Jon & Donna Report In.

First off...I must scream at my computer.

When I wasn't looking all kinds of nifty accelerators and upgrades appeared in the demon Windows Vista operating system and I can't figure out how anything works anymore.

I want to go back!

Why can't I go back?

So...after fruitlessly trying to cut and paste travelogues from John & Mary, from Tom & Louise, I have given up (temporarily) and will put up pictures with my own commentary.

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Today...pictures from Jon & Donna's 4600 mile, 10 week odyssey.

They have visited with Sharon & Dick, Bob & Bernie, Joey & Barry,

Dave & Mary, Yves & Andre, and Tommy & Terry.....

Sharon & Dick

Donna & Joey, noodling...
At the ranch.....

In T & T's cave....

Jon with the biggest horse in the world!

Maybe someday I'll be able to cut & paste again...meanwhile...you really only look at the pictures anyway, right?!

Let's Eat!

Well, I can't but YOU can!

A while ago Mariana sent me this link to KGBT's Deals for Dining and I put it in a folder for later...later has come.

This is the real deal.

You buy a $50 gift certificate for only $25 from a different valley restaurant every week.

Wait, I said that wrong.

You don't have to buy a certificate every week.

You can pick which ones you want.

The link has the list into the future by several weeks, but quantities are limited to about 100 certificates per restaurant.

http://www.valleycentral.com/on_kgbt/discounts.aspx

Check it out and eat something for me.

More Skinny Dip Reports.

From Bob & Pam P....do check out the video (you must sit thru a short car ad but Pam does a bit at the end and is very impressive. What a great spokesperson!)

"Bob and I participated in the Guinness World Record Skinny Dip at Empire Haven in upstate New York. It was cold, windy, and rainy. You can read about it and see a video at http://www.news10now.com/content/top_stories/477027/more-than-a-hundred-for-skinny-dipping-record-attempt/?RegionCookie=1013 .

B & V (I just used their initials to protect their identity...but we know who you are!) joined us in the attempt. Since the health regulations prohibit more than 83 people in the pool at a time and there were 112 people willing to brave the nasty weather, some folks had to wait in the wind and rain while the others were in the pool. Our group had to stand on the side of the pool while the second group got in so a photographer could get a picture of the entire group. If I hadn't been fortunate enough to get out of the pool between my Bob and V's Bob, I would've been miserably cold. Those generous gentlemen allowed me to become the middle of a Bob sandwich that helped ward off the chill. Poor V was lost elsewhere in the crowd or she could've joined us in sharing body warmth..

John and Mary are here at Empire Haven, too. They stayed warm in their RV while we shivered at the pool. Maybe they had more sense than the rest of us.

Pam

P.S. Sue, we're delighted to hear you're feeling better. Congratulations on losing the first 12 pounds!! That's quite a bit to lose so quickly. Best of luck on losing all that you want to lose! Hope it's as painless as possible."

Quiet July.

All is quiet here at home.

The shower house is awaiting the return of the workers and delivery

of correct materials (this time) to begin interior work.

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Louise (Norm's, aka Santa Clause's wife) is fading quickly.

She's been in hospital for the last several weeks and

has been spirited to the end.

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Jim has been a real King around our house...doing laundry, cleaning and repairs while making sure I take meds on time and remember to eat and drink.

Lately he is feeling cursed, though. His computer has developed an evil spirit, the house water filter system sprung a leak, my watering system timer for my plants went bonkers, and to cap it all off our central air conditioner broke down-during what has to be some of the hottest weather yet at Sandpiper's.

Our house is 7 years old.

We've had extensive repairs on our AC unit.

The blower went out just after the warranty period expired.

Now...guess what?

We are 3 months past the warranty on this new blower and KABaAm! It's toast.

The jolly repairman, who loves a trip to Sandpiper's, just shrugs and says,

"They just don't make quality parts anymore."

Grrrr....I must move on to more pleasant things.

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Here is a pic of Lois & Ken from the trip this year in Rome. They scooted around Rome for 3 1/2 hours on these, these....what the heck are they called? She says it was fun but more work than they thought it would be, and highly encourage the rest of us to try it.

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Lanny & Donna report from Ashville, N.C. where, while awaiting an RV part, attended the Great Skinny Dip at Carolina Foothills Resort in Chesnee, S.C.

They not only got counted but played water VB all afternoon.

They were part of the 90 official dippers (plus 40-50 more who didn't sign the release).

In their photo (hope we get to see it) they are the only ones wearing Sandpiper Resort hats.

That really puts our 43 official dippers is perspective, doesn't it!? We are practically a ghost town but still managed to bring out the crowd. I am soooo sorry I missed it.

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I'm feeling a scoosh better every day. Can manage to type a whole sentence with out using spell checker...sometimes. I'm learning how to eat, and have lost....drum roll please!

12 pounds!

Back From LA-LA Land.

Hello, my lovelies! I'm back, sort of.

My head is getting clearer every day

(you should have seen the first few emails I tried to type! Could NOT spell).

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I'm starting to feel better.

Starting to eat.

Well, cream of wheat and yogurt and soup.

I'm taking a day at a time.

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I missed the Great Guinness Book of World Records Skinny Dip

and the following scrumptious shrimp boil. (Mariana outdid herself)

Jim did go to the dip, though, and did enjoy the plate of shrimp Karen brought him later.

Where were you? Did you get to particpate? Let's hear from you.

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The shower house exterior is complete (except for the roof) and they are working inside.

I now know there will be storage in the extra spaces, not an exercise room.

It should be done by September.

It'll take me a while to get back up to speed....Oh, Oh...I do have news.

Remember the Case of the Purloined Blue Ball? It has been anonymously returned. No ransom demands, no culprit observed....although a few volleyballers have quietly offered opinions as to the Id of the kidnapper.

I guess we'll just never know.

Blog Mistress Update

First of all, don't expect pictures or fancy clever words from me-(Jim 38) Just the facts.

Sue had her bypass surgery on Tuesday. The operation took three hours due to the fact that they could not do it Laparoscopy, (although they tried) due to her scar tissue from past operations. However the Dr. indicated that the operation was successful and he also repaired her heiatal hernia.

Today she is somewhat better but still full of tubes. She could talk with me today, although her throat is sore and she is somewhat nauseous.

She is anticipating a stay in the hospital of 4 days.

She is at the McAllen Heart Hospital, room 235.

A Dastardly Deed!

A crime has occurred.

A crime of unimaginable proportions.

The new blue water volleyball has been kidnapped and is being held

against it's will by a person or persons unknown.

We are awaiting ransom instructions.

Poor blue ball.

The old, herniated blue ball is still hanging out with it's

red, white & blue cousins, but the new one has disappeared.

It's only crime being a smidgen harder than it's brethren.

Some players took BB (blue ball) under their wings and embraced it's hard hitting speed...others scoffed at BB and threw it from the pool at every opportunity.
We BB fans are sad.

Come back BB.

We love you.