Our new location for the next week

Last July I signed up for us to be campground hosts through the Good Sam Club.
I stated choices at that time for the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
We were to be notified in November of our location and situation and then make the choice
whether to accept the position or not. Last November we were notified that all their
positions had been filled and please try again next year. This week we received an inquiry
about hosting at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, located near
Traverse City. It would mean making a few adjustments to our summer plans but it sounded
like a wonderful opportunity so Butch made the call for more info. It all sounded perfect;
for the months of July and August, one mile from the shore of Lake Michigan, 16 hours of
work per person per week,30 amp electrical, no sewer hook-up...WHAT?...no sewer hook up?
For us that was the deal breaker. That meant no washer and dryer for Barb and Butch
unhooking and driving to the dump station when the black tanks needed dumping which
is about every seven to ten days.So we are disappointed but I do plan to sign up again
this summer to see what appears on the horizon.

For the past two weeks I have made my way to the Little Hall to connect to the
office WiFi. At least three times a day I have thought of something I needed to
check on the Internet, only to forget it or run out of time before I get it done
while at the Little hall. How quickly we get spoiled! Actually, it is a learning
process for a new way of doing things. For instance, I have learned that if I want
to write something for the blog I had best do it at home and then copy and paste
when I get connected.

Butch and Angel are communicating

I spotted this cutie on our walk last night. It is funny how you start changing gears in your head when the time gets closer to leaving the valley. I do have pause for thought when I see the temps in Iowa. We are enjoying summer- like weather here with daily highs in the 80's. Last year we came too far north too fast so this year it will be a slower trip north. Both Butch and I are looking forward to being ?
On The Road Again?

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it
someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice!

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.


1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first
name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will
not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name,
but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED".

3 When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT
put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the
last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and
anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check
processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you
have a P.O. Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a
P.O. Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your
checks.(DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed,
anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides
of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet
and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep
the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when
travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud
that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number,
credit cards.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was
stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly
cell phone! package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line
approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change
my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical
information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you
know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the
key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know
whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit
cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent,
and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to
do this.)

3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immedi- ately to place
a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of
doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for
credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company
that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to
contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all
the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks
initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before
placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the
thieves threw my wallet away. This weekend (someone turned it in).
It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.
But if you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help
someone that you care about

Mexico's symbol- An eagle sitting on a cactus eating a snake. I do believe if you ask any of the eleven people who went on the Monterrey trip they can readily recite the above info. This lovely stained glass rendition of the Mexican symbol was in the Government building.

Believe it or not this wonderful outfit modeled by Norma C. was found in a pile of Ropa clothing for 30 cents a pound. I do not think it cost much...hmmm maybe 30 cents?

Prof. Cleavleand was the speaker at the Warbler convention

TheTalent show was a big success this year and Fred was one of the fine entries

I have a feature on my camera for taking pictures at night. I think it works fairly well. I was looking up into this prickly pear cactus tree.

Some of the guests at the party

Caught me with my eyes closed on my birthday

How I spent my birthday...At 8:30 a m I went for the first walk of the day and Butch went golfing. 9:30 I attended the monthly business meeting of the association where I presented the idea of a park directory with pictures.Following the meeting the Warblers practiced for the upcoming talent show. A quick lunch at home and then it was the crafters at 1:00 where we made cards.(picture later upon completion). Then at 3:00 another rush home to prepare a dish (Runza casserole) for a neighborhood potluck. After this we came home and watched the DVD 'Walk the Line". All in all a full and pleasant day.

My Birthday Rose- I enjoy it doubly by photographing it.

Good Gawd! It has been a week since I have posted to this blog. This is a closeup of my mosquito plant bloom. I was getting ready to repot it and of course it is blooming now so I assume I should wait till it is not blooming. Hmmm...should I?

Mosquito plant in Bloom

Shot a 39 for 9 holes today and that was with a 7 on hole one!

Freezing our buns in sunny south Texas! Current temp at 11.00 a m is 41 degrees. Boy am I glad we do not have company expecting to see the best of what we have to offer. It is remeniscent of days up north where the only pleasant thing to do was stay indoors and mess on the computer or stitch on an afghan. I plan to stay inside and do both!

A windy Valentines Day in sunny south Texas

Bill and Jo's offspring ...or two of their offspring came to sunny south Texas for a visit. Reason enough to throw a party

Arleen and Barb O'Rouke

Bill and son Mark

Marvin Smith and Jack Tallman at Fat Daddy's

Friends Jan Tallman,Judi Smith, and Margaret joined us at Fat Daddy's for a burger.

Butch and Blaze enjoy the view from the condo the Kelley's have rented for a week on Padre.

A colorful kite

Butch walks the beach. I saw a crab settle in and I pointed it out to Butch who nudged it with my shoe. It was not fond of being disturbed and tried to put the 'pinch' on him!

Marlene the kite watcher

Dan & Sara Kelley enjoying the kites on Padre

Getting the 35 squares all twisted up like a bucket of worms

Jerry Story looking very serious before his Tuesday morning dance.

Padre Gulls

Cracker anyone?

Bill & Maggie on Padre

Bikers on Padre

Surf Fishing

More New Orleans pics from Mickey

My longtime friend Mickey is in New Orleans yet helping with cleanup and here is a message from her.-Hi all!
Thought I would send some pictures of some of the lastest things going on.
I was out scouting neighborhoods and came across a puppy (6-8 weeks old)
with his head stuck in a potato chip bag. At first I thought it was cute
but felt sorry for him when he kept running into things. He was afraid of
me and hid between a old parked car and some plywood leaning against it. I
stuck the camera in there and snapped the picture then found a stick so I
could reach in there to get the bag off his head. I have also been running
neighborhoods where the contractors are picking up construction and
demolition debris and took a number of pictures. There is one house that
has a big X with a 13 and a zero. That means the water was 13 feet high and
there were no dead bodies found. There is one picture that is looking in
the garage and right out the back of the house. Most of the houses in this
neighborhood lost everything on the main and sometimes only level of the
house. There are lots of workmen with pickups, FEMA trailers, personal
campers and then out bobcats loading debris. It's a total disaster just
trying to drive down a street. I don't think I sent pictures before of the
grinder or the root ball. I stepped off this root ball at 39 feet. Any
questions, please email me.

The rootball

Maggie says,"Where is mine?"

When Wayne shows up Maggie empties her water dish and brings it to Wayne for a dash or two of beer. She knows whats in the cooler and she wants hers!

"Bring me your dish"

Square Dance

We finally made it to a square dance in the valley. 

Caller Larry Letsen

 

In Bloom

I sure hope our friends tune into the www.magnolianews.blogspot.com site as well as this one. I do seem to have a bit of trouble keeping them both supplied with fresh entries.
This flower was spotted on my morning trek in the park