Happy New Year

Yuma, Arizona

Just a short note to wish everyone  a Happy New Year. May all your wishes come true!

Thanks for visiting.

Merry Christmas

Yuma, Arizona       High 70 Low 43

The day started out a little chilly but turned out to be a really nice day.

We seem to stay busy all the time. For instance last week we had the lit up bike ride around the Park led by golf Carts decorated for Christmas. I didn't hear a count on the bikes, but we probably had more than usual. The golf carts went slow enough that we had no problem keeping up. Cindy rode along for the whole distance even without her bike being lit up. The golf carts went first, then the bikes that had been in the parade, then anyone else that wanted to ride.

Her I am  getting Penny ready to ride as Max, the Grinch's dog, one last time.

Of coarse there is still Shuffle board every other day. One day a week we trade off either going to other Parks or they come here. Last Tuesday we went to another Park. We play a total of 9 games, 5 games then 4. Our players only won one game of the nine but every one of was having trouble with their courts. Their players seemed to know how to play they better than us.

We gave each other Christmas presents, Cindy got a bigger TV with a built in DVD player and I got some new clothes.

Here is our Christmas tree.

Yesterday and today we each called our kids and I got to talk to my little shadow, who is now 8 years old. He told me he misses Penny.

This afternoon we had Christmas dinner for everyone in the Park. The Park supplies the turkey and gravy, the same as Thanksgiving, and 20 people per table supply everything else for dinner. We always have way more to eat that everyone can eat and there are always left overs.

Our friends, Rob and Sharon from the Park.

Cindy like to decorate our table and she and another lady went up early to decorate. The table probably looked better than any of the others.

Some of our small dog park people had just got to the Park last Wednesday night and didn't know about Christmas dinner and so I talked to the activity director and asked him if there was room for them. He told me sure and so I went to their motor home and invited them. They still didn't know if they we going to make it but I was glad to see that they decided to come to the dinner.

Here's wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thanks for visiting.

Ouch!

Yuma, Arizona             High 71 Low 53

It has been a bit cooler the last few days. Thursday there was a lot of wind and the air was full of dust but the last two days have been nice.

We had a golf cart parade in our Park today but first some more pictures from the Light Parade.

Last night I went with a group of people from our Park to a place that is called spook mountain. On clear nights when there is no moon a funny faintly lit up fog appears on the mountain in front of where we park. No one seems to know what causes it and it only appears on days when there is a new moon. Last night we got to see the phenomenon about 10 times and we saw things that some of the group say they never have seen before. The dim light would appear and last a little while and then blink out just like someone had turned off a switch. It is in a really desolate part of the desert and the road to it is pretty rough. Cindy wanted me to see if her back could take the road but with the back problems she has been having, I probably would say her back couldn't handle the ride.

Tom Wells and his wife, Barbara. He used to be a science teacher and keeps finding things for us to do.

We got there before dark and had kind of a picnic while we waited. Tom picked last night because he thought no other people would be there because we were a day or two earlier than usual and we were the only ones there.

Last Tuesday we rode our lit up bikes through the neighboring RV Park following and crossing paths with their Parade. The Security man told us as we left our Park to go over to the other Park that he was sure glad he worked at a park where after 7:00 at night nothing happened...............Not! Something is always going on.

Today a lot of the golf carts got decorated and a lot of the dog owners took their dogs in the Pet Parade. They let some of us with smaller dogs ride on the trailer (float). We drove through a lot of our Park.

Tom dressed up as the Grinch.

We even had Santa.

Now the ouch part. We went to a nearby grocery store and after we did our shopping we backed out of our parking stall and were ready to go forward when a lady in a Dodge truck started to back into us. I laid on the horn and for a second she stopped and we thought good, she heard us. Then she proceed to keep backing up and backed into the right front door of our car. I thought it might be a 4 or 5 hundred dollar repair but It will be closer to $1000. plus the car rental while we get ours repaired.

The lady kept saying it was my fault but the lady officer that she called said she backed into us and it was her fault but since it was on private property, all she could do was give me a case number. When she talked to her insurance company, she tried to tell them the same thing, but the adjuster agreed with me that it was her fault. So now we have an appointment for January 2nd to get started on the repairs. I hope it goes well.

Thanks for visiting.

Max (Penny) Was a Hit

Yuma, Arizona                High 75 Low 56

Last night was the 15th annual Yuma Light Parade. We had to go early to check in a get in line. We were number 52 out of about 120.

We were led by a 3 wheel motor cycle carrying our banner, The Palms RV Resort Bike Brigade followed by 25 well lite up bikes and riders.

Ray and Penny (Max).

At first Tom wanted everyone to ride 3 abreast in 2 separate columns going down the road. The Parade route was down a major street in Yuma which is 4 lanes wide.

We were going so slow that some of us started to ride in circles going from side to side so most of the spectators got to see us.

Right away the kids watching the parade started to say there goes Max when Penny and I rode by so we started to make frequent stops where the kids and some adults asked if they could pet my dog. Penny is more than willing to be petted, so of course I let them. By then I would ride down one side of the road and then the other to let as many people as I had time to, see and pet Max (Penny). I told them every Grinch needed to have his dog.

Again, Ray and Penny. The horn was suspended above her.

Some of the other bike riders also started shouting Merry Christmas and giving kids the high 5.

We were having a ball. It was a lot of fun for us and I hope for the spectators.

This is Tom Wells, the Parade Chairman(?).

Cindy with someone from the Park.

We were only able to stay in one spot until the float behind us caught up to us and more than once I got passed by the float and had to hurriedly go forward and get back into our section.

Penny had been in her Dog Bag for almost 4 hours before it was over and when she went to bed, she didn't move until morning. Last night all through the Parade she never once barked at anyone and really seemed to enjoy all the attention.

This afternoon she was ready for her normal routine of going to the small dog park for afternoon Yappy Hour. She chased one of the other dogs toy and acted like she was having fun running with some of them.

I really don't know who had more fun, me or Tom Wells, with all his antics throughout the parade. He is already talking about next year although he doesn't know the theme.

This evening Tom put on a Sunday Sundae for the Park and everyone that was in the Parade told me that they thought Penny was the star of the show.

Thanks for visiting.

Christmas Fun

Yuma, Arizona           High 72 Low 47

The area around the clubhouse has been decorated for Christmas. The decorations are looking great.

Here in our Park we have a Bike Brigade 3 nights a week. We usually ride about 4 miles. We set at new record the other night with the most bikes ever at 32.

Tom, who seems to get a lot of things going, wanted to enter The Palms Bike Brigade in the Yuma Light Parade tomorrow night. The theme of the Parade this year is your favorite Christmas Movie. He chose The Grinch That Stole Christmas. All The riders with be lite up and wearing either Grinch, Cindy Low Who, Or the Grinch's dog Max costumes. I am going as The Grinch and Penny will be along for the ride as Max. I will talk more about the Parade after it is over tomorrow night.

We are pretty much decorated for Christmas and tried Penny's Costume on her tonight. She seemed OK wearing it but it will need some adjustment when she is in her bag and on the bike with me.

Cindy was a little worried about Penny with all the noise of the Parade but she never seems to mind riding with all the lit up bikes around the Park. Also she never made a sound at the Howling at the Moon last week so I am sure she will be alright.

Thanks for visiting.