Look at that face...

No, this isn't a post about Stephanie's cute cat.  Oh sure, Tasha is one cute kitty.  Isabella, however, is not only beautiful, but expressive.  When I asked Iz if she wanted to go for a walk, I got a "Meow!" and this...

That is one happy, smiley kitty face!  She also helps me when I'm on the computer...

"It's probably time to go for a walk, huh?"  ;-)

Getting short (again)...

We have been in the Phoenix area almost two weeks: 5 days at one RV park, 8 at another.  We have begun the process for getting ready to roll again (tomorrow): bikes are in the trailer and strapped down; all our outside stuff (patio chairs, rugs, table) is put away.  Joan is going to make supper for Steph and Dan tonight - we'll say our "See you soon" stuff, since we will all be together again at the end of the week for a wedding (our nephew) in Texas.

In about two weeks, if all goes as planned, we'll be back in the Tropical Tip.  I heard Joan talking to her sister this morning on the phone: "I am getting excited about going home..."  (Happy Birthday, Annette!)

I had to think about that for a moment.  When Izzy and I are walking, and I want her to head for the motorhome, I tell her, "Time to go home."  ;-)  Yeah, a hot tub, a guitar room, the beach, and some water play time... that sounds pretty good.

The weather weasels are predicting rain along our route.  For the next 4 or 5 days.  Odds are pretty good we're gonna get wet.

Very Verrado...

I've written about this development before.  Verrado sits west of the populated area of Goodyear, closer to Buckeye.  Upscale, a planned community with nice homes, some townhomes, and a small retail area.

No, we're not planning to relocate there, but it is a great scooter ride - through Goodyear, north to Indian School Road, then west towards the White Tank Mountains.  It was overcast and reasonably cool this morning - good for a scooter trek out for breakfast, then a tour west, through Verrado.

New to that area is Victory: the part of Verrado that is 55+.  OK, now we're talking.  Building is booming in the Valley of the Sun again... maybe not like in 2006, but it has taken quite a while for it to come back.  Nice to see new places going up.

Some greenery - nice for a change...

Pretty views: the mountains and, since this does sit at a bit higher elevation than the valley, so you have a view looking back towards Phoenix.

Natural desert views...

Felt good to be out on the scoots again.  (Finally cool enough to enjoy the riding.)

Bingo!

Steph planned an evening of Bingo for both sets of parents; and joined by her friend, Anitra.  The seven of us went to a nearby Bingo Parlor.  We've done this before, and always had a good time.  Most of the people there are very serious about this... no talking, and you better keep up... and they aren't slow about the number calling.

No one in our party won any of the Bingos; lots of different games... well, all Bingo, but different shapes.  You buy a packet that has the evening's games.  Some people rent computers that tell them when they have a bingo (where's the fun in that??).  One woman called, "Bingo," but it turned out she didn't have it.  Yes, she was "shunned" the rest of the evening.  ;-)

I am pretty sure the packet of games that I bought all had unlisted numbers... I was never even close.

Tag...

It has been hot since we've been here in the Phoenix area.  So hot that we haven't felt like riding the scooters... especially when there is an air conditioned car as an option.

Yesterday, the high didn't reach 100º+... barely.  Today, it was only 93º as a high.  For the record, it was a delightful 71º when we got up this morning!  The coolest we have seen here this trip.

So, today, after we had lunch with Steph, I pulled up the scooter forum I frequent... the "tag" hadn't been grabbed in a couple days, and it was intentionally easy: your scooter with a train track.  I pulled my scoot out of the trailer and...

And, the new tag:

Your scooter with something that references "The Blues Brothers"!  (Get it?  The brothers: Jake and Elwood?)  Should be easy... Jake, suit, hat, Chicago, squad car, orphanage, saxaphone - plenty of creative options.  Another intentionally easy to grab to keep the game moving.  Several of the more prolific participants on that thread are from the southeast - lots of rain in that area.

Mother Nature, as always, calls the shots.

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Coming back from getting the tag (7 whole miles, round trip), I was at a stop light next to a Toyota pickup.  The light turned green and I took off... ahead of the pickup.  At the next light, the driver was ready for me when the light turned green... still took him off the line.  ;-)

At the last light, he rolled down the window and asked, "What is that thing?  It really moves!"

"A Honda scooter.  Yeah, it is pretty peppy."

The light turned green; I turned, he went straight... and no scooter to try to keep up with.  ;-)

Surprise!

It wasn't easy, but we managed to keep this evening's party for Dan a surprise.  Steph had done a fine job at making the arrangements - we did our part with running around today, getting the cake and other party stuff.

With Dan's parents and us here, Steph "guided" Dan into picking the restaurant for the meal tonight.  While he may have had some suspicions, I'm pretty sure he thought it was just going to be the 6 of us.  Instead, it was a group of his friends... and the 6 of us, all gathered at Famous Dave's (BBQ).

They have some very nice friends, and it was great to enjoy some time with them.

Dan is a big Green Bay Packers fan...

Yes, there was a theme.  Dan's surprise gift from Stephanie: a pair of tickets to the Green Bay vs the Cardinals game in December.  A sold-out game.

Big fun; too much food (big platters of BBQ and sides served family style).  Yeah, I think he was surprised.  :-)

Happy Birthday, Dan!

It is our son-in-law Dan's birthday today.  His parents arrived yesterday afternoon... yeah, parents and in-laws... I think he and Steph will need a break when we all leave.  ;-)

More sports viewing last night - very similar to the experience with the Phoenix Mercury last Sunday.  Well, without the dance squad, the mascot, the music, the Jumbotron... OK, it wasn't the same at all, but it was a close one.

Dan is the coach for the boys' volleyball team.  They were playing their big rival for the playoffs.  They lost the first game.  Won the second.  It came down to the third...

The coach...

A tie towards the end of the last game...

It was a good game; both teams played well.  Many of the volleys were hard-fought.  In the end, the rivals won.  This being the playoffs, Dan is done coaching.  Well, until basketball starts.

Back at Steph's room, I took a photo of the board...

Two things stuck out to me: the mention of "sailboats" as part of the assignment (Steph is a math teacher).  Maybe we have rubbed off on her a bit?  ;-)  At the bottom of the board, reminders of the food drive and Coins for Cancer.  We are very proud of the work Steph and Dan do with these kids - the education part, of course, but also teaching them to be good people.

Heading home, Steph had to stop at the store to pick up ingredients for Dan's Mom to make a cake.  We took Dan's folks to the game, they rode back with him, Steph with us.  I pushed the cart in the store - love to see my two girls interact...