Yep. Lots of pictures from the trip. Ill have more to add next week, but this sort of sums up our week. We had a great time with Jennifer, Samantha, McKenny, David and with a surprise visit from Daniel. He was able to move his schedule at work around and come up for a very brief visit Monday thru Wednesday. Darla and I knew about Dan coming up, but kept it a surprise from David, Jennifer and Darla's parents. Alicia's husband, Don, had a new job this year so had to stay behind until Wednesday night and Alicia had to drive up by herself on Monday (she couldn't get into her cabin until Monday because someone had it over the weekend). Daniel had a funeral on Sunday in San Jose of a friend of he and Becky's who died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 24. He took the bus Monday from San Jose to Sacramento and Alicia picked him up and drove him up to Almanor.
I happened to be in town getting gas for the jet ski Monday afternoon (a frequent occurrence) and ran into them while they were checking in. Dan jumped in the Explorer and we drive to the cabin to surprise David and Jennifer. We met them on the beach and I said I'd picked up some bum on the street in Chester. David was floored and Sam and Jen were thrilled.
The weather was awesome all week, a little on the hot side (low 90's) early in the week and moderating to the 80's by the weekend. I had bought a Jet Ski anchor, but we couldn't get it to set in the silt like lake bottom and finally Jennifer tied it to a tree stump about 30 yards offshore. She had to swim under water and pass the line under and around the stump to tie it securely. The anchor line has a red buoy on it and we were able to tie it up after each use. We could not beach it this year as the water level was too low and it would bottom out before reaching shore. The anchor line worked perfectly and thank God for the tree stump. It was divine intervention.
I did have one call from my Underwriting manager, Pete, while I was gone. We were supposed to get the extra desks and cubicles this coming week, but they showed up on Tuesday of last week. Pete and I had gone over it and I showed him the four spaces that were to be built out. Apparently the parts the guy had weren't enough to build out four spaces and he was only going to build out three. I answered the phone and Pete said, "Thank God you answered!" I told him to call the real estate Manger in HO and talk it over with them, but that they should have enough material to build out four cubes as we had extra in the office. Pete said he'd call. I went in to town later to ...get more gas for the jet ski and called to make sure everything was in order. Pete said and I quote, "I've got it all under control, you relax and enjoy your vacation." Really? Apparently they were able to get the cubicles built out, power pulled to them and the desks all set up. One less thing for me to hassle with this week.
Samantha had a great trip. Jennifer and McKenny stayed with us until Monday. Darla and I made them sleep separately as it is our home and that's the way we wanted it. Jennifer didn't want to spend her whole vacation apart from McKenny, so they rented a campsite. They moved Monday, but were basically with us from early morning for breakfast until bedtime. Sam stayed with them Monday and Tuesday and Thursday, but fell fast asleep Wednesday night at our place, actually sleeping through dinner and overnight until about 8 AM Thursday morning. I think Daniel tired her out on Wednesday before he and David left for Roseville.
Earl and Frances treated everyone to Mexican food on Tuesday night at Maria's in Chester and we had a ball. Wednesday I arranged a golf game at the resort in Almanor, Bailey Creek. I had shot mid 80's there in the past, but was able to light up the course for an 81. We had six players and played in two threesomes. The other guys are recreational golfers. Robert shot a 94 and the rest were all well in the 100's. Don had called me over the weekend and wanted to play golf. I told him it was set up for Wednesday and he didn't get in until Wednesday. I agreed to play nine holes on Friday early and we snuck off to Lake Almanor Country Club for 9 holes at 7:30. We finished in 1 and a 1/2 hours and I shot a 40. I was amazed at how nice the 9 hole track was. It looked just like an upscale 18 hole country club and they had first class diesel golf carts. The cost at Bailey creek was $74 and it was only $25 for 9 holes at LACC. They charge $40 for 18 holes and you play a different set of tees. I have been going up there for years, but had missed playing at this gem. I will definitely add this to the rotation for vacation for sure.
Samantha made a friend while she was in Almanor. Darla's cousin, Staci, adopted a little girl four years ago and she is now 4 and will turn 5 in December. The girls mostly ignored each other the first half of the week, but were fast friends by the time we left and look forward to seeing each other again next year. Zoey is a little cutie and she and Sam made quite a pair.
Jennifer and McKenny were excellent house guests all week and tremendously helpful with meals, shopping, house cleaning and taking care of the jet ski. They made sure the ski was gassed up and that the oil level was kept up. They made sure the beach was cleaned up each night and the ski vests and towels were brought up to the cabin each night. Both Darla and I were very impressed with how much help they gave us all week.
Darla is dealing with a lot of medical issues right now and has neuropathy in her feet due to her diabetes which is really affecting her life and her health right now. She is going in to the hospital tomorrow for a colonoscopy. I will go in to work early and then pick her up at ten. Her surgery is 11 AM and I will return to work for about an hour and a half before picking her up. She is working on her bottle of Gaviolite know and working her colon clean. Her colon hasn't been very active lately, so the process is a little less intense than when I did it. Darla has been foggy of late and we think her meds need to be altered to clear her head, we are meeting with her doctor on Thursday and we will start to get a handle on this. Please pray for her and for us as we deal with this serious health concern for her.
Darla talked to Jennifer today. They left Almanor at 7:30 on Saturday and arrived in Vegas late afternoon Saturday, dropped Sam off with John and drove through the night arriving in Pleasanton after three this morning. They were going to stay over in Vegas, but wanted to get home to do wash and get ready for their work week. the job with Verizon looks good and we are praying for her to be back in Vegas full time in September. Sam is pretty traumatized by her Mom being gone and freaks out if Mom is out of her sight. Jennifer and McKenny went in to town a couple of times and Samantha was on "pins and needles" until her Mom got back. Poor thing.
We had a great time on vacation and thoroughly enjoyed Samantha for the whole week. She is growing into a very bright and adorable young lady and Darla and I played a few games of War and Go Fish with her and had a ball. The boys were great with her and she had her moments as young kids do, but overall was a delight. We took her miniature golfing at some run down course in Almanor next to an ice cream place and played for $3 a person and had a ball. that may be my third golf trip each year, as long as Samantha is along for the ride. We, of course, also took full advantage of the ice cream shop as well. You can see the one picture of Sam ducking down by the deer. She was trying to get up close to look at him without spooking him into traffic.
Well, that is our week in a nutshell. I will be back online next week and will add more of the 100 some pictures we took during the trip. I hope you are all well and do ask for prayer for health and healing for Darla. Be well. Ciao.
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