Cowgirl (come a ti yi yippie yi yay)

Whoa Hoss!  I forgot my Boots!!

Yes--I'm on my way to
catch me a real live
COWBOY!!

Hey!!  This ain't no cowboy!!!

Well now....don't ask me about the last picture above.  (it was copied off of an e-mail that I received)  But the rest of them are pics of my daughter Maria Teresa as she was preparing to go to a party.  Did she rope a cowboy?  You'll have to wait for the next installment to find out. 

Meanwhile, I can tell you that I took a trip to Globe, Arizona yesterday to pick up a chest of drawers from my lady friend up there.  I hope that did not sound bad.  Also I still have some property up in Miami (about 6 miles from Globe) and I was taking care of some business matters on that aspect of my trip.  Of course, I got to take my lady friend to dinner at Guayos On The Trail, one of the better mexican food restaurants in Arizona.  I made the trip in my pickup truck and it's about 5 to 5 and 1/2 hours driving time roundtrip.  The pickup is more tiring for me to drive than my Toyota Corolla.  The car has softer seats and better suspension.......and cruise control!!!

This afternoon I was invited over to my ex-wife and her husbands home for some grilled hot dogs (grilling work by my son Antonio) and to view the 3rd game of the World Series of baseball.  Also got to look at some planets through my son's powerful computerized telescope.  He has invited me to go with him and a friend up on Mount Lemon ((spelling?) to view the skies from up there through the telescope sometime in the near future.

I think this is called "Puppy Love"

Regalo (the dark one) and Tammy (the light one) keep me pinned down a lot when I am just lying around.  It seems to me like there would be other places on my bed that would be much more comfortable!!  Then again, my bed is not that big......(or maybe they just like high altitude!!)

Huera

Now Huera, she is not so much of a Lap Dog.  I seriously believe that she keeps a constant eye on me and everytime I move off of my bed over to the computer........well you can see in the picture above!!  She is on my favorite pillow.  Then when I start back over that way she will look up at me with the most expressive eyes as if to say "you're not going to make me move, are you?"  And this goes on more often than you can imagine!

They make my days much happier.  It would not be the same without them.

Grandma's House

Carmen & Carlos Diaz & My Son
Antonio Ramon Ricardo Baker

Pinchos Morunos

Yesterday, I was invited to supper at the Carlos Diaz home.  My daughter and I and my two youngest grandchildren went over.  Pinchos Morunos (spelling?) was the main course.  That is (I believe) a Moroccan recipe.  Pork loin (seasoned with Moroccan seasoning) cooked on steel rods over a bar b que.  As you can see, I don't know all of the proper terms!!  I will try to get some pictures put up here.  Have a bite!!

Future Professional Silversmith

Enrique Creighton (L) & Carlos Diaz (R)

 Enrique(my 20 year old grandson) works with Master Silversmith, Carlos Diaz and  has made and sold several pieces of jewelry at the Carlos Diaz Silversmith shop location. (Near the northwest corner of Glenn and Campbell streets in Tucson, AZ)

For you girls out there, Enrique is single---but claims to have a steady girlfriend.

Today is a non-school day for my smaller grandchildren so I am grandchildren sitting.  They are usually easy to watch over and take care of. 

Y A W N, OH MY!!

I have to drive about 5 blocks to meet Emmett Van where he gets off of the school bus.  Today, as I was sitting there waiting for the bus to arrive, I was snapping pictures as I usually do.  Huera and I were both sitting looking out the front window of the car when I reached out in front of her and snapped this picture.  I was only expecting to get a regular shot but this is something else.  Left click on the picture to enlarge and check out how long her tongue is.  And the tongue is not all in the picture!!! WOW!!

Tucson Meet Yourself October 9, 2010

My daughter, Maria Teresa, called me from her work place about 4 p.m. on Saturday and ask me if I was going to go with her and my grandchildren to Tucson Meet Yourself, leaving about 5 p.m.  "Heck yes, I want to go".  So I plugged in my camera for a quick 45 minute battery charge, threw on some clothes and off we went.  We managed to get parked in the "B" level of one of the parking garages downtown ($5 Special Event Parking) and took the elevator to get back on the ground floor.  We went straight to the Spanish Club Kiosk (is that what it is?) setup where they were selling Paella Valenciana and Churros.  My 20 year old grandson Enrique started immediately helping in the preparation/cooking area by standing next to the monster pan of Paella and spooning it into styrofoam bowls.  He then handed it to another helper who took it up by the sales window to be passed to the customer with a napkin and a plastic fork (when paid for). My daughter, Maria Teresa and her Mom, Carmen, were also helping taking orders and collecting monies.  Their was no lack of customers.  I spent a good part of the evening in the Spanish Club area and there was a long line of people waiting to be served most all evening.  I am sharing some of the photos that I took.  Enjoy.....

HINT:  IF YOU LEFT CLICK ON THE PHOTOS YOU MIGHT GET A LARGER VERSION.  AND IF YOU LEFT CLICK ON THE LARGER VERSION YOU MAY GET A MONSTER VERSION WHICH YOU WILL NEED YOUR FULL SCREEN TO SEE!!!  ENJOY!!!

Paella Valenciana "Mmmmmm!!"

My Grandson Enrique trying to keep
up with the Customers Apetites!

Close-Up of Paella

My Grandson Enrique and
his Mom Maria Teresa

Enrique still hustling to keep up
with customer's demand....!!!

My daughter, Maria Teresa took this pic and then
laughed out loud!! (I wonder why???)

Carmen Diaz, Mother & Grandmother of
my children & grandchildren

Me (Virgil Baker) and Carlos Diaz enjoying
the sights and sounds!

The Spanish Club Base for Sales--
"Mmm...Churros!!

The Colombian Club Point of Sales setup

Carlos placing his order at the Colombian Club...
Carlos grew up in Colombia!

The crowd of people near the Spanish Club Setup

Tornadoes in Arizona

Two tornadoes touched down near Flagstaff this morning.  My lady friend in Globe, AZ told me via phone that she had heard on the local radio station that a Tornado had touched down near Globe but I could not verify that by weather news on the internet. 

It was rather a routine day.  Yesterday, I bought 100 pounds of dry dog food (2 fifty pound bags).  That should last a few days for our 4 big dogs and one half-size one.  I can't tell her that I called her half-size, she would not appreciate that.  Anyway, today being Wednesday, my grand-children got out of school one hour early (No, I don't know why but it happens every Wednesday!!).  There are two of them going to school, each one to a different location so their Mom gets them on the proper buses in the morning and I meet the buses at a location near our home in the afternoons and escort the grandchildren home.  On Wednesdays they get home at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m and the other four days at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.  -----  Monday evenings, their parents take them to Cub Scouts for about 2 hours.  Monday afternoon, one of them have Choir practice at the Tucson Boys Choir center.  Wednesday afternoon they both have Choir and Friday afternoon one of them have Choir.  The Tucson Boys Choir is about a 20 minute drive from home.  I drop them off there on those respective days and their Mom picks them up after Choir practice.

This is my Regalo (gift).  Pic was taken
probably a couple of years ago, he looks
older now.  Does that make me older?

OK, I could not figure out how to operate the pictures (obviously--that has changed--see above!!) to get them into my blog area but I did manage to get a picture of some of my aluminum can loads uploaded to my profile area.  So check that out there!!! 

Admission of Weakness for Women

I guess it is time to admit now that I have always been looking for greener pastures!  I have been married 4 times and divorced 3 times.  Widowed on the last marriage.  I have 4 living children and 5 grandchildren. 

Now, about the "Can Man" thing.  I retired in Tucson as already stated.  I worked 7 years for Kaman Bearing and Supply Company and was laid off.  My wife at that time divorced me and I moved back to my home country at the eastern end of Roosevelt Lake.....the Rock House Store and Trailer park on highway 77 going to Young, AZ.  Married again and after a couple of years--separated.  I moved to Miami, AZ where I purchased a home.  I eventually wound up working for the local recycling center and remained there until it was sold to another owner.  I then decided to do my own recycling business using my home property as a staging area.  I got permits to buy on the San Carlos reservation (about 45 minutes drive from my home) and did quite well for several years as you will be able to tell from some of the pictures that I intend to post here when I have a little more time.  (The people on the reservation nicknamed me "the can man")

Initiation Time (I'm trying to INITIATE a BLOG!!!)

""M Y   C R E W""
Tammy (the blonde)
Huera (white-red-orange)
Regalo (black w/white trim)
and Grandpa Virgil (gino)

A FEW OF MY ALUMINUM CAN
AND SCRAP (COPPER, BRASS,
ALUMINUM & STAINLESS STEEL)
LOADS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS

Hello, my name is Virgil Baker, born in Globe, AZ on Nov. 4, 1936.  My home town is Young, AZ.  I spent the first 17 years of my life in Young (Pleasant Valley).  I joined the Air Force on Oct 13, 1954 and overall spent 20 years and some-odd days.  Places I got to during my time in the service were as follows.  Parks Air Force Base, Pleasantown, CA (late 1954).  F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming for technical training (teletype operator) early 1955.  Scott AFB, Bellville, Illinois for cryptographic schooling--summer of 1955.  Hunter AFB, Savannah, GA--late summer of 1955, first permanent station--about 2 years.  During that time I was sent on Temporary Duty 2 different times to what was then French Morocco, North Africa, once to Nouasseur (spelling?) AB and the second one to Sidi Slimane Air Base.  From Sidi Slimane I got to go in to the city of Marrakesh a few times on personal time and also got to take a bus tour one time to Fez and MacNez (spelling?)  Next tour of duty after Georgia was to Sondrestrom Air Base, Greenland.  (600 miles south of the North Pole--I tried to tell them that I had been raised in Arizona and that the climate in Greenland would not agree with me!!) (but to no avail) ...I was discharged on return from Greenland as my first 4 year contract was over.  I wandered around Arizona trying to find work and was not very successful.  Made me realize how nice it was in the Air Force so I let them re-enlist me after about 3 months of freedom.  Went to Glasgow AFB, Montana (almost got as cold there as in Greenland!!)  Was there from late 1958 until March of 1961 when I got orders to go to Torrejon Air Base, Spain.  Well, that wasn't too hard to swallow!  I spent 4 enjoyable years in Spain and and was re-assigned to Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico..Then of all things...I guess that since I told them I liked the Arizona climate that I would appreciate a hot place.  So I got orders to Tan Son Knut (spelling?) Air Base, just outside of what was then the city of Saigon, Vietnam.  I think that was Mar of 67 to Mar of 68 and I remember that I got a taste of what they called the "Tet Offensive"!!  Then finally got assigned to Arizona (Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson)  Arizona did not like me so they moved me on to MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fl after one year in Tucson.  Spent a couple of years with the Joint Strike Force at MacDill AFB and got orders for Sembach Air Base, Germany (near Kaiserslautern, Germany)  Spent my last four years there and returned home for retirement December 31, 1974 in Tucson.