Unique Gifts and Flight to Phoenix

"Fate is for those too weak to determine their own destiny."

 

On my last blog I posted some of the unique food items Sabrina had made for Christmas Day.    Check out her masterpieces here.

  --  Want some Reindeer Noses?

 

Terry and I had an amazing Christmas.  Most importantly we shared it with family.  We also received lots of wonderful gifts.  I can't list them all but want to mention just a couple unusual ones.

This was an engraved necklace from my DIL, Sabrina. Thank you for raising the man of my dreams.	Folks who know me also know that genealogy has been my hobby for over 35 years. This is a vial to collect samples for DNA testing from Tammi!! In about three weeks I should have information on my own unique 23 pairs of chromosomes!!

Gifts for Justin gave all of us a challenge. After all, he only has a small locker on-board the ship. He doesn’t have room for big gifts.  Since he had chosen to take his leave time to spend the holidays with us a lot of effort was put into those gifts. It started with the Soldier Emergency Kit on Christmas Eve and continued on to Christmas Day with others.

--- Jordie came up with a Tootsie Roll container filled with what appeared as 40 pieces of candy.    Twenty of the candy pieces had been replaced with dollar bills and rewrapped in the original wrappers.

Tammi was responsible for coming up with the  “Date Night” gifts for Jordie and boyfriend, Brendan.  She was also responsible for the Soldier Emergency Kit given to Justin.  What fun both of those ideas were as gift after gift just added to the fun we had on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Here’s Justin trying to open the small package Sabrina made.  Hopefully, there would be room in his locker for something of this size.   -----   

Each and every one of us had a marvelous time sharing family time, fun and laughter.  It was another amazing get together.

---- Black balloons tumbled out of one box. The card on the box was attached with a safety pin.  He had to pop all the balloons to find the ones with gift cards in them.

We also had several amazing hand-made items. Tammi and Sandi made us some beautiful ceramic items.   Sabrina's first knitted project was a  beautiful scarf for Tammi.

The day after Christmas was spent getting ready to head back to Arizona.  We boxed the gifts that were going with us.   Last year I checked packages back on Southwest too.  However, once checked I never saw my suitcase or its contents again.  I figure the loss was about $500 but none of it was covered by Southwest.  That’s one of the downsides of employee stand-by travel.  Some airlines will still guarantee checked items and others won’t.  We rarely check anything but once in a while there is no choice.  At least Terry was on a confirmed ticket so checking wasn’t such a gamble this time.  Besides … this time I took pictures of all the items in both boxes as we put them in row by row.

Michael and Sandi drove us to the airport.    With storms all over the nation, many flights were delayed or cancelled.  That can cause a lot of havoc when traveling on a stand-by basis.  We were prepared for the long wait.  Luck was on my side as I was given a seat on the first flight I tried.  Yippee!  However, the flight was going to Sacramento so there was still one more chance I just might not get to Phoenix.

Being the last one on the plane meant a middle seat but at least I had a seat so I was still happy.   Playing  “elbows” isn’t a lot of fun but sometimes a necessary activity when you’re in the middle and the occupants in the seats next to you attempt to claim the armrests by spreading their wings.  At least playing “elbows” isn’t as bad as having overflowing bodies in my seat.  Yep … I was happy.   

The good news was … I made the flight on to Phoenix.  Terry’s flight was on a non-stop from Portland.  It left a couple hours after I took off but we arrived within 15 minutes of each other. About 3:30 AM we finally fell into our own bed in the motorhome. 

Duchess was happy.  She was so happy in fact that she slept the rest of the night on the floor in the bedroom instead of in the living area where she normally sleeps. She had been well taken care of by Toni and Doug.

That’s it!  Now it’s time to think about moving on again.  Where to and when are the questions facing us now.

‘Tis life on the road.

A Few Christmas Gift Suggestions

                                 

The best gifts in life will never be found under a Christmas tree. Those gifts are friends, family and the ones you love.   

                                                 

It’s Christmas Eve and I hope you’ve finished your shopping.  We finally have!! Remember your presence is more important than your presents.

                                                 

The last few days have definitely been very busy getting ready for Christmas.  With shopping and wrapping and family around, it’s also been a pretty marvelous time.  However, thank goodness the shopping and wrapping is now behind.  The problem is every time I’m out finishing up, I find something new for someone else and then … the numbers are off again.

                               

With gifts in mind here are a few Christmas gift suggestions we’ve seen printed year after year:  To your enemy, give forgiveness.  To a customer, give service.  To an opponent, give tolerance.  To a friend, give your heart.  To all, give charity.  To every child, give a good example.  To yourself, give respect.

                         

Terry has arrived so let the festivities begin!  Oh … wait … they already have.  Duchess is in charge of holding down the motorhome in Arizona and will be celebrating her Christmas with Toni, Doug and Parker.  Her biggest Christmas wish is that they save a few turkey nibbles for her. 

                                    
I’ve had too many other things on my list (just like Santa) to take many pictures and the brain is in “coast” mode so all I really want to do is wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

           

There is a reason for this season.

        

 

‘Tis life on the road, in the air or celebrating with family and friends.  No matter where you are  … we wish you a wonderful day and  safe travels over this holiday season. 

Heading Out for the Holidays .. Maybe

"Life is a great bundle of little things."

Wednesday -

Today will be a very busy day.  Usually the day before travel it is.  When I’ve had my fill of coffee I’ll get to work getting ready for it.  Yesterday was busy too.  After a bit of running around and getting last minute items, we also had a “farewell” barbecue for IYQ at Toni’s place.  He’s pulling out this morning and heading back to his spot in California.  I guess farewell isn’t the right word since we’ll see him again in “Q” next month.  We’re already looking forward to heading that way again.  Seeing all the people and the activity they bring to that little oasis in the desert is certainly something to look forward to.

The temperature in the motorhome dipped down to 57 overnight.  Needless to say, on came the furnace and a heavy bathrobe.  I’m beginning to think Arizona just isn’t far enough south this time of year.  I wish they’d get going on that bridge from the west coast to Hawaii but am starting to think it won’t be completed in my lifetime.

This morning I’m going to print out all the non-stop flights on Alaska Airlines, Southwest and US Air from here to Portland.  Hopefully there will be one empty seat for me on one of those planes … hopefully.  If not, I might be at the airport all day long or worse yet …. Terry might have to drive back and pick me up late tomorrow night.  Just in case I’m also filling my iPad with books and movies.  I have a feeling it will be a very long day.  It’s not often I really want to be wrong.  However, this time I really want to be wrong.  Terry?  Well, he actually has a confirmed ticket on Sunday.  Let’s hope he doesn’t make it ahead of me.  After all, I have a little shopping to finish once I get up there, people to see and presents to wrap.

The good thing is I have only a couple small Christmas presents with me.  We shipped everything else so we wouldn’t have to worry about checking boxes and have them get lost …. been there, done that.

Daylight is starting to peak out.  That’s the signal to get myself dressed and sort laundry so I can get it ready and pack the few items I plan on taking.  Hopefully, my next blog will be written from the state of Washington. 

Thursday  Morning -

Our plan was to leave Casa Grande for the Phoenix airport about 4:30 AM.  That's what we did.  There was ice on the car windows and it was definitely chilly.  However, it was also a much easier day than expected.  An hour before flight time the first flight I tried to stand-by for had one empty seat.  I just knew I wouldn't get that one.  That doesn't happen unless I'm flying American.   I just knew all the employees from Southwest would rush to the gate in front of me.  Thus, just as I pulling up the internet on my iPhone to check on Alaska Airlines,  my name was called and I was given a ticket.  So much for all those books and movies I had loaded on my iPad.  I wouldn't need them this day.  Yipee!!  I have arrived now and the day is still young.
 



‘Tis life on the road.