What a difference a day makes.

I do declare I am okay.

I prayed.

Some of you prayed.

All of you were kind and 

encouraged me.

My sister promised to slap me 

when she sees me.

My daughter told me to 

"put on my big girl panties".

(eww I hate that word "panties").

Today, I had on my "rose colored" glasses.

 

 

We started our day with the train trip

to the Grand Canyon.

Now, I ask you...

if a train looks like a bus

and rides like a bus...

is it a bus?

Holy choo-choo, we booked the wrong trip.

We were on a bus to the Grand Canyon.

A little bus, but a bus.

Our guide was named Cody Coyote Victor.

White boy claimed it was spelled 

Kodie Kiotie Victor.

I gave him a couple of Indian names,

Annoys Me Alot

and

Runs His Mouth.

Both fit.

Supposedly, he was a rodeo announcer after

years of rodeo competing.

He taught Western history for years at a 

junior college.

He gave us way more background than 

even this blabber mouth wanted.

We first stopped at a volcano

Sunset Crater National Monument.

We were given a 15 minute allotment 

to check out the scene

following a 15 minute lesson on

 the difference between a National Monument,

a National Forest,

and  a National Park.

Google it b/c I can't remember

and I can't care to google it for you.

From there we ventured to the Indian ruins.

Pueblo ruins.

I now know pueblo means 

communal dwelling.

We were given 20 minutes there.

We may have gotten griped at b/c 

Stuart and I started to walk away from 

the Talk Master to get a picture

before he gave the time assignment.

The ruins were really fascinating.

It was so still.

 

hubba hubba

Oops I digress.

When we were back on the bus I texted 

our daughter Annie

that I had just seen Indian ruins.

She said she thought I was sick.

Indian ruins not Indian runs.

Ha ha ... Idiot. 

From there to a Trading Post for lunch.

Menus were passed back.

We needed to know what

beverage and entree' we wanted.

He told us "don't let them give you a menu.

Know what you want.

It will be faster."

We arrived and were seated.

The older guy across the table

had a menu in his hand 

I warned him,

"Oh, he is going to flip if he sees that menu."

Just then along comes Kotie the Time Nazi

and he grabbed the menu out of the guy's  hands.

He walked away and my sis-in-law said

"when I got up this morning, I was an adult"

haha

The guy across the table and his wife

were visiting AZ 

to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

They were from WI.

The man gave me my new catch phrase.

"It's the berries."

Love it.

Feel free to use it.

I will share it with you.

We had a few minutes to 

look around the Trading Post gift shop

and then

35 minutes later 

we were back on the time machine

headed to the Big Canyon.

And then smoke was coming out of the engine.

Pull over...

pour water in the engine...

creep along...

pull over and repeat...

and repeat again

Finally, we got to the first stop of the look out.

We are off schedule.

I think at this point 

Kotie had the Indian runs.

We went off to look at the site.

We had 30 minutes.

We then had to come back to the drop-off spot

  where he instructed us to 

walk over to the visitor center 

and wait for a big bus.

That bus would take us to the main visitor center

25 miles away

and then the company 

was sending another small bus

to take us home.

We walked to the visitor center 

and then he came over there

and said oops, walk back to the first spot.

Stop the madness.

We had 3 people who could hardly walk.

2 walked with canes.

Finally, we boarded the "new" big bus

and made the trip

to the main visitor center.

I took lots of pictures

from a safe distance.

I really couldn't get to the edge.

The railings are about mid-thigh.

Some people disregard the warnings and

go outside the railings.

None from our group disobeyed

but a man let his kids climb out on rocks.

I had to walk away.

Stuart took pictures but they all look the sme.

Words cannot give it description.

I tell you,

God is good.

God is such an artist.

It is amazingly huge and beautiful.

Breath-taking. 

 

We soaked in the beauty

and then loaded up in the replacement bus

for the long drive home.

The sun was set

and we were tired.

Kotie was now back at the wheel.

He called on his history as "the History Teacher".

He asked questions.

He called out True or False?

I called out in my mind...

gun squad or lynch mob?

We were all too tired to do 

History of the West,

Real or Reel?

(how Hollywood gave us fake facts.)

Some played along.

Most napped.

All in all, it was a good day.

I loved the sights.

I loved the 14 other bus mates.

All were so nice.

Everyone helped each other.

We enjoyed the marvelous sights.

I encourage you to

go see the Grand Canyon if you can.

But take the train.

I hear it's the berries.

 

Dear Abby,

Well, it is official,

I am homesick. 

I am a turd.

I am a homesick turd.

I mean really, really?

This is one of the prettiest places.

It rivals Switzerland

and yet I long for home.

Mainly I long for my peeps.

My bestie is with me 

but I miss the other key players.

I blame them.

Go off to college,

let me adjust.

Then come home and get married...

have all those babies

and move 2 miles away from me.

I cannot be at fault.

But the facts are facts 

and I wish I had a 

Star Trek transporter.

I am spoiled.

Someone slap me.

I am on vacation.

Everytime I see Christmas decor,

I think I wish I were at home.

Arrg.

We have a Roman tub/spa in our room.

I sat in it and bawled.

Craptastic travel companion I am.

Well, actually I am,

because none of them know I am sad.

I deserve an Emmy.

Or medication.

Pray I get my head outta my heinie.

Maybe it is the season.

Maybe it is because I slept 4 hours.

(I had a great book and was into it.)

Maybe it is because I am a turd.

 I can't care.

It is what it is.

Today we did a Jeep ride through the desert 

and it was gorgeous.

We watched the sunset 

from a great vantage point.

My pics do not do it justice.

Tomorrow,we do the Grand Canyon via a train trip. 

I leave you with some pics from the day.

Pray for me friends.

And someone go hug my babies for me.

This next picture made me happy.

I feel better now that I have spilled the beans,

or whined, or complained, 

or admitted I am mental.

Whatev.

It's all good even when it's not.

Sanford and Son

Today's itinerary

started with a gold mine.

A real gold mine and 

a junker's gold  mine.

There was so much old rust.

I was in Heaven.

Nothing was for sale. 

nada. nothing. 

I was bummed

but I could dream.

Man, oh man, if you love old,

rusty, faded paint

you will agree this place was great.

Twinkle, twinkle I want that star.

You can wash up here

before you get your tetanus shot. 

 You know how I love chairs.

I wanted these.

Point me to the check out.

Not for sale?...

 Damn you Sue.

We talked to the owner

Don Robertson.

I like to call him The Don

or Mr. Bigot.

Or I may have said Toothless Wonder

as I walked away,

shaking my head.

photo source

He is not my kind of guy,

but the man has some neat stuff.

I know, right?

 

Suck it, Partridge Family.

There was a donkey and a goat

that I fell in love with.

When I wouldn't give the donkey a treat

he would grab a rope with bells

in his teeth and ring it at me.

 I like a man who knows what he wants.

We finished the day with some retail therapy.

Today, I supported the arts.

Over and over again.

And we did a lot of oohing and aahing

over this.

I just cannot get over the beauty and 

the vastness of it all.

I am having a great time.

No cleaning, no cooking,

and lots of hand holding with my big guy.

It doesn't matter that I didn't get any junk.

I have all I need

when it comes to the good stuff.

Life is straight of the chain, baby.

the saga continues

We had time to kill today

before we could do our check-in

so we headed to Jerome.

It is an old copper mining town 

that now is host to lots of artsy shops.

The views were fantastic.

The drive was hairpin turns

and gorgeous mountain views.

You all know me and my height thingie.

I was on the outside of the car

by the drop-off.

]It is hours later and 

my heinie may still be puckered.

We poked around the shops.

He got a knife at Walmart on the way.

I got a hand lotion at one of the shops.

We support the arts.

Yup, it is what we are known for.

We took in another car show of sorts

He may be from that show Hairy Bikers.

Or he may have been a new take on the rickshaw.

 I waved just in case. 

 Tonight we are settled into our condo.

Tomorrow has no plan.

We are winging it.

Stu's feet are no longer barking.

His calves are bawling now.

I'll be back with more of the trip.

I know you are on the edge of your seats.

Someone call Travel Magazine...

they may need 

a boring written account of Arizona.

I know where they can find it

and now you do too.

 

me and the pack mule

We landed in Phoenix yesterday morning.

Sut's older sister and her husbsnd 

flew in from Chicago to meet us.

We got some brunch and then settled into our hotel.

Not much happening on Thanksgiving.

We hit the car show at the convention Center

where I picked out a nice Rolls Royce.

We looked around the town a bit

and ended with dinner at our hotel.

Today we had great weather.

Tee shirt weather.

We headed out with

country boy, Stuart as the driver.

 He may/may not have tried driving on the 

city train's tracks.

We started at the Botanical Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

and ended at the Phoenix zoo.

After all, it isn't vacation 

without the scent of monkey dung

in the air.

 

 

Stuart says we have walked him too much.

He said it isn't the Disney Death March

that I made him do last year...but close.

He is a doof.

I am loving having him with me 24/7.

He makes me laugh.

And he carries the camera bag.

And the water bottle,

and pays for everything.

It is a sweet deal.

 

Tomorrow we are off to 

our main destination, Sedona.

I am missing a few people though.

 They worked cattle with their dads

while their moms shopped.

If only they would have fit in a pocket...

 I would have Stuart carry them for me. 

After letting the big guy rest his "dogs" for a bit

we are off to explore more of the downtown.

And locate a pocket knife.

Homeboy thinks he needs one.

He may need to McGyver something.

Or maybe he just wants to carry one.

Thankful

I have much to be grateful for in my life.

I wish I could have you over to my house.

I would plop you on the couch,

serve you a hot mug of whatever beverage you wanted

and gab the hours away.

I am thankful for all of you.

I started this blog last January 

because I was pressured into it.

I never had any idea how much

it would change my life.

I has blessed me in so many ways.

I have made some amazing friends.

I feel like I know many of you.

And you know me.

You pray with me and for me.

We have been sad and happy together.

For this I am so thankful.

I am grateful for my friends

that I love like family.

They make me joyful.

They laugh at my antics and 

they make our times together so much fun.

This year I am thankful

for the gift of Down Syndrome.

A year ago I was scared to death of those words.

This year I see it as the blessing it is.

Ollie kicked her heart surgery outta the park.

She is changing the stereotype of DS.

She makes me thankful for 
situations I didn't want but needed, 
only to realize

they are pretty fantastic after all.

I am thankful for my family.

We welcomed two baby girls this year.

Ollie and Penelope.

Miss Penelope is a delight.

She is beautiful, healthy, and happy.

She is easy-peasy. 

Aubrie, Everett, Ollie, Caroline, and Penelope

make my life as Grandma

beyond wonderful.

My daughters are my best friends.

No one makes me have more fun than they do.

My sons-in-law love them
like they deserve to be loved.

That blesses me too.

I am so blessed to have a wonderful family. 

My parents are adjusting well to their new digs.

My siblings are great team-mates.

I think we have grown even closer this year.

Even Alzheimer's has brought blessings to us.

I have a great husband.

I am so thankful for him.

He makes marriage seem like no work.

He makes me laugh and he makes me proud.

But, the thing I am most thankful for is

God and his amazing grace.

Without his daily presence

none of my other relationships would be as good.

Thank you God for my awesome life.

Thank you God for the gift of your precious son.

Have a great holiday!

Thanks for reading everyone!

God bless you!!

301. A 10 day trip with my honey

302. Arizona weather

303. No Black Friday shopping