Valentines Day 2017

A nice day in Apache Junction.
  The guys came by shortly before 9, our appointed hour for riding.  They were anxious, I guess because we have not rode for a few days.  We made the usual route, the donkey was braying loudly when we got within a block of his place.  Pat gave him the carrots and he seemed content as he quit making that racket.  It was a good day to ride, a bit cooler and no wind.  I think we made about 4 1\2 miles today with one of the guys going on further.
  When I returned, the place was empty.  Marg went to water aerobics.  The pool was well churned up with 12 of them in it today.  I went out to Walgreens as I needed something for a cold sore I developed the other day.  While there I picked up some marshmallow hearts.  I had picked up chocolates [dark] earlier but I could see she was disappointed with no marshmallow.  I wasn't certain they were right so just in case I picked up some Reese's peanut butter cup hearts.  It seems one of these was a winner, so it was all good.
  When Marg got back she went out to pick up an anniversary card and was successful, it even said 25th.  While in the card area she picked up some cute invitations for the baby shower that she was more excited about than the card.  It was time for a shower and shave to get ready.  She put in a new shower curtain and it is a big improvement over the old one, mainly because it clings to the tub area better.  Even though they said there would be lots of food, each persons take on that is very subjective, so I ate a big orange.  When I say big, here they are larger than a softball.
  Kenny drove up a bit after 1 and we headed out west on the "Trail".   We both had an idea where it was that proved fairly close.  It took about 30 minutes so we were there about 15 minutes before it started.  Well let me tell you when they said 2 o'clock the people in this age group take that seriously, so the only 10 people there at 2 were - you guessed it.  Well that's not entirely right, the couple were there, but a least now the group out numbered the catering staff.  After about 15 minutes people began fretting, began feeling sorry for the couple if no one else showed up; but slowly people drifted in.  It was a very nice venue and we could see there was a lot of appetizers laid out on a banquet table up front.  There was a DJ playing music, waitresses bringing drinks.  Well not it's well after 2 and the flowers & flower petals strewn about the table all started to look very appetizing.  Finally the couple declared enough had arrived and proceeded to the podium to speak with us through the microphone, all 24 of us.  They had another table set for 8 or 10 that was unused.  They took lots of pictures of us and then declared the food available.  It was bedlam as the 10 of us,.... well no; we insisted the couple go up first.  It was tense, because by then everything was starting to look like food, even to Marg.  When we finally got there the food was plentiful and delicious.    Then we all forgot they had declared an open mike for anyone with anything to say about the couple.  So after better than a half hour he went up and announced they would be cutting the cake.  He also proposed a toast to themselves.  Yes a toast, well prior to that they had filled our fancy stem glass with Mormon champagne.  I used mine to toast them, but Marg finished it.  What is Mormon champagne you are now thinking?  It is the carbonated apple cider drink Marg used to buy at Christmas time and called it kid champagne [for the grandchildren].  Well 2 or 3 of us [myself included] earlier noted the presence of said cake much earlier so were pacing ourselves, although I had a plate of fresh fruit to keep my fork hand busy.  It was also delicious and all were glad they saved room.  Then as we rose to leave, the DJ revved up the music and the dancing started.  The groom and his daughter-in-law were prancing about the last I saw.  Not certain how that worked out as with the dozen of us from Carefree leaving that accounted for about half of the attendees.  All in all it was nice and we were very glad we went to help them celebrate, it was sort of sad really.
  We were back in the park by about 4:30, so there was no happy hour today.  There was no supper either, LOL.  Well one of the guys went to a burger place after.

  When we were walking up the street a little guy came running up to Marg.  He is 3 and has been staying with his grandparents across the way for about a week.  Marg had given him some treats at different times [the last was a bag of grapes] and he gave her a Valentine present [see picture].  He is a real high energy little guy but he is a real nice young boy.  Marg told him he has already stolen her heart.  Very nice folks.

  Then we went to bingo where I won the early bird game tonight that paid off $81.  All night Marg was very close, but a win eluded her.  We did have 2 other winners at our table, so a good night.
  Happy Valentines Day!