Fredricksburg and Stonewall, TX

This is where Lyndon B Johnson is buried.

His grave stone is the tall one. You can't go

into the cemetery.

This is the house (on the ranch) that he

was born in. The house itself was re-built in

1964...I think.

This is a little white house right by the main

house that the secret service stayed in. They

left this residency the day after Lady Bird died.

The sidewalk going up to the main house that

LBJ signed in 1952.
This is the front of his house.

Notice the Live Oak in the front yard. That tree

is about 425 years old.

These are the two Lincoln Towncars

that he used on the ranch.

Today we drove into Fredricksburg, TX because we were told that they had some cute shops. CUTE! There were a ton of cute shops. Yes, I made John walk all the way down one side of the street and then down the other side. I still think we missed a few. After we shopped we found out that LBJ's ranch was right here in this community. So, we found out where and took off. It was only another 15 min. drive. The family gave the ranch to the US National Park in 1972. The two requests were that they didn't charge to get in and that they kept it as a working ranch. So why did we pay $1.00 each to get in if it was to be free? Not a big deal...just a question. It is located in the Hill Country and really is quite pretty. There are still some Longhorns around, guess they are a bit unruly and not to be trusted. We saw a lot of cattle, deer, and sheep. There is a really pretty river that runs right in front of the property call the Pedernales River. I guess during the rainy season it can flood up and over the banks and fairly close to the house. We enjoyed our tour. You can't get into the house itself, but we did get to see his office that he worked out of when he was President. The tour guide said that the lower part of the house will be open for viewing in about 5 years. After Lady Bird died all the relatives came and took stuff that they wanted. The Park people have pictures of what it looked like then and are trying to reconstruct it just like it was when they were alive. His circle of life started on this ranch and ended on this ranch. The family cemetery was pretty full!

Didn't get home until 5:30, so made dinner and now I am making cookies.

Black Friday El Paso, Tx Ft. Bliss

Tony is the XO (Executive officer) and this

is his parking space at his "office".
Tony at his desk.

Tony and I out in front of a tank.

We all got up on this tank and Tony opened

the hatch and we all got to go in. It is

incredibly small in there.

Tony is sitting in the gunner's seat.

John is sitting in the seat that Tony

will sit in. I am sitting across from both

of them. We weren't in there too long because

it is very close and John doesn't like confinement.

There are usually 4 men in this tank!

Tony climbing out of the tank.

All the tanks in his company.

Chillin in the RV.

The 3 stooges.

Tired and full from eating our lunch out a

an excellent Mexican restaurant.

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, Tony came out to our RV park...it was only about 20 minutes, if that, for him to get to us. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, rolls and chocolate silk pie. After we ate we watched a lame movie on Direct TV...then just sat around and talked and got caught up with what he is doing here. Next thing we know it was 10:30...so we called it a night.

Today, John and I broke camp to take the RV to the service bay at Camping World to get a recall checked on the coach. We just left it there and headed out closer into El Paso. We ate breakfast at a breakfast taco place for 2.82 for both of us!!! Then we found a battery place and purchased a new battery for the PT...it wasn't starting very well. Then, because they didn't install them we went across the street to the Ford dealer and got it installed for 12.50! Not bad. They called it the Thanksgiving special. After we got done, we picked Tony up at his apartment and headed out to the base. It was really interesting. We got to go to his office building and then got to go out and see his company's tanks and hum V's and Bradley's. We crawled down into one tank and it was so tight! There are 4 people in this tank and you are packed in like sardines. To think you are driving, shooting, and loading ammo in that close of a space is amazing. Then we walked to see where they can eat . Decided we didn't want to eat there so Tony took us to a Mexican restaurant that was really good.

After our tour we dropped Tony off to get his car and we went back to set up the motor home again, he came back so we could go look at 5th Wheels. He is toying with getting a 5th Wheel or a motor home and putting it in the RV camp on base. That way he can always have his house on wheels. He will deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan in March and this way he won't have to pay rent on an apartment for a year while he is gone. There is more checking to do on the subject but it was fun to look at them together.

We hung out for awhile and he just left a bit ago to go home. John and I are going to get an early start tomorrow because we have an 8 hour drive down to Kerrville, TX , by San Antonio. We thought we would stay there a few days before going into San Antonio.

Tuesday in Tucson

I know this blog will show Wednesday's date but I am going to tell you what we did on Tuesday. Unfortunately, we (again) have no pictures because all the pictures we had were lost when we downloaded them onto the computer. Don't ask why.......it's not the 1st time this has happened. You were lucky you weren't here to hear the fallout!!!!!!
Anyway, I started the day by going to a Qigong class. Pronounced Che-gong. It is to increase blood flow, lower blood pressure and calm the body. Was very interesting. Then, I made a pie to take to Peggi and Jeff's for dinner as well a side dish for the salmon. This recipe was compliments of Carol Olson and it is excellent. (Everyone loved it.) Then I also did 4 loads of laundry. Now I'm caught up! I forgot to tell you that our RV resort was very close to Davis Monthan AFB and there are an unbelievable number of airplanes stacked up out there! I heard 20,000 was the number but I can only find articles that say 4,200. They supposedly could be air worth within 72 hours. Pretty amazing.
We got to Jeff and Peg's around 4:45...a little late due to traffic.....but we immediately got on the golf carts and drove up to the golf course. The golf coarse is up pretty high and you get an amazing view of the mountains. We took our drinks and headed up there hoping to see bobcat, mountain lions and javalina's...however all we saw was their dinner.....RABBITS!!! One guy stopped to talk and said he had just seen the bobcat, but by the time we got there, we couldn't see him. My luck! Anyway, it was beautiful and just fun to be on top of the valley.
We had an awesome dinner of grilled salmon, pork chops, salad with strawberries, nuts, etc...,baked and sweet potatoes, and bread that was to die for. For desert we had cherry pie and ice cream. Homer and Macey (their Westies) were so fun. They SO reminded me of Maddie.
Well, we had a wonderful evening even if we didn't see the wild animals.
We are now in El Paso. Pretty much drove all day, but we did go search out this pecan farm in Las Cruzes that was pretty cool. They also grow a lot of cotton here. Interesting. Tony had had a full day a wasn't even home at 5:00, so decided that he would come up tomorrow for dinner and we would tour around his world on friday.

Tucson, Arizona

Me, Peggy and Jeff
Me, Peggy and John

Fun rock formations.

Lemmon Mountain

A view from the top.

After we woke up this am, we decided to scope out the town of Tucson. John wanted to see some of the sights that he remembered from 1971 (?), so we rode around and checked it out. We also made a stop at Best Buy to buy ink for the printer. Wouldn't you know we would run out just as we wanted to print something!

Jeff and Peggy picked us up at 1:00 and we headed out towards the mountains. We drove up to Lemmon Mountain. It it so strange because it starts out typical desert, dry, cactus and small brush, then as you go up the mountain and get towards the top, you see SNOW and lots of pine trees and it is much cooler! There is a small town up there, some cabins and a general store and also a ski area. I guess there was a fire up there about 2-3 years ago, so it was rebuilt and was very new.

By the time we drove back down the mountain it was about time to eat. We took an hour or so in the bar and had a drink. Then we ate dinner. I forgot to tell you we were eating at Pinnacle Pete's. We had an awesome steak dinner for a very reasonable price.

Jeff and Peggy had to go let their dogs out..it was a long day for them and they had a 30 min. drive back to the Marana ( I think that is the way you spell/say the area....north Tucson.)

Tomorrow we are going to cook dinner in at their house.

Tucson, Arizona

We made it! It was about 41/2 hour trip. We stopped in north Tucson and Peggy and Jeff Plant met us at the gate of their neighborhood and we parked down in their cul-de-sac and got to see their house. Jeff and Peggy are neighbors of ours on the lake. Their house here is also in a gaited community and their house is lovely. The whole area is brand new. We then drove down to south Tucson where we are staying. We were pretty hungry so had an early dinner at the restaurant here at the resort. I am watching "24" and then I think I'll retire a little early since we had such a late night last night.
Tomorrow Jeff and Peggy are going to pick us up and we are going on a day trip. More about that tomorrow.

Dinner at Bellini's on El Paseo in Palm Desert

Leona and I at the dinner table.
John, Bob, Leona and I.

I really wasn't ready for this picture of Leona and me.

Leona and I went to school together in Izmir, Turkey. We really lost track of each other after we returned to the states and graduated from high school. We found each other again via the Internet when all the kids I went to Turkey with us had a reunion in New Orleans five years ago.

After that, because John and I went to a convention in San Diego 3 years ago and Bob and Leona live in Escondido...(outside of San Diego) we saw them again. So, when we came to the Palm Desert I thought of calling her but hesitated due to the fact they we a little ways away. I thought they were 3 hours out....but they are really only 1 1/2 hours out. So, I called them finally on Friday and Leona was insistent on coming out here to meet us for dinner. So, we all me at a restaurant called Bellini's and had a wonderful dinner...then they wanted to come see the motor home so came back to Indio with us. They loved the coach...I think Bob could have been talked into one tomorrow!!! Anyway, we had a great evening.

Tomorrow it is on the Tucson.

Still in Indio, CA

YUCK!! Oh well, the flowers are pretty!

Well, nothing new to report....every day is the same as the previous...we think we are in

"Ground Hog Day." It is 87 to 90 everyday...humidity about 20% and it is incredible!

We did nothing today...except read and walk and ride our bike...and I went to the grocery store!

Yippee!!! Well, tomorrow night we are meeting a couple that lives in Escondido that I went to school with her in Turkey. John and I actually saw them about 3 years ago when we went to

San Diego with the convention for work...and Julie and Ken came for their 25th wedding anniversary. So, hopefully we will have pictures tomorrow that will be more interesting to look at.

OMG Indio, CA and the Palm Desert Nov. 17, 2008

Some of the lots around this RV Park
This is a new thing in motor homes. A deck that
comes out???? Kind of wierd, but interesting.

More of the RV Park...the grounds are

beautiful.

Unreal!!

Yep, it's me from a distance!

Going up the Santa Rosa & San Jaciento

mountains. We stopped at the viewing center

to take this picture.

Looking down the mountain.

The Palm Desert and surrounding areas are awesome! Good thing we already bought our lot in Florida, because this is pretty darn nice! However, in Florida, I feel like I fit in...here....not so much. I can smell the money around here. We drove down the El Paseo street where all the ritzy shops are and I literally told John not to stop...I need to go home and count my pennies first! :) (Really I want to go back when we have more time to shop...it was 3:30.) It is so beautiful and the weather is really weird to me. It is 90 degrees during the day...and yes, if you're laying out at the pool, it's warm, but sit in the shade and it is perfect. The temperature drops as soon as the sun goes down and nights go down to 55-60. It is pretty perfect. Definitely, if it was 90 in Minnesota or Florida, it wouldn't be that comfortable in the shade. Humidity does make a difference. HOWEVER, that being said, my skin is dry! In Florida, I always feel hydrated. Too many choices to make when it comes to weather.

I am wondering where all the members in the choir went every winter. Did they stay in condos or hotels or houses??? Maybe someone can answer that, Jane!!!

Been getting caught up on my reading...kind of nice. Just chilling tonight, last night we ate dinner at LG Steakhouse. Suppose to be one of the top 10 steak houses in the US??!! It was awfully good.

Saturday November 15, 2008 Lake Havasu City, AZ

The first two pictures are of the view from the pool. We laid out at the pool for 2 hours today and read our books and soaked up the sun! The view overlooks the Colorado River which is Lake Havasu. With the mountains in the background it really is pretty. The next picture on the left is "The London Bridge". It was bought in London and transported here and re-assembled block by block to the original bridge. The picture on the far left bottom is an area where all these "formula" type boats gather...music blaring and young people all over. These big, high performance boats are made here and it is more the norm to have one than not. They are very loud and testosteroney!!!! (Is that a word?)

We toured around the city a little more...actually went to a few more model homes just to compare apples to apples on what we're doing in Florida. So far, I like what we're doing better...good thing eh?

We made brats on the grill for dinner and took a small walk and now are watching a little TV.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

We left Las Vegas this morning and after 2 and 1/2 hours we arrived in Lake Havasu City around 12:30 mountain time. This area has a very interesting history that only dates back to the 60's. Kathy always wants me to write in the blog so here I go. Let's start with thinking back to the 60's and see how many of you remember the adds in the newspaper every Sunday selling you on the idea of flying free to Lake Havasu including a night stay at a posh hotel, meals, and a chance to buy land in the beautiful Lake Havasu area. Being in the frozen north, this sounded too good to be true. This was the same time I was starting Viking Airlines and remember people boarding the Lockheed Electra at Northern Airmotive, the same place we loaded our freighters.

So how did all this start? It started with a vision of one man. Robert McCulloch discovered the area when flying over looking for a place to set up a test facility for the boat motors he manufactured. The lake itself was created in the 30's with the building of the Parker Dam on the Colorado River. At the same time, McCulloch Engineering of Milwaukee, Wi. was sold to Borg Warner for 1 million dollars. Later his niche, as you probably recognize was the chainsaw. He was the first to make a light weight one-man chainsaw. After selling to Borg Warner he started the McCulloch Oil Company. In the mid 60's he bought 26 square miles of barren desert, the largest purchase of land to that date in Arizona, for just under $75 dollars per acre. He also purchase 11 Lockheed Electras forming McCulloch international airlines. He flew these aircraft until 1978, flying over 27,000 flights and 137,000 prospective buyers. When you arrived, you were taxied in 1 of 40 white Jeeps, the largest fleet of Jeeps at the time, to your hotel and your future land purchase. McCulloch also built three plants to make the McCulloch chainsaw employing over 400 people to help promote the area.

Now I am sure you have all heard of the London Bridge, remember London Bridges falling down? If you don't remember this, then you are clearly too young to even read this. In 1968 McCulloch bought the London Bridge for 2.4 million dollars and transported it stone by stone to Lake Havasu and completed the project in three years with the bridge opening in 1971. He dredged a one mile channel in order to have something to put the bridge over which also formed the island we are presently staying on. Oh yes, he had to build an airport to land these aircraft on. The pictures I have included shows you the original terminal, tower, and the second looking down the original runway at the large expanse of Lake Havasu City in the back ground as it is today with over 60,000 residents. The island for the past 30 years has been used as the airport, now moved out of the city limits, and RV resorts for those snowbirds that don't want to purchase property. The are just starting to develop this Island for single family housing. The old teminal is in the process of being torn down.

Well, there you go.... after this, I am sure I will not be asked to input the blog for some time. I would be curious though as to how many of you remember these flights or adds or possibly even took one of these flights.

November 13, 2008 Thursday

Inside the Paris casino.
The new "City Center" that is being built.

"The Bellagio" which I think is John's and my favorite.

The ceiling in the Bellagio...it is all made of glass

flowers. It is totally amazing!

The artist that created this is Dale Chihuly.

Also inside the Bellagio. It is an arbor decorated

in the harvest motif.

Check out this Ford limo! Jackie, this is

what you needed for your wedding!

The ceiling in the Venitian.

The tower at the Venetian.

The ceiling in the Venetian was made to look

like the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

The Eiffel tower of the Paris Casino.

You know, if one didn't know better you would think these pictures were taken in Europe. It is incredible the insides of these casinos! Today we parked in the Paris parking lot, and went in and looked around. The streets were made to look like Paris...it was very unique. We went up the elevator to the restaurant that is halfway up the tower...(not really, but that's what they told us). We had a marvelous lunch. Pretty hard to beat the cuisine! I had a blood mary that was so incredibly good...even the salt on the rim was mild ...not puckering!!! John had a glass of wine. Then I ordered the soup du jour...which was squash, but it was nothing like I have ever had.

I ordered a light omelet that had asparagus and brie cheese on it that ...oh my...it was heaven! John ordered eggs benedict that had a bean in the fava family with prosciutto and the bread was made with brioche and so light. He said it was the best he had ever had. $90.00 later we walked out...full and poor!!! We walked out at 12:30 and walked until 3:00....non stop.

We went through Paris, Cesar's Palace, The Mirage, The Venetian, and a million and one shops along the way. Cesar's Palace has some shops called the Forum and they had every designer I have ever heard of and then some. I had to go into Jimmy Choo's just to check out the shoes I always hear about. I found a cute pair of strappy sandals for $650.00! I could not find a pair of shoes in there under 450.00. So I bought 2 pair and left!!! JUST KIDDING!

Anyway, it was quite an experience. Now, here is what I found out. The new building that I have a picture of that is called "The City Center" is set to be finished 2009 this time. It costs

10 billion dollars and has 10,000 rooms. It will be the largest casino in the world. The deal is, (per bartenders and waiters) some of the workers aren't getting paid. So it seems they are hurting too. It is hard to believe the economy can support all these rooms. It seemed not very busy for Vegas and one waiter said people just aren't spending the extra money on gambling and shopping. Will be interesting to see what happens. The people that are building the City Center is like a consortium from Dubai, China etc...does the US own anything???

So, we got home around 4:00, I ran to the store, we paid bills, and now are chilling in front of the

tube! All is well.