name is Opolis!"
Hhhhmmmm? Ooooooo Eeeeeee Ooooooo..... LOL
So all I have to say is Manny is still trying to say Hi from the other side... whatta think about that?
Next entry will be a funny story about racing the next day... stay tuned...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 1 - Ya'all come back now hear
Greetings from deep in the heart of Texas...
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya'all ready for some stories.... Go get a cup of something, sit down and hang on...
its gonna be a crazy ride...
Why does the craziest shit happen to me? Where in hell do I begin?
Ahhhh yes... Saturday night...
You buckled in? Cuz here we go...
Saturday night we decided to leave because Kieffer had a practice at the National Monday morning...
Its a 20 hour drive.... so we hurried out the door at 8pm Saturday night... Gram Pam was at the house to watch the doggies... and they were happy... she also gave me some chocolate covered coffee beans from Starbucks... Can you say... WIRED me up!!! I was so happy because I can't drink energy drinks they make me sleepy... but let me tell you those chocolate covered coffee beans... oh boy... I was ready to drive ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Weeeeeeeeeee.... LOL
As we started to leave, the mapquest told us to back track to the 10 freeway 30 miles... downhill... then start heading to Texas and go up Chiraco Summit... I told Sam that was stupid... lets just go out by 29 Palms and then by Rice road to the 10 freeway, we will bypass Chiraco Summit... he agreed... it was a little sketchy because its a two lane road, out in the middle of NO WHERE... so if we broke down we would be screwed for long time!!!
Well we made it to the 10 freeway, no problems... Whoo hoo... about 2 hours into the trip... Sam decided he was tired and turned the driving over to me... which he NEVER does... so after about an hour he was happy enough with my driving the truck & trailer, he got in the back seat to go to sleep... [Its a crew cab]
So there I am... driving between Blythe, CA and Phoenix, AZ cruising along... BINGING on coffee beans... listening to my coasttocoast radio show... driving through the miles of nothing-ness at 1am in the morning... about an hour outside of Phoenix... I hear a WHAM... thunkity, thunk, thunkity thunk... yup... a tire blew on the trailer! Slowly... I drive to the next off ramp... to a one horse town called Tonopah... When I say the tire blew... I mean it Blew up! Sam said "Call AAA and see if they can have a tow truck come take the rim off and then we will take it into town in the morning and get another tire mounted... because the trailer is a dually... we don't have a spare..." I said "ok" WELL GUESS WHAT? Don't tell AAA you don't have a spare because they WONT come take a rim off!!! WTH? So Sam says "Well lets try to get some sleep and lets deal with it in the morning"...
Now let me explain the sleeping arrangements with all of you... Kieffer is snuggled into his bunk in the trailer... but Sam and I cant go sleep in our bed because there are 4 race bikes and a golf cart in our area of the trailer! So, I get the front seat of the truck and Sam has the backseat... so there I am... a wired up on coffee beans mess, trying to get some sleep, while two seatbelt things are digging into my back.... I laid there playing my "It could be worse game"
"Ok... this situation totally sucks but it could be worse.... it could have happened on that 29 Palms highway out in the middle of no where... that would be worse! It could have happened on the 10 freeway in the middle of no where... ok that would be worse... semi's flying by all night!!.... it could have made the trailer sway and tip over... that would be worse..."
At 4am, I am still lying awake trying to talk to myself... "Kendra... life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it... I know... but I could be in New Mexico by now... Kendra you need to calm down...everything happens for a reason... I know but THIS SUCKS!!! Kendra... go to sleep... I WISH I COULD... GD COFFEE BEANS!!!"
Finally I fell asleep but woke up when the sun came up... Sam went into the Shell station and got the number of an emergency tire guy...
thank you... thank you... thank you...
He had to wait for the tire store to open to pick up the size tires we needed...Sam had decided to change both tires on that side of the trailer
[Now if Arizona changed their clocks like the rest of the civilized world... we wouldn't have had to wait for an hour right?]
So we headed over to the only other place of business in Tonopah...
"The Family Restaurant" for breakfast... [This place is NOT a family restaurant, its a long forgotten truck stop maybe!]
Ok remember Flo from Mel's diner? "Kiss my grits"... that is who the waitress reminds me of... she has a name tag on... It says... I swear to God,I can't make this shit up!
Her name tag says "Love Bug" so I said "Is that your real name?" "Uh huh, I have a sister named Lady, a brother named Jitter, a brother named Doodle, and I even have a cousin named Stink... I had sadistic parents..." and she wanders off... It took me a minute to get the names... its the blonde in me... "Oh I get it... Doodle Bug, Lady Bug... etc..." Kieffer laughed at how long it took me to get that... We find out she was kidding... Her name is really "Cher"...
WHATEVER...
I guess in a one horse town like that you gotta get your kicks somehow...
As we are eating, I am daydreaming out the window... looking at the trailer... when I realize something... "Uh... Sam... is that a spare tire under the trailer?" he looks and say "Oh my God!" and then I did something Kieffer will never let me forget... I let the "F" word fly out of my mouth...I said "Awwwww FUCK" Kieffer says "MOM! We are in a FAMILY restaurant!"
"Sure it is Kieffer... where are all the families then?"
So long story... a little bit longer... there was a reason I didn't see the spare tire sooner... it was because all the tires on the trailer had sun rot and ALL of them had to be replaced...
By 10am on Sunday morning we were on the road again...
We had less than 24 hours to get to Lake Whitney Texas...
See EVERYTHING does happen for a reason!
Even in a little town called Tonopah with Love Bug waitressing...
Oh brother... shaking my head...
Stay tuned for a bunch more stories...
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya'all ready for some stories.... Go get a cup of something, sit down and hang on...
its gonna be a crazy ride...
Why does the craziest shit happen to me? Where in hell do I begin?
Ahhhh yes... Saturday night...
You buckled in? Cuz here we go...
Saturday night we decided to leave because Kieffer had a practice at the National Monday morning...
Its a 20 hour drive.... so we hurried out the door at 8pm Saturday night... Gram Pam was at the house to watch the doggies... and they were happy... she also gave me some chocolate covered coffee beans from Starbucks... Can you say... WIRED me up!!! I was so happy because I can't drink energy drinks they make me sleepy... but let me tell you those chocolate covered coffee beans... oh boy... I was ready to drive ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Weeeeeeeeeee.... LOL
As we started to leave, the mapquest told us to back track to the 10 freeway 30 miles... downhill... then start heading to Texas and go up Chiraco Summit... I told Sam that was stupid... lets just go out by 29 Palms and then by Rice road to the 10 freeway, we will bypass Chiraco Summit... he agreed... it was a little sketchy because its a two lane road, out in the middle of NO WHERE... so if we broke down we would be screwed for long time!!!
Well we made it to the 10 freeway, no problems... Whoo hoo... about 2 hours into the trip... Sam decided he was tired and turned the driving over to me... which he NEVER does... so after about an hour he was happy enough with my driving the truck & trailer, he got in the back seat to go to sleep... [Its a crew cab]
So there I am... driving between Blythe, CA and Phoenix, AZ cruising along... BINGING on coffee beans... listening to my coasttocoast radio show... driving through the miles of nothing-ness at 1am in the morning... about an hour outside of Phoenix... I hear a WHAM... thunkity, thunk, thunkity thunk... yup... a tire blew on the trailer! Slowly... I drive to the next off ramp... to a one horse town called Tonopah... When I say the tire blew... I mean it Blew up! Sam said "Call AAA and see if they can have a tow truck come take the rim off and then we will take it into town in the morning and get another tire mounted... because the trailer is a dually... we don't have a spare..." I said "ok" WELL GUESS WHAT? Don't tell AAA you don't have a spare because they WONT come take a rim off!!! WTH? So Sam says "Well lets try to get some sleep and lets deal with it in the morning"...
Now let me explain the sleeping arrangements with all of you... Kieffer is snuggled into his bunk in the trailer... but Sam and I cant go sleep in our bed because there are 4 race bikes and a golf cart in our area of the trailer! So, I get the front seat of the truck and Sam has the backseat... so there I am... a wired up on coffee beans mess, trying to get some sleep, while two seatbelt things are digging into my back.... I laid there playing my "It could be worse game"
"Ok... this situation totally sucks but it could be worse.... it could have happened on that 29 Palms highway out in the middle of no where... that would be worse! It could have happened on the 10 freeway in the middle of no where... ok that would be worse... semi's flying by all night!!.... it could have made the trailer sway and tip over... that would be worse..."
At 4am, I am still lying awake trying to talk to myself... "Kendra... life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it... I know... but I could be in New Mexico by now... Kendra you need to calm down...everything happens for a reason... I know but THIS SUCKS!!! Kendra... go to sleep... I WISH I COULD... GD COFFEE BEANS!!!"
Finally I fell asleep but woke up when the sun came up... Sam went into the Shell station and got the number of an emergency tire guy...
thank you... thank you... thank you...
He had to wait for the tire store to open to pick up the size tires we needed...Sam had decided to change both tires on that side of the trailer
[Now if Arizona changed their clocks like the rest of the civilized world... we wouldn't have had to wait for an hour right?]
So we headed over to the only other place of business in Tonopah...
"The Family Restaurant" for breakfast... [This place is NOT a family restaurant, its a long forgotten truck stop maybe!]
Ok remember Flo from Mel's diner? "Kiss my grits"... that is who the waitress reminds me of... she has a name tag on... It says... I swear to God,I can't make this shit up!
Her name tag says "Love Bug" so I said "Is that your real name?" "Uh huh, I have a sister named Lady, a brother named Jitter, a brother named Doodle, and I even have a cousin named Stink... I had sadistic parents..." and she wanders off... It took me a minute to get the names... its the blonde in me... "Oh I get it... Doodle Bug, Lady Bug... etc..." Kieffer laughed at how long it took me to get that... We find out she was kidding... Her name is really "Cher"...
WHATEVER...
I guess in a one horse town like that you gotta get your kicks somehow...
As we are eating, I am daydreaming out the window... looking at the trailer... when I realize something... "Uh... Sam... is that a spare tire under the trailer?" he looks and say "Oh my God!" and then I did something Kieffer will never let me forget... I let the "F" word fly out of my mouth...I said "Awwwww FUCK" Kieffer says "MOM! We are in a FAMILY restaurant!"
"Sure it is Kieffer... where are all the families then?"
So long story... a little bit longer... there was a reason I didn't see the spare tire sooner... it was because all the tires on the trailer had sun rot and ALL of them had to be replaced...
By 10am on Sunday morning we were on the road again...
We had less than 24 hours to get to Lake Whitney Texas...
See EVERYTHING does happen for a reason!
Even in a little town called Tonopah with Love Bug waitressing...
Oh brother... shaking my head...
Stay tuned for a bunch more stories...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again
Good Saturday morning everyone...
Hope you 'all are having a nice weekend! Mine is a little hectic... Kameron and Kieffer are at Perris Raceway trying to qualify for the Loretta Lynn's... [L.L. is the biggest amateur race of the year... only the top 5 in the region go... but first you have to make top 10 to get to regional's] Did you understand that? Ok good!
And... check this out...
We leave in the morning for the Texas Nationals... yup its been a year already!!! For those of you who were not reading my blog then... It was eventful... Kieffer did great at Lake Whitney... trophied... then we went to Oak Hill and he had trophied in one class... was in his last 'main' race... was in 3rd place... the kid in front of Kieffer hit some mud and came to a stop, Kieffer hit the back of his bike, went over the bars and was then run over by the next bike... he broke his leg pretty badly, we flew him home the next day and then we drove home as fast as we could... because Kieffer had surgery 4 days later...He has a 13 inch rod in his lower leg... After the surgery Kieffer said "My 13 inch rod makes it hard for me to walk" LOL
So anyway... Kieffer is racing today... and then we leave in the morning... Gram Pam is going to meet the boys at Perris raceway and come back with them to watch the dogs while we are gone...
Whoo hoo... she is the only person I have ever left my dogs with that my dogs LOVE... I swear last year when we came back from Texas... my dogs could have cared less if I was home!!
Oh and by the way, GiGi's name has been changed... ever since she had that uterus infection and was fixed... she has gotten so fat! So we now call her "Biggie Gi" LOL
OH good news... the boys just called and Kieffer qualified for the regional's and is bringing home a medal... Whoo Hoo...
So if he takes top 5 at the Glen Helen Regional's in May we will be heading to Tennessee in late July, early August...
Ok I gotta go... Ill miss you all... this year I will be taking my laptop so hopefully I can keep ya up to date on our Motocross racing adventures...
Be good kids while I am gone... LOL
Hope you 'all are having a nice weekend! Mine is a little hectic... Kameron and Kieffer are at Perris Raceway trying to qualify for the Loretta Lynn's... [L.L. is the biggest amateur race of the year... only the top 5 in the region go... but first you have to make top 10 to get to regional's] Did you understand that? Ok good!
And... check this out...
We leave in the morning for the Texas Nationals... yup its been a year already!!! For those of you who were not reading my blog then... It was eventful... Kieffer did great at Lake Whitney... trophied... then we went to Oak Hill and he had trophied in one class... was in his last 'main' race... was in 3rd place... the kid in front of Kieffer hit some mud and came to a stop, Kieffer hit the back of his bike, went over the bars and was then run over by the next bike... he broke his leg pretty badly, we flew him home the next day and then we drove home as fast as we could... because Kieffer had surgery 4 days later...He has a 13 inch rod in his lower leg... After the surgery Kieffer said "My 13 inch rod makes it hard for me to walk" LOL
So anyway... Kieffer is racing today... and then we leave in the morning... Gram Pam is going to meet the boys at Perris raceway and come back with them to watch the dogs while we are gone...
Whoo hoo... she is the only person I have ever left my dogs with that my dogs LOVE... I swear last year when we came back from Texas... my dogs could have cared less if I was home!!
Oh and by the way, GiGi's name has been changed... ever since she had that uterus infection and was fixed... she has gotten so fat! So we now call her "Biggie Gi" LOL
OH good news... the boys just called and Kieffer qualified for the regional's and is bringing home a medal... Whoo Hoo...
So if he takes top 5 at the Glen Helen Regional's in May we will be heading to Tennessee in late July, early August...
Ok I gotta go... Ill miss you all... this year I will be taking my laptop so hopefully I can keep ya up to date on our Motocross racing adventures...
Be good kids while I am gone... LOL
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"You've seen the best... forget the rest!!!"
Whoa, I had a flashback to my childhood this morning! One day I was getting ready for high school and my Father was still sleeping, I forgot to get something signed so I opened his bedroom door to tell him... Only, my father wasn't sleeping... He had gotten up out of bed and was heading towards his robe on the back of the door... NAKED... OMG, I suddenly realized he was naked and quickly shut the door!!!
The thing I remember most about that morning was how my Dad handled it...
[I mean seriously... can you say awkward]
He came out of the door and said "You've seen the best!! Forget the rest!!" and I laughed... I have NEVER forgotten that day... I thought that was the coolest way to handle awkward!!!
So fast forward to this morning... OMG I can not believe I am about to tell you all this but its never a dull moment in my household!!!
I got up this morning and let the dogs out... Kameron and Kieffer are up here helping to get us ready for the Texas Nationals... so like I said I let the dogs out, started coffee, and tried to call the dogs back in but they wouldn't come.... Grrrrr... they were hunting in the wood pile... I thought... whatever... I am going back to bed!!! So I took off my robe and snuggled back into bed with Sam... I was just starting to fall back asleep when suddenly we heard Bolts and Rider fighting... Which sounded like they were killing each other! I FLEW out of bed, opened my door and started looking for a glass of water on the bar to throw at them!!! I looked across the bar and then up to Kieffer's face... He had this look of horror on his face... and that is when I realized... I was topless!!!! I used my arm to cover them, grabbed a bottle of water, and ran outside... By now, Kameron had gotten them apart... it was officially over...
So I walked back in the house, threw on my robe and said "Kieffer, you have seen the best... forget the rest!"
but of course Kieffer couldn't leave it at that...
"Ok, first of all... when I think of the 'best' boobs I have seen in my life... I really don't want the word 'MOM popping into my head, so I have to come up with a different category..."
I laughed
Kieffer thought for minute and said "Ok they are the 'Most Expensive'" and I laughed again
"Ok Kieffer, you've seen the 'Most Expensive... Don't be so Defensive! How is that"...
"Fine now can we stop talking about it... I'm scarred for life"
The thing I remember most about that morning was how my Dad handled it...
[I mean seriously... can you say awkward]
He came out of the door and said "You've seen the best!! Forget the rest!!" and I laughed... I have NEVER forgotten that day... I thought that was the coolest way to handle awkward!!!
So fast forward to this morning... OMG I can not believe I am about to tell you all this but its never a dull moment in my household!!!
I got up this morning and let the dogs out... Kameron and Kieffer are up here helping to get us ready for the Texas Nationals... so like I said I let the dogs out, started coffee, and tried to call the dogs back in but they wouldn't come.... Grrrrr... they were hunting in the wood pile... I thought... whatever... I am going back to bed!!! So I took off my robe and snuggled back into bed with Sam... I was just starting to fall back asleep when suddenly we heard Bolts and Rider fighting... Which sounded like they were killing each other! I FLEW out of bed, opened my door and started looking for a glass of water on the bar to throw at them!!! I looked across the bar and then up to Kieffer's face... He had this look of horror on his face... and that is when I realized... I was topless!!!! I used my arm to cover them, grabbed a bottle of water, and ran outside... By now, Kameron had gotten them apart... it was officially over...
So I walked back in the house, threw on my robe and said "Kieffer, you have seen the best... forget the rest!"
but of course Kieffer couldn't leave it at that...
"Ok, first of all... when I think of the 'best' boobs I have seen in my life... I really don't want the word 'MOM popping into my head, so I have to come up with a different category..."
I laughed
Kieffer thought for minute and said "Ok they are the 'Most Expensive'" and I laughed again
"Ok Kieffer, you've seen the 'Most Expensive... Don't be so Defensive! How is that"...
"Fine now can we stop talking about it... I'm scarred for life"
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Need some good vibes
I need some good vibes sent my way to get this place rented... UGH... It is driving me crazy!!!
I have a couple who wants it but doesnt want to move in until April 1st, so
I said ok, but you have to put down a deposit and I will take it off the rental market...
I havent heard back from them... even tho they say..."It feels like home and we want it!"
So send some good rental vibes my way... PLEASE... Jeez, Lousie...
I have lowered the rent $200 and it still hasnt rented in 3 months...
UGH!!!
I have a couple who wants it but doesnt want to move in until April 1st, so
I said ok, but you have to put down a deposit and I will take it off the rental market...
I havent heard back from them... even tho they say..."It feels like home and we want it!"
So send some good rental vibes my way... PLEASE... Jeez, Lousie...
I have lowered the rent $200 and it still hasnt rented in 3 months...
UGH!!!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
"Tuna is 50 cents a can"
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend... Gram Pam and I are having adventures... LOL
Remember her declaration on 'getting to the bottom of the Manny thing, when she got here'... Well that meant 'I had to call the police'... so I did... and guess what? They won't tell us if he is dead either!!!
I also took her over to his house and she looked in, and all around... We even looked in his mailbox
[a federal offense I might add... but all is fair in Love, War and looking for your dead neighbor right?]
He has not picked up his mail since January 26... on January 30th he was taken by ambulance remember...
So that is the end of the trail on finding Manny for now... Even Gram Pam says she believes Manny is gone too...
So that is it... now we just watch until someone comes to his property... Ill keep ya posted!
on to other things...
Friday night... Gram Pam and I headed to the grocery store... Wow... the things we get into on our adventures...
So there we are minding our own business shopping... when we happen upon a woman... standing by the cans of Tuna... She is VERY proud of her find...
"Ladies, LOOK Tuna is 50 cents a can!!!"
Gram Pam says "Oh Ill buy a few cans" and she starts putting them in our cart... when she is done... I start walking past the woman, and by now she has cornered some man and is telling him about the cheap tuna... and he announces pretty loudly "I don't really eat Tuna" and I said "Oh... too bad for your wife"
[Did you laugh?]
I didn't really say that...
I WANTED to say that... but I just couldn't bring myself to do it...
I whispered it to Pam and she laughed...
Oh the stuff that happens around the two of us... I swear
Remember her declaration on 'getting to the bottom of the Manny thing, when she got here'... Well that meant 'I had to call the police'... so I did... and guess what? They won't tell us if he is dead either!!!
I also took her over to his house and she looked in, and all around... We even looked in his mailbox
[a federal offense I might add... but all is fair in Love, War and looking for your dead neighbor right?]
He has not picked up his mail since January 26... on January 30th he was taken by ambulance remember...
So that is the end of the trail on finding Manny for now... Even Gram Pam says she believes Manny is gone too...
So that is it... now we just watch until someone comes to his property... Ill keep ya posted!
on to other things...
Friday night... Gram Pam and I headed to the grocery store... Wow... the things we get into on our adventures...
So there we are minding our own business shopping... when we happen upon a woman... standing by the cans of Tuna... She is VERY proud of her find...
"Ladies, LOOK Tuna is 50 cents a can!!!"
Gram Pam says "Oh Ill buy a few cans" and she starts putting them in our cart... when she is done... I start walking past the woman, and by now she has cornered some man and is telling him about the cheap tuna... and he announces pretty loudly "I don't really eat Tuna" and I said "Oh... too bad for your wife"
[Did you laugh?]
I didn't really say that...
I WANTED to say that... but I just couldn't bring myself to do it...
I whispered it to Pam and she laughed...
Oh the stuff that happens around the two of us... I swear
Friday, February 27, 2009
A funny story about Gram
A few months ago, while Gram Pam was here we invited Manny over for brunch one weekend... He came over shaking a tambourine, and carrying a champagne bottle... He had a BIG crush on Gram Pam... We had champagne with sliced peaches in the glasses that day with brunch... Manny had been a bartender at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs for many years... back in the day...
[Which was a Wednesday by the way LOL]
Manny was a Marine too... and whenever he came over he arm wrestled the boys... Manny always won...
[even at 83... I think he had some grip trick going...]
So anyway...
I told the balloon story to Gram Pam...
she said "I dont care... I am getting to the bottom of the Manny thing when I get there"
[she is coming today for the weekend]
I said "You don't believe that balloon was Manny?"
she said "No..."
Then I said "But Pam the balloon had a tambourine on it, with a champagne bottle attached..."
She was in shock for a second thinking I was serious...
"Really?"
"YES...AND... it tried to arm wrestle me" now she realized I was joking...
She laughed...
Jeepers... the things he would have had to do to send her a sign... YIKES!!!
No wonder he sent ME the balloon!
[Which was a Wednesday by the way LOL]
Manny was a Marine too... and whenever he came over he arm wrestled the boys... Manny always won...
[even at 83... I think he had some grip trick going...]
So anyway...
I told the balloon story to Gram Pam...
she said "I dont care... I am getting to the bottom of the Manny thing when I get there"
[she is coming today for the weekend]
I said "You don't believe that balloon was Manny?"
she said "No..."
Then I said "But Pam the balloon had a tambourine on it, with a champagne bottle attached..."
She was in shock for a second thinking I was serious...
"Really?"
"YES...AND... it tried to arm wrestle me" now she realized I was joking...
She laughed...
Jeepers... the things he would have had to do to send her a sign... YIKES!!!
No wonder he sent ME the balloon!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
This is looking out my window
So... where did that balloon come from? You tell me? The balloon came dancing up to the pine tree on the left hand side... Then floated straight up and poof it was gone?
Signs... I believe in signs...
Ok... this is really weird and you guys are gonna think I am crazy but this what happened...
The other day while I was searching for Manny, I kept telling Sam
"I know Manny is gone, I know it my heart" and Sam would say "Yea, I think so too Honey"
So yesterday morning I was checking my email before we headed down the hill to the office to pay bills and move more stuff up here...
Where my computer sits... is a window with a really pretty view of the desert and local mountains... no houses...
As I was daydreaming out the window... suddenly...... I noticed this HUGE mylar heart shaped balloon... floating towards my window...
I yelled "Sam look at this HUGE Heart balloon... OMG... its from Manny... I know it..." it came dancing towards my window... about 15 ft. from the house and then just floated straight up and poof it was gone...
Now you guys can think I am weird for thinking that... but if you knew where I lived and knew how far other people live from me... you would trip out about that balloon too! If I lived in the city with houses everywhere I wouldn't have thought that much about a balloon floating towards my window...
I told my boys... Kameron [21] and Kieffer [17] the story yesterday and they were tripping out... First I told Kameron [who is the biggest sceptic about EVERYTHING]
and he said "OMG, Kieffer come here... you have to hear this story..." and then EVEN Kieffer said "Oooo that IS weird Mom!"
I just KNOW in my heart... he did that... the second I saw the balloon I knew where it came from... I believe it was Manny's way of letting me know he is gone and saying he loved us...
See... I believe in signs like that... I KNOW last year when Grandpa died and we were boxing up the house and having a garage sale that those old WWII planes that flew over his house in circles [like 8 times] and said US NAVY on the side was Grandpa...
I KNOW it... and during Candice's wedding rehearsal when those Nun's walked by the beach in full habit... that was Grandpa too... he was letting us know he was there... C'mon how often do you see Nun's in full habit outfits anymore? [like the flying Nun, for non-Catholics LOL]
Ok... so as you can see I BELIEVE in signs... so I now know Manny is gone... I know it in my heart... and he told me with a heart...
and that is all I have to say about that...
The other day while I was searching for Manny, I kept telling Sam
"I know Manny is gone, I know it my heart" and Sam would say "Yea, I think so too Honey"
So yesterday morning I was checking my email before we headed down the hill to the office to pay bills and move more stuff up here...
Where my computer sits... is a window with a really pretty view of the desert and local mountains... no houses...
As I was daydreaming out the window... suddenly...... I noticed this HUGE mylar heart shaped balloon... floating towards my window...
I yelled "Sam look at this HUGE Heart balloon... OMG... its from Manny... I know it..." it came dancing towards my window... about 15 ft. from the house and then just floated straight up and poof it was gone...
Now you guys can think I am weird for thinking that... but if you knew where I lived and knew how far other people live from me... you would trip out about that balloon too! If I lived in the city with houses everywhere I wouldn't have thought that much about a balloon floating towards my window...
I told my boys... Kameron [21] and Kieffer [17] the story yesterday and they were tripping out... First I told Kameron [who is the biggest sceptic about EVERYTHING]
and he said "OMG, Kieffer come here... you have to hear this story..." and then EVEN Kieffer said "Oooo that IS weird Mom!"
I just KNOW in my heart... he did that... the second I saw the balloon I knew where it came from... I believe it was Manny's way of letting me know he is gone and saying he loved us...
See... I believe in signs like that... I KNOW last year when Grandpa died and we were boxing up the house and having a garage sale that those old WWII planes that flew over his house in circles [like 8 times] and said US NAVY on the side was Grandpa...
I KNOW it... and during Candice's wedding rehearsal when those Nun's walked by the beach in full habit... that was Grandpa too... he was letting us know he was there... C'mon how often do you see Nun's in full habit outfits anymore? [like the flying Nun, for non-Catholics LOL]
Ok... so as you can see I BELIEVE in signs... so I now know Manny is gone... I know it in my heart... and he told me with a heart...
and that is all I have to say about that...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Manny my neighbor update
Ok... Manny update...
I spent 3 hours on the phone today hunting him down from the January 30th ambulance ride...
Oh boy what a day...
Remember they said he was at a certain hospital with the initials AC...
well after phone calls to all the local hospitals with the AC initials,
I called our local hospital back... and then they said "I'm sorry that meant he went to an acute care hospital in the area" "Ok which hospitals would be acute care" so they told me, then they told me he might be in a nursing home... and gave me the local nursing homes to call...
By now he was no longer my neighbor... he was my Uncle... What do they know right? Except I felt like a crappy niece, not knowing when my Uncle was born...
"Gosh... I dont know, I just know he is 83... Do you know your Uncle's birthdays?" and they would laugh.,., "No I guess I dont" they would say...
But... he was no where to be found...
So I called up the local hospital again... They were so nice... I swear... Country Living is the only way to go... Nice... helpful... even gave me his birthday...
So I tried calling more Nursing homes...
I was hopeful thinking he was in one of them...
I found out... the ambulance was called because he didn't know where he was, he was disorientated...
Thank God... I thought to myself... he didn't fall... he wasn't sick sick... yanno...
he is probably in a Nursing home and they can't send him home because he is confused...
Poor Manny... I was ready to jet out the door when I found him in a Nursing home...
I called and called...
Nothing...
He had simply disappeared after leaving our local hospital...
So I called them back again...
"I don't mean to keep bothering you but how is it possible he is no where to be found? I have called EVERY WHERE? How can you NOT know where the ambulance took him after you discharged him? I don't understand?"
So they gave me the number to a patient advocate lady... Who was so wonderful...
She said "Let me do some research on where he was taken... Your right... it should be in the file... give me your number and I will call you back"
FINALLY Right?
She calls me back...
"He was taken to Loma Linda VA Hospital... and that is where the trail ends..."
All the VA will say is "He is NOT a patient in the Hospital and he is NOT in a VA Nursing Home... and that is ALL I can tell you... I am NOT allowed to say if he has passed away!"
So I said "Ok, however if he WAS in theVA Hospital or in a VA Nursing Home after being brought there... you would tell me where I could visit him?"
"Yes I would"
"Ok"
"However telling you anything other than that is against the law, and I could lose my job"
"How about coughing... could ya cough if I should just stop looking for him?"
"No, I would lose my job"
So... I believe Manny is dead... don't you?
and I also want to say...
I don't understand who is taking advantage of VETS in a VA Hospital to where you can't find out if your beloved neighbor is dead...
I hope they go to HeLL...
and if by some miracle... Manny shows up at my gate sometime soon...
I'm gonna kill him...
and that is all I have to say about that
I spent 3 hours on the phone today hunting him down from the January 30th ambulance ride...
Oh boy what a day...
Remember they said he was at a certain hospital with the initials AC...
well after phone calls to all the local hospitals with the AC initials,
I called our local hospital back... and then they said "I'm sorry that meant he went to an acute care hospital in the area" "Ok which hospitals would be acute care" so they told me, then they told me he might be in a nursing home... and gave me the local nursing homes to call...
By now he was no longer my neighbor... he was my Uncle... What do they know right? Except I felt like a crappy niece, not knowing when my Uncle was born...
"Gosh... I dont know, I just know he is 83... Do you know your Uncle's birthdays?" and they would laugh.,., "No I guess I dont" they would say...
But... he was no where to be found...
So I called up the local hospital again... They were so nice... I swear... Country Living is the only way to go... Nice... helpful... even gave me his birthday...
So I tried calling more Nursing homes...
I was hopeful thinking he was in one of them...
I found out... the ambulance was called because he didn't know where he was, he was disorientated...
Thank God... I thought to myself... he didn't fall... he wasn't sick sick... yanno...
he is probably in a Nursing home and they can't send him home because he is confused...
Poor Manny... I was ready to jet out the door when I found him in a Nursing home...
I called and called...
Nothing...
He had simply disappeared after leaving our local hospital...
So I called them back again...
"I don't mean to keep bothering you but how is it possible he is no where to be found? I have called EVERY WHERE? How can you NOT know where the ambulance took him after you discharged him? I don't understand?"
So they gave me the number to a patient advocate lady... Who was so wonderful...
She said "Let me do some research on where he was taken... Your right... it should be in the file... give me your number and I will call you back"
FINALLY Right?
She calls me back...
"He was taken to Loma Linda VA Hospital... and that is where the trail ends..."
All the VA will say is "He is NOT a patient in the Hospital and he is NOT in a VA Nursing Home... and that is ALL I can tell you... I am NOT allowed to say if he has passed away!"
So I said "Ok, however if he WAS in theVA Hospital or in a VA Nursing Home after being brought there... you would tell me where I could visit him?"
"Yes I would"
"Ok"
"However telling you anything other than that is against the law, and I could lose my job"
"How about coughing... could ya cough if I should just stop looking for him?"
"No, I would lose my job"
So... I believe Manny is dead... don't you?
and I also want to say...
I don't understand who is taking advantage of VETS in a VA Hospital to where you can't find out if your beloved neighbor is dead...
I hope they go to HeLL...
and if by some miracle... Manny shows up at my gate sometime soon...
I'm gonna kill him...
and that is all I have to say about that
What would you do?
I have some more baby news... Damn Chrissie...
Remember we went to that wedding in Coronado last summer? Well, that couple is having a baby October 7th also...
That is Gram Pam's, brother's, daughter... Did you follow that? or Sam's cousin Ronnie will be a Grampa at the same time!!
Anyway... Chrissie quit with the baby dust already!!!!
I also have some other news I don't know how to handle... I don't know what to do... maybe you guys can give me some advice...
Ok... remember my 83 yr old neighbor Manny? [Never been married, no kids, has been our neighbor up here for almost 20 yrs] The one who LOVES to talk... "Patience is a virtue" Remember him? Well anyway... he was recently diagnosed with cancer and was going to the VA hospital for Chemo... The shuttle picks him up from home and takes him...
So anyway, Sam and I have been noticing he hasn't been around in about a month now... and we got worried... so we went by the house and knocked on the door... no answer... his car is there tho... so I came home and called the VA hospital... [nope he is not admitted at the moment] so Sam and I went back over there looking through the windows... Nope he is not there... So I call the VA hospital back and was told they could not tell me if he passed away... WTH? Jeepers...
Damn it I told him to put us down as an emergency contact... UGH!!! I then called all the area hospitals... nope not admitted?
So I called Gram Pam... [Manny has a crush on Gram Pam] so Gram Pam called her friend who is a Sheriff... and she said... call the police and have them do a welfare check on the house, then file a missing person report on him, then they will tell me if he passed away or not...
Hence my problem, I feel its wrong for me to do that... I think he must have passed away at the VA hospital... I don't want to waste police time doing that... I want them out there catching criminals, not finding out if my neighbor died... yanno?
If he did pass away... Ill find out sooner or later... right?
I don't know what to do on this situation.... What would you do?
Ok... since I wrote all that... I found out some more news... I called my horse neighbor... she is closer to his house than I am... She said about a month ago, an ambulance came and picked Manny up...
So I called our local hospital and let me tell you they were WAY nicer than the damn VA city hospital was... Sheesh... They told me he was admitted into emergency on Jan 30, then discharged to another hospital...
So I tried calling that hospital but the name she gave me must have been wrong because I have called 2 more hospitals close to the name she gave me... and they have no record of him? Hhhhhmmmm???? WTH???
I googled an obituary on him but nothing comes up... Maybe he slipped and fell and is in an orthopedic unit somewhere...
Ok now what should I do? What would you do?
Remember we went to that wedding in Coronado last summer? Well, that couple is having a baby October 7th also...
That is Gram Pam's, brother's, daughter... Did you follow that? or Sam's cousin Ronnie will be a Grampa at the same time!!
Anyway... Chrissie quit with the baby dust already!!!!
I also have some other news I don't know how to handle... I don't know what to do... maybe you guys can give me some advice...
Ok... remember my 83 yr old neighbor Manny? [Never been married, no kids, has been our neighbor up here for almost 20 yrs] The one who LOVES to talk... "Patience is a virtue" Remember him? Well anyway... he was recently diagnosed with cancer and was going to the VA hospital for Chemo... The shuttle picks him up from home and takes him...
So anyway, Sam and I have been noticing he hasn't been around in about a month now... and we got worried... so we went by the house and knocked on the door... no answer... his car is there tho... so I came home and called the VA hospital... [nope he is not admitted at the moment] so Sam and I went back over there looking through the windows... Nope he is not there... So I call the VA hospital back and was told they could not tell me if he passed away... WTH? Jeepers...
Damn it I told him to put us down as an emergency contact... UGH!!! I then called all the area hospitals... nope not admitted?
So I called Gram Pam... [Manny has a crush on Gram Pam] so Gram Pam called her friend who is a Sheriff... and she said... call the police and have them do a welfare check on the house, then file a missing person report on him, then they will tell me if he passed away or not...
Hence my problem, I feel its wrong for me to do that... I think he must have passed away at the VA hospital... I don't want to waste police time doing that... I want them out there catching criminals, not finding out if my neighbor died... yanno?
If he did pass away... Ill find out sooner or later... right?
I don't know what to do on this situation.... What would you do?
Ok... since I wrote all that... I found out some more news... I called my horse neighbor... she is closer to his house than I am... She said about a month ago, an ambulance came and picked Manny up...
So I called our local hospital and let me tell you they were WAY nicer than the damn VA city hospital was... Sheesh... They told me he was admitted into emergency on Jan 30, then discharged to another hospital...
So I tried calling that hospital but the name she gave me must have been wrong because I have called 2 more hospitals close to the name she gave me... and they have no record of him? Hhhhhmmmm???? WTH???
I googled an obituary on him but nothing comes up... Maybe he slipped and fell and is in an orthopedic unit somewhere...
Ok now what should I do? What would you do?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Guess who is gonna be a Glamma
Yup... me FINALLY Sheesh!!! I kinda had a feeling when Candice was here for her birthday... She wasn't feeling so good...
She called us last night and confirmed my suspicions... They have already gone for an ultra sound and she is due October 5th... Woo Hoo...
Its all Chrissie's fault... She was so busy throwing baby dust at Candice... She got it all over her daughter too!!! She is gonna be a Grandma again on October 24th... Way to go Chrissie...!!!
Chrissie also did this Chinese Birth Chart thing... and it says Candice is having a boy... We shall see... LOL
Sam was really happy for them and said "No pressure Candice but it better be a boy... LOL" Her hubby said the same thing...
I want a boy too but I know a little girl will melt all these men's hearts anyway...
Whoo Hoo....
Can you believe it... We are gonna be Grandparents... Yippee...
She called us last night and confirmed my suspicions... They have already gone for an ultra sound and she is due October 5th... Woo Hoo...
Its all Chrissie's fault... She was so busy throwing baby dust at Candice... She got it all over her daughter too!!! She is gonna be a Grandma again on October 24th... Way to go Chrissie...!!!
Chrissie also did this Chinese Birth Chart thing... and it says Candice is having a boy... We shall see... LOL
Sam was really happy for them and said "No pressure Candice but it better be a boy... LOL" Her hubby said the same thing...
I want a boy too but I know a little girl will melt all these men's hearts anyway...
Whoo Hoo....
Can you believe it... We are gonna be Grandparents... Yippee...
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Happy 26th Birthday Candice
Happy Birthday to my daughter Candice... She is 26 today! Kris will be 27 in 2 weeks... OMG Okay how in the Hell am I old enough to have kids that old? If I do have kids that old where are my grand kids... LOL
I have to head to town to go shopping because all the kids are coming up for dinner... Kris drove here from Seal Beach last night...
This morning I said "So, what should we have for dinner for Candice's birthday?" and Kris says "why don't you just give her a bowl of ketchup"
I thought that was so funny... Candice puts ketchup on everything... I don't know where she gets it from either... LOL Although she does put ketchup on more things than I do... If its not Heinz ketchup, its not good!LOL
That is how I always know if its a good place to eat... If they have Heinz...
Well, I gotta go...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANDICE... You old married woman...
I have to head to town to go shopping because all the kids are coming up for dinner... Kris drove here from Seal Beach last night...
This morning I said "So, what should we have for dinner for Candice's birthday?" and Kris says "why don't you just give her a bowl of ketchup"
I thought that was so funny... Candice puts ketchup on everything... I don't know where she gets it from either... LOL Although she does put ketchup on more things than I do... If its not Heinz ketchup, its not good!LOL
That is how I always know if its a good place to eat... If they have Heinz...
Well, I gotta go...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANDICE... You old married woman...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Vegas... The last stories...
Ok... I have a few stories to tell you about my last entry, so if you haven't read that story... go read it and come back... I will wait...
Hurry up... I am waiting... LOL
Ok... here we go...
Story #1
Every morning I would get dressed and go get us Starbucks... While I am waiting in line I would ask people where they were from... One day it was Phoenix, and another day it was Ohio...
"Oh I have a friend who lives in Ohio... Springfield"
"East Springfield?"
"I have no idea, we read each others blog's... So was it cold when you left?"
"Actually, it was warmer in Ohio than it is here..."
"Oh you were having that warm spell we had 2 weeks ago when it was 80 degrees"
and then my coffee was ready and I left... It was the morning we were going to the Grand Canyon [or so we thought]
So I tell Sam about my encounter with the woman from Ohio and he says
"You are such a Chatty Cathy"
"I am not a Chatty Cathy"
"Yes, you are..."
"No... I am a Mary Sunshine spreading Joy to all who cross my path"
"Oh... your spreading something all right... I don't know if its Joy"
Which of course made me laugh...
So later in the day, after we had stayed with that couple from New York on the trail I said "Boy... You sure were a Chatty Charlie on the trail with that couple..." and that is when I was told "A boy scout never leaves someone hurt on the trail" so I said "Ohhh... you were NOT a Chatty Charlie... you were Eddie the Eagle Scout then huh?" and he said "There you go... spreading that so called Joy around again..." which made me laugh...
Story #2
Now remember I told you the couple was on their 40th Anniversary... and guess where they were staying... Hhhhmmmm? [BTW we are about an hour outside of Vegas on this trail in the Valley of Fire]
They were staying in THE LUXOR... Can you believe that? We asked them how their room was? "Oh it's really nice... we are right above the Sphinx... looking over the Strip" [Guess you have to be on your 40th anniversary for a nice room at the Luxor] The next morning the lady called us to Thank us again and give us an update on her hubby... She told me they were flying back home at 11pm that night and Luxor was so nice... They get to stay in their room until then free of charge...
So... I guess you have to be on your 40th Anniversary and get hurt... LOL
Story #3
That morning we had gotten up intending to go to the Grand Canyon... about an hour into the drive we stopped to get a map and found out from the cashier... The north rim of the grand canyon is closed this time of year...
So we decided to take a scenic route by Lake Mead back to Las Vegas... We happened upon a museum... it was about the "Lost City"... so we toured the museum... it was about an Indian tribe from that region... anyway the cashier at the museum told us to go hiking at the Valley of Fire which was about 8 miles away... so as you know... we did...
I feel like we were meant to be in that canyon with that couple... to help them out... the Lord works in mysterious ways...
Story #4
After we left the Valley of Fire we drove to this boat launch nearby and the water was not there... Lake Mead was so low at this end of the lake... there was NO WATER... Wow...
After we returned to New York New York we got dressed up for our special dinner at Galleghers [think Ruth's Chris] We even had our photo taken there...
and I believe that is the end of Chatty Cathy and Eddie the Eagle Scout stories... LOL
The view from our room at New York, New York,
At night it was really cool but I couldnt get a good pic
Hurry up... I am waiting... LOL
Ok... here we go...
Story #1
Every morning I would get dressed and go get us Starbucks... While I am waiting in line I would ask people where they were from... One day it was Phoenix, and another day it was Ohio...
"Oh I have a friend who lives in Ohio... Springfield"
"East Springfield?"
"I have no idea, we read each others blog's... So was it cold when you left?"
"Actually, it was warmer in Ohio than it is here..."
"Oh you were having that warm spell we had 2 weeks ago when it was 80 degrees"
and then my coffee was ready and I left... It was the morning we were going to the Grand Canyon [or so we thought]
So I tell Sam about my encounter with the woman from Ohio and he says
"You are such a Chatty Cathy"
"I am not a Chatty Cathy"
"Yes, you are..."
"No... I am a Mary Sunshine spreading Joy to all who cross my path"
"Oh... your spreading something all right... I don't know if its Joy"
Which of course made me laugh...
So later in the day, after we had stayed with that couple from New York on the trail I said "Boy... You sure were a Chatty Charlie on the trail with that couple..." and that is when I was told "A boy scout never leaves someone hurt on the trail" so I said "Ohhh... you were NOT a Chatty Charlie... you were Eddie the Eagle Scout then huh?" and he said "There you go... spreading that so called Joy around again..." which made me laugh...
Story #2
Now remember I told you the couple was on their 40th Anniversary... and guess where they were staying... Hhhhmmmm? [BTW we are about an hour outside of Vegas on this trail in the Valley of Fire]
They were staying in THE LUXOR... Can you believe that? We asked them how their room was? "Oh it's really nice... we are right above the Sphinx... looking over the Strip" [Guess you have to be on your 40th anniversary for a nice room at the Luxor] The next morning the lady called us to Thank us again and give us an update on her hubby... She told me they were flying back home at 11pm that night and Luxor was so nice... They get to stay in their room until then free of charge...
So... I guess you have to be on your 40th Anniversary and get hurt... LOL
Story #3
That morning we had gotten up intending to go to the Grand Canyon... about an hour into the drive we stopped to get a map and found out from the cashier... The north rim of the grand canyon is closed this time of year...
So we decided to take a scenic route by Lake Mead back to Las Vegas... We happened upon a museum... it was about the "Lost City"... so we toured the museum... it was about an Indian tribe from that region... anyway the cashier at the museum told us to go hiking at the Valley of Fire which was about 8 miles away... so as you know... we did...
I feel like we were meant to be in that canyon with that couple... to help them out... the Lord works in mysterious ways...
Story #4
After we left the Valley of Fire we drove to this boat launch nearby and the water was not there... Lake Mead was so low at this end of the lake... there was NO WATER... Wow...
After we returned to New York New York we got dressed up for our special dinner at Galleghers [think Ruth's Chris] We even had our photo taken there...
and I believe that is the end of Chatty Cathy and Eddie the Eagle Scout stories... LOL
The view from our room at New York, New York,
At night it was really cool but I couldnt get a good pic
The begining of the trail the man got hurt on... Look at the clouds coming in...
Leaving the Valley of Fire
This is the boat launch you can not use by the Valley of Fire... Lake Mead is so low
There should be water here... but there is not...
Scenery on the way back to Vegas
Leaving the Valley of Fire
This is the boat launch you can not use by the Valley of Fire... Lake Mead is so low
There should be water here... but there is not...
Scenery on the way back to Vegas
Sam and I at dinner the last night...
and that is all I have to say about that... LOL
and that is all I have to say about that... LOL
Monday, February 16, 2009
My sexy Eagle Scout...
Hieroglyphics on the wall in the "Valley of Fire" where we were hiking...
A Mummy looking rock...
Inside of a cave looking out...
The conservation corps cabin's that were built when the "Valley of Fire" became a State park...
Look at those sexy legs on Sam... in the Maroon shirt...
A Mummy looking rock...
Inside of a cave looking out...
The conservation corps cabin's that were built when the "Valley of Fire" became a State park...
Right after taking the above picture... a man on the trail in front of me... slipped and fell... saying "I broke my leg" so Sam and I stayed on the trail with him and his wife while someone went to go get help... They were on their 40th anniversary from Niagara Falls, New York... As we waited for help they told us... they were leaving the next day... they would fly into New Jersey and then take another plane into Buffalo, NY... [No they were not on that plane but seeing that crash later that night on T.V. made me think of the couple!!!] We visited with them for quite awhile... we were a half mile in the canyon on the trail! When they brought the basket... they needed help carrying him out... [The man weighed 295lbs] Sam helped carry him out... They had to stop a few times and rest...
One of the Ranger's stun gun belt kept getting in the way and he asked the man to hold on to it...
So he did... which brought out all kinds of jokes...
Look at those sexy legs on Sam... in the Maroon shirt...
Later I told my husband I was happy we stayed with the couple and he said... "I learned in Boy Scouts, you never leave someone hurt on the trail"
Awwww my hero.... LOL
More on this place in my next episode of Sam and Kendra's Excellent Adventure to Las Vegas...
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