Rusty Bolt

I shot this in the same area where I got the old board yesterday:

Jack went for his PT today. He's doing a lot better and is mostly pain-free.

Julie and I went to Red Lobster for a fun lunch, and then hit the mall for a walk-through.

After that, I went with Jack as he got the paperwork all signed for his new cottage. It'll be his on 4/6. We'll likely work on cleaning it up for a day or two before he actually moves.

This afternoon, we went shopping for some new furniture for me. I've been long wanting leather furniture, and Jack's going to take the loveseat and chair that I have now. He's going to be taking Eddie, and Eddie's second favorite thing (behind Jack) is the back of the sofa that I now have. So I figure it would be mean to keep Eddie's sofa. And, yes, I've thought it through. Eddie LOVES Jack, was distraught for a month when Michael died (and he blamed me), and Jack is just the logical parent for the kitty. Jack says that I can have visitation rights. ;)

Maundy Thursday services were tonight and we went to Jack's mom's church with her. The service was great, with great music, and Mary was happy that we took her.

Knothole

So earthy! I love this photo that I shot of an old board outside the Geronimo Museum in Truth or Consequences, NM: Today was easier for me. I was going to say "for us," except that Jack had his colonoscopy today. After drinking the GALLON of Golytely and taking the laxatives, he wasn't interested in much. The procedure went well, and they found only a small polyp which didn't seem like anything.

We had a fine breakfast afterwards, at the Village Inn, went and bought our Turbo Tax disks, and I sent off my documents for my licensing of my RV in Michigan. Since it had been tagged in Indiana, there were many documents required, but I am very happy that I'm able to do this through the mail! Both Indiana and Arizona require a police inspection of the vehicle.

We looked today at another cottage here, which Jack may buy to live in. It is older, but in fine shape. It's in the pet area and closer to the front gate. It comes furnished and the price is right. He's going to talk further with the gentleman when he's home.

Changes

This is a photo of a small piece of a huge painted wall on Main Street in Truth or Consequences, NM. Jack and I are still working out details, but we've decided that we're going to live separately. We're not saying that we're "breaking up," because we're hopeful that we can keep our fine friendship intact.

Jack hasn't decided yet whether to buy or rent a place here, or whether he'll stay in Michigan. He still has his house in MI, and will finish the cleanup there this summer. He may sell it and get a smaller place, or he may decide to live there. When the time is right, we may end up traveling back together for the convenience and for the fun of traveling together. Or, should Jack decide that he's not going to return to Tucson, he'll likely drive his car, towing a trailer with his things.

My plans? I'm going to be returning to my new Paris, MI house when the time is right. This summer, I'm hoping to go on a vacation to the eastern US, I'll be visiting my peeps in Indiana, and I hope to just enjoy time on the Muskegon.

Change is never easy, so we both appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we transition into this new phase of our lives.

This is an artistic treatment that I did for my photo of some pine branches in the Catalinas. I have a collection of these "branches" shots which I have colorized similarly, and I plan to hang them in my dining room! Today we accomplished a little. We vacuumed, did laundry, took Jack for a PT appointment, and got all the stuff that he needs to take for his colonoscopy on Wednesday. Hey.. if you're over 50, you need to do this too! (I had one just a few years ago.)

We're now watching Holmes on Homes on HGTV and I'm considering putting on a little AC. It's over 80 in here. Michael would have described it as "awful," and there wouldn't be any consideration needed!

Sunday

This is a photo that I took on our Soldier's Trail hike in the Catalina Mountains a couple of weeks ago:
Today was a good day! We got up early enough that Jack did his walk and I did my Wii Fit. Then we showered and got ready for church. Because I was singing today in the choir and Jack was ushering, we arrived early, at 9. Church was good and we sang pretty well.

This afternoon, we had tickets for the Diamondbacks/Brewers Spring Training game at Tucson Electric Park. Jack had a hotdog, I had pizza, we shared peanuts and kettle corn, and ... yeah, the game was fun, too. When we left, the D-backs were way ahead.

On our way home, we stopped off at Best Buy to get a new program for the Wii. It's a dance program called Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3. I played around with it a little while Jack fixed supper, and.. LOL it's fun but there will be a bit of a learning curve involved with it, I do believe.

Wow... how did it get to be 10:30 pm?

Hillsboro, NM photo

Our first day in Truth or Consequences, NM, we drove 40 miles to Hillsboro to hike. The day was gray and chilly and I captured this photo:

Today was Far Horizons' Fun Day, which began with a parade. Many of the park's clubs and groups marched, including Jack and me. We marched as part of the Hiking Club, and it was fun.

After the parade, we went in for donuts and coffee. Yes, I actually had a donut -- my first in probably a year. Games followed, and then more food -- a chili dog and chips by the pool.

Yes, it was a very good day. The only complaint that I have is that my index finger tips are feeling "loose." The joints also hurt. The doctor says that it's probably "just a little arthritis." I hate thinking that this is something that I'll always have. This could make doing computer work and art less fun, to be sure.

Dr. Appointment

No, you don't get a photo of my Doctor's appointment! Instead, here's a rose whose portrait I shot at Reid Park this winter. Yes, roses bloom in the winter here! Of course, they bloom even more in the spring, summer, and fall.
We left early this morning, to make it to Jack's PT appointment. (He's doing PT for his shoulders.) After that, we went to my doctor, who was to give me a physical. The only part of a physical that I really dread is the requisite blood-letting. I have particularly recalcitrant veins, so it's always an ordeal.

So I told Dr. Lowenstein about my fear. Kelly, he informed me, was very good at finding blood in people whose veins usually hide. I was unconvinced. But when Kelly came in with her toolbox of phlebotomy pleasure and began palpating my arm, I wondered if she might be different from the multitudes of lab techs who have jabbed at me in the past.

A little stab and my vein poured forth enough blood to handily fill her two tubes. Yay! I hugged Kelly.

The rest of the exam went swimmingly. I had a breathing test, to determine whether my asthma should be better controlled, and a chest X-ray, probably to pay for the doctor's kid's college textbooks for a semester.

Since I'd fasted, and Jack had, too, in solidarity, we went to the Italian Deli for a delicious lunch.

Next, we went to the Honda dealer, where we got the car serviced and looked at the Fit. It's a smaller version of the Honda CRV, though it's on a different chassis, too. We even drove the thing and we both enjoyed the ride and the idea of towing a car behind the RV -- one that's 1000 lbs lighter than the CRV.

A couple of grocery stores later, we went home to put away our new groceries. John came over then and told us that, not only had we forgotten about the park's Show and Tell this morning, but that we were just in time to go to the wine/cheese reception for the photo contest. Argh!

We did go over and enjoyed the party. Jack's winning spider web photo was on display in a frame, along with the other winners. My red lilies, "Dressed in red," was displayed with the Honorable Mentions.

We came home and I Wii'ed while Jack napped.

Turtles at Reid Park

These turtles serve double-duty: Not only are they a cute and colorful bit of sculpture, adding some interest to Reid Park in Tucson, but they are great for kids to climb on!

Jack and I have been very busy, and, in fact, I really have not had the time to blog for the past few days.

On the 17th, Wednesday, for St. Patrick's Day, Jack and I threw a party! We had corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, desserts, appetizers, and drinks for 70 people at our cottage. We had a great time and so did everyone who came. We decorated with green stuff, lights, and had tables set up in our driveway. Jack made green margaritas and we had a keg of beer.

On the 18th, Thursday, I think we just recovered. :) On Friday, who knows, but we were busy. Saturday we went to the 4th Avenue Art Fair. Sunday we went to church, went to lunch, loaded up the RV, and drove to Willcox, AZ.

Tonight we're at Truth or Consequences, NM for the close-to-end-of-season hiking trip. We are having fun so far. We're camped at the Cielo Vista campground, up on a bluff overlooking the town. 8 others are camped here and 12 folks are staying at the Cielo Grande Hotel in town, which is just down a short hill from us.

This evening, a group of us went to Los .. something.. restaurant for supper, and it was very good. :)

Not a Tucson Photo

This photo is one that I took in northern Indiana, back in 2002.
Big day today, as all of them seem to be. The hiking club hiked up in the Catalinas today, for the first time this season. The Hardy Hikers did the Soldier's Trail. It was a fun and beautiful hike, but there was serious up on the way back.

After the hike, we were to drive down to the picnic area and have our end-of-season picnic. Wind would have picked the food right off our plates, however, so there was a change of plans. We all drove back to town and the picnic was presented in the Fiesta Room. The food was great and the conversation was good.

After that, we returned home where I peeled 10 lbs of carrots and 10 lbs of onions. Tomorrow, these will join 6 heads of cabbage and 6 chunks of corned beef in 6 crockpots!

Tonight, we went to dinner with Robert and Mike at McGraw's on Houghton just south of Escalante. We all agreed that, once they got Jack's steak *rare*, the food was great, though the restaurant itself a little "earthy." The guys are getting set to head back to Colorado.

Yep... people are starting to migrate to the cooler climes. Not us yet, though!

Just Ducky!

I love this photo! I took it at Agua Caliente Park here in Tucson:

We had a busy day today. Jack went to PT for his shoulder while I worked out here on the Wii Fit Plus. Then I showered as Jack did his Wii. Then we went to Mimi's for a late breakfast.

The ballgame was between the Diamondbacks and the Mariners, but that's just about all I know about it. We were seated in the shady part of the stands, and, while it was sunny, it was quite windy and just cool enough that many of our Far Horizons group chose to cluster in groups in the sun, rather than to watch the game. It made for a fun afternoon, anyway.

After that, we hightailed it over to the church, where we had an exercise class with Sam Freeman. It was good, teaching us some new moves. This was followed by a delicious dinner put on by some of the talented chefs of our church.

Upon arriving home, I made frosting and topped the cupcakes that I'd made. Now these are ready for our hiking club's end-of-season picnic tomorrow and for the party on Wednesday. :)