We made it!

 So we made it through the most event-filled week we have had in our memory.

In between the Golden Age Olympics doings, we were busy with our usual stuff. Trivia went well and we had 5 tables of players. I had worked out the questions for two weeks ahead so I didn't have the stress of coming up with the questions. I have a treasure trove of questions having done this since January 8th, 2018 in Texas. Longer than that in Iowa.

Renie and I are playing in a women's league outside the park. We are currently in last place. I am considering this our initiation year. We will work our way up the ladder. We are both ready for the challenge.

I offered a beaded ring class and it was a hit and they want me to continue. We will see if this continues. I do have an out on this one. One of the women who showed up for it was already an accomplished beader. She came because she had not brought her beading supplies with her. She can be a backup for me.

Square Dancing has started and conflicts for me with pool. I may see if I can make both work at least for a while.

I swore when we moved to this park I would not get overloaded. Everything takes a commitment! Whoops!

Buzz Saw

Golden Age Olympics Singles on Tuesday:

So I entered the Golden Age Olympics 2025 Billards for the first time.  I should have known better but what you don't know, you don't know. In the singles division on Tuesday, I thought I could hang in there for a while at least. First off I got a bye meaning that I didn't have to play right away. So I waited...and waited...for over an hour. When they called me to play I was matched up to play with Audrey. I broke, she had a 7 ball run. I got one shot and missed. She easily made the 8 ball and game over. The second game went much like the first. Audrey, I find out later, has been playing since she was 10. There was no hesitation between shots. She knew exactly what she was going to do without a thought. It was like watching the pros on TV. Impressive as a spectator but not so much fun as a participant. I will admit it messed with my head. I was rattled and my second game with Barbara didn't go well either. Two losses mean you are out. Audrey went on to win the tournament. My Trophy playing partner, Renie, won 3rd place! 

Golden Age Olympics Doubles on Thursday:

Renie and I were partners and we hoped to have it go better for us and it did. The point is that we both played well and we played a few other teams before we were eliminated. We also had a large time gap so Renie asked about it and the guy asked her what bracket she was in. She said she didn't know so he asked her if she was in the 67 to 81 group or the younger one. Why yes we were! So it was categorized by age and being 81 also meant I was the oldest woman in the room! I felt much better about the whole thing with that bit of news. I don't know if Butch was the oldest guy in the room but he could have been.

Butch won third place in the men's division and has another big ol' medal to show off.

They told us there were photos online but I can't find them.

I might sign up next year. If I look upon it as a learning experience it will feel better. Maybe the luck of the draw will not match me up against the winner right out of the gate! And maybe I am ready to work on all the things Butch wanted me to learn before I was ready. Time will tell.

The first day

 We made it through our first super busy day and got quite a few items off the to-do list. In so doing we missed the woodcarver's open house. I have seen some of the work in other ways, which is truly spectacular.

My chores were not nearly as eye-popping, but it feels good to have the list eradicated. The first thing on the list was dropping off a big bunch of recyclable items. A woman came out of her office and thanked us for doing it and gave us a magnetized note to keep us on track. 

We then had 5 more stops but I will not bore you with them. We started at 8:00 and arrived home at 11:00-forgot about the woodcarvers-and carried on with the day.

Today will hold even more events than yesterday...till then!

Schedule

Friday, January 3rd:

Walked our 2-mile route with Renie this morning and will be playing pool with Renie this afternoon to polish up for the events we are signed up for in the upcoming week. Butch is playing in his usual Friday afternoon tournament.

Saturday, January 4th: Plus Square dance review lessons start at 9:00 to 11:00 in Alamo Palms. In the afternoon, Renie and I are going to Fast Eddies to play on their tables because we will be playing on them for the first time. We have signed up for the Senior Golden Olympics 2025 in the Women's Pool events, Singles, and Doubles. 

Sunday, January 5th: The Sunday Mixed Pool Event in Trophy takes place every Sunday except holidays. I host and we play in it.

Monday, January 6th: I will be practicing...It is ladies' day in the pool hall.

Tuesday, January 7th: Playing in the Olympics. Both of us will be playing at Fast Eddies. Butch will play men's singles and I will play women's singles. I have only a vague idea of how this will go for me. Butch has played in this event for several years. And Then...there is trivia tonight at 6:30 for me!

Wednesday, January 7th: Renie and I will play in the ladies' league. We only this year signed up for this. We will be playing at Siesta Village RV park this week. We are still trying to feel our way through, however we can tell that our practicing has helped.

Thursday, January 8th: Renie and I play doubles for women and Butch and Paul Kelleher play men's doubles in the Senior Olympics. That will take up most of the day and by this time in the week, we may not be good for much!

I haven't looked much further out than this because just writing about it makes me tired. I do know Butch will be playing somewhere on the 9th too. I hope to be resting!

We have an Artic Blast coming our way. It is supposed to get here Monday the 6th. Indoor events will continue. Outdoor ones may get canceled. The worst of it will be for 4 or 5 days with temps in the 40's and 50's. I hope it doesn't last any longer than that!

I have several friends and family with January birthdays. I am hoping to remember them but the chances are higher than normal that I will forget. So I hope you will forgive me if I slip up. I know there are a few that have already passed that I have missed. I will do some belateds but right now I need a nap!

Pedaling

 I feel like I am pedaling as fast as I can and getting nowhere fast! Really, I think it is an age factor because I am doing far less than I did 10 years ago. I am happy.  I rarely do anything I don't want to do. In fact, I don't!

I am playing pool more than usual. Renie and I are partnered up for Team play outside the park and we are learning each other's game and having fun doing it. By playing some every day we are making so much more progress.

Tomorrow is the last Sunday mixed doubles of the month so therefore will not be mixed. The last Sunday of the month we play with whoever we sign up with so Butch and I will be partners. We have been partners working together for coming on 66 years so I think we got this! Win or lose, it will be fine!

Every day at 4:00 pm we go next door to Sandi and Bill Danielson's place for "Happy Hour". It is different from many other concepts of "Happy Hour". It lasts for ONE hour. No food...most of the time. And you bring your own drink. No politics, no gossip or any other tension-producing subjects. We learn something new every day. It is amazing and a great way to end the social part of the day.

Alva Millard

 Alvie, as he was known by most, was a classmate of mine and a brother to Darrel Millard who was also a classmate of mine. Darrel and his wife Linda winter with us in Trophy Gardens in Alamo Texas. Last season another brother Ivan and his wife Kathy also wintered here.

I am telling you this because I was very impressed with Alvie's obituary and wanted to share it with all of you. It is one of the best obituaries I have read in a long time. I knew Alvie nearly all my life and yet I did not know him. 

Alvie Millard Obituary

Alvie Millard, 82 of Jefferson, passed away December 19, 2024 at his home.

Alva (Alvie) Ernest Millard was born March 30, 1942, son of James and Mary (Morlan) Millard. Alvie was the oldest of six children. He attended school in Jefferson until he started his working years at age 16.

Alvie married Bobbi Anderson in 1965 and they had two sons, Kenny and Joey. Alvie married Tonya Adams in 1982 and they had a daughter, Angela and a son, Blake.

Alvie was a great provider for his family. He worked at Oscar Mayer in Perry for 27 years and Fareway warehouse in Boone for an additional 14 years.

Alvie enjoyed gardening and canning, fishing, coin finding with his metal detector and decorating the house for Christmas. There were several years his house was lit up like the Griswold’s. Alvie had a passion for taking care of cats and had at least one cat for a pet at all times.  Christmas was Alvie’s favorite holiday. He would drive around town looking at lights and kept his house decorated with the tree up for a long time.

Alvie had unique talents such as playing the mouth harp, yodeling and auctioneering. He loved singing and roller skating; he was a fast skater and could even skate backwards.

Alvie is survived by his siblings Darrel (Linda) Millard, Phyllis Mischke, Ivan (Kathy) Millard, Eva (Jerry) Radcliffe, and Avis (Roger) Moranville and his children Kenny Millard of Grand Junction, Joey (Mary) Millard of Rippey, Angela (Dave) Milakovich, and Blake Millard of Jefferson. He is also survived by grandchildren Kimberly (Mason) Cole, Ashley Millard, Dylan Hofbauer, Destiny Hofbauer, Bently Hofbauer, Nataliya Milakovich, and Gianna Milakovich. great grandson Xane Cole. He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service will be 10:30 am Friday, December 27, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Iowa. Burial will take place at Wright Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa. The family will be present to greet friends on Thursday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson.  In lieu of flowers, the family of Alvie Millard kindly requests that donations be made to PAWS, an organization close to their hearts.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.slininger.schroeder.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

 We are celebrating in our small home in Sunny South Texas where the temperature is predicted to be 89 degrees. At this writing it is 71 at 10:45 AM. In South Texas sometimes Christmas day is a bit chilly and some years it is downright balmy.

Our weeks are busy and they do fly by so Christmas day is a respite for us. Staying home, and cooking Turkey for two is a treat. 

Hope everyone can do what they choose to do, making it a Merry Christmas indeed.

And as I end almost everything I write, Best Wishes Always!

Women's League

Women's Pool League in the Rio Grande Valley. Front row left is Barb B. Barb U. is behind me peaking around and Renie S. is far right.

There are 7 two-person teams representing 7 parks in the valley. We could use one more team to even things out. We did okay for being newbies. Played 6 games in all and won 3.

Sharon and Camden

This pic makes me smile!

This is a picture of our friend, Sharon Mcquillen with her great-grandson Camden.