Butch is playing lots of pool. No surprise there! I have been playing some too.
Been layed up with a UTI the past week thus not much of anything happening including this blog. The good news of this is that I now have a primary care doctor in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Elizabeth Pollack. She is young and pretty but that is beside the point. I like her and she comes to me medically in the way I like. Options and possibilities followed by a sensible plan of action. We came to her by way of a referral from our new neighbors Candy and Rick Dewey.
Today we plan to go to Magnolia for their monthly garage sale. No, it isn't the same park that we knew and loved but the ones remaining are doing the best they can and I must say doing a pretty good job of it. Our new friends Dave and Liz went with us last season and really enjoyed the lunch served on the garage sale day and would like to go again. So that is the plan.
Butch has to get out of bed first!
Check out the Trophy Gardens blog to see what is up with us somewhat. There are so many activities in this park I do not ever plan to do it all. I am making additions to their already established blog as well as our own and I still throw one at Magnolia's blog too now and then.
www.trophygardens.blogspot.com
www.magnolianews.blogspot.com
It has been a blessing to have Deon and Jim in Trophy with us. We share many of the same interests, pool, birding, photography, Magnolia and exercise. They have blended in seamlessly and no one would ever know they are new to this park. Trophy has over 30 new people here this year so that might be part of it!
Saturday, January 4
Our friend Dugan
Our friend Dugan has passed away after a year-long battle with lung cancer. His son Kevin had come to Iowa and taken Dugan and Sharon back to Florida with him making it easier for Kevin to take care of both of them.
Dugan and Sharon grew up in Jefferson too. Being slightly older than us, we traveled in different circles. We did know who they were and had connections of one kind or another. We became better connected after returning to Jefferson and making it home for at least half the year. And then came trivia.
Dugan was the core of our trivia group, in fact, we were Team Dugan. The man was a walking encyclopedia and read history books for fun. His sense of humor was priceless as well. He was a fun guy to be in the company of on any occasion. We will miss him no end.
Dugan and Sharon grew up in Jefferson too. Being slightly older than us, we traveled in different circles. We did know who they were and had connections of one kind or another. We became better connected after returning to Jefferson and making it home for at least half the year. And then came trivia.
Dugan was the core of our trivia group, in fact, we were Team Dugan. The man was a walking encyclopedia and read history books for fun. His sense of humor was priceless as well. He was a fun guy to be in the company of on any occasion. We will miss him no end.
Friday, January 3
Quote of the day
" Kittens are wide-eyed soft and sweet. With needles in their jaws and feet. "
-Pam Brown
If you have ever petted a kitten you know the truth of this quote. And I would add "Even innocence has sharp pain."
-Pam Brown
If you have ever petted a kitten you know the truth of this quote. And I would add "Even innocence has sharp pain."
Wednesday, January 1
Tuesday, December 31
Monday, December 30
Grumbling
I do not grumble a lot. Really I do not. One exception is a poor Internet connection. I pay for a good one and I expect it to deliver. Trophy Gardens has provided park-wide Internet for the past 4 1/2 years. For some people that is a big plus. After full-timing for ten years and have a fair amount of experience dealing with different connections in different locations I can tell you that 90% of park-wide internet systems are not at all adequate. Most people have succumbed and found their own system to work for them. The system here in Trophy has been in existence because the company that provides it promised something they cannot truthfully deliver, particularly in January and February and the mangers are very tired of handling resident complaints. The 5-year contract will be up in June of 2020. We have all been warned.
I knew I would need to find a solution for us. Google Fi is okay for the internet but it is pricier than I like and just okay for speed. As a phone, it is great and dirt cheap so it will stay our phone choice. A phone bill of $25 a month is fine. and we will leave all that alone.
I have always liked Spectrum in South Texas but this park will not allow any new lines to be buried other than what they already have and new poles with connections are not allowed either.
Trophy Gardens has embraced a system called www.cobainternet.com so knowing we would want something with enough oomph to stream movies and not frustrate the H out of me we decided to try Coba. There is a sizeable hookup fee ($150) because you are buying equipment and installation. It is a one time fee. There are no contracts and you can stop and start any time you please. You keep the equipment that you paid for and take it with you and bring it back each season. There are three levels of service and we chose the middle one. We are not gamers and they require lots of oomph. We require medium oomph. If all you do is Facebook and check your email the lowest oomph would be good enough for you. We decided it was better to try it this year instead of next when fewer options would be available.
When the guys installed it they needed an electrical outlet. It depends on line-of-sight for a signal and after trying to mount it on the ladder at the back of the motorhome and deciding it did not work we have it on a tripod beside the front of the motorhome with a cable to electricity. We had it plugged into an outdoor electric box in one of the basement bins near the rear of the motorhome. After a week of frustration with dropped service and intermittent signal, we decided to bring it inside through one of the slide-outs and that changed everything! It has been dependable and speedy ever since. The installers had told us it would not make a difference but it very much did.
I knew I would need to find a solution for us. Google Fi is okay for the internet but it is pricier than I like and just okay for speed. As a phone, it is great and dirt cheap so it will stay our phone choice. A phone bill of $25 a month is fine. and we will leave all that alone.
I have always liked Spectrum in South Texas but this park will not allow any new lines to be buried other than what they already have and new poles with connections are not allowed either.
Trophy Gardens has embraced a system called www.cobainternet.com so knowing we would want something with enough oomph to stream movies and not frustrate the H out of me we decided to try Coba. There is a sizeable hookup fee ($150) because you are buying equipment and installation. It is a one time fee. There are no contracts and you can stop and start any time you please. You keep the equipment that you paid for and take it with you and bring it back each season. There are three levels of service and we chose the middle one. We are not gamers and they require lots of oomph. We require medium oomph. If all you do is Facebook and check your email the lowest oomph would be good enough for you. We decided it was better to try it this year instead of next when fewer options would be available.
When the guys installed it they needed an electrical outlet. It depends on line-of-sight for a signal and after trying to mount it on the ladder at the back of the motorhome and deciding it did not work we have it on a tripod beside the front of the motorhome with a cable to electricity. We had it plugged into an outdoor electric box in one of the basement bins near the rear of the motorhome. After a week of frustration with dropped service and intermittent signal, we decided to bring it inside through one of the slide-outs and that changed everything! It has been dependable and speedy ever since. The installers had told us it would not make a difference but it very much did.
Sunday, December 29
Not much
Not much that is new and different is going on right now. This afternoon Butch and I are playing in a mixed doubles pool tournament. I think I enjoy it more than he does. We are not partners because when you sign up you do not play with whoever you sign up with. It is a good way to get acquainted and interact with new people that you might never have the opportunity to do so otherwise.
Butch has signed up for several pool events in the Senior Olympics of the Rio Grande Valley. He skipped the last couple of years but feels he is ready to take it on again this year.
The park sponsors various trips and I plan to sign up for a Mystery Trip on January 21st. That is one of the days Butch will be in a 10-ball tournament with Senior Olympics. He will be happy he doesn't have to go with me because the bus leaves the park at 6:15 AM and we all know how much he would like that!
The weather has been picture-perfect so far this season, perhaps making up for the past few years that were awful. Highs have been mostly in the 70's with some '80s during the day and '60s and '70s at night. I do hate to even mention it because it can change in a heartbeat.
I received word yesterday that our friend Kay Stilson had a stroke. Bill is usually the one giving us pause for thought but this time it is Kay. I am hoping it was a light one and that she will be back to her old self very soon. I am giving her some healing time before I call her and get the whole story. This is the first season that Bill and Kay have not been down here within a short distance for all the years we have been coming to Texas. It used to be we could open the door and holler at each other. Last season we had to drive a few miles to see them but we did so fairly often.
I have been rather slack with picture taking. I do not have as much opportunity either.
I think I forgot to post the ones below.
Christmas Day at Dave and Liz's:
Butch and Bruce and some guy who hangs around on Dave's patio vitually ALL the time!
L to R Karen, Gary, Cindy, Fred, Alex and Dave.
Back to us and left-Sally and Paul. Then Mikie, Keny and Renie
Bob is trying to get our attention to begin the prayer before the Christmas feast.
Butch has signed up for several pool events in the Senior Olympics of the Rio Grande Valley. He skipped the last couple of years but feels he is ready to take it on again this year.
The park sponsors various trips and I plan to sign up for a Mystery Trip on January 21st. That is one of the days Butch will be in a 10-ball tournament with Senior Olympics. He will be happy he doesn't have to go with me because the bus leaves the park at 6:15 AM and we all know how much he would like that!
The weather has been picture-perfect so far this season, perhaps making up for the past few years that were awful. Highs have been mostly in the 70's with some '80s during the day and '60s and '70s at night. I do hate to even mention it because it can change in a heartbeat.
I received word yesterday that our friend Kay Stilson had a stroke. Bill is usually the one giving us pause for thought but this time it is Kay. I am hoping it was a light one and that she will be back to her old self very soon. I am giving her some healing time before I call her and get the whole story. This is the first season that Bill and Kay have not been down here within a short distance for all the years we have been coming to Texas. It used to be we could open the door and holler at each other. Last season we had to drive a few miles to see them but we did so fairly often.
I have been rather slack with picture taking. I do not have as much opportunity either.
I think I forgot to post the ones below.
Christmas Day at Dave and Liz's:
Bob is trying to get our attention to begin the prayer before the Christmas feast.
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