Settling (Sort of) in Arizona

We’re settling, sort of, in Arizona. San Tan Valley to be precise. In March of 2016 my oldest daughter and son-in-law moved from California to Tucson. After much family discussion we decided it was best to move closer to them so Fiona could be nearer her best friend – her big sister! Especially during her teen years. So in June 2016 we left Wisconsin to move to Arizona.

It wasn’t easy. Fiona even had to think twice about leaving the beautiful snowy winters in Wisconsin to live in hot, dry Arizona. We all loved the snow, winter, the seasons in Wisconsin! Arizona though did have her big sister, Joel’s good friend Terry, my aunt, uncle, and cousin. The drier weather would probably be good for my rheumatoid arthritis. So we made plans and moved.

After staying with our good friends, Terry & Virgie, for a couple of months, we found the place we’re now living in. We do like the house and where it’s located – far away from the bustle of the big city of Phoenix. Close enough to take Fiona to visit her big sister monthly instead of only once a year. We’ve made some really, really good friends.

We did go back to Wisconsin last August to get some relief from the heat – and visited all our friends there that we missed as well as Joel’s mom and my son James. We plan to do that again this year.

Arizona does have its own beauty – like these beautiful days when the sky is so blue and the clouds puffy white. For now, we’re settling here. So far, so good.

Heading Out West in 2014

It’s been nine months since we’ve traveled out West. Last May we went out to Phoenix, San Diego, and the Sacramento area. We were able to visit lots of friends and family. We’ve been feeling the itch to travel some again and see our very good friends in Phoenix and my married daughter in Sacramento.

Alex Zabala's websiteSo we’re heading out West in March. And we’re making it a business trip to meet with other authors, a couple of clients, and possibly do a couple of presentations for writers.

We’ll be visiting Alex Zabala and his wife in Phoenix. Alex is author of Treasure of the Mayan King and The Golden Scepter. Last May when we were there he was celebrating 5 hundred copies sold of Treasure of the Mayan King. Last month, January 2014, he celebrated 5 thousand copies sold!

Then we’ll visit with our very good friends, Terry & Virgie. Terry is a musician and Joel always loves playing with him and his band.

While in Phoenix, at some point, we’ll also have an opportunity to meet Larry Brooks, author of Story Engineering, a book Joel recommends to authors. Yet another contact in Albuquerque may be able to set up something for Joel to present to a book club.

On our way to see Rachelle in the Sacramento area, we’ll have a night in Santa Barbara, California to meet up with another author, Lynelle Paulick.

And if we can convince Tom Bentley – editor extraordinaire – not to do an overseas house sitting gig, maybe we’ll stop by and see him while we’re in California.

It should be a lot of fun! Join us on another adventure!

Air Conditioning Goes Out in the Van in Arizona!

air conditionerSo we’re here visiting our friends Terry & Virgie in Phoenix, Arizona and it’s been 100 degrees out! And the air conditioning in our van goes out yesterday. We don’t do heat so there’s no way we’re finishing this trip without air conditioning.

Fortunately, Terry & Virgie know a good local mechanic who can fix the whole thing for $600.  And before we need to leave for San Diego on Sunday.

That, coincidentally, is exactly TWO of our “Ready, Set, Go!” Instant Blogging packages.

So if you know someone who needs a blog, you should tell them about this, shouldn’t you?

© Shipowner119 | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

Music in Mesa, Arizona with Terry & Virgie

Last night we were once again at Terry & Virgie’s where music was being played at their home by them and their young friends. Fiona made friends with an 8-year old boy named Ezra. My dad’s father’s name was Ezra.

We’re looking forward to this next week with Terry & Virgie and hopefully again on Thursday evening everyone will get together again to play some music.

music in mesa at the wilson's

Petrified Forest National Park

The Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. We stopped for a visit at the Center and Fiona was able to do some exploring both outside and inside. She wasn’t too keen on walking on that “terrain”. Silly!

Petrified Forest National Park

We have now arrived safely in Phoenix and are catching up on some work and Fiona on some school work. When we did arrive the first thing we all did was take a swim in the pool. We were exhausted by 9 pm though so went to bed early.

What Clothing Should We Bring?

What clothing should we pack for our month-long trip? We’ll be leaving Wisconsin with snow on the ground it seems since we just had 17 inches on Thursday! We’ll be arrive on Wednesday in Phoenix, Arizona where the high that day should be 85 and by Saturday it will be 100. And the temperatures will be much warmer in California than we’ve seen in Wisconsin for a while.

So we’ll probably start off driving away with our long-sleeved shirts on, a jacket, and maybe even boots. We’ll be coming back wearing shorts, tank tops, and sandals. Swimsuits! We’ll have those along for all the swimming we’ll be doing.

Good Friends Make Us Feel at Home

We arrived here in Phoenix Arizona last Saturday to stay with our good friends, Terry & Virgie. We knew they’d make us feel right at home. And they sure have!

Over the past year we’ve been through Phoenix several times and each time we’ve stayed with Terry and Virgie. Our friendship is closer now than when we knew them in the Sacramento area for several years. They are a very loving and warm couple who have opened their hearts to us and Fiona. Joel and Terry could sit all day, talking business, playing music. Virgie and Fiona love to bake together and Virgie and I have had some good chats.

Since we’ve also house sat for them, we’re very comfortable here, know where everything is and how they like it. We’re especially enjoying using the pool every evening since we’re have 100 degree plus days! Fiona really likes swimming at night with the pool light on and looking up at the stars.

Today Virgie leaves on a trip. We’re still here another day or so. But she knows we’ll take good care of Terry and her home and that when she returns we will have left behind a tidy home and extra toilet paper in the guest bathroom.

Yesterday Terry said, “You guys always leave before I’m ready for you to leave!” He admits he’d say that no longer how long we stay. We really enjoy being here and are so glad to know we’re “home” when we come to the Wilson’s place. Thank you!

Quick Update on Where We Are Now

We had a wonderful visit in San Diego this past week. We got to catch up with family and Fiona met lots of her aunts, uncle, cousins and second cousins. The van is repaired and runs great!

We drove yesterday from San Diego to Phoenix to stay a few days with our friends here in Arizona. We all enjoyed the pool yesterday and plan to do so again later today to cool off from the 100 degree plus temperatures.

The plan is to drive from here to Albuquerque in a few days for a short stop, then through Colorado and Nebraska to land at our friend’s doorstep in South Dakota for a few days. There are three little girls there waiting to play with Fiona. Then to Wisconsin for a visit with Joel’s mom and finally ending up in Minnesota for our three week house sitting gig.

Officially House Sitting in New Mexico

Today is the first day of our officially house sitting in Albuquerque New Mexico for the next six weeks. Our host has left for vacation. Since we’ve stayed with our host overnight as we’ve traveled several times, we’re very comfortable here. We have a nice ‘office’ to work in, a large kitchen to cook in, a nice living room for Joel to set his music up in so he can play and record.

Fiona has her own room and bathroom as do we. There’s a huge backyard for Fiona to play in. There’s a garden I can tend and roses to enjoy. It’s in a quiet neighborhood within walking distance of the store. The library isn’t far so we’ll be able to visit there regularly.

Our house sitting responsibilities include: