Thursday, March 31, 2011

April Bike Ride Changes

April 2011 Bicycle Rides
 This is a change from the rides published in the Sandpipers Calendar. These will be our last bike rides. I have also included
a description and registration information
 for a non-Sandpipers ride
sponsored by the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Saturday, April 9.
We have had wonderful participation in the bicycle rides and we'll hope to see all our riders back next season. This year we have missed several of our popular rides due to flood damage along the Rio Grande River and the violence in Mexico.
 We'll try to return to some of these rides next season.

Tom Butler 44
*****


As the weather gets warmer, we’ll conclude the bicycle ride season with a couple of rides closer to home. With the warm weather, drinking water is important as is insect repellant.

April 5 – We journey to the Edinburg City Park and Wetlands World Birding Center. This city park has a paved walking/running/bicycle trail about a half mile per loop. We’ll ride the loop for several circuits giving us several miles of riding before going to the World Birding Center. We’ll explore the grounds of the World Birding Center. In the past, these waters have produced a myriad of waterfowl, a few snakes and other surprises. Once our curiosity is satisfied, we’ll go to Willie B’s in Edinburg for lunch. Bring binoculars and bird book if you have one. There is a small admission charge at the Birding Center, $2.00 per person last year.

April 12 –Our final ride of the 2010-2011 season will be at Bentsen State Park and World Birding Center near Mission . This is always a rich wildlife park. We should expect to see numerous birds and havelina. Other animals will be a bonus. This ride is about 8 miles on paved level roads. We’ll stop for a short hike or two. There is an admission charge for the State Park. Binoculars and a bird guide are handy but not necessary. Bring a camera if you wish. Lunch will be at McAlister’s Deli.

Saturday, April 9, at 8:00 a.m. there is a bike ride sponsored by the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization (HCMPO) in conjunction with the Edinburg Healthy Living Festival and Edinburg Market Days. There are rides of 5, 10 and 20 miles with no registration fee. There is also a 62.2 mile ride with a $20 entry fee. There is also a 5K run and a “Mutt Strut.” Registration for all rides starts at 7:00 a.m. There are free T-shirts while they last for participants. Get registration forms at www.hcmpo.org complete them and return them at the Hidalgo Courthouse Square during the registration period. We should have as many bicyclists as possible for this event to impress the HCMPO. They are the ones who plan recreational bicycle trails, etc.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

France Bekons...

Bonjour....
I have new hair...
new clothes...
I'm learning a few French phrases...Ou sont les toilettes?
and
Je prefere les vins secs sil vous plait.
 I'm off to France for a week,
with daughter Melinda, in the morning.
We are doing the Alsace region of France. 
 That's right up near the German & Swiss border.
Lots of dry white wine and foie gras and snails....yummmm!
What? You don't like snails?
  Just think of them as vehicles
 to get garlic butter into your mouth.
Jim is staying here.
Don't feel bad for him...he has new hair too!

Au revoir!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Beergarden Time!

Are you ready for some schnitzel?
How about spatzel or sauerkraut?
With BEER!
Did somebody say German beer?
****
Get in touch with Annie #28,
 by Thursday evening so she can make reservations
 for Saturday, April 2.
Meet at the restaurant at 5 o'clock, or carpool with friends.



April...Ahhhh, Spring!

Do we even have Spring in So. Texas?
So it's not snowing...where are the daffodils?
Hiding under the snow in the NORTH!
**
April is right around the corner here at Sandpipers.
 What's in store?
April 1st is the last FunBuzz of the season. 
Yes, there are a few items in the April calender to discuss.
Like the Book Club, The Calling All Gals Luncheon...
more info coming on that.
The last Junque & Java on April 2nd.
Also on the 2nd is:

**
The last Karaoke is on April 9th..
Check the calender for the last couple of Grill Night Tuesdays.
Then, at the end of April is Karen's Easter dinner on the 24th.
More info coming on that too.
**

Friday, March 25, 2011

Message From the VolleyBall Tzar!

With the spate of warmish weather we are having we are considering night volleyball on Monday, March 28 at 6:30.
Show up!

Thanks

Ian

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Chicken Ranch at the Dance!

The gang from Miss Mona’s
visited the No Theme Dance
 to support Harry and his wonderful music.

From left to right
Billy Bob, Dolce Mae, Joe Bob, Modene,
 Miss Mona Stangley and Sheriff Ed Earl

For those not familiar with Miss Mona’s,
 it was also known as the Chicken Ranch.

A fun time was had by all.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Heading Home Soon?


Here is a really neat site for checking gas prices,
 diesel prices, too. 
Complete with maps!
How cool to see where your money goes!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

An Olympic Note.

Here is a final note from your Olympic Director...

If you are planning on returning your medals
 for use at next years event,
 please try to have them in the box in the pavilion
 by April's fun buzz.
I am anxious to get them stowed away for next year.
 
Sharon

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Canada Got Cooked!

Well, not truly cooked...
they did a lot better this year. 
 Next year we (The American Team)
may have to serve them some apple pie.
  This time they owe us some Poutine.
What?
 Canada, you didn't know?
Oh yes, you have to make the American teams Poutine...
or another national dish.
I nominate Poutine 'cause I like it.

Poutine is a dish consisting of French fries
 topped with fresh cheese curds,
covered with brown gravy or sauce
and sometimes additional ingredients.
Looking forward to it!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Paper Directory is Ready!

Attention Leprechauns!
Phaleta says the paper directory is ready to be picked up
at her place #406.
And it's a bargain this year...$1! 
If you already paid you may be getting a refund. 
Check with her...and spread the word, especially to non-computer savvy peeps who are in the directory.
Remember...you have to be in it to get it.
Gracias.


Monday, March 14, 2011

Adopt-A-Family Soup Night

Soup Night for Adopt a Family

Tuesday, March 15th. 2011

5:30p.m. at Flip Flopz

Soups for your dining pleasure:

Mexican Minestrone

Vegetable Beef

Rolls and Crackers

Coconut Cupcakes

Chocolate Cake

BYOB

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

Winding Down...

 There will be no more women's chorus practice this season.
Thanks,
Laura

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Bowling for Seafood!

Bowling For Seafood!
When:
Monday, March 21
4 PM

Where:
Don & Vanessa's, #308

What:
Bowling for Seafood...huh?

What to Bring:
Your drink
Your chair
A dish to share

What NOT to do:
Don't park your cart/bike on the street...mooch on somebodies site.
Don't park in front of the office either...that's the bowling alley.

In Alaska Bears go fishing for salmon...
At Sandpipers bares go bowling for salmon.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Magazines


Thanks to all who have contributed magazines to the school
where Vicki B and Sandy J. volunteer.

Not only the kids,

 but the teachers, too,

love the magazines.

 They are much needed and appreciated.
It is a good idea to completely remove mailing labels before recycling magazines.

Thanks,

Vicki & Sandy

Monday, March 7, 2011

Mardi Gras Masks.

Mardi Gras!
Parades, doubloons, floats, and
MASKS!

UTPA is sponsoring a Mask workshop on Tuesday, March 8,
from 9 am til 3 pm, at the Student Union Commons.
You will create, design and decorate your own mask
as a means of expressing and communicating
your feelings of grief, hope and healing.

More info?
Call 956-665-2574

St. Patrick's Day Experience!


Hi Everyone,
 
Yes we have dinner tickets.
 Come to lot 403... mornings are best. 
 The sale ends next Tuesday, March 15th.
 So hurry on over and get a 5PM seating or 6Pm seating
 for another delicious dinner by Don and Vannessa.
 
Karen and Bill Hazlett

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Pareos and Scarves Have You Tied Up in Knots?

Anita, that wizard with artfully draping and knotting pareos and scarves, is gonna give a little class on
 Thursday, March 10, in the pavilion, at 1:30.
Book club should be just about over by then and we'll be sufficiently liquored up to make the class not only an inspiration and informative, but highly amusing as well.
Bring your pareo and let's learn a thing or two.....
*
Everyone has seen those little charts that accompany
pareos and sarongs. 
You know the ones.
Stick figure thin women with long flowing hair and no hips?
Pareos draped seductively?
Scarves transformed into high fashion?
Yeah!  That's the one.
I never look like the illustration.
I'm sure it's because my knots aren't tied right.
Anita...help me!

2013 Nude Cruise

Oh Boy!
Are we gonna have FUN!
The Nude Cruise for 2013
has at least 6 or 7 couples from Sandpipers signed up already.
Join us!!!

the following links provide a lot of info.......

**
Thanks to Bill & Nancy for getting us organized and "On Board".

feel free to contact them for any questions...

Bill & Nancy Gifford

wgiff@dslextreme.com

949-375-6868




Saturday, March 5, 2011

Olympic Winners!

A big "Sandpiper's Thank You" from us to everyone who helped make the closing ceremony and the pub night such a great success.

There is a box in the Pavilon for anyone who wants to recycle their medals for next year.
This is strictly voluntary.
Anyone who wants to hang onto their medal
is more than welcome to do so.

Sharon & Mike
****

The games are declared closed but you can relive your finest moments....
I did a cut and paste from Director Sharon's list,
and the result is a bit confusing.
  In the past I would retype or manipulate the lists
to make it more readable....
but Peeps, the humanity, I beg you! 
300 plus medals.  That's a lot of typing!
So...to make sense of it remember...
the list is vertical. 
Gold, Silver, Bronze read DOWN, not across.
************************
****************
Co-ed Water Volleyball

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Annie 28 Bob 514 Barb 205

Daniel 421 Mike 25 Guido 202

Garland 108 Joan 205 Irwin 332

Hilton 203 Rich 431 Marianna OP

Joey 50 Sandra 401 Mike 14

Jon 221 Sue P 37 Steve 42

Theresa 118 Tommy T 227 Terri 415

 

Men’s Longest Golf Wiffle Ball Drive

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Mike 14 Cris 323 Richie 426 Non-G

Bob 514 Mike 25 Jim 38 Golfers

 

Ladies Longest Golf Wiffle Ball Drive
 
GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Sherry 40 Catherine 410 Sharon 25 Non-G

Linda 310 Vicki 22 Joey 50 Golfers

Men’s Shark & Friends Race

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bob 310 Frank 401 Daniel 421

 

Ladies Shark & Friends Race

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Joey 50 Johanne 421 Donna 204

Wii Bowling
GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Louie 605 Bill 430 Tom 44

Alma 605 Ellen 412 Cindy 411

Golf

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bill 430 Jack 310 Tom 627

John A Cindy 417 Louise 44

Linda 310 Mike 25 Dave 48

Daniel 421 Joe 424 Joey 50

Texas 42
GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Jim 225 Charlie Pam 122

Mexican Train Dominoes

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Cher Barb 212 Richie 226

Washer Toss

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Francine 8 Mike 14 Sue 226

Marianna OOP Joanne 515 Richie 226

Wa-Shoes
GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Donna 204 Bev 514 Sue 226

Marianna OOP Bob 514 Richie 226

 

2 on 2 Mixed Water Volleyball Competition

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Joan 205 Dorothee 506 Margo 332

Barry 47 Ken 316 Larry 306



Shang Hi cards



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Francine 8 Joan 205 Laura 430



The Charmin Plunge



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

George 48 Alma 605 Doc

Pauline 48 Louie 605 J



Ladies Water Volleyball



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Sue P 37 Annie 28 Patty 434

Anita 213 Alma 605 Ann OOP

Francine 8 Carol 47 Barb 205

Joey 50 Frankie 104 Donna 204

Marianna OOP Karen 403 Margo 328

Sharon 25 Terry 227 Sherry 40

Theresa 118 Catherine 410 Joy 424



Darts



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Sue 226 Vicki 22 Alma 605

Louie 605 Ken 316 Cris 312



Golf Cart Gymkhana



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Richie 226 Bob 417 Dakota Bill 430

Joan 205 Cindy 417 Don 308



Mexican Bingo



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Francine 8 Barb 212 Joann 515



Cribbage



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Margo 328 Chuck 218 Raymond 8



Tennis



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Joan 205 Francine 8 Frankie 104



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Daniel 421 Tracy 507 Richie 226



Men’s Calf Roping



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bob 410 Bob 514 Clint 212



Ladies Calf Roping



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Catherine 410 Joey 50 Donna 204



Men’s Water Volleyball

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Doc 210 Garland 108 Bill 28

Bill 220 Bob 514 Bob 22

Clint 221 John 5 Bob 417

Hilton 203 Lou 605 Duane 201

Ken 316 Rich 431 Frank 401

Mike 14 Rick 207 Nick 9

Stan 328 Tom 412 Pierre 422



Petanque Skills



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bob 514 Eckerhard 506 Ron 205



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Sue 226 Dorothee 506 Joan 205



Sandpipers Skiing



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Pam 515 Cindy 417 Alma 605



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Daniel 421 Roy 24 Doc 212



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Doc 212 Roy 24 Daniel 421

Anita 213 Pam 515 Johanne 421

Frankie 104 Michele515 Sue 226



Gringo Bingo



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Chris 7 Barb 205 Lois 409



Bean Bag Toss



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Michele 515 Donna 202 Margaret 332



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Dick 116 Gary Apts Guido 201



Ladies Ping Pong



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Joan 205 Frankie 104 Sue 226

Blackjack


GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Stan 332 Joan 205 Tom 512

 

Mini Ten competition

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Ann OOP Marijanne 203 Joey 50


GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Jon 221 Duane 201 John 5



Skip Bo Card Game



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Ken 409 Bob 407 Roycie 407

Euchre

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bob 417 Jim 215

Pam 122

Petanque Team competition



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Dorothee 506 David 120 Cris 312

Francine 8 Donna 306 Bill 414

Irwin 332 Tom 512 Joe 424

Jacquie Roycie 407 Larry 306



Ping Pong Men’s Intermediate and Advance



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Lou 605 Bill 430 Guido 202



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Jon 221 Jerry (Apts) Duane 201



Poker



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Ken 409 Linda 33 Harry 33

Men’s Bowling 9 pin-no-tap



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Bill 430 Bob 22 John A 534 Scratch

Tom 44 Bob 122 Bill 28 Hdcp



Ladies Bowling 9 pin-no-tap

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Betty 512 Annie 28 Adele 31 Scratch

Cindy 411 Pam 122 Sharon 419 Hdcp


Shuffleboard



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Cindy & Larry 411 Joy & Joe 424 Doc & J 210



Canasta



GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Laura 430 Francine 8 Mary 120

Louise 44 Linda 33 Diane 422



Joker


GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Terry 415 Bob 122 Cindy 411

Roy 24 Linda 310 Bill 403

Mel 415 Jacquie 49 Gary 15


Scrabble

 

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Donna 221 Vicki 22 Rita 320


Air Hockey

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Larry 306 Bob 407 Steve

Dorothee 506 Cindy 417 Betty 512
















































































































































































































































































































































Friday, March 4, 2011

Bike Ride Leaders.

Yvon and Lucie have volunteered to lead the bicycle ride
to Estero Llano Grande on March 22.
********
March 22 – Estero Llano Grande – This World Birding Center lies along and east of FM 1015 or International Boulevard. This is the road to Progresso. This ride is a repeat from the fall rides. Our last visit here was most productive in sighting a variety of song birds and aquatic waterfowl. We also saw several alligators and toured a RV park which is now abandoned following its integration into the park. The total ride length is about 5 miles on gravel trails and boardwalks. Lunch will be at Fat Daddy’s BBQ which is just north of the park on FM 1015. Bring a camera, binoculars, bird guide, insect repellant and water for this ride. There is a $5 per person fee for admission. Tom and Louise Butler will be out of the park for this ride so leaders will have to rise from the group or the group may proceed to this ride without a leader!
*****
See the other bike rides scheduled on the Feb. 23 blog.

Fat Tuesday is Coming!

Get ready!
It's TIME TO PARTY! (as if we need an excuse!)
Great Mardi Gras food..
can you say gumbo?
Bring something to add to the party if you'd like...
we'll eat anything!
****
Plus enough wine & beer to float your boat!
And fortune tellers...
and belly dancers...
and LIVE JAZZ!
****
Drape yourselves with beads,
or get creative with costumes.
Maybe just a little body paint?
****
Laissez les bon temps rouler, cher!
***
Hey, little quiz...
do you know what the purple, green and gold stand for?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Closing Ceremony Reminder


Olympic Closing Ceremony

Sat, March 5
4:00 PM
 
Followed by a
Pub Night!

Our Olympic Closing Ceremony and party will be held this Saturday beginning at 4:00 pm when our Olympic Directors will present their closing comments and officially close this year's Nude Olympics.
*
Then we will have a short entertainment celebration starring our own "Sandpiper's Cindy" and Raymond.
*
At 5 pm the Olympic Pub will open with wine and beer and the Olympic Pub Grill will open in Flip Flopz
serving a variety of food to go with your liquid libations.

The food sounds glorious!  True pub food!
And at great prices...
$2 for a brat or pulled pork sandwich, $4 for a sandwich plate which includes Don & Vanessa famous macaroni salad.
You like wings? Both spicy and not-so-much will be offered, as well as Chicken Quesadillas and Mozzarella stix.  Yumm!

So there is no need for you to go home to eat - just walk over and get some pub food to go with your Pub Night experience.

No need to sign up or buy tickets - cash will be gladly accepted by Don and Vanessa at the Pub Grill.

More Books for the Book Club.

Louise has more books for us "smart, beautiful, literate women--
and we can cook, too!" to consider! 
 I like her style!
Check the previous book club post from 2/28 to see more of the list.
*****
Sarah’s Key

By Tatiana de Rosnay

In parallel narratives, the author tells the story of Sarah, a 10-year-old Jewish girl in the Vel' d'Hiv' - the roundup of Jews by French police in July 1942. Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist who has made Paris her home, discovers that the French are still in denial about the incident. Julia becomes obsessed with the thousands of children who died and, in particular, with the one child who has a connection to her husband's family. The capacity of the human mind for denying painful truths is expertly conveyed in both storylines.

The Room: A Novel

By Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue’s novel, “Room,” is built on two intense constraints: the limited point of view of the narrator, a 5-year-old boy named Jack; and the confines of Jack’s physical world, an 11-by-11-foot room where he lives with his mother. The story reveals that Room is actually a prison, with a villain holding the key, and that Ma (as Jack calls his mother) is being kept against her will.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

By Beth Hoffman

For years, twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille. The tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town, Camille was a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when she is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt Tootie in her vintage Packard convertible. It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others.

 

The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel

By Lisa Gardner

It was a case guaranteed to spark a media feeding frenzy - a young mother, blonde and pretty, disappears without trace from her South Boston home, leaving behind her four-year-old daughter as the only witness, and her handsome, secretive husband as the prime suspect.

But from the moment Detective Sergeant D. D. Warren arrives at the Joneses' snug little bungalow, she senses something off about the picture of wholesome normality the couple worked so hard to create. But just under the surface things grow murkier. With the clock ticking on the life of a missing woman and the media firestorm building, Jason Jones seems more intent on destroying evidence and isolating his daughter than on searching for his "beloved" wife.