Tuesday, Feb 12th

The nicest day in a while in the valley.  I saw the temp at 21C for a while, so too warm for coats today.  It was one of those deceptive days when you think it may be cool based on the morning temps and by mid day find yourself over dressed to the beautiful day.
  Julia and Blake decided to have  a day at the house and some pool time with Easton.  A great day for that as it warmed quickly.  Not sure how the pool heater went as they went out and we never saw them when we dropped Lanny & Brent off late in the afternoon.
  We picked up Lanny & Brent a bit before 11 and when we got there Blake & Easton were enjoying a nap.  We left for a visit to the Olive Mill.  There was a lot of construction around the entrance and it had been moved, so I drove right past and had to double back, through the construction zone.  The food is very unique and always good there, so we stayed for lunch.  Both Brent and I ate all we ordered [except for the olives on mine], but the gals had to-go boxes for about half of their meals.  The place was quite busy even with the entrance confusion, LOL.
  After lunch we drove over to the shopping area at San Tan Plaza.  Now given the name is the same as the area where their rental house is you would think it is close, but it was about 25 miles through some heavy traffic.  We went there for a little retail therapy.  I had been telling them about Total Wine and they seemed a little skeptical, so we stopped there first.  Well 3,000 kinds of beer & 5,000 kinds of wine seems a bit much, but that is their claim. After we were there for a while I asked Brent if he thought that was accurate and he was quick to agree.  I showed them where the expensive wine is, you know like $1,100 US a bottle and the tequila at $400 a bottle, scotch at $900 a bottle. We also showed them Molson Canadian beer for $10.49 a dozen bottles, about half the price it is at home.  How can that be after they truck it for 2,200 miles, well you know then answer - taxes.  Born free - Taxed to death. 
  Marg & Lanny picked up a few things at Total Wine and then is was on to tour the other stores.  The store of choice seemed to be Nordstrom Rack, so Brent and I sat and visited in the truck while the ladies checked it out.  They both came back with shopping bags, so it appears the trip was a success.  By then it was getting well on in the afternoon, so we dropped them back at the rental house and went back to our place.
  Back at our place I had some supper, Marg was still full from lunch, so passed.  Marg had to be at the bingo early to help with the card sales as one of the ladies couldn't be there.  The Money Ball jackpot didn't go tonight and it was $680, so will be substantial next week.  Marg broke her jinx on the last game, winning by herself, so never had to share - $36.  We played for free again this week.  Things are looking up.