Getting Ready

Where have you been, Billy Boy? That’s the title of a song my grandmother used to sing. I’m not Billy Boy, but you may be wondering where we have been, since it’s been awfully quiet in our corner for a while. Maybe I’m thinking that’s there’s not much of interest going on in our lives.

Then I have to remember a while back when Rick of "Rick and Paulette's RV Travels" was having doubts early on in his blog about whether what he would write about would be of interest to anybody. I advised him then that all he had to do was write about what was of interest to HIM and his readers would be interested too. Rick took off like a shot after that and has been going like gangbusters ever since.

Maybe I should give myself a good talking to!

So what have we been doing? Getting ready. Getting ready for what, you may ask? Well, getting ready to publish the next edition of Saguaro Signs, the periodic newsletter of the SKP Saguaro Chapter 21. Suzy is the Chapter’s Treasurer and Membership Officer, and I’m the Vice President and Newsletter Editor.

Getting ready for Spring Fling. That’s the three-day event coming up soon here in our park. It’ll be a gala activity with food, entertaining, beverages (Polar Bears!), and a little “gambling.” As I’m writing, Suzy is sorting poker chips.


Checking out the size of the job!

Busy at work, being very patient.

Getting ready to get onto the Board of Directors here at the park. There’s an election this week, and I’m a candidate for the Board. It’s not really an election, of course, and I'm not really a candidate. Yes we all had to vote, and most of the ballots are already turned in; they just have to be counted Wednesday morning. But that’s a formality, as there are three positions open and only three candidates, so it’s a shoo-in. Some are calling it a railroad!

Getting ready for another rally coming up, but that's in April. Suzy will be accepting registrations and accounting for all the money. One of the big things we do at our SKP Chapter 21 rallies is raise money to support CARE, which (I believe) stands for "Continuing Assistance for Recovering Escapees." CARE is a one-of-a-kind facility, like a cross between adult day care and assisted living. It is open to Escapee Members who are aging or recovering from major illness or injury, who need more care than they can get in their own homes or RVs, but don't need actual nursing care. CARE clients live on-campus in Livingston, Texas, in their own RVs. They come into the CARE center during the day, get three meals a day, and can socialize, do crafts, play games, or just sit -- if any of the other residents will let them just sit. There is a small paid staff, including a registered nurse, and a lot of volunteers helping out. CARE is one of the most respected and valued parts of the Escapees program.

Getting ready for Ladies' Night Out. This is an annual affair here at the park, where the ladies get to sit around, socialize, imbibe, and have dinner cooked by the fellas and served by the fellas. There is scandalous (Suzy calls it ribald) entertainment, and the gals come home floating on a cloud. This year's theme is luau, so there'll be Hawaiian music and Hawaiian food; the waiters will be wearing grass skirts and coconut shells. Do you have any idea who one of the waiters will be? Yup! Wouldn't miss it for the world. But some of the guys have already objected to the costume and will wear Tee shirts and aprons! Whassa matter with them dopes anyhow?

So are we just getting ready? Aren't we dong anything for real? Well, last weekend we popped down to Sunizona, AZ, for lunch, on a tip from Al and Kelly of the Bayfield Bunch. Sandy's is a nice little restaurant with good food and an adjoining RV park with full hookups at a very reasonable price.

The RV Park is directly behind the restaurant.

Sandy herself was our server - neat lady from Alabama!

I wonder if Al noticed this "Socky" character!

After lunch we headed into Chiricahua National Monument for another look at the strange rock formations. This time in the sunshine; last time it was cloudy. We took several pictures, but we'd also like to point out some shots taken by Joe and Nancy of RVing Beach Bums. If you'd like to see our photos, you can go to our web album, 2011 Chiricahua National Monument.

Of course there have been several trips to Tucson for doctors' appointments, but that doesn't count. Oh, on one of those trips we stopped for lunch at Little Anthony's, a diner right out of the 50s.



They even have a real soda counter.



Oh, Suzy's done sorting poker chips, and it's time for bed. First, let's just take a moment to welcome a bunch of new Followers:
Russ Krecklow
Donna K of Travel Therapy
The Good Luck Duck
Dear Miss Mermaid
Alan and Connie of Travels
Bob and Vicki of Cedar Creekin
Joe and Buddy of Streamin with Joe and Buddy

Wow! Where did you all come from while we were asleep? Welcome, friends, to ... Our Life on Wheels!