Diego.
Making a routine errands run into a fun time for my grandson Diego and I. It was Saturday afternoon and I had been putting everything off for a while until I realized that it was in fact getting late, so I took a shower (the only way I can really wake up) and I was ready to hit the road, but not before my little tag along asked me if he could go with me.


So we left the house and went on our way, first stop Hobby Lobby. I was picking up a frame for a future project of mine. Diego was happy to pose in front of Hobby Lobby for the camera.

I am sort of a regular at this store. Not known all over it but in the framing department they all know me by name and actually treat me like a valued repeat customer. So far even though Michael's is nearby about 15 minutes away from me versus five for Hobby Lobby I am trying to remain loyal to this store and it's starting to pay off. I wrote sometime back that I prefer to support my local vendors 100% over taking my business to other areas.

Second stop, Water Works. We needed water so I took all the empty bottles and loaded them in the van... OK I am lying, I told Diego "Diego, here are the keys to the van, take all those empty water bottles and put them in the van". Yeah, that sounds more like the way it happened. So after Hobby Lobby that's were we went.


We got to Water Works and it turned out it was closed. Actually there was a little note on the door saying "Be back in 5 minutes". Well I can't wait that long, luckily I have a few dollar bills which means I can fill my bottles in the outside water dispenser. One bottle here, the other here, a dollar in the slot, press this button, press the other button, great my two bottles are filling up, one side stopped, press the button again, the other side stops press the button again, everything is cool so far. Both sides stop and I put another dollar, press the button and it begins again, press the other button and it begins too, except side one decides not to stop after the one gallon mark and all of a sudden bottle one is full and the water won't stop. I put my hand over trying to close it and it only splattered all over me, then I tried to get it off the dispenser but it's heavy, slippery, and wet, in the meantime water is running down the dispenser and all over the walk way.

In the meantime I put another dollar to continue filling the second bottle and the dollar only fills a little over half the bottle, so Diego tells me, that the store is once again open. I put the full bottle in the van, and my half filled bottles in a cart and I go inside. I show the guy what I have so far and asked him how much more to fill all the other bottles. Well, it took another $2.25.

Never before had getting water been such an Odyssey. Well, I am proud to say I conquered it, but not before spending $5.25 and almost twenty minutes there. Normally five minutes and three dollars and change take care of this task.

Stop number three, WallyWorld. I really shouldn't support this store as it's practices are not exactly what I like but when short of cash you just can't ignore that this store beat the competition hands down.


We went into this store and took care of business very fast. For those of you in the valley when it comes to WalMarts they are always very untidy but the one on Camelback and the 101 for some reason break itself away from the rest and is always for the most part very clean and it always have a huge selection of what I'm looking for. Redemption kindda comes in the way of this one store.

Next stop, Walgreens or as my brother in law calls it Greenwals. Again here we were just picking up something for mi chica and didn't really take too long in there, of course that Diego had to go and push the buttons on a bunch of the Halloween stuff they have in there. Talk about a "Hunted Walgreens" with special sound effects. You want yours to be the same, I'll have Diego email your kids the instructions. It's actually pretty easy and it only requires a little time and willing hands to press lots of buttons.


Fun times running errands and being silly with your grandson. How something so common as going to the store can be easily turned into an awesome adventure.

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Diego Graduates

The drive home from work on Friday was grueling. The temperature here in Phoenix is rapidly rising and we are already experiencing triple digit days already. I got home and the first thing I did was throw myself on the couch and pass out. But 20 minutes later my daughter wakes me up and tells me it's time to go.

My grandson Diego was graduating and as you know milestones such as this are very important. We left and soon I found out that the graduation was to be outside. What? We were among the first ones to get there so we got to choose a good shady spot, but realizing that we had over 40 minutes to wait before the ceremony started I knew it was going to be a long wait, add to this a crying granddaughter, let's just say it was interesting to say the least.

Finally, the school's principal (a very young girl) comes out and welcomes us. She goes through the process of how we the parents need to be respectful and to refrain from screaming when your graduate's name is mentioned. Yeah right! What's the point if you can't scream Diegooooooooooooooooooooo I LOVE YOU! and blow your air horn. OK, I didn't take an air horn but that would have been fun, and probably worth being ejected from the ceremony.

There were four graduating classes and as their respective teachers called the names the graduates started coming out and were handed their very impressive diplomas. They all looked so cute in their Hawaiian shirts and shorts as the graduation had a Hawaiian motif and became a Luau, as luck would have it our graduate was the third to the last to be called, remember we are outside in 100 degree weather and now screaming granddaughter has found her way into my arms while her mom and dad are busy taking pictures and film.

Finally we are all invited inside the cafeteria for a two song treat by the graduates and after that for lemonade and food, we stayed for the songs but left without eating, people can become savages when there's some free food around and we figured for us going home was better.

A few more pictures with our graduate whom by the way is totally ready for the challenges that the next year will bring and we were on our way. Upon coming home we were hungry so mi chica suggested we go to Costco were for the whooping amount of $16.00 dollars we all ate and had deserts.

OK, I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome graduate but since I didn't take my camera I will have to wait until my daughter post some so I can go and snatch them. lol So, stay tuned and make sure to come back to see them. In the meantime Diego says "First grade here I come".


For photos and a narrative from the mom's perspective CLICK HERE!

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A Morning With Diego

Heartbroken as all Cardinal fans are but let me make something real clear I am disappointed at the outcome but not disappointed with my team. I had not seen our state so fired up and so together rooting for them, as as far as sports in our state we hadn't had this high since the Diamond Backs won the world series. Know that in my book they are still #1 and just can't wait for next season.

Everybody knows that I have seven grand kids and I love them all to death, they are all the product of a love that started with mi chica and I some 28 years ago but it's also no secret that Mr. Diego Ray is very attached to grandma and grandpa and spends lots of time with them. It is not uncommon for mi chica and I to go to sleep and wake up because we are getting kicked in the ribs. Yep, mysteriously Diego will slide inside our bed and continues his sleep in between the two of us.

So this past Saturday mi chica left the van and so Diego and I went on a photo hunt outing because I was in desperate need of new images for my Arizona... But It's a Dry Heat! blog. First stop was, no we did not take pictures there but did get fed with the many finger foods they have on Saturday. lol After purchasing a few items we needed we left for Garden Lakes, an adjacent subdivision of Avondale and captured the following images.



Thanks to my daughter, Diego has grown in front of the lens of a camera and now instantly comes up with his own brand of posing. This kid is an original.


Striking another pose.


Then he captured this image of me with the lake in the background, unfortunately the sun was right behind me and I came out dark. At least the background was crystal clear.

From there it was off to another location, we drove west and soon found another interesting place I have never been before. Estrella Mountain Community College is only about 10 minutes away from our house but I had never stopped, well we parked the car and went into campus. Right away I saw some photo ops that I will be posting on my Arizona... But It's a Dry Heat! blog, but here are a couple more for your enjoyment.






We then went to a mini mart to load on much needed drinks. The weather was beautiful for the last day of January but inside the car it was a little hot and AC the AC had to be turned on. We got our drinks, hit a couple more locations but didn't find good places to take some shots, so we decided to go back home and called it a morning.

We were out for a total of three wonderful hours that we spent together, it's nice to be out with a kid that needs little to no supervision, this kid is very mature for his age and I am sure everyone that is around him learns to love him.


Thank you Diego for a great grandpa/grandson outing. Next time we need to take the "Ducky" with us.

It's His First Day of Shcool

He had been excited for two weeks now. The new clothes were ready, the new tennis shoes, and all the goodies on the list were purchased. In the morning he was fine and happy... Until he got to school and saw not one, not two, not three, nor four but a plethora of kids crying their little eyes out while their moms would tell them "Ill be right back". My daughter said she saw a little apprehension as if he was saying what have I gotten myself into. But no, he said good-bye to mommy and daddy and grandma, he kissed and hugged his little sisters and was ready to explore the academic world of kindergarten.

I am sure the teacher will conquer him. The swings and slides and the playground in general probably had him at "hello". But I know what he'll like the most is the new friends he is going to make during this his first week. Not because he is my grandson, but if you every watched the movie "Short Circuit" Johnny five was always searching for "input", well that is Diego in a knot shell.

Actually, he has been ready for "input" since last year, but due to a brain washed short stay in Tucson by the parental unit, that was flushed down the drain. Well, to say I am a proud grandpa is an understatement and today is one of those days that make me reflect that everything I've have done so far has a meaning and reason.

I know my grandson is going to breeze through kindergarten, and have no doubt in my mind that he is going to enjoy it.