Dogwood blossoms

Love's Lookout near Jacksonville TX

We stopped at Love's Lookout near Jacksonville TX on our way north.

The Literature Page - Read classic books by famous authors online

The Literature Page - Read classic books by famous authors online

Wi Fi Explanation for dummies like me.
Wi-Fi refers to a set of wireless networking technologies more specifically referred to as 802.11a 802.11b and 802.11g. These standards are universally in use around the globe, and allow users that have a Wi-Fi capable device, like a laptop or PDA, to connect anywhere there is a Wi-Fi access point that is available. The three standards that are referred to signify the speed of the connection they are capable of producing. 802.11b (which transmits at 11 Megabits per Second) is the most common, although it is quickly getting replaced by the faster Wi-Fi standards. Both 802.11a and 802.11g are capable of 54 MBPS, with 802.11a adding additional capabilities.

Across the board, all of these Wi-Fi standards are fast enough to generally allow a broadband connection. Wi-Fi is an emerging technology that will likely be as common as electrical outlets and phone lines within a few years. Wi-Fi adds tremendous levels of convenience and increased productivity for workers whose offices are equipped with Wi-Fi, as well as travelers that can increasingly access Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops, and hotels around the world.
How do I know if my computer is Wi-Fi capable?

You could try connecting where you know there is Wi Fi access or the paperwork that came with your computer may tell you or you could do like I did and take your laptop to a RadioShack and tell them you want an aircard but do not know if you need one. I did need one and bought one for $49.95 and the fella installed it for me on my laptop.

To see if you can connect:
Go to Control Panel
Go to Internet Connections Wizard
Set to automatically search for signal.

So why have an aircard?
Now I can connect to the Internet anywhere there is Wi Fi access at NO COST. More and more RV Parks are getting WI FI access and offering it to their patrons at either no cost or a nominal fee. I will naturally prefer the ones who offer it at no cost.
Also truck stops, rest areas and many other places offer Wi Fi. And you can even go into parking lots near businesses and check to see if you can get a connection and more and more often you can!

How do I find the Internet?
Once your card is installed or you have run the wizard to get it set up there will be a small monitor looking icon on your taskbar. Click on it and a screen will appear telling you what Wi Fi possiblities exist where you are located. There may be several if you happen to be in the right location. You will need one that says it is unsecured. If it says it is secured you would need a password to use it.

I have a desktop computer in my RV. Can I get Wi Fi?
Yes you can. You can purchase an adaptor that will allow you to use Wi Fi too.

How fast is the connection?
It is very fast compared to my cellphone connection. I am connecting as I write this at 11.0 Mbps on Wi Fi. That is MEGA.

How does the RV Park get Wi Fi?
They purchase a Wi Fi router and when it is turned on and left unsecured anyone can connect to the Internet within a certain radius of the router. I checked on prices and they are in the $300-$600 range.

Right now I have a cellphone connection to the Internet and it is costly for an unlimited connection. I am in the process of seeing how often I have to use it because it is the only thing available and I have a two year contract that expires soon. If I can make the WI FI connections work it will save a considerable amount of money each month. I am excited about the prospect.
Any Questions? If so let me know and I will see if I can find the answer. Wi Fi was very confusing to me mainly because I had the cellphone connection and knew it was also wireless which it is but in a different way.

Arrived in Carthage Mo about noon. Vern and Dorothy Wendt are here too. She is the gal who taught me swedish weaving so I had a question or two for her

Written on Saturday 4/16/2005
We left the valley about ten this morning. One little "episode" at La Grange, TX with 13,000 bicylists. A Po Leese Man guided us off the main highway with our 40 foot motorhome and towed car onto a very narrow and not all that smooth little backroad to nowhere! We will not let this happen to us again. When a policeman changes our course in the future he had better be prepared to either come with us or send someone who knows with us until we are back on track. They make you leave the known roadway with no guidance whatsoever. I do not like a man (Butch) yelling in my ear about a situation neither of us can do anything about...so next time we will not move until we are confident of our course.

So now we are stopped for the night in Rockdale TX in a little RV Park called Hidden Valley. The owner was not here when we pulled in so this fella staggers over to help us get a spot. He did pretty well for no better than he could walk...or talk. Too much barleypop for him today!

Herb and Pat Jones new home arrives.

Little Green Guy

I have always loved this little green guy!

The shore birds are much fun to watch

Butch and I went to Padre today and it was a beautiful day on the beach. The water was ideal for wading.

Cactus bloom in many colors

The cactus are in bloom

Arizona, the new pup of niece Tara

Internet Public Library

Internet Public Library
The Internet Public Library, is a public service organization and
learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of
Information. The site provides library services to Internet users.
Includes a reference center, a catalog of books and publications, subject-based
collections, and resources for kids and teens.

Discount Pharmacy Mexico

Discount Pharmacy Mexico
You can check out what meds cost in Mexico at this website

TODAY'S QUOTE

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't
matter and those who matter don't mind."

--Dr. Suess

Spectacular looking flower...I do not know what it is named. We have made our leaving plans...I think a week from tomorrow...the 17th we will be leaving the valley and heading for Carthage Mo.

Longevity Game

This is pretty interesting. This tells you how long you'll probably live. No
fibbing, please!

Click here: http://www.nmfn.com/tnetwork/longevity_game_popup.html

You can count on one hand the number of 'winter Texans' left in the park. We will be leaving late next week...I think. I am ready to go...with all the people gone most of the fun is gone too. It means I have to get creative again to come up with things to do. The weather is something I do like, it is summer like to me. I believe the natives think this is Spring. We have planned a last trip to Padre and I am assuming the water will be warm enough to wade in the ocean. There are a few grocery items I will load up on as I know they are not available north of here. There are also some things I am greatly looking forward to getting back to such as Diet Squirt and Iowa chops. As the time gets nearer the desire increases for these things...absence makes the heart grow fonder! The flower in this picture is from an Olive Tree.

Marge Scott's Amaryllis

Last night on the news we were informed that beginning in 2008 everyone would need a passport to ENTER the United States at all points along the border including Progreso.

Along about January 1, 2008 it could get real messy at the border with US citizens piling up in Progreso like cordwood.


Here is a site where you can find out where to get a passport. http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

Shopping on the street in Progreso

Suzy Pharmacy in Progreso

Red Snapper in Progreso

Red Snapper in Progreso

I played golf yesterday. Yes, I know that is a shocker. It was good in places and not so good in places. ...And my back hurts today. In the future, I will have to assess if the pain is worth it.

Jo Brooker's Texas Roses

Jo Brooker's Texas Roses

Jo Brooker's Texas Roses

Bougainvillea in Bloom

I purchased this frog in Mexico with the intent of potting a mosquito plant in it. He is a handy place to put my visor in the meantime. Looks mighty cute in it too!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

When you have been in the south long enough for 60 degrees to mean a severe cold front has went through 40 degrees seems downright frigid. We have decided to stay in the valley awhile longer and then we have a few minor things to get taken care of on the motorhome in Carthage MO. So we plan to leave here about the 15th of April and stop in Carthage for a short time and then to the Atlantic Iowa area to get our annual med stuff in order. It is a question mark from then on...but then that has been how we have lived so far so why change now!

Gus- the canine son of Marge & Dave Scott

Butch was gone for a week skiing with Gary, Jason and others. I was quite busy every day so the time went quick. At any rate he is back in the warm Rio Grande Valley and we have made the decision to sit tight for awhile to see what happens to fuel prices. It is so nice to have the freedom to make that decision. Today we toured an Aloe Vera farm. Learned lots of new stuff about Aloe Vera. I would recommend the tour to all.

On the patio, just now.

Bertha's Burgers makes made to order burgers between the hours of 11:00 am to 3:00PM monday through Saturday. There is no sign of a name anywhere on the building. We found out later that the place is owned by the Gonzalez family and began as a meat market. They started making lunch for a few friends and it has grown from that point on. Anna, Carolyn, Marlene and Bernard order their burgers at the counter.

Butch talks to a pooch who was hankering for a burger himself.

Marlene had just ordered her burger at Bertha's Burgers on Silver Ave. in Donna TX.

Last week nephew Dwight Kelley, his wife Carolyn and his daughter Anna came to South Texas to visit his Mom and Dad, Marlene and Bernard Kelley. This picture is of Carolyn and Anna looking things over at the flea market.

The Keep Movin On blog is getting left behind these days but that will be changing soon. Yesterday 7 women from the park went to a Ropa Usada in McAllen and grubbed around in the mountain of clothes searching for buried treasure. Then we went to Progreso for lunch at Bucardo's which was a new place to me and one that friends Wayne and Bert Shipley had recommended before they left to return to Arkansas. We shopped some after lunch and then we returned home and I caught a nice nap!

"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. "
- Dale Carnegie

This was this from "Tailspin" a few days ago. What a story! My cousin "John" has listed different items on ebay from time to time.. His present item is listed as number 5563385645 .... just in case you actually happen to be interested in bidding on it..The current bid is $66.00 and there are 3 days and 12hours bidding time left ... as I write this.

Description



Genuine heavy steel casket. Works great at Halloween parties, bury your pet, use it for yourself, makes great conversation piece. It?s brand new, never used. The story behind the casket?.. Son worked as funeral director for several years and he called me one weekend and wanted to know if I would like to have a casket. He said that a deceased person had bought it years ago and had it put in storage. When the person died, it was discovered that they had gained too much weight over the years and would no longer fit inside it. His boss said to throw it in the trash, but son, knowing his father was a pack rat offered to him(me). Incidentally, it measures approximately 28 x 82 inches, outside dimensions. It has been used at Halloween parties several times at a local bar, with great success. But, it?s time to clear out the storage shed, so the casket must go. It has a few blemishes on the outside, needs a good cleaning, and the rubber seal under the lid has come loose so I took it off and it?s stored inside the casket, along with three ends to the carrying handles that came off. Potential uses only limited by your imagination. For example, It would make a dandy side car for your chopper or three wheel bike. Be the first person on the block to own one. Will strap to a pallet and ship via Yellow Freight. You pay shipping on your end. Payment by Paypal, cashier?s check or money order. Thanks and good luck bidding.

Today is my birthday. Last night we went to the Lone Star Restaurant in Harlingen in celebration of my birthday and Dave and Marge Scott's 47th Wedding Anniversary. I had a 1/2 rack of back ribs and they were mighty tasty. Another good place for ribs is Jose's Cafecito in Weslaco. I finally got my Texas driver's liscense so I am now officially a Texan. I have a temporary one for 3-4 weeks before I have the permanent one with photo ID. That perplexed me a bit because in Iowa you get your laminated photo liscense right away. No wait. Is this just in Texas or has 9/11 changed that too? Oh well, it will catch up with me eventually. I guess I can wait.

Butch cleaned the motorhome. I sit outside and watch with the cellphone in hand ready to call 911.

A Rose

"Okay Lady, Whatcha think?"

Here comes the Easter Rooster!

Grandchildren Ann 15 and Chris 20...or they will be this month. They reside in Georgia.

a

Mondays are a very busy day for us. Butch has golf and of course that shoots the day. I start the day with shuffleboard. For an old peoples game it sure is alot of fun. Then I have Warblers...a singing group and that is followed by crafts in the afternoon. I am kind of independent ( no news to anyone) so if I do not care for the current project I bring my own. I think it is a good idea to go down and mix with the rest of them. Some of the neatest ideas arise. We have one more month down here and then I think we are headed west. Let us know when it is good and warm up there!

http://www.ripleys.com/games/iq.html

Butch's brother Don sent this deceivingly simple little game. Let us know if you win. I have not by the way.

I put the last finishing stitch in last night. I am very pleased with the outcome. I have the next one ready to start today and since we are having a springlike rainy day in south Texas and I cleaned house yesterday nothing should get in my way.

The background is a butter yellow-yarn is variegated blues

Close up of the pattern used

These Green Jays blend in with their surroundings so very well.

This from Tailspin in Atlantic Iowa... Our paper boy seems to come when ever he feels like it. I never know until I look in the box if he has come or not... But I could tell he had been here this morning...How could I tell??
Barb says: Hmmm...think I will stay here.

Life is short. Enjoy it!
Dust if you must,
but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake a cake or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?
Dust if you must,
but there's not much time, with rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must,
but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must,
but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

Thanks Zoe for this one... I abide by it.

At the South Padre Kite Competition

At the South Padre Kite Competition
Wayne and Bert doing a little beach dancing.

The parrots finally landed in the park and in the tree right next to us. They are plentiful and colorful but the little twerps always visit when it is too dark or cloudy or both making a really good photo a tough thing to do.