Dec 22nd to 26th - Mesa

Dec 22^nd – Tues

We made a run to Total Wine this morning and really stocked up. We stopped at WalMart on the way back.

MCY was moved into the ballroom because of cold and rain-threatening weather. Jeff Stephens provided music for line dancing. Line dance lessons was a review of all the dances that we have learned this season so we did a lot of dancing. Terry was tired for some reason so I told him to go home & rest!

Dec 23^rd – Wed

Claude & Val were coming for dinner so I got a roast & veggies in the crock pot. They arrived in plenty of time for MCY (which was moved inside again) so they admired our new home and we did some catching up before going to the ballroom. We asked Al & Brenda and Leo & Lynn to join us there as Claude & Val know them from an RV park in Mexico. They all got to do a lot of chatting while Terry & I did some line dancing – and Val joined us for a couple of dances.

After dinner, Al & Brenda came over for a drink. Dennis & Gloria stopped in for a while as they were waiting for their dinner to cook. Lots of fun & laughs.

Dec 24^th – Thurs

First order of business – make deviled eggs for later. I wanted some plastic storage boxes to organize the storage area under our bed so we went to BigLots. Then a trip to WalMart to get some long pants for Terry. We have had too much cold weather and we threw out most of his grungy old jeans. While we were there we saw Ernie & Dianne and their granddaughter Kayah. They were coming to the park and Kayah loves motorcycle rides so Terry took her for a spin around the park before we all went to Brad & Clare's for a cookie decorating party. I made a batch of candy coated nuts for tomorrow and then it was on to Dennis & Gloria's for a Christmas Eve gathering & dinner.

Three propane heaters kept us comfy in their carport and we had the unexpected pleasure of a “parade” of golf carts led by a team of reindeer on the first cart. If laughter is indeed good for you, we should all be very healthy!

Dec 25^th – MERRY CHRISTMAS

For the first time in many years I didn't have to cook for Christmas dinner. We had a lovely, lazy morning before going to Ernie & Dianne's daughter Annette's house in Queen Creek. Kayah is Annette & Mike's daughter. Also there were Annette's daughter Danielle (Danny/Sissy) and friends Fred & Grace who we have met many times.

Turkey was in the oven and all the other prep work was done so we could enjoy chatting – and watching little dog Gizmo/Gizzy in constant motion catching & retrieving his Christmas present of new tennis balls. I even got to color with Kayah after dinner!

Dec 26^th – Sat

Back to the real world – laundry – and a late Christmas present when a guy found my laundry card which I left in a washer and asked if anyone there knew who it belonged to. We had come back to the rig but our friend Diane was still there and called to make sure it was mine and that we would be back soon to claim it.

After all the laundry was put away, we made a trip to Fry's for groceries. While we were waiting for dinner to cook, I heard a siren and then saw a huge plume of dark smoke not far from us at the north end of the park. Terry went to check it out and it was a house fire on the other side of University which borders the park on the north side.