Arizona Trip December 2005

THURSDAY - DECEMBER 22

I did not know what kind of weather to expect so I brought clothes for hot & cold weather. I printed my Boarding Pass at home the night before flight. Very convenient.

My neighbor took me to the Arco Station to get the 11:00 shuttle to Mt. Vernon where I transferred to a bigger bus to go to SeaTac Airport. Traffic was light. The weather was cloudy, rainy, & about 50 degrees.

I arrived at SeaTac and Whoops - when I walked into the terminal I saw people pulling their luggage and I remembered I did not have mine. Back to bus where it was just being unloaded. Checked in luggage and went thru security without setting off any alarm.

I was glad I brought a sandwich. Started boarding at 3:15 and took off at 3:45. Served drink (orange juice), bag of peanuts, & bag of snackies. Arizona is on Mountain time which is 1 hour later than Washington so I reset my watch.

I Arrived at SkyHarbor in Phoenix at 7:30 and was met by grandson, James. Son, Jim was parking car.

It took a long time to get luggage.

FRIDAY - DECEMBER 23

Daughter-in-law, April, left early to take grand kids, Jessica & Joshua, to babysitter before going to work.

They have an aquarium with 2 turtles.

They also have a desert tortoise hihabernating in a box in the garage & a stone turtle by the patio.

Angela, there was a dead skunk on the side of the road.

Jim & I went to the bank, Home Depot, Best Buy, & the library

Then we went to Sun City to visit the mother of one of his friends. Traffic was very heavy due to Christmas shoppers. We got home about 4 April & the 2 kids got home about 5:30. She cooked a delicious salmon dinner.

SATURDAY - DECEMBER 24

Jim took me & James to Scottsdale to visit one of his friends whose house he had remodeled. In the evening we went to April’s parent’s home for Christmas Eve dinner with many relatives.

Jessica was a real beauty in her holiday dress.

Joshua had reindeer antlers and a stocking.

SUNDAY - DECEMBER 25
Up early on the 25th Christmas morning to open lots of presents. April’s mother stopped by.

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April cooked a big turkey for dinner.

Jim’s friend Pete & his mother stopped by & Jim made a fire in the out door firepit.

I played a game with Jessica & Joshua that he had received as a Christmas present. We watched some tv on the 55” screen.

MONDAY - DECEMBER 26

We went out in the desert to launch rockets that Joshua had received for Christmas. I treated the family to dinner at Red Lobster. In the evening we watched the video of their trip to OH in ’04.

TUESDAY -- DECEMBER 27

April went to work and took kids to babysitter. Jim took me to Sun City and Sun City West to look at houses. We stopped to visit the mother of one of his friends who lives in Sun City. We drove by the place where the Mariners have their Spring Training.

Wednesday - DECEMBER 28
Jim took James and me to lunch at a Japanese place where the chef cooks your meal right in front of you. Fun! We stopped at Walmart where I bought some books for Jessica and Joshua. James got a special reward for letting me stay in his room.

We drove to Lake Pleasant and took lots of pictures. Jim is buying a boat.

We saw hot air ballons and tried to find one that was landing.

Jim took me for a walk into the desert near his house to take pictures of the sunset. April made delicious Southwest enchiladas for dinner.

Jim & James spent time on computer looking for houses for me to buy.

THURSDAY -DECEMBER 29

Time to go back to Washington.

Jim drove me to airport to get 12:45 flight & walked me inside. This time I set off all the alarms at security. I was wanded & patted down.

I got a special ride to my gate.Flight took off exactly on time. I changed my watch back to Washington time.

The weather was clear and there seemed to be a rainbow. I saw the Grand Canyon and what was probably the Painted Desert. Then came snow-capped mountains. Pilot said there would be a lot of bumps and to keep seatbelt fastened.

The plane arrived at SeaTac at 3:00, but I had to wait to get the 5:00 shuttle back to Oak Harbor. My good friend, Lisa, picked me up and took me home.