August 15, 2010

This was the last day of a nice vacation. We kayaked on the Charles River. Kenny was nervous at first but the water was warm. After that we rented bikes and biked from Cambridge to Harvard, then across the bridge into Boston. There is a great bike path all along the river. This is where we came across the news crews outside the jail where the Craigslist killer had killed himself that morning. Always excitment in a big city. I can't wait to go back. We really feel like we saw it all and understand the city and it's people better. Now home to Tucson.

August 14, 2010

We made it to the top of the Prudential Center for a drink. 52 floors high. From there we were able to see the Areosmith Concert going on at Fenway Park.

August 13, 2010

Trying to get creative on the USS Constitution. We walked the entire Freedom Trail today starting at the beginning in the Boston Common. It's only 3 miles but seems like so much more. We were bummed out because some of the sights along the way charge to get in. We passed on those and opted for a stop in pubs along the way for a cold beer. It's the adult version of the Freedom Trail.

August 12, 2010

Kellie is heading to the airport to go home. We had a great time. This is the view out of our hotel window. Just to the right is the water. It was a great place to stay for 5 nights. Tomorrow Kenny and I transfer to a hotel downtown. She motto was "I came a Armenian and left an Irish".

She even has the shirt to prove it. After all her name sure sounds a bit Irish!

August 11, 2010

Two pics for today. I took so many. Fishbowl on the warf. Great weather for sitting outside. The other is a water fountain near Harvard. Kellie and I found a couple of good places to rest on our day of touring.

August 10, 2010

I am psyched...while waiting for a tour of Fenway Park I figured out how to take monochrome pictures with my camera. I am going to fool around with it some. I like the mood it creates. Here you see Kenny and Kellie in Boston's North End outside Mike's Bakery. Everyone was walking around with a pastry box from Mike's. Very, very good.

August 9, 2010

It was so fun to see a fire station dog. He didn't have spots but he was having a good time. The female fire fighter did not want her pic taken. I love the happenings in a city. Kenny thinks I'm more of a city girl but I don't know. I would love to spend half the time in a city and half in the mountains. If only........

August 8, 2010

Kellie and I were on a mission to get to Maine. The only state dad said he had never visited. We made it. This is a lighthouse in York, Maine. We tried the water, but it was freezing so we walked a lot, sat on the beach people watching and finally had a great salad at a cafe by the water. A great day! We were only missing Kamie.

August 7, 2010

They have this farmer's market on a regular basis in Boston. Not far from Quincy Market. Hundreds of venders and customers. I liked the colors that were there. Kellie was not interested. I think it is a real generation gap on this one. 2 50 yr old adults=yes 1 22 year old = no, no . We bought cherries!

August 6, 2010

This is Kenny and Kellie drinking an Irish Car Bomb at the Blace Rose in Boston. Our first night there. The music was great and the weather even behaved. Both slept until noon the next day!

August 5, 2010

I was driving to mom's house to return her lawm mower and the sun was just setting. From the street behind her house you can get some fantastic sunset pictures

August 2, 2010

Another day, another cloud, another rainbow.........What a summer season of clouds!

August 1, 2010

Three nights, three dinners. Only this one is easy.....family. All is well in the world when you have your kids, mom, dog, and husband in the same place and everyone is happy. Kenny would say this ranking is intended! I'm just tired from serving and cleaning....next a movie.

July 31, 2010

This is Jay and Cynthia. We had a few couples over for dinner. The dinner conversation got lively when we started discussing HUNTING. Really passionate people. I thought it was cute that they started dancing......maybe it was the Key Lime Martinis talking.

July 30, 2010

"The Pot of Gold" Ben and Erin came for dinner and then this rainbow appeared. They are recently engaged! Ben works with Kenny at Raytheon.

July 29, 2010

And rain if finally did. Kristi has turned me on to a website that teaches you how to fully use your digital camera. I am having a lot of fun and soon I should be able to take better pictures. Here I was trying to get the water to flow. I think you get the picture!

July 28, 2010

How's this for the nick of time. Not much to report today....but here is a pic.

July 27, 2010

Again, I almost forgot to take a picture. It is hard remember each day. This was taken late in the evening. A silk flower in our guest room.

July 26, 2010

I told you she likes to play ball and swim.

July 25, 2010

The rain has really helped the grass turn green. I always have a willing subject. Kula is getting older but still loves to play ball and swim.

July 24, 2010

I was at a swim party where I took a picture of Kenny and his friend....then I got home and saw the moon coming up through the storm clouds. I loved it! That's all I can say about it.

July 23, 2010

This is taken at the Lutheran Church on Tanque Verde. Several of my friends attend here. Mom has decided to make this her church. She goes every week with a friend and then they get coffee or drive around looking at storm damage. I'm thankful she feels good here.

July 22, 2010

One of the best things about Tucson is the sunsets. During certain times of the year we don't have a cloud in sight, so during this season I will be posting a lot of cloud pictures. Amazing!

July 21, 2010

To escape the summer heat, we headed to Mt. Lemmon for a quick dinner. Twelve miles up and 25 degrees cooler. I was responsible for taking the fixings for Bloody Marys. It was going to be soooooo good......if only I hadn't forgot the Vodka! Here's a suggestion.....don't choose your picnic table too close to the outhouse, especially if there is a breeze!

July 20, 2010

OK....I forgot to take a picture at Bunko tonight, so on the way home I took one of all the road construction blinkies on my way home. Tanque Verde is torn up. It will be nice in a year or so when there is a dedicated walking trail and bike lane. Not my best photo. P.S. I won $20 at Bunko! Still trying to take one a day.........obviously no matter what.

July 19, 2010

We three friends. Mary Helen, Jayne and I get together 3 times during the summer to celebrate our birthdays. We also try and schedule a few more dinners during the year. We met in a businesswoman's group several years ago. It's fun to keep in touch and see how thier businesses have grown or have struggled. The only topic that is forbidden is politics! Not in agreement. Luckily I am the one down the middle.

July 22

One of my favorite views from my house - the bell tower of Hyde Park Community United Methodist church. My photos are not great, but this tower looks beautiful in the evening light, and right after a storm, like tonight. When I'm working in the garden I can keep track of time with its bells, every fifteen minutes, and we enjoy the impromptu playings of Let There Be Peace on Earth on a regular basis. I enjoyed the view a lot more before it had those dead tree branches in it. I've been trying to get Woody to take that tree down for a couple years, but he keeps thinking it's going to come back. Here's a bonus photo - zoom view.

July 21

Just a follow-up from yesterday - here is my quite optimistic workout schedule...including three weekly walks with Woody. On those days I need another dose of exercise later in the day!

Kristi - July 20

So, a few months ago I decided I could cancel my $70 a month health club membership that I never used in favor of a $15/month membership...that I didn't use for the first six weeks. But here I am today, to meet with a trainer. You know the drill - they try to sell you personal training, which given all the money in the world I would totally sign up for. In my current state, not so much. Regardless, I plan to try it on my own, two or three times a week for spinning or body works classes. Stay tuned for updates!

July 18 - Oops - wrong order!

This is my "forgot to take a picture today" picture, But is does show how Holly always sits on the steps with her behind on the top step and her feet one step down. I think she sits here all day with Woody (foot in background) while I am at work. He sits out here to smoke - doesn't even bother to hide it from me anymore. And Holly just wants to be where people are. I am her favorite, but he will do in a pinch.

July 19 - Surprise 18th Birthday Party

I guess it's easy to throw a surprise birthday party nine days after the actual birthday - who suspects it then?? But we had to wait for the key guests to be back in town, Walker and Erin. Robby was surprised and I think happy. They ate burgers and cake, tons of fruit and carrots with dip, and then we sent them bowling on our dime. I'm quite pleased with myself - and with Robby. He's having a really great, social summer. What a relief!

July 16 - A Surprise 50th Birthday Party

Really, isn't everybody 50 by now...apparently not. Our friend Attef is just now getting there. This is his wife Linda unwrapping an Attef puppet somebody got him, decked out in complete coaching regalia and looking eerily like the real person. I have other photos, from later in the evening, of Linda kissing the puppet, dancing with the puppet, etc. Attef is a good friend, Ross' first soccer coach, and the one who taught all of us to be soccer fans.

July 10 - Robby's birthday

This year for his birthday Robby went to King's Island. That was always his favorite thing to do on his birthday, but it's been years since he actually did it. Summer birthdays are hard, with so many people out of town. For a gift I made him a poster with photos from all his past birthdays and several were with friends at KI. This year, since I of course was not going, I had to take this photo of Robby with Josh and Kate before they left.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Back home from California. We stopped at the girls house to pick up Kula. She was ready to come home. I wanted to take a picture of the girls but one hadn't showered and one was just getting out of the shower so I settled for Chief! He doesn't love everyone but he does love me. I took care of him a lot when he was a pup and hurt his leg. Kamie told him to get on his bed because he was jumping up on me. He followed her instruction but complained the whole way. If you have ever been around a Aussie you know what I mean. They talk! He matches his bed well doesn't he?

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Dinner with good friends. We traveled a lot with Chuck and Sherry on thier boat "Orion". About 5 years ago they donated to the Boy Scouts of America so they could raffle it off. A generous gift as Orion was a 50 ft. yacht. This eatery is located a block from where Orion was docked. We could walk here and not worry about a thing. When we were coming to California Chuck would say, "You know where the key is". Kenny and I spent many a weekends on Orion docked in Newport. We hope we can return the favor someday and let Chuck know where the key is to our place in Pinetop! For now dinners will have to do!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Well, a beautiful day. Sunny and about 80 degrees! The water is a bit cold for me but Kenny loves riding the waves. I'll wait for the water in Hawaii. Lots of families and people just loving life!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Kenny's favorite past time. We rode our bikes from Newport Beach to Huntington Beach and ended up at this pub drinking beer! The weather was great and the food and drink even better. Here I could enjoy one of my favorite past times....people watching. Next on to the beach. It's good we get our exercise in the morning!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Oops! Today I almost forgot to take a pic. So this is of our friend's backyard in Chino Hills, CA. Always a relaxing place to visit. When you are in the pool or spa you feel like you're at a resort. It is also fun to walk the neighborhood. Beautiful homes and amazing landscaping. There are many things you just can grow in Arizona. However, you do have to battle traffic and masses of people. "Call someplace paradise and kiss it goodbye! Kenny and I walked to the local outdoor mall and watched the kids play in the water fountain...California having a bit of a heat wave.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

This little contraption helps you travel with your ipod. It helped get us to California today. Bon Jovi was playing "The Story of My Life" . A great song if you have never heard it. I like the smiley face. 3 months ago today I was lying in a hospital bed jacked up on Morphine. Today I feel really good!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Well, as you can see the only excitment today was pork chops on the barbeque grill. I really don't like it when people take pictures of their food....but this was all I could come up with. And it does look rather delicious doesn't it? P.S. We barbeque at least 5 times a week.

A party at Ray's home with old high school buddies. This event took place because Dana Hume was in town. A good friend I haven't seen since high school graduation! Too bad he didn't make the picture.....he looks great. A good time had by all!

A dinner out with friends. Our favorite place to dine...Jonathan's Cork. This dinner was long in the planning but worth it. The wait staff kept saying it was good to have a table with personaltiy! A little loud...yes, did we close the place.....definitely!

This is Kenny and Bill. Kenny used to work with Bill at R.E. Darling and they have remained great friends. We are getting to know each other as couples. The Hollands are fans of Maui just like us. We may plan a trip in the Spring with them. Bill is also the guy that reminds me of my nephew Ross. Very fun to talk to!

Well there is nothing better in Arizona than a sunset. We are anxiously awaiting the monsoon season. It is getting closer as we can see by the clouds, but no storm yet!

Here is Ness or Little Guy as I call him. He always thinks he is on vacation when he is here. His yard doesn't have any grass in which to play a game of catch. For me, it is always a good sign to see a Aussie at our house. It means one of our girls is visiting from across town!

We are surrounded by quail this time of year. I wasn't doing much today but I saw this mom and teenager sitting on my gate. I thought it looked cute. It's fun to watch how family oriented these little creatures are.

July 6-9

July 9

My friend Janet and her daughter Jesslyn preparing for their Tiki party by mixing one of several rum drinks. The party was a big success - about 50 women, many in grass skirts and leis. I think Janet was surprised that so many of her invitees were actually in town in the dog days of summer, but she throws a great party. Terrific pork and pineapple tacos, her special spicy shrimp on the grill, and lots of happy chatter!

July 8

Had to snap this photo in my car - we hardly ever see the thermometer in triple digits here! The 75% humidity on top of that makes for pretty miserable weather. Mayor declared a heat emergency and air quality warning.

July 7

Snapped this picture of the sun coming through the trees at Redbird Hollow just before meeting my friend Karla for a walk. This is a great horse/dog/people trail in the woods of Indian Hills. Round trip about three miles maybe. We had a great walk.

July 6

Terrible photo, but that is the one and only Carlos Santana onstage at Riverbend. Woody and I braved the heat and humidity. Totally worth it.