Friday Feb. 12

After carefully thinking about what to write in this blog every day I decided the reason to write all this is so next week and next year I will remember the great times I had. Sandra and I parted the house early to attend the Tucson Gem show with our "wholesale passes in hand". The gem show is the biggest attraction in the US I think. I am not exaggerating when I say there were miles of booths set up with beads, gems diamonds, fake diamonds and just about any other kind of stone you can imagine. Pictured is Sandra at one of the booths that sold Swarowski crystals by the strand the colors were unbelievable and the prices were a great value(cheap). The feeling of going there is like a child in a candy store there is so much to look at and so much to buy, even if you don't have a use for it. That brings up a hobby I have been thinking about for the past year. Yes that would be jewlery making I am jotting this down so next year when I attend the gem show I will reflect on the bag of treasures I still have sitting in a cabinet un touched. It was a great day.

Thursday Feb 11
Who could think that in 2 weeks I could have the best fun ever??? Last week I was skiing with great friends and now I am golfing after 1 1/2 years and having such fun. Yesterday Bob and I spent the day doing non eventful things, shopping, driving around and figuring out what to do on a rainy day. The weather was not ideal for doing much of anything. Two words that don't usually go together are Bob and shopping , well we did both. Today is Thursday and we have arrived at our friends Sandra and Erv. I was invited to golf with the boys Sandra had a previous commitment. All of my friends know that when I show up to golf I am truly on a wing and a prayer, get to the golf course at the last minute and tee off. Bob and I leave Florence, it seemed to be the crack of dawn of course this is an exaggeration we arrive at Sandra and Erv's at about 11:00. It is not until 1 1/2 hour later they tell me the tee time. I have hit a bucket of balls, putted, chipped and am waiting for the big moment to tee off. The tee off time is 12:50 I have never spent this much time preparing to get ready. The day turned out great I haven't golfed in along time and it was better than I remember. Can't wait to try it again. Dinner was prepared by Sandra (Salmon) excellent. Great friends, great wine, great food I think there is a slogan somewhere that says that.

Monday Feb. 8

The drive from Gallup, New Mexico was snowy, cold and rainy. We took the route through Show Low a mountain town in the Arizona mountains. This town is a big tourist area in the summer people flock to escape the heat in the higher elevations.

After a few hours and passing several grocery stores we start to panic as we are almost to our destination and need to pick up a few supplies. So starts the history of a grocery store in Superior, Arizona. The population is about 3100 people. The trusty GPS points to a store called Leo's Market we take several turns and arrive at a building that looks like it isn't open. We are greeted by an elderly man who invited us to come into the store. Walking into the store was like walking into a time capsule. The shelves were sparsely stocked with canned goods and it was very dimly lit in the store. Straight ahead was the meat counter where the butcher was more than happy to assist us. We proceed to the check out counter where the elderly man is standing. It turns out that the movie U Turn directed by Oliver Stone and starring Jennifer Lopez ,Billy Bob Thorton and Sean Penn was filmed in Superior using Leo's market in the scenes. The elderly man named Raymond was the owner of Leo's after Leo had passed away. Raymond shared memories of his past with us. He showed pictures of his winning basketball team and told of his service days in World War 11 and gave details of the filming of the movie. After several minutes we bid him farewell.

We have arrived at Florence and the weather is very nice this is Bob cooking our steaks outside, no snow and sunshine.

Sunday Feb. 7

We say goodbye to our friends Jill and Boomer and start our long drive. Bob carefully studied the radar as there were storms warnings heading through Colorado and New Mexico. The route we took was through the San Juan mountains, the picture above does not give them justice. The road led us up passes that were 11000 feet , narrow and often times difficult for 2 cars to pass each other. I was so very happy not to be driving. The scenery was absolutely beautiful with about 1 foot of fresh snow on everything. and signs posted every so many feet warning of avalanche's. If only Aspen and Vail could have 1/2 of the snow these areas have.

We stopped in Gallup New Mexico at a Econo Lodge, not a good value and a bit sketchy. We have been calling ahead and booking site on seen.This was not a good decision on this particular place. Paper thin walls and just a strange feel about the place. We depart early on Monday to complete our trip to Florence for a short stay then on to Tucson. I will have limited access to the Internet, so I am no going be able to report anything that I think is blogger worthy.

Saturday Feb. 6

We decided to ski as this is our last day in the mountains until we return to celebrate the big birthday. After carefully thinking it through we head over to Snowmass it appears it is snowing on the top of the mountains. The parking lot is full of people thinking the same thing so we suit up and head up to the top of the mountain. Yes it is snowing but not enough to accumulate to any depth that could cover the hard pack we had been skiing on. We are skiing in wide open places the conditions are flat which means there is no definition on the snow, suddenly I am hit with vertigo. I have never had this before I ski toward the trees and follow my friends down the mountain until my balance is back . The skiing was just ok so on the last run down we are taking little stops to enjoy the snow falling and the beauty of the mountain. Everyone starts down the hill and I am last but to my surprise I fall on the flat and can't get up. I felt like I needed a fork lift to pull myself up. After struggling for along time I manged to push and finally was on my feet. We finished the day and headed home.

With time on I my hands I have know figured out how to load my videos to youtube. My family is really going to like this.