SURPRISE FROM SURPRISE, AZ

 February 15, 2021

Denny and I did something a few weeks ago that is entirely out of our wheelhouse.  We bought a manufactured home in a gated over 55 community in Surprise, AZ.   It wasn't something on our radar until we actually did it. We were looking for a place 1200-1300 sq ft with 2bds, 2baths. We bought a 2000 sq ft home with 3 bds, 2 baths. Much larger than we ever thought about but it just felt right when we saw it. We still plan to only spend 6 months here and 6 months at home.  Since we will only be here 6 months, we thought a gated community would be best for us. It is fully furnished with high end furniture and appliances. Some of it isn't to our taste, but fine for now because we don't have to buy a whole houseful of furniture right away. We will sell our RV when we get home. In November we will bring the truck and UHaul down with miscellaneous things  to make it more like our home. We plan to buy a car here and then just fly back and forth. We never thought of having a 2nd home.

I FOUND SANTA CLAUS

 January 16, 2021

I was hiking with Elaine a few weeks ago and found Santa Claus's hideout when he isn't at the North Pole. He is probably so tired from making toys and the Christmas season, he wanted to get away as far as possible. I bet he loves the warm weather after the North Pole

can you see his hideout in the picture below? Look for the small red and white in the middle of the rock formation

A few of the beautiful sunrises

This is one of the smallest RV's we have ever seen. It is smaller than the car pulling it. Certainly right quarters for living in. 

SOMETIMES RAIN IS A GOOD THING

February 5, 2021

Last week the Phoenix area had quite the stormy weather. Not like the rest of the country, but unusual for AZ. It rained almost everyday. A  couple of times, it rained so hard there was rain, wind, thunder, lightning and a mixture of hail and SNOW.  We felt like we were back in Washington. We had to go to the store one day. We had our rain jackets zipped up as high as they would go and our hoods up and heads down. Just by going in and out of the store, we were soaked. It lasted about 7 days, now everything is back to normal. We had a few 80 degree days, but now in the mid to high 70's. The norm this time of year is the low 70's. 

THE VACCINE PART II

 February 2, 2021  

Denny got his 2nd shot Tuesday, Feb 2nd. They have streamlined the shot process so much since we were there last. The first time  it took 2.5 hrs. This time, 40 minutes. The first time was the  first day of the mass vaccination site at the State Farm Stadium, so there was some disorganization.  What a difference 3 weeks make.  

Denny has had no side effects from either shot, besides the sore arm at the injection site. I had been a little worried because I had heard that the 2nd one can be worse as far as side effects. 

I had no side effects at all. My arm was sore about an hour and that was all. 

Hope all goes well with other people who get the shots. 

Because we wanted to get both shots here, we extended our stay here 1 month til April 1st to make sure that would happen. Now staying only 1 month in Palm Springs. We didn't want to get one shot here, then the other shot someplace else.  We got the Pfizer vaccine.