Pickleball has really come to Williams! Parks and Recreation initially had play once a week. The venues have been changing, but now we have three days of play --- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The Rodeo Barn will be the primary location for play, unless there is a weekend event there.
The Coconino County Fair was in Flagstaff over Labor Day weekend. I had never been. So, Tom and I took a field trip to go to the fair at Fort Tuthill County Park. Having given blood last month, I had a free ticket to the fair. It was fun seeing all of the animals and the colorful rides.
We just walked the property for an hour or so. Then, we headed off for lunch. It was too late for Hiro's Sushi (they close at 2 p.m. for lunch). So we had Chinese food down the way at Hunan West. Richard and I always found the food good here. No exception for me and Tom!
Ramsey has not been eating properly. He has also been sluggish. On Labor Day, I took him to the Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff. On holidays, they do not take appointments. The veterinarian thought it was a urinary tract infection. Urine was taken for evaluation. But, I approved that they draw blood.
Poor Ramsey, I was told that he had a "raging" urinary tract infection. We were sent home with a week's supply of medicine and a request to return for a urine test in ten days.
Tom's son, Jon, came back to Williams from a road trip where he hiked and camped in Idaho and Oregon. The next day, his Williams home escrow will close.
Tom and I played pickleball on Tuesday. Jon's final paperwork for closing escrow on his very first home occurred at 2pm. Tom and I joined Jon at 1837 E. Tangerine Street for his first walk-thru as a homeowner. We brought with us toweling, toilet paper, and dish soap.
Not only is Jon's little house 575 square feet cute, but he has a killer view --- south to Bill Williams Mountain.
Wednesday, Jon wanted to go to Flagstaff to buy things for his new home. Tom and I tagged along. The two of us already told Jon that we wanted to buy him a microwave as a house warming gift. Done!
I also set aside a medley of duplicate dishes, glasses, pots, pans, serving dishes, and queen-size sheets for Jon to have in his home. Jon still has a 5th wheel in Tennessee where much of his household items reside. Until he goes there, it made sense to loan Jon items that I do not use.
Jon's first night in his new home was Thursday, September 6. Tom and I had some visitors coming to stay with us for one night. We played pickleball in the morning, and welcomed Casey Apregan and her United Kingdom friend, Louise. Upon their arrival at our home, we had sandwiches for lunch and then I swept them away to see Bearizona.
Casey is the daughter of long-time friend, Craig Apregan. She and Louise just graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It is a premier school of music, drama, dance, production and film located in Glasgow. Casey and Louise were on a three week road trip --- seeing national parks --- before setting off to find theatrical work in NYC (Casey) and London (Louise).
The next morning, I took them to see the Grand Canyon. Casey was too young to remember the Grand Canyon when her family visited it. Louise had never been. The day was beautiful and the tour very productive.
Both Casey and Louise loved the canyon. We hiked down the Chimney on the South Kaibab Trail and had lunch at Maswik Lodge. We returned to Williams about 3:00 p.m. The girls packed up their car and headed south to Phoenix. Then, off to San Diego and Los Angeles. There is LA, they were reuniting with Casey's parents, Pattie and Craig.
Sunday was some more pickleball. The junior rodeo was in town, so the Rodeo Barn was not available. So, we were back outdoors at the tennis court at Williams Elementary/Middle School.
Once a year, I have my carpets cleaned by Brian of Steam Master. Monday was the day. I only have carpet in my master bedroom suite and one bedroom. The one bedroom is rarely used, so Brian worked his magic in the bedroom suite. With three Dalmatians, hair is is biggest issue.
That afternoon, I drove to Flagstaff to have my second visit with my new chiropractor, Dr. Brent Moseng. My massage therapist suggested that I seek additional care to work out a thickness in my back and sciatica area.
Tom has been battling sinus and coughing issues. So, I volunteered to make dinner. Tom is usually the barbecue king, but I took over the reins Monday night.
The entree was blue-cheese stuffed hamburgers. Before Tom joined our household, I was the chief barbecuer.
Tuesday morning was pickleball at the Rodeo Barn. There were just six of us, so we only set up one court. There is a new couple who play pickleball, Emily and Joey. They are in their late 20s and move around with great agility. It is refreshing!
The Williams Medical Clinic referred me to a cardiologist. It seems that my pulse is very low. So, I met with Dr. Robert Mackin in Flagstaff. I was equipped with a 24 hour electrocardiography device, that monitored my heart for a day and night.
On Wednesday, Tom, Jon, and I drove from Williams to Tusayan for a Chamber of Commerce event "How to become a Grand Canyon Expert." It was an 1 1/2 hours, and included presentations from the Grand Canyon/Tusayan Chamber of Commerce, the National Park Service, and the Kaibab National Forest. Because we receive visitors who are heading to the canyon, and because we live so close by, it seemed like a fun outing at Big E's Steakhouse.
Later in the day, I went into the RV barn. There, I found that one of the travel trailer tires was flat. I called AAA Roadside assistance. They called Sandoval Tires and employee Melvin was sent out to our home.
The tire was taken off the trailer, taken back to the shop for repair, and returned promptly. It was a small screw that caused the slow leak.
Thursday afternoon, I had a follow-up appointment with Ramsey at Canyon Pet Hospital in Flagstaff. They wanted to test his urine and make sure the urinary tract infection was gone. Later that afternoon, I went to an exercise session at my gym. Good work-out!
Friday, was a another trip to Flagstaff. This time, for an MRI of my head. I was detected with a small acoustic neuroma in August, 2004. This is a benign tumor in my inner ear. I had annual MRIs for six years with no change. My last one was in 2010. My Flagstaff ENT doctor, Dr. Alex Lund, ordered the MRI.
The machine still makes the "clang, clang, clang."
On Saturday, I went to an open house at the International Kadampa Retreat Center. It is a modern Buddhist group that has opened a retreat center in Williams.
They also have broken ground on a 1,000 seat Buddhist Temple, right off Interstate 40, west of Flagstaff.
After the open house, I enjoyed a pedicure at 66 Nails Spa with Jennifer.
That night, Tom and I had dinner at Red Raven Restaurant. This day was our 15 month anniversary of being a couple.
