Apricity West 3

January 20, 2023 - Friday

Went to the Congress Mercantile, a cute shop full of interesting items, to get my t-shirts decorated with glitz and glam lettering.

There is a shirt on the wall that says, A Group of Baboons is Called a Congress - gotta love it. Also, I have never seen anyone packing a holster and gun until today and it was a woman. 

 

Once again, a first time conversation discloses so many coincidences. We have seen Abe in the Elks many times, but never had the opportunity to talk with him. Well, he sat to my right, asked us where we were from and that was the beginning of a 1/2 hour conversation. When I answered Lee, MA, he said, “I was just there in September!” Really? Why? Where? He went on to explain that Dennis, a barber in Wickenburg, is a good friend who had business to take care of in Becket, MA. His wife inherited 2 houses on a lake there. While in the area, they toured around and ended up at Alice’s Restaurant/Guthrie Center. 

Well, who should be there for a board meeting but Arlo Guthrie himself! They had a nice conversation and Abe got a picture with Arlo.

Well, now it was my turn to share that I was an extra in  Arlo’s movie, Alice’s Restaurant! The fact is, it was the revival scene which was shot in a tent on a freezing cold February day for 8 hours. I was wearing a big furry white coat and hat to stay warm and the heaters were shaped like cannons. They made so much noise that the whole shoot was “cut to the editing room floor” and needed to be redone. Well, I couldn’t make it that day, so my sister, Leslie, filled in for me wearing the same coat and hat. Ah well, it was a fun experience. Here is a link to the song Arlo Guthrie wrote and sang about the entire event making the movie so wonderful. By the way, my friend, Debbie and her father, were in it too as he was the actual Clerk of Courts and said, "All Rise" in the courtroom scene. It’s worth a listen as it tells the whole hysterical story… (click the link)

https://youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM

Of course I asked Abe if he knew about Tanglewood (where I proudly sold tickets) and it turns out in 2008 he went there to see Garrison Keillor of “Prairie Home Companion.” Most of the people I talk to out here in the Wild West never heard of Tanglewood, so this was a pleasant surprise.

 

More conversation revealed that Abe worked as a nurse (psych and traveling), making good money, until Covid hit. Then he retired and took a river cruise on the St. Lawrence River in the opposite direction that we (Leslie and I) sailed years ago - Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Prince Edward Isle, Quebec City, Montreal. As a traveling nurse, he had the privilege of spending a year in St. Croix. When Rich heard this, they went down memory lane about their time spent there. Tres’s roommate married Peter from St. Croix so Rich and their young family spent many vacations there over the years. Abe’s motto is: “No horse, no dog, no wife! Free as a bird!”

 

Stocking the coolers for a big event tomorrow night - many trips bringing in the provisions.

January 21, 2023 - Saturday

Congratulations to Nancy’s son-in-law, Cory, who won a beautiful saddle and money in today’s roping.

What a happening night at the Elks tonight! It was Ropers’ Night which is a steak dinner fund raiser - $25 per wristband at the door for a ribeye, cowboy beans, a roll and slaw to the music of Desert Heat, followed by an auction of many unique items including a handmade saddle. They sold around 250 wrist bands and there were wall-to-wall hungry cowboys and cowgirls.

Lisa is the secretary, bartender, and oversees the operation - does a great job!

The preparation, planning and execution of this event made it seamless - they had set up a full bar in the back of the room, as well as a tub of iced wine and sodas. Pretty impressive…

Logan graced us with his music…

This is the philosophy of the Elks:

💗

 

January 22, 2023 - Sunday

Just chilling today - literally. This is the coldest winter that anyone can recall. The nights are in the 30’s and warms up to 50’s in the day. We have a small ceramic heater, but have had to use the propane furnace several times. Worked on a puzzle today and went to the ice cream social with Nancy.

 

January 23, 2023 - Monday

Woke up this morning to a dusting of snow!

Lunch at the Elks, then cardio drumming, and music prep. 

 

January 24, 2023 - Tuesday

Went to the Art Center with Rich this morning.

Then to John and Eileen’s for a delicious lunch. A special dessert by Nothing Bundt Cakes… They have 3 shops in the West Valley of Surprise. There is nothing but bundt cakes there (and accessories) and they make wedding cakes too. Unique!

January 25, 2023 - Wednesday

Our last practice at Dot and Harvey’s. 😢 We gave them crafty gifts which they enjoyed. 

They had a fun time in Quartzite last week with 250,000 other RVers who gather for gem shows, campfires, music, parties while boon docking…

Spunky lady...

January 26, 2023 - Thursday  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LESLIE (my sister)😘 🌹

The wind howled last night - 25mph! We were rocking all night long.

Today was my last jam session 😢 before we leave for Tucson💗. I sang more than I played and Harvey was my lead accompanist. Miss Ellie came without her equipment and Denny loaned her his wireless mic so she could sing backup with me on House of the Rising Sun and Summertime. I started with Jolene. See the video in the body of this email.

Rich gets the Best Roadie Award 💕- he lugs Gary’s equipment and mine. It is a LOT! He gets a break now until we find another jam on our journeys. John Randazzo - anything happening at Crazy Horse?