Ostrich Festival and Everthing Else

Another week has flown by and our time is Arizona is about gone.  Tonight we missed our daughter-in-law's 40th birthday party and we are feeling the pull to head for home. 

Friday Melissa saw her liver specialist at KU Med.  Although the biopsy results weren't totally conclusive, her liver specialist has decided that she does not need surgery at this time.  The docs are going to watch her lesion to be sure it doesn't grow.  Melissa's Facebook page tells the story:
     "Good news - NO SURGERY at this time. The lesion on my liver is the less serious type of lesion. It's called a focal nodular hyperplasia. We'll just watch it for a period of about 2 years to make sure it's not growing. Happy to finally have an answer. Sorry to be sharing this way, just wanted to be able to reach as many people as quickly as possible. Thank you for all the prayers!! They're definitely working."

I had another session with the personal trainer this week.  I told her I would like to concentrate on the area from my ribs to my knees.  Well, let me tell you what, she did exactly what I asked!  Here's my new line-up:  Single leg bridge on ball, hamstring curls on ball, back lunge with round lift return, straight arm crunch with side to side using a four pound ball, triceps push up on side (that is a one armed push up) and side bends with cable using 30 pound weight.  The day after my first session, my butt hurt so bad I could hardly walk!  Two months ago I couldn't have done a tricep push up on one arm for anything.  I was complaining to Angie (my trainer) that I am so non-flexible.  As she was sitting on the floor next to me she laughed and said "look at you girl.  Your arms and legs are twice as long as mine and look how close you are to touching your chest to your knees as compared to how close I am".  I had never realized that I hard farther to stretch because I'm so long all over.  She is good for me for sure.  I am REALLY excited about how my strength is improving AND as of this morning I am 3.6 pounds from my goal.  WAHOO I am finally losing weight.  A couple weeks ago I turned my ankle on a step so I haven't been going to Zumba.  I have also been running on the treadmill for 10 minutes instead of 25 but I'm working back up there.  I have three different workout routines that I rotate through plus I do 40 minutes of aerobic exercise 6 days a week.  I am so thankful for the time to take care of myself.  Retirement is GREAT. 

Bruce and Cathy continue to contend with sore backs.  About the time they think they are getting better, their backs remind them that they were injured.  We are hoping they feel better soon. 

Today we went to the Ostrich Festival in Chandler, AZ.  It was 88 and sunny.  Beautiful day.

We experienced ostrich races for the first time.

Look at that cute little head over the top of the white square.  Note he has a hood over his head so he doesn't get scared. 

Off to the races!

Then we were ready for the camel races.

And they were off!

The last two were nip and tuck heading for the finish line.



 All of that excitement made us hungry.  We declared Jack the "Mikey" and he tried something new.

Don't worry Mr. Ostrich, you are safe from us. 

You can't beat Chick-filA

Happy 60th Anniversary Aunt Delores and Uncle Roger - 3/4/11

If you haven't been on the blog for a while, check the earlier posts.

Today was a beautiful day to drive to Coolidge to visit with Aunt Delores and Uncle Roger because today was their 60th wedding anniversary.  Man, when I was a little girl I wondered if Uncle Roger would make it to their 15th wedding anniversary!  You see, he loved to have a good time and his idea of a good time and Aunt Delores' idea of a good time was not always the same.  She expressed her displeasure with him many a time - like the time he didn't make it home as early as she wanted on Christmas Eve!  Or, maybe one of the times we were all staying at Grandpa and Grandma's farm and they were in town too late.  One thing is for sure, these two have enjoyed 60 years packed full of excitement and adventure.  Aunt Delores and Uncle Roger have always been a huge part of my life and I love these two like another set of parents.  When I was a little girl, we lived just down the street from them and I spent a LOT of time at their house.  We have stayed close my whole life. 

Uncle Roger is famous for writing poetry.  Here's a poem he wrote in my autograph book when I was about 5:

   DeAnn Kay Meester
   Was not born on Easter
   She was born the 8th of September
   A day her mother will always remember.

Anyway, back to today.  When we arrived in Coolidge we spotted Uncle Roger.  He was lined up to start the poker run on his bicycle.

We all loaded up in their van (they didn't want to be seen in the Griswold car) and went to lunch at the Greek restaurant in nearby Florence.  The owner treated the two of them to cheesecake.

Here is the happy couple.  May they enjoy many many more years of health and happiness.

A day to forget - Monday, February 28, 2011

This day could have been skipped and we would have all been happy. 

Melissa has a 2 inch x 1 inch lesion on her liver.  Her doctors have been trying to figure out what it is so they decided she needed a liver biopsy.  They are certain it isn't liver cancer but they want to know exactly what the lesion really is.  Today was the biopsy day.  In the process of doing the biopsy, her lung was torn and a piece of her lung collapsed.  They took her back to the procedure room and inserted a chest tube to re inflate the lung.  She did fine.  The lung re inflated and she was safely tucked into her room at KU Med.  She will get her biopsy results March 11.

After a long day of praying and talking on the telephone, I told Bruce I'd really like to go out to dinner so we got Jack and Cathy and off we went for a nice meal at Soup or Salad.  After dinner we decided to tour the area a little bit because it was such a nice evening.  I was in the back seating behind Bruce (driver) talking to Melissa on the cell phone.  All of a sudden I saw car lights really close to the passenger side of our car.  I screamed, there was a crash and I dropped the cell phone.   When the car came to a rest I asked if everyone was OK because I knew I was fine.  Jack said he was fine.  Bruce said his back hurt and Cathy said her back hurt BAD.  Then I remembered I had been talking to Melissa on the cell phone so I grabbed my phone and called her back.  She was glad to hear from me, as were Alex, Michael and Amy who were all in the hospital room with Melissa.  By now, an off duty police officer who had witnessed the crash was at Bruce's door.  He had called 911 so the fire department and police were on the way.  Wow. Those guys were fast and they were great.  Fortunately the other driver was not injured.  After an hour or so of being evaluated at the crash scene, Bruce drove us all to Banner Gateway Hospital.  Cathy and Bruce needed to have their backs examined.  Bruce was just bruised and Cathy had a broken rib.  We thank God that no one was seriously injured.  Bruce was ticketed for making an unprotected left turn.  Our car was drivable with the passenger doors bungee corded shut.  The other car was demolished and was hauled away on a flat bed.  We were home by 1:00 a.m. and were glad this day had ended. 

Bruce and Buddy took the car to a local GM dealer to see what it would cost to fix it (we dropped our collision insurance).  The estimate was $6300.  Hmmm, it's a 2002 with 135,000 miles so don't think we'll invest that much in it.  The body shop took the car around back and fixed the doors so both of them will stay shut on their own and the front door can even be used.  YAY.  Bruce is going to tape up the back door so it doesn't rain in.  We will tow the car home with us and deal with it later.  The Griswolds have nothing on us! 

Life is an adventure and we love it!

Touring the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum - Sunday, 2/27/11

Bruce and three of his buddies toured the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum today.  As many of you know, Bruce LOVES antique airplanes and was involved with the Antique Airplane Association and served as the president of the Kansas City Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association for many years.  Bruce and the "boys" had a great time. 

Tom Peterson, Bud Wright, Jack Montgomery

P-51

Red Baron Pizza Bi-Plane

That morning we had snow in Arizona and Cambelback Mountain and Red Mountain.  The snow capped mountains are beautiful.  Check out the pictures from the last post and you will see that there was no snow just the day before.  These pictures were taken from the same airport as Saturday.  Wow!

Getting All Caught Up (finally)- Our Week With Amy

It is hard to believe that I haven't been here since February 16.  Yikes.  I don't have any idea what we did between February 16 and February 19 but I'm pretty certain I can remember from then on.  We have had a busy couple of weeks.  Here goes.

February 19 started out to be a cold and blustery day but everything changed about noon when we picked Amy up from Phoenix International Airport, Terminal 4.  We were thrilled that she was going to spend a week with us and we had a busy week planned.

Sunday the three of us went to "the big fleas" aka Mesa Mart.  It is a huge indoor flea market that sells just about anything one could imagine.  After the fleas we hit Arizona Mills which is a large outlet mall about 10 miles from us.  We shopped for hours there and came away with a few bargains.

Monday was the day Amy had been waiting for. 

Yep, my baby girl was about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and she was EXCITED!  Uncle Roger gave her some encouraging words and told her he was proud of her. 

She met Patrick, the professional skydiver and he helped her get suited up and ready to go.

Her spectators waited patiently.

Finally the plane took off.

And here they came

And she LOVED it

And I was so thankful she made it safely

From there we went over to the Indoor Skydive center so Bruce could try his luck at the indoor skydive.

Bruce suited up and was ready for flight

They let the NOG go first and he had a blast

A good day was had by all.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 we explored South Mountain Park which is the largest city park in the country.

Wednesday, February 23 found us downtown Phoenix to explore Body Worlds and the Brain

with lunch at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Dbacks baseball team.

That brown you see is where the dirt is prepared for the sod they were laying that day.  We enjoyed lunch at Fridays which overlooks the field.  Beautiful stadium.

After lunch we went to Anthem Way outlet mall and SHOPPED for hours.  Amy and I scored all kinds of good stuff that day including 50% off of everything at Harry and David.  I've looked all over and can't find one thing at Harry and David that is recommended by Weight Watchers (hahaha).  That didn't stop us though.  We bought so much at Harry and David that we had to make two trips to the car! 

Thursday, February 24 found us hiking at Piestewa Park and exploring Camelback Mountain.

We watched the ground squirrels while we ate our lunch.  Lindi wanted to play but all they wanted to do was torment her and run away. 

Did you know that mistletoe grows in the trees out here, strangles the trees and then the trees die?  Yep.

Friday, Februay 25, 2011

Jack, Cathy, Bruce, Amy and I went to the Fountain Hills Art Fair and walked around enjoying all the beautiful goodies for five hours.

Look way in the back of the picture and you can see the fountain.  It looks like it if filling the clouds.

After the art fair Amy and I went to Scottsdale Fashion Square and shopped for another four hours.  Can  you say tired feet?  When we got home Amy said we had worn her out and she went to bed at 8:00!  It's hard keeping up with retired people.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Bruce's Valentines Day gift from me was a ride on a B-17 which is located at the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum here in Mesa.  Bruce's dad worked on the B-17 in World War 2 so this was really a treat for Bruce.

Our week of fun with Amy finally came to an end and we had to take Amy back to the airport.  We had a GREAT week and we were all tired!