San Diego

Des Moines when I left. I got up at 4:45 AM to drive to Des Moines for my flight which left at 8:10 - It was rainy. the bus driver who took me over to the terminal was a Mason so we talked Masonry and exchanged a little Ritual on the way over. He "threw" me some lines and I responded appropriately. He joined the Lodge in 1963 so he has been a Mason for three years longer than me.

This is Christian. He sat next to me in the waiting room and we got to visiting. Then he sat next to me on the airplane. He was on his way to California (Not San Diego) for a meeting. It seems he was helped by the Shriner's when he was a youngster and lost his right foot in a mowing accident. He had been told by someone that he "could not become a Mason." because the Shriner's had helped him. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. He has been invited to Arcadia's Friendship Night on June 26. Oh I forgot to mention he is a District Manager and one of the stores he is assigned to is in Ames so he just moved there. I really hope we can get him in and if he wants to join the Shrine (and he does so he can help kids just as he was helped) I will take him all the way.



SAN DIEGO - I have died and gone to heaven. These next few pictures are out the shuttle window as I was going to the Hotel - I don't think I bothered to tell anyone. I am at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley and it is beautiful.





There is a lot to see here and I won't get to see it all because I have meetings to go to. But I am staying Sunday and Monday my plane doesn't leave until 4:00 PM. (Gets in to Des Moines about Midnight) and I have a Trolley Pass so you will see more.
I got into the Hotel. Registered, Checked out the room. found out there is an add on charge of $10.00 a day for Internet access but I am an Internet Junkie so I will pay it. Seems as if I am paying $145 a night they could kick in the Internet. But that is all right. It is only money.


I went down and got checked in with the United Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine for the United States, Mexico and the Philippines and headed out to get some lunch






I took some pictures by the pool and of course this is my chicken sandwich and fries. I remembered to load these pictures large. You can embiggen the others to see them more clearly by clicking on them They served this on a plate that was warm, Everybody was so nice here and my waitperson, Marta, was super nice.

Lunch

Palm Trees and Jacaranda trees(purple flowers) Heaven. I may never come back to Iowa.

Two Views of the Pool

Below - The view outside my Hotel Window.

Glenn and Freddie got here and I went back down to visit with them. We sat poolside and I sat in the sun. the temperature is perfect. I can feel the breeze on me as I write this and listen to the birds chirping outside my window. I am ready to go down to dinner and Social time. (6:00 - 9:00) I promise to be good and take some more pictures. Maybe they will go up tonight and maybe they won't. I hope that Lodge is going well and everybody misses me. Nah, I don't! Some people might, but I doubt if I will be missed that much. However Worshipful Master Jeremy has had a "chat" with me this afternoon and just sent me and e-mail wanting somebody's address. More later - ARTYRL. Hugs, j

Wednesday

What a day! Busy, Busy, Busy! - Multi-tasking. I had to get the material ready for the Lodge meeting tomorrow night so that Doug will be able to take notes, etc for me. We have our Stated Meeting and I don't usually miss meetings. It is easier to be there than it is to have someone else do it for me. Funny it was that way with teaching also. Getting ready for a Substitute Teacher was much more work than teaching yourself. And no matter what they never took the kids as far as you wanted them to - But to be fair I might not have gotten them that far either.

It was always nice to get a really good sub. Then I would ask for her every time.
I had to go to the Post Office to mail a huge box of books to Charles Martin in Iraq. Except he is back in the states for medical treatment right now. He e-mailed me that his colleagues would hold them for him. Heavy box. Hope it gets there all right. While I was there I picked up the bills for the Lodge and then I had to process them so that the Treasurer can pay them. And I had to get the money ready for him to get at the Lodge meeting. Then I had to print off what needed to be printed off and organize and put everything together for the Worshipful Master to pick up since he was coming over.

I also had to go to the Credit Union to pick up some cash and deposit a check into St. Bartholomew's Account. And fill up the car with gas. And come home and get a demit ready to send and , and and. And I still had not packed one thing in my suitcase.

I went up to Aunt Jo's thinking I might get to see Amy but she has skipped town and gone to Minnesota to see her brother. I will see her when she gets back. At least at her Dolezal Grandparent's 60th Wedding Anniversary later this month. Cousin Rick and Pam were there so I got to see them. I had my Bluetooth phone in my ear and it seemed to fascinate Rick. I really love the little thing. It fits over my ear and enables me to drive with both hands and talk on the phone so I wear it when I drive. If someone calls me it tells me who it is and I just punch the button and begin talking. The other day I talked to someone (no not Someone he and I never talk) all the way from Des Moines to Ames. Monday was Rick's Birthday so he and his wife were there for a visit and to show Jo the chef's outfit that Pam got Rick. I recommended Djenga to them as a superior place to go.

I went out to Battle's for supper. Steven Schroeder was there and he came over and sat down and we had a nice visit. He is one of the nicest guys in Lodge. Hell they are all nice. I am so very pleased with my Lodge Brothers. It is too bad that we don't have any candidates right now but it kind of goes like that. It seems to be either feast or famine.

Then I came home and packed. I could not find the right suspenders for my Tux so my pants may fall off when I am in San Diego. I love wearing my tux with the white coat. Almost everything is packed. I just have to put the "boot" in that I have to wear around the house. It will be the last thing that goes in. I am carrying the computer in the Briefcase that I got in Texas last year.

I have to get up about 4;30 or 5:00 in order to get to Des Moines and park my car in the lot and get over to the airport and go through the damn radar machine. They have to "wand me" because of the rod in my ankle and I can't take my shoe off. There is no traction if the shoe is off. PITA Royal PITA. Oh well. I guess it is one of the things we put up with to feel secure. But I never really feel secure in an airplane. Darn you Orville and Wilbur!

If the plane goes down I won't be Blogging any more. But I will try to take some pictures and Blog about my adventures in San Diego.

I am so glad the Primaries are over and I am so tired of all the post mortem going on. Now perhaps they will find something else to talk about. ARTYAL, No Matter What! Hugs, j-bear

Wordless Wednesday - Photos From Bob

Primary

Today was our Primary. I voted and I am happy to report that the person I voted for won. Way to Go Becky! I was also pleased with some other races. To be honest I voted for the woman because I liked her positions and because she did not pester me. Every DAY! I either got a post card or a phone call from one guy. He was a little too hungry for my taste.

I also heard that this was the day we were supposed to call and ask someone to file Impeachment on Bush and his evil Puppet Master. It wouldn't do any good as the Democrats do not have cajones to do it. They should have been. The evil that men do live after them.

Tuesday Tattlings

Last bight's sunset again. And a couple of travel pictures. I will miss Bailey. I always do.




Today has been very busy. I am trying to get everything ready before I go to San Diego. Than means getting all of the material for the Lodge Meeting Thursday Night ready to go. Doug is going to pro tem for me. That is from the Latin Pro Tempore (which best translates to "for the time being" in English.)

On the other had I have been trying to line up a place for the first Festive Board for the Specialis Procer on June 13. It is hard to find a place with rehearsal dinners and "rules" of the restaurants. One place wants a $2500 minimum and we have to choose three items off the menu. What the hell would they do if we all just showed up to eat. I don't see any problem with ordering in advance but why limit us? It is almost as if they don't want the business. Then they won't give separate checks and automatically add 20%. Personally I think it stinks. To be fair the French Restaurant we ate at last night would have accommodated us but they already had their party room booked for that night.

Anyway Tim and Kurt are going to have to decide on a place as I have run out of time. So what am I doing here blogging. I am obsessive compulsive about it. And I needed to get this off my chest.

I sent a letter out for the Red Cross of Constantine today. We had to change the date of our meeting. So that took about an hour and a half. I got really sad when I put Someone's sticker on the envelope. It took me right back to last summer. Wish I could get past this. Thought I was but I am evidently not. Perhaps it is just frustration with everything else that is causing me to feel this way but I had hoped for a great friendship and it seems to be down the tubes.

I went to Jeff's Pizza for supper tonight. Had their lasagna and Cheese garlic bread. It was really good.

Max has been very quiet. The bark collar is not his favorite thing to wear but it is sure helping and I know it is working. We should have gotten one a long time ago.

Amy is in town and I really want to see her before I leave for San Diego. My plane leaves at 8:01 and that means I must be down there by 6:15 to park the car and then get to the airport. I hate flying. Next year I can drive to this meeting.

I am going to quit now and do some work. ARTYAL, Hugs, j

Tina on Tuesday

Don't Leave Me This Way