We are back in Mesquite, enjoying the wonderful Fall weather and our friends.
Unfortunately, our good neighbors, the Applebys (Jim and Barb) are moving back to Colorado to spend more time with their kids and grandkids. They were only here for a couple of years and, with 2020 pretty much shot due to Covid-19, we hardly got to spend any time with them.
Barb is “downsizing” as they pack their possessions and gave Charlie some yard art that I put alongside our house.
We hosted a cocktail party on Friday for 14 friends. Hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks, and cookies were consumed in mass quantities. Neighborhood parties like this were very common prior to the pandemic, usually once a month, but not so much lately. So, we jump-started the old routine, and everyone had a nice time.
On Saturday afternoon, some neighbors on Spirit Point (a cul de sac adjacent to our property) put on a mini-concert with three guitarists and a drummer. Probably 40 people showed up, enjoyed adult beverages and snacks, and basked in the 80-degree afternoon sunshine.
My ex-hiking/golf/card-playing buddy Lloyd Chartrand has established some roots in the Yucatan Penninsula with his gal pal Juanita (from South Africa). He recently bought a house near Progreso and also a car. He and Juanita seem to be doing okay down there; we are thinking of visiting him in February or March.
Before Lloyd packed up and left for Mexico, he gave me some stuff from his patio, including a timber saw, an animal trap, and a cow’s skull, all of which were salvaged on desert hikes. I put the saw above the TV in my outdoor “Man Cave”.
Our son Jonathan and his wife Misty will be arriving here tomorrow from Kentucky. Misty will stay a few days while Jonathan will remain here for another week or so to catch up on business with Charlie and maybe do some golfing with me.
My sister Kellie modified my Crazy Horse Monument photo (from South Dakota) to take out the ugly chain link fence that I was standing next to. Looks great, huh?
Our plans for the next couple of months include a visit by our “adopted” 5th son Jason and his girlfriend around Thanksgiving, and a short RV trip with neighbors Al and Cindy Howa to Boulder Dam in early December. Hopefully, there will be some water in Lake Mead!
At Christmastime, we will visit our friends, Dan and Peggy Quinn, at Yuma resort. Dan Quinn is recuperating from knee replacement surgery and seems to be doing okay.
My knees and artificial hips are doing well, except that I am lugging around the 12-15 pounds that I had lost before we went on our 3-month RV trip. Dammit…but the food was good!
I’m going to have to increase my physical activity by walking, hiking, and riding my bike…or I will look like that guy!