Westlemania 2010

Saturday night I made some of the "fall off the bones" ribs per Kaitlyn's request. Chris and Angela came over for dinner and we had that and leftover Lasagna. Sunday mornig Dee and I set out for church with the kids and then off to Wrestlemania in Peoria at Cardinal stadium. Over 72,000 people attended. High energy event. Loads of fun. Had to say goodbye though last night to the kids... We are exhausted though.

Visit with Great Grandparents

Devin and Kaitlyn got to visit with Dee's parents on Friday and we all went to lunch. Pool again in the afternoon.  Yesterday, we just made Lasagna at Jim and Cindy's home. The girls had their nails done, and we boys just played around the house.  Today, it's a ribs day per Kaitlyn's request. Enjoy some pictures.

Angels game w/kids

We went and saw the Angels play yesterday against the Royals.  Good game, lots of runs scored. Kaitlyn got one ball before the game started from a ball player. Devin and I went and got an Angels ball to ensure they had one apiece.  Then, Kaitlyn caught another from a player who threw one to her, and Devin caught one from the Royals third baseman who threw one to him.  I had let an usher use the restroom before us when I took Devin to go.  After the game, he handed Devin a ball he had promised for letting him go ahead of us. So, the kids made out like bandits at the spring training game.  All the balls were from Royals players except one. One of Kaitlyns ball were very special.  1st hit in the major leagues written on the ball, from a Royals player against the Angels, and dated. Here's some pictures of the game.  Today, we have our "Thursday Bazaar" for coffee, donuts, and toys.  Then lunch with Dee's parents, pool, and cheesecake.

Rain again in Mesa

So, a passing shower turned into an all day rain storm again.  Dee planned on the worst though yesterday and we took the kids to the museum of natural art in Tempe. More pictures to share.

Zoo

Zoo

Mountain

Museum

Museum

Kaitlyn and Devin's visit so far

We picked up Kaitlyn and Devin Saturday afternoon in Blythe, ca. Gone to the pool 5 times already and the Phoenix Zoo yesterday.  We also climbed the Hole in the mountain yesterday. (superstition mountain) The kids saw one of their great grandparents also on Sunday. Today we are off to the Museum to see some dinasours. Chicken wings tonight at the Native New Yorker and they get to meet Jim and Cindy.  Raining since 4:30 this morning, so good day for museum.  Pictures so far. Plus, the beautiful motorhome afte 4 days of waxing.

St. Patrick's Day 2010

We went to lunch with the parents  yesterday for St. Patrick's Day and the Cindy made some fabulous corned beef and cabbage for dinner.  We played a little hand and foot. J&J are back in the lead now by 1 game. Almost done waxing the motor home now. It's really shining up pretty good. This is day 3 though of waxing and cleaaning windows. Got some armour all yesterday to clean the rubber around the windows and such. Now I know why I always see RV'ers waxing their homes at all the campsites we go to. I think it's going to be a never ending job to keep it clean. Here's pictures of mom and dad McNicol.

Sun, golfing, parties

 It's finally hitting the 70's and 80's now, and time for golfing for Dee and I.  We tried our luck on Friday at one of the Sunland Village golf courses and played 9 holes. The new hybrid clubs we purchased are really easy to hit and we played well with them. We went out again on Saturday and played 18 holes at a different Sunland Village golf course and played well again. I had a birdie on the very last hole. Dee broke 100 and shot a 98.  I also broke 100 and shot an 89.  Sunday, we had a party next door to us to go to.  Over 30 people attended again. We stayed a pretty long time for us; talking, eating, and drinking.  Today, I'll start waxing the motorhome in the morning for a while before we go to a spring training game between the Dodgers and Angels.
Picture of my birdie enclosed.  Kaitlyn and Devin coming out on Saturday. Having these two grand kids for a week during their spring break.  Looking forward to their visit.

Neighborhood rib fest

After raining Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, we had our rib fest yesterday. It was actually hailing the other night.  My bones asked me why we moved here for the sun and warmth?  Anyway:  I started out yesterday morning with 15 racks of baby back ribs for around 30 people. I used 3 different homes and ovens in the neighborhood. After 5 hours in the oven, and around 30 minutes on 3 different grills now, and 4 bottles of Sweet Baby Ray's barb-que sauce; these ribs were awesome.  The neighbors all made some good fixins to go with the ribs.  Some corn on the cob, baked potato's, 2 different types of coleslaw, on and on, and on. We had enough to feed the 30 people.  The only thing I had to do mostly was apologize to the people who wanted to eat the meat off the bone. This was due to the fact that the meat eas so tender, when you picked up the bone, the meat fell off. Most of the restaurants that serve ribs, one has to eat with a knife and fork, or one may lose a tooth trying to remove the rib meat from a bone. We used our knives yesterday to butter our corn and potato's only. Sorry "Famous Daves" : New sheriff in town is: Famous Jim's ribs... Hey: maybe the sun will be out today and Dee and I can finally try our new Hybrid clubs.  Wouldn't that be something?  The sun and warmth....

Renissance Fair weekend

We made it out to the Renaissance Fair on Saturday.  Lot of fun and walking around.  the shows were pretty good. In one of the shows though, " the Tortuga twins" ; right before the Ded Bob show, the guys bagged on Jim's Hawaiian shirt.  I thought the shirt was pretty nice; but they got on him a few times, all in fun of course. On Friday, we saw the parents and Uncle Jack/Aunt Joan.  Claire and Charlie are out visiting Jack/Joan from New Jersey.  Somehow they got out of the snow and made it here for a trip to Hawaii. After lunch, Dee and I went to pick up our sign again as it had to be schalacked again. Wood really sucked up the varnish.  So, we walked around and picked up two Hybrid golf clubs apiece.  We'll practice with them after the rains go away sometime next week. We also picked up some sort of wax for the motorhome. This should keep me busy for a month or two trying to get the oxidation off and a shine on. Anyway, after the fair yesterday, we went back to Jim/Cindy's house for a little "hand and foot" card game. I have to concede that the girls are much better card players then I am.  Jim is good, and probably Princess would be a better partner then me.  The team of J&J Destroyers were sunk once again.  Got to be frustrating for Jim. Dee and Cindy just gave us a serious beatdown. At least today is Sunday, so all we have on the agenda is laundry, Mass, and a day of relaxation in our home while it rains all day. By the way, for all of you college basketball fans: University of North Carolina (UNC) took a beating last night also. It was very ugly. They almost didn't break 50 points. I had to watch it until the end to see if they would or not. This is the same school that were National champs last year that averaged almost 100 points per game. At least baseball is starting up and my Atlanta Braves have a chance to do something this year....Enjoy the pictures.

Nice shirt Jim !!!

Retired ?

Retired life is just so demanding. We have our weekly bazaar this morning, and golfing at noon.  Tomorrow we will probably go to lunch with the parents.  Saturday is the renissance fair.  Sunday out to Uncle Jack and Aunt Joans to see them and their friens Claire and Charlie. On the 10th, I'm making ribs for out block.  Probable around 30 people or so.  I think we will have to go back to work to take a break..... Yeah, right!!!

Sun in Mesa ???

We actually had a sunny day yesterday.  Dee went out shopping with Cindy, and I had our bicycle tires slimed so we don't get flat tires.  We're going for a ride today and will try golfing on Thursday. Before more rain comes this way anyway. I went up on the roof of the motorhome last week with a friend of mine, and we caulked around the sunlight opening where the material has shrunken and seperated. Probably from the 100 degree weather in the past. It had sheunk so bad , that we sprung a leak into the shower. There was another leak we also caulked up on the side by the slideout. We had a day to do this last week before the monsoon rain over the weekend.  It actually worked. No leaks. Of course, going up and down on a ladder to the roof was more time consuming then fixing the roof.  Another friend named Jim from the park here was so afraid of me falling, he guided me all the way up and down. Another day in paradise.  I'll get some pictures today of us riding. Last time we rode, we had some drinks at the golf course, and it was a tough ride home.  We're going to try and get this right today. Could mean more drinks.  Jim and Cindy, our friends became grandparents again on Sunday.  Congratulations are in order.  I understand the baby is health and beautiful..