Chily Expeditions: Surprise Arizona 2016 to 2017

My job at Sunhealth Grandview Terrace started 10/10/16 in Sun City West, AZ. This place was only 10 minutes from where we were staying in Surprise. SRS was the company I was working with. They had just obtained the therapy contract and had hired all traveling therapist until being able to hire full time employees. So, we all knew that our time there may not last the full 13 weeks. However, I was the only one of the travelers that had guaranteed hours on my contract. I sorta blame their recruiters for that mistake. Recruiters should always have their travelers backs. This was a beautiful facility. The rehab rooms were like hotel suites. They had refrigerators, microwaves, single rooms, flat screen TV's, etc. SRS also hired too many travelers, so i felt like I was working part time and getting paid full time hours. ( I probably will never work with them again though, as they do fight paying the guaranteed hours). This allowed me to go home early and enjoy the beautiful weather and amenities at our RV resort.

View from our site on Buttercup road at Sunflower RV resort

Enjoying the pool. It was heated to an average of 87 degrees

Did I mention we were close to Costco!! That's always a plus. Let's talk about the RV resort where we stayed. Sunflower is a Cal Am park. You can find these in a few cities across AZ. They have 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, a steam room, nice workout room, a billiards room, library, lapidary, and many other amenities. They also have the Tikki Bar. This is an outside bar with a dinner special Monday thru Friday, and a band playing from 4-8 every weekday evening. It was a fun place to visit once in awhile.

Nightlife at the Tikki Bar.

Tikki bar is pretty quiet during the day. You can see the pool in the background.

On 10/22, Kirk and I drove over to Cave Creek just north of where we were staying. We ate at a fun place called El Encanto with a pond in the middle of the restaurant. After eating, we drove over to Tempe to visit Kirk's ex-granddaughter Danielle, her husband Demetrie, and her mom Jeanne. Danielle was very pregnant. She was actually having contractions while we were there. Anyway, little Dominic was born the next day. We went back to see the baby a few weeks later, when grandpa Scott (Danielle's dad) was visiting.

We ate lunch while watching the turtles and fish. Cool restaurant!

Demetrie, Daniele, Scott, and baby Dominick

On Friday, October 28 I flew into Minneapolis from Phoenix to surprise Robyn for her 32nd birthday. We had a great time. The theme for her party was Spa Night. We participated in a free 15 minute massage, ear candling, face masks, and the opportunity to purchase LuLaRoe yoga pants. The next day we joined Laurie Lynch, the mother of one of Kristy's ex nanny families at the Guthrie to watch the play, Sense and Sensibility. Prior to the play we had brunch at the Sea Change in the Guthrie. I flew home on Sunday. My time with them is always too short.

Candle waxing was interesting. What a fun party.

My beautiful birthday girl. Where did 32 years go!!!!

Some of the other side trips Kirk and I have taken have been to Lake Pleasant, just north of Surprise. We just browsed the RV park there, but weren't overly impressed. They did have a nice view of the lake. On the way home, we stopped in Morristown on Hwy 60 at a fun place called The Western Trails Ranch for lunch. This is a cool place. They have bull riding, rodeo, roping, but only in the evenings. The food was good. As we were getting ready to leave and still sitting at our table, I got stung by something. The stinger was in my arm, but we never found the body that was attached to it. This was only the 2nd time I've been stung. I ended up having a "moderate reaction" to the sting. It was not pretty. On 11/5 we golfed at Tres Rios Golf course at Estrella Mountain. On 11/7 Kirk went for a motorcycle ride with our new friends from the resort, Calving and Deon, and Jerry and Marsha to Prescott, AZ. The next day was election day, and we all know how that ended. On 11/11 I had to have a YAG procedure on my right eye. Apparently after having cataract surgery, there's a 50/50 chance of having cloudy, and/or blurry vision. I wasn't aware of this and had gone to the eye doctor to have it checked out. He told me a simple 2 minute laser procedure would fix the problem, and it did. Amazing!

Some of the scenery at Western Trails Ranch

I golf for the scenery. Tres Rios Golf.

Deon and Marsha Friends from Sunflower.

On 11/12 we drove over to Scottsdale to watch the Charles Schwab Cup Golf Tournament. Angela was marshaling at the tournament. She gave us the tickets to get in. We had free parking, and a free meal (cause Kirk is a veteran). After the tournament, we drove to Angela's place in Mesa. She took us to the Angry Crab down the road from her place for dinner and drinks. Now this is an awesome place. We had a great time, and in the one week they had been opened, almost every employee in the place knew Angela. Go figure!

Thanks for the tickets Angela

One of the greens at The Charles Schwab Open.

This girl has always been good at telling others to be quiet. Perfect job!

Kirk liked this picture of us.

After a long day watching golf, Kirk is in his element!

The Angry Crab in Mesa was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Thanks Angela!

On 11/21 on their way to Tennessee and Florida for Thanksgiving, Janet and Wally (from Lake Havasu) stopped by our place for a couple of hours to visit and have supper. Kirk cooked burgers, and poppers on the Traeger. We had a great visit, and hated to see them go. Janet is one of our "adopted" daughters. She is awesome! I ended up working on Thanksgiving so I could have the weekend off. Kirk smoked a 17lb turkey on the Traeger. It's always a great day when we're together. The next day, we brought out the Christmas decorations (the very few we have) and put them up.

Wally, me, Janet, and Kirk. Come back Janet, we miss you.

Janet, you know us well!

One proud Kirk right here. He loves his Traeger!

On 12/10 Kirk and I drove around Happy Trails RV resort just to check it out, and then play golf at their golf course, The Great Eagle.

Christmas Day, Angela came over to spend the day and night. I also had a pleasant surprise. Kristy called a couple of days prior, and said she had found a decent rate, and was flying into Phoenix on Christmas Day, her birthday. Angela and I drove to pick her up. Kirk made most of the dinner. He smoked his first standing rib roast on the Traeger. I can't even begin to describe how scrumptious it was. He did good. Angela brought some awesome jalepeno popper dip, and potato casserole. Kristy spent time with Camille, her longtime girlfriend from grade school. Camille lives about 1/2 hour from our resort. Kristy and I took a hike at Thunderbird Conservation Park one afternoon to the flag and back. Then on 12/30 we drove to Tucson to hike at the East and West Saguaro National Parks. We stayed at the Double Tree hotel, and ate at The Hub the night before out hikes. We even saw petroglyphs. That evening, which was NYE, we headed back to Surprise. Kristy spent her last day here with Camille, and then headed back to MN. I love our visits.

I love the decorations at Christmas time.

Mr Traeger does it again. You can't get this at even the finest restaurants

One of our afternoon hikes near Glendale. My Kristy turned 37 on Christmas Day!

Our trip to Tucson to hike.

Beautiful saguaros

Legend says these are their people. It does sorta look like the bodies and hands.

Beautiful rainbow on our hike

That's my girl!

Saw these and other Petroglyphs on our hike.

My last day at Grandview Terrace was January 6, 2017. I was able to leave before noon, which was great, as I had a ticket to fly to MN that afternoon for Bella's 7th birthday party. Kristy picked me up at the airport, and we took off to the Marsh. Bella's party was held in Wisconsin Rapids at the YMCA where she has gymnastics. It was a very fun party with all her little friends and cousins. It was a great weekend at the Marsh. Did I mention that Nicki makes the most awesome wings. We stayed at the Marsh till Monday, then returned to MN as I was flying home on Tuesday. In the meantime, Robyn had taken Ady to the Children's hospital ER as she just wasn't getting over her illness. She tested positive for Strep. Poor baby. While I was in MN, Kirk drove the RV to Bullhead City, AZ where my next assignment would be. We stayed at Vista Del Sol RV Resort. I would start my job for Synertx at the River Gardens, and the Legacy on 1/16. Kirk picked me up in Vegas. We stayed at the Stratosphere for 2 nights before heading to Bullhead City. While in Vegas, we walked the Strip, went to a comedy club and saw Tanyalee Davis, then home to our new assignment.