Nogales and Tombstone and the drive home

Dean and I walked around in downtown Nogales. Nogales is even closer to the Mexico than El Paso – that sounds weird , since they are both border towns. The difference is that here we have the river bed between. There, all that divides is the border fence. It is almost like they came in and built the fence right through neighborhoods or in the middle of a shopping center.  Roads just end at the fence. The pic below shows the fence rising up behind the town.

 Loved the old Woolworth's sign. It is my gold pic for the photo challenge, too.

 Not thinking the owl did much good.

 The fence again. Below is the museum.

Walking downtown reminded me of walking downtown El Paso in a lot of ways. There are the same kinds of stores. The attitude is different. It is hard to put into words, but there was a difference. 

After we walked around downtown, we headed east. We were going to check out the small towns along the border.

 I guess it was being a Monday, as there were not as many things open until we got to Tombstone. We walked around and enjoyed the local flavor. Dean was pretty disappointed as he wanted it to be a real ghost town- sort of like the Bradys found on their summer vacation. Nope, Tombstone is a bustling town.

I am a historical romance junkie. I like them from all time periods. I do enjoy Westerns – school marms, saloon girls, ranchers, horses, gunfighters.  Yeah, I like them. While we were walking I was soaking the sights and sounds. I enjoyed listening to Dean’s boots hit the board walk. I liked the bustling crowds and the occasional jingle of spurs- it would have been better had there been more boots, rustling calicos, horses and wagons going by in the streets, people calling to their friends, hats being tipped – can you actually hear that? I still enjoyed listening to it and imagining what it would have been like back in the day. 

We went back to the cemetery and browsed around. Interesting. I missed the original stones- all of them were reproductions. I was hoping to at least some in a museum type exhibit with some of the originals. Oh well, it was still interesting to read the history of the people who are buried there.

We headed further east. I wish we could have stopped at Bisbee. It looks like an amazing little town to visit. I think Dean and I will try to figure out a time when we can go back. I wish I could describe it – built on a hill that is full of copper. Copper has been mined here for so long. The colors in the earth surrounding it are unbelievable –  imagine all the colors of all the patinas of copper melded together on the hills. Beautiful.  I would love to have been there on a beautiful day. We should have stopped even for one or two photos, but honestly, it was too overwhelming. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop. I decided it was better to plan a trip back, where I can spend time and enjoy it.

There was beautiful scenery everywhere. I wanted to stop so many times, but there are no shoulders. A good portion of the time, we were very close to the border in very deserted areas. For miles and miles and miles the only vehicles we saw were border patrol. Not the most comforting place to stop. 

Once again, those old historical romances came to mind. I could just imagine the cowboys and indians riding over the hills. The ranchers and the rancher's daughters. Yep, I could see it all as we drove.

 This only has a small amount of flowers - some were completely covered in flowers, but I couldn't stop.

We didn't hear anything about the job in Nogales. We called several times, but we didn't even get a call back. No news ever. It gets so frustrating. 

As for the 17 day diet, I didn't do wonderfully, but I did better than I would have had I not been on the program. I will be back on it full time when I am back home. 

Rangers at Spring Training.

We had a lot of fun at the game. We bought matching caps. We cheered for the Rangers, and we groaned over bad plays. The crowd was interesting. It was much quieter than regular games. Dean said it is because there were more snow birds than fans. Maybe so. The park was small enough that it felt up close and personal.

Nolan Ryan was there. He seems like such a classy gentleman.

Dean is not a big fan of Washington. He thinks he doesn't always make the wisest decisions.

We had great seats - row 12 behind the dugout. You could tell a lot of people were just there for the event and not the game - they couldn't sit still - I have never seen adults get up and down so many times. Not sure why they couldn't wait until the Royals batted. No, they weren't Royals fans.

The guys walked in from the field house which is actually in right field.

This 

This was all we saw of the new pitcher. We were hoping to at least see him pitch an inning, but that didn't happen. Oh well, maybe we will get another opportunity.

 These two pics make me smile - and give me a serious case of lens envy.

Before the game, they inducted into the Summer League Hall of Fame. Beltre was inducted because of his award during the regular season. 

 Michael Young was inducted because he was the only one of both teams to have been a player at all 10 spring seasons.

 

Napoli getting ready to catch. 

 

 Moreland's home run - only score of the game

 This little cute is on America's got talent. He did a good job on "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!"

And the final score

Arizona

We left sort of late from home. We ate breakfast at home and lunch on the road. Really stuck to the plan - until dinner. Not nearly as bad as had I not been on the plan. Still not good. We just can't get good seafood or cajun in el Paso, so we had it here. Yummy!

I took a few fun pics. I will try to edit this post and upload tonight. Today, we go see the Rangers! We were talking last night. We think this is the first time we have ever gone to a Ranger game just the two of us. It has always been an event - family, friends, Sunday School groups, Tech alumni This is going to be fun to go see them in a smaller stadium again.

Day 10 and Ramblings . . .

Um, wow. Dean being home is so different! I was talking to Eric today. He and Ashley had the opportunity to have their first two months of marriage with both of them home almost all the time. She started to work this week, so they are not together as much. We were laughing that we sort of switched circumstances. Dean and I are together all the time. If I start to go do something, he goes with me. If he goes, he asks me to go. I guess I am getting a taste of retirement. Good thing we like one another :)


We went to Walmart to get a few groceries, so we can have some food to take with us to Phoenix. While shopping in the pharmacy area, I realized I have not had heartburn since I started on the diet. Food tastes better, I am not as hungry, and no heartburn! This is awesome! My ring from India is much looser than it was.

For dinner tonight, baked chicken with Parmesan cheese, broccoli steamers (it has cheese, but it is so low fat, I did it anyway. I also made slaw from the shredded broccoli, cabbage, etc slaw package. I used a little ff mayo, vinegar, and sweetener.  I wasn't thinking and added cranberries. Not many, so maybe it didn't mess me up. As much fiber and roughage I am eating, I don't know why in the world I am having intestinal problems :(  I think I might need to add some metamucil or something along those lines.

I did take a pic of dinner. I haven't had time to download it. I am excited about our trip tomorrow, but I am also a little apprehensive. I am not sure why. Maybe it is just the whole idea of the no job, the uncertainty. We thought we would hear about the job in AZ today, but we didn't.

I looked around tonight and I realized I have given up on a lot of things. House cleaning for one. I always get this way when I am feeling down. Maybe I will feel better soon  - I need to. I need to get things under control.

Day 9

Lost a pound. 11 total. Dean is home, so my schedule is off.

I noticed today that food tastes different - better. I noticed how much more flavor is in the fruits and veggies.