just for fun: Things to Do, 2024
- 02/24/24 10:52 AM
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it’s lethal” – Paulo Coelho
I was born and raised in Stockton, CA., went to college at UCD, settled in South Sacramento, then moved to Elk Grove. All were within 45 miles from Stockton. Last year, that all changed. Mary Margaret and I moved to PebbleCreek, a retirement community in Goodyear, AZ. I had no plans to retire. A funny thing happened, though. I would wake up every day, thinking to myself, is this the day I should go to work or should I just have fun? I have chosen fun every single day! … (25 comments)
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just for fun: So Easy Even Brian Can Play!
- 02/15/24 08:36 AM
Pickleball has made the big time! It was featured in one of the best Super Bowl Commercials, The e-Trade Babies.
The babies frame the game as our good friend, Brian England, would do, "Pickleball is tennis for babies!" It is exactly what I thought of the game when my father tried to introduce it to me. I actually told him that , "I would not chase around some silly, plastic Wiffle Ball all over the place." It turns out that I was wrong. I do chase that silly little ball all over the place about five times a week. Come on … (22 comments)
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just for fun: That Mahomes!
- 02/13/24 09:33 AM
As a lifelong Raider's fan, I must always side with whoever plays against the villainous Kansas City Chiefs. It is in my blood! I also grew up as a Bay Area fan, since my hometown, Stockton, was so close to it. My wife and I had high hopes as we braved the brutal Arizona winter weather to watch the game at a friend's house. I even was able to persuade MM to wear my 1988 antique Niner sweatshirt. It is a funny thing. Extra large was much bigger back in the day! 🤣
That Mahomes ruined everything, though, by leading his team … (25 comments)
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just for fun: Adventures in Turkey (Part 5)
- 09/30/23 09:59 AM
The Genesis of Our Trip
Many of you may remember my post about Our Israel Trip in 2022. It was a trip that I really did not enthusiastically endorse when my wife, Mary Margaret, proposed it. About four days into that trip, our guide, Monte Cox, told us about his upcoming trip to Turkey. Without knowing anything about the area, I told Mary Margaret that we had to go. She was almost as surprised as I was, but what I had learned on our trip to Israel in such a short time was that even though our country might be very young, … (29 comments)
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just for fun: Adventures in Turkey (Part Four)
- 09/18/23 06:24 PM
Cappadocia and the Kaya Hotel
This area is one of the most unique areas that I have ever visited. Our tour arrived via bus very late at night to the Kaya Hotel, so we really did not have any idea what we were about to witness. Our first real surprise was the hotel itself. It is a hotel carved out of the rock, common in the surrounding area. It made for a cramped bathroom, but the rooms were cozy and the bar area was very cool.
The characteristic topography around Cappadocia is rock created by volcanic ash that hardened over time into soft … (23 comments)
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just for fun: THROWBACK Thursday - Ephesus Turkey
- 09/13/23 05:44 PM
When I saw that Sheri Sperry - MCNE® had been to Ephesus I just had to share her post. Of the Seven Churches of Revelation that we visited, Ephesus is the one that has been rebuilt most extensively. The theater above used to be at the water's edge. Could you imagine watching a show when it was originally built? It must have been surreal.
The last post of my series following our trip through Turkey will be a summary of the Seven Churches of Revelation, so this is just a small tidbit to whet your appetite. One of our pictures is much … (17 comments)
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just for fun: My Long, Strange Journey
- 08/31/23 05:06 PM
I was a very skinny kid. At least, that is what my parents told me before I had my tonsils removed. That was the last time anyone called me skinny for a very long time. I did not get sick much any more and I celebrated with food. Picture a heavy kid with black, horn rimmed glasses, wild hair and a poor fashion sense. Add to that my very shy demeanor. I actually made Raj on The Big Bang Theory talking to a girl seem like he was articulate. Couple all of the above with the unfortunate word that rhymes with … (46 comments)
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just for fun: Competition for Pickleball Court Space
- 08/28/23 01:18 PM
Montgomery County will be discussing the how to best meet the demand for more pickleball courts. It is a debate that many communities are having all across the country. I have played on many courts that function as a tennis court and two pickleball courts. It does work well when the tennis courts are not used much. It can cause some real conflict when there is high demand by both tennis players and pickleball players. The communities that have separate dedicated pickleball courts seem to have the most successful outcomes. Anyway, if you are in Montgomery County, don't miss the virtual … (18 comments)
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just for fun: Istanbul, A Real Turkish Delight (part 2)
- 08/18/23 05:43 AM
Topkapi Palace
This palace is located almost perfectly with a view of the Golden Horn (river), the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara. It was built between 1451 and 1481, after the conquest of Constantinople and it covers 7,000 square meters. It was the head of the Ottoman Empire for over 4 centuries. It has been turned into a museum and they have rules against taking pictures inside many of the palace buildings, but we still were able to get enough pictures to give a flavor of the palace. How do you like the size of this kitchen? The building was … (51 comments)
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just for fun: Istanbul, Turkey
- 08/09/23 05:27 PM
We recently visited Turkey and had a wonderful time exploring many areas across the country, including Istanbul, the Seven Churches of Revelation, the hot springs of Pamukkale (the Cotton Castle), Cappadocia to see their Fairy Chimneys, the underground city at Kaymakli and so much more. There is way too much to share in one post, so I thought I would start off by sharing a little about the mosques we visited in Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophi Grand Mosque
Originally, this was a Greek Orthodox Church that was built in the sixth century. When Constantinople fell, it was converted into a Mosque. Interestingly, it … (47 comments)
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just for fun: Introducing Ryder James Henson
- 08/05/23 11:26 AM
We have been blessed with a new gift to our family. Meet our newest grandson, Ryder James Henson. He is already a big boy at 9 pounds 2 ounces and 23 inches long. He is also very healthy with very strong lungs! 😀
Russell loves his little brother! I can see his cute smile right through his mask
Mom and dad are both happy and doing well, too. They have been wonderful parents to Russell, so Ryder is a very lucky little boy.
We are blessed beyond words!
… (46 comments)
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just for fun: Flowers in Our New Yard, Goodyear, AZ
- 05/15/23 08:32 PM
We have always loved to work in our yard and create beautiful landscapes. When we decided to move to Goodyear, AZ., we were not sure how we would adapt. It turns out that we have adapted quite well, as long as, we have really good gloves. It seems like most plants here have something sharp on them.
The first two plants that we added to our yard were a Barrel Cactus and the floppy cactus pictured above. The floppy cactus just took off and look at all of those beautiful blossoms. We have had over 25 flowers this year. The only downside … (59 comments)
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just for fun: Our Paul Prudhomme Encounter
- 04/21/23 10:56 AM
I recently shared Paul Prudhomme's Chicken Cacciatore recipe. It brought up some old memories of our trip to New Orleans at least 32 years ago. Paul Prudhomme was my cooking hero then and I just had to go to his K-Paul's Restaurant. It was fantastic! Best of all, the Chef was in the house!
I was very quiet back then and it took all of my nerve to walk up to him and ask, "If he would mind taking a picture with us." He simply said no and I started to walk away very disappointed. He started laughing and said, "You asked … (32 comments)
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just for fun: The Victory Steps, Verrado Arizona
- 04/03/23 05:19 PM
We decided to try some hiking West of our home in Goodyear, Arizona, this week. We have been hearing about the Victory Steps in Verrado and decided to give them a try. There are over 300 steps that lead to a beautiful view of the surroundings. The hike started off with optimism, but I quickly learned why I had received two caution warnings. I fell less than 15 seconds into the hike. There was only a skinned knee and a slightly bruised ego, but it was a good reminder that the stairs are irregular. Be careful!
The Views
Once … (31 comments)
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just for fun: The Best They Ever Had, Rick Bragg
- 03/29/23 05:22 PM
We recently visited Gulf Shores, Alabama and decided to take a day trip to Fairhope, a quaint, old town on the shores of Mobile Bay. As we were exploring the area, we stumbled upon a wonderful bookstore, Page and Pallette.
They featured local writers and even had books signed by various authors, including one written by Rick Bragg. The only way I knew him was that he is the featured author at the end of every Southern Living Magazine. Mr. Bragg seems to get to the essence of life in the South from a different angle. I love his short vignettes. … (24 comments)
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just for fun: Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef
- 03/18/23 11:53 AM
My friends get together each year to celebrate March Madness. It is four days of fun and frivolity. We have been doing it since 1981. Part of our celebration revolves around food and I always make dinner one night since I love to cook. The meals have not always ended up well. There was the time I smoked several tri-tip steaks in my barrel smoker. I made beef jerky! There was the time I made drunken beans. The recipe called for two tablespoons of tequila. I read it wrong and added two cups. The beans were harsh to say the least.
About … (33 comments)
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just for fun: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!
- 03/12/23 03:17 PM
When I first started in real estate sales, my mentor would refer me to mobile home sales when they became available. She said it would be very good for me and that I would learn a lot, so I did quite a few of them. I had a client that found just what he was looking for in a mobile home. It even had a covered garage that went with it. The transaction went very smoothly and we closed. It was one of the smoothest transactions ever. And then the seller's agent called. She had just hung up with her client … (37 comments)
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just for fun: Pickleball Mania in Austin TX
- 03/05/23 03:22 PM
I have been to a couple PPA tournaments and they are well worth attending. You get to watch the best of the best and, if you enjoy pickleball, play in the tournament too. Pickleball at its best is a great spectator sport. I would love to watch it in Dorie Dillard Austin TX's backyard of Austin. I have yet to watch Ben Johns or Anna Leigh Waters play in person. If Austin was a little closer, I would make a road trip!
Speaking of trips, the first thing I do when I plan a vacation is look for possible tournament going on … (10 comments)
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just for fun: PebbleCreek, Who Would Live in the Desert?!?
- 02/28/23 07:35 AM
"After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
And after three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead"A Horse With No Name-America A number of years ago, Mary Margaret and I were driving through the deserts of Arizona and we wondered aloud, "Who would ever live in this hot, dry state where even the rivers run dry?" In an ironic twist of fate, you will never guess where we live now? We live in Goodyear, AZ in the 55+ … (47 comments)
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just for fun: PebbleCreek Pickleball Tournament Fun
- 02/15/23 10:24 AM
My partner, Erik Knak, and I had a very good day on the courts at PebbleCreek's recent pickleball tournament. We met some great friendly competition. The first team we played in the tournament played us very well and won third place. They beat us the first game and really made us work hard in games two and three. The score of games two and three were, 11-9, 11-9. The match really could have gone either way. We were all already exhausted and we had just played three games. We had 11 more games to go!
We were fortunate to make it to … (28 comments)
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“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it’s lethal” – Paulo Coelho
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