Happy Halloween y Dia de Los Muertos

 

    

 

Bead Show Today!

 

 
      We went to Scottsdale today to the Rings &Things Bead Show that was held at the
Chaparral Suites Resort.   Kent was a good sport about driving and looking at all of the stones with me.   I came away with a HUGE assortment of different types of jasper.   Oval ones, round ones, square ones.   Some puffed; some matte.

 

      The Mohave and Kiva rooms were filled with tables of stones, gems, beads, and other goodies.  So many different types of jasper!!!  I would have bought even more but I kept reminding myself that I have one paycheck left until retirement.  Plus I hope to go to the Tucson Gem Show in February.    

 

     The resort looked like a nice place for tourists to stay.  The location was easy to find and very close to the restaurants and shopping in Scottsdale.

 

     We had lunch at the Barrio Queen, a Mexican restaurant in old Scottsdale.   The food was good, but very small portions.   Like teeny tiny for the appetizers.   I ordered Queen's Shrimp Quesadilla, anticipating a new variation of my favorite food, quesadillas.  The price was about $9.00, so I expected a lunch size one.    But the appetizer was two small tortillas with one shrimp on each, lots of cheese, including goat cheese, and an "acitrus margarita sauce". It was delicious, but I was expecting a little (okay, a lot) more to eat.   

 

     Kent ordered a spinach enchilada entree that was much more lunch-sized.   He said it was very good.   My margarita was excellent.  If you try this restaurant, skip the appetizers and tacos.   They were also munchkin size.  The table nearby ordered some of them.

 

I'm sure we won't go back here since there are so many more places to try and much better Mexican restaurants in town.   If you're in the mood for Mexican food, come to the to Rio Mirage restaurant in Surprise.  It's the best!

 

 

PLAY TIME

    Last night we went to see "Blythe Spirit", the Noel Coward play set in England around 1900.   The Sun City Grand Drama Club put on a great production.   The acting was excellent.   I am always amazed at the talented people that live here in Grand.
     This was the first play we've attended here, but it won't be the last.   It was a great performance.   They price the tickets low enough ($12.00 each) that we retirees can afford to go often. 
     We had great seats, too.  SCG had recently bought a tiered seating system that can be taken up and down for these performances.   We were seated in the third row in the left hand tier because all of the floor seats were sold out when I bought our tickets.     Since the tiers are new, I didn't know how well we would be able to see and hear.   But no problem--our seats were fine.   
       The audience was great, too.   No talking or ringing cell phones at all during the play.   To me that shows a lot about the people at Grand.  Polite and attentive.   It's so rude when people talk during a play or a presentation.   It totally destroys my ability to lose myself in the story.          
     
       Speaking of story....earlier in day I attended the Valley of the Sun Romance Writers workshop.  I've been looking forward to this seminar for months and months.  In fact, I joined the group a few weeks ago just so I could attend this workshop.  It was free, but only open to members.
       Four speakers, all multi-published members of the group, spoke about their process.  Two focused on character and two on plotting.   Their methods were all different and all very good.   A few of the things they talked about are things I already do.  So that was reassuring.  But  I hope to try out a couple of new things soon.    Two things were obvious--they all were very talented, and they all write a lot more than I do.  I may not be able to change the first, but I can do better about the second thing, starting November 1.
      One of the members asked me what my publishing goal was for my book that I'm working on.   Since I've been working on it for a LOOOOONG time, I told her my goal was simply to finish the *>I* thing.     She laughed and understood.
      Romance writers are wonderfully supportive and generously share their thoughts, experiences, and expertise.    I was a member of the Cincinnati group for a few years when I lived in Ohio.   They were a great group, and I was very pleased to see that this West Valley chapter is equally committed to helping one another succeed.  


      

    

Patio Time

 

          Great weather has finally returned!   We're able to use the patio again, which I had really missed.   With Chef Kent doing the grilling, it's my favorite restaurant.

    

  

 I'm doing my part, too, by growing herbs.   The basil, a spicy variety, and the chives are doing well.   They came from Lowe's, which had a limited but healthy looking selection.

  The basil's tag listed it as Albahaca Basil, Nufar, which I had never heard of before.   It has a spicy aroma, which is why I chose it.   I harvested some leaves for the first tune the other night to make a few appetizers.  Using turkey pepperoni (which tastes the same with half the calories), I spread cream cheese on a Triscut and topped it with the pepperoni and a basil leave.   Yummy!

      With only 13 workdays to go to R-day, I've been busy, busy at work.   Trying to get everything in good order before the next person takes over is like rushing to clean up the house before company arrives.  Yikes!!!  
       In between all of that, I'm preparing for LAW (life after work).    I signed up for two beading classes that take place in November.   Classes fill up quickly here so getting dues paid and on the list was a must-do.   My friend, Chris, is taking one of the classes so that should be fun.
       Yesterday Kent & I went to the Sun City Grand Oktoberfest.   There were lots and lots of booths, many of them selling jewelry.  Kent used his chemistry background to help explain resins to one of the artists.  She makes great jewelry but didn't quite understand the resin process.  While they talked shop, I admired the end products.   She makes a lot of steampunk, which was fun to see.   
        I also stopped at the Language Club table and picked up the Spanish classes info sheet.   Can't wait to check them out in November!
        This week will be my last full week with XM radio.  Since I will no longer be driving a gazillion miles a day, I'm not renewing it.  But it has been a life-saver on those loooog commutes through the desert.  I even listened to the V-P debates last week during my  2 1/2 hours on the road (one way). 
         Even though I'll miss my satellite radio, I sure won't miss the driving.