January 2011

January was a short month as far as activities are concerned.  We started out this month watching a lot of football of course.  And did go to a Mark Mulligan "concert" again on the 5th.  It was at a place called Fiddler's Dream and was basically a vacant room with a small coffee bar in the back.  It was nice to hear Mark again, but the venue could have been better.  The backyard concert back in October was much more relaxing....and warmer. 

Friday the 7th was the big Apache Wells sponsored Welcome Back party.  The park hosts the event with a great meal and beverages.  The weather was perfect and we sat out by the pool, eat, and visited with friends.

Then Saturday the 8th we were bound for Portland on our way to Hawaii.  We stayed with Jeanette and Terry for two days and then boarded an evening plane to Kona on the big island.  Jeanette and Travis's girl friend, Meghan, flew with us and joined us for a week.    On the way over we were missing the college football championship game for #1 in the nation between the University of Oregon and Auburn.  The pilot, however, let us know what the score was occasionally, and was disappointed at the end when UofO lost at the last minute.  The ride over was a little bumpy.  We hit one turbulent area that bounced the plane pretty good and an announcement came over the intercom for any medical persons aboard.  Apparently a couple of the flight attendants were hurt (probably by a mis-lodged cart) and when we got to the airport, there were ambulances and fire trucks surrounding the plane.  It was also raining quite heavily.  In the short distance across the tarmac to the terminal, we got drenched.  We hurriedly got our car about 9:30pm and headed to the Puako condos.

On-the-Beach!

Jeanette and Terry have been to the islands before, but it was basically the first time Meghan had gotten out of the Northwest and specifically to Hawaii.  They (and I) brought snorkel gear, and did a little.  The water, however, was a little murky and the surf on most beaches was very big.  In fact for several days, the authorities closed the public beaches because of the high surf hazards.  But the girls enjoyed laying on the beach getting a mid-winter tan. 

Thurston Lava Tube

Hot Lava

The one activity they wanted to do while on the island was to see the Kilauea volcano.  So we drove around the top of the island, down the coast to Hilo, and then up to the volcano.  In Hilo we stopped and shopped a bit and had lunch.  We were going to drive around the rim drive, but beyond the overlook, the road was blocked.  We drove back around the other way to the Chain of Craters Road, but it was block again there.  We stopped briefly at the Thurston Lava Tube and then went on around to the other end of the lava flow where it was entering the sea near Kalapan.  We walked out the road and felt the hot air created by the recent lava flow and could see the plum of steam about a half mile away where it was entering the sea.

Just before the girls left, JoAnn came over (Jim was still recovering from surgery and would be coming over later after we left).  So they had a few days to lay on the beach, eat, and visit with JoAnn before they headed home. 

Waipio Valley overlook

Waipio Valley Guide

Molly and JoAnn wanted to go to a quilt shop, of course, up in Waimea and heard of another quilt store in Honokaa, so on we went over to the North side of the island again.  It was a neat little town and did some touristy shopping, but the quilt shop there was closed.  Since we were on that side of the island, we decided to drive up the Waipio Valley overlook.  It was a beautiful day, unlike what we left on the other side.  Since this activity is about the only thing Molly and I didn't do several years ago when we were there, we decided to take the tour into the valley.  We couldn't have picked a better day.  The guide was very informative since he had a taro farm in the valley and we really enjoyed ourselves.

After thirteen days on the island, it was time for Molly and I to make that long flight back home.  We stayed with Jeanette and Terry again for a couple days and then flew back to Mesa.

Me & John Denver?

We had tickets, the night after we got back, to see the play Chicago at the Broadway Palms Theater.  We had seen the movie several years ago and just loved the production.  We shared a table with an old crotchety fellow that didn't seem to like anything!  On my birthday, we went to the Arizona Opry to see Brad Fitz, one of the Opry members, do a tribute to John Denver.  He says he doesn't do an impersonation of Denver, just a tribute to the man.  Of course he DOES look and sound just like John.  We loved the show and got to talk to Brad about some of John Denver's music.

Wyatt Earp at the Palace Saloon

The next day, it was off to Prescott to see Wyatt Earp's one man show again at the Palace Saloon.  He was glad to see us there, greeted us warmly, and got to talk to him a bit.  I told him we came up here to see him perform, because I wouldn't see him on the Desert Belle anymore.  We stay the night in the Hassayampa Inn just a block from the Palace Saloon and Whiskey Row.  The historic Inn was built in 1927, and was heralded as the grand jewel of Prescott.  It is on the National Historic Register.  We had a great time there meeting some of the staff who were very friendly.  In fact, because it was one day after my birthday, the desk clerk upgraded us to a king-size bed in a corner room.  She said she just did it "Because I can!"  Needless to say, with friendly service like that, we will be back and highly recommend it to friends.

We also went to the annual Arizona Quilt Show after getting back from Hawaii.  Nothing there of much interest except seeing a Viking serger for a really good price.  Molly has wanted one for quite a while, and we just couldn't pass up this special show price, with lessons.  Now she will have one more tool for her quilting projects.

The only other activity this month was putting a weekly park newsletter together and sending it out via an email blast.  The first two bulletins were distributed long distance from Hawaii.  When I got back, I also decided to put out a monthly calendar by email, of all the new and routine activities in the park.  I have heard nothing but good reports from the residents.  And now that I'm not working, I have at least got something to keep me occupied.