Like Riding a Bike?

Yuma, Arizona

Tuesday, Oct. 27th started out about the same as the previous 2 days. I didn't get up until 6:45 with another nice easy day on the menu. So, because it is about the same as any other day, hot and lazy, I'm going to vere off into a story. Just because. 

Good morning!

I did get out at 7 for my walk, trying at least to get a mile in before my cup of tea. That's not much at all but by the end of the day I was leaning towards the 1 1/2 mile marker. I don't like repeating my steps, on the same walk, so once I covered the whole park, I returned home.

The moon took its time setting
this morning. It's just hanging there.

My story title today is about my afternoon. I went to the pool and for the first 45 minutes, I was alone. Let's go back to my teen years. I was fearful of lakes and pools yet when I grew up with my siblings, we used to float crazily on rubber tire tubes in the little creek down from our country home. No fear because we could touch bottom.

Interesting little
Saguaro. I think it's a rebirth.

As a teenager though, when we'd all go to the beach on a weekend, or during summer vacation, things would get rowdy (even without alcohol) and my friends would climb up on their boyfriend's shoulders and jump into the 'unknown' (to me). I feared getting pulled into water as a joke and threatened to never go again if anyone did it. 🤷‍♀️

From across the park,
I watched as the sun came up.

I remember going only a couple of times to the Lucan Community pool with friends. While they all had lessons, something my parents could never afford, they were jumping into the deep end and I was even afraid for them to try and teach me. Once, I jumped in and it felt like forever coming to the surface. Never again. Honestly, never again.

This metal sculpture
is new to the park since April.
It reminded us of the
sculptures in Borrego Springs.

Somewhere in my older years, in my 20's? 30's? I don't recall, I taught myself to swim from watching others. At least now I know I could probably save myself, for a short term, and don't have fear (in a pool) swimming across the deep end. In a lake, nope, I need to touch bottom and waves frighten me. 

I wasn't walking alone this
morning. My tall friend was ahead.

Bill and I went to Barbados on a 10 day vacation in 2002. It was one of the best holidays I'd had but we both had a scare in the undertow while swimming innocently in the Caribbean. At least I think that is the water we were near. It was beautiful, until then. We just had to be very careful. 

Birds on a wire.
Must be a meeting.

I tried numerous times to swim underwater, even though I wasn't fond of putting my head under. I'd even open my eyes but I could never figure how to go to the bottom of the pool. So, back to today. Alone at the pool, instead of just floating on a noodle, I did my swim back and forth using a couple of strokes I'd learned over the years. 

Gibbs finds a shady spot
as usual.

Then, I did it again. Then, floating on my back, I thought I would attempt my stomach, face underwater. I didn't open my eyes, a bit afraid of the chlorine, but I did it! Then I went under again. It felt good, and part of that was pride. There are some advantages to being alone at the pool after all! 

We had our a/c on and our
awnings out.

I know for you swimmers out there, it's not a big deal but, for me, it kind of is like riding a bike. You don't forget how to do it, but if you don't use it, you lose it. Obviously, I'm not riding bikes anymore! I wasn't sure I'd have nerve to try braving 'underwater' in the pool again but I did. 

Sunset

I returned home before 4, made myself a celebratory cup of tea and finished my book. Bill had finished his earlier, what bookworms! for supper, we had barbecued pork chops, with a rice dish and vegetables. After the pots were washed, we watched tonight's episode of NCIS Origins.

This was a good day. I hope you didn't mind my story, there wasn't much else to write about today. Tomorrow, we'll be shopping in Yuma, that will switch things up for us and stock us up. I hope you've had a good day too.

Supper was good, even the
chops were pretty good.
Good night!

Thank you for your visit.

Another Calm Day and a Swim!

Yuma, Az

On Monday, Oct. 26th I felt much happier when I didn't wake up until almost 6 am. It meant that I (we) were perhaps getting used to the 3 time zone changes that enveloped us over this past week. I went back to sleep when my boys got up and went out into the dark.

Good morning!

The next time I woke was closer to 7 and one of my stupid dreams (not being able to find Bill in a crowd) made me glad to open my eyes. Brother, it must be my worst fear - finding myself alone somewhere. 🤷‍♀️ 

Taking a walk around the park. 
Only 1 1/2 miles today.
🤷‍♀️

We had our morning brew together and relaxed. This is the life, the retired life, we hear about! 🤣 Bill wanted to go into Yuma to pick up a cover for the hot water heater that we lost along the way. Gibbs and I waited here at home.

A new growth on this tall palm 

He wasn't too long and after he returned, I was washed, dressed and went for a walk. I need to get myself back into a routine. The walking is good for me and I've been very slack. Bill was anxious to transfer our files from a plastic tote in the hall closet into our new file drawer in the 'Gord' table. 

I like watching the Osprey
go over the park.

He worked away at it this morning and it didn't take long. There are actual folders to sort through and dispose of old paperwork but for now, they are where they are supposed to be. This will also free up a lot of storage space for our bulk food items. 

Soon, we'll be able to 
use the table. 

The great news is that Bill got our Starlink working and so we watched the last 2 Survivor episodes. All caught up now. Yay! Tonight, maybe we can find the NCIS shows from last Tuesday as well. It has felt weird not having a tv and we were going to resort to watching dvd's! 

We got Starlink working again.
We, as in Bill.
I knew he would.

After lunch, a meat, cheese and lettuce wrap filled me with a hard boiled egg. We each had a piece of fudge too. Bill started into a movie so I changed into my swimsuit and walked up to the pool around 2. No one is ever there, which really throws me for a loop. 

I was the only one at the pool.
My foot looks weird in the shadows
of the table. 🫣

Used to be, no matter when we were at a park with a pool, I used to meet a lot of rv'ers. I remember meeting Jim and Sharon Mohl at Lake Havasu (I think it was) and the pool was always full. Oh well, I enjoyed just floating on a noodle, sitting out to read, and then sitting on the steps to read. Nice!

I heard them before I saw them.
The Gamble quail were enjoying
themselves outside the pool area.

When I returned, Bill was into another movie so I watched it with him. We turned the a/c on today, it reached a warm/hot 88F/31.1C this afternoon and we paid our extra $3 to stay. This is a Coast to Coast park so it was with saved points that covered the cost of our park. Soon we won't need that membership either.

I've never seen so many in
one place.

For supper, we had spaghetti and meatballs as the meatballs needed to be eaten up. It was 'ok' , nothing to write home about but it filled us. Bill cleaned up the dishes and while I worked on my blog, we watched NCIS:Origins. 

Supper was acceptable.

This afternoon, I started a new book by Michael Connelly called City of Bones. Bill had already read it on my Kobo, years ago. He was reading another James Patterson, called 3rd Degree but tv will be a nice change. 😉 

                                Good night!

We had a great day. We turned the a/c off at suppertime as it had cooled down outside. 

Thank you for coming by.