This has been a week to see and hear from old friends and it has been delightful.  Our friends from Ecuador have moved back to the states and are now in Oregon.  Health issues were part of the reason although they now seem to be well on the mend.  They wanted to have American (and Canadian) doctors working on the heart issues which apparently was a good thing. 

Then we got together with friends from Cedar Rapids that are here for a month and a half.  They have a really cute apartment that they rent yearly for this time period.  Perfect for the time the time they are here.  We went to dinner with them at the Dakota Cafe the other night and today went out to San Xavier Misison. 

The mission is one of my favorite places to visit.  It is such a beautiful spot and usually have some of the tribal booths set up outside where there are pots and baskets, beading and food.  Today they were light on those things but in two weeks will be the Pow Wow and the place will be jumping.  We had lunch in the little shopping center on the grounds, sitting outside in the beautiful weather and visiting up a storm.

Last night were the dog races.  We hadn't been for some time so it was kind of fun to go.  I talked to Tom Taylor, the General Manager/CFO for a few minutes.  The tracks in AZ have put it to the legislature that they want to put slot machines in the tracks (so it would be kind of like Prairie Meadows only with dog racing rather than horse racing) and feel that it will be a benefit to them and to the state.  The amount of tax revenue they will pay far exceeds the tribal contribution.  They think they will have an answer by June.  Not sure what that will do to the tribes agreement with the state, guess that will all come out in the discussions. 

The monthly coffee at our church for the young people is the same weekend as the Pow Wow.  I have notified the girls since they want to come down.  We'll see if the schedule works for them or not.  Would be fun to have them.

Since yesterday was rather a wasted day, didn't get much done on the sites, I will probably spend the rest of the day and tonight adding content, gosh there is a great deal to see and do in this country!  There will never be enough time to see it all so I truly enjoy writing up the articles for those that will be able to go to the different areas and see some of the glorious sites.

As we get older and think about how our life will be in a few years the one thing that makes us face up to the fact that we are not immortal is the loss of a friend or family member.  We may think we are, we may plan our lives like we are, we may take risks like we are or put things off 'til another day like we are but in fact, we aren't.

When I got news this morning of the death of a good friend, Joan Shafer from Mt. Pleasant, it was a reality check on getting in touch with friends to make sure they know they are important.  This, of course, also applies to family.  Fortunately I can say that I had stayed in touch with Shafer's.  They were too ill to respond but I know they knew I cared and that is what was important.  Jake is in the hospital too, bless his heart this will be so hard for him.  They were so close, such good people.

Jake and Joan were my landlords when I moved to Mt. Pleasant.  They had just built a fabulous 8 plex on the edge of town and I was the first tenant.  Buttons and I moved in and truly enjoyed the space.  We had many dinners there with people from the community, getting to know them.  Jake and Joan were almost always there, part of the "core" group along with Martha, Gayle, Phil, Sam (now also gone), Greg and various others from month to month.  It was a great time, we all enjoyed the good food, friendships and humor that abounded at these gatherings.  I miss them, but more, I miss the people.

So, the point of this is, make sure those that matter to you know they matter.  Drop them a line, give them a call, email them or something, just let them know they are important to you.  Hey, can't hurt and maybe, just maybe you will make someones day a tad bit brighter.

Well, we got home in time for one day of warm and now it is getting cold again.  It may even snow in parts of the city on Tues.  Great!  Oh well, we know that it will be only for a couple of days and then back to warm.

Friends of ours from Iowa are coming down for the month of March (and part of Feb.).  They have an apartment they get every year.  We are looking forward to them coming.  Super nice people.

I need to go to Ross today or tomorrow to see if they have any brown slacks.  Mine are just so old they look icky and I thought about the fact that Ross and other discount stores are being inundated with overstocks and maybe their prices will be super good.  Can't hurt to go look.  Cyn may go with me which will be fun, haven't done the Ross thing together since I moved here I don't think.

Spencer was born a week ago and is doing really, really well for a little bitty one.  Weighing in at just 6.3 lbs when she was born she was still bigger than K when she was born but oh my gosh, she's a little bitty thing.  Both she and Mom are doing well, the healing from C section takes time and isn't something that everyone would choose (and neither did Bobbi) but when it is necessary and the results are as beautiful as Spencer then guess it is all worth it (particularly since I'm not the one that had to go through it!)

Having the time in SL with Bobbi and the kids (and sometimes GH) as well as GW has been rewarding in a number of ways.  Of course I love having time with the kids and Bobbi.  Both the bigger girls are sporting boyfriends that are super guys, nice to meet them and be able to make up our (GW's and my) own minds.  They are attentive and gentlemen which is a delight.

We all watched the Super Bowl together and were so sad that the Cardinals got beat at the very end, but tell you what, they were superior in so many ways.  It was probably one of the best Super Bowls I have ever seen.  Lots of food, yelling (mostly by me) and good company.  Guess that's the best it could be.

I have learned something (at the expense of a cake and a brownie mix).  When you live in Tucson or Iowa you really don't think about the consequences of what happens when you bake at high altitudes.  Well, let me tell you, if you don't follow the directions for anyplace over 3500 ft. the cake and the brownies get done around the edge and the centers take forever to cook and they sink.  Still taste ok but sure do look sad!  At first I thought I was doing something wrong with the oven, but when B asked me if I had mixed it up for high altitudes it was like…DAHH…NO.

Tonight J has boy scouts and then at 7 basketball practice.  He got signed up for basketball yesterday.  Now, he may not have thought about it but his Grandma did and took care of it.  I think it's important for him to learn to play on a team, gain some coordination and get a desire to improve his game.  That and I want to see him play at some point.

GH was home yesterday and left again this morning.  Bless his heart, he hates being away from the family and they hate having him gone.  Perhaps something will change and it will get better or he will find something closer to home.

Ok, tried a piece of the cake, white with peanut butter of course, and it tastes good, just looks really sad LOL

I found out yesterday that both Jake and Joan are in the hospital section now rather than the senior center.  How sad, they are such great people.  It would seem likely that when one goes the other one will too.  They have been together for years (like 65) and done nearly everything together.  I have been sending them notes every once in awhile since I haven't been able to see them.  Like I said, nice people.

We are planning to head home tomorrow and Bobbi and some of the kids are heading to Phoenix on Friday to spend the weekend with GH.  They also plan to stop and see Bobbi's dad.  I'm sure he will be tickled to see the baby.  She's precious.

Last I knew it was tool sale weekend again this weekend.  Just hope it isn't cold.  Been cold for awhile now and really looking forward to being warm.  It doesn't seem to bother the kids but Jo, GW and I, well, that's a different story.

So glad that we live close enough now to be able to be with them in 4 hours.  Sure beats the socks off from 22 hours!