And the Oscar goes to.........

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Dana
Best Director - Dana
Best Overall Performance - Dana

Welcome back sports fans.  Where have I been you ask?  Read on.....

I last posted on the evening of Valentine's Day.  What occurred after that post, I'd soon forget.  My health took a sudden downturn.  We're talking a few hours.  3 days later I emerged from my bed to begin several days of recover from a mysterious illness.  Without Dana's 24/7 support I would not have recovered so quickly.  If anyone is concerned, thank you but all seems to be fine.  We'll just accept the mystery and move on.

Today we had planned to return to cycling only to wake to 30 km winds.  So, to kick start our return to physical activity we elected to run our favourite desert trail run in Usery Park.  8km in 62 minutes.  A good sweat.  At the end of the run we were both winded and happily complaining of muscle soreness.  Finally we got in some good hard physical activity.

This past week has not been totally wasted, although at times that would be a good description of me.  After my meds kicked in and my recover was evident we began several days of birding.  For a novice birder like myself the weeks species identification has been remarkable.  I would suggest that even for experienced birders this week would be memorable.

Before I detail the bird count, I should mention that we were defeated in our last league Bocce Ball game.  The defeat came at the hands of 4 men who must spent most of their waking hours on the Bocce Ball courts.  One of the men, Mario, was born in Italy where he learned the game and played regularly. I won't mince words here, I was pissed that we lost.  The loss took us out of playoff contention.  In retrospect, and I do believe in being a gracious in defeat, regardless of our skill the team that beat us was far more skilled than us and definitely deserved to win.  If we meet them again next year I hope we crush them like bugs.

Now to the bird count.  My own total bird species count since January 1st is 91.  This past week it wasn't about numbers rather about adding a few new birds to my, and Dana's life lists.  We spent Tuesday morning at the Gilbert Water Ranch.  The birding there was terrific and we saw several beautiful birds that we had seen during visits last year.  While we added bird species to our yearly total, the life birds were yet to come.  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday found us walking the shores of the Salt River in search of some very beautiful birds.  It was during these 4 days that we saw our first of the year Northern Cardinals, Vermillion Flycatcher and Red Napped Sapsucker.  If these were the only species we observed it would have been a great week of birding, but wait, there is more.

New birds this week for both Dana and I are:

Spotted Sandpiper
White-throated Swift
Gray Flycatcher
Canvas-backed Duck
Gadwall Duck
House Wren
Western Bluebird
Green-tailed Towhee

All of these eight birds are, in their own way magnificent.  I admit to being particularly partial to the Green-tailed Towhee.  We, no Dana found a pair of these beautiful birds in thick under brush at Granite Reef park on the Salt River.  They were very shy and hard to spot as they were happy to scratch for their food out of our sight.  It took 20 minutes of standing still before we were able to clearly identify them.  Time well spent indeed.  The Western Bluebirds were another terrific find.  The colouring on these birds is very dramatic.  I have included photos of the Green-tailed Towhee and Western Bluebird.  Both photos were down loaded from the internet and not actual photos that we took.

This week we also saw some of our favourite birds in interesting settings.  I have included a couple of photos that took.  One is of 2 Great Egrets in a dead tree with Red Mountain in the background.  The second is of a Harris' Hawk family on a power pole.  This picture is not terrific but it was neat seeing 3 Harris' Hawks together.

Well, the show is about over for the day.  Tomorrow we will get up prepared to ride our bikes.  The weather is improving this week and we are looking to 80F by Saturday.  We hope to make the most of the warm days with riding, hiking, birding, etc.  The Show must go on.....

Enjoy the pics.  Ciao!

Western Bluebirds

Green-tailed Towhee

Valentine's Day in Arizona

Happy Valentine's Day!  I searched the internet unsuccessfully for a nice (PC correct) love poem.  Burns, Shelley, Atwood, Byron, Arsan (if you know her, ooh la la..).  I settled on our good friend Jimmy Buffett.  He has lots of great love songs and lyrics but I settled on "Come Monday" to be the lead for my Valentine's Day post.  I can't think that anyone would disagree with my choice.  Here are the full lyrics.  Hum along or sing it loud to your sweetheart......  "Come Monday It'll be alright, Come Monday, I'll be holding you tight......."


"Come Monday"

Headin' up to San Francisco
for the Labor Day weekend show,
I've got my hush-puppies on,
I guess I never was meant for
glitter rock and roll.
And honey I didn't know
that I'd be missin' you so.

[Chorus:]
Come Monday It'll be all right,
Come Monday I'll be holding you tight.
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
and I just want you back by my side.

Yes it's been quite a summer,
rent-a-cars and west bound trains.
And now you're off on vacation,
somethin' you tried to explain.
And darlin' I love you so that's
the reason I just let you go.

[Chorus]

I can't help it honey,
you're that much a part of me now.
Remember the night in Montana when
we said there'd be no room for doubt.

I hope you're enjoyin' the scenery,
I know that it's pretty up there.
We can go hikin on Tuesday,
with you I'd walk anywhere.
California has worn me quite thin,
I just can't wait to see you again.

Dana and I started this day with a fantastic hike with some new friends, Catherine and Merv. We hike a couple of trails in the Lost Dutchman State Park.  It was a short hike but the scenery was fantastic, the weather was fantastic and the company was fantastic too.  I have included several pictures that will surely support my enthusiastic assessment.

This afternoon "Cupid" showed up with some very nice "Mercedes"  red Roses and a nice bottle of Nobilo Sav Blanc wine for Dana, and me too.  As I post Dana is cooking Butternut Squash Ravioli.  We will enjoy this entree with a garden salad and a few slices of Greek olive Ciabatta bread.  Yummy!!!!  After dinner we will go for a nice walk in our park and then.......

Enjoy the pics.  Ciao bella......

Classic views of the Superstion Mountains

Dana, Catherine and Merv

Valentine's Day Hike

Usery Park Trail Run

Two days on the bikes and we felt like a change of pace. We call it "cross training".  Others call it "nuts".  Or maybe call us nuts.   Whatever, today we woke to cooler temps and cloudy skies.  What a great day for a run.  We decided to run the 8k Blevins, Meridian, County Line, Ruidoso, Spillway, Blevins, Noso loop.  For a Saturday we were surprised at the lack of people and horses on the trail.  I think we saw 8 or 10 hikers/runners and a few mountain bikers the entire way.  The sun tried to peak out a few times over the 60 minutes that we were on the trail but mostly it was cloudy and a bit windy (of course!).

When we returned to the trail head we enlisted a local fellow to snap a couple of photos of us.  Included are those 2 photos.

That's it for now.  Tomorrow I am doing a bit of Environmental Research in the morning while Dana attends church service with Lila.  Yeah well, so it goes.......  Ciao!

There is no place like home when it's this far away.....

Once again I am behind in posting on our blog.  No excuse for it.  Just too busy, maybe a bit lazy.  Okay, that sounds like an excuse doesn't it.  Life here in the desert is fabulous.  The weather since the big rain two weeks ago has been outstanding.  Great weather and fun times.  Reminds me of the lyrics to a Jimmy Buffett song:

The weather is here I wish you were beautiful

The skies are too clear, life is easy today
The beer is too cold, the daiquiri's too fruitful
There's no place like home when it's this far away 
I need time for to play 
Time for to play 

Speaking of playing, here is a run down of our activity for the past week.

Rides:  5
Golf for Barry: 2
Birding: 1
Bocce Ball league: 1 (won that one.  Record is now 4 and 1)
Tennis: Barry helping out the beginner team and played with brother Mike on Monday
Shopping: Bike gear for Dana.  It's PINK and beautiful.
Church: 1  (That would be Dana....)
Street parties and Happy Hours:  Several.....

Bike riding here is amazing, and I have said that many times before but bares repeating.  Over the past 9 days we have rolled out of here 5 times and have logged 300 kms.  It adds up fast.  We continue to average around 27 or 28 kph (20 mph) on the rides.  Most days we beat into the wind on the outward leg and come home with a tail wind.  Today was different as the wind had changed direction and we went out with a tail wind and home into the wind.  We think we prefer a head wind out and a tail wind home but what the heck, it's cycling and it seems one is always riding into the wind so really, it doesn't matter too much.  It is just great to be out in the sunshine and dry weather.  Yesterday we had a bit of adventure when Dana not only flatted once but then had a blow out on her front tire.  She hit a sharp rock and "Ka-Boom", a dime sized hole in the tire.  Fortunately we were only 5k from home and 1k from the nearest Starbucks.  We walked the bikes to Starbucks and then Barry cycled home and returned with the 4Runner rescue vehicle.  Dana did a great of controlling the bike after the blow-out.  Fortunately we were on a straight piece of road and while we were travelling at around 35 kph at the time of the blow-out she was able to brake and stop in the bike lane.  Dana admits to be a bit shaken by the incident.  We replaced the tire later in the day and today we were right back out there.  Getting back on the horse is often the best cure.

After a short 12 year layoff Barry is golfing again.  Barry learned quickly why he gave up the sport in 2001.  Just kidding....  Really not much to say about golf.  It is a work in progress and when there is anything noteworthy to say on the subject it will be reported on the blog.  (Discern what you will from this brief summary.  Either way you take it, you will be right.......)

We birded at the Gilbert Water Ranch on Tuesday morning.  Not much happening but we did spot a pair of green Herons and a pair of Kestrels.  We also observed several Warblers but did not make a positive identification of any of them.  We are tempted to put forth a suggestion that all Warblers be required to display name tags, just like we do in our RV Park!

We won our latest Bocce Ball league match.  Our record is now 4 wins and 1 defeat.  Some team members are talking playoffs.  This last match was a dozy.  After 4 ends the score was 2 - 2 and it looked as if we would have a low scoring game.  Within 15 minutes our team was ahead 12 - 2.  10 minutes later we were down 13 -12.  We tied it up and then in the final end Dana scored the winning point.  Clutch!  Bocce Ball is not so much of a physical game but it is nerve racking.

Barry continues to assist in coaching the 1.5 Tennis Team.  It is a lot of fun.  Something to look forward to each Wednesday afternoon.

Dana bought some new bike gear this week.  I don't have any pictures yet but I'll just say she looks pretty fantastic in her pink jersey and pink vest.

Dana found time to attend church with our neighbour, Lila.  Barry was attending service at the "Tee to Green" church.  Dana took a couple photos of the interior of the church.  I've included one that will shows the understated elegance of the Chancel.  Surprising for a Catholic church (Barry's editorial comment).

Finally, our days seem to end with social gatherings.  Some organized, many more of the impromptu variety.  These gathers normally, and that is not really the word for it, begin with  Dana and I sitting on patio chairs in the street either having a late lunch or afternoon coffee/tea.  Soon one or two neighbours join in.  Then a few more join in.  Coffee/tea give way to wine and beer......  We have a lot of laughs and get just the right amount of sun.  The combination of vitamin D with "vitamin" B and W is wonderful.  The socializing is fantastic.  We feel very much a part of this small community on 14th Street.  Everyone here has accepted us as neighbours and friends even if we are only here for a few months.  I can't tell you how great that feels.  Well, I guess I just did.

I leave you with yet another verse from a Jimmy Buffett song.  Ciao everyone!

It's those changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same.
With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.