What Will YOU Do on your 80th Birthday?

Go skydiving?


Probably not, but that's what my friend John Clairmont did on his 80th!


He was one of 8 WINs who took the plunge at the Dance Rally. (He's the one with the camera.)


Then, the next day, he hiked to the top of Picacho Peak.


This is not an easy hike; there are several places where you need to pull yourself up by cables.


I wish we could all be in this great shape on our 80th! Happy Birthday, John!

More Scenes from the Dance Rally

The Dance Rally is over and it's time to leave. I have really had a wonderful time, and I can't tell you how many people have said they had never seen me smile so much!


The WINs cannot get together with out having a pizza party. Yum!


That's Barbara and Ron looking at the camera.


And we had the usual Talent/No Talent Show.


That's Jim, our DJ, and Judy, the dance instructor for most of the dances. Jim is an excellent dancer, who asked me to dance several times. I must have passed muster. It's always a little intimidating dancing with a guy who is an expert.


On Saturday night, instead of a DJ, we had a live "band," Dakota Kid. He came off the stage to sing "God Bless the USA." Excellent voice!


Bagpipe Bob entertained us during the break, (very popular with the ladies) and some did the Irish Jig.

On the Road to Recovery

Breaking up with Randy was a real shock, and will certainly take some time to recover from. I am still really hurt and really mad. But I got an email from a fellow blogger, who said I should try to have WAY TOO MUCH FUN. Sounded like good advice to me.






Fortunately, the WIN Dance Rally was this week. All I needed was a little advertisement. I got a shirt at Goodwill and a pin explaining the situation from Too Crazy Ladies.




I think the guys got the message. And I really love to dance!


There were dance lessons all day


And dances every night.


I really love to dance!


There were also socials some afternoons.


Did I mention I really love to dance??

Goldfield Ghost Town

I have to admit I've never stopped here before because it looked like a tourist trap that costs money. But it doesn't! At least not to walk the streets of the town. So in I went.


There were lots of my favorite things, rusty stuff, to photograph.


And a bordello, near a chapel.


With the Superstition Mountains in the background, it was a beautiful spot.


Barbara found a guy with a big bag of gold, and immediately started flirting with him!

World Championship Hoop Dance Contest

Sunday in Phoenix was the 18th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. Dancers from tribes all over the US and Canada compete in different age groups, accompanied by teams of drummers and singers. Here is one of the Youth Division, aged 6-12, with the drummers and singers in the foreground.


This is Dallas Chief Eagle, a Rosebud Sioux from South Dakota, waiting to go on. He was in the "Senior Division," for dancers over 39! Seniors seem to get younger every day....


The number of hoops used ranged from 5 to about 20. Dallas seemed to have the most.


A contestant in the teen division, age 13-17.


Brian Hammill, the 2nd place winner in the adult division, from Phoenix.


This nice young man tried to show my how it was done, but I just didn't get it.

The Green Desert

With all the rains we've had, I decided to take a side trip to Ajo to see the green desert. There are lots of great rock formations just north of town.


I was surprised to find my favorite camping spot full of Escapee Boondockers. Even though I don't belong, they invited me right in. This is a great group; they really believe in solar power. Wow! I even found some old friends, Ron and Gloria, and finally got to meet Froggi Donna, whose blog I had been reading.


A trip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was next on the agenda. Organ Pipe cacti are common in Mexico, but in the US are only in this one small area. They like the sunny south side of the hills. Everything was soooo green!


Although the west side of the park is closed because of illegal alien activity, you can still do the 21-mile Ajo Mountain Drive loop on the east side. This is the hike to Arch Canyon on that loop.


Wait! What's this? The first spring flower!


It was Doc's birthday, and he bought pizza for everyone. Apparently this is an annual event, so mark your calendars for February 6th, Cole Rd in Ajo, for free pizza!

Shamelessly Cheesy Grandbaby Pictures

After Quartzsite, Diana had to run over to San Diego to get another "grandbaby fix." Mara enjoyed trying on Grandma's cowboy hats. The popcorn shirt she has on is the one they are selling at all the flea markets. It's supposed to be for adults, but one size fits all, and she loved it.


Like every other 3-year old girl, she's really, really into Princess stuff.


She has quite an assortment of clothes and shoes. Here she's playing the games on the Sesame Street website.


Grandma and Jonathan watched the Super Bowl together. He likes to watch football, but lost interest quickly when he found out the Chargers weren't playing.


He's 4-months old now, and we tried to feed him some "solid" food, but he didn't seem to understand the food was supposed to go down his throat, not down his chin!


His favorite thing is jumping in his Fisher Price Jumperoo. Every 4-month old should have one!