November 1, 2000, Wednesday- an interesting day. After helping Phil on his web page while Susan caught up with 6 loads of wash, we took a late afternoon bike ride. Northbound we headed along the canal for a few miles. Then we headed westward along a dirt road into a large home subdivision. Behind a walled and fenced property we heard a few dogs barking. The owner came to the gate and told us it was a private road. I asked her if one of her dogs was a Komondor. Her response was affirmative and boy how her attitude now changed. Her dog was 10 years old and was trimmed in a way that we hadn't seen before, with its full legs, mouth and lower trunk trimmed short. Only the upper half of the trunk was left with dreadlocks. Her other dog was an Irish Wolfhound. In her words, it was a large and sweet animal with people, a terror with other dogs, and as dumb as rocks. One section of the property contained several Emus, a smaller cousin of the ostrich, but with a better personality. She has had these birds for over 20 years of their potential 30 year life.
Even more of a coincidence was that she had obtained her komondor from Joy and Marion Levy, the same couple that we had gotten Kibby from in 1970 in New Jersey. The Levy's had been instrumental in the 1960's of bringing the breed from Hungry into the AKC as a registered breed. Small world! This woman also had lived in New Jersey and practiced in Flemington as a veterinarian. It goes around and comes around.
Leaving the area my back tire went flat….so off with the wheel, off with the tire, and put a patch on the tube. Remove a thorn from the tire, reinstalled the assembly, and off we go….about 100 feet. Flat again. I think I pinched the tube reinstalling it, so we got to do it again. This time it's a success, but it's also dark and we are 5 miles from the coach. Fortunately Phil had a strobe light on his bike so he road shotgun until we got home safely.
A busy afternoon!
November 2, 2000, Thursday- after dropping Phil and dogs off at the airplane at 7:30, I returned to the coach where I met our new neighbors- a couple with two Portuguese Water Dogs. Sue's next canine friend might be one of these, and low and behold, we saw two- both right up there with the grand champion linage. Each had a totally different coat- one short and curly and one with straighter and shinier hair. The second one had a "lion" cut with the rear being trimmed to the skin, a requirement of the breed's standards for the straight haired coats competing in international shows.
Then we each hit a jumbo bucket of balls- about 225 each. That's the equivalent of four rounds of golf with respect to the number of full swings. My arms are tired.
November 3, 2000, Friday- after our bike ride into the dark on Wednesday, we decided to return to the Mesa Flea Market to supplement our biking inventory. So, for Phil we got some wheel liners to prevent the spiked desert burrs from puncturing the tires. He needs them because he will be riding for the next 5 or 6 months in AZ, and last year on some rides, he had multiple flat tires. As we enter the dark aspects of the winter season lights for the front and strobes for the rear couldn't hurt. Is there anything wrong with adding some reflective tape to the bike helmets and frames? How about a small pump that works and a fresh package of patches since ours was dried after 10 years of being carried in our pouch.
Then the beat goes on and we're off to redecorate the coach. Well, not exactly. Since we didn't want to spend the big bucks to redo the couch and front chairs, the dining room chairs or valances, a few new towels couldn't hurt the budget. So after a few linen shop stops, we've got enough sample goods to fill a trunk show.
Our friends Britt and Keefer, whom we met in Anacortes, WA, invited us to their house in Paradise Valley for drinks and then out to dinner. Everyone knows of the Camelback Mountain just north of Scottsdale. Their magnificent home is literally on the northern end of the mountain. It was an experience of a lifetime to see what a gorgeous, warm and comfortable place that they built into the hillside. Views, wow, over the whole northern valley looking above the golf courses and as the sun set, the purple mountains majesty were aglow. Inside, the home flowed with personality and most of all, creativity. Hand carved architectural features abound with interior tree trunks; sandstone rocks and waxed polished walls to resemble adobe and concrete complement the feel of the home. The home is equipped with a full workout room, which, is accessed behind a wall-mounted bookcase that swings away to reveal the entranceway. As for the cats, which Britt loves, and Keefer is allergic to, at the end of a guest bedroom is a screened room specifically designed for the felines, including heated sleeping pads. By far, it was the most lovely and livable home we've visited. Our next meeting with them might be next spring on our way to Alaska, up in Anacortes.
November 4, 2000, Saturday- Susan washed one of the towels that we purchased yesterday and found that the trim was separating after one wash. Not good. Time to return them all to Bed, Bath and Beyond. So, off to Scottsdale Mall for some Dillards, Nordstrums and Crate and Barrel selections. New towels. Maybe this time. Karen returned today from Denver into Sky Harbor- so we picked her up, did some dinner, and found out about the Gretchy adventures.
November 5, 2000, Sunday- after hitting a few buckets of balls with Susan and Karen, we three and Freddie and Geoff did dinner at the coach. It was great to get together and catch up on their 1000 kilometer bike trip across Manitoba. Our last time together was at their home in Campbell River, Canada, on Vancouver Island.
November 6, 2000, Monday- after canceling last Monday's golf game with Peter and Carol at Rancho Manana, we drove up the 50 miles to Cave Creek. The weather was threatening and even sprinkling as we arrived. What a beautiful area north of Mesa and Scottsdale. Cave Creek is in the foothills to the north, and about 1000 feet higher then the Mesa Valley floor. The course was in magnificent condition, partially due to all the wet weather in the last two weeks. By the third hole the sprinkle started, and by the sixth hole we had to bail out. The wind had come up, the temps were down into the 40's and the rain was intensifying. Nice folks in the pro shop, and we got a full rain check, and we'll try again on Thursday. Lunch in the club house was great. Afterwards Peter and Carol showed us around their interval ownership complex. First class in everyway, from the two bedroom units, to the clubhouse, spa, rec areas, etc.
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There was an open house with drinks and snacks at 6- so we joined P&C, and met a few of the other owners. One couple was from Jersey City, and soon I was hearing the names of people that I hadn't heard in 38 years. Again, what a small world!
November 7, 2000, Tuesday- a day of getting things finished in Mesa. We stopped at the embroidery shop with our new towels to get "The Bunkhouse" added. Also we stopped at a sign shop for new "The Bunkhouse" graphics for the coach front door. (The prior graphics were removed in California when the door touchup painting took place.) We found a great do it yourself doggie wash. After an hour's washing, with their water, shampoo, towels and nail clipping, our wallets were $12 lighter, but Hobbes was about 12 pounds of dirt cleaner. Add a few more running around stops, and the day was finished.
Now it's a long night with the election results coming in and the presidential race in a dead heat, with each just short of the required 270 electoral votes. It's all coming down to Florida and the results may not be available for another day. Wow!
November 8, 2000, Wednesday- who would have thunk it? By the time we turned off the TV it was 2:30 in the East and Bush was declared the winner. All night I dreamed that I would wake up and it would have been a mistake. Wow! I woke up and found the world on hold, and at least a day before the recount in Florida is finalized. Imagine that less then 1800 votes selects a president, and that 8000 voters in Palm Beach County punched the second hole thinking that it was for the second presidential candidate.
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November 9, 2000, Thursday- there was frost on the car this morning. Hey, it's only November in Arizona. What gives? Anyway on the way back to Rancho Manana in Cave Creek we passed a sign that said "Sheriff's Chain Gang Ahead". Although we passed it too fast for a photo, it looked like something that we would expect to find in a 1940's movie from Alabama. Just picture 20 or so women in black and white prison garb, with legs chained together. With today's political correctness in every avenue of life, this was a strange carry back to olden times.
As for our golf game, what a beautiful day today with temperatures in the high 50's to low 60's, and there was no breeze or any clouds to be seen. Perfect! And the golf with Peter and Carol was on a perfect course for our ability and with all the rain, it was in perfect condition. Susan started off with two pars followed in a few holes with a birdie. Great game. However, Peter is a pleasure to watch. Every shot was like a pro. Since he finished the par 70 with a 68, we could surely say, he is a "golfer".
After a great dinner at Flo's in Scottsdale, we did the gallery walk in old town Scottsdale. It was a good taste of culture seeing these many works of art. And so many of the galleries were dog friendly that Hobbes raised his culture level via his smell tests on every piece of art!
November 10, 2000, Friday- and the election beat goes on….deeper into the fray! Meanwhile it was a five stop day picking up the monogrammed towels, coach vinyl, returning stuff to Lowes', over to Costco, over to the food store, etc. Dinner at Freddie and Geoff's with Karen and Lu….naturally the main topic was the election. Where will it all end?
November 11, 2000, Saturday- our friends Craig and Dottie called today but our schedule was already full for the day. We played Augusta Ranch today with Karen. This executive course provide lots of challenge and intrigue for the three of us, and it couldn't have been in better shape. This evening we joined Karen and Lu for dinner at a local Bavarian restaurant. Boy did it hit the spot with good food and the chance for all of us to chat. We learned about Lu's fabulous family, originally from Russia. Her Mom was a physician at the turn of century. Talk about achievers when women weren't allowed to venture out of the home….
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