Sunday, March 31, 2013


March 31, 2013

Desert Sky, Apache Junction, AZ 

 
Today is our last full day at this spot and we went into over-drive. 
We gave the inside of the rig a thorough cleaning and started stowing items that we will not need to use again before we leave.  Monte started his outside prep and I went to Walmart to pick up a few grocery items. 
 
 
I’m not sure how close the stores are to where we will be boon docking all next week so I wanted us to have enough food. 
         When I got back from the store, I found Monte hosing off his truck tires because a stray cat had decided to pee on them.  ALL FOUR OF THEM!
I had to make room in the freezer so Monte
 made the supreme sacrifice of finishing the rest of the ice cream.
Since we were going to Renee’s house for one final dinner, we volunteered to pick up our twin granddaughters at the meeting place after spending the weekend with their dad. 
When we got to Renee’s house, the girls discovered that the Easter Bunny hadn’t forgotten about them and left them a big basket full of treats.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
They were thrilled to hunt for the eggs hidden behind bushes and rocks in the yard.

 
 
 
 
  
And inside the trampoline
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
I think the final score on the eggs was Kenney 9 and Daphne 12

 
The Easter Bunny even brought a couple of special treats for Grandpa Monte and Mema.
  
I had made these Easter decorations for the girls a couple of years ago
 and was happy to see that they still had them.
You just have to love a man that is willing to put on bunny ears for the camera!
 
Deb, Renee’s partner, had outdone herself by making a great dinner of homemade baked macaroni and cheese.

 
 
 
 
  
We decided to take one last walk. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
I had said I only wanted to do a short walk because we still had so many things we wanted to get done at home but when we got to the end of the block and the girls asked if we could go one more block I said yes. 
 
 
 
 
 
  
One more block turned out to be a few more blocks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Of course the girls had to taste some of the their bunny treats.
This bunny "poops" out candy! 
Alas, all too soon it was time for the dreaded goodbye hugs and kisses.  Monte and I plan on spending next winter in Florida and may not make it back to this area for a couple of years.  I choked up at the thought of the girls being almost 10 when I see them again.   
I said goodbye to everyone saving Renee for last because I knew it was going to be the hardest goodbye for me. 
 
 
 
 
  
 
One sad goodbye inside wasn't enough.  We had to do it all over again outside.
 
She started to cry and I held it together until I was in the car and we pulled out of the driveway.  I now know what my own mother must have felt like when I left and she didn't know when she was going to see me again. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We took pictures on the way home of our last Apache Junction sunset. 
When we got home, I sat with a glass of wine and “supervised”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
as Monte started empting out the bed of the truck that had become the dumping station for everything we didn’t know where else to put. 
 
 
 
 
 
But now we had to find a new home for these items. 

 
 
 
 
 
 The back seat of Monte's truck is full.
As well as the basement of the 5th wheel.
And also the trunk and back seat of my car.
Where did all the stuff come from?
 
It has been an awesome four months.  We hiked mountains, toured cities and spent a lot of time visiting with family.  BUT, as sad as it is to say goodbye, it is time to move on because we have things to do and places to see.

March 30, 2013

Desert Sky, Apache Junction, AZ
 
Pumpkin is our alarm clock.  We try to remember to put food in the bowls
 before going to bed but if we forget he reminds us by meowing until we get up.
After he got his fill of fresh water and food, Pumpkin was a happy kitty.
Anne patiently waiting for Pumpkin to finish eating before taking her turn at the bowl.
 
We started doing some of the prep for our departure on Monday. 
Monte put the solar panels down and made sure everything was secure on the roof.
 
 
 The day really flew by and before we knew it, it was time to meet up with my daughter Renee and her partner, Deb at the movie theater. 
 
We got there a few minutes before them. 
The movie we saw, THE HOST, written by the same author as the TWILIGHT saga, is a science fiction film set in the future.  The human race has been assimilated by psychic parasites called “Souls”.  The story is based around a main character named Melanie whose body is taken over by a soul called the Wanderer.    Melanie and Wanderer struggle for control of her body.  Loyalties are tested, lessons of faith are learned and the strength of the human spirit comes shining through. 

 
 
 
Renee, Deb and I had read the book and didn’t have high expectations because I have found few movies that are as good as the book it was based on. 

Monte, who hadn’t read the book and had nothing to compare it to, thought it was pretty good.  I was a little disappointed because I thought some key elements had been left out.  But overall it was ok. 
We went to Taco Bell for dinner. 
 Since it was still so early we invited Renee and Deb to come back home with us and we watched another movie I had on DVD. 
The FLIGHT, starring Denzel Washington (at his best in my opinion) is about a pilot who turns his plane upside down after it goes into a steep dive as a result of a faulty pitch control.  Rolling the plane brings the aircraft out of the dive and they crash land in a field.  At first everyone touts the pilot as a hero.  But then it is revealed he was drunk and high while piloting the plane.   The film includes attempts at cover-ups, the lengths alcoholics will go to justify their actions and in the end, redemption.