National Senior Games

Wednesday, July 24, I flew to Cleveland, Ohio, to play basketball in my first National Senior Games. I wish I had heard about them before moving to The Villages but...better late than never!

Thursday we walked to the Convention Center, about half a mile from our hotel. Very convenient, as we were playing in old Public Hall which adjoined the brand new convention center. After registering and picking up our "goodie bag", we walked around "The Village" which every Olympics apparently has. There were many vendors, all health or sports related. We were given 12:30-1:00 to "practice." We pretty much just shot and dribbled to get used to the temporary court. There were four half courts with baskets facing alternating directions.

Thursday afternoon we went to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, about the only touristy thing in downtown Cleveland. I must say downtown Cleveland, with Lake Erie nearby, was much nicer than I had anticipated.

R & R Hall of Fame

One of my favorites - Ricky Nelson

Another fav 

Pool play for the 65-69 age group began on Friday. Since three of our best players were still playing softball, it was up to four of us to play today's games. At 11 AM, we played a team from Maine whom we beat and I scored half of our 32 points. That might not sound like many points but we play half-court with two 12-minute halves. It's a running clock except for last two minutes of each half. At 3 PM, we beat a team from North Carolina, making us 2-0 with one game to go in pool play. I played all 48 minutes today...at 71 years old! Woo hoo!! In case you're wondering, you can play down in age, not up. My teammates were all under 70.

Friday night we went to the Q Arena, home of the Cavaliers and once upon a time...LeBron James. This was called Celebration of Athletes, and Scotty Hamilton, former Olympic skater, was master of ceremonies. He was actually very entertaining. The event made us feel proud just to be a participant.

Saturday was a good news, bad news day. We had our full team but our last game in pool play was against the Celadrin Tigerettes who were going for their eighth consecutive gold medal. They have a corporate sponsor who pays all expenses and expects them to appear in much PR. They were on GMA and Fox & Friends plus others. There are many You-tube videos of them. They also have two players who play very rough, even dirty. My player stood on my foot, Instead of crashing to the floor, I grabbed hold of her, getting called for a foul. I actually stopped the game in the first few minutes and told the ref I wasn't going to play like this. She took us both aside and talked to us. Mary claimed I had pushed her in the shoulder, which I didn't, and proceeded to push me hard in the shoulder right in front of the referee! Mary did get some fouls called after that but not enough as far as I'm concerned. They beat us the second half so we were 2-1 in pool play.

                                  My teammates. #3, 4 & 5 are from Conn, played in three previous Senior Games.                                      #3, Julie, is our "coach." She's taught me a lot. To her right is my roomie, Jeanne.

 We had to wait an hour while officials set up brackets for medal play. We were seeded 8 out of 18 teams. The top 8 teams went into the AAA bracket and remaining 10 went to AA. Tigerettes were seeded 1 so we had to play them again at 1:00. I was not looking forward to going into the lion's den again. We played tough until the last couple minutes when teammates intentionally fouled trying to get possession. They sunk all their free throws so that didn't work. We were now in the loser's bracket as it's double elimination. We won our 3:00 game so were still a go. Saturday night I felt really tired. It'd been a very rough day. We joined two teammates in the hotel restaurant and then went upstairs to "crash."

Sunday at 10:00, we played a team from Texas. We had been told they had two 3-point shooters so that was our focus.We led the whole game as we shut down their 3-pointers. In fact, I actually blocked one attempt. I was as shocked as she was since I was only trying to distract her. It seemed to work because she didn't attempt another. They did get within three points near the end of the game but we held on to win by 4. Our next game wasn't until 5 PM against Colorado. I  don't know if it was the long wait or if my body was just tired, but I didn't play well the first half and told Julie to take me out and give Carol a chance. We were behind 23-12 at the half. I played better the second half but had waited too long to go back into the game. We lost 31-27, putting us in 4th place and no medal. :-(
So, Minneapolis in 2015!!

Monday, we watched the Tigerettes beat Colorado. We really should have beaten Colorado but the thought of having to play the Tigerettes a third time wasn't a pleasant one. The Tigerettes now faced a team from Tennessee. The Tigerettes had practically noone cheering for them. Tennesee played a really good game, not rough, and won by a substantial margin to become the National Champions. They deserved it!

Tennessee with their gold medals and Tigerettes with their silver.

 I was shocked when Mary from the Tigerettes came up to me after the awards and said she'd like to keep in touch. She told me I had really good moves and they would  like me to consider playing with them. I told them I haven't heard anyone here speak good of the Tigerettes. One of them said it's because they've won so many gold medals. I said no, it's because of your rough play. They believe everyone plays rough. Anyway, they asked me to think about it. Mary said it is a big committment because of all the PR events. I really didn't have to think very hard but waited until Wednesday to email Mary. I told her I'm staying with my present team, who've become good friends, and I can't make the required commitment at this time.

My friend and roommate, Jeanne.

Jeanne and I got up at 4 AM Tuesday for our 6:50 flight home. We had a layover in Nashville and we noticed all these kids in our waiting area. They were a group of 46 seventh graders going on a "before school" trip to DisneyWorld. I jokingly asked where they go when they graduate from 8th grade. I was told "Belize." They didn't know where that was so I told them they had two years to find out.

I decided to check on whether or not this flight was full. Not only full...but overbooked. When told they might need volunteers to go on another flight, I talked to Jeanne and she said "Let's do it!" So we were given $459.30 to fly to Raleigh and then Orlando. We had a seat between us on both flights and only arrived 2 hours later than original flight. Well worth the $230 apiece. :-)

Almost forgot! I came home with a souvenir...a mallet finger. It doesn't hurt but without support, the top portion of my right hand ring finger droops. It was injured when I tried to intercept a pass and the ball hit end of my finger. Went to hand specialist on Friday. He said it's soft tissue damage and I need to wear this splint for 8 weeks. I should be able to play pickleball and golf...no basketball. Wasn't planning to play BB for 2 months anyway so all is good. :-)

View of sunset over Lake Erie and R&R Hall of Fame from our 12th floor hotel room.

Time Flies!

My last post was two months ago and so much happened in the past month, I decided to finally post it...better late than never! I seem to say that often.

My granddaughter, Gracie,  had her 11th birthday on Thursday, July 18, and I sent a belated birthday card via Priority Mail. :-(

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY,  GRACIE!! 

 

June 19, Arne and I drove up to Savannah, Georgia. There had been lots of pieces of rubber on the highway. I know why some trucks have 16 wheels! We were about to turn off I-95 onto I-16, which goes to the city, when a truck in the left lane threw up a chunk of rubber. Arne pulled over to the side of the road and we saw damage to our left front bumper and hazard light. This trip had just cost us an additional $500, which is our deductible. I just had the bumper recoated the week before after we hit a dog crossing the highway the year before...another $500. Needless to say, I lowered our deductible so now we'll probably have no more comprehensive damage.

We spent two nights in Savannah and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a fabulous dining experience at The Old Pink House. Service, food, ambiance...it was perfect!

On the 21st, we drove to Jekyll Island, Georgia, for some time by the ocean. The weather wasn't cooperative as it rained both days. We enjoyed visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and learning all about sea turtles.

June 22 was our 50th wedding anniversary and I had made reservations in the Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club. This was a huge disappointment, especially after our experience in Savannah.

Arne grew this flower and had it sitting by my sink when we returned home.

June 23, we drove to Orlando to pick up Kadin and Gracie. Since we had some time before their flight, we went to the Apple store where I dreamed about a new Macbook. The girls' flight was 20 minutes late because Southwest had overbooked and noone wanted to get off the flight. Since Kadin is 12, I didn't have to pay the $50 per child for unaccompanied minors. She was to look after Gracie.  :-)

Dinner at Sweet Tomatoes

I had signed up for the Camp Villages activities they requested. On Tuesday, they "starred" in a movie which was themed Rock Party. Wednesday, they made a cute Memory Keeper. Thursday, I took them on a golf cart scavenger hunt. We thought we came in first but another cart beat us and we decided they must have left before we were told to. :-) Friday was Water Relays in the AM and Bingo in PM.

In their "Rock" Movie

Saturday the four of us went to the Gypsy Gold Farm near Ocala. We heard an interesting history of Gypsy Vanner horses and then got a tour of the farm. These horses are beautiful! While poor Gracie wasn't feeling well and sat in the car for part of the morning, Kadin loved seeing the horses.

Sunday was church, lunch at Brooklyn Bagels and then basketball practice. Monday, the girls went to art class with Arne. He said they worked intently for a solid three hours.

Tuesday we had to pick up a rental van as there were going to be six of us. We dropped our car off at a collision center for repair and then drove to Orlando where we picked up Erik and Jeffrey.

 Jeffrey was so much fun! We couldn't get over how well he spoke, in long sentences...and knew what he was talking about. He loves the water, so swimming every day. Late Friday afternoon, Gracie noticed poop in the pool. Seems Jeffrey had filled his diaper and it was floating away. I told the manager of the rec center and the pool was closed for 24 hours. Fortunately, there are other pools to which they could go on Saturday.

For the Fourth of July, I had a short program about the history of Independence Day and a dinner of hot dogs, sweet corn and watermelon. We then went to Sumter Landing hoping to see the gator we had seen the week before. No luck, just turtles. We took a boat ride on Lake Sumter and then headed for the car just as it started to rain. At home, the girls had sparklers and some other "fireworks" which they set off on our driveway. We saw a fireworks display in the distance but nothing like their cousins experienced in Peoria, IL.

Sunday, we got everything packed so we could head for Cocoa Beach directly from church. We got to CB around 3, checked in and soon headed for the beach. Jeffrey had no fear of the ocean. I watched him while Erik took the girls out to ride the waves.

On Monday, we went to Kennedy Space Center. A week before, the outstanding display for the space shuttle Atlantis had opened. Atlantis was moved into this building in November and eight months later they had a building which not only showed off Atlantis but had dozens of displays and simulators related to the history of the shuttle program. We didn't get to see it all as the kids were getting antsy to go back to the beach. Arne and I added on to our tickets so we could go back another time and enjoy all the exhibits at a "grandparents" pace.

Tuesday, July 9, Erik and children flew back to New Mexico. He said it was a long flight since Jeffrey couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to sit by his dad or his sisters. These 2-year-olds!

Some pictures from the grandkids visit...

Yummy!

Kadin with a Gypsy Vanner

Jeffrey loves video games as much as he loves his sister!

The OFFICE

Kadin with her feet on my counter! Not to mention, she has my computer!! Did you get permission, young lady?

Here she is again. Are you starting to see a pattern?

Three Generations of Swensens

Listening to music on the Square at Sumter Landing.

Gator seen in Lake Sumter

At newest Square "Brownwood", we were interviewed by radio station.

Nick and Taylor's Visit

On May 13, Nick and Taylor arrived from Phoenix. They had to change planes in Albuquerque and on their plane was Erik's friend, Lance. It was a  little surreal seeing him in the Orlando airport. That's the second time we've run into each other at an airport. He and I were on the same flight once going from Albuquerque to Phoenix.

Tuesday, the 14th, Arne and I took the boys to play a beautiful Par-61 golf course near Ocala. The grounds were so lush, unlike the dry, almost grassless courses here in The Villages. We played 18 holes on one of those courses on Wednesday.

Thursday, the 16th, we took the boys to Busch Gardens in Tampa. It was much prettier than when we were there last August with Erik and the girls. Our weather hadn't been summer hot yet so there were plenty of flowers to enjoy as we walked from one attraction to another. The gators were more active also...in their confinement. I rode the coaster called Cheetah Hunt twice. It is a very smooth ride and lots of fun. The coaster moves like a cheetah and we were able to see a real one run after a "rabbit" with such speed and grace, stopping on a dime when it had its prey.

Friday we took the boys for lunch by Monkey Island and then spent a couple of hours at Homosassa Wild Life Park. The water is spring fed and stays around 72 degrees all year. Injured manatees are brought here to heal. In the winter, hundreds of manatee come into the local area for the warm water.

Saturday, the 18th, the boys and I went on Wild Bill's Airboat Ride. We went on the 11 AM ride and were fortunate to see several alligators, osprey and other birds. The boat is fun but very loud. We had to wear ear protectors.

Saturday night, we went to a Japanese steak house requested by Nick. Taylor seemed fascinated watching the chef prepare our food on the hibachi, around which we sat. He says he likes to cook.
After dinner, we went to Spanish Springs to see the classic cars on display around the town square. We then drove to Brownwood to show them the newest square. We were only there a few minutes when the music was halted because of lightning. After a stop for Icees, we got home just as it started to rain and lots more lightning. The next morning, there was a picture of a home in The Villages totally destoyed by fire due to a lightning strike. On an ironic note, I heard from a friend in Arizona saying she had heard her uncle's home in The Villages had burned. After some checking, I told her it was her uncle's home. That's at least the third house fire since we moved here. I didn't realize this part of central Florida gets the most lightning strikes of anywhere in the USA. :-(

Sunday I went to basketball practice while Nick and Taylor played golf. They finished just before another thunderstorm came through. Sunday evening we had a family council in which we discussed Taylor's future. Hope he remembers our "pearls of wisdom."

Monday, the 20th, Arne played golf in an all day event sponsored by VietNam Veteran's of The Villages. I took the boys to Orlando where we spent a few hours at WonderWorks, an interactive attraction that features over 100 exhibits. Taylor loved the place. I dropped them off at the airport around 4:45 for what was supposed to be a 6:25 flight. They didn't take off until 8 PM. Good thing they gained three hours going west!

We enjoyed our time with the boys and are now planning for a visit from Kadin and Gracie, who arrive on June 23. They will be joined by Erik and Jeffrey on July 2. They all fly home on July 9.

New Mexico Swensens

Wednesday, February 13, I flew to Albuquerque. Erik had an interview there so was able to pick me up and drive me to Los Alamos. After a quick dinner, we went to the middle school for Kadin and Gracie's basketball scrimage. While I was looking forward to seeing them play, I was disappointed in their lack of discipline that evening. Erik was frustrated with most of the girls as they failed to follow his coaching instructions. They didn't look like the undefeated team they claimed to be. Maybe Kadin and Gracie were just too excited to see Grandma. :-)

The girls had no school on Friday or Monday, which is why I chose to visit at this time. It certainly wasn't for the weather since most days barely got in the 40's. My only exercise during this visit was walks, alone and with Erik. I was starting to get cabin fever. The girls went ice skating twice but I decided not to take a chance on cracking my head. One evening they got into body painting.



We were able to have Jeffrey on Monday from 9-5. Jamie thought Erik should take Jeffrey to Urgent Care so Erik was able to get an appointment at the children's clinic. The doctor said Jeffrey had RSV which was going through the children in his daycare. Jeffrey was in a pretty good mood all afternoon.

"Temple Run" is a favorite for Lil E on the iPad...

...or the iPhone.

Dad and his little "buckaroo."

Oooooh. This stretch feels sooo good.

Because the doctor said to keep him home on Tuesday, we had Jeffrey from 7:30-11. I finally got to hold him...my last day as I flew home that evening.

My flight home was excellent. I had all three seats in the exit row to myself. I didn't need the leg room as I put my feet up on the seats and stretched out as I watched "Rock of Ages." Music from the '80's with Tom Cruise playing a washed-up rock star. Very entertaining movie.

What a week!

Saturday, January 12, I flew to Phoenix to help Lisa move from the home she is losing through bankruptcy. I landed around 1:45, rented a car and drove to Carefree where our friend, Trudy Gray, had lived. Trudy passed away a few weeks before at the age of 92 from pneumonia. I had a nice visit with her son, Tom, and his wife. They let me go into Trudy's sewing room for one last time. I had been in there many times as Trudy proudly showed me her latest sewing or quilting project. She was a special lady and inspired me to begin piano lessons at age 69. She got a Steinway for her 80th birthday and began piano lessons.

My home base while in Phoenix was with my sister, Marla, and brother-in-law, Mark. They live 45 minutes from Lisa and as the week wore on, I was very glad to have a retreat to which I could return after an emotionally draining day. I was overwhelmed by the amount of "stuff" Lisa had accumulated and with which she was reluctant to part. After five days of packing boxes, I felt that I had not made even a dent.

During the week, Lisa made mention of infections in her mouth over the past three years. While I knew of an abscessed tooth removed in July 2009, she had never mentioned these occasional infections. I was contributing her failing health strictly to nutritional deficiencies. Upon hearing this, I started thinking dental problems. I set her up with a dental appointment. After 18 x-rays, the dentist told us his recommendation was three root canals, one extraction and eleven fillings. This week she had the three root canals, is on antibiotic for infection and has another appointment on Monday.

 Sunday night, son Aaron broke his leg slipping on an icy patch on a hill near his home. The break required a rod to be surgically inserted in his lower right leg. Mark, Marla and I drove up to Cottonwood Tuesday afternoon to visit with him. He has physical therapists coming to his house three times a week while a nurse comes twice a week to change his dressing. He is not in a cast but cannot bear weight on his leg for several months and will need therapy for months, possibly twelve months. He told me today that he bought "state of the art" crutches. At 6'7" and close to 300 pounds, he needs state of the art crutches. He's hoping to perform this week-end. Hopefully, nobody tells him to "break a leg."

On Saturday, January 19th, Marla and I went hiking with eight of my Terravita friends. We hiked in Spur Cross Conservation Area, north of Phoenix. We were having a great time and were almost at the end of the trailhead, when I lost my balance and fell. I landed on my back on a bush about three feet below the trail. While the bush cushioned my fall and kept me from landing on rocks, its thorns (every native plant in Arizona has thorns) scratched my bare arms and legs. Since the girls were not able to help me, I got myself out, first pushing down the bush with my hiking boots. I had a walking pole which I could use for leverage to push myself up onto a rock and off the bush. When I finally got back on the trail, my friends were digging for any first aid supplies they had brought. They cleaned my injuries and offered me Bacitracin and bandages. I looked like I'd been in a cat fight but we still went to lunch. Back at Marla's, I soaked in the tub for ten minutes and then wiped all the scratches with Hydrogen Peroxide. It's been five days and so far no infection. I was flying home the next day so didn't tell Arne about the fall. I wanted him to see that I was "OK". I did wear long sleeves and pants so when I told Arne, he laughed and said he didn't want to hear about it. Needless to say, I didn't tell him at that time. Monday, he grew more curious and even took pictures of my scratches. Glad my "Miss America" days are behind me.



Saturday night, Marla made a delicious spaghetti casserole and Iowa sweet corn. Lisa, Taylor, grandson Aaron and his girlfriend joined us.

17-year-old Taylor with Grandma

Taylor, Lisa and Aaron2

Marla, Mark, Sharon, Lisa

Jeffrey's First Haircut

My scratches seem to be healing and I'm back to my usual activities here in The Villages, mainly pickleball. Yesterday, our village had our annual Guys v Gals tourney. I was on the committee which set the rules to favor the women. :-) And the gals finally got the trophy while the guys got the toilet bowl. I'm sure the rules will be adjusted next year to give the gals less of an advantage. After golf, over 100 of us had dinner at Palmer Legends Country Club. That's Palmer as in Arnie. :-)