Happy St. Lucia Day.....................(martha)

Though it's not part of Advent, for Swedes, December 13th is the start of the Christmas season. This day honors a young Christian girl who was martyred. She is always portrayed with her head encircled by a halo of candle lights.

As a child, my three sisters and I took turns being St. Lucia each year. If it was my turn, I was thrilled to wake up early in the morning. I’d wrap myself in a white bathrobe with a red sash. Next, I’d don a “crown” and walk to each bedroom to wake my family members for a festive candlelight breakfast. Every year, my Mom baked Julekage, a sweet cardamom flavored Christmas bread as a treat for this day.

As an adult living in Minnesota, the tradition continued a bit differently. My Mom enabled my siblings and me to continue to celebrate December 13th. First she baked Julekage in the shape of St. Lucia’s crown. Next, she delivered them to us by the 12th so we could celebrate St. Lucia Day on the 13h.

That brings me to my next point. Since we are in the midst of a kitchen renovation, we are not sending Christmas cards this year. Instead our warmest wishes are extended here....'No fair" you may mutter (under your breath). You do want us to remain sane, right?!

Therefore, I am remembering a simple celebration from childhood. The times I was excited to be chosen St. Lucia. In keeping with that theme, I have chosen to "be" St. Lucia this year and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

May the joy of Christ’s birth fill your hearts today and in the coming New Year.

Winter?

Greetings!

Well, things are cooling down a bit here, with lows in the 30s and highs in the mid 50s. The whole state of AZ just had winter storm advisories, even blizzard warnings up north around Flagstaff. In Tucson we had strong winds and rain (much needed) overnight, and at higher elevations (above 6000 feet) there was snow and some road closings. But as I look outside the sun is shining and clouds are clearing.

This past weekend we had two different cultural events. Friday night we went to a local park, Tohono Chul, to hear Gabriel Ayala, a Native American classical guitarist. A few weeks ago I was in a charity golf tournament and he was one of my playing partners. He is a lot of fun and a great guitarist. In fact he has been touring recently with the Four Tops and the Temptations up in Canada, as well as playing down in South America. He has also been nominated for Grammys.

The second event I had been anticipating for many months. Once I saw the Vikings were playing the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix, I wanted to get tickets to the game. Using Stub Hub (thanks, Gina :)) I was able to purchase two tickets back in August. Originally the game was set for 2:15 local time, and Martha and I were just going to drive up for the day. But the NFL changed the game to be the NBC Sunday night game. So, we decided to stay overnight rather than driving home late that night.

We parked for free in a high school nearby, and walked about 1 mile or so to the stadium. We passed lots of Viking and Cardinal folks tail gating. We arrived almost an hour before they opened the gates, so we had to wait. Many folks wanted to buy tickets, but the only tickets left were Club level at $500 a ticket. While we were waiting I met Jeff Dugan's (Vikings #83) mom who was there to pick up tickets Jeff left for his parents at will call. They live in Pennsylvania, but they follow him all around to watch him play. Any way we finally got in about 90 minutes before kick off. We got a few snacks to eat and relaxed while watching some of the players chatting on the field (Favre and Warner talked a good 10 minutes or so). We had good seats, upper deck but in the corner of the end zone, so we could see all of the field pretty well.

One thing I don't like about being at the stadium is the noise level. Not the fans, but all loud music they play before the game and during breaks. Some of it was painfully loud (am I getting old or what?) and I was thrilled when the game started so the music would stop. Another thing I don't like is the excessive drinking. One 20-something Viking fan two rows in front of us kept standing up on every play and when people asked him to sit down he was rude and obnoxious. Also, mid way through the third quarter a fight broke out about 10-15 rows behind us. I just didn't like the vibes anymore so Martha and I left after the third quarter. Shuttle buses brought us back to the parking lot and we headed for the hotel.

I am glad we went to the game. It was probably my only chance to see Bret Favre play, and though the Vikings did not win (at least the first Viking touchdown was in our corner of the endzone) there was no denying that they had tremendous fan support at the game. I guess I am spoiled in that I prefer to sit at home, in front of the big screen, snack on cheap food and drink, see all the replays, and have easy access to the bathroom.

Well, this week we begin the kitchen redo. Today and tomorrow the tile guy is here to tear out the old tile in the kitchen and family room. Then next week the cabinets will be replaced, and some tile will be laid. Then Christmas week the rest of the tile will be laid. The new counter tops will go in Jan. 7th after we return to Tucson from our dose of real winter in MN.

New Traditions..............(martha)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.

It started on Wednesday night with a festive worship service at church. Then on Thursday morning we had a simple picnic breakfast in the park for about twenty of us. The eggs and meat were cooked over an open fire in the pit adjacent to the covered pavilion. It was windy. Plates and cups went flying as the food disappeared unless we anchored them down.

One upside of living here is the weather. In the beginning, like all mornings, it was cool (mid 50s). By noon, we were in shirt sleeves as it reached the mid 70s. Jeff finished our time in the park by playing horseshoes while I walked that park. In the afternoon, we watched a movie. In the evening we enjoyed a Thanksgiving buffet at a country club serving turkey, ham and all the trimmings.

Our weekend was capped off with a lovely brunch on Sunday in the home of new friends from church. The hosts introduced us to eight new people to acclimate us to our new community.

Today, Jeff and I will receive a personalized one-to-one orientation at ICS (Interfaith Community Service). We will be switched from serving Mobile Meals to providing transportation (to doctors, grocery stores, etc.) to those who no longer drive.

Friday, we are attending the annual Holiday Lights festival and Musical Performance at Tohona Chul Park (15 minutes away). Jeff golfed with one of the performers, Gabriel Ayalay at the ICS golf fund raiser in mid-November. Gabriel is an acoustical guitarist and a Native American from AZ. Recently, he finished a tour with the Temptations.

Sunday, we are attending the Minnesota Vikings game in Phoenix. The good news…..the Vikings keep winning! Go Vikes. The bad news ……….? The NFL changed the time to the Sunday night game starting at 6:30 pm (our time). Now we are staying overnight rather than driving up for the day.

I hate to miss attending my Pilate’s class on Monday morning. Odd how quickly it has become a regular habit.

Yesterday, I was at the dentist office for the third appointment since Nov. 4th. I now have a permanent crown. Does that make me Queen for a Day?

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from AZ,

This year is a special year of giving thanks for Martha and me. We still have to pinch ourselves from time to time just to make sure we are not dreaming. By God's grace we are here, living out the dream we put in place over 15 years ago.

Things are great here in AZ. We are getting settled in, and a certain rhythm is starting to develop. On MWFs I do a Total Gym workout here in the house (we bought one recently) because I am not a big fan of going to a gym. Martha will probably do TG as well and goes to a Pilates class on MWF. I am golfing once a week for now but I hope once the house gets "done" I can make that twice a week. There are four or five nice city/county courses I have played so far, and they are easy to walk. I just bought a golf push cart so I don't have to carry my clubs anymore because my shoulder has been bothering me a bit more these days.

We went to see "The Blind Side" last weekend. It was a great movie, based on a true story. In fact Martha and I made sure we watched some of the Baltimore Ravens game this past weekend. Go see the movie and you will understand.

Last Saturday we joined Resurrection Lutheran Church (RLC) and signed up to volunteer with Interfaith Community Services (ICS). You may recall that Martha was raised Lutheran (I was raised Catholic) so this is like going home for her. It is also very familiar to me because for the first 12 years of our marriage we worshipped at Lutheran churches. RLC is very outward focused, trying to meet various needs in the community, and ICS is focused on meeting daily needs in the Tucson area, from Mobile Meals to augmenting the local food bank. Martha and I feel that RLC and ICS is a good fit for us to start volunteering and helping others.

The house is coming along. We had a landscaper do a lot of work in the front yard (clearing, planting, new timed drip irrigation system) and it looks great. The new plants are fun and give the front yard a clean and diverse look (see above). We are especially fond of the Santa Rita Prickly Pear cactus (thanks JoAnn, John and Anna). The back yard will probably be a two year project. Also, we are about to tear up the kitchen and family room area. We are putting in new tile and new cabinets, as well as some minor construction to give us some more storage space. So, for about three weeks starting Dec. 7th, things will be a bit messy and disorganized. But we hope to have everything done by Jan. 8th.

We will be heading to MN on Dec. 24th again this year for Christmas and New Year. It will be great to see family and friends, and get another reminder why it is great to live in a snow-free zone! Right now the temps have been great, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid 70s. This is the nicest time of year in Tucson for sure. We have met many of our neighbors, and they all seem like nice folks.

As I said at the beginning, Martha and I are well aware of how blessed we are. We thank God for all the blessings He has poured into our lives, especially all of our family and friends. We cherish each one of you and look forward to seeing some of you in the very near future.

Week 8 (almost).......................(martha)

Well, it has been a whirlwind week.

My well intentioned plans to write at mid-week did not materialize. Instead, I was busily preparing for my sister, Mary's, arrival on Wednesday with John, her husband. Besides cleaning the dust bunnies, scrubbing shower stalls and settling the guest room I have been cooking (yes, don't faint!)

Backing up, last Tuesday, Jeff and I attended the volunteer orientation to "work" for Interfaith Community Services (ICS). The scope of services offered and the wealth of opportunities to help were impressive. Currently, their # 1 need is for drivers delivering MM (Mobile Meals). They differ from Meals on Wheels in that their program accommodates dietary restrictions.

At orientation, the presenter asked for volunteers for the next day's annual golf tournament benefiting ICS; I offered to help. My assignment was an easy one. Four of us sat at the 7th green (a par 3,) to vouch for anyone who got a hole-in-one. The prize was a Steinway grand piano. Alas, nobody managed that feat and we had a pleasant afternoon outdoors. Fortunately I arrived home 30 minutes before John and Mary came.

They drove 8 hours from Pasadena, CA with their bikes mounted on their SUV. They have taken advantage of our bike-friendly city each day. Thursday, Jeff and John golfed. Mary and I walked in our neighborhood, ate lunch at a local park and took my cousin to PT in the afernoon.

It's time for me to close. All four of us are heading to my cousin's for dinner.

Settling in? - Jeff

Greetings from still warm and balmy Tucson!

One of things that Martha and I wanted to do in retirement is be more active volunteers. Well, things are starting to heat up in that area.

Our first time worshiping at Resurrection Lutheran a woman, Sandy, from Interfaith Community Services (ICS) gave a short talk about current needs in the Tucson area. ICS provides meals, transportation, and other "pastoral care" type services. Martha thought it would be a good idea to at least check them out, so we are going to attend volunteer orientation on 11/10. When Martha talked with Sandy I could tell they made a connection of sorts. In fact, Sandy called Martha this week and asked if she could help out preparing foods bags (stapling instructions to the brown paper bag)for distribution even before we agreed to be volunteers. I decided to tag along, so yesterday Martha and I stapled 500 grocery bags. It felt good to do a little something for ICS right now, even before being official volunteers.

But the fun thing, for me, was that while we were stapling bags I overheard Sandy talking about the golf tournament. Naturally I inquired, and now I am signed up to play in the ICS tournament on Wed. 11/11. It is a Texas scramble which should be fun. This is ICS's major fundraiser for the year. I am looking forward to playing for a worthy cause and getting to know some more folks, especially golfers!

Our lives are starting to develop a certain rhythm now. We get to bed by 10-10:30 and we get up at 6:30. We don't seem to have too much trouble filling our days. Martha does Pilates three days a week, and I have been golfing once a week. We also help out taking Jim Vadis (cousin-in-law) to physical therapy twice a week.

ps. I have added a couple of pictures to earlier posts if you want to check them out.

T.G.I.F......even for me!........................(martha)

There is a rhythm to our days. They pass quietly but seem full. When evening arrives, I am often surprised that the time has passed so quickly. The days do not drag and the slower pace makes me contented. It is nice not to be rushed. I can read a magazine when it comes in the mail. Often, I set it aside for reading in the late evenings. Mentally, I still feel like I am working from 9 – 5. However, my “work” is now household chores, errands or other planned classes/activities during that time. When 5:30 rolls around, I stop! Maybe that will change over time but this works for me now.

On Wednesday, it turned cooler. The highest it reached was 59 in the afternoon which is typically January weather (per long time residents). Since Jeff wore shorts for golfing, the person he was paired with glanced at his attire and asked, “Are you a snowbird?” He was surprised to learn that Jeff lived here………then Jeff explained we moved here recently. 'Give it time and soon you will think this is cold too' he remarked. Frost warnings were announced for the past two nights. However, by Sun., it will again reach the 80’s.

Jeff and I (at least from my perspective,) are not getting on each others’ nerves. It is not too much togetherness. We meet in the morning for our daily prayer time and then go our separate ways until the evening. Five mornings a week I leave the house around 8:30. This helps start my day. Alas my calendar reminder just popped up. My lunch break is over and cleaning the toilets and scrubbing the shower beckons. Care to switch places this afternoon?

Week 5 and more

Well, my SBBMV had a stumble yesterday in Pittsburgh. It was a good game, not great, with mistakes and big plays on both sides. But, the Vikings could have won. In fact Favre outplayed Roethlisberger, and if the steady usually sure handed Chester Taylor catches Favre’s pass the Vikes would probably be 7-0 now. Now it’s on to Green Bay (and the Pack looked good against the lowly Browns) and then a bye week. Hopefully the Vikes will be 7-1 at the break.

Here in Tucson the weather has been perfect, with lows around 50 and highs in the low to mid 80s. My plan is to golf once a week until the house is more settled. I have played two municipal courses now, and both were fun and easy to walk. My next tee time is Wed. on another muni (El Rio) which I have heard is easy to walk. It too was a PGA Tour stop in the 1930s as the Tucson Open.

We have noticed that the snow birds have started to arrive. There are lots more RVs on the road now. In fact a neighbor couple two doors down live in Canada, but winter here from mid-October to late April or early May. I’m pretty sure they are Americans living and working in Canada but they need to reside in the US for six months of the year for Social Security purposes. They have been our "neighbors" for 16 years.

I have started to clean up some of the front yard. We had a few dead plants and small trees that needed to be removed, and it took me a few days to get that done. I plan on contacting a landscape guy to help us plant a plant or two in the front, and give us some ideas about phasing in some serious repair to the back yard. I would like to have a 2-3 year plan that I can work on gradually. I have always liked yard work, and working with my hands. I like seeing something accomplished for my efforts, breaking a little sweat, getting my hands dirty and a “good” soreness to my muscles.

For all of you Halloween fans, we understand that Tucson goes gaga for the event. We have seen many impromptu set ups for pumpkins and costumes in parking lots. In VA some years no kids came to our door. We'll see how many come this year.

I'm a lean, mean fighting machine.....(martha)

Yes, I’ve become a jock…… (NOT)…but I’ll bet you’re reading this post! Last week, I joined a fitness center/gym. “So, what is new about that?” (You may wonder.)

First of all, I am actually going! Secondly, I am attending a Pilates class at 9 am every Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Next, I signed up for a personal training session (targeted for strength training). What was I thinking?! Monday night, I soaked in a hot bath for 40 minutes. That was the best part of my day.

Yesterday, I visited with the Director of Volunteers at Interfaith Community Services (ICS) serving Pima County. This county covers Tucson, Oro Valley (northern suburb where we live,) and Marana. It was so much fun to talk to her; we did finally get to business. On November 10, I am registered to attend their orientation session. She is thrilled to “nab” me before any other non-profits have a chance.

Backing up, twice/week (sometimes more,) we take my cousin, Jim, to Physical Therapy for his right foot. He had surgery 11 weeks ago and he has been wheel chair bound since then. Three weeks ago, he started PT to bear weight on that foot (25 % so far). Each PT session takes about three hours (with travel time). Sometimes it is longer if he also gets time in the pool before exercising on land. So, that fulfills my desire to serve others even before the house is totally unpacked or settled.

Whoops, it is time to get ready for my class! Bye for now.

Week 4 (almost) - Jeff

Greetings,
Our sympathies to our family and friends in MN who have already experienced the "white" stuff. It has been beautiful in Tucson the last few days, with lows in the upper 50s and highs in the mid 80s (though it is supposed to hit the mid 90s this weekend).

Well I finally made it to the golf course. Tucson has five municipal courses and I plan on playing them all over the next few weeks. Tuesday I played Randolph which is part of a huge sports complex that has another 18 hole course as well (Dell Urich which I play next Wed.). When I checked in at the clubhouse I spoke with Andrew (a Maryland transplant) and he gave me the low down on the various packages and courses. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say Tucson makes it easy to play lots of golf, and gives residents a price break as well.

I liked Randolph right away. It is a par 72, 6,436 yd track from the whites, and it is easy to walk, which I did. I still love to walk the course and carry my bag, and I hope to do that for many years to come. A pleasant unexpected bonus was the tree lined fairways, which provided a lot of shade as you moved about the course. It was challenging enough for me, and it used to be on the PGA rotation for the Tucson Open 25-30 years ago. I shot 86, with one birdie (4 ft tap in on a par 3) which I think is OK after a month layoff.

We continue to peck away at the settling. As the temps are cooling down, I want to start doing some outside work. I think we can get the front yard looking OK yet this year, but the back yard is a total disaster. I went to a cacti nursery yesterday to check out what our options are. Holy prickly pear! There is an incredible assortment of cacti that we can consider, many I never knew existed. I look forward to sprucing up the outside over the next months (years?).

Week 3......................(martha)

In random order, here are some highlights;

• My cousins (Anita and Jim,) live 4 miles away! It has been fun getting to know them. When they got married, I was 12, so now we are forging an adult friendship.
• We met our next-door neighbors… Tom and Judy, (about our age) who moved here from Michigan. Judy and I keep meeting at the mailbox. One day, our conversation lasted 40 minutes; Jeff wondered if he needed to send a search party to find me.
• Tuesday, Judy is going to afternoon tea with me! How good is that?!
• NEW Microwave installed on Friday. Dinner that night involved zapping an entree. Even I can touch buttons …it was so complicated I double checked the manual before using it!
• Jeff made his first T-time for golf on Tuesday morning. "Fore!"
• Introduced to ICS (Interfaith Community Services) at church last week. They serve low income, elderly and disabled people in Tucson. Imagine a huge “Pastoral Care Team” serving Pima county residents providing meals, friendly visits to home bound recipients, coordinating rides to doctors, pharmacies, banks, etc. Additionally they do health-care assessments and caregiver relief. The next volunteer orientation session is in November.
• Monday our new stove and refrigerator will be delivered. Yea!
• Found a WW (Weight Watchers) group to attend. WHEW ~ the jeans still fit… heading back to the group was done in the nick of time.
• Eased back into exercising; I missed that routine.
• The weather has cooled since we arrived. At sunrise it is in the 50’s and then it reaches the low 80’s by mid afternoon. As Jeff would say, “it is a dry heat” and feels pleasant.
• Last Friday, the WAC (Women After Carlson, Cos) met for an all-day outing. Carlson Co. (who owned Radisson Hotels and Resorts) was my former employer for 14 years. Wendy and I live in Tucson. Robin lives in Phoenix so we met halfway between the two cities. We met to celebrate (prove) there is life after corporate America.
• The Minnesota Vikings are now 5-0. Is that because Jeff is wearing his Vikings T-Shirt? Do our screams help the team win? The game time determines when we attend church. Maybe our priorities are skewed? We'll submit to Pastoral Counseling once the season ends. Until then, we'll be in front of the TV!

SBBMV!

In case you are wondering what SBBMV means, it is Super Bowl Bound Minnesota Vikings!

OK, so I got a little carried away, but after last week's last second victory, and tonight's win over the Cheeseheads, I can gloat a little bit about OMF (Old Man Favre). I knew that if he stayed healthy the Vikings would probably have a shot (I realize there is a long way to go), but what I am really enjoying is the excitement of watching the games. It is fun to watch the Vikes (sorry Redskins fans), and I sure hope it goes on a bit longer, say mid-February:) Also, I hope the Twins beat Detroit tomorrow. It would be great to watch them in the post season. And, yes, it has been great to have DirecTV and NFL Sunday ticket as well as the baseball channels.

I hate to admit it but we are actually scheduling around the games. Remember, until daylight savings Nov. 1, Arizona is actually on Pacific time. So, a noon game in MN is on at 10 am here. Last week we went to church on Saturday evening so I would not miss the game. This week the game was on MNF, so we went to a contemporary service at 10:45 am on Sunday. Next week we will go to 9:15 on Sunday and get home ASAP!

Well, we have now been in Tucson for a bit over two weeks. The time has certainly flown. We are continuing to peck away at boxes and things are getting settled. Our big news is that we will soon have a new kitchen. Hopefully all the appliances will be installed within the next two weeks, and cabinets and counter tops (along with new floor tile) probably in 2-3 months or so. We knew before hand that a kitchen makeover was in the cards, and after the microwave died last week we decided it was time. The stove and refrig work OK, but I don't feel like tempting the dish washer. Now that Martha has seen "Julie and Julia" (twice), I am hoping for big things as far as new and and exciting meals:)

The great news is that the weather is starting to cool down here, with lows in the upper 50s and highs in the mid 80s. Golf has still alluded me, but I hope to correct that soon.

Are we having fun yet?...................(martha)

After washing copious loads of wash upon our arrival and again Monday morning, our hot water heater died. (It is almost 16 years old, but could it last just a few weeks longer!!) Tuesday afternoon, we bought a hot water heater. That was the good news. Now, for the bad news.

The plumber (who came to install it the very next day,) could NOT do it. Although the 50 gallon capacity was the same size as our old one, the NEW one was taller. Sigh. Those few extra inches meant it could not be installed in the space we had. Another one (called a 50 gallon short,) was back ordered and will be delivered this coming Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I took very quick COLD (okay, they were cool not cold,) showers. Jeff did not mind as much as me. Thursday, I could not face another cold shampoo, so I skipped washing my hair. Besides, my first cousin, Anita, invited us over for dinner on Friday night (so I could shower before dinner).

Then a miracle happened. Thursday morning (after my COLD shower,) Jeff jumped in the shower. Ten minutes later, he walked into the room with the towel wrapped around his waist and droplets of water still glistening on his chest.

"It's baaaaaaaaack" he said.
"What's back?" I asked.
" The hot water! " he explained. "In fact, it was so scalding hot that I had to turn it down."

Yes, you guessed it. I took another shower and shampooed my hair this time. Go figure.

Now, let me tell you about last night, (way past supper time). Jeff suggested a couple microwave pizzas (frozen entree's from WW) and that sounded good (read easy) to me! Something I could handle while he watched football. I put the first one in the microwave and read that it would be done in 2 minutes 30 seconds. That was great (because I was STARVING and because I hate to cook). The microwave stopped (after 2 seconds). It just died completely. Grrrr.....

70 minutes later, we sat down to eat pasta and marinara sauce (courtesy of Costco). It was already made (so I should be grateful,) but I still had to boil the water and cook it on the stove.

That meant unpacking the pots/pans, finding potholders, etc. etc. The cook top on the stove is NOT right!! That is too loooooooong a story to explain. Are we having fun, yet? Martha is not (in the ill equipped kitchen that does not work correctly). Cooking is my least favorite task (so why bother?!) Grrr.

Tucson - Week 1 (Jeff)

Greetings from Tucson!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I'm sure you can imagine that we have been a bit busy getting things squared away. It is hard to believe we have only been in the house for seven days, but I can report that every day the house is looking more and more settled.

The two "critical" things that we got done this week are: 1) getting Direct TV hooked up, and 2) getting our Internet setup. I wanted Direct TV so I could watch the Vikings and other MN sports events, so I am thrilled to be able to do that. But, here's the kicker: AZ does NOT observe daylight savings time, so until the "fall back" we are actually on Pacific time. So, the 12 PM Vikings game in MN is broadcast here at 10 AM. Martha found a couple of churches with Sat. evening services, and we will be attending one of them tonight!

I decided to go with the Qwest\Direct TV bundle, so we have high speed DSL with Qwest. I set that up yesterday, and connected the wireless router this morning. So we are online and it is working just fine with very good speeds and performance. This makes Martha very happy because now she no longer has to go to the library to use their 60 minute limit PCs (though those of you who know Martha realize she will definitely continue spending time at the library).

So we keep plodding along. We are waiting on a new water heater which will be installed next Wed. It would have happened this past Wed., but, when the plumber came we discovered the unit we wanted was too large for the space in our garage. We are replacing the water heater because it is 16 years old and a bit temperamental. We have hot water some times, and then sometimes not. It might just be the thermostat, but it is a good idea to replace the old one before it decides to fail/leak at an unexpected time.

I have not golfed yet, but I hope to next week. I will check out the municipal courses (Tucson has five or so), hopefully one a week. I wanted to get a few things setup, esp. Internet, before I start making Martha a golf widow.

We're here....in Tucson..................(martha)

Yes, I know you are eager to hear from Jeff, but he is busy taking care of all those pesky little (and big) chores settling our house. Me? I just want to play and chat with you awhile. Our Internet connection is not yet set up at home, so I am using the free Internet access at the library. You will hear from him later (after it has been set up).

Meanwhile, I will share a few random comments or impressions about our first days in Tucson. By the time we arrived on Sunday evening, we had driven 4,900 miles cross-country since leaving Virginia almost four weeks ago. Next, moving into a new house is stressful.

• Where are the light switches? Which one (of these three switches) turns the light on?
• Why doesn't the fan work? (oh, it is on a separate switch!)
• "Jeff, please come here" (to the shower). "Does this water feel hot to you?" I asked.
  Jeff replied, "It was hot when I showered. Maybe you need to run it longer?"
• After 7 minutes, it was even cooler. So I showered very quickly and we bought another hot water heater this afternoon.
• The desk in "my room" was too big. (The rooms in this house are much smaller). Today, we purchased a new (smaller) desk for me. Those purchases were unexpected.
• Can you see me shopping? Neither can I....but the desk was for me, so I had to go along. After five stops, we finally found one. I was so worn out by that ordeal, I took a nap!
• It has been easier to purchase items (that we already own,) then spend more time opening boxes. Yes, the boxes are labeled but the stack of them is daunting.
• Weather. It is hot. In the past three days, the temp has reached the high 90's (99, 97 and 98 today). However, when the sun sets, it cools off at least 20 degrees.
• It is pitch black by 6:45 pm. Arizona does not participate in Daylight Savings time. Oro Valley (where we live,) is north of Tucson (maybe 10 miles?) and there are no streetlights in our development. I don't even dare walk outside at night unless I am hanging onto Jeff's arm.....my balance for walking is even shaky in the light!

Whoops, my time (on the computer is nearly over, ) so I will sign off for now.

Flagstaff, AZ...........(martha)

It's bedtime. Hmmm. Any idea how to sleep through train whistles? No? Me neither!

Bryce and Zion were similar but different. The huge scale of those parks and the colorful rock formations defy description. It would be like telling you that the Grand Canyon is a deep hole. There were many hiking trails that ranged from easy paths to strenuous ones designed for serious hikers with the proper equipment. We chose the easy, recreational hikes!

The animals we have seen on this trip have been dairy cows or beef cattle. No wild life (unless Jeff counts?)

Today was just a travel day (to Flagstaff) so that our last leg (tomorrow) is an easy half day drive. We arrived early enough to attend the film, Love Happens. Women outnumbered men in the audience but it surpassed Jeff's expectations. It was not a predictable romantic comedy, so I really enjoyed it. The characters in the movie were authentic and adult; it made me laugh despite the serious topic.

This is our final night "on the road".....our trip ends tomorrow with our arrival in Tucson. We will start the next phase of this journey by unpacking all the boxes that are waiting for us.

Jeff is attempting to sleep so I will try too. Good night.

Price, Utah..............(martha)

Since leaving Minnesota last Saturday, our trip has brought a variety of experiences.

From the majestic (Badlands, Rocky Mountains, Garden of the Gods red sandstone rock formations and beautiful prairies,) to the mundane (sitting in the car dealership while our Nissan was serviced). Tonight was filled with memories.

We met another couple, Kathy and Mike Milburn, for dinner (they live in Price). Kathy and I worked together at Yellowstone National Park, but our husbands were together for the first time. Although we now have wrinkles and graying hair, we still have hour glass figures (the sands have slightly shifted). It was a relaxed and enjoyable evening.

They encouraged our idea to work in the National Parks during the summer and described how this all works. Doesn't that sound like a great way to escape the heat of Tucson summers? Next summer is already booked with two family weddings, but we'll explore this idea for the future. Lastly, we discussed a rendezvous with them at Lake Powell. Hopefully, it won't be another 27 years before we see each other again!

Tomorrow we head to Bryce National Park for a two night stay so I'll close for now.

Greetings from Colorado Springs (Jeff)

Well, our westward journey continues. We left MN a little bit ahead of schedule and arrived at Badlands National Park in time to view the spectacular topography in the daylight, as we had hoped to do. We bought a National Park pass for the year, so we are set for Bryce and Zion on Thursday and Friday. After the Badlands we continued on to Mt. Rushmore. We checked in at the Best Western and the front desk person mentioned we should try and see the monument lighting ceremony, and that we should get there early for seats. Thinking it started in about an hour we quickly dropped off our bags and headed for the monument. The joke was on us when we arrived an hour early because we did not realize that this western bit of South Dakota was in Mountain Time.

Anyway, by arriving early we did see the monument in the daylight. We then had time to see the video about the monument and how it came into being. The lighting ceremony began as it was getting dark. It was great. A park ranger gave a short talk about US freedom and democracy. Then we saw a 15 minute video about the four presidents on the monument and what they represented; freedom (Washington), expansion (Jefferson), preservation (Lincoln), and conservation (Roosevelt) of the US. Towards the end of the video, the monument began to light up, so that by the end of the video it was fully lit. Very impressive. The ranger also had a Boy Scout Jamboree troupe perform the flag lowering ceremony. We also sang the Star Spangled Banner.

But the special thing about the lighting ceremony was that the park ranger asked all military service personnel, active, non-active, retired, from all branches to come on the stage. There were 25-30 men and women. He had each one give their name and branch of service. When everyone had given their names, including the ranger, he said to the crowd, "here are the men and women who risked their lives so you could enjoy the freedoms you have." Everyone broke into a spontaneous and sustained applause. It was a very touching moment for all of us.

We had planned on returning to the monument the next morning, but when we got up it was raining lightly and the fog was very thick. The forecast was for more of the same all day. So we decided to head for Fort Collins, CO right away. We drove through 25-30 miles of dense fog before finally getting some clearing. We arrived in Fort Collins and had a nice Italian dinner. We needed to get an oil change and a recall notice done on the Murano, and there was a Nissan dealer in Fort Collins. So, Monday morning we grabbed Starbuck venti coffees and waited about two hours for the service to get done. I was thrilled they we able to fit us in. Colorado Springs is only two hours away, so after the service was done we headed off.

Well, today we are in Colorado Springs. We plan on seeing the US Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, and Glen Eyrie. Looking outside it is a beautiful clear day and the mountains look spectacular.

The long (MN) goodbye (Jeff)

Well, it has been a great two weeks in MN, visiting family and friends. A big thank you to Jeanine (sister) and Al for hosting our stay, and to everyone who made time in their busy schedules to spend time with us. Our emotional tanks are full, and with a full gas tank, we are now ready to begin the next part of our journey to Tucson.

We leave Hastings, MN at 0800 tomorrow, 9/12, and we will drive all day to Mt. Rushmore. I am looking forward to seeing the "big heads", the Badlands, etc. There are so many great sites in the US, and we will hit several more on our way to Tucson. Places like the Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, Bryce and Zion National Parks. Martha and I are well aware of how blessed we are to live in the US, and the incredible opportunity we now have to be "professional volunteers." We are excited about what God has in mind for us in the days ahead.

Labor Day Monday......(martha)

This weekend has been a reflective one for me.

Seventeen years ago (1992,) was my final weekend living in Minnesota. Of course, at the time, I did not know it. That Labor Day, I boarded an airplane bound for Frankfurt and then onto Moscow, my final destination. (Jeff joined me three months later.) In my mind, I thought I was leaving for two years followed by a return to Minnesota. Alas, that move changed the direction of our lives; we never returned to MN except for visits.

To celebrate my departure, Jeff and I attended the Minnesota State Fair with John and Jo Ann (my sister,) Bablitch. The highlight was a concert in the grandstand with Steven Curtis Chapman. This coincided with Chapman's album The Great Adventure. Fittingly enough, this became our theme song for the ensuing years. Now, years later, we are poised on the edge of another "Great Adventure".....albeit a domestic one. Attending the State Fair last Friday with Al and Jeanine (Jeff's sister,) and seeing John and Jo Ann on Sat. made us remember that special time.

Since Friday morning, something else has been intruding on my thoughts. I was notified that Dick Mason, my General Manager of the Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel when I was in Moscow, died suddenly last Wednesday (heart attack.) Life is short.

What is your purpose in life? Where is your final destination? Will you be joining me in heaven?

FAQ(s).........(martha)

1. How do you feel?
   With our fingers.
2. No, I meant how do you feel inside?
   We are taking vitamins, getting rest...
3. Cut it out! ...... just tell me what this is like (since I'll be working until I'm 70) and my 401K is now a 201K. I don't know if I can ever retire. Sigh.
   a) It does not seem real. Neither one of us "feel" retired.
   b) It "feels" like we're on an extended vacation; we won't reach Tucson until 9/20.
   c) We feel blessed and privileged to have this opportunity. Is this real? Pinch me.
4. Why Tucson?
   We own a house there.
5. How did you end up buying a house there?
   (asked with a truly puzzled voice)
   a) In 1992, (seventeen years ago,) we moved from Minnesota to Moscow, Russia for my job. I (and about 15 other ex-pats,) worked for the Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel (the first American-Russian hotel). So, in 1993 we sold our home in MN.
   b) Then, Jan. 1994, during vacation in Tucson, we bought a home "out there". Why?
   1) Jeff had 15 years left working for the government until he could retire.
   2) Buying a house with a 15 year mortgage meant we could retire.
   3) Jeff feels strongly drawn (called?) to Tucson. Although he cannot adequately explain it, we both believe this is God's next step for us. If fear is the only thing holding me back, that is not a valid reason (excuse) not to go.
6. Are you excited?
   Yes (Jeff) and no (Martha)....until I find my niche, new community and church.
7. Will you miss things back in DC-Virginia? Absolutely.
8. What? Friends, Christ the King (our church,) The Falls Church (former church,) babysitting the Glades (Gracie (5 1/2), Katie Jane (4), Jack (2) and Sara (almost one), the weather (mild winters but four distinct seasons) plus more space than our new home.
9. Will you work? We view ourselves as professional volunteers; working for our community and church but not for a paycheck. Yes, Jeff will golf but not daily.
10. Your home is on a golf course so you will be golfing there, right? Doubtful. He'll be checking out municipal courses first.
11. Do you know anyone there? My first cousin and her husband, who live 4 miles from us, moved there about 8 years ago. Our property manager lives about 25 miles away. Lastly, we have received scores of contact names once we announced that Tucson was our destination. We look forward to connecting with them.
12. How can we be praying for you? A new church home that "fits" both of us. I am traditional, liturgical and less flexible (in my worship style).

Greetings from Hastings, MN (Jeff)

We arrived safely in Hastings, MN last Friday evening and are now enjoying the gracious hospitality of Jeanine (sister) and Al Stangl. Unless we start to smell like old fish, we will rest here until Saturday, 9/12, visiting with family and friends, and then head for points W/SW.

As Martha previously mentioned, on Sunday we attended a memorial mass for Diane Krueger in St. Paul. The interment of her ashes is on Thursday 9/3 and we plan on attending that. It is strange to think of her as gone. Later on Sunday we had a get together, an event she would normally be at, and her absence was definitely felt by us.

Speaking of the get together, it was a birthday (Morgan 8/29, Martha 8/30) and retirement celebration. It was fun to be at a typical Kraus party, eating too much delicious food, playing cards, chatting, and just being together. These events have been too infrequent for me as we have lived away from MN since Fall of 1992, and soon it's off to AZ!

Yesterday we went to the Mall of America to see the new Harry Potter movie. We both enjoyed it but realized how much we had forgotten from the book. I hope they do justice to the last book in the movie which I understand is now being filmed in two episodes. Monday evening we went to Matt (nephew) and Morgan Stangl's for a visit and enjoyed great homemade ice cream, pastry, and playing a new board game for us, Wit and Wagers.

Today, I am relaxing and planning the next legs of our trip. Martha is visiting her sister JoAnn, and taking her to a Dr. appt. JoAnn is doing very well as she continues to recover from brain surgery six weeks ago. It is the same surgery Martha had 12 years ago.

I think Martha and I are discovering how tired we were, and are thankful for this time to sleep a bit longer and recharge our batteries. It may take us a bit of time to decompress from the DC Metro pressure cooker pace of life. I already know that the pace of life in Tucson is slower, which I am looking forward to.

Greetings from Milwaukee, WI.....(martha)

Wednesday evening we stopped in Canton (Ohio) to visit the Football Hall of Fame in the evening. Yesterday morning, our first stop was in Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That stop was a highlight.

The building was well designed with many levels, videos, film clips and private alcoves. It sits on the edge of Lake Erie adjacent to a Science Museum and the Stadium for the Cleveland Browns. Music plays continuously which creates an energetic atmosphere. Many exhibits were interactive. In addition, there were several "costume" collections worn by performers including Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Stevie Nicks, Michael Jackson, etc. It is a good thing I'll never go on stage; I can't imagine appearing in public in any of those outfits.

After leaving, the rest of the day was spent traveling from Cleveland to Milwaukee. The day was overcast, gray and mostly rainy. Things slowed down passing through Chicago because of the volume of traffic. Road construction along the way brought back the old saw about two seasons in the Midwest. Winter and road construction.

We are stopping in Milwaukee to visit our niece, Anna. She and the other freshman attending Marquette moved into the dorm on Wednesday. We will see her after checking out and then continue our trip. Next stop is (Hastings,) Minnesota and the home of Jeff's sister, Jeanine and husband, Al. We will visit family and friends before our trek continues again.

GO!

Well, "all our bags are packed, we're ready to go," - almost. As soon as we load up we will begin our trek. Of course we leave with mixed emotions, and the impact of our departure may not sink in for awhile. But, I truly believe that Tucson is God's next place for us. I feel a certain peace and calm about all of this, and the "unknown" of Tucson is not too daunting to me. I realize that Martha is more aware of what she is leaving behind, so this is harder for her right now. At some point it will hit me too, but for now I am ready to saddle up our horses and head into the next Great Adventure God has in store for us.

Our thanks to all of you for your love, support, and encouragement over the years. We are better people for having had this time with you. Thanks also for all your gifts, letters, and special events that have humbled us and touched our hearts deeply.

Remember, this is not goodbye, merely adios until we meet again.

Jeff

Get Set....(martha)

We sold our home in July; our furniture, household goods and (my) car were shipped to AZ on July 30. While waiting to depart, we moved to the home of Mike and Gayle Andrews in McLean, VA. They are long-time friends (we all met as newlyweds in 1980). After nearly four weeks, we are still talking and remain the best of friends! In fact, they hosted a lovely farewell dinner at the Washington Golf and Country Club with Jeff's golfing partners and their wives. (Mike is one of Jeff's partners.) We wives count ourselves lucky we don't have to waste, oops, I mean "spend" time on the course with them. Besides, after my drive, I pick up my ball and walk until I can throw it on the green. My goal is avoiding a spot on their foursome. Whew, I have succeeded. We have been eating our way through our goodbyes in the last few weeks. Two more days of work. Two more "last suppers" and then we hit the road on Wednesday morning to begin driving. First stop is Ohio (rock and roll Hall of Fame.) The clothes barely fit and the jeans are snug, so we better leave soon! Yet, it is hard to leave behind our church, the other things we love and the deep friendships we have made.

Getting Ready

Well, Martha and I are in the last stages of leaving for Tucson. She will complete her work on Tuesday August 25th, and we begin our trek to AZ via MN and other points of interest along the way, the following day. We will keep you informed as to our progress and impressions. Jeff