December 7 & 8 - Three Hat Days
Sunshine and a Purple Cactus – Three Hats Days
Friday, December 6, 2013 – continued
On arrival we rented a car from Hertz. In theory we should have got a good deal through CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons,) but in practice, I’m not so sure we did. Plus we would have to pay an extra $13 / day for me to drive, so I now have a chauffeur. I didn’t realize my reputation for parallel parking had traveled so far. (I don’t back in; I just drive over the curb and let them the front part of the car drop into place, sort of.) I think this is what is called a “First World Problem.”
Now the moment we had been waiting for since morning – an opportunity to eat lunch. We went to a place called Rubio’s at Casa Grande. Oh my glory - great food, huge servings, for very little money – and accompanied by excellent service. See www.rubios.com. We had the large veggie burrito. It was stuffed with veggies, black beans, rice, and corn. Also, it came with a side of nacho chips and a choice of four different salsas. I filled out a survey and it guaranteed me a free large fountain drink. A large pop here is 32 ounces, so I waived the pop. I just wanted to be able to say good things about this restaurant.
Finally, Green Valley RV Resort. Woo hoo! Our little trailer survived the melting spring, summer and fall heat. Last year Lauren and John and Lynne and Al opened up our Fifth Wheel, so we had a few things to figure out – like how to open the door. But it all worked. Next stop was the Safeway which we love. Lots of veggie foods, wonderful customer service, and the magical Safeway card. You give it to the cashier at the end of the spree, she swipes it and about 30% comes off your bill. Yes, I know, this is a bit of a ruse, but I always feel I now have extra money in my pocket. I filled in another survey; this one could win me a $100 card.
After supper, our first walk around the park since April of this year. We’ve timed it. If it’s just me – 20 minutes; with Laur – 30 minutes. That’s if we don’t chat with anyone, but there are always lots of people to catch up with. We like to look at the “for sale” signs and dream of buying a park model with an Arizona room (man-cave) – spring or fall of 2015, can you believe it?! We went to bed just after 9 pm and slept (on and off) ‘til 8 am. We were tired old dogs.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
We lazed around in the morning eating our big bowl of fibre food, followed by large cups of coffee. I also poured orange juice and a large water into Laurence before we started out for our morning walk around the park. Thankfully, there are washrooms in the “clubhouse” in the centre of the park. Laurence thinks I’m trying to wash him away. All I know is that by the end of day one, our skin will already be flaking – it’s that dry. And did I mention all the SUN, BEAUTIFUL sun.
GVRVR (Green Valley RV Resort) held its bi-annual garage (street?) sale that morning and Laur and I picked up two bikes for $15 each. Plus Laur bought a Stetson-style felt western hat that he only takes off now to wash his hair – or so it seems. Happiness can be bought for $5! Me, I’m sporting a classic Lee Valley sun hat, a Christmas gift from my friend Lauren. I brought my walking sticks from Suds with me – Wednesday hiking group, here we come.
After lunch (and it kills me not to describe every meal and snack we enjoy) we headed out to WalMart. I’m normally not a WalMart shopper, but I confess it’s a handy place to go when you need to pick up an unrelated variety of things. One thing we are not picking up this year is a cactus. The park bunnies (wild, not tame) ate our last one within a week of our leaving. I’m looking to find a “36 Inch Cactus Christmas Tree Lawn Ornament with Cowboy Hat Topper.” So far, no luck. Hey, we’re into a hat theme this year.
We went out for supper to an Italian food place we really like – Trattoria Raggazi. See http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31236-d849818-Reviews-Ragazzi_Italian_Restaurant-Green_Valley_Arizona.html Folks think it’s a tad expensive – but the garlic bread slices and small rosemary loaves are delicious and unlimited. And the pasta and sauce is wonderful and made to order. I think I ate enough chilli peppers to put the price up for a few weeks to come. We about froze on our after supper walk. Our blood is getting thinner already.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
I woke up with that “feel like I’d been hit by a truck” feeling. I’d been “geared up” for days – getting ready, getting here, unpacking, and getting reacquainted. Time for the “crash” – but a good place to have it. SUN, beautiful sun. I had intended to go to church, but even a good old fashioned Methodist service would not have revived me. (My home church here is Green Valley United Methodist – and I love it!)
In the afternoon we went for a wander in what is called Pueblo Estates. It’s a manufactured home community, geared for seniors. It has a club house, and the prices for a full home and yard are not that much more than what we’d pay for a park model at GVRVP, and we don’t “own” the land here - plus have to pay a yearly rental fee. Here are some sample homes. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Green-Valley_AZ/type-mfd-mobile-home/sby-1 But these lower priced homes would need work, and we are not fix-it-up folks.
We had our go-to meal for supper – rice, beans, greens, salsa, avocado, olives, and more veggies. What with the salt level of some of these foods and the desert dryness, we are going to turn into pillars of salt!
I’m started a new-to-me Pulitzer prize-winning book – The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson. Do read the review before reading the book. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/books/the-orphan-masters-son-by-adam-johnson-review.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0 All I can say, is “What have I got myself into?!” and I am so many more than seven steps removed from the “Orwellian horror that is North Korea.” (Not my phrase; wish it was.)
Remind me to never ever carp about renting a car again...
Friday, December 6, 2013 – continued
On arrival we rented a car from Hertz. In theory we should have got a good deal through CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons,) but in practice, I’m not so sure we did. Plus we would have to pay an extra $13 / day for me to drive, so I now have a chauffeur. I didn’t realize my reputation for parallel parking had traveled so far. (I don’t back in; I just drive over the curb and let them the front part of the car drop into place, sort of.) I think this is what is called a “First World Problem.”
Now the moment we had been waiting for since morning – an opportunity to eat lunch. We went to a place called Rubio’s at Casa Grande. Oh my glory - great food, huge servings, for very little money – and accompanied by excellent service. See www.rubios.com. We had the large veggie burrito. It was stuffed with veggies, black beans, rice, and corn. Also, it came with a side of nacho chips and a choice of four different salsas. I filled out a survey and it guaranteed me a free large fountain drink. A large pop here is 32 ounces, so I waived the pop. I just wanted to be able to say good things about this restaurant.
Finally, Green Valley RV Resort. Woo hoo! Our little trailer survived the melting spring, summer and fall heat. Last year Lauren and John and Lynne and Al opened up our Fifth Wheel, so we had a few things to figure out – like how to open the door. But it all worked. Next stop was the Safeway which we love. Lots of veggie foods, wonderful customer service, and the magical Safeway card. You give it to the cashier at the end of the spree, she swipes it and about 30% comes off your bill. Yes, I know, this is a bit of a ruse, but I always feel I now have extra money in my pocket. I filled in another survey; this one could win me a $100 card.
After supper, our first walk around the park since April of this year. We’ve timed it. If it’s just me – 20 minutes; with Laur – 30 minutes. That’s if we don’t chat with anyone, but there are always lots of people to catch up with. We like to look at the “for sale” signs and dream of buying a park model with an Arizona room (man-cave) – spring or fall of 2015, can you believe it?! We went to bed just after 9 pm and slept (on and off) ‘til 8 am. We were tired old dogs.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
We lazed around in the morning eating our big bowl of fibre food, followed by large cups of coffee. I also poured orange juice and a large water into Laurence before we started out for our morning walk around the park. Thankfully, there are washrooms in the “clubhouse” in the centre of the park. Laurence thinks I’m trying to wash him away. All I know is that by the end of day one, our skin will already be flaking – it’s that dry. And did I mention all the SUN, BEAUTIFUL sun.
GVRVR (Green Valley RV Resort) held its bi-annual garage (street?) sale that morning and Laur and I picked up two bikes for $15 each. Plus Laur bought a Stetson-style felt western hat that he only takes off now to wash his hair – or so it seems. Happiness can be bought for $5! Me, I’m sporting a classic Lee Valley sun hat, a Christmas gift from my friend Lauren. I brought my walking sticks from Suds with me – Wednesday hiking group, here we come.
After lunch (and it kills me not to describe every meal and snack we enjoy) we headed out to WalMart. I’m normally not a WalMart shopper, but I confess it’s a handy place to go when you need to pick up an unrelated variety of things. One thing we are not picking up this year is a cactus. The park bunnies (wild, not tame) ate our last one within a week of our leaving. I’m looking to find a “36 Inch Cactus Christmas Tree Lawn Ornament with Cowboy Hat Topper.” So far, no luck. Hey, we’re into a hat theme this year.
We went out for supper to an Italian food place we really like – Trattoria Raggazi. See http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31236-d849818-Reviews-Ragazzi_Italian_Restaurant-Green_Valley_Arizona.html Folks think it’s a tad expensive – but the garlic bread slices and small rosemary loaves are delicious and unlimited. And the pasta and sauce is wonderful and made to order. I think I ate enough chilli peppers to put the price up for a few weeks to come. We about froze on our after supper walk. Our blood is getting thinner already.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
I woke up with that “feel like I’d been hit by a truck” feeling. I’d been “geared up” for days – getting ready, getting here, unpacking, and getting reacquainted. Time for the “crash” – but a good place to have it. SUN, beautiful sun. I had intended to go to church, but even a good old fashioned Methodist service would not have revived me. (My home church here is Green Valley United Methodist – and I love it!)
In the afternoon we went for a wander in what is called Pueblo Estates. It’s a manufactured home community, geared for seniors. It has a club house, and the prices for a full home and yard are not that much more than what we’d pay for a park model at GVRVP, and we don’t “own” the land here - plus have to pay a yearly rental fee. Here are some sample homes. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Green-Valley_AZ/type-mfd-mobile-home/sby-1 But these lower priced homes would need work, and we are not fix-it-up folks.
We had our go-to meal for supper – rice, beans, greens, salsa, avocado, olives, and more veggies. What with the salt level of some of these foods and the desert dryness, we are going to turn into pillars of salt!
I’m started a new-to-me Pulitzer prize-winning book – The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson. Do read the review before reading the book. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/books/the-orphan-masters-son-by-adam-johnson-review.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0 All I can say, is “What have I got myself into?!” and I am so many more than seven steps removed from the “Orwellian horror that is North Korea.” (Not my phrase; wish it was.)
Remind me to never ever carp about renting a car again...