Mar 2007

We pick up Granddad and Darlene and take off for a daylong drive around the Apache Trail, a scenic drive outside of Mesa AZ. We stop several places along the way, but the most fun stop was Tortilla Flats. We stopped there for a late breakfast and enjoyed their crazy decor. Joe talked us into sitting at the counter, where the stools are horse saddles:

I went to use the ladies room and found the room was filled with people taking pictures, so I said I would come back later. Of course when I came back, I took a photo or two also:

The walls at the restaurant in Tortilla Flats are covered with $1 bills that people have left there. Joe wanted to leave a $1 bill there, so he signed his name on one and our waitress stapled it to the wall behind the bar. If you're ever visiting Tortilla Flats, look for his $1 on the wall behind the counter:

Our other interesting stop was at a park with old indian cliff dwellings. We walked up to the cliff dwellings in the side of the mountain and enjoyed the wonderful view of the surrounding mountains and reservoir:

We attend early church with Granddad and his new wife, Darlene, who is joining his church today. We look around and do not see any kids in the church, but probably around 200 adults. Maybe I'll be different when I'm older, but I just don't understand why anyone would want to live in a community with no kids.

After church we go out for lunch and walk around an area flea market for the afternoon and then 'hang out' at Granddads for the rest of the day.

We attend another spring training game and have great seats in the second row. Only problem is the very annoying 3 boys sitting in the first row and their chaperone who is completely oblivious to their bad behavior. The game started out well but by the end of the game, we decide to forgo any more spring training games. One interesting sidenote: we had a foul ball hit directly to us and Jere tried to one-hand catch the ball, but it bounced off his open palm; the guys behind us ribbed him about not putting his drink down so he could use two hands :-)

We stop in the ASU area for dinner and then head back to my father-in-laws house for the evening.

We attend our 3rd spring training baseball game today. We're surprised to find that it's sold out and only lawn seats are available. Joe wanted to sit in the outfield anyway, so he's happy and it is actually a great park to sit out in the lawn. We unfortunately did not bring a blanket, but we survive. The stadium is filled to the brim. We enjoy the game but need to leave early because Dell actually did call this morning and we're going to meet the service tech at my FIL's house this afternoon.

The tech comes, replaces the screen, and we have two working laptops again. So glad I bought the 3-year warranty on the laptop. But it is definately not "next business day"; at least not when you're traveling.

We go back to the trailer park and do laundry and call it a day.

We take off for Mesa, AZ and halfway to Mesa, Dell finally calls and says they can be at the campground between 2 and 4 pm. I explain that I'm not there any more and they say No Problem, they'll send the part back and I should arrange to have laptop fixed in Mesa. So I call Dell and they say someone from Mesa will call me tomorrow (sound familiar to anyone?)

So we drive to Mesa and pull into the trailer park near my father-in-law's house. We have had a very hard time finding an RV park in Mesa that will accept our 12-year-old son. Apparently they take the 'no kids' rule very seriously in Mesa. This RV park is very close to my FIL's house and they don't enforce a lot of rules, but that is the only reason to stay there. I am now officially living in a rundown trailer park, next to a very noisy 6-lane road. We sweep away the broken glass from the 'campsite' and back in. The tenants before us left a mess but we're not going to spend much time here anyway. I really enjoyed the state park campground the last few nights. I've learned during this trip that I am definately a country girl. I do not enjoy the city sounds/environment.

We take my father-in-law and his new wife out for dinner and have an enjoyable evening.