BLOGGERFEST 2016 & WE WERE THERE…..AGAIN:))

I struggled with myself all week over the decision on whether to go to Bloggerfest in Quartzsite or not.  Part of me wanted to go & part of of me didn’t.  Some folks have a fear of spiders, some may fear high places but with me it’s a fear of people or especially groups of people & that was the side of me that didn’t want to go.  But fortunately my other side won out & now sitting here at my computer tonight I can honestly say I was glad we went simply because of how much better I am feeling tonight.  And that better feeling came from confronting some of my fears head on today or in other words meeting some mighty nice new people & seeing old familiar friends again.  Holy Smokes you don’t think I’m turning into a people person do you???

YEP LOOKS LIKE QUARTZSITE ARIZONA ALIGHT

THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE SOLD OUR FIRST CLASS A’S TOTALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FURNITURE BACK IN 09 I THINK IT WAS

THIS IS A VIEW OF THE KOFA MOUNTAINS FROM TODAY’S BLOGGERFEST 2016 SITE….THE KOFA’S ARE MY FAVS

We had started loading up the rig a couple days ago with thoughts of stopping in Quartzsite for Bloggerfest then heading on down to Yuma.  This post by the way is coming to you from somewhere south of Quartzsite Arizona tonight & we’ll head out for Yuma Sunday morning.

NEW TO THE RV LIFESTYLE IS ‘LORNE GREEN’ ON THE LEFT, THE ROOMBA MAN HIMSELF IN THE CENTER ‘RETIRED ROD’ & THAT’S ‘CROFT FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA ON THE RIGHT (BE SURE TO READ ROD’S ‘ROOMBA’ POST, IT’S A CLASSIC:))

I KNOW THAT’S JIM & SANDIE SITTING DOWN THERE IN THE CENTER

PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO ARRIVE

AND BY GOLLY THAT’S FELLOW BLOGGER SUE MALONE HER VERY SELF ON THE RIGHT

Rolled out of Congress this morning at 9 a.m. under cloudy skies.  Picked up some fuel & headed west on highway 71.  Hour & a half later we were at the Chevron in Quartzsite topping up our propane tank & twenty minutes after that we were at the Bloggerfest site talking to organizers George & Suzy from OUR AWESOME TRAVELS who I think did a fine job getting things together.

 

AND HERE’S GEORGE NOW:))

YEP, THAT’S ME ON THE RIGHT….PHOTO BY KELLY:))

At an an hour & a half early today we were the first ones there unlike Bloggerfest 2015 when we arrived late.  And just as a year ago we were about the last ones to leave again.  And here’s the kicker, despite bringing two chairs to sit in I never once sat in my chair & Kelly only sat in hers for a few minutes at the beginning.  And we did the same darn thing last year.  In fact I think most people who brought chairs never sat in them.  It’s just one of those gatherings where people are constantly on the move walking around talking to each other.  Today was the longest time I have been in a continous upright standing position for a very, very, long time.

JEAN GETS TO MEET FELLOW BLOGGER CROFT FOR THE FIRST TIME

AND ALL THE WAY FROM OURAY COLORADO I WAS GLAD TO SEE FELLOW BLOGGER MARK HERE TODAY

By 1 o’clock folks were rolling in & both Kelly & I felt there was a bigger turnout this year which which shows Bloggerfest in only it’s 2nd year is already growing.  Now I do have about 50 Bloggerfest photos from today so to keep it simple for myself I am going to post them in batches over the next few days & I’ll basically post them in the order they were taken.  I will name a few of the people I do know & although many of the group photos are similar you just may be able to find yourself in a few of them.

I will have more to say in the coming days about today’s Bloggerfest & some of the people I met today whether they be old or new friends.  Some of the conversations & things said to me I can already tell have impacted me in a positive way & to you people I thank you so much for your kind words:))

HEY THAT’S IVAN HIS VERY SELF THERE ON THE EXTREME LEFT

AND BY GOLLY I THINK THAT’S LITTLE FERGIE ALL THE WAY FROM BLOOMINGTON INDIANA THERE AT BOTTOM LEFT

One of the reasons why we are headed to Yuma besides seeking some warmer weather is to simply catch ourselves some movies at the Yuma Palms Mall.  We just want to go & sit in some comforable theater seats & be entertained by some movies on big screens with big sound.  Just want to sit back, relax, & be entertained.  We rarely go to movies so this will be a nice change of pace for us.

SUNSET ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTH OF QUARTZSITE ARIZONA SATURDAY NIGHT

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Two morons stand on a cliff with their arms outstretched. One has some budgies lined up on each arm, the other has parrots lined up on his arms. After a couple of minutes, they both leap off the cliff and fall to the ground.  Laying next to each other in intensive care at the hospital, one moron says to the other, "I don't think much of this budgie jumping."
The other moron replies, "Yeah, I'm not too keen on this parrogliding either."

THE DRIVER CALLED OUT “ARE YOU STILL FEELING DEPRESSED” & I CALLED BACK “YA KINDA”

First & foremost, many words of sincere thanks to all the folks who read my Thursday post & responded with so many warm & kind words.  Words of encouragement & understanding.  Thoughts & feelings from people who themselves have been afflicted with & affected by depression from time to time.  It’s a not often talked about subject but it is real & for those of us who have had to deal with it over the years it is a very real & difficult part of our lives.  Like others, depression isn’t new to me & I’ve done battle with my relentless old adversary many times in the past bunch of decades.  I am fortunate though that my heavier bouts with it are not as often or as deep or as long lasting as many other poor folks who are afflicted with it constantly.  I have often felt there are two types of depression with the heavier type keeping one from even going outside of their house at times.  The lighter form of depression takes on a softer tone & is harder to detect.  It’s a daily weight barely noticable at times but it’s always there & it’s that softer sadness that can eventually manifest itself into a deeper, darker, & heavier depression.  It is the harder one to understand & I’m finding with the coming on of age I am increasingly aware of that softer form of depression now more than ever before……………

Now, on a brighter note……… I was out front this afternoon kind of moping around when a little white Jeep Liberty drove by slow & someone waved. The driver called out “are you still feeling depressed” & I called back “ya kinda”.  I waved them into our driveway & that’s how I met Ed & Sharon Holley with their little dog Bogey today.  Turns out they are blog readers from Apple Valley California.  They are staying at North Ranch for a few days & were out doing a bit of sight seeing in the area.  Ed writes Chasing Sunrises & Sunsets which by the way you can now find on my sidebar.  Here’s a really nice down to earth couple Kelly & I both enjoyed talking to this afternoon.  Had ourselves a little house tour & a walk around the property & by the time they left later this afternoon I was feeling better inside.  Well how could I not feel better after Ed told me he knew Roy Rogers years ago & lives in the same neighborhood as Roy & Dale once did.  Four houses away to be exact.  And of course you all know Roy Rogers was a founding member of my all time very much most favoritist western singing group, SONS OF THE PIONEERS. 

Thanks for dropping by today guys…I needed that:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( For the first time in many years, an old man traveled from his rural town to the city to attend a movie. After buying his ticket, he stopped at the concession stand to purchase some popcorn.  Handing the attendant $4.50, he couldn't help but comment, "The last time I came to the movies, popcorn was only 15 cents."  "Well, sir," the attendant replied with a grin, "You're really going to enjoy yourself. We have sound now.."

Tuba Player: Did you hear my last recital?
Friend: I hope so.

Q: How do you fix a broken tuba?
A: With a "tuba glue."

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

TRYING ON SOME NEW BLUE JEANS AT THE TSC STORE IN WICKENBURG THIS MORNING

I had no idea when I turned my computer off Monday night that I wouldn't turn it on again until Thursday morning but that's how depression sometimes affects me when it strikes.  I never know when it's coming, I just wake up one morning & it's suddenly upon me like a marauding Lion on an unsuspecting Zebra.  When depression does occasionally strike it usually lasts for a day or maybe 3 or 4 but I'm generally able to shake most of it off at some point in that time frame.  But not always.  I can be marginally functional when this happens & often just spend time in my recliner occupying my mind with mindless television shows & not going out of the house much.  Occasionally I'm able to take myself for a drive which I did with Pheebs Wednesday morning but had no interest in taking any photos.  And I’ve had no interest in trying to put a blog post together for the past couple days.  It's just one of those things that sometimes sneaks up behind me & whacks me over the head & I’m down for the count for a few days.  Over the years readers may remember I have blogged about depression maybe half a dozen or more times.  Anyway that’s where I am at the moment & we’ll see how things shake out over the next couple days.  This too shall pass……………………..

GROANER’S CORNER:((  After hearing that one of the patients in a mental hospital had saved another from a suicide attempt by pulling him out of a bathtub, the hospital director reviewed the rescuer's file and called him into his office.
"Mr. Haroldson, your records and your heroic behavior indicate that you're ready to go home. I'm only sorry that the man you saved later killed himself with a rope around the neck."
"Oh, he didn't kill himself," Mr. Haroldson replied. "I hung him up to dry."

LESLIE & PETER ROLLED OUT THIS MORNING SO PHEEBS & I ROLLED BACK INTO THE HOUSE

AFTERNOON SNOOZE ON DAD’S BIG COMFY BED
Leslie & Peter had an earlier than usual start to their day & were on the road & headed for the Phoenix airport before 9 a.m.  It was nice having them here again this year & for me it was our little day trips to wherever I always enjoyed the most plus Pheebs & I got to hang out in the Motorhome for a week.  No idea if they will be back next year because we have no idea if we’ll be back next year.  We did have an Oregon couple drop in last Monday expressing an interest to buy our house but we just couldn’t quite agree on a price.  Their visit caught us a little off guard but did get us to thinking again about our future plans & just what we want to do & where we want to be………..& when.
ALL LOADED UP & READY TO GO

  

PROGRAMING A GPS FOR THE PHOENIX AIRPORT
A heavy cloud cover moved in overnight but lightened up about mid morn.  Busied myself moving all my stuff back into the house which actually didn’t take too long.  Did myself a load of laundry as well.  As much as I enjoyed my week in the rig I did notice it was nice to be back into the house & my own room again.  Didn’t take long for Pheebs to hop up onto my bed & stretch out for a big afternoon snooze.

A BIG DOGGY STRETCH

A BIG DOGGY YAWN
SLEEPILY SCRATCHING AN ITCHY EAR
We had originally planned to load up the Motorhome & head off in the direction of Quartzsite this week but it seems those boon-docking plans have changed now.  We’ll see what the end of the week brings.  One of the side effects of Kelly’s ‘auto-immune’ problem is she tires very easily & it sometimes takes awhile for her energy levels to come back up.


A LAST WAVE

AND THERE THEY GO

I always enjoy listening to any instrument played well & here’s a couple old guitar pickers to show how it’s done.  Roy Clark & Glen Campbell doing Ghost Riders In The Sky.  Crank up those speakers folks:))

The name ‘Peter’ has been causing a bit of confusion in my posts this past week.  I had linked the name Peter to Peter’s American Traveler blog a few years ago & whenever I type the name Peter it automaically links to his blog.  Kelly’s brother’s name is also Peter so unless I catch the link it causes reader confusion.  I’m now trying to figure out how to ‘un-link’ the name Peter.  “Ahaaaaa”,  Kelly just clued in how to do it & I went into Live Writer’s ‘File’-‘Options’-‘Automatic Linking’ & removed the name Peter.  Problem solved:))

HEADING OFF TO DOGGY SNOOZELAND AGAIN
We are now half way past our annual winter season’s stay here in the South-west.  Time will begin to move quickly for us now with February of course being a shorter month.  We’re thinking this year we will head straight on home at the end of March rather than slipping up through Utah & Colorado like the last couple years.  Whether we’ll do any more side trips around here between now & then is an unknown.  We have definitely experienced a few changes in ourselves this past year & I do have to admit we have lost some of our excitement & enthusiasm for RV travels.  Never thought that would happen but it has.  For sure our first 6 years were our best traveling years.  We were new to everything & raring to go.  We were also younger.   Now don’t get me wrong here, we’re still every bit as determined as we ever were to escape the Canadian winters but maybe we are just trying to think of some different ways to do that.  Problem is we love the basically unobstructive freedom RVing gives us whenever we do travel anywhere & to travel any other way just does not seem to be a preferrable option.  Yes I realize I’m talking in circles again here but it seems to be the way our minds have been working this past year.  Could this just be another in a series of ‘growing older’ thoughts.  Probably, but I hope not………………

AND ONCE MORE SOUND ASLEEP:))
GROANER’S CORNER:(( Can you raed this?? Olny 55 people out of 100 can.
I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg.  The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae.  The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm.  This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe.  Azanmig huh?  Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

SHORT JEEP RIDE, MORNING WALK, CRESTED SAGUARO, INDIAN HOUSE ROCK, & IT’S LESLIE & PETER’S LAST DAY WITH US

SPOTTED THIS LITTLE HUMMINGBIRD AT ONE OF OUR ALOE FLOWERS THIS AFTERNOON
Our overnight cloud cover was long gone by morning & we again started another fine Arizona day under sunny skies.

HAD OURSELVES A NICE DESERT WALK THIS MORNING

HEADING UP A ROCKY ATV ROAD TO WHERE LESLIE DISCOVERED A YOUNG CRESTED SAGUARO ABOUT A YEAR AGO

KELLY, LESLIE,  & PETER ARE ACTUALLY VISIBLE IN THIS PHOTO WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW VAST THIS LAND IS OUT HERE
Thought we’d take a drive out to see how the young crested Saguaro that Leslie spotted last year was doing.  It’s only about a mile behind our house so we Jeeped ourselves out that way along what are now becoming quite familiar Jeep roads to me. 

I AM STANDING BESIDE THE CRESTED SAGUARO LOOKING BACK TO WHERE THE OTHERS ARE STANDING INCLUDING THE PHEEBS



LESLIE & PETER ARE DRIVING BACK TO PHOENIX IN THE MORNING WHERE THEY WILL CATCH A FLIGHT FOR BUFFALO NY THEN DRIVE FROM THERE TO THEIR HOME IN WEBSTER….IN A POSSIBLE SNOW STORM




WE EVEN SPOTTED ‘GUMBY’S COUSIN THIS MORNING, SENOR SAGUARO GUMBY >>>>>>>>>>
Parked & walked a few hundred yards up a rocky ATV trail to the spot where we could see the Saguaro.  It’s not easily identifiable as a crested unless one picks their way through some rocks & boulders laced with prickly pear cactus, ocotillo, & a few dozen other desert plants.  I did make my way to the Saguaro & took some photos from the east side of it where the ‘crested’ part is much more identifiable.
  
FROM A DISTANCE & THIS ANGLE IT’S NOT EASILY IDENTIFIABLE AS A YOUNG CRESTED SAGUARO

ONE HAS TO GET UP CLOSE & TO ONE SIDE OF IT TO SEE THE BEGINNING CREST


From Leslie’s crested Saguaro we drove a short distance over to Indian House Rock which is a favortie spot of Leslie & Peters.  Favorite spot for Kelly & I as well & Pheebs & I had just been there a few weeks ago for a walk.  And yes Peebers did come with us this morning.


DESERT TRAFFIC WAS A BIT HEAVY TODAY

INDIAN HOUSE ROCK

 
PRETTY TOUGH STUFF FOR A NEW YORK BOY EH:))


From the big Rock wound our way back through the desert to a gate near our house & drove half a block pulling into our yard sometime after the noon hour I think it was.  Temperatures were getting warm so I wasn’t long in getting myself comfortibly stretched out in my Horton recliner in the rig.  Soft music, sunshine again beaming in the window as I drifted away for a short afternoon snooze.  Thought occured to me, ‘say why wouldn’t I just move all my stuff out to the rig & spend my time here where it’s so cozy & comfy warm.  I do like to be warm & our house most of the time is like living in a half heated ice box.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Did You Know::
- OLD WANTS never die, they become needs
- OLD WATCHMAKERS never die, they just run out of time
- OLD WATCHMAKERS never die, they just unwind
- OLD WATCHMAKERS never die, they just wind down
- OLD WEATHERMEN never die, they reign forever
- OLD WHITE WATER RAFTERS never die, they just get disgorged
- OLD WOOL COATS never die, they just become mothballed
- OLD WRESTLERS never die, they just lose their grip
- OLD YACHTSMEN never die, they just keel over
- There is no conclusive evidence about what happens to old skeptics, -- but their future is doubtful.