It's been a long time!

Wow haven't written in a long time! Life has been going to a CRAZY speed!
Since I have not taken time to keep everyone up to date, I thought I'd write to everyone (thank you for getting on me to get everyone up to date). So much has happened!

Stephanie moved down from Minnesota and have been having a blast with her! Two weeks after she got here we took her down to Roasarito for a great little vacation. I got some really cools pics of the dolphins swimming by the house, one way in the evening when we were having cocktails and the other way when we were having coffee in the morning, INCREDIBLE! Went to La Fonda for brunch and was sang to by a rooster! Momma and baby chicks were running around the restaurant and Poppa Rooster got up the stairs to the stage and let out the loudest Cockadoodledo I have ever heard.! Even trying to mimic him later that night,woke Andy up and straight out of bed! He said it sounded like a cat being killed, don't think so, in fact, I think I did a great imitation of a rooster if I may say so myself!

Stephanie and I entered the Chili Cook off in July for the Chili Verde, did we win? NOPE, but if we did what would be have to look forward to for next year! At least this year Andy didn't enter the Mr. Hot Sauce contest and take off his shirt! His arm hurt too bad! This is the story following:

Andy had a dirt bike accident on July 24Th! Pretty severe one, on his new motorcycle he got for himself for his birthday. First long ride out (should have been over 75 miles) he was in Angeles Oaks and dumped the bike, broke his collar bone, five broken ribs and collapsed his right lung. OK Bad enough, he drove home over 45 miles to get to the hospital. Courageous or stupid, don't know, I side on stupid. So for two months we have been trying to get life back to normal, I don't know what normal is!

He just got back last night from Cabo fishing with Rotary, he won the jackpot for the biggest fish! A 260 pound Marlin! All Right! I haven't downloaded the pictures but will sure to post the "prize".

They were in a tropical storm, shut down the road to Cabo (they were staying an hour away) and wasn't sure they were going to be able to get out on Monday. I think I was the one more nervous than they were! Been through too much this year to have a no big deal attitude. I don't want to take anything for granted. Life is too precious!

Been having fun on the boat this year, haven't been on it since Rachelle and Mark and the boys have been here, my goodness it's been a month! See, if you don't take time to enjoy life it will pass you by!

Here is article that the Big Bear Grizzly wrote about our chili team, we are know as the Western Devils Barn Burner Chili! :

Bob Collins never thought he would have to work for his son. That is exactly what Collins did at the Old Miners Chili Cook-off.

Collins and his wife, Susie, were part of the Western Devil Barn Burner Chili team. The night before the chili cook-off, Bob, Susie and the team assembled at the Calcutta Dinner at B’s Backyard Bar-B-Que. The dinner is fund-raiser where bidders try to buy chili teams. In return, the winning bidder splits the earnings if their team places at the cook off.

Mike Collins said bidding on his parents’ team was a safe bet. “They placed third last year,” he said. Mike had the highest bid at the Calcutta Dinner. “It’s a great fund-raiser and you have to get people excited,” he said.

Mike waited until Susie pushed the bid for the Western Devil Barn Burners to $125. Auctioneer Mark Gaines scanned the crowd and Mike yelled $130. Susie answered with a $140 bid. Mike raised the bar to $150 and Susie almost quit.

“I told her (Susie) to keep bidding to push the price up,” Mike said. The final bid was $170. Mike owned the team.

“They make incredible chili and I only get to eat it once a year,” Mike said about the Western Devil Barn Burners. Mike smiled and said he is happy to have his dad working for him.

“I never thought about it like that, but I guess I am working for my son,” Bob said.

The Western Devil Barn Burners team didn’t place at the cook-off, but the chili was still a hit, Bob said. “We went through six gallons by 1 p.m. The team was honored with the Merchant’s Perpetual trophy. “It was a fun weekend,” Bob said.

Article written by Brain Charles

What a Day!