Wednesday (Dec 23rd) - Bob Smith officially opened the 2009 Chapter 400 Christmas Rally a little bit earlier than the normal 4:00 PM due to our scheduled restaurant closing early this evening.  Rally attendees: Buddy & Shirley Barbe, Ben & Betsy Brock, Mitch & Renae Butler, Robert & Fran Chasse', Jerry & Maryiln Cherry, Carl & Val Farley, Bob & Sue Guthrie, Jerry & Terri Hopman, Bill & Peg Jones, Ed & Kaye Lee, Lyle & Kaaren Prockish, Bob & Marie Smith, Abe & Donna Stine, Paul & Angie Thrash, and David & Joanne Delamater/White.  Bob thanked Ed & Kaye Lee for all their help at the fire scene in Ohio, and also Bill & Peg Jones and Jerry & Terri Hopman for running the 2009 Fall Rally in his absence.  He commented that rallies might run better without the president's "help."  He then turned the floor over to our rally hosts, Abe & Donna Stine and Jerry & Maryiln Cherry.  Abe briefly went over the rally schedule and noted a couple of changes - the most important being the Alamo Rose New Year's Eve Party was already sold out.  We will just have to make our own New Year's celebration.  Buddy & Shirley Barbe acted as angels for our first-time couple, Bob & Sue Guthrie.  Joanne White gave and update on triplets coming into the Ray & Karen Nellis family, and Renae Butler gave an update on the Glenn & Flower MacMillan fire situation.  Our last couple to arrive, Lyle & Kaaren Prockish, made it just in time to join us for dinner at Willie's BBQ - quite an interesting place!  TOP

Thursday (Dec 24th) - The day was scheduled as a day to decorate our rigs and also to decorate the tree in the Wilder-Rose Room.  However, most had their decorating done and the tree in the room was already decorated by park residents, so today turned out to be a free day.  Abe opened the 4 o'clock with a few announcements and answers to some questions he received - like "Where do we go for ice cream?"  This was followed by Maryiln leading us in some Christmas carols.  Maryiln is in the HRRVC chorus and has a beautiful voice.  At 5:00, most of us travelled to Lin's Grand Buffet for a delicious dinner.  We returned back at Alamo Rose just in time for the start of their Christmas pageant.  All of us here Alamo, TX wish each and every one of you a Very Merry Christmas.  TOP

Friday (Dec 25th) - M E R R Y  C H R I S T M A S ! !  The day was bright and sunny and a perfect day to celebrate Christmas.  Our rally hosts, Abe & Donna and Jerry & Maryiln did an outstanding job of decorating the Wilder-Rose Room for our Christmas dinner.  The menu consisted of turkey, ham, and deserts; plus numerous dishes prepared by our Chapter 400 ladies.  Shirley Barbe did the honors in offering the blessing.  As always there was never a shortage of food and it all was delicious.  At 2:00 PM, we gathered again to distribute gifts.  It was a very active scene as many gifts did their maximum of three exchanges before they settled down with a final owner.  At the 4 o'clock, out hosts brought out the leftovers and most of us found room for just one more bite of food.  During the day, we received a call from Bart & Deby Day, who wished us all a Merry Christmas and said they wished they could be here with us.  For a full time Rver, nothing can ever top spending the holidays with our Chapter 400 family !  At 7:00 PM, we went to sing some Christmas carols in front of Ardith & Chris Christensen's motorhome.  They had surprised us on Christmas Eve with stockings filled with goodies placed at each of our door steps.  TOP

Saturday (Dec 26th) -  Today was scheduled as a free day, and even though the weather was rainy and chilly, some of our members ventured out to visit the nearby Don-West flea market.  Due to the weather conditions, most of the outside booths were closed, but there was always something to be found in the main building.  At the 4 o'clock, we had some very welcome HRRVC guests: Bill & Marilyn Baumgardner, Ardith & Chris Christensen (Former HRRVC National Director), and Del & Jean Staab (Former HRRVC National President).  After a few brief announcements, Shirley Barbe read a amusing story about "retarded" grandparents; and Renae Butler, Maryiln Cherry, and Bob Guthrie sang a song dealing will children's reaction to their parents going full timing in "A Motorhome Built For Two."  The gathering broke up about 6:00 PM, just in time for people to grab a quick bite to eat before reporting back at 7:00 PM for games.    TOP

Sunday (Dec 27th) -  The weather was overcast, but warmer than yesterday, and no rain in sight.  The day was scheduled to be a "Free Day".  Some of us met in the Wilder-Rose building for a computer session.  We had a short 4 o'clock and was happy to see that Wally Ford joined us for the afternoon.  Abe Stine gave a few announcements informing the group of this evening's event and also what to expect tomorrow.  Then we "saddled-up" for a ride to Furr's Buffet in McAllen.  After dinner, we rode to Hidalgo where we boarded a tram for a narrated viewing of the "Festival of Lights."  This is a beautiful display of Christmas lights and figures.    TOP

Monday (Dec 28th) -  Today's tour was to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen, TX.  If this memorial looks familiar, it is the life size model that the sculptor used to create the world famous monument located in Arlington National Cemetery.  The sculptor donated the model to the Marine Military Academy.  They also have a small museum with quite a collection of Marine Corps memorabilia, and also an informative film on the battle of Iwo Jima.  After the museum we drove to South Padre Island for lunch at Dirty Al's.  Our hosts touted this as a fantastic restaurant for shrimp and we were not disappointed.  After lunch, we drove along the shore to the tip of the island.  Along the way we saw the imploded condominium building that was brought down just last week.  According to the news programs, this building started leaning shortly after completion and had to be brought down.  The lawyers will have a field day with this!  On the return trip we stopped to purchase some shrimp to take back with us.  The building is somewhat underwhelming, but the shrimp is fresh off the boats and at a excellent price.    TOP

Tuesday (Dec 29th) -  The first item on today's agenda was a trip to Shoney's for their breakfast buffet.  We were shceduled to take a tour of The Basilica after breakfast, but that tour was cancelled due to the inclement weather.  It was a pleasure to welcome our past-president, Ben Isaacs, who drove in from Aransas Pass to spend the day with us.  We haven't seen much of  Ben in the past few years because he has been working at Ransom Road RV Park.  He said he plans to spend time with Chapter 400 in the coming year.  An odd happening at this rally is the number of equipment failures while the RV's were sitting parked.  So far we have had two refrigerator failures, one compressor failure, and one toilet failure.  Maybe it is the air?!?!?  We gathered at the 4 o'clock and socialized after a few announcements.    TOP

Wednesday (Dec 30th) -  The weather had changed for the better and the sun made its most welcome appearance.  Today the ladies departed for a luncheon at Mimi's Cafe.  The guys took a tour of the Hidalgo Pump House along with its model railroad.  The pump house started out as steam generated and later converted to natural gas.  Its purpose was to pump water from the Rio Grande River to irrigate the farmlands.  Now electric powered pumps perform this function.  After the tour, the guys went to the "library" for lunch.  At the 4 o'clock, our hosts led us in a game of card bingo - and everyone won a prize!    TOP

Thursday (Dec 31st) -  Another beautiful, sunny day in South Texas!  We met at 11:30 AM to caravan to Mr. Gatti's, a pizza buffet in McAllen, for lunch.  There is always a varied selection at Mr. Gatti's; from pizza to salad to pasta to deserts - and with a buy one get one free coupon, how could we go wrong.  At the 4 o'clock, the group surprised Carl & Val Farley with a baby shower in honor of the birth of their first grandchild.  It is not often that a couple has their first grandchild after their 50th wedding anniversary.  At the 4 o'clock, we also had the pleasure of having Ed & Kaye Lee's daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn & Steve Hoyt, visit with us.  Maryiln Cherry came up with a game to make up for the pantyhose game the guys had to play at the Pre Rally.  The object was for the ladies with a roll of toilet paper between their legs to waddle down and stick the roll onto a plunger being held between the legs of their partner.  Of course use of hands was not allowed!  We gathered again at 9:00 PM to await the arrival of 2010.  Maryiln got things rolling with a scavenger hunt for the ladies.  They were only allowed items they could find in their own rigs.  Of course, as with every Chapter 400 function, we were not wanting for good food to share.  We surprised Barbara & David Jacobson, with a call to their home in Mesa, AZ, so we could all sing Happy Birthday to David.  It was said that this might be a record for Chapter 400 with the number of members still awake at midnight!  Those of us who stuck it out were surprised by a visit from Father Time and Baby 2010.  H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R ! ! !    TOP

Friday (Jan 1st) -  The final day of the 2009 Chapter 400 Christmas Rally was scheduled as a "Free Day."  Some of those who will be leaving tomorrow made use of the time to un-decorate and prepare for travel.  Of the fifteen couples here, five will remain at Alamo Rose, 2 will move to Monte Cristo, and one will move to Bit of Heaven.  So more than half of the rally attendees will be in this area for the coming weeks.  At the 4 o'clock, Bob Smith made a couple of announcements - one being the 2010 Chapter 400 Pre-Rally to be held in Elko, GA on July 12th thru July 16th.  He stated that rally activities were still in the planning stages and solicited help from Chapter members to run this rally.  He then presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Christmas Rally hosts: Jerry & Maryiln Cherry and Abe & Donna Stine.  He thanked them for their efforts in running the rally and that he and the whole chapter appreciated their efforts.  Following the 4 o'clock we travelled to the Golden Corral in McAllen for our final meal of the rally.  This has to be the busiest GC we have ever been in - but some of the excellent dishes made up for the hassle.  After dinner there was time for one more round of games!    TOP