Thursday, December 18

Written on Thursday, December 18, 2003
We are aware of the winter weather that has been happening in Iowa. Everyone should be able to get into the Christmas spirit with relative ease. Frank, my hairdresser, told me the locals also have trouble getting into the Christmas spirit unless it gets cool. He said the ideal Christmas weather is cool and misty so even here they have their version of “White Christmas�.
Butch played golf yesterday with Toomire while I purchased groceries and prepared food. When Butch returned we went to the flea market to purchase awning bows. We need them for our battle with the wind. The purpose of the bows is to provide stability for the awning. They are also called awnbrellas and that is an accurate description because they keep the rain from puddling. The flea market was sold out so we hope to get them in the next day or two. It is calm today.
Butch was in need of a haircut so he decided a flea market haircut was good enough. $5.00. The barber’s family was waiting for him to finish his business for the day. The barber’s wife was listening to her daughter, Gisetta 10?, rattle on about her day. Her brother, about 8 was listening and occasionally being amused. After a time, Gisetta began reading her book to her mother. She was speaking in Spanish but the book was in English. I knew because I could see it. I found this intriguing. By the way, I knew Gisetta’s name because there was a picture of her on her father’s mirror with her name neatly printed under it.

Tuesday, December 16

Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Rattling for bucks. I heard that phrase on TV this morning and listened closer to find out what they were talking about. This fella was saying that he had rattled for bucks since he was a kid. It seems that if you rattle two antlers together, bucks in the area will come to see what the fuss is about. He said the curious buck will not join the fight. He comes in hopes of taking on the winner while he is all worn out or running off with a doe while the fight is in progress. I had never heard of rattling for bucks so I learned something new today.

Monday, December 15, 2003
Went to Harlingen yesterday to see Marlene and Bernard Kelley. Beautiful day! 79 degrees-calm. We had lunch at the Golden Corral. Busy, busy place but the food was delicious. We came back to the Kelley’s place visited and played a few games of partners cribbage.
Butch played golf this morning and I stayed home with a head cold and the wind. I worried all morning about the screen room and was once again reminded that worry wouldn’t keep it in place.
I called for an appointment to get my haircut. I had asked Lucy who cut her hair and she said she liked Frank at Alicia’s House of Style so that is who I called. I will not need another haircut for quite some time. ;-)

Sunday, December 14

Sunday, December 14, 2003
We finally made it to a square dance on Friday morning. We danced at Casa de Valle RV Park in Alamo with Wiley Hutchison calling the dance. Don and Jan Brahms have a place there but they are still in Iowa enjoying winter. ;-)
There were two fellows working on a roof to the southwest of us. While they worked, they conversed in Spanish but every now and then they threw in a sentence in English. They were singing while they worked. I didn’t recognize the song. I snapped a picture of one of them and it is on Webshots.
Yesterday was a stay home day to get caught up on bills, mail, phone calls etc. We have 2000 weekend minutes on our cell phone so it makes sense to do our calling then.

Butch is always wanting to go, go, go, leaving little time to deal with the details of ordinary living. We are working on getting a compromise.