Adventure 898: Tucson Winter Two/6

i know living in this world, it takes all kinds, I find myself constantly baffled, often dismayed, and mostly helpless to change the course of things. The best I can do is serve others, even in small ways. I served in the classroom for thirty-one years, as did my  Bunny. Now that we have time, we're putting our kitchen skills to use helping feed the homeless in a program sponsored by Southside Presbyterian called Cross Street. I believe that people are more  alike than they're different, and I think humans can help each other. I also believe in the battle of good and evil. I've got to believe there's more people in the world who want to build than there are those who want to destroy. It's in that spirit that I work against those who would demean, displace, and discourage those less fortunate. Like Shalom in Spokane, this program offers a meal with no strings attached. The goal is just to provide good food in a place where people can eat with some dignity. That's all. 

In daily news, Judy's health is back to normal except for a tickle in her throat. She's knitting and working out. My Tai Chi moves apace: slowly, but steadily. And people have toldl me patience is a good thing. It must be working because life is good, especially today. 

Saturday Tai Chi Class breaking up. Sifu has about twenty regular students. Some have studied with him more than fifteen years.

A lady named Jean prepares this table. Cereal, PP&J sandwiches; Ham and cheese sandwiches; bananas and oranges.

After Keb Mo finished.

As you can see, I'm grateful to Keb Mo for scraping the snow off of Davey Boy.

My Bunny in her volunteer suit.

Today part of the meal was baked bbq chicken.

Talented members from the church provide music.

Sifu showing Thomas the proper foot placement on the Repulse Monkey steps. Thomas came from Germany to spend two months training with Sifu Jordan, much the same as me.

Selfie of the day: All smiles at 5:30 A.M.

Adventure 897: Tucson Winter Two/5

My best laid plans of blogging once a week fell prey to too much fun. First, we spent time with our niece, Kate, her husband, Scott, and their first born, Alden. We enjoyed a nice brunch and visit with Scott's aunts and their families. The aunts and husbands are out from Iowa and Nebraska respectively to serve in a Mennonite program called Shalom. They will help ready living quarters for immigrants for the next two months. They will also spend time with their son and his wife (Scott's cousin Derick and his wife Mandy). Scott and Kate and Alden spent their last night with us before they headed back home to Goshen. Midweek I met with some friends from Spokane and their Tuscon friends for what amounted to a little over a thirty mile bike ride, since I rode to the meeting place instead of driving. It was my first ride of the year, what was fun, but I am singing like Elvis....love me tender. For a final Southwestern flair, we tried a vegan Mexican restaurant on Scott and Kate's recommendation. Called Tumerico, the menu changes daily; the ingredients are fresh, and the street front ambience makes the experience earthy and delicious. Like we always say, Life is good, especially today.

The pictures load randomly. This is Diane Ketcham, a friend from Spokane eying her brand new electric bike.

Alden, of course, is the star of the show.

We rode from Christina Taylor Green Park to Catalina State Park, a little over ten miles one way.

Miss Kate and her aunt Judy.

Who are all these people?

Red Chili Tamales made with Jack Fruit and veggies.

Miss Kitty, out for the first time this year.

Uncle Will, playing with Alden.

Of course, there was plenty of rolling around on the ground.

Ellen and Marge, Scott's aunts ready for a hike in Sweetwater. Missing from the photos are Derick and Mandy and Ellen's husband, Byron.

The biking crew: Diane and Ted Ketcham, Lynn and Lisa,  and CJ enjoying lunch after the ride.

Cuban Tacos, a little bit sweet and very tasty.

Adventure 896: Tucson Winter Two/4

One week accounted for in this year's stay. Though cool, we've enjoyed mostly sunny weather while back home the temps have fallen below zero. Needless to say, we're happy to be here. We've visited a few of our favorite haunts, including a lunch stop at  El Nene's and two hikes among our cactus friends out at Sweetwater Preserve. I've made contact with my Tai Chi group. Judy has set up time with her personal trainer, and although she suffered this week with a Covid quarantine, she's better now, and her most recent test was negative. So I'd say we're off and running. This morning we attended church at Southside Presbyterian, a place of worship that suits us well, satisfies our spirit, and reminds us of God's goodness. At home I've been volunteering at the Shalom Ministries food kitchen in down town Spokane. Judy and I will begin our volunteer service here in much the same way at the Crosstreet Community beginning this Friday. Crossstreet serves the homeless breakfast two days a week. It' a good place to put our food service skill sets to use. Other than that we have little to report, except to say that life is good, especially today.

When we first came to Tucson, this place was a food truck on the corner. It's brick and mortar now. Very busy and very good.

As many of you may know, I love cactus. This venerable specimen sits alone on the corner of River road and La Canada. It's amazing to think it was here long before the roads were built.

Ahhh, the welcome some old friends.

This lovely gal welcomes visitors to our temporary abode.

Who? Me?

tt was a long hot summer. Some of the guys lay down for a permanent rest.

Selfie of the day.

This preserve is very close to the house, so it's a favorite walking destination for us.

I'd really just like a hug.

Battered by age and weather, this guy is barely hanging on.

The saguaros are amazing plants. They've got woody skeletons and this porous inside which soaks up moisture.

And they grow at the tip not more than a few inches a year.

And of course, life is always good with my favorite Bunny.
 

Adventure 895: Tucson Winter Two/3

Woke up feeling like royalty. Ginny and David had hot coffee, an egg white and veggie scramble, fresh turkey red wheat toast, and bright smiles waiting for us this morning. After breakfast, we got to move into our winter space early. We felt right at home after we unpacked. It's as pleasant as we remember. Judy went with Ginny and David to arrange for working again this winter with a personal trainer. I made contact with Sifu Misner. The sun peeked through the clear blue sky, and though it was cold by Tuscon standards, my spirits soared. I walked around the neighborhood, sat in the hot tub, and basically lounged the day away until we went over to the Kral's for pizza and the national championship football game. Unfortunately, Michigan proved to be the better team this time. So while Husky nation is sad tonight, Judy and I are firmly held in the arms of a spirit who realizes that life is good, especially today.

Our buddies, David and Ginny Kral.

Morning light in front of the Kral's home.

One of my favorite saguaros. I visited it on my walk today.

Last year, this bougainvillea froze. So far, so beautiful this year.

Judy sliding pizza into the Kral's new Ooni pizza oven. Tonight was the maiden voyage. Wildly successful.

After some pretty good pizza, Judy had one eye on the game and both hands on her needles.

Ginny, too, had one eye on the game, and two hands on her needles.

 

Adventure 894: Tucson Winter Two/2

We left Las Vegas pushed by twenty-thirty mile an hour winds. The drive was uneventful except for two events. The first was a plastic tub caught, swirled, and thrown by the wind in front of my path from the back of a pick up. I quick checked my right mirror, then made a quick twist and back with the steering wheel. Fortunately, I maintained control, missed the tub, held my water, and didn't cry "Momma, I'm coming home." I didn't think it would be good to smash head on into a tumbling plastic tub while traveling at seventy-five miles per hour. So that was good. The drive from there was uneventful, although long. It's one fifteen hundred miles from Spokane to Tucson, which translates to 24 hours of driving. For us it takes three days and two overnights. The hardest part this year, ironically, occurred after we left Phoenix. It started raining at Casa Grande, which is about forty miles West of Tucson. Funny that we left the Northwest for nice weather, and the bad weather finds us here. This affliction will be momentary, however, and by the reports we fled the Northwest just ahead of some significant winter weather. Not to worry. Our good friends, the Krals, welcomed us with open arms, a hot meal, and the promise of more propinquity this winter. So, life is good, especially today.

We're always excited to see our first Saguaro cactus.

The desert rock formations have appeal as well.

I have faith that this cold, damp landscape will brighten soon.

Welcome to Tucson, winter paradise for snow birds.

Adventure 893: Tucson Winter Two/1

Loaded and ready to roll, we arrived at the Drouin's at 6:30 sharp for a delicious breakfast of a scramble consisting of bacon, onions, and peppers along with fried new potatoes flavored with rosemary. On the side we had fresh hot coffee and freshly baked Pillsbury biscuits. We were on the road by 7:30. Heavy fog, damp roads, and temperatures just above freezing followed us until well past Ritzville. From there the skies were grey, but the roads were bare and dry. They stayed that way all the way over Dead Man's pass through Oregon and into Idaho. We made it to our friend's, the Losser's, home in Twin Falls by 5 P.M. We welcomed the traveling mercies. Tom and Patty fixed us a delicious taco salad dinner, which we scarfed as we enjoyed a cold beer. Our over night stay was too short, but it was great to see the Lossers again. In the morning, Patty fed us again with a portobello mushroom omelette, fresh squeezed OJ, and English muffins on the side. We hit the road again by 7:45 and by two (helped by the time change) we rolled into the Hampton Inn in North Las Vegas. The roads were bare and dry the whole way, and even though the temperature outside hovered around the mid twenties, we were warm and comfy in Herbie Joe, our Lexus. As tradition dictates, we scampered over to the local In and Out for a burger and fries. We've stayed in this hotel several times over the years, and it seems we sniff out the burger joint every time. Right now our feet are up, Judy is knitting socks, we're watching football, and otherwise happy as fat cats. I'm tempted to head down to the strip to lose our money at the black jack tables, but fortunately, gambling isn't one of my addictions. Instead, I'll just relax with my Bunny while realizing that life is good, especially today.

Edwardo, fresh from a morning shave, is ready to send us off.

The two buddies just before send off.

Deb sets a fine table and the "thin gruel" was delicious.

First road picture after the fog lifted.

Somewhere in Idaho.

Just outside of Ely, Nevada.

Herbie Joe safe in the Losser's driveway.

Somewhere in Nevada.

Patty and Judy waxing eloquent.

Just leaving Filer, idaho.

Gas price in the wilds of Nevada.

In-N-Out is what it's all about.