It's been a month since I played basketball in Utah but I just got pictures taken by a friend's husband. BTW, that friend also played basketball in Iowa.

Impressive stretch for a 70-year-old, if I do say so myself. :-)

This hook shot went in....others didn't.

Happy gals with their gold medals.

Marching across field in Opening Ceremonies

Flags representing countries of participants in these games.

Flag dropped from the sky. Beautiful sight!

Erik sent this picture yesterday. Said it was 37 degrees in Los Alamos. No long pants for Kadin.

Trip to Southwest

My trip started with my basketball team and the Huntsville World Senior Games. We flew to Las Vegas from Tampa on Oct. 7. An Iowa teammate and her husband had a van so picked up my roomie, Cindy, and I for the trip to St. George, Utah, about two hours away. After checking into our hotel, we went to the Dixie Center for registration and tee shirt buying. Dinner at Texas Road House was walking distance from our hotel. Delicious steak, tasting even better due to $10 credit from the tournament.

Monday, we were able to practice for two hours in the same facility in which we would play. We had two gals from Connecticut and one from Tennessee whom I had never met before so we were very happy to have the practice time. We had two teams from The Villages, a 55-59 team and our 65-69 team. While you can play down in age, you can't play up.

Tuesday began the competition. We played NOVA, northern Virginia, first. We won by 8 points. Next up was a 70+ team from Colorado. We beat them by 15 points while trying to take it easy on these "senior" ladies. The ref gave them some breaks also which was OK with us. So...we ended the day 2-0. That night was the Opening Ceremonies, a junior version of the Olympics opening. All athletes marched into the stadium before taking a seat in the bleachers. After the flag was brought in by skydivers from a helicopter, there were several brief speeches and then the show began, consisting of dozens of children from ages 5-20, dancing and singing. They did a marvelous job with the show ending in a spectacular fireworks display. These games have been going on for over 25 years. I was very impressed.

Wednesday we played two more games, which we won, resulting in us being the #1 seed for the championship game. We won all three games, ending up 5-0 and winning the "gold" medal. I really had a great time during this whole event and am really pleased with how well I played. Basketball is a much rougher sport than when I played 50 years ago but thanks to my nephew Matt's training regime, I was able to stand up to the tough players and...never fell down! Bruises and scratches, yes, but I stayed on my feet, which was my goal. I even got in a couple hook shots, one in the championship game and the ref yelled "great shot." Our younger team lost all of their games. They played a team from Latvia and one from Canada. They also played a team with two ex-pros. Such it is after Title IX.

Wednesday evening, Cindy and I took the shuttle back to Las Vegas. We got there around 7 PM. After checking in to The Mirage and eating at their buffet, which was $32.99 and not $3.99, we spent several hours walking the Strip. We got back to the room shortly after midnight and I didn't drop a single coin in the slots. Cindy, being younger, spent a few dollars while waiting me return from the bathroom. :-)

Thursday morning, I flew to Albuquerque. A high school friend, Gary Nelson, whom I hadn't seen in 50 years, picked me up and took me to lunch. I had three hours before the train left for Santa Fe where Erik would meet me. We had a great time reminiscing.

I spent the next three days at Erik's. Jeffrey had his second birthday on Oct. 5 so we had a little celebration on Sunday, Oct. 14. I gave him a Lil Wheel which he called "bike." He says lots more words than when I saw him in April and he did remember Grandma. The weather was very nice on Sunday so we spent some time at the park.

Kadin having fun with her brother.

Oh Oh...

We went shopping in Santa Fe on Saturday and I bought the girls some clothes. Kadin found some pants and a dress at Target while Gracie found nothing. We then went to Apostale outlet where Kadin found this leather jacket which she just had to have. It's a large so should fit her for many years.

Erik pulled out his 20 year old leather jacket

Kadin ready for school on Monday

Gracie ready for school

Erik drove me to Albuquerque for my 3 PM flight. I had to change planes in Houston. Both flights were on time. However, my shuttle from Orlando to home took almost two and a half hours, longer than my flight from Houston! I got home at 12:30 AM and seem to still be on MDT. I awoke this morning at 8 AM after not getting to sleep until Midnight. Thank goodness, it's cooled down and I could play pickleball until 10 AM rather than 9...

Now I work on being physically ready for the National Senior Games in Cleveland next summer. First I have to deal with a problem in my right leg which a doctor today diagnosed as lateral cutaneous femoral nerve syndrome. (That's a mouthful!) She's referring me to an orthopedic doctor and physical therapy. Meanwhile, no pickleball, basketball or fitness center. :-( I've decided I'll work on my golf game. :-)

Cruise to Canada

Thursday, Sept. 20, Arne and I flew to Newark, with an unintended trip to LaGuardia and bus through the heart of New York City, back to Newark Airport. The next day, we embarked on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas for a 10-night cruise. Our ports were Portland, Maine, Bar Harbour, Maine, St. John's, New Brunswick, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Gaspé, Quebec. Our final destination was Quebec City. The first and last days of our cruise were sea days. The ship had a very nice sport court so I was able to practice BB shooting several days. The last day was cold, rainy and foggy so we spent the whole day indoors.

We had planned the trip in hopes of seeing Fall Colors. Unfortunately, the Atlantic seaboard had a very warm, dry summer and had yet to experience many, if any, cold nights. Not until Gaspé did we start to see color. Our days up to then had been mostly mild and sunny. After debarking, we took a morning tour of Quebec City and Montmorency Falls. After spending the night in QC, we flew home on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Arne bought me this sweatshirt in St. Johns. I wore it everyday until we saw some Fall color.

Cliffs in Forillion National Park, Gaspé, Quebec

Jacinta was traveling with her grandparents. They live in Australia and had gotten on the ship in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the Transatlantic cruise, this was their third cruise on this ship. They were flying from New York back to Australia, with a 2-day stop in Dubai.

Arne captured this seal resting on a rock.

Arne in white hat & blue sweatshirt looking at Montmorency Falls.

Standing on suspension bridge 270 feet above the Falls.

A little color near the Falls.

Montmorency Falls, Quebec City

Something From the Past

While researching my family lineage, I came in contact with a cousin I haven't seen since high school. He told me of a pencil he found while cleaning out his mother's house after her death. He sent me the pencil. It was an advertising tool for my Uncle Cliff's business, truck hauling. It says "You Do The Calling And We'll Do The Hauling. Cliff Kalkwarf  Dayton, Iowa  Phone 547-2321" I plan to pass it on to my cousin Joyce in memory of her father.

Where Are My Eyeglasses??

 I have at least a couple dozen pair of "Granny glasses." I try to keep one or two pair in every room in our house, plus the car and golf cart. For some reason, they never seem to be where I need them and tend to collect in various spots around the house. Oh well, thank you, Mr. Franklin, for inventing eye glasses and allowing me to read so many books these past 30 years.

Granddaughters Part 2

The second half of the girls' visit began with Camp Villages Meet the Dogs, followed by Archery.

The girls marching with Lollie during Meet the Dogs

Gracie had her face painted for Meet the Dogs

Kadin aiming her bow at the target

 On Friday, August 3, the four of us went to SeaWorld in Orlando. We saw several shows...dolphins, whales, sea lions, turtles. Kadin and Gracie wanted to ride the coasters but they were closed all afternoon due to lightning in the area. We were heading out of the park at 5 and Gracie noticed that Mante was open with no wait so they ran to get in line while I stayed with Arne. They came off that ride beaming and ready to go on the other coaster, Kraken. I decided to go on that one with them. While Mante is the touted ride for SeaWorld, the girls thought Kraken was better.

On the way home, we stopped at a restaurant in Wildwood for dinner to celebrate Arne's birthday. Kadin was halfway through her dinner when she felt sick and started shaking. I took her to the car and the shaking stopped. When we got home she went right to bed and slept ten hours. It dawned on me the next morning that she could have been suffering from dehydration. We were in the heat all day and she wouldn't drink as much water as I wanted her to drink. She said she woke up around 2 (AM) and her tongue was dry so she drank water. After that incident, it was easier for me to get her to drink water in place of soda.

Dolphin Show

Trainer "skiing" on backs of two dolphins

"One Ocean" starring Orcas

This whale did belly landing. Trainers cannot go into water with whales since trainer was killed last year.

On Saturday, the girls went to art class with Arne. Sunday, we went to contemporary church service and then girls went to basketball practice with me. Kadin had a melt-down and went off to sit in the corner of the gym. She wouldn't mind me and I was very glad Erik was flying in that night.

Monday, Gracie went to art with Arne. Kadin stayed home with her Dad. Tuesday afternoon, we headed for Tampa. We checked into our hotel around 3. The girls swam while Arne took a nap. At 4 PM, we headed over to Clearwater Beach on the gulf. Erik and the girls swam for a couple hours while Arne and I watched from the beach.

Clearwater Beach

Erik, Kadin and Gracie (cartwheel) in the surf

Keeping cool

Kadin doing a flip on bungee trampoline. She almost got three flips on one jump.

Gracie's flip.

Wednesday we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa. The girls, Erik and I rode several coasters and cooled off in the Congo River Rapids. I got totally soaked and didn't mind one bit as I stayed cool for the rest of the day. Arne took care of our belongings while we were on the rides.

Erik and Gracie with the "Tall People." They laughed that Erik was almost as tall as they.

Erik and Gracie thrown out of their jeep.

"Plunge from the sky on SheiKra, our ferocious, floorless dive coaster... Climb 200 feet to the edge of a pure 90-degree drop that inches you mercilessly over the edge—and stops..." Look above the greenery and you can see the car just hanging over the edge. We were in the front row. I didn't think I was going to like that part but it wasn't so bad. I would have gone again, if the line hadn't been so long. Because I was sitting away from the track, I felt like I was flying.

 Thursday morning, the girls went with me to drop Erik at the airport, ten mins. from our hotel, for his flight back to New Mexico. It was a short visit but we packed a lot into those three days. We checked out around 10:30 and were home early afternoon. I took the girls swimming around 4. This turned out to be there last swim as we had a thunderstorm Friday. We took them back to Sweet Tomatoes on Friday for our last dinner together.

Saturday morning, we (Gracie and I) got all their stuff together and packed. Kadin's not much help as she's not happy unless she has her hands on some technology, whether it's iPod, iPad or computer.

Their 4:30 flight didn't take off until 4:55. We are required to stay in the terminal until the flight takes off. Arne and I had a very nice, quiet ride back to The Villages. While we have lots of happy memories, three weeks was definitely too long for Kadin. Gracie, whom I was most worried about, did great. She and Grandpa had some special bonding as Gracie took home a beautiful watercolor of a turtle which Grandpa helped her paint.

Today we were back to our regular routine. For me that meant fitness center, church and basketball practice, followed by a trip to Walmart to pick up a roast chicken for dinner...

Granddaughters are here!

Last Monday, July 23, Arne and I drove to Orlando where we picked up Kadin and Gracie. Because I booked them on a nonstop from Albuquerque which didn't arrive until 11:40 PM, we didn't get home until 1:30 AM. Needless to say, I was dragging a little on Tuesday. The girls spent several hours at the pool while I read a book.

Wednesday, we took them to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This was our second visit to the park which is 40 miles from here. There are lots of big shade trees, large variety of animals and it's very clean. The park's main attraction is the manatees which are brought to the springs because they are orphaned or injured. Hard to believe these large creatures eat romaine lettuce!

Thursday was swimming mid-day. Around 5, the girls and I picked up my friend, Ginny, and we headed to Spanish Springs Market Square for "Girls Night Out." This was a fund raiser for breast cancer. While it was very hot the first 30-40 minutes, we had a fun time, visiting all the stores and businesses on the list. These were turned in for a chance at 12 gift baskets, but we never received a call saying we were a winner. :-( It was a beautiful evening, nice for traveling in a 4-seater golf cart, which I had borrowed from a neighbor for the girls' visit.

Friday afternoon, Arne and I took the girls to see the Spiderman movie. Kadin said it was her favorite movie. (She must not see many movies.) Late afternoon, the girls swam for a couple hours.

Saturday was more swimming and then dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. The girls loved it and wanted to go back on Sunday.

Sunday, the girls went with me to basketball practice. I couldn't get over how much they've improved in a year, especially Kadin. Late Sunday afternoon...yes, you guessed it...swimming. Gracie probably shouldn't have gone as she'd been complaining off and on of sinus headache. That night she had a 101 fever so Monday morning I took her to Urgent Care. She's now on antibiotic for ten days.

This week, I had signed the girls up for several activities in Camp Villages. Monday afternoon, they had a craft project at She Scrapbooks. I didn't think this "mystery/school box" was worth the $17 I'd paid for each girl.

Tuesday morning was Kickball. The girls liked "batting" but Kadin mostly kicked dirt while "fielding." She did find a small, shiney rock, of which she was very proud. The afternoon activity was art with Grandpa.

Today, the four of us learned two hula dances. It was fun. Arne said it was the most fun of any of the activities we've done with the girls in the three years they've participated in Camp Villages. During the segment where the adults had to dance for the kids, Arne slipped on a red nose. The kids loved it. At 4, I took the girls back to She Scrapbooks and this activity was much better than the one on Monday. They were given a journal and materials with which to decorate it. They decorated some of the inside pages as well as the cover.

The girls' visit is now at mid-point...