Happy New Year! We welcomed in the new year in the Voyager
ballroom to the tunes of “Two’s Company” a local duet that appears here at
least once a month during the winter.
Joan at Meet Me at Maynard's |
The night was not without its drama though. One of the
party goers, who had obviously partied a little too much, somehow went to his
knees on purpose during a song just before the midnight countdown. The tipsy
man was apparently reacting to lyrics in the song that indicated being on a
knee or knees.
Anyway, once he was down on his knees he then had to get up.
I watched this whole horror in slow motion as he worked himself up to a crouch
and then stumbled two or three steps backwards finally losing his balance and
going over backwards striking his bald head very hard on the seat of a folding
chair.
Meet at Maynard's scenery |
Then he hit the hardwood floor with a thud and blood started
draining out of a cut on the back of his head.
A number of people immediately went to his aid, including a retired
nurse and he laid on the floor for a few minutes and then a couple men lifted
him into a chair where the nurse applied a bandage to his head.
The musical duet never missed a beat and the midnight
countdown went on without any further distractions.
It did get me to thinking that we have seen death come in
many forms at the resort. According to a number of folks, a man plunged to his
death while cleaning the top of his trailer a few years ago. A fact I know
because I am reminded of it by every passing resident when I am on the roof of
my trailer cleaning it.
Another man died while playing pickleball (a very popular
sport that roughly looks like tennis and ping pong) but that was attributed to
a heart condition. I nearly got killed by a senior citizen driving a speeding
golf cart through a stop sign. So it would not have completely surprised me to
have a “death by dancing” incident. Fortunately, the man is probably walking up
with a massive hangover
combined with a concussion this morning. Not a great
way to start the New Year’s.
On the patio at Meet Me at Maynard's Super Moon in the back |
On Sunday we went to church after I started my exercise
regimen at the resort fitness center. I also reconnected with the table and
chair committee and have already helped tear down church, set up the New Year’s
party and then stayed late to tear down the tables and chairs after the party
was over.
Next up the Ella Fitzgerald tribute concert on Wednesday.
After church Joan and I went shopping to fill the cupboards
and then returned to the resort to watch NFL football. The Lions pulled out a
meaningless victory over the Packers on Sunday. This team is so frustrating.
They win the games that don’t matter and lose the games that mean everything.
Seven Falls selfie |
In addition to watching football, Joan did our travel
laundry while I made up some burgers and bacon and cut up some fruit for a
snack to pass at the New Year’s party. The weather has been outstanding since
we’ve been here with much of the same predicted at least a week into the
future.
One sad thing about Arizona is that you know you are here
because you immediately notice one or more homeless people on nearly every
major intersection seeking help. Probably a function of the good weather than
keeps them here.
Now here’s an observation I made in Fort Smith (or Port
Smith as Joan calls it). We spotted a story called “Sofa City.” Over the years
I have see a number of businesses who use the “City” as a formal business name.
That is just stupid. If you can’t come up with a better name
than that, you should not be in business. I’m sure somewhere there is a “Car
City” or a “Taco City” but just stop it. It’s dumb.
New Year’s Day (today) will be a time of football and then
Meet Me at Maynard’s tonight.
So we went to Meet Me at Maynard’s and continued our Monday
tradition when we are here. We walked our two miles, returned to the courtyard.
We failed to win any prizes and then had dinner at Fired Pie, a custom pizza
and salad place we really like. It would have been better if we had won a gift
certificate to go there.
After returning home we watch Alabama dismantle Clemson and
then went to bed.
A very small amount of water at the base of the falls |
The Tuesday hiking group was off because of the holiday (not
sure what holiday Jan. 2 is, but they were not hiking today) so I went alone to
Sabino Canyon and did the Seven Falls hike. This is a good starter hike for the
season as it is an 8.2-mile out and back hike with just a 1,000-foot elevation.
Because of a lack of rain and snow, the falls at Seven Falls was more like Seven Trickles. Last year we couldn't even hike this trail until March because of high water. There is almost no water right now.
On the trail with my new hat |
Coming from Michigan I need a week or so to acclimate to the
altitude and climbing so this was a perfect chance to do that. Although Joan
doesn’t like it, I love hiking alone sometimes because it gives me a chance to
have a little solitude and enjoy nature.
A volunteer at the park told me that a mountain lion had
recently been spotted in the canyon, so that added an element of adventure to
the hike. I figure with tasty Big Horn sheep in plentiful supply the mountain
lions would probably not bother with an old man.
While I was off playing in the mountains Joan was at her
Aquafit class and she spent some time walking through the park for exercise. We
live and eat healthier down here for sure.
At 5 p.m. we attended our first Tuesday potluck dinner and
caught up with a number of our friends from previous stays here. Joan then
stayed and played Bingo until 9 p.m. and was about as successful at winning
there as she is at the casino. She was only out a couple bucks so no big deal.
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ReplyDeleteI think i can comment now... love the blog..great to hear your adventures!
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