Winter in Yuma Arizona - Part 3

Hi there, welcome back. Our last chapter concluded on Sunday, February 23^rd, while we were in the middle of our three month stay in Yuma, Arizona. Monday was pretty much a stay at home day. We got some chores done but mostly relaxed.

Tuesday, February 25^th, we did our laundry here at the RV park in the morning. About 1:00 Jackie and I went out for a late lunch at one of the local diners, The Eatery. We had a great lunch and then went back to the coach. We watched a DVD of the movie Joker, which was up for a lot of academy awards. Joaquin Phoenix won for best actor and it won for best musical score as well. Jackie's brother had told us he thought the movie was among the best he had ever seen. I was a bit underwhelmed by the movie, overall but had to admit that Phoenix did an outstanding job portraying a mentally ill person spiraling out of control. Of course, in my opinion Joaquin Phoenix is crazy as a shit house owl in real life, so it was the perfect role for him. We also did a few chores, then had happy hour with Peggy on the patio. About 6:00 we left with Peggy and drove over to the Palms RV Resort to see a comedy show. The Palms is a very upscale resort which actually sells the lots rather than just rents or leases. There are a lot of very nice vacation homes on the property. We had stayed at the Palms about four years ago when we got a two for one coupon at a rally, so instead of a thousand dollars a month we only paid $500, which was the average rate for most of the Yuma RV parks. It

was enjoyable and we were there with four other couples, but it is too expensive for our blood without the discounts. During the season the Palms has a “Concert Series” which is mostly good tribute shows for various entertainers and bands, but when we got here to Yuma we saw that tonight they had a comedy show with Mark Cordes. Mark, who also bills his show as “The Spouse Whisperer,” is very funny. We have seen him twice before, five years ago at a Monaco International Rally in Pahrump, and then last year at the Monaco International Rally in Las Vegas. Before the show I had a chance to talk to him and he remembered me from Vegas since I was the sound guy for that rally and he also remembered being in Pahrump with the group. The three of us had a great time and he put on a good show tonight again. After the show we went back to the coach, had a little TV time and then went to bed.

Wednesday, February 26^th, the three of us left the park about 11:00 and drove to our favorite taco stand in the Foothills for lunch. We had invited Dick and Millie Duffin as well and the five of us had a nice lunch. After lunch the three went and did some errands and some geocaching. We stopped first at the Yuma Elks Lodge so Peggy could get a widows card for the Elks. Vernon was the member and his home lodge was Deadwood, South Dakota. For the years that he was a member they had nothing but trouble with the lodge. Being so far away they couldn't go to the lodge in person and the secretary of the lodge always seemed to be non-cooperative. Peggy found the same thing when she contacted the lodge to get a widows card, which doesn't cost anything but allows her access to any Elks lodge facility. This is important if you want to RV and use Elks Lodge facilities. The Deadwood secretary didn't want to do it, even though Vernon was still a paid up member for the current Elk year, which runs from April 1^st. He basically told her to join another lodge. Peggy called the Yuma Lodge and talked to the secretary who told her that she would handle everything for her if she just came in, so we did. Within a half hour she had a widows card from Yuma and was all set up for the next year. After stopping at the Elks we did some geocaching again, getting 13 new finds in a couple of hours. This gives us 24 finds for the week, yea! We are working towards the 10,000 finds milestone and hope to do it this year. After caching we stopped at the grocery store for a few things, then headed back home. We had cocktails with Peggy and Belle and then Peggy made some shrimp and scallops pasta. We had a great dinner and after about 8:00 went back to our coach, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Thursday, February 27^th, we left the RV park a little after 9:00 and the three of us headed for Algodones, Mexico again. The primary reason for going down there today was I wanted to go see the only audiologist in town about hearing aides. They advertise, like the dental and optical places, that they are half the price of the U.S. hearing aide places. The girls just wanted to do some shopping and get haircuts. The audiologist couldn't get me in until noon or later, so I made an early appointment for next Wednesday. I tracked down the girls at the salon and when they were done they were pretty happy with their haircuts. Only $6 plus tip for a cut, not bad. We did a little shopping then stopped for lunch. We had a great lunch and finally got back into line to go back around 12:30. We missed the window for no one in line, but the line was still pretty short and it only took a half hour to get back across the border. We headed back to the RV park and spent the rest of the day around the coach. In the afternoon we watched a DVD copy of the movie Parasite, which was the movie which won the Oscar this year for Best Picture. It was a South Korean movie in the original language with subtitles. Other than the fact that the subtitles could be a little hard to see sometimes on the small TV screen it was an interesting and enjoyable movie. I am not sure that had it not been a foreign film about social classes that it was academy award material, but it was a good watch. We had no idea what to expect, but the term Parasite was because the plot involved a poor family, in which the mother, father and both adult children were out of work, scams a rich but basically stupid (they used the term simple) couple and their two children. All four of them scammed their way into the families employ based on one recommendation of a friend of the son's. The son was the tutor, the daughter was an art consultant, the mother the housekeeper and the father the driver. They all got their jobs by plotting to get the previous workers fired. The rich family was no aware that they were all one family. It was funny, violent at times, and tragic, but a good movie. We had cocktails with Peggy and Belle, then spent the rest of the evening with the TV.

Friday, February 28^th, happy birthday to my brother Russ. Today was a stay at home day. We got a few chores done, but mostly just relaxed around the house. About 5:00 the Shade Pro guy came to do a couple of repairs to ours and Peggy's shades. We had one that had quit working and Peggy had a couple. We had happy hour and then did some fish on the BBQ for dinner. After Peggy went home we watched some TV and went to bed. Saturday was leap day. Jackie and Peggy left around 11:30 and went to their sushi place for lunch and then some shopping. I stayed home because I was booked to do karaoke again at the park next door. At 2:00 I went over there and got everything set up. We started singing at 3:00 today instead of 4:00 like the last time. We again had about ten singers at the height of the three hours. Everyone seemed to have a good time and we shut down the show at 6:00. It took me a half hour to tear down and pack up the stuff, then back to the coach for cocktails. After happy hour we went to Peggy's and she served her penne pasta dish that we love. We had a great dinner, then went back to our place and watched TV until bedtime.

Sunday, March 1^st, welcome to Spring, at least in terms of the calendar. We went out with Peggy about 1:00 and drove to the Arizona Market Place to wander around a bit and pick up a few things. It took a couple hours to walk it, then we headed back to the coach. We had cocktails at 5:00, then later did some steaks on the BBQ. After Peggy went home we watched a little TV and went to bed. Monday was mostly a stay at home day. We did go out after lunch to do a Walmart run, but then went back to the coach and relaxed. Jackie made chili relleno casserole for dinner, with beans and rice. We had a great meal, then after Peggy went home we watched some TV.

Tuesday we left the coach about 11:30 and drove to a new Thai restaurant near Walmart, not too far from the RV park. Up until this year this location in a strip mall had been a laundromat, however this season a Thai restaurant went in. It had been featured in the newspaper a couple days ago, so we thought we would give it a try. It had a fairly extensive menu, but no liquor license, so no beer. Service was terrible. It took ten minutes after we were seated to get menus, then another ten or fifteen before anyone came to take the order. We all ordered off the main dinner menu, not the lunch menu, but we got what I would consider to be luncheon size portions. Dinner choices are $12.95 vs $9.95 for lunch, but the portions were very small. The food was OK, but not spicy at all despite all of asking for at least medium spice. Our experience was such that we will not be back and unless things change I don't think this place will be here in another year or two. After lunch we drove into town to Sam's Club to do some shopping, then went back to the coach and spent the rest of the day and evening in the coach.

Wednesday, March 4^th, Jackie and I were up early and on our way to Mexico by 9:00. I had an appointment at the audiologist down there to get my hearing tested and probably buy some hearing aides. This is an actual trained audiologist that sells American made (Siemens) hearing aides at half the U.S. price. As expected, the test showed that the high frequency end of my hearing in both ears was very degraded. My low frequencies are fine. I ended up ordering two behind the ear 24 channel aides for $1,600 total. They will be in next week, so I will report on how they work out. Jackie also got her hearing checked and found she was OK for the most part, just slightly degraded across the all the frequencies and not a candidate for hearing aides right now. After the tests we had lunch at one of our places then headed back across the border. The line was only about a half hour, so we were back at the coach by 1:00. We then went to Fry's for a few supplies on “Senior Day” when all seniors get a 10 percent discount. After shopping we went back to the coach and stayed in the rest of the day. We had cocktails with Peggy and Belle, then had leftovers for dinner and watched TV until bedtime.

Thursday, March 5^th, we initially thought we were going to have to stay at home today because today was propane delivery day for the month and we needed some before we left in two weeks for Tucson. However, the guy showed up early this time, so after lunch Jackie and I were able to go out and do some geocaching. We were able to get another dozen finds with no DNFs. Yea! After caching we went back to the coach and did a few chores. We had cocktails at 5:00 with Peggy, then about 6:00 the three of us left and went back to Icon's, the local restaurant we had tried on our anniversary. That time they were out of prime rib. Jackie called ahead today to be sure they had it. All three of us had the prime rib and it was very good. However, the service at the place is still spotty and the music was way too loud for the size of the restaurant. Jackie and Peggy seemed to like the place, but it would not be a fave for me in the future. After dinner we went home and watched some TV until bedtime.

Friday, March 6^th, we pretty much stayed at home. Peggy and Jackie were a little under the weather with stomach distress. Since I had a little too, although less then them, we could only assume that it was something we ate last night. I got a few chores done during the day. Around 3:00 I left and drove over to Elks Lodge in Yuma to set up to watch the Friday night cruise for the annual Midnight at the Oasis car show. The actual show is Saturday and Sunday, but traditionally on Friday night most of the cars do a five mile parade route around suburban Yuma. For the last five years or so we have been setting up in the parking lot of the Elks Lodge, which is right on the parade route, near the end. It has

convenient parking, rest rooms and refreshments nearby and some shade. Peggy and Jackie didn't want to go, but I did meet Clark and Judi there and also some other friends of ours, Sally and Jim Calzada, who we met through Ray and Suzi Babcock. We sat and talked for the first hour before the parade started. It was really great weather and, as usual, the cars were wonderful to look at and listen to. After the cruise I drove back home, stopping at KFC for some dinner. The three of us had dinner, then after Peggy left we watched some TV. Saturday was a stay around the RV park day. Jackie and Peggy went down to the clubhouse at our park at noon for a ladies luncheon and fashion show. It lasted a little over ninety minutes and they seemed to enjoy it. While they were gone I gathered up all the karaoke gear and loaded the car. About 2:00 I went down to the clubhouse at the neighboring park and set up for my last karaoke gig there for this year. We started about 3:00 and although the group was smaller than the last couple of times, they were enthusiastic and ready to have fun. We had about seven regular singers in the rotation along with a number of group songs and duets. Our friends Dick and Millie and Clark and Judi also came to watch. We went on until 6:00 and everyone seemed very pleased with the party. I packed up the gear and by 6:30 was having a cocktail. While we were at karaoke Peggy cooked up some pasta and chicken parm which we had for dinner. We talked for a while, then went back to our coach and watched TV until bedtime.

Sunday, March 8^th, was another stay at home day. We were having a group over this afternoon for a cookout, so we spent some time during the day doing house cleaning and other chores. At around 4:30 Dick and Millie and Clark and Judi came over and we had cocktails and played a few games of Left, Right, Center a dice game we like that is played for quarters. Of the three games Jackie won one and I won one. Clark won the third. We sat and talked for a while, then I cooked burgers for everyone on the grill and we had a nice dinner. Judi brought potato salad and Millie brought desert and the we and Peggy provided everything else. We had a really nice dinner, cleaned up and then sat and talked until about 8:30 when everyone went home. We went in and watched TV until bedtime. Monday we went out after lunch to do a Walmart run, then came back and stayed around the coach all day. We had planned to go out to the desert this evening for the monthly Yuma Howl at the Moon gathering. Kelly Hughes, a local country entertainer I have mentioned before started this several years ago and it has become quite the event in Yuma during the tourist season. Think of it as a rave for seniors. Music, dancing, booze and partying until the moon comes up. Then everyone howls, heads to their cars and go home by 7:00. We haven't been this trip, but it is going to rain tonight and the sky is completely clouded up and we wouldn't be able to see the moon come up anyway. Instead Jackie made an oriental chicken casserole and the three of us had a nice dinner. After Peggy left we watched a little TV and went to bed.

Tuesday, March 10^th, we woke up to a wet world. As predicted, the rain came in yesterday afternoon and it rained all day. We didn't go anywhere, but did a few chores done. I had one more karaoke gig to do this afternoon here at our own RV park. It was scheduled by the activities director before the beginning of the month, but I didn't know that “karaoke” on the schedule for the park meant me until two days ago when the activities person got around to asking me. The karaoke was scheduled for a brief period, an hour or so, after a pot luck dinner. It was raining cats and dogs at 5:30 when the pot luck began, but there were a couple dozen people there and the food was OK. I started karaoke around 6:00 and wasn't expecting much, and I wasn't disappointed. Except for the activities director, who gamely got up and did two songs, I had no other takers and people were leaving as soon as the food was done. The differences between the people in our park and the ones in the one next door are great. This park has a bunch of old people who act old. Oh well, our plan is to be in the park next door next year. About 7:00 I tore down and packed up and we went back to the coach. We watched TV the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, March 11^th, we left the park about 9:30 and drove to Algodones, Mexico again. The weather called for rain, but it was only cloudy. Jackie went into her new favorite hair salon to get her hair cut, colored and streaked. I was down here to pick up my new hearing aides, but didn't have an appointment until noon. I killed some time walking around and managed to walk a few blocks into town to get a geocache. About 12:30 my hearing aides came into the doctor's office and the audiologist took me in and fitted them to me and gave me some lessons on their use. We were done around 1:00 and went across the street and had some lunch. Although it was almost 2:00 before we got into line to go back to the U.S., the line moved fast and it was less than a half hour and we were in the car heading back to the RV park. After we got home we relaxed for a while, did a few chores, and watched TV. We had cocktails with Peggy and then the three of us went to Day Breakers for dinner. After dinner we went home, watched TV and went to bed.

Thursday, March 12^th, we had another bout of rain go through and it was pretty ugly weather wise. I left the coach about 8:00 and drove to the Ford dealer in town to get the car serviced. Other than the routine stuff the only thing they had to fix was one of the fog lights was not coming on. They did the service under the contract we have and the light was fixed under warranty. It only took about 90 minutes to get the car done and I was home by 10:30. We spent the day at home watching the rain come and go. We had cocktails with Peggy and some friends of hers who have a winter house here in Yuma. Peggy and Vernon met Barb and Don a few years back on an RV caravan on the East coast and they have remained good friends. Peggy served a nice lasagna with all the fixings for the five of us. We ate and visited until about 8:00 when we went home, watched a little TV and went to bed.

Friday, March 13^th, my son Roy Jr.'s birthday. This turned out to be a very interesting day. Around 11:30 we left with Peggy and drove to the taco stand for lunch. We had a nice lunch and afterwards went back to the RV park and stayed in for the rest of the day. We caught the tail end of the President's news conference where he declared a National State of Emergency due to the Corona Virus. We had read in the morning paper that the military was canceling all events, including the air show here in Yuma. Within two hours we were notified that FMCA has canceled the Tucson International Convention we were scheduled to go to next week. Shortly after that we were told that the Monaco International Rally in Benson, near Tucson, was also canceled. This was a pre-rally we were going to before Tucson. Fortunately for us, we already had reservations here in Yuma through the middle of April, so it will really be saving us money, although we are disappointed the rallies were canceled. Peggy will have to change her plans for the end of March and the beginning of April. What a bummer of a day and all because of media driven panic over a flu virus. We had cocktails with Peggy and Belle, then did some pork chops on the BBQ for dinner. After dinner we watched some TV then went to bed. Saturday was a stay at home day for me. I had plans to go to the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma's air show today with Clark McKay, however due to the “ongoing COVID19 pandemic” the show was canceled on Thursday. The El Centro Naval Air Station show in California, also today, was also canceled. Jackie, Peggy and Judi still went to Julianne's, a local fine dining restaurant for a girl's lunch. I stayed home and did office work and computer backups. We had cocktails at 5:00, but no dinner since everyone was still full from lunch. We watched some TV and went to bed.

Sunday, March 16^th, we had a stay at home day, as I imagine most of days for the next couple weeks will be. I started the morning by starting a batch of chili colorado for dinner. The rest of the day was spent relaxing. In the afternoon we spent almost three hours watching most of the movie The Irishman. This is a Martin Scorsese mob film and is quite similar in substance to his other mob films, with a lot of the same main cast. DeNiro, Pesci and Pacino in the lead roles. In this case DeNiro plays Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran a mobster who ended up working with and for Jimmy Hoffa. It is a historical type film set as Sheeran telling his life story as a hit man, including, according the movie at least, that he is the one who killed Hoffa, although others took care of the body disposal. Most of the plot is based on rumor and supposition, but it was still an excellent film. We stopped with 45 minutes to go because we were tired of sitting. The movie is three and a half hours, which is a little long for a movie. We had cocktails and then a nice dinner with the chili colorado and fixings. After Peggy went home we watched some TV and went to bed.

It is now another three weeks in Yuma behind us. As I talked about early in this episode, this is where I should be talking about traveling to the Tucson area for our rallies with Monaco and then FMCA. However that is all off and we are now sitting here listening to constant news about the COVID19 pandemic and being told to stay home and hunker down. I can be lazy with the best of them, but two or three weeks of “hunkering” is going to get tiresome. Until next time, stay safe, stay clean and see ya soon.