Adventure 850: Day 73/Tucson/2023

Great day to be a K-State fan. Great day to be a Zag. Both games fit the madness mold. The good news is both teams survived and advance to the Elite Eight. It doesn't get any easier, but to be playing for a chance to get to the final four is pretty special, more so for the players who put every bit of their hearts and souls, every ounce of their sweat and tears, and every dream above their fears. For them, it's life and death. For us fans, it's vicarious thrill in victory, and wrenching agony in defeat. That's why they call it March Madness. Before the games this afternoon, Judy took Rod and Karen to Tohono Chula gardens for a look see. It's a marvelous space, well tended, and inviting. They enjoyed it. I spent two hours this morning with Sifu Misner and one of his senior students. After reviewing some fine points in the form, we blew up the air mattress and Sifu and Jason proceeded to "bounce" me using every conceivable combination, including one time when Sifu turned around and bounced me with his back. The point of the bouncing is to learn the elasticity of rebounding force. Sifu said that the first time he went to train with his teacher, he was literally bounced every day for a week. The process, quite joyful actually, brought laughter from deep inside my consciousness. Hopefully, I'll gain some insight from the experience. On the health front, we're still battling bugs, but we're not letting them get the best of us. Maybe someday soon we'll be fully healthy so we can exclaim, "Life is good, especially today."

Obligatory cactus picture. This beauty decorates the entrance to the housing complex.

After yesterday's rain, the sky clear off and gave us this soft evening.

Bright sun is on its way tomorrow.

Rod and Karen enjoying the garden.

This is the bouncing mattress, but it's from another time. The only one being bounced today was me.

Adventure 849: Day 72/Tucson/2023

After another long night of hacking and wheezing, I woke up to the sound of Judy and Karen in the kitchen singing old Sunday School songs. Rod got up a little later, and we all just lounged around listening to the desert rain pitter patter on the roof. Joining the softness of the morning, Judy, Karen and Rod worked on the puzzle. I practiced sections of the form. We each scrounged our own breakfast. For lunch, Judy fixed huevos rancheros, which were excellent. By then the rain had stopped, so we took a drive over Gates Pass to look at the saguaros in the National Park. Because of the damp weather, we had the desert road mostly to ourselves. Our Kansas relatives were duly impressed by the majesty. On the way home we stopped at the local Mexican market for a few supplies, but mostly for the fun of it. Some time ago our youngest daughter, Elizabeth, created instagram videos every week that she called Friday Fridge where she would create dinner out of what was left in the fridge on Friday. We followed her lead and made a version of Wednesday Fridge: Pollo Posole with squash, onions, green chiles, oregano, cumin, and corn topped with chopped green onions and cilantro. We had sweet corn tamales that we bought at the market on the side along with pineapple chunks. It was thin gruel, but delicious nonetheless. After dinner, the ladies worked the puzzle while Rod and I watched NIT basketball games. It was a nice start to the week, once again proving that life is good, especially today.

Judy and Karen out among the cacti.

They all seem dutifully puzzled.

Wednesday Fridge.

We tried to warn them not to go in there.

I think grandma's remedies are working. No evidence yet.

We also managed to get a game of Hollywood Gin in the books. Rod took the first game.

That's me in the corner lamenting my Oh so close third place finish.

Obligatory cactus picture: Teddy Bear Cholla.

Starting tomorrow the sun returns. No sign of the spring bloom yet.

Adventure 848: Day 71/Tucson/2023

Life just keeps getting better. I met this morning with Russ, another of Sifu Misner's senior students. Russ is the third senior I've worked with in addition to the time I've spent with Sifu, who believes his students benefit from teaching others. I couldn't agree more, and I've been eager to absorb as much from them as I can. Russ, a structural engineer by trade, is always the person who takes newcomers in class. I can see why. He has an attention to detail as well as a mastery of the form that he imparts with clear, gentle expertise. He throws in a dash of self deprecating humor on the side. For me, his instruction this morning added several excellent points to my form. I only hope I can incorporate them before they vanish into the ether. It's like when I was in school. I wasn't very good at math. I'd listen intently and during class I understood, but when I got home the material on the math book page turned into Sanskrit. I tried to mitigate that today by practicing each adjustment Russ gave me, just as I have done with the other two senior students. There is a correct way to do the form, and there's a reason for every movement. It's exciting. I feel like I've hit the mother lode, and I want to be sure that by the time I return next winter, I won't have invented what we call at home "Why-Goo-Chi" because if that's the case I'll have to relearn the correct moves all over again. And let me tell you, unlearning bad habits is no easy task. On another exciting note, we picked up Rod and Karen Franz from the airport tonight. They'll spend the next week with us, which provides an excellent ending to our time here. When we were traipsing around in Fric and Frac, nearly all trips went through Manhattan, Kansas where the Franz's live. The two sisters, Judy and Karen love being together; Rod and I are sports enthusiasts; and all four of us love puzzles, food, and cards. Our time together will prove that life is good, especially today.

Famished after their flight, we whisked Rod and Karen to El Sur, a local family run Mexican restaurant we found in South Tucson.

Both couples shared a green chili burrito. Unpretentious and Delicious.

Rod and Karen, who've never been to Tucson, seen here pondering the line, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."

And Flan, Oh My!

Karen brought the German medicine and the Vick's vapor rub. Here I can be seen undergoing one of Dorothy (their mother) K's cold remedies. Let the healing begin!

Adventure 847: Day 70/Tucson/2023

Seventy days. Whew! I've never really chronicled daily life except when we were traveling. Judy and I were talking this morning about how we've liked this "stationary" adventure versus roaming around. We've come to the conclusion that it's been good. Judy has formed a relationship with her trainer, Rob. She's getting stronger and looking every bit the fabulously fit Mimi she is. We've enjoyed our visitors, our kids, our friends, the Kral's. Getting to know Tucson a little bit has been fulfilling. As for me, I've found a welcoming group of Tai Chi practitioners led by Sifu Jordan Misner, who not only is highly skilled in the art, but he's also filled to the brim with generosity. My hope is that this is the beginning of a long relationship. As for other realities, Judy has now come down with the crud, and my affliction lingers. I can be heard mumbling, "I've enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand." That's where reality smacks. Like it says in the book of James...paraphrased... take whatever comes and rejoice in it. Right now that means another sleepless night of hacking and wheezing. Still, life is good, especially today.

Old Tucson charm.

Embrace the day and be glad of it.

We do miss Luckenbach, Texas. We cannot lie.

Tucson art: Ye Haw!

Obligatory cactus photo: Surreal Noir.

Sifu Misner with senior student, Russ.

Come on down, we have masks.

  

Adventure 846: Day 69/Tucson/2023

Thank the Lord for great children. When we left in January, we had a vague idea of the timeline for our big move. Basically, we thought we'd be under no pressure to sell the house, and we put that plan into action in early April when we got home. Things have accelerated a bit. The house goes on the market Wednesday. Our habit over the years is to clean house before we leave on trips so we'd come home to very little work. There's a difference between leaving the house clean and preparing it for prospective buyers to assess. This is where the kids come in. Steve raked the front yard, which is just now uncovered from a long winter. He improved the curb appeal immensely. Leticia worked the inside and backyard over. She cleaned, uncluttered, and basically staged the house. Angela arrived from Portland today to lend a hand too. She also had the great idea of each family member write an "ode" to the 434 house. It got me thinking. We've lived in the house for 33 years (Judy 35). Over the years it's been used as a gathering place to build community. We had at least 8 Chilly Dog feeds that used to occur every Halloween weekend. We've had 18 years of Soup Nights, which were originally designed as a way to build propinquity among the neighbors. We once hosted a sit down Thanksgiving dinner for 45 with The O'Brien clan. We've always hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas and most Easters. There's also been as many birthday parties as we an count raising four kids. The house has always been an inviting place, a gathering place, a place of comfort. And since we built the pizza oven, we've held several "pizza" parties, which though smaller, were no less warm and welcoming. We've been well sheltered at 434 W. 27th Ave. It's often made us realize that life is good, especially today.

All anyone needs is a little cash and this could be theirs.

Downstairs bedroom.

Downstairs bath.

Master bedroom.

Kitchen.

Old kitchen.

Dining room.

Play area.

Small bedroom upstairs, or walk in closet.

More kitchen.

Downstairs family room.

Living room.

Shop.

Master bath.

Missing photos: flower and vegetable garden, garage, shed, pizza oven, hot tub, zen garden. It's a pretty good house.

Adventure 845: Day 68/Tucson/2023

Starve a fever, feed a cold, or so the old wives say, so Judy and i decided to treat ourselves to a pretty satisfying dinner at a busy little bistro called Tito and Pep. We started with fresh sashimi yellow fin tuna dressed with sliced watermelon radish, sliced onions in a light citrus sauce. Judy ordered Sea of Cortez shrimp; I chose the New York strip. We had a light orange cake for dessert. Our reservation was for 5:30, and for awhile we enjoyed an atmosphere that lent itself to pleasant conversation where we expressed gratitude for our good fortune, made plans for our new adventure, and reminisced over our 33 years together. By the time we finished, the place had filled with eager diners and the place became noisy. It was nice noise and really the only negative I can find about the place. The service was crisp and genteel. The food was delicious and attractive. We considered the evening a joyous success, and it was like putting fresh whip cream on cake in terms of our stay here this winter. We didn't know how we'd like it compared to traveling in Frac, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I must say we've found Tucson a nice place to call a second home. My cold still lingers, but fortunately the hacking didn't return until we got home. All in all, it was a nice venture out and confirmed our belief that life is good, especially today.

Yellow Fin sashimi was quite dreamy.

My Bunny treated herself to a Catalina Sunrise.

The restaurant decor is airy, full of living plants, and seats about fifty. Worth a visit.

I had a hack attack while the class was doing the form, so I decided to snap a quick pic.

Judy's Sea of Cortez shrimp were quite delicious, as was my steak.

We shared a slice of orange cake stashed with cherry sauce and fresh whip cream.

As some say, "I may not be good looking, but I'm looking good."
  

Aventure 844: Day 67/Tucson/2023

The good news is I tested negative for covid. The bad news is the cold that started with a tickle on Monday has blossomed into a full blown hacking annoyance. I've filled a waste basket with Kleenex, spent hours I should have been sleeping watching an incredibly violent series called The Mayor of Kingstown, which surprisingly is written by Taylor Sheridan who has also written the popular series Yellowstone and its prequels 1883, 1923, 1944. They're all eerily similar, unfailingly dark, but masterfully compelling. I can't quite figure out why I'm attracted to the flawed characters, but they do invite a view into the general weakness and cruelty that human beings are capable of. They also offer some sliver of redemptive grace. At any rate, I was up late binge watching hoping that I would be bludgeoned into unconsciousness. i had very little luck.

Today, aside from feeling like cold green mush, I spent the day watching March Madness, which for a junkie like me is like mainlining crack, fentanyl, cocaine, barbiturates, alcohol, and any other thing we addicts can consume. It was great, and if I didn't have to sneeze, cough, hack, and wheeze, I might even have enjoyed it. I'm quite impressed with the abilities of these young men (and women). I played a year of college basketball at University of Portland, but I have to tell you, on my best day I couldn't play with any of these folks. It's quite thrilling to watch them slash and swoop. The grace and power, the passion and purpose, and the will to compete that these players demonstrate is evidence that human beings can achieve anything they set their minds to. That, my friends, is what makes life good, especially today.

Obligatory cactus picture: Wire sculpture-Cactus Man.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Let's pray Maya is right. There's considerable evidence that our species is attracted to the wrenching pain of reliving history.