Day 49 Wednesday

We left Harrah's about 7:45 and went over to the Horseshoe. Katie still had a printout for 1/2 off and we both still had some points on our cards from yesterday. We had a great breakfast for free, and I still had a $8 left on my card, so Katie got their great Carrot cake a big slice to take home and we left them with .47 cents all told.

Very uneventful drive home...only car at the Border and no problem. We stopped at Miryaw on St. Mary's our favorite chinese restaurant and had supper, as we had no lunch. Then we went shopping t get milk etc. for the morning.

Didn't unpack the car totally, lots of time to do that tomorrow.

Son Kelly had our condo all clean for us as he does every year. We appreciate that greatly to walk into something organized and clean...even the mail all sorted.

Now Katie has four days to rest and recover before going back to work on Monday.

And so ends another great Texas/Mexico adventure!

Note: I have been writing the blog for 4 or 5 years now, and I know there are several people who enjoy reading it, but it takes a lot of work, and I often feel like I am repeating myself from previous years. Some of the people who I think might read it...don't...and there are others who do, but I don't know that they do. If I don't make a post right away on a certain day because we are busy, I often have to ask Katie "What did we do yesterday?" it sometimes becomes one big blur.

Also...facebook makes it pretty easy to post pictures and a short blurb, and Katie does that anyway.

So I am inclined to take at least a year off, maybe more.

At least that is how I am feeling now.

For those of you who read faithfully...Katie and I appreciate that!

For those of you who don't...you won't even see this!

Thanks again everyone!

Day 48 Tuesday

After a free breakfast, Katie and I spent the day at the Horseshoe Casino which is also owned by Harrah's. Katie got a printout so we had a free buffet dinner there. We actually like this one a bit better than the one at Harrah's. We will have breakfast there tomorrow before we drive home.

Had a bit of a slow start, but by the end of the day we made $1,950. Katie won the most, but I played a machine where I got 800 free spins. Unreal! However...I made $498 on the 50 cent bet. I never could get a really big win in those 800 spins, it was a little here and a little there, but who am I to complain? Not!

So in total yesterday and today we are up $2,600.

Thanks for the free rooms and money Harrah's!

We are both very tired, from the drive.

Home tomorrow...

and so ends another great day at the Casino

one last later...

Day 47 Monday

Got on the road by 7:15. Some nasty looking clouds and rain at various points along the way. We heard on the weather channel they had some hail along our route, and one storm chaser who was staying in Gainesville where we were said there was hail in Gainesville. However we did not have any damage to the car, and some of the things he was saying made it sound like he was just playing it up for TV. Maybe yes...maybe no.

We had a pretty trouble free day...started to get quite windy around Whichita.

Turns out we were pretty lucky, the day we decided to leave, as they had baseball sized hail and grapefruit sized hail in Denton later in the day, which is where we usually stay. In some parts of  Texas they also had softball and grapefruit sized hail...yikes!

We got to Harrah's in Council Bluffs at 4:30. Took it easy for a bit, then went down to the Casino. Katie swiped her card and got two printouts for 1/2 off meals. I swiped mine...nada...as usual. Not too hard to see who is the big gambler in our family.

We played for awhile, I lost at first, but made a dramatic recovery, and I ended up $400 up for the night. Katie made $250.

Because we were winning it was hard to quit, so we didn't go for supper until around 8:45. We didn't have any lunch, and we had breakfast actually. The bill was $28 with drinks but written off with one of the 1/2 off printouts and the rest with instant rewards from Katie's card.

Have to laugh...we were not in the casino more than about ten minutes, when a casino host with a handheld, tracked Katie down, introduced herself, and made sure Katie was there attempting to contribute to the welfare of the Casino.

Then it was back to the room to unwind.

and so ends another great day at Harrah's Casino...never lost here yet

more later...

Day 46 Sunday

We got away later than we wanted today about 10.

Good driving except for about three bumper to bumper traffic jams on the Interstate, due to construction...only one problem...for what we could see there was really no need for those kind of traffic jams. There are simply a lot of people who have no idea how to drive.

At any rate we arrived at the LaQuinta in Gainesville about 7:15. Great room and great price $78.

Went to Cracker Barrel for supper...it was very good.

Relax the rest of the night...weather looks ok for travel tommorrow...should be in Council Bluffs before 6 if all goes well.

and so ends another great day in Texas...

more later....

Day 45 Saturday

Nothing to report...packing day

and so ends another great day in the Valley...

more later...

Day 44 Friday

Today was just about a write off for me. I had a sharp pain by my right shoulder blade that lasted almost the whole day.

Katie did work...I watched...not happy that I couldn't really do anything

Good Masters though....

and so ends another great day in the Valley...sort of

more later...

Day 43 Thursday

Got the golf cart ready to be stored for the time we are away. Fingers crossed that the batteries will still be charged enough for the charger to kick in when the time comes. My friend Al will get it going for me and I really appreciate that...wish I could do it for him instead.

Mexico today for the last time...oh oh...there will be tears. Katie and I were walking over the bridge at about 2:45 as we were going to be at the pharmacy for 3PM. Instead Shelyn and her mom Marasol were driving over the bridge at the same time and stopped to pick us up. That was great as we went straight to Erika's place.

Livy was home from school and when she saw us she told Sherlyn we had to stay outside for a few minutes...there would be a surprise. In a few minutes Livario came out, put his hands over Katie's eyes and guided her inside. Then everyone inside yelled Happy Birthday, and we saw the whole living area was decorated for a birthday party. It was fantastic and Katie was stunned. How great that they went to all the work, time, and trouble for us, and especially Katie.

We sat down and started in on the snacks. Marisol told me that she was going to prepare a plate for me Mexican style and I had to try it..so she did...and it was great.

It doesn't show it here but she put a sauce and a spice

Erika's friend Joanna was there helping even though she was not feeling good, and her mom as well. Some other friends dropped in and one lady who we had only seen before brought Katie a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Then Sister Maureen came in, we didn't expect that. She was on her usual trip with a truck load of goods for those that need the help. When she got to the Mexican border they told her she would have to drive 20 miles to the Pharr crossing because she had diapers in the truck. She said she wouldn't do that, so she drove back home, emptied the truck and came back to see us. She got right into it.

I went outside and played a game with Livy which we had brought for the kids. She was good at catching the ball.

Then Erika brought out food which she and her friends had prepared. It was Erika's mom who suggested the birthday party and the food. The dish is a special dish which originated in Monterrey, and when Katie and I saw it, we didn't know what to do with it. Marisol told us to wait until she got hers and she would show us.

Turns out you take the top hard shell and break it a bit at a time so you can use it like a scoop. The dish contains an avocado base shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded chicken, topped off with cheese sauce. When everything is gone then you take the bottom shell break it up and eat that as well.

The whole dish was excellent.

We are so thankful that Sherlyn and Marisol were there for us so many times this trip. Not having to use my phone as a translator because of them was so great! We really like them both not just for the translation services, but as good people. I hope Sherlyn follows my suggestion and starts the process of getting herself into a career...she is a great girl!

We had a great time, lots of fun and laughs...Livy took Katie's camera and did a lot of group selfies and Karelly took pictures as well. Here in no particular order...

A slight misspelling but who cares

Later on it was time to leave, and I can only tell you there was an abundance of tears all around. Erika and Livy especially as both of them are very sensitive. Karelly a bit more reserved because after all she is 13 now, and a teenager. It was HARD! Lots of long hugs and kisses and more than just once.

We climbed into Sherlyn's car and with lots of waves....we were gone until next year.

When we got to the border, the border guard asked what we were bringing back. We were a little worried Katie could not bring her flower arrangement back even though it contained no earth.

She showed what she had but he didn't seem to really care, so off to our car in the parking lot.

After some more hugs and some tears we said goodbye to our friends Sherlyn and Marisol. Sad.

We stopped and said goodbye to Al and Bonnie who are leaving for home Friday Morning...sad that we will likely not see them again until next year as well.

Then back home....watched the first two periods of the Jets game...drat...don't they know how to lose?

and so ends another great day in the Valley...

more later...