Clary's Travel Digression

Northwest, y'mean? <grin> We refer to ourselves as the upper left hand corner or the Pacific Northwest (PNW).

I admit, it is rarely hot here and we consider it warm whenever the temperature is over 55F. That said, we had temps of 82F on Easter weekend. Currently its 59F. If you cross the Cascade mountains into "Eastern Washington or Eastern Oregon" though, you'll find almost desert-like conditions. All the farms are irrigated and the temperature is about 20 degrees warmer with 100F almost common in the summertime.

Yes, I did mean north-west, although I've never been far north-east either! I used to live in Phoenix. Does it snow at all there? Winters here are a little wicked if you ask me. You know, below zero, snow days and all. My hubby loves 'em. But he's like a furnace himself. He barely needs a coat. I don't like to go out in the cold! Bbrrrrrrrrrrrr!
(They say your 'blood thins' when you move from hot to cold. I haven't been able to hack the cold weather since!)

We had a week of snow this winter -- that's considered a lot and I was happy to see it and happy to see it go. It doesn't get very cold either... 26F was the lowest, I think, this year, and it didn't last long. I make sure everybody has wool sox when they visit.

I know the NE area of Phoenix pretty well -- Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, Cave Creek and Carefree... but it has gotten so crowded and filled with too much money. Ugh. I liked it better when it was dusty and everybody wore jeans. We used to go there when the road from Scottsdale to Carefree and from Rio Verde to Fountain Hills were dirt tracks. Good horse-back riding around there.

I used to live in north Phoenix. Loved Scottsdale! & the mountains and the warm! I didn't even really mind the extreme hear! I've got some really great memories of living there.

S'good there from October to early May... but I wilt in heat and get asthmatic if I spend too much time being air-conditioned. It's worthless to attempt to stay. I do love to go down there and swim in the pools, especially swimming at night.

Did you know the Desert Botanical Garden? My MiL used to docent there. That was always on our list of places to go, along with the Heard Museum, which is my most favorite. Last time we were in the Phx area, a couple of years ago, we finally went to Taliesin West. Highly recommended. But mostly -- now that all the in-laws have passed on we don't go anymore. When we do, we spend our time watching baseball, hiking around in Fort McDowell park and eating at all the Mexican restaurants, trying to find one as good as our own local one. What did you like to do?

Well, I did a lot of stuff! Let me see... I managed the Pier I in the Metro Center Mall. I DO know the botanical garden! and the museum! That brings back memories. Ball games were always fun - dated an ump once. Taking three-wheel ATV's into the mountains was fun. I remember going to Lake Pleasant too.
Did your in-laws live in Sun City?(No offense but we always called it 'Wrinkle Village.' It was such an entity in itself. I had relatives there too. They've since moved to Denver & California.
I remember really good Mexican food, too. Darned if I can remember any names right now. Some of the best were just hole-in-the-wall out of the way places you find 'spelunking' around town. Used to go to concerts at ASU...I loved to go out dancing!
There was a nice rooftop restaurant in Scottsdale with great food called the GrapeVine, I think... Now you've got me dreaming of Phoenix!
It'll help bide the time 'tll it gets warmer!

I remember the Grapevine, but I don't remember that it had a rooftop restaurant. Hmmm, was it a sort of French buffet place, very posh? We always had young kids and oldsters and ate on the main level anyway.

They didn't live in Sun City, they lived in Rio Verde. It's was the first golf course community out there, followed by Troon and all the others. It was about as far out as you could get on the (of course) Rio Verde River. A nice place, you had to be 55 in order to own a place there, but I heard that's changed.

Dated an ump. Cool. My FiL was a volunteer at ASU for years and years. He had a radio show for blind scientists that was broadcast and taped from there called "Science of our Times."

We found that the best Mex places were hole-in-the-walls, too, except for one in Scottsdale called Miguel's, I think it was. It was in a white building that stood by itself a block or so off Scottdale Blvd.

CLARY is going to kill us for digressing on her thread!

sad news
I'm sorry everybody but this thread will have to come to an abrupt halt. You asked kindly after my husband, Piffka - well, it is bad news. He managed to get out of the psychiatric hospital yesterday and finally took his lfe. He has been consistently saying he wanted to die for 2 years, so I hope he has found peace at last. I am going back to England to be with my lovely and loving sons, and the rest of Simon's family.

You are all like friends to me now, and I know I can count on your kind thoughts.

Oh, Clary. Oh, Clary.

Oh, Clary.

You have them, the loving thoughts.

To you and to Simon,

I say crying.

Re: sad news


Oh no. Yesterday? We just asked about him yesterday. <sob> We should have asked about him before. All we wanted was for him to be better. ((BIG HUG)) I am so sorry, Clary, so very sorry to hear this. We are your friends. You can be sure that you are in my thoughts now and will continue to be held close in the days and weeks ahead. Sigh. Why couldn't things have been different? I am sure that your sons are lovely and loving and they'll be strong for you. Children of any age can be such a comfort when needed. It is good that you'll be together but, oh Lord, I am sad it will be under these tragic circumstances. My most sincere condolences to you, and your sons, and to Simon's family, especially his mother. If you can somehow explain that strange internet folks care for them and wish them well, please do.

Thank you, ossobuco, thank you piffka... it is good to have your thoughts. It was very late in England when I heard, so I haven't contacted anyone there except the boys; that makes it doubly special to have contact with you over the net. My Chinese friends have been wonderful and found a ticket for me for Monday.
But I got a return ticket with the thought of coming back and picking up the thread again in the autumn. Life must go on...

Clary, my thoughts are with you.

I fully understand your situation.
(My first wife tried to do the same, but only 'only' hurt most severely twice)

All the very best for you and your family!

I will certainly hold you in my thoughts and prayers, Clary. And remember, there are computers in England. Please keep us posted when you can.

(((((HUGS)))))

Oh Clary, you have all weekend to wait for that plane?!? Can you just get packed and then go blotto for a while? Somebody ought to have a sedative somewhere in Hong Kong.

You are right, life must go on. I'm sure he thought he was miserable, but omigod, the wake he's left behind his little sinking ship.

{{{HUGS}}}

I know this is horrendous and vexing and that one feels guilty for being vexed and has no time for being vexed because the reality is so brutal and that sad memories crowd good ones and sweet ones need room to come through.

And that you have been dealing with this possibility over a lengthy period.

I wish you rest, and peace, to Simon too.

We're all here, whenever you want to talk.

Thanks again...

Clary

Such a sad ending to such a delightful thread. I'm so very, very sad for you, Clary.

Oh, Clary, this is hard for you and your boys, and your friends and family. Thanks to OssoB for sending me a p.m. I was sleeping the sleep of the allergy-bedevilled for about 11 hours last night.

I hope you're spending some pleasant, quiet time with your Chinese friends today. Monday. So that's about 30 hours from now? Treat yourself, choccies, a drink, a book, something, anything numbing. We love you and we're thinking of you.

Oh my, Clary. There was mention of this thread in another, I came, I read, I enjoyed greatly, and then a sudden turn... I add my more anonymous (as I have not interacted with you as much as these lovely people) good wishes.

Oh, Clary! I am so sorry for your loss. I am with these other dear A2K friends and echo their sentiments. I am praying for you and your family as well. Know that our kind loving thoughts are with you, and that we are there with you in spirit.
If you ever feel the need I'm sure one of us will be online, but I know your family is most important. If you should be absent from us for a time we will miss you. Bless you Clary. May you be comforted in your time of sorrow.