SUPER BOWL PARTY STARTING.

The Super Bowl, I understand, can cost you $25,000 for a fancy box with tickets. On the low end, it costs $35 to park and food is expensive. All that money has given way to Tail Gate Parties and home style Super Bowl Parties. My oldest son, Ken,  began a tradition of super bowl parties with some of his high school buddies. He was the organizer and made artistic invitations, and kept the tradition going without missing a year for about 25 years now. Traditionally, no women are allowed. The guys have their irreverent pet names, and old raunchy stories and jokes that make it off limits. It begins on Friday before the game with a dinner and about five hours of poker. Saturday morning, they usually have breakfast and golf. Then Saturday afternoon is more poker and more food. Then Sunday, they watch the game together and eat a lot. Well, that used to be the case. In recent years, they return home to watch the game with their families. Each year is a bit different.


Hosted at Ken's this year, he barbecued five different kinds of sausage, Laurie made a quinoa salad and I brought some tamales and beans. But wait, why are we women present? Laurie is headed out for a girls gig with a Lodi friend, a Paint and Wine party in Sacramento. And, I just stopped in and joined them for dinner because I needed to deliver paper work to Doug, who will be headed back to Oregon on Monday. As the guys age, they are getting a bit more tolerant of we women. This is the first time I've seen the start of the "big game" even though it has been held at my house, while I'm not there, for at least 3 years that I know of.  They've gone to Las Vegas, Chico, Stockton, Farmington, Tacoma, Fremont, Murphys, Pleasanton, Livermore and Arizona, I think!


Hoagie, who is Richard Hogan, used to live neighbors across the street from me. He now lives in Chico. He brought a growler from Des Chutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.


The handle is very creative and I love the bottle. I want one for my bottle collection!.


Pinkett on the end, to the right is Ken. They are the only two originals. Added later, Darren. Brother Doug, on the opposite end, got invited into the game a couple of years after they started playing. Then, barely visible is Shane, and Hoagie. Shane, Darren and Hoagie are about five or six year newcomers. I had never met Shane and Darren before, though they have played at my house.


They play for the fun and the money. It isn't high stakes, but the food is good, the pots are nice and the conversation and fun a bit wild.  When Ken lived in Vegas I bought him a set of professional poker chips with his name on them. They are snazzy and look good enough to eat.


The game isn't so serious you can't take a lick on the guitar. Or stop and watch some pregame jingles and jangles. Always fun to see the best and worst commercials. Or stuff from previous year relived with a nice big screen close by.


I think in this game, everybody is a winner just for the camaraderie. Laurie and Me, too.

SNAKE HOLE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB?

Retirement communities in Arizona are as plentiful as sand, it seems. The one where we are staying, the Country RV Resort, has about 80 per cent more or less permanent residences that are modular or mobiles. People here come from cold winter climes and stay half the year, then return to Alberta, Vancouver, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Illinois...I can't begin to remember all of the license plates I've seen on our daily walks. The residences stay furnished and waiting for owners to return each year to this sunnier spot.

 Its a nice place with a green nine hole golf course down the road near here. But the Countryside golfers decided to build a 13 hole golf course of their own. It costs $20 to golf for the whole season. No grass, its true, but they enjoy their course built on vacant land right across from the resort. Its fun and challenging as well. The course covers about 10 acres. And, they don't lack for a sense of humor as you can see from the name.

Some pull their carts.

Others prefer to ride. They all have a good time.

In the complex itself, planned events like an ice cream social, an Elvis Impersonator, dances, pot lucks, card fests, birthday celebrations, crafts, book fairs and excursions to town are offered for everyone besides the built in amenities such  as the gym, billiards room, pool, hot tub and hall with a kitchen serving breakfasts on weekends and festive special events meals as well. 

Around the complex, individuals personalize their homes, often with a sense of humor and definitely with an nod to retirement life.

You see old license plates, or a sign in front "yard" space telling what place they came from. The yards are minuscule and retired lawnmowers and wheelbarrows indicate how happy they are to give up the responsibilities of caring for huge yards and enjoying instead playing away their golden years.

There are 560 units in this village, safety in numbers, instant friends, healthful lifestyles and fun.
Much to recommend.

Some of the yards accommodate about three barrel cactus. Some have a palm tree in front. Others like to set out little water fountains, souvenir sculptures, humorous themes like a road runner or Tweety bird or a few potted plants. Life here is easy. Friendly. People smile and say hello to everyone. They help each other.  

 Then every evening, you can enjoy a sunset like this.

Or this.

Or this.
I could give up my lawnmower.