4/15/07 Another lapse in updating this blog - sorry. Also, I have no new pictures to post to keep you interested - just a short update. Today was the last day of Stagecoach Days here at Park Sierra and it was a good thing it was over after breakfast because it was cold and overcast here today. The event started Thursday and it was cold and windy that day so the campfire dinner and entertainment that was supposed to have been held outside at the pole barn was moved to the clubhouse. Our friend from RoVing Rods, Ed Bonham, brought 2 friends and the three of them were the entertainers. They did a fabulous job singing and playing guitars and mandolin, and everyone loved them. Friday and Saturday Elaine and I led a morning hike and then helped out by picking up food from various places, including Costco in Fresno. We also helped with the live auction, in which our friend Ken Kimpton was the auctioneer. Over two thousand dollars were raised for the park with all the stuff that was sold! Evenings, we helped with the raffles at the dinners and desserts. Other things happening here were hayrides, craft lessons, a dutch oven cooking demo, geocaching, various tournaments, and lots of eating!! It was fun and there were over 300 people participating. About five thousand dollars was raised overall. Great job Ken & Janice Ryder!!
Good thing there were fun things happening to keep my mind off the bad things that had been occuring previously. First I shattered one of our dual pane windows in our new RV when I was mowing the weeds on our lot and a rock was thrown up by the mower. Then, my computer crashed. Five days and $150 later, I got it back. Next, we got a 30 day notice from one of our tenants in the Bay Area. Worst of all, I had my surgery for the two skin cancer spots last Tuesday and the next day the doctor sent me an e-mail saying the pathologist report indicated they hadn't gotten it all and I needed to schedule another surgery. So when we get back from our cruise and trip to Spain on May 12, we will return to Park Sierra and I will have another surgery on May 14. Then we will pack up the RV and drive to Santa Clara to work on the vacant rental. Thank goodness Elaine's daughter, Tarra, and her partner, Alonzo, live nearby and can finish things up for us because we have to drive up to Washington to start camp hosting by May 25. The cruise will be a much needed vacation for us!!
Other than all this, things are fine. We are using this week to pack and Friday we will drive to Fremont to stay overnight. Saturday we fly to Houston to stay with friends. Sunday we pick up four other friends who will be cruising with us and then we drive to Galveston to stay overnight before catching the ship on Monday. I will try to update this as internet becomes available. Bon Voyage!

4/4/07 It has been so busy here at Park Sierra that we have forgotten to update this blog! Today we went for a day hike in Yosemite with Jeanne & Rodger from the park and then had lunch at a burger place in Oakhurst. Last week we also went hiking with this couple and we went up Goat Mountain (see picture). Besides being fun, these hikes help keep us in shape, which seems like a never ending battle.
Next week the big event at this park is Stagecoach Days. Between Thursday and Sunday there will be meals, events, nature walks, entertainment, auctions, raffles, etc. all as a fundraiser for the social things that go on here. Already there are quite a few visitors here and the boondock areas are filling up fast. Our friends, Ken & Janice Ryder have done a fabulous job of planning this and getting very good people to head the main committees. We are going to be "floaters". Wherever help is needed at any time, we get called on to do it. We are already lined up to pick up food at stores, help with setting up tables, and leading a daily walk, so I'm thinking there will not be a dull moment. It should be fun.
Now for the bad news. Last Friday I went to the dermatologist and had two biopsies and got the results yesterday. Basal cell cancer in both spots. So I have to go in Tuesday for surgery. One spot is on the right side of my neck and the other spot is between my neck and shoulder, also on the right side. They will probably just remove it under local anaesthetic, and then sew me up. I am hoping I am mostly healed by the time we leave for the cruise on April 20. All those years of being a swimmer, lifeguard, coach, etc. and getting so much sun are finally catching up to me!! I know that Elaine was a very good doctor at one time, now we will get to see what kind of a nurse she is....