We're too Busy Having Fun to Blog!

Since we haven't blogged since Mark's eye appointment, we should report that he is still seeing that giant floater in his right eye. But perhaps the spider-webby sight in that eye is getting less pronounced, and things don't seem to be worse. It could be six months before he sees improvement, and we have a follow-up appointment next week. In the meantime, he's still playing pickle ball through the haze, and we've started a new activity at Benson Grove Resort. 

Welcome to water volleyball! It's in the indoor pool and the only rule is that the ball must go over the net (eventually). Multiple hits by one person are acceptable, and a team has unlimited hits to get it back over the net. An unlimited amount of laughter is also allowed. No pictures of the game, since we are too wet to have a camera in the pool at that time. This indoor pool is also where Denisa goes to water aerobics.

"So what else are we doing to keep busy this winter?" you might ask. One of Denisa's favorite activities is line dancing. The group of dancers keeps growing as others have found it is great exercise for the mind and the body. Her favorite class is the Wednesday morning advanced session. We have some complicated step combinations that move at the speed of light. It's so much fun!

We're also playing lots of pickle ball. Last year Bentsen Grove built a two court indoor air-conditioned pickle ball facility that is put to good use. It is scheduled with player groups that allow us to meet well-matched players from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. It doesn't matter if it's hot or windy outside because it's always good ball weather inside.

Another new activity at the park is bean bag baseball. Even though the board below looks innocent enough, some days it is very hard to get that little bag into one of the base hit holes--and very easy to get it into the "out" hole. Three tosses without landing in any hole is also an "out" for your team.

Denisa didn't realize it, but she has an interesting technique when she makes her tosses. It wasn't until Mark took pictures that she found she has a "high back kick throw style." That technique has even been responsible for an occasional good throw on that board.

We have around 50 retired people show up to throw bean bags, cheering for their team, and heckling their opponents. Even though the game is fun to play, the 10th inning party afterwards is another reason so many people show up to play each Friday afternoon.

Another weekly activity is our Monday afternoon Spanish class. We meet for a couple hours to study pronunciation and play games that trick us into learning Spanish words. Our teacher also takes us on field trips to places like a local Mexican grocery store where the products are from south of the border. We also had a field trip to a Mexican sea food restaurant where we had to order in Spanish from the Spanish menu. If you ever find yourself in this situation, we recommend steering clear of the Pulpo section of the menu.  Spanish students like us know that "pulpo" is "squid."

Our Spanish class also hones our skills for deciphering the random Spanish signs we see in our area. We are especially adapt at finding these signs because we are rewarded with little candy bars when we bring them to class where we translate them.

We are also in the rock club this winter, where we are getting trained to operate the saws and polishers. It's been really interesting to see what can be hiding inside an ugly old gray rock.

Using the club polishers, Mark also had a chance to shine up one of those Petoskey stones we found on the shores of Lake Michigan this summer. On the left is the plain gray rock that this petrified coral masquerades as until they get wet--or polished. On the right is the shiny piece of petrified stone that now highlights the outlines of the coral segments frozen in time.

Another of Denisa's favorite activities is the Wednesday afternoon card-making class. She has already crafted enough birthday cards to send to all of our great nieces and nephews in 2019. Besides being a fun craft class, she might even be saving us some money (if you don't count all the money she has spent on card stock and paper).

If we didn't have enough to keep us busy during the day, we also have programs and dances to go to in the evening. We prefer two-stepping our way around the dance floor, but we don't have any pictures since we're both pretty busy with that. But Mark did take this picture when Denisa was called up on stage to help sing to YMCA.

A meal of chicken cordon bleu and a dance at the park is a great way to celebrate a romantic holiday with the one you love the most. We're having a great time here in the Rio Grande Valley!