Halloween - bah humbug! BUT we had fun anyhow!

Dave       Ken

Sue P

Sue P      Newell Z

Deb

Toby and Sue

Mayno and Sharon studying also

No cheating you guys

Newell     Donna studying??
Is there a test in 10 mins???

MORE studying - this must be some test

A Little White Lie.....is there a correlation
here someplace???

Bob and Terry

Debbie poked me into an attitude adjustment today.  Wonder how long it will last.  I went visiting late this afternoon and told the manager we sure did miss her and I hoped she would come to the party tonight. (The problem with lying is you have to keep track of who you told what to and you must be cognizant of the time factor.  We have been here since Sept 12th and have attended every HH but one.)  "Oh, I don't know.  I've been so busy with changing the computers over and I haven't been coming to HH since before you got here."  I just looked at her; turned around and walked off.  sigh  Don't lie to me.  You've been to 98% of the HH since we got here the middle of Sept.  Sigh - she just wants to be left alone and obviously wants to leave US alone.  Enough!  We had a nice party - complete with games - and costumes.  

Monticello Box Canyon 2010 style

Clay; Toby and Newell ready to go.

 Rats! this picture does not show just how ORANGE that bush is.  It was so gorgeous; then found out it is a pest bush - Salt Cedar which is too greedy for H2O.

The 4 wheeler group Ed lead us all.  Thanks Ed

Lunch a bunch.

Monticello Box "Highway" is a highway
(look on the map) that crosses the water 100+ times
There is SO much water this year.

And now for the science lesson for the day.  These were the BIGGEST grasshopper? locust?  I have ever seen.  Then one became two.  Mmmm is this one of those she bites the head off he at the finish line?  hmmm

There was a big bunch of us this trip.  There were 4 wheelers from Albuquerque and in town Elephant Butte and Jeepers from Lakeside RVP and Cedar Cove RVP.  

I finally saw some New Mexico deer.
 hmmm they look just like OR and WY deer

It is fall color time and a trip through the Box was in order.  Sharon and Dennis asked if I wanted to ride with them and I did.  I love those folks.  In his youth Dennis spent time in Baker County(Haines) working for the brother of our neighbors so we know folks that know folks.  :)  They have  Kia that has been dubbed Kimchee. Dennis loves to have fun and poke at folks.  Ornery, ornery, ornery.  They have two small dogs so we had a Kimchee full.  What a blast.  The four wheelers went first then the jeepers.  Clay and Sharon followed us then Toby/Sue with Newell/Linda bringing up the rear.  After lunch the 4 wheelers turned around and went back to their vehicles/trailers.  I kept chuckling about what I thought Clay was saying behind us as we kept stopping and taking pictures of anything and eveything.  We went on to Winston where I saw this sign.  A stupendous day.  Thanks Dennis/Sharon for putting up with me.

Spot Shopping

We went to TRC and looked at RV parks today.  sigh.  We found ONE that is ok I guess.  Absolutely nothing special about it; but we could be there and then meet folks away from LS and still enjoy the winter somewhat.  The price is right; it IS neat; it would be TOO quiet (average age of residents I think is85+).   There are only two spots.  One very near the highway and one in the very back.  We would take that one.  The clubhouse is small, compact and neat.  Laundry, showers, full kitchen and puzzles in progress everywhere.  We'll see. We are going up the Monticello Box tomorrow so no decision has been made.  We are jumping from one side of the fence to the other.  I keep thnking that if we (I)  leave things will settle down.
What gripes me is that I have fired people for less than I'm seeing here.  I keep remembering that Pat told us all winter last year how she did NOT want to be manager and wouldn't accept the title.  This year she and Chris are co-managers. That is rather a laugh.  Managers CAN and DO make decisions.  Managers CAN and DO talk with people. MANAGERS address issues and confront problems.  Managers DO NOT send messages through unpaid tenants!! It's funny how smoking doesn't appear to be an issue any more.  Oh well.  We live on wheels - so we'll wheel away if we don't like it.  It is beginning to bother my sleep and I feel myself slipping back into that "I'm never going there again" mode.  sigh, sigh.
Tonight I brought up to Clay that we had looked today and were going to look elsewhere before deciding.  I didn't want to just up and disappear.  That would not be fair.  He wants to go looking also.  Hmmmmm.  OK. Well one decision is probably made.  We are NOT moving in with the old folks.  Ok.  One decision a day is good for me. sigh, sigh, sigh

Las Cruces and Rant Mode

OK - need to do some venting.  We went to Las Cruces today.  Shopped a little; had lunch at the Cattleman (very good) went to Sam's (and gassed up 41 cents cheaper than EB) and came home.  As we visited we realized we were NOT happy at Lakeside and we HATED it.  Here 34 of us decided to come back to LS one more winter.  We all know change is inevitable so want to ride this horse as long as possible.  BUT there are many quirky things adding up to unrest in the ranks.  Ken began to vent at about mile 7 on I-25.  He is torqued about the little dropped hints he has heard various ones (including management/workcampers) about the winter folks being loud (we are), too large a group (we are), rowdy (we are), obnoxious (we.......are to those that accept that) and crude (we can be).  They acted like they wanted us winter folk when we got here but slowly management has backed off.  And he isn't happy with the path down the hill.  He also remarked that is sure is funny that since Bob and then Dave got here and there is actually water going to the shrubs and trees the PINE CONES ARE FINALLY COMING ON!!  About darned time.  Since we are "up top" we see a lot of what is going on at Management Row. Sleeping out on the patio by one in particular.  The air is becoming electric with negativity.  The co-managers won't come to HH any more. They seem to avoid us.  Is that Us as Ken/me or US as the Winter folk???  Hmfph!  At mile 50 I took over the rant WELL!  I thought I was just being overly sensitive. (I DO stand up and shout a lot; but deep inside is a scared little girl cowering in the corner.  Ken and a few select others know this about me.)  :)........ If there is any messages from management to the resident it is done with small 2x3 signs OR messages are sent through the residents.  What kind of garbage is this?    Example:  "Do not encourage L. to come here.  They are divorced now and she shouldn't be coming here".  That's OUR job?  What do you mean she isn't welcome?  Donna/Ed and the Jumpin' Judy's come all the time.  And I fumed we found out about the raised rent when we got here and the jump in the electricity from small 3x5 signs.  Every time I go into the office I feel unwelcome and weird.  The other day I was told that "this summer sure was nice and quiet.  It was just the 8 of us mostly from M-TH.  We did our grill night on Monday's but it is too cumbersome to do now."  And the other day I grabbed a  bottle of water to replace on the coffee machine.  (Management had been walking around the empty bottle a couple of hours.)  Well General Patton came in just then and informed me I had used the "wrong" bottle.  I laughed it off and then told Clay to "mark my words.  There'll be a sign up about this before the sun sets."  Clay likes to inform me it only took 45 minutes.

hmmm!  We live on wheels.  We can move when we want.  If we don't like what is going on - MOVE!  So we decided to go check out other places to stay.  Maybe if WE left things would settle down.  Ken was maybe in favor of going to another town but I wasn't because we had planned this "fun time" all summer.  So we'll remove ourselves.  I REALLY try to only tease and harass those that 1) I'll take it from and 2) that I think won't mind and 3) those that know it is just fun.  Obviously I have failed somewhere along the line.
This whole thing blows ditch water!!  HOWEVER now I know WHY I haven't wanted to "set up house" like I usually do.   Tomorrow we investigate other avenues.

Happy Birthday Debbie - Hello Wyn Ki

More aches and pains not welcome; from now on you have no memorrryy; lousing circulation oooooooo too old to locate missing glasses.  Happy birthday to you and there's no one to sue and we hope you're not bllluuuuue.  

In the middle of the angst Wyn and Ki got here AND it is Debbie's birthday.  So we played cards and had a small party.  Just us chickens.

Sleeping in a sauna??

The patch they put on the roof didn't hold the water out.  Funny thing was it ONLY leaked over Ken's side of the bed.  He was not a happy camper.  I had to figure out something.  So I got two towels and sucked up what I could then I put together two rugs, told him to lay down on them, cover up and he'd sleep "like a baby" in the sauna he'd make when he snuggled down.  Now THAT went over good too.  :)  Well, what was I supposed to do?  Trade sides with him???  I think NOT!  Cory came and fixed it today.  We're in waiting mode again.

Please don't get ON that roof.................mmmm too late.........

I KNEW he couldn't stand it.

 We needed the roof redone.  Cory (Baker's RV Service) put "goop" of some kind on it the first year we were here.  It's needs help again.  Clay recommended (as did Dennis) Eternabond.  after spending a couple of days watching internet videos about Eternabond Ken ordered enough for the entire roof.  (He thought.)  Today when the guys got up there they found 6" strips were needed instead of the 2 and 4" ones we ordered.  So we're on hold.  They DID spend the day scraping the top.  They fixed it so it wouldn't leak and we settled down to wait for UPS and the 6" product.

THIS is how he ended up the day.

Almost creeeeepppyyy!

Medical technology sure has come a long way.  Whit sent us an email today saying she had an ultrasound and the nurse looked at the boys then said "Why your brother looks just like you."  I told Sharon yeah it's her story.  I've never met an ultrasound I could figure out yet............then I opened it up.  Ooooo creepy there he is!  It's October and he isn't coming out until very early February.   Yup!  I'm going to Wyoming AGAIN this winter.........three winters going south; three winters with me going back!  Go figure!

Flu shot day and OMW look at the water run.

My fifth day of "new leaf's" and am still going strong.  I'm going to go with this routine for at least a month to get built up.  Dennis and Sharon (MN) pulled out today leaving "58" for Newell and Linda (ND) who should be here tomorrow.  The Sierra County Fair started today and they were giving flu shots there.  Dad and I got ours.  So this makes Dennis/Marilyn, Maurice/Karen, Ken/me and Sharon which results in Clay not getting the flu cause he doesn't hang around too many other folks.  :)  Love that man.  About 30 min ago Dad went out to eh pkp to get his "major sin" (pepsi) and heard water running/dripping.  Oh my.  New RV'ers came in just before dark.  He had the wrong valve turned on and the water was running, running, running.  I'm a'thinkin he will be putting a different system on tomorrow.  Everybody's gotta learn.
Kim Chee (Dennis MN) just had a stint put in and has to do 9 weeks of Cardio Therapy so they have been relegated at park at Radium Hot Springs.  However he has Tu,Th and Sa/Su free so we'll get to see them.  Loren may "lead" us up to Palomas Gap (he has to go check out the road first).
So here I sit watching "Blue Something with Tom Selleck.  It may become one of my favorites.  Time will tell.  Oh the other thing I did today was take 1 1/2 gallon of pop tabs to the American Legion for the Ronald McDonald House.  Good job people keep staying the course. This week will be a 7 day exercise week as I'm taking Sharon to l. Cruces for doc appointments Monday.  Hmmm wonder where we'll have lunch.  Google here I come. (Clay drives straight down and straight back. still Love that man!!)

Several new "leaf's" -

I have started October off with a new pursuit (it's about time).  Although I have been walking I have not been doing any strengthening or toning so began doing low impact with the Jumping Judys here at the park.  Marilyn talked me into coming the first day.  It wasn't too bad. They meet M-W-F.  Tuesday I found a 3 mile walking DVD that Linda Isbell left here.  However I forgot that Wednesday is "donut" day at the park and exercise doesn't happen until after that.  Well, I can't wait to begin my day at 11 - so came back to the bus and did the low impact thing again. 5 times a week.      Leaf two is H two O - morning, noon and night.  :)
I cannot believe how far medical technology has come - Whitney had another ultra sound today and we can ACTUALLY see the baby's face.  UN - believable!!!  So exciting.  What isn't exciting is me spending another winter going to WY sometime.  I freeze!  BUT the plus side is I get to see the children in person.  Tomorrow is Ethan's third birthday and they are having a party for him Saturday.  Gonna go find an ecard to send him.

The Three F's - Fun, Food and Fancy Music!

Gettin' in line for seconds.

  What a great night we had tonight.  A bluegrass band needed some practice so we had a potluck and listened to them practice.  They are going to Tucson at the end of the month for another contest.  We opened up the doors, spilled out onto both patios and settled down for a good evening.  The weather was perfect.  They removed the dead tree out front and moved in an umbrella table with chairs.  Love it!

Sharon has her tray ready

Frank and Anna's "last supper" (summer hosts)

Bill and Paulette (summer hosts leaving Oct 20ish)

After dinner the music ripped!!

I we detect a little "duel" going on??? hmmmm?