Coming or Going?

Yes, sometimes I wonder---whether I'm coming or going!  I was invited to go with my three Tucson grandchildren and their Mother to the Tucson Zoo today.  I did not go.  I used the excuse that I do not get around good and I would slow them down.  (Who is going to go fast in a zoo?)  Oh well.....I did make it to my ex-wife's home where the family got together after the "zoo" thing for an Easter dinner (lamb roast).
I believe that everyone had a great time.  I don't drink much anymore but today I had a couple of beers and about a half glass of red wine and it was enjoyable.  I was still able to do the 30 minute drive back to my daughters home where I now live without getting picked up. (Police--I'm talking about, not women!)

The two younger grandchildren are out of school for one more day (tomorrow) and so I will again attempt to keep order in the house until their Dad gets in a little after 4 p.m.

I am still trying to figure out a way to get a post up here a little more often...I will get there one of these days!!!  Meanwhile....Cheers from the Can Man.

Family

I am going to post a picture today of my Dad and one of his Grandsons.

Plum Trucker, if you are reading this, Betty and I sure would like to know how you are doing.

Old Faithful 88 Toyota 4wd Pick Up

I am still trying to figure a way for me to get my broken down Toyota pick up from Miami, AZ to Tucson so that I can do something with it.  It has been sitting in Miami in my back yard in the shade for several years now.  I will need to inflate at least one of the tires before I move it.  I will have to get a permission from the Motor Vehicle Department to move it if I don't have it loaded on a trailer.  I assume that it is still there and still in one piece.  I have not viewed it in two months or so.  The only major thing it needs is a rebuilt engine and a battery.  The tires were near new when I parked it but may need replaced because the truck was left with the tires on the ground.  It would make a nice "work truck" for someone. (anyone got suggestions or is willing to help me get it to Tucson, let me know.  E-mail ginoespn@gmail.com)

Spring has Sprung

It is nice to have the nights a little less cold.  I don't have to turn on the heater for these old feet that don't have good circulation.  Today I journeyed to Costco and bought some dog food (lamb & rice w/vegetables) and a couple gallons of 2 percent milk.  That type of dog food was recommended by out vet when I had my Regalo in for a double ear infection.  I did not listen to them and he had a recurring ear infection some months later.  I started them (my five dogs) on this food about 9 months ago and have not had any problems since.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Friday I went with my daughter and two grandkids on a trip to Scottsdale, AZ  for the kids to have a routine checkup on their health and growth patterns.  My daughter has a GPS thing on her phone and it sure comes in handy.  Kind of keeps you on the straight and narrow!!  Well, I don't know about the narrow part....

We have a friend who now lives in Phoenix and he joined us for lunch at a MacDonalds not too far from where he lives.

Also today I took my pickup and a couple of my dogs to go get water out of a machine at a street corner nearby.  I pay $1 for 5 gallons.  I got 30 gallons total. I think the dogs drink about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons a day.  They turn their nose up to tap water!!  Me too!!

Cheers!!

Spring Has Sprung

I am going to try to post more often....my mind wanders and I get busy doing many mostly unimportant things.

Today was an important thing.  I got to travel from Tucson to Scottsdale, AZ with my daughter (Mayte) and my two grandchildren.  The grandchildren go monthly or thereabouts to the MelMed Clinic for progress checks on their health and growth.

I also have a friend in Phoenix who was able to go to lunch with us at a McDonalds nearby to where he lives.  A nice trip overall.  My daughter takes her car and does all of the driving.  And luckily for her....I only made her stop once on the way up and once on the way back for me to use the restroom.  When she makes travel plans, she just figures enough time to get from point a to point b and forgets that old men have to make stops once in awhile.

(My Daughter Maria (Mayte) holding Chris Payne's nephew with my grandson, Stefan James looking on)

(Flowers in front of a furniture store close to the MelMed Center in Scottsdale)

November 22----tomorrow brings back many memories for me......President Kennedy's assassination in 1963--My date of marriage to Carmen Martos Martos which was performed on the Rock of Gibraltar in 1963....One of my favorite and loving dog's being hit by a hit and run driver and consequently losing her life in 2010.  They were all sad occasions.  Moving forward.............

Today, I plan on installing a new shower massage in the main bathroom here where I live in Tucson with my daughter.  Secondly, I need to get a lot of things out of my bedroom that are not needed on a daily basis.  That would give me room to move around a little!  I hate organization!!  I think that runs in the Baker family traits!  I am surprised that for the 19 years that I was with Carmen, that she was able to keep a neat and organized home.  I don't know why I can't be organized.  My Mom had organized homes as I remember them.  She used to have me dry dishes for her and mop floors.  I didn't protest that I remember.

I've been watching some movies lately to pass the time.  There must be something more constructive to do.  But I have missed a lot of the movies over the years and some of them are really good.

I have got to finish taking my morning medications and start organizing!

Have a blessed day.  Love, Grandpa (gino) Virgil Baker

Okay, so I'm a year older!!!  Seventy-Five now and I am not keeping up the blog like I would like to.  


I made it up to Prescott to visit my brother Richard and cousin Elizabeth and her Mom (my Aunt June).  I met many more in-laws and outlaws along the way.  


I stayed 2 or 3 nights (my memory fails me) at my brother's apartment in Prescott.  It is a beautiful two bedroom apartment in a nice location. 


 My brother and I went to Denny's every morning for breakfast (although he had food in the apartment, neither one of us are too much into preparing meals!!!). 


 My brother is a throat cancer survivor and consequently can only speak in a low whisper.  I have trouble hearing and sometimes what I hear does not come in clear to my mind.  So he had to do a lot of repeating and sometimes note writing.  Even so, I think that he enjoyed my being there as much as I did. 


We both were able to go visit Aunt June at a Hospice Care close-by (who is 93 years young) and I am sure that she enjoyed the visits as much as we did.  We were able to recount some old memories (aunt June still has a sharp mind and memory) of times past. At the time that I returned to Tucson, Aunt June had returned to her home a little north of Prescott.  I have no update on her condition at this time. As I understand it, she has a serious heart condition.  


I was never close to my Dad's family (June is my Dad's sister) as they never lived close enough to really get acquainted.  It was a new experience for me.  


Richard has two homes in Prescott (lucky guy).  He maintains the apartment for when he has visitors such as an occasional visit from me and weekend visits from his daughters.  At other times he has access to the Prescott Pioneer Home where there are two people to a partitioned room with a shared bath and shower with another two people from the other side of the bathroom.  All of this is free to him, including meals (and shopping trips, etc.).  As an ex-mine worker, he gets it free..  He says that I could get in and they would only take my social security away from me and he said something about giving me 2 or 3 hundred dollars back for something or another!  Sounds interesting but I am pretty well situated where I am with my daughter in Tucson..  I will try to get some pictures up here...God bless all of you.....(the can man) Virgil (gino) Baker


First pic is Richard's daughter (Donna, Richard, Virgil & June)
Second pic is Richard, Virgil & June
Third Pic is Richard and June
Fourth pic is Richard leaving his apartment
Fifth pic is view of Arizona Pioneer Home, Prescott, AZ
Sixth pic is Richard in front of Pioneer Home