May 26 Sydney Graduates HS

Miss Sydnee Vallelunga ( our oldest Grandaughter ) graduated from Skyline High School on Thursday evening. There were over 800 kids in her class. The ceremony was on the football field and it was packed - standing room only by 10 minutes before the start of the program. It was over 100 degrees but after the sun set it cooled down a bit. All those kids were in those long gowns and hats - they must have been roasting, although it was probably cooler on the grass. My camera isn't great for dusk pictures but with my telephoto lens I got a shot of Syd walking to her assigned row for seating ( see picture of the 5 people walking on field, Sydney is the middle gal ). Sydnee got a 2 year tuition scholarship to Mesa Community Colleges and received honors for her volunteer hours. She also is an "A" student and has had a part time job the whole school year. She is one really sensational girl !
We got to the school early enough to get lower seats but Sydney's Dad got way up high in the stands so he could get really good pictures. Reg was recovering from knee surgery so we didn't think we could make it up that high. Look at the view of the Mountains looking eastward from the stands. What a beautiful place to hold the graduation. The green robes added to the lush look of the green grass field of graduates.

Great Deal

There are some great bargains in our community of Sunrise Village right now. These pictures are of a place 3 doors down foom us that has been reduced to only 14,900. It is 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fully furnished and looks great inside. It is being sold by the bank because the deceased owner had a small mortgage on it. It does need a new hot water heater and air conditioner unit - both are working but very old. also it looks like it needs a new roof but the roof has not leaked yet. In the summer are the best bargains - before the Winter Visitors get down here and gobble them up.

Leonard Nimoy contact

WOW - Reg and I have been watching all the old TV shows on our local RTV ( Retro Televison Network ) station. WE love Dragnet, Alfred Hitchcock mysteries, and our favorite "Sea Hunt". I used to watch "Sea Hunt" with my Dad and I wanted to be a SCUBA Diver when I grew up - but my Dad said it wasn't for girls. With our background as SCUBA Instructors Reg and I now laugh a lot at the errors and inconsistanties in the show - but we still love it. I didn't realize it when I was 7 or 8 years old, but Lloyd Bridges was a real HUNK!.
These old programs have a lot of young actors - many who became stars later on. On the Sea Hunt episode today , (Season 2, dated 4-12-1959) titled "Nerve Gas", we spotted a very young and lean Leonard Nimoy. TVRAGE.COM says it was his forth appearance on the show - but we haven't seen him before this so maybe it was his first role where he had a lot of lines to speak ??? If you want to see the episode, go to HULU.com.
Lloyd Briges was a real Diver - check out the UW photo equipment he's holding in the photo shot. The picture here of Leonard Nimoy is when he was a guest actor on the TV series "Superman". He is holding onto Cub Reporter Jimmy Olson's coat collar ( played by Jack Carson ) so he must have had a part as a bad guy ????

Painting the Laundry / Utility Room

While Reg is finishing the last bits and pieces of the kitchen cabinets I have started on the painting of the Utility / Laundry room. There is so much prep work - which is no fun at all. The walls have to be sanded and vacuumed first, then painted with "Kilz It" so that the paint can adhere to the vinyl wall paper and foam ceiling. Here I am painting over the "Kilta It" on the ceiling with "Ceiling White". Sydney and I picked out a nice green color - but Reg didn't like it - so I had it tinted to a different shade - still no success with Reg - then I added a pint of white to the gallon - Reg says he will live with it. They really know me well at the Home Depot Paint department. Yes - The pictures tell it all - I am doing a balancing act on the Ladder and the Washer and Dryer. Yesterday I fell on a paint bucket - what a mess to clean up - Short, plump Grandmas can really do a number on a plastic paint bucket. Yes, I do use a small roller - I don't have the strength to hold up a big roller without trembling - so the little roller is perfect for me.

Thursday Janet Pops in to Arizona

I was sorting out boxes and trying to organize wall cabinets (day after day, I am never moving again) when Janet called. She had just flown in to the new Gateway Airport from Washington State where she had been taking photos. We met at Superstition Springs and she treated me to Pizza and we gabbed and gabbed. Then she was off again. I asked a young man to get our picture.

Easter Sunday

Even Grandma got up early to go with Grandpa to Rob's house to watch the Avery and Audrey hunt for Easter Eggs, followed by a wonderful brunch whipped up by Chef Robert. The kids kept missing the eggs hidden in the Lime Tree, they were concentrating on ground level. And - Audrey and Avery found 2 of the strawberries were already ripe so they picked them for us all to taste. There were even Easter eggs in Pappa's Tomato Plants. Grandpa put Rabbit Ears on audrey in the last picture.

Good Friday with Grandkids

Good Friday I got to spend all day with Avery and Audrey and Kylee came over for a couple of hours too. Audrey had a tea party with her stoneware cups. We had tiny Carrot Cookies and Italian Bunnys & Chicks cookie cut outs from AJs. Avery and Audrey love playing Power Ranger Ninjas. Look at how fast they move - the camera can't catch them - they are a blur of speed. We played Hide and seek, sometimes in teams, and we played UNO. We also built snakes with dominos and then castles to knock down.