Author: Rudy

Monday: Title reference to the movie we watched tonight, which was better than its title suggested. So was this Monday.

Breakfast, followed by our annual “Nikkel State of the Finances” update. Got out the old spreadsheets, looked up our credit union accounts, and tried to get a picture of our ‘net worth’. Well, it’s a whole lot less complicated than it used to be! At least on the ‘income’ side. Still, all-in-all, we’re doing okay — the secret is to spend less than you ‘earn’ and to be content.

A hard-core hike up and around Silly Mountain followed. Good work-out followed by (another) great lunch (sandwiches, what else?)

We had an email from Ed Peters asking if he could join us for our 9 holes of golf. So Ed and Mark Fox joined us at Mountain Brook at 3:15 — Mark walked the course while the rest of us blasted balls in various directions. Lovely warm day; not a bad way to spend an afternoon. Drinks at Ed’s after the game — Val is still feeling crappy but now has new medication and is hoping to salvage the last few days of her 2-week ‘vacation’ in Gold Canyon. We talked about maybe hiking up to the hieroglyphics on Friday.

After chicken enchiladas for supper (YUM!) I Skyped a bit with Tim (a little tutorial on Illustrator) and watched the rerun of Colbert Report before popping in tonight’s DVD: 50/50. Started out as a nice little movie, but I did not see then end of it. I’ll watch the parts I slept through tomorrow morning before breakfast.

Sunday: Woke up at around 4 this morning, and finally got out of bed at around 5. Turned on ESPN and lucked into the final 2 sets of the Australian Open Men’s Tennis Final. Ultimately Djokovic beat Nadal in five sets to win his fifth Grand Slam title. It was the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of professional tennis, lasting nearly 6 hours. It was over at exactly 8:00am our time, just in time to watch Fareed on CNN!

After watching our CNN morning news shows we had French toast with strawberries and blueberries for breakfast. After breakfast we went for a walk to Walgreen’s to pick up a movie. We stopped at Bashas on the way home to pick up sandwich meat for our lunch when we got home. We skyped with Tim and Alex and then Sue sat outside and read (finishing her book) while I sat inside with a book on my lap, “watching” golf. Actually we had tried to book tee times at Mountain Brook today, but they were hosting a tournament and so we couldn’t get on (we booked for tomorrow). I woke up from my nap just in time to watch Kyle Stanley make a triple-bogey 8 on the final hole to wipe out what once was a seven-shot lead and then lose a playoff to Brandt Snedeker! The second dramatic sports program today!

After supper (leftovers) we watched 60 minutes and then the movie “The Help”, our DVD rental. Another film to check off our “Oscars” list. We had a bit of chocolate and a cup of coffee as we watched the CBC “At Issue” program on the computer. Sue went to bed while I updated my journal and watched a movie on TV.

Saturday: Our final breakfast with Ed and Jess was bacon and eggs. Then they packed their things and loaded up the van. By noon we were off. First stop: the big Mesa Marketplace Swap Meet. Today was the warmest and sunniest day so far, and the marketplace was packed. Ed and I wandered around the outside aisles and Sue and Jess did their own thing. We’d agreed to meet at the center food court for hotdogs and beer, but it was too noisy and crowded and when we finally met there at 1pm we decided to go somewhere else for lunch. We ended up driving to the Apache Junction Fruit Market first. We loaded up with fresh fruits and vegetables (the Hildebrands were buying supplies for their next week) and then headed all the way to Gilbert for another shopping stop at Trader Joe’s. But first, a quick stop at the Peter Piper Pizza Parlour, a ‘Chuck-E-Cheese’-style restaurant, for lunch.

After Trader Joe’s we drove along Baseline Road all the way past Tempe out to just north of South Mountain, where Ed and Jess are staying for another week, sharing a rented house together with 3 other couples. We made one final shopping stop at a nearby Fry’s grocery store. It was about 4:30 by the time we got to the Legacy Golf Resort where the Hildebrand’s house was. We unloaded their groceries and luggage. The home was very nice; 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a great view of the 16th fairway and the South Mountains. We had planned to go for a hike in those mountains, but it was quite warm and probably getting a bit too late for that. We were just having a drink on the patio when one of the other couples who were staying at the house arrived. They joined us for a drink and then left to go out for supper. Ed ordered Chinese food for us. We picked it up and had a last supper together at the house. Then we said our goodbyes and headed back to our place — a 50-minute drive. It had been a very fine week spent together with the Hildebrands; but it was also good to have our house back to ourselves. We poured a glass of wine and watched some crappy TV. By 10pm we were tired and went to bed.

Friday: This morning Sue and I went for a quick bike ride to Walgreen’s and back while Ed and Jessie went for a hike up Silly Mountain. Showered and had lunch. Not a lot of time until our 1:45pm tee time. It was a busy day at Mountain Brook but the group ahead of us moved along at a steady pace and the group behind stayed well behind and didn’t give us any pressure. The warm sunny day never materialized. But the day was fantastic. Our golf was a lot of fun. We just barely managed to finish the 18th hole before 6pm — and it was getting quite dark. But we finished!

On the way home we stopped at Basha’s and Ed bought some steaks for supper. Sue got an appetizer going and prepared the steaks. I barbecued. Supper was great. We’d had a phone call from Ed and Val, and they dropped by just as we were finishing our meal. We had a nice visit. Val had a terrible cold and was not feeling all that great. They’re picking up the Foxes tomorrow and we’re taking the Hildebrands to another house in Phoenix then too. After Ed and Val left we dealt the cards and played one last rubber of bridge. Lost to the girls. Then off to bed.

Thursday: This morning, after breakfast, I tried to book tee times but ended up canceling everything. So no golf today. Instead, it was to be a reading day. Ed and Jessie watched the Australian Open Tennis semi-finals replayed on TV. Then I showed Ed upload photos to his blog. Then, after lunch, we decided to go for a ride. We headed out to Tortilla Flats for an ice cream. We got back to our house by about 5pm. The four of us went for a walk along the back nine holes of Mountain Brook, ending up at Bashas. We bought shrimp for our supper. Met Ed and Val shopping there too.

Sue and Jessie made shrimp stir-fry for supper and then we played bridge till bedtime. Tomorrow we’re going to try booking 18 holes of golf.

Wednesday: After breakfast we got in the van and drove out to the parking lot for the hike up Superstition Mountain. We were going to go with Ed & Val as well, but Ed phoned and said Val was really not feeling well at all, so they would not be doing the hike. So it was the Hildebrands and Nikkels — well, actually it was a LOT more people than the four of us. It was probably one of the nicest days we’ve had here in Gold Canyon this winter, and quite a few other people thought it might be a good day for a hike. Still, the hike was worth it — we took some photos of Ed and Jessie up at the petroglyphs. We got back to the house at around 12:30. Just in time for another terrific lunch!

Then in the afternoon we went to Greenfield Lakes Golf Course, near Santan Village Shopping Center. We’d arranged to meet Al and Shirl there at 5pm to hand off our gift (a digital photo frame with our photos) for Sue’s mom (she’s turning 88 tomorrow). Al and Shirl are leaving tomorrow, driving back to Manitoba. We actually met them on the parking lot of the golf course — and they teed off just a few minutes after our foursome. The golf course is an ‘executive’ course — mostly par threes — and it was very busy this afternoon. We spent more time waiting than golfing. But the weather was great and we had a pretty good time, even though I at least didn’t really golf very well.

We had a beer at around 5pm, said goodbye to Al and Shirl, and then headed back to our house. We had (another) great supper — barbecued chicken breasts and potatoes and salad. A small ice cream for dessert. Watched some more tennis (Australian Open) while we played bridge. Today the girls won most of the hands (and the tennis matches too — the men’s finals are later tonight, at around 2am!). Tomorrow we’ve scheduled a ‘free day’.

Tuesday: Breakfast, followed by a couple of bike rides: first Ed and Rudy went around the loop while Sue and Jessie shopped groceries. Then the girls took the bikes while the boys sat and read. Lunch at 12. A bit more reading. Our Amazon order (a digital photo frame) arrive so I ‘borrowed’ the memory card from my camera and loaded it up with our travel photos — and boxed it all up again, ready to be delivered to Sue’s mom.

I had emailed Ed & Val and invited them to join us for our golf game. At 3:15 we picked up Ed Peters and went to Mountain Brook for nine holes. My drives were not as good as they were yesterday, but in the end my score was a bit better! I shot 48, Ed Peters shot a 46, and Ed H won with a 42 (not quite the 36 he scored yesterday). But the sun was shining, the temperature was about 68, and we had fun.

I barbecued the salmon for supper — which was delicious! Then we cleared off the table and played bridge until 10:30. We’ve arranged to go hiking to the hieroglyphics tomorrow morning at 10 (Ed & Val will join us) and then drive to Gilbert for an afternoon golf game and maybe a drink with Al & Shirl (they’re heading for home on Thursday — and will take our photo frame home for us).

Monday: After morning breakfast (toast) and a couple of hands of bridge, Ed and Jessie and Sue and I went out for a hike. We hiked up Silly Mountain behind our house; we hiked to the top of the front 2 peaks and then circled back along the Superstition View trail. It was time for lunch by the time we got back. The weather was great: not hot, a bit cloudy, just right for outdoor activities.

After lunch we hung around at our house for a bit — Ed had a little nap outside and I had a shower and Sue read. Then we headed out to Mountain Brook for nine holes of golf a little after 3pm. Again, despite the forecast for afternoon showers, the weather turned out perfect for golf. Cloudy, not too hot, no golfers to slow us down or hurry us up. And although Sue had a poor game, the rest of us had a wonderful time. We finished our round at around 5:30. Ed completed 9 holes at 1 over par (36), Jessie scored 5 over par (40). I’m not sure what my score was, but for once, my fairway wood performed well — most of my tee shots were longer and straighter than I’ve shot so far. Now if only my putting were a little better.

We drove around our loop before going home, and still got to see a rose-coloured sunset reflected on Superstition Mountain. Wonderful!

Sue made spaghetti and meat sauce for supper. And after a few more hands of bridge she made banana flambé for dessert. A little more bridge. At 10:30, after watching a bit of tennis (Australian Open) we headed to bed.

Saturday: Since I forgot to update yesterday’s events this will be an entry for  the weekend.

Yesterday (Saturday) we had bacon and eggs for breakfast. Then Dave D came over to ‘do some business’. Sue was cleaning up for the weekend — Ed & Jessie are coming for the week tomorrow. We went to the fruit market before lunch. Another big shop for lots of fruit for not too much money. We also went to Fry’s for groceries. Got home after 1pm and had lunch. At 3pm Dave stopped by to pick me up for 3pm golf. MaryLou came by and worked on her Carillon article and blog post while Sue baked monster cookies. Dave and I had a nice nine holes, although my great idea of using my 3 wood instead of my driver didn’t work out as well as I had hoped.

For supper we barbecued burgers. Then we got into Dave’s car and went to see a movie at 7:30 — “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” — a pretty good movie, although not 5 stars. The Driedgers dropped us off and we went to bed not long after we got home.

Sunday: After breakfast and watching Fareed, Dave and MaryLou were at our place by 9am. We took them to the airport for their flight to Honolulu. We got back about 90 minutes after leaving — a quick roundtrip. Then we settled in to watch the NFL League Championship games.

Game 1, Ravens in New England. Game went quite well — an exciting game that the Ravens could have (and should have) won — except that their receiver dropped a touchdown pass in the final minute, and then the field goal kicker missed the opportunity to tie the game by kicking it wide. So the Pats won 23-20.

Game 2, Giants at San Francisco. Another great game. We watched the first have (and had a little snack. The half ended with the Giants ahead 10-7. Then we got into the van and headed to the Sky Harbor Airport to pick up Ed and Jessie Hildebrand. We listened to the game on the radio while we waited in the ‘cell phone waiting’ lot for the Westjet flight to arrive. When they arrived Sue met them and we got their bags into the van and hurried home. Luckily the game ended in a tie — and we were back home in the house in time to watch the overtime period. The Giants won with a field goal after the ’49ers fumbled a kick return.

After the game we sat down for a late supper — kind of a ‘faspa’ that Sue had prepared for us. A bit of visiting and we were all in bed by 11pm.

Friday: I was going to read this morning — but that was before I got Skyping with Mary Ann Loewen who is in Bolivia. The Loewens have two new MacBooks and need a bit of help setting things up. After at least an hour on Skype I still had a couple of minutes to read before our 11 o’clock bike ride.

Went to Walgreen’s and picked up a DVD rental (Super 8). When we got home we had lunch and then I really did read for nearly 2 hours. Finished my “Looming Towers” book.

At 3:30 we teed off at Mountain Brook. The warm sunny day had brought out more golfers than usual. That meant the golfing was s-l-o-w. I started off very well, parring hole number 1 and 4. But after hole number 5 I packed it in — Sue was especially frustrated with the group ahead of us and thought she’d ‘encourage’ them by pressuring them on the tee blocks. I walked back to the clubhouse and got a small bucket of balls. Best move of the week! After scattering half the bucket all over the driving range with my #1 driver, I put it back into the bag and worked on my fairway wood. And I shot farther and straighter than ever before. Dave and MaryLou also golfed nine and stopped by on their way off the course. When Sue arrived we hopped into the van and headed to the Firehouse Pub to order a pizza.

At the Firehouse we again met Dave and MaryLou — so we had a beer with them while we waited for our pizza. Back home we had supper and then sat down to watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report. At 8pm we watched our movie — science fiction directed by Stephen Spielberg. Boring! After 10 Sue played a bit of Scrabble on her iPad while I updated my journal.