Looking back on 2012 I realize just how busy we were. Five months were filled with travel of one sort or another for me, four for John.
In April, we sailed with Bobby Box on the Oasis of the
Seas. Bobby Box is a DJ on an Oldies
radio station that we listen to. Every
spring he goes on a one week cruise and this was our fourth or fifth cruise
with him. We had seen the
Oasis-of-the-Seas two years ago when we sailed to the Bahamas as one of our
stops. She was HUGE. I
wasn’t too sure about being on such a big ship (over 3 football fields in
length) but we enjoyed it.
In May we had two graduations in one week. The first one was in California. Kiki graduated from California State University at Fullerton with a Bachelor in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. That was on Sunday the 20th.
In May we had two graduations in one week. The first one was in California. Kiki graduated from California State University at Fullerton with a Bachelor in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. That was on Sunday the 20th.
On Thursday, the 24th,we had to be
in Phoenix (Tempe, really) for Tanner’s high school graduation.
We drove both ways – it was cheaper than
trying to fly between home and Anaheim and Phoenix and back home. Plus it was
actually more relaxing. May was also
Daddy’s birthday – I made the devil’s food cake with seven minute icing and we
shared it at his house.
In June the New Mexico TOPS chapters had their State
Recognition Days (SRD). John and I went
down on Monday and visited the BioPark (Zoo, Aquarium, Botanical Gardens) and
Museum of Natural History.
SRD was at the Marriott Pyramid for
Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday morning. On Friday John visited the Unser Racing Museum
while I was taking pictures and attending and helping at SRD.
I was supposed to do publicity but because we had the National/International TOPS President, Barbara Cady as our main speaker, National did the publicity. I also did the photography but then couldn’t figure out who was in which pictures. I really needed a full time assistant.
I was supposed to do publicity but because we had the National/International TOPS President, Barbara Cady as our main speaker, National did the publicity. I also did the photography but then couldn’t figure out who was in which pictures. I really needed a full time assistant.
In July, John and I traveled with my father to Pagosa
Springs, Colorado for a week. Daddy has
a timeshare there that he uses every year for the Northern New Mexico Senior
Golf Association’s Pagosa Springs-Durango tournament. John and I visited a former co-worker, John
Ross and his wife, in Dolores on Tuesday, the first tournament day and toured
around the Pagosa Springs area on Wednesday and Thursday, doing the Riverwalk
one day and the Wild Animal Park the next.
On Monday we all drove up to Ouray and on Friday we drove to South Fork
so Daddy could make hotel reservations for the tournament there in August. We then drove up to Creed and enjoyed feeding ground squirrels.
In August I flew to Houston, rented a car and drove to Victoria, Texas, to watch my oldest grandson, John, graduate from high school at Deveraux. His diploma is from Laora High School in Anaheim, CA.
I didn’t have to travel anywhere in September and was very
happy for that.
In October we had siding put on the unbricked sides of the house,
around the doors in front and back and new sofit and gutters put on the house.
It did make quite a difference in how the house looks.
October also saw me and two of the ladies in my TOPS Chapter
go to Albuquerque for the Fall Rally and Workshop. We had a good time. October is John’s birthday – I suggested that
this year I make a donation in his name to Victory Junction. He was quite OK with that.
November, for Thanksgiving, we joined Daddy at Dixie Girl
Restaurant for a mostly traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Because we were going to be flying Christmas Day, we had
Daddy down for Christmas dinner on the 22nd. You can read all about
the OMENS occurring before our trip in a
musing call OMENS.
Finally, John and I went to London with Kiki and Garnet. We had to fly to Los Angeles on Christmas Day, then to London on the 26th. Garnet had tried out for the All American Cheerleaders Team and won a position. Then the group had the opportunity to march in the London New Year’s Day Parade in 2013. Tours were set up through Varsity Tours and we got a really good deal on flights both ways, hotel accommodations (the Park Plaza, Winchester Bridge Hotel), a cold continental breakfast every day, vouchers or other meals every day, excursions, a dinner in The Albert (site of Prince Albert’s favorite pub), a theater show (Scrooge) and grandstand seats for the parade on New Year’s Day. But that’s a whole new musing for another day.
Finally, John and I went to London with Kiki and Garnet. We had to fly to Los Angeles on Christmas Day, then to London on the 26th. Garnet had tried out for the All American Cheerleaders Team and won a position. Then the group had the opportunity to march in the London New Year’s Day Parade in 2013. Tours were set up through Varsity Tours and we got a really good deal on flights both ways, hotel accommodations (the Park Plaza, Winchester Bridge Hotel), a cold continental breakfast every day, vouchers or other meals every day, excursions, a dinner in The Albert (site of Prince Albert’s favorite pub), a theater show (Scrooge) and grandstand seats for the parade on New Year’s Day. But that’s a whole new musing for another day.
Wow, what a year you've had! I enjoyed reading.
ReplyDeleteFound you by way of Ro's blog.
We cruised on the NCL Pearl in 2010 and the Epic in 2011. Had to save our pennies all last year to do the NCL Jewel through the Panama Canal this year. We're so excited!