Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
To view his 'ride' through Esperanza Estates, CLICK HERE.

First Day Potluck
Ring in the new year at EE's annual First Day Potluck lunch at the Ramada on January 1 at 1:00. Please bring a dish to share, your own beverage and table service.  Thanks to Jane Ellingson and Mona Sheffield for organizing this get together. Contact Jane (625-7782) or Mona (625-3797) to help set up or clean up.  Please bring a donation to the Community Food Bank if you can.  There is always a bin at the Ramada for that purpose. 

Sweet Thoughts
The Enhancement Team will be holding a dessert buffet on February 14th and will be selling tickets at the First Day party on January 1.  Tickets are $5.00/person for all you can eat.  If you won't be attending the First Day party you can purchase a ticket by contacting Sandi Oster at 625-0039 or Marian Mundale at 625-2238.

Check Your Directory Listing
Please take a moment to look in the EE Directory of Names and Addresses (and the 2-page list of 'volunteered' e-mail addresses that accompanied it for the first time in 2013) to be sure your listing is complete and correct.
If you are a long-term or full-season renter, we'll be happy to list you in the directory if you ask us to. Otherwise, we don't generally include non-owners.
Please contact Cheri Day (207-9830) or Mary Beth Wallace (399-0299) today if you want to make any changes to any of the information in your listing. 

Secure that Lamppost Cap
Getting ready to undecorate your lamppost this week? Tom Cooke reminds residents that carefully snapping the top down is important. Unsecured tops have been found several houses away after giving way to a gust of wind.

EE Hikers to Head Out

Fearless Leader Marian Mundale will lead the faithful up the Nature Trail in Madera Canyon on Monday, January 6th.  The group will carpool  from the Ramada at 8:00 am.  Prospective drivers will want to bring their National Parks Pass.  Car fare will be $2 per person. Ideas for the next hike will be your ticket home.  Hikers should bring poles, water and snacks.  This hike will be at 5,000 feet and in the shade.

Chili Cookoff
EE's first Chili Cookoff will take place on Tuesday, January 14 at 5:00 p.m. at the Ramada.  For $5.00, you can sample each of the entries and vote for your favorites. The cost includes bread, crackers, beer, water and condiments. If you want to donate any of the accompaniments, contact Hospitality Committee Coordinator, Marla Ries, at gvmarlaries@gmail.com or 360-708-0855.

Chili Cookoff Entry Deadine 
To enter your chili, contact Cook-Off Chair Bill Berdine at 344-7301 (whberdine@roadrunner.com) by January 10.  Important contest rules are: provide 5-10 quarts of chili in a slow cooker. Deliver ready-to-serve chili to 802 Regalo by 4:00 p.m. on January 14.

Mission Accomplished

Fifteen EE residents enjoyed a fascinating tour of San Xavier Mission led by EE neighbor and docent Jolene Hartje. This was the first outing for the new EE Adventure Group. Future adventures will include the Arivaca Home Tour (January 25), a trip to Kitt Peak observatory, and attending a concert at the Arizona Folklore Preserve.  Stay tuned for details on these and other excursions. 

Want a Good Book?
If you are looking for something to read, you need go no further than the EE Ramada.  Check out the Book Exchange located in the pool enclosure.  Looking to make space on your bookshelf for those new books you received for Christmas?  Bring your pre-read books down to the Book Exchange for other residents to enjoy.  It's open 24/7. 

New Bench
There's a new spot to sit and enjoy views of the mountains. Thanks to Pat Sharpe for donating a new bench to Mesquite Park for your sitting pleasure.

Fiber Arts Group 'Show-and-Tell' Gathering

Meeting at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2014 in the Ramada.  Bring your projects, purchases or just interesting "stuff."

Home Decor Discussion Group
Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the Ramada.  Come join in the fun at an open discussion group covering numerous subjects related to home decor.  Entertaining and simple table decorations will kick us off.  Bring your comments and concerns along with some easy table decoration ideas and/or show-and-tell examples.

Another Honor Flight

Another EE resident has taken the Honor Flight to the WWII memorial in Washington DC. Thanks to Charles Watt (Regalo) for his service.

In a Pickle with Pickleball 

Confused about the Pickleball Schedule?  Last week's MMM left pickleballers guessing as What's Up had the right schedule but the paragraph item was wrong.  Now hear this!!!  Competitive play is at 10 am on Saturday.  If you show up then looking for an easy match, you may have to take your game up a notch.  Kris Bean takes ownership of the snafu and apologizes for any inconvenience.

What's Up in EE?

PICKLEBALL/RECREATIONAL	10:00 AM		TU, THURS	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
WATER AEROBICS	3:00 PM		TU, THURS	POOL
FIRST DAY PARTY	1:00 PM		WED	RAMADA
TENNIS	9:00 AM		FRI	TENNIS/PBALL CRT
PICKLEBALL/COMPETITIVE	10:00 AM		SAT	PBALL/TENNIS CRT
PICKLEBALL/RECREATIONAL	11:00 AM		SUN	PBALL/TENNIS CRT