I am so glad Ming invited me to Montreal. I had only been once before and that was 20 years ago or so. I drove up and parked in the hotel and walked around for a week but don`t remember seeing all I saw this trip. I really enjoyed this visit and would highly recommend Montreal as a really great city for transport, food, and lifestyle.
Arrived in Phoenix with no problem but CanAir made me check my bag and we all waited one hour. I Ubered to Anita's home by Midnight! Saturday, Jeannie met me outside and drove me to my rental, then we rendezvoused at Randy's for breakfast. She brought all my deliveries from her house and the day was spent reading JUNK mail.
I got some food togo at Wok n Roll and ate while watching Lioness, another Taylor Spencer series on Paramount.
Sunday, I went to Butters and had Oatmeal for breakfast with Eggs Florentine.
Marjorie and I met later at Grassroots for H Hour, Waldorf Chicken Salad and Marinated Salmon in Lettuce Cups...and wine of course. No pics...we were busy catching up.
The following day I had my dinner at Roaring Fork..Crispy Chicken and a Green Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese.
This morning I visited the Dermotologist, he zapped me and gave me a cream for my feet. I paid my $5 fee on the way out and received and bill for $973 the following day. That is what the insurance pays! No wonder our medical is so high. I ignored the bill...hoping insurance paid it? Haven't heard anything yet but will stop in and ask!
The that evening we met at Roaring Fork for HHour...She had a great Steak Salad and I had Chicken, Peppers, Cheese on Flatbread...with wine. NO pics again...we were still catching up.
Dinner at Wok n Roll today.
I have some photos of Anita's yard and home but having big problems with Google photos so none of these photos have been edited.
Large variety of green plants...beautifully arranged with her art and an occasional alligator.
Jeannie went dog-sitting, so I went to her house to see Gordon, next door, and work on my computer while waiting for Amazon to deliver my new computer. Elaine stopped in to freshen up before taking off again. She brought my computer that was sitting at the door. $ 1,000. I thought I would have to sign for it. Could not deliver at Anita's because if I wasn't there, it could not be left in 114% sun.
My granddaughter Emily contacted me to help her visit her Mom, Kim ,my oldest daughter. They hadn't seen each other in a while. I got her air tickets for a couple-day visit, and Kim arranged a place for Emily and her boyfriend Cassidy to stay. She picked them up at the airport and the next day brought them to Elenor's in Scottsdale for lunch. We had a great time.
~2.jpg)
Today I arose early to leave for my 8:45 am appointment with the hip doc on the other side of town. I have been away for 15 years, and even after living in AZ for 40 years I got lost. After construction detours etc I arrived just in time but they did not have me down because the appointment is next week! While I was on the west side, I called Bruce and drove over to visit with him and Leanne. He had remodled his backyard. We chatted and made a date for lunch the next day, so Leanne would be done with work and come too.
a
|
Kim and I met at the Phoenix Art Museum and started our visit with a 1/2 hour tour of a Photo Exhibit. Kim dropped out before we even got to the exhibit, then showed up after to let me know she had to go home as the dog sitter was having problems.
I had lunch while she sipped on a drink and checked out the Tarot cards she purchased at the gift shop. Then we both returned home. My lunch was fantastic. Smoked Salmon Appetizer with a Fattoush Salad!
Lazy day. Got an appointment for my referral to have my eyebrows examined to see if they were impairing my peripheral vision and, if so, to do surgery. I stopped in Scottsdale and got a Vegetarian Sandwich, then later had a Vegas Roll at Wok and Roll while chatting with my favorite singing bartender, Angela. She sings when they have Kareoke and also has a YouTube series called Big Hair don't Care.
 |
| 1928: Viewing Solar Eclipse in Paris |
 |
| 2026 Solar Eclipse in Mallorca, Spain, taken by my dear friend Dan Downing of 50 YEARS. |
Lazy day. Got an appointment for my referral to have my eyebrows examined to see if they were impairing my peripheral vision and, if so, to do surgery. I stopped in Scottsdale and got a Vegetarian Sandwich, then later had a Vegas Roll at Wok and Roll while chatting with my favorite singing bartender, Angela. She sings when they have Kareoke and also has a YouTube series called Big Hair don't Care.
Today I had a Budha Bowl at Elenors then eye exam. I want my right eye brow raised but these tests are supposed to determine the validity of the request. An hour and many tests later I got to see the Doctor. So can I get a referral to have the operation? Oh you have to see my superior so come with me for ANOTHER appointment. OK ASAP...October is the earliest date! Well so much for that and I still don't know if they will do it but I do know Medicare paid out lots of money for me NOT to find out...go figure. Why are we the most expensive health care in the world...ask you congressman. 
Can you see what's on the computer in the mirror?
 |
| Yes this is Ceramic though it took a while to believe it.. |
 |
Fantastic lunch at the Museum |
That evening we enjoyed H Hour at Roaring Fork.
Today Roman arrived from Wichita after a 20 hour drive. He came to see me and to get his belongings he left out of storage to take back. We had H Hour at ? Roaring Fork...best in Scottsdale. Really enjoyed seeing my first grandchild again! Nice visit.
I decided to play Mexican Dominos at Via Linda Senior Center on Monday. They called the version of it..."Chicken Feet". When you put down a double you close it from both ends, thereby extending the possible afterplays to two instead of one. There were 6 players at a cardtable, so it was lacking some room to play.
.jpg)
Not as much fun as our many sets of rules but enjoyed everyone there and had another lesson in Mexican Dominos...but didn't go back for another game! Played Ping Pong instead at the same Center the next day for one hour of very intensive arobics that I needed. The stiff neck I had...got worse that night! I had 20/20 eyesight last time I played there over 15 years ago...now 20/40 and very frustrated at missing so many easy shots. Change is not always for the best. I will try chair yoga instead.
Lunch at Randy's was good today but too many Carbs and Salt.
Visited Talking Stick Casino to try my hand at Texas Holdem. Vision was OK but Cognition wasn't all that great...I lost $65!
Always hope you lose if you go...I went back to win mylosses...never happened...lost another $65... Roaring Fork where I enjoyed Pulled Pork Sliders and Slaw, was nice. It is getting close to departure so I met Chrissy, a long time friend, at Postinos in Central Phoenix. We reminiced and related stories about "remember when or who". Less of those friends that you can share those wonderful times with. I really enjoyed seeing her again.
I am meeting Jeannie today to treat her to her Birthday Dinner and Marjorie will join us. It will be my farewell till next time gathering. I did have lunch with Jeannie and her friend Elaine yesterday.
Randy's served me a Ham Steak and Eggs this morning.
Lure...the Seafood Restaurant for Fried Baby Calamari.
First Watch Power Breakfast Bowl
If this seems out of order...it is. I am still having problems witH Google Photos and hope to resolve it when I return.
Meanwhile this last week had been stressful so less photos etc...leave tomorrow.
One of the newest Right Hearing aide went dead. I just picked up the Left one from repair that I sent in before I left Oaxaca! I took it down , boxed it up to return, got some batteries for my back up set and put them in, mailed the box to Denver and was returning in the car when the radio didn't sound right. The back up I had in my right ear was gone. How if fell out or I misplaced it while boxing up the repair, I have no idea but did a U turn in hope of finding it at the VA. No such luck so I have to deal with one hearing aide until Jeannie FedX's the repair when she receives it. I returned back at Anita's and got on my new ASUS and it froze with an Credit Card blank payment form, for an app I don't want, up came up just like it did before when I took it to Data Doctor and paid $250 to fix my new computer. It was after 5 and they were closed until Monday at 9am. The day I have to turn the car it. This Monday morning I had a phone appointment with Anita's accountant to sign up with him to do my "27 taxes. I recieved a notice from the IRS a couple days ago saying my '25 return was changed and I owe another 8 grand on top of the 8 grand that I thought was correct. I didn't pay the proper amount for my "TAXABLE Social Security??? That's alot for what I recieved??
Rick my new account advised me to get on my IRS account and download it then review it. If I don't agree...protest it.
I did get a chance to take Jeannie and Marjorie out for dinner but no photos? We had a nice farewell.
I'm off to drop my rental off and bed early...WAKE AT 4:45 AM NOT GOOD. See you in Oaxaca. Whoops forgot to leave the key and now home. Turo will charge late fees so I walked in 110% HEAT but barely made it to WokRoll and Scotty was not there to give me a lift so I called UBER but put Street instead of Avenue in destination address. Guido drove right past the turn. Stop you missed the turn?! He kept going until he reached the wrong destination. I apologized and asked him to take me back to the correct place. He said I had to start a new ride and put it in on Uber app BUT Guido had another call and left me out in the heat. I put the correct destination in the app and Faith took me to the car then took me back to Anita's for cash and NO Uber app.
OK, M&B Sedan, a service Marjorie recommended, picked me up at 5:15 and I was at my at my gate with Bag Checked at counter and ready to board at 6:15. Boarded and off with no problems. 
Hummus and Wine on stopover.
Connected after a 3 hour wait in Houston and arrived in Oaxaca around 7:30 and my Casa at 9 with NO WATER FOR SHOWER, OR LAUNDRY...which was still wet in the machine where I left it 7 weeks ago. Gaspar, who promised he would fix the washing machine never did and Lee, my neighbor waited all day to let the repairman in. Mexico!
It was good to be back. I spent most of the first couple of days shopping to restock my refrigerator and cooking. I had to drop and pickup my laundry at the laundrymat. Had breakfast at Aquacate while there. That evening I tried out Juan's new place: Tamaki...not Yuku. He let his crew manage Yuka and created a new menu for Tamaki. Smart move. He will have same customers going to both places. 
Juan was smart to open though it needs some finishing touches, those can be done later and he managed to get some of his competitors good employees. EDO , the competitor couldn't keep up with the high rent and closed after 2 tries for last year.
Off to M & M for my healthy Breakfast of Turkish Eggs along with Granola, Yogurt and Chia pudding.
Alice in Gelatoland....is now Rogers...with some adding goodies.
I returned to M & M for Shakshukra Eggs in Spicy Tomato/Pepper Sauce. Along the way I noted a new Japanese Macha Coffee Shop that opened near me. Later that evening I went to Yuke for a Salmon Poke Bowl I ate there and Donburi Mixed Fish To Go for Gaby who wasn't feeling well.
The Papa, the Mama, and the Baby...checking there phones while waiting for Sushi.
Well worth the wait.
Domino Day...Monday. Maddie beat me good. We had lunch at Belanc Bakery.
I enjoyed my Granola and Turkish Yogurt in addition to Shakshukra...a bit different that M & M. Belanc was the first to serve this and put on their menu over 12 years ago. Maddie had a Turkey and Spinach Croissant.
August has ended with latest news. AI has gone Rogue. 90,000 AI companies in the world...all with AI agents...anxious to get on the internet and grow into...? God help us...Trump, Climate Change, Wars, AI, etc...but then there is Adventures of a Retired Nomad. Off to Zandvoort Holland Sept 27th...and who knows where else? Enjoy and keep optimistic.
amigo david
