Where did March go!

Well I'll be darned; March disappeared on me.   Okay so that isn't the whole truth, I sort of slacked off from attending to my Blog.  Hard to be retired and running out of time to do everything one wants or needs to do, not to mention squeezing in some downtime to catch one's breath.  The first and foremost being music such as the outdoor Thursdays "Out to Lunch" free concerts at Mesa at the Mesa Art Center http://www.mesaartscenter.com/.    The Scottsdale "Sunday A'Fair" is another musical event with varied artist which take place on the green lawn area outside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts https://scottsdaleperformingarts.org/. Other free music events are in Wickenburg, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Surprise and numerous other location around the valley. We can't forget the many art museums visited, Mesa, Tempe Scottsdale and Surprise. Ranger led walks and hikes in county and sate parks we did on days when the temperature was cooler. Sporting events can't be left out either; we attended several MLB Spring Training games at the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals shared Surprise Stadium https://www.surprisespringtraining.com/. The Phoenix 52nd Scottish Games were a must see sporting event that was the main attraction for the festival .  We attended two Arizona historical presentation at local libraries.  Throw in a couple Sun City Grand association meetings and events, we had a full calendar.  There is something for everyone from the Arizona Renaissance Festival, rodeos, NASCAR, golf tournaments, tennis  tournament, pickleball tournament, festivals of everykind and Space Challenger Space Center to mention a few. 

NOTE - The Library Lady video is NOT working at the moment. 

Buffalo Hunter

Whimsical House

Sally and Bob at Phoenix Japanese Garden

The Library Lady

Phoenix Scottish Games



On one of the many walking trails Bob and I use in our
development is this small hand painted rock which changes monthly.
 

   

If you've been looking for someone to change your life, walk to a bathroom and look in the mirror.

SELF

 

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.

Muhammad Ali's Best Quotes

 

To myself, making excuses is another word for no, so stop it.

Me

 

Senior Excursion Day at Sky Harbor Airport Phoenix AZ

 

Once we step through these doors our adventure will begin.

Phoenix Airport Museum Information

"Worn as Art" reversible capes



The foursome of Sally, Bob, Sharon and Marc did two day excursions January 28th 2017 and I (Sally) have decided to highlight the second of the two for the day.  The four of us can get a lot of fun, laughs, insight into new and interesting forms of art and we are entertainers to boot. So tighten your seat belts and hang on, for our fun two hours at Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) in Phoenix, AZ.  After a superb salad bar lunch at a nearby Ruby Tuesday, we headed over to the cell phone lot at PHX, first confusion moment when we read the sign you, have to stay in your vehicle, we didn't have a mannequin with us, so we headed out to another lot next door. Oops, second confusion moment, Employee Parking Only, Bob does a U Turn and the guard waves at us.  We decided it probably would NOT be a wise idea to wave back, so Bob stopped.  After explaining that we wanted to ride the Sky Train and see the art exhibits throughout the airport concourses, he told us there were actually a few parking meters in the cell phone lot.  Back again to the cell phone lot and  BINGO we found the six parking meters and claimed one and our credit card coughed up credits for two hours of parking.  We skipped across the street and headed up the escalators to the Sky Train.  FYI, the restroom at PHX are the absolute best airport restrooms I have ever seen. 

 

We hopped the Sky Train to Terminal 3 for three exhibits, the first being the beautiful station platform design "Haak u/Acome Connection" continuing to a photography exhibit "Desert in the Details" and continuing to "Worn as Art" a reversible capes exhibit.  We then proceeded to Terminal 2.  This was done by way of an elevator ride down to the tarmac level and walking a fair distance outdoors through a double enclosed gated walkway.

 "The Phoenix"



 



Yes, the weather was great in the sixties.  Now Terminal 2 is old, we entered by way of the baggage claim and it was stuffy, humid and crowded, it appeared several flights had recently arrived.  We made our way into the terminal to view "The Phoenix" a mixed media mural, painting of "Superstition Rodeo" and "Interwoven" beautiful woven pieces of Native American weaving.                                



""Interwoven"

We hopped the Sky Train back to Terminal 4 to visit four more exhibits including "Arizona Weather" from dust storms to snowstorms, "Relief in the Desert" fine arts prints from Santo Press, "Find Your Park in ARIZONA "celebrating 100 yeats of National Park Service and "About Face" artwork from the the Airport Collection.  We did not go to the Rental Car Center where there another three exhibits. 

 

We arrived at the Sky Train platform just as a train was leaving to return to the cell phone lot, so Sharon and I took a seat on one of the benches by the train door while Bob and Marc stood at attention.  We were just a tad bit worn out but unlike youngsters that have a tendency to get cranky, Sharon and I have sort of break out in crazy.  Standing about ten feet away was a young lady in her late twenties to mid thirties working her smart phone as was a young man, probably in same age range, nearby also.  Have no idea what set me off in hysterical laughter and up pipes Sharon "no worries, she's harmless and out with us on a day pass" and it spiraled from there no stop.  By this time the young lady was trying hard to not laugh, but having a hard time not showing it and the young man caved in right behind her in his smiling and laughing.  And up I pipe "you might never know what your Grand parents are up to but I hope they are having a fun time; we did our good behavior and now it's play time".  The train came, folks boarded, the train departed for Terminal 4 where the cell phone lot and our vehicle was waiting, we are coming to the end of our Senior Excursion Day and I do a pole dance.  A lot of faces broke into smiles.

Never too old for a pole dance!

 

 

        















My Two Cents Worth.

My two cents worth.

Doesn't matter who any of us voted for, what matters is what happens starting today January 20^th 2017.  Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. So here I am waiting to be proved wrong. Will this country be stronger or torn apart? Will it be a country of the people and for the people?  Protesting will not solve our issues, working together to try and bring all of us together is what is needed. Being sure that everyone has the same opportunities to learn, grow, be healthy, believing, loving, changing, sharing, caring and who they are. Hate, waste, self-destruction, selfishness, self-loathing, bullying, hording and hating others one doesn't align with; traits that will make this nation crumble and fall in a heap of failure as humans.  The United State is a republic and not a democracy.  The Constitution and Pledge of Allegiance are proof for those that think otherwise.  One person, one vote is not what I have as a citizen. The United States Electoral College is the institution that elects the President and Vice President of the United States.  I have voted in all elections, city, county, state, national because I am entitled to that right.  The only election my one vote does not count but rather where a small handful of people can turn my vote into their choice is the Presidential.  Being an Independent I find it a challenge to choose the candidate most aligned with my conscience.  Party lines is what is hampering our country. Whatever happened to compromise with give and take; why is it now all or nothing.  So today I and this county have a new President and Vice President.  Who did I vote for, would you be shocked to hear it is the new POTUS or relieved I voted for another or for the first time in my voting years I didn’t cast a vote at all?  Doesn’t make any difference, today is the beginning of a new presidency and history continues to be written.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
 

Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.

Muhammad Ali
 

Saying Good Bye to 2016 and Hello to 2017

Well there went another year, done, gone, over with, down in history, sent to the library of memories in our mind's.  Hoping and trusting you have memories for your minds library that holds lots of wonderful times with family and friends of places and things you did that meant a lot to you for better or worst.  Let us not forget our entire lives can never truly be said to be filled with nothing but the best of times and only happiness. So for those of us that had to put a sad or daunting memory into our minds library, that's life and we move on. We need to hold close to our hearts that during the low times we have been held up, hugged and loved without any judgments by those that are there for us for nothing more than support out of love.  Now into the first week of 2017 each day is new; no replays, no reruns, no do overs.  Bob and I took our Christmas decorations down, boxed and stowed away until November 24th 2017. The new year started with overcast skies with rain.  Certainly not complaining, the rains had been steady and cleansing, leaving a little "river" going down our street. Reminds me of splashing in puddles as a youngster, but as I don't have a pair of goulashes or "cute vinyl" play boots,


standing clear clean rain water in front of our drive way.

the memories worked just fine for me.  So different from the monsoon rain water in September, which we don't see much of here in Surprise, which can be pretty nasty looking from all the sand the rains can pick up as it runs across the valley.

Bob and I had to forgo several morning walks because of the rain.  We try to take a daily morning walk out and about the community.  One day we do get in an nice afternoon walk.  Other days we caught up our walking indoors around malls. 

Our friends Marc and Sharon from Michigan both have had to deal with colds and general "icky" physical feelings.  Even though we didn't hang out doing stuff together we keep busy texting with upcoming plans. Tomorrow is a get together day.  The four of us are discussing an overnight trip to Tucson to visit two different desert gardens outside of town. Really looking forward to that.  Talk of long day trip to Yuma in the next couple months also.  

Wishing family, friends and everyone we hold dear to our hearts to have a splendid 2017.   Hugs to everyone!





   

2016 Holiday Colors in the Arizona Desert
 

Bob, Sally, Sharon, Marc

SRP Presents Zoolights

 

Sally (that would be me) and spouse Bob, along with our friends Sharon and Marc from Michigan made an evening drive to the Phoenix Zoo for their holiday zoolights display.  Upon entering the zoo we were met with a wonderfully delightful, colorful, magical and musical display of lights and Lego creations throughout the zoo. A surprise performance by the Clemson University marching band was enjoyed by all that gathered around.  The synchronized "Music-in-Motion" on the zoo lake was spectacular.  



spider and her web

 

looking over part of the zoo lake

 

full size LEGO doe and fawn

 

Visit to Gilbert Arizona and their hometown holiday lights display.

 

             This Gilbert Holiday Lights Display had the children in total joy!



how to keep your polar bear moving

a child's Christmas tree

 

Holiday Lights Show at Rawhide by the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler

 

 This light show from China is a break taking display of the world. 

camel in the Egypt area

eagle, notice how LARGE it is!

 

Entrance to the massive lights display

 

Welcome to the Christmas Holiday Season in Carefree, AZ

 

 

 

Boy, oh Boy, this is disappointing, I can't get the photos from the Carefree Christmas Light parade moved off my camera.  Soon as I can figure out what the problem is and get it fixed I will post some of the pictures.

 

As you can tell, there are an awful lot of Christmas Holiday Light shows in the Phoenix and valley area.  We sit down and review all the different options and decide which ones we want to catch for the current year. There are some really interesting displays far enough away that the four of  us will need to decide if we want to do some overnight trips to visit them.  We have eleven months to try and decide what to visit next year.