From friends in Florida
Just got your message about the lizard, very interesting.
We have a lot of the little "buggers" here in Florida but not as long as 8 inches. I wouldn't want one in my mobile! Our cat, Sammy, would be of no help, or maybe he would if he could chase it. He weighs about 20 lbs. so is a pretty contented cat!! I can't believe how attached we are to him or him to us. Just like a little watch kitty.
Tried to bring up your webshots but didn't have any luck so will try again another time. The accounts of your adventures are very interesting.
I had a hair appointment this morning, so after pancake breakfast here in the park we went to get the hair cut. It was such a beautiful day so decided to head east to Arcadia, an antique town. We looked around and ate lunch and left for the Hermann Ranch at Myakka City. That is the home of the famed Lippizan stallions. Their performance was at 10 a.m. instead of 3 p.m. Missed that so went in the barns and looked at the horses, 18. They leave for tour after Easter and return in October. We have seen them perform in other years, but was sorry we missed them this time. We saw a lot of cattle between Arcadia and Palmetto. I never thought about Florida being cattle country but that is their main industry. We always thought it was fruit. We are in a big strawberry and tomato growing area. There are big packing factories for tomatoes in Palmetto. The strawberries are so good now. Their big strawberry festival was in Plant City a week or so ago.
All for Now
Jean
Monday, March 15
Friday, March 12
1:52 PM 3/12/2004
Our plans have changed a little and that's the nice part of being retired. After doing a quick scan of weather in other parts of the USA we have decided to stay put for a couple of weeks. Last year the weather wasn't much good in Iowa until late May or early June. Relax we aren't waiting That long to come back. We are still going to Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri before returning to the fair state of Iowa to take care of the chores that await us like auctions, house sales and taxes.
The weather here is delightful and it was a long time coming so we hate to pick up and leave just as it is coming into its full glory. We have however been doing some preparation work such as cleaning up the screen room and putting stuff away that we won't be using. When the day of departure gets here it takes very little time to be ready to roll.
Our plans have changed a little and that's the nice part of being retired. After doing a quick scan of weather in other parts of the USA we have decided to stay put for a couple of weeks. Last year the weather wasn't much good in Iowa until late May or early June. Relax we aren't waiting That long to come back. We are still going to Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri before returning to the fair state of Iowa to take care of the chores that await us like auctions, house sales and taxes.
The weather here is delightful and it was a long time coming so we hate to pick up and leave just as it is coming into its full glory. We have however been doing some preparation work such as cleaning up the screen room and putting stuff away that we won't be using. When the day of departure gets here it takes very little time to be ready to roll.
Wednesday, March 10
Written Tuesday, March 9th, 2004
My birthday turned out to be quite a day! First off I got a virus, more exactly a worm on the computer and spent the better part of the day getting rid of it. Yes, I know how I got it and it is just too embarrassing to admit how it happened. But it is gone now.
Anyway I was in the midst of getting rid of Worm-Bagel J when I heard a rustling sound on the plastic runner we have to protect the carpet. I looked down to see an 8-inch lizard looking back at me. Angel was in the screen room so I hollered at her and she came running, spotted the lizard and took after it. It was too quick thus escaping the cat claws and run for cover under the chair in which I was sitting! So I moved, deciding that Angel needed more room to do her magic. The lizard escaped Angels grasp and sought refuge under the dash. Butch was returning home from the flea market about this time so I suggested he do his "manly" duty and rescue either Angel, me or the lizard or perhaps all three. He failed to see this as HIS duty. Go figger! There was no way to retrieve the lizard at this point so we hoped he would find his own way to freedom. Time passes. I was working around the drivers seat when I glanced over and spotted our new reptilian resident. So we devised a plan involving two ice cream buckets and a broom. I said, " I'll poke him with the broom handle and when he runs your way trap him in the bucket." Butch said, " No, I will poke him and when he runs your way YOU trap him in the bucket." Butch poked him my way first and miracles happen and I trapped him under the bucket. We slid a flat piece of plastic under the upturned bucket enabling us to transport the lizard to his new digs about a block away. He lives to eat bugs another day. So my birthday this year will be known as the day of the lizard...and the worm.
On Sunday we went for a pontoon ride on the Rio Grande with friends Marge and Dave Scott. Pleasant Day-Pleasant ride.
Monday after golf Butch went to see Dr. Penalo about a sore throat. Now taking antibiotics for that condition and feeling much better. I must say he is never a wimp. He is like the energizer bunny, just keeps on going. When I am sick I lay down.
Today we went to the Santa Ana Wildlife refuge and rode their seven-mile bike trail. Very nice ride and we should have ridden it twice but it was getting plenty warm by the time we finished the first seven.
This afternoon we went to Mexico and Butch got a haircut. He got a "butch" and it is very short.
My birthday turned out to be quite a day! First off I got a virus, more exactly a worm on the computer and spent the better part of the day getting rid of it. Yes, I know how I got it and it is just too embarrassing to admit how it happened. But it is gone now.
Anyway I was in the midst of getting rid of Worm-Bagel J when I heard a rustling sound on the plastic runner we have to protect the carpet. I looked down to see an 8-inch lizard looking back at me. Angel was in the screen room so I hollered at her and she came running, spotted the lizard and took after it. It was too quick thus escaping the cat claws and run for cover under the chair in which I was sitting! So I moved, deciding that Angel needed more room to do her magic. The lizard escaped Angels grasp and sought refuge under the dash. Butch was returning home from the flea market about this time so I suggested he do his "manly" duty and rescue either Angel, me or the lizard or perhaps all three. He failed to see this as HIS duty. Go figger! There was no way to retrieve the lizard at this point so we hoped he would find his own way to freedom. Time passes. I was working around the drivers seat when I glanced over and spotted our new reptilian resident. So we devised a plan involving two ice cream buckets and a broom. I said, " I'll poke him with the broom handle and when he runs your way trap him in the bucket." Butch said, " No, I will poke him and when he runs your way YOU trap him in the bucket." Butch poked him my way first and miracles happen and I trapped him under the bucket. We slid a flat piece of plastic under the upturned bucket enabling us to transport the lizard to his new digs about a block away. He lives to eat bugs another day. So my birthday this year will be known as the day of the lizard...and the worm.
On Sunday we went for a pontoon ride on the Rio Grande with friends Marge and Dave Scott. Pleasant Day-Pleasant ride.
Monday after golf Butch went to see Dr. Penalo about a sore throat. Now taking antibiotics for that condition and feeling much better. I must say he is never a wimp. He is like the energizer bunny, just keeps on going. When I am sick I lay down.
Today we went to the Santa Ana Wildlife refuge and rode their seven-mile bike trail. Very nice ride and we should have ridden it twice but it was getting plenty warm by the time we finished the first seven.
This afternoon we went to Mexico and Butch got a haircut. He got a "butch" and it is very short.
Sunday, March 7
Written Saturday, March 6th, 2004
Oh I used to be so good about blogging! It seems I either have plenty of time and must search for a subject or I am so busy doing things and taking pictures with no time for writing. The last two weeks have been the latter.
Last Saturday we went to Padre Island with Butch's sister Marlene and Bernard. We ate at Pirates Landing in Port Isabel. It has become my new favorite place to eat! I had shrimp, sauteed veggies and coleslaw and it was excellent! After our excellent meal we crossed the causeway to Padre Island and went to Market Days (craft show) at the convention center. Lots of neat stuff there. I noticed a booth with RADA knives. Boxed sets of three were selling for $28! The same sets at Don-Wes flea market sell for $7. Needless to say no one was buying.
We stopped at the Summit to say hello and goodbye to Jack and Jan Tallman. They were preparing to return to Iowa.
Then we went to Brownsville and Sam's Club to stock up on a few things. Returned to Harlingen to drop off the Kelley's and then home to Angel.
Monday night we finally went to a square dance. Jerry Story and Bobby Newman were calling together at the Encore Park in Harlingen. Dancing to these two enthuses me once again for square dancing. It was a very good dance. It used to be the hall would be packed for those two but I would say it was about half full. Square dancing in general is down in the valley and the quality of dancer isn't what it once was either. Sad, but true. It is still a boatload of fun.
Wednesday was a big and active day. The Magnolia Park bikers went to Los Ebanos to cross the Rio Grande on the hand-pulled ferry and ride to Diaz Cordaz in Mexico.
See Los Ebanos Website. And for pictures see Webshots.
Butch went with us for this ride and he tried to converse with one of the pullers but it was 'No Engleze'. The bikers helped pull as I am sure many touristas do.
There were some Mexican farm workers weeding cornfields with hoes. They were friendly, stopping long enough to greet us by waving their hoes in the air. The Mexican people may be poor but they do seem to be happy enough to be friendly toward us "gringos". Of course 14 senior citizens on bicycles seems to be a sight that amuses them.
Riding around the streets of Diaz Cordaz I noticed that only about half are paved. Fortunately it is dry most of the time. It is hard to get a perspective on the size but I would say it is larger than its counterpart Los Ebanos, larger than say Cumberland Iowa and perhaps about the size of Griswold Iowa. Everyone was friendly and helpful. There were dogs, lots of dogs everywhere. None of them on leashes but they paid no attention to us. We decided everyone should send their dogs to Mexico for training. It was remarkable.
We stopped at a bakery for treats. The young lady at the counter did quite well without speaking English. Butch kept laying down quarters until she said stop. We paid 75 cents for two pastries and that's not bad by our standards.
And then back across the river on the hand-pulled ferry. Butch and I had traveled over there on our own so we stopped at the Bentsen/Rio Grande State Park to check out their new bike trail. It was too windy to ride in the open so we stayed within the park to be sheltered by the trees. A sign says no bicycle riding on the hiking trails but there was no one around so we chanced getting chewed out...or fined? The trail leads down along the Rio Grande and we spotted inner tubes and beaten down grass where people have come ashore. They tell us the park holds Ocelot, Bobcats, Jaguarundi ad Javelina (wild pigs). We didn't see any but we did smell Javelina (stinks) and there was abundant scat on the trail and we assume it was Javelina scat. In Iowa it is raccoons that leave their scat on the trail. I think they are trying to tell us something.
The remainder of the week was used up with the usual, laundry, walking, biking, golfing and photography.
Today is my birthday. Another year older, wiser and on the right side of the grass. Life is good!
Oh I used to be so good about blogging! It seems I either have plenty of time and must search for a subject or I am so busy doing things and taking pictures with no time for writing. The last two weeks have been the latter.
Last Saturday we went to Padre Island with Butch's sister Marlene and Bernard. We ate at Pirates Landing in Port Isabel. It has become my new favorite place to eat! I had shrimp, sauteed veggies and coleslaw and it was excellent! After our excellent meal we crossed the causeway to Padre Island and went to Market Days (craft show) at the convention center. Lots of neat stuff there. I noticed a booth with RADA knives. Boxed sets of three were selling for $28! The same sets at Don-Wes flea market sell for $7. Needless to say no one was buying.
We stopped at the Summit to say hello and goodbye to Jack and Jan Tallman. They were preparing to return to Iowa.
Then we went to Brownsville and Sam's Club to stock up on a few things. Returned to Harlingen to drop off the Kelley's and then home to Angel.
Monday night we finally went to a square dance. Jerry Story and Bobby Newman were calling together at the Encore Park in Harlingen. Dancing to these two enthuses me once again for square dancing. It was a very good dance. It used to be the hall would be packed for those two but I would say it was about half full. Square dancing in general is down in the valley and the quality of dancer isn't what it once was either. Sad, but true. It is still a boatload of fun.
Wednesday was a big and active day. The Magnolia Park bikers went to Los Ebanos to cross the Rio Grande on the hand-pulled ferry and ride to Diaz Cordaz in Mexico.
See Los Ebanos Website. And for pictures see Webshots.
Butch went with us for this ride and he tried to converse with one of the pullers but it was 'No Engleze'. The bikers helped pull as I am sure many touristas do.
There were some Mexican farm workers weeding cornfields with hoes. They were friendly, stopping long enough to greet us by waving their hoes in the air. The Mexican people may be poor but they do seem to be happy enough to be friendly toward us "gringos". Of course 14 senior citizens on bicycles seems to be a sight that amuses them.
Riding around the streets of Diaz Cordaz I noticed that only about half are paved. Fortunately it is dry most of the time. It is hard to get a perspective on the size but I would say it is larger than its counterpart Los Ebanos, larger than say Cumberland Iowa and perhaps about the size of Griswold Iowa. Everyone was friendly and helpful. There were dogs, lots of dogs everywhere. None of them on leashes but they paid no attention to us. We decided everyone should send their dogs to Mexico for training. It was remarkable.
We stopped at a bakery for treats. The young lady at the counter did quite well without speaking English. Butch kept laying down quarters until she said stop. We paid 75 cents for two pastries and that's not bad by our standards.
And then back across the river on the hand-pulled ferry. Butch and I had traveled over there on our own so we stopped at the Bentsen/Rio Grande State Park to check out their new bike trail. It was too windy to ride in the open so we stayed within the park to be sheltered by the trees. A sign says no bicycle riding on the hiking trails but there was no one around so we chanced getting chewed out...or fined? The trail leads down along the Rio Grande and we spotted inner tubes and beaten down grass where people have come ashore. They tell us the park holds Ocelot, Bobcats, Jaguarundi ad Javelina (wild pigs). We didn't see any but we did smell Javelina (stinks) and there was abundant scat on the trail and we assume it was Javelina scat. In Iowa it is raccoons that leave their scat on the trail. I think they are trying to tell us something.
The remainder of the week was used up with the usual, laundry, walking, biking, golfing and photography.
Today is my birthday. Another year older, wiser and on the right side of the grass. Life is good!
Friday, March 5
Saturday, February 28
Written Friday, February 27th, 2004
Incredibly busy and interesting week! Tuesday we went back to the zoo, this time with Bill and Jo. I was able to take the pictures I had lost before in addition to some new ones. We stopped by the nursery and they were caring for a 6 day old gorilla. See pictures at Webshots. And then this morning on the news they announce that another new one was born. It was a good day at the zoo.
Bike day was wonderful though windy. We rode ten miles and a few of them were a challenge. Some days are like that. Next week the plan is to ride in Mexico. We will cross the border on the hand pulled ferry and ride in the vicinity of Los Elbanos, Mexico. We are taking a sack lunch because no one is sure the little restaurant over there is still in operation. It should be an interesting day.
Yesterday was a very big day. We traveled into Mexico with our excellent guides Marge and Dave Scott. We left the park at 7:00 AM and headed west.
We stopped at Rio Grande City, TX for quick tours of the former Fort Ringgold (now a school), a Catholic Church and grotto, and La Borde House, which is on the National register of historic sites. See Pictures at Webshots.
Next we stopped at Roma, TX. The small town of Roma is working at getting many buildings restored. We stopped at an observation deck overlooking the Rio Grande river valley and the Mexican town of Alleman. We enjoyed a conversation with a border patrolman who happened to be patrolling about a half block from the observation deck. He told us that with their infrared lights they could watch the parade of illegals come across the river where we were because the water is only ankle deep at that location. They had apprehended 580 last week but the work is never ending and pretty much unstoppable. When the people of Mexico make about $200 annually and they can come here and work for minimum wage and make about $200 a week it is very understandable why it happens. He says his relatives in Mexico think he has a ?dirty? job but he looks at it as a secure job that supports his 8 year old daughter. He didn?t hold any animosity for the people trying to cross. It was interesting.
We crossed the border into Mexico at Falcon Lake Dam entering New Guerrera for lunch and a tour of the town. Our lunch was a plate of Mexican food of the authentic variety. It was very good but not a favorite of mine. By that I mean that I enjoyed but I am not itching to go back for more. After lunch we toured the town and an area that was intended to be a high-class resort on the Falcon Lake, Mexican side. It seems there were some irresolvable problems with Mexican officials involving money therefore the builders abandoned it. It was going to be beautiful and you can still see the vision of what was not to be. It sounds a little low class but there were many walls and walkways fashioned from concrete and old car batteries. They are holding up well and look great even with the weeds growing up in them but the dream of the resort has a lingering impact.
New Guerrera was developed for an interesting reason. The Mexican town of Old Geurrera, population 25,000, was in jeopardy because of the Falcon Dam. Thus it was abandoned. Then Mother Nature stepped in with a major hurricane in 1953 and the town of Old Guerrera was submerged for 40 years. Drought and low levels of Falcon Lake has once again revealed the town and that was our destination. Mexican highway 2 takes us to the turnoff where we have 8.4 miles of very rough road, so rough in fact that it takes an hour to traverse it. The road itself is made up of rock, bedrock and ruts and slow is the only way to go.
Once there the ruins are fascinating and my imagination took flight about the people who once lived there. Buildings are still there, some of them intact. The cobbled streets are clearly defined. A city of 25,000 people that has been abandoned brings many questions to mind with little chance for answers. It was an elegant city and that is still very evident.
We returned home at 7:30 PM. It was along and memorable day and I took many pictures. I am working on getting the pictures and their explanations prepared for posting but you will need to check in at Webshots once in a while because it will be an ongoing process.
Incredibly busy and interesting week! Tuesday we went back to the zoo, this time with Bill and Jo. I was able to take the pictures I had lost before in addition to some new ones. We stopped by the nursery and they were caring for a 6 day old gorilla. See pictures at Webshots. And then this morning on the news they announce that another new one was born. It was a good day at the zoo.
Bike day was wonderful though windy. We rode ten miles and a few of them were a challenge. Some days are like that. Next week the plan is to ride in Mexico. We will cross the border on the hand pulled ferry and ride in the vicinity of Los Elbanos, Mexico. We are taking a sack lunch because no one is sure the little restaurant over there is still in operation. It should be an interesting day.
Yesterday was a very big day. We traveled into Mexico with our excellent guides Marge and Dave Scott. We left the park at 7:00 AM and headed west.
We stopped at Rio Grande City, TX for quick tours of the former Fort Ringgold (now a school), a Catholic Church and grotto, and La Borde House, which is on the National register of historic sites. See Pictures at Webshots.
Next we stopped at Roma, TX. The small town of Roma is working at getting many buildings restored. We stopped at an observation deck overlooking the Rio Grande river valley and the Mexican town of Alleman. We enjoyed a conversation with a border patrolman who happened to be patrolling about a half block from the observation deck. He told us that with their infrared lights they could watch the parade of illegals come across the river where we were because the water is only ankle deep at that location. They had apprehended 580 last week but the work is never ending and pretty much unstoppable. When the people of Mexico make about $200 annually and they can come here and work for minimum wage and make about $200 a week it is very understandable why it happens. He says his relatives in Mexico think he has a ?dirty? job but he looks at it as a secure job that supports his 8 year old daughter. He didn?t hold any animosity for the people trying to cross. It was interesting.
We crossed the border into Mexico at Falcon Lake Dam entering New Guerrera for lunch and a tour of the town. Our lunch was a plate of Mexican food of the authentic variety. It was very good but not a favorite of mine. By that I mean that I enjoyed but I am not itching to go back for more. After lunch we toured the town and an area that was intended to be a high-class resort on the Falcon Lake, Mexican side. It seems there were some irresolvable problems with Mexican officials involving money therefore the builders abandoned it. It was going to be beautiful and you can still see the vision of what was not to be. It sounds a little low class but there were many walls and walkways fashioned from concrete and old car batteries. They are holding up well and look great even with the weeds growing up in them but the dream of the resort has a lingering impact.
New Guerrera was developed for an interesting reason. The Mexican town of Old Geurrera, population 25,000, was in jeopardy because of the Falcon Dam. Thus it was abandoned. Then Mother Nature stepped in with a major hurricane in 1953 and the town of Old Guerrera was submerged for 40 years. Drought and low levels of Falcon Lake has once again revealed the town and that was our destination. Mexican highway 2 takes us to the turnoff where we have 8.4 miles of very rough road, so rough in fact that it takes an hour to traverse it. The road itself is made up of rock, bedrock and ruts and slow is the only way to go.
Once there the ruins are fascinating and my imagination took flight about the people who once lived there. Buildings are still there, some of them intact. The cobbled streets are clearly defined. A city of 25,000 people that has been abandoned brings many questions to mind with little chance for answers. It was an elegant city and that is still very evident.
We returned home at 7:30 PM. It was along and memorable day and I took many pictures. I am working on getting the pictures and their explanations prepared for posting but you will need to check in at Webshots once in a while because it will be an ongoing process.
Monday, February 23
Written Monday, February 23, 2004
Saturday was a big day. It started off with the raucous wild parrots landing in and near a tree outside our bedroom window so I grabbed my camera and took as many shots as I could before they took off. This was very early in the morning so it was fortunate that I was dressed. The Rio Grande Valley, Weslaco area in particular is the only place in the country these parrots can be seen. They used to land in the park regularly but it has been quite a while since they had done so.
The oddest part of the parrot incident is that I had a dream that I missed an opportunity to get photos of them because I didn't have my camera with me. I had told Butch about my dream less than a half hour BEFORE their arrival. 'Splain that one!
After that big excitement we went with Dave and Marge Scott to a rededication of Iwo Jima Monument at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen. The statue of the famous monument is the original with a copy of it being in the Arlington Cemetery near Washington D.C. There were several Iwo Jima battle survivors attending the annual ceremony. It was a moving experience.
Following lunch we went to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. We hadn't been there for at least ten years and it is much improved. I took a ton of photos and ran out of room on my memory cards. In my attempt to delete some unwanted shots I erased an entire card of photos losing half my zoo pictures and all the rededication photos. I will be buying a bigger memory card. I must admit it is the first time experiencing three photo events in one day. Oh well...back to the zoo! And the Iwo Jima Monument. At least they aren't going anywhere!
Saturday was a big day. It started off with the raucous wild parrots landing in and near a tree outside our bedroom window so I grabbed my camera and took as many shots as I could before they took off. This was very early in the morning so it was fortunate that I was dressed. The Rio Grande Valley, Weslaco area in particular is the only place in the country these parrots can be seen. They used to land in the park regularly but it has been quite a while since they had done so.
The oddest part of the parrot incident is that I had a dream that I missed an opportunity to get photos of them because I didn't have my camera with me. I had told Butch about my dream less than a half hour BEFORE their arrival. 'Splain that one!
After that big excitement we went with Dave and Marge Scott to a rededication of Iwo Jima Monument at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen. The statue of the famous monument is the original with a copy of it being in the Arlington Cemetery near Washington D.C. There were several Iwo Jima battle survivors attending the annual ceremony. It was a moving experience.
Following lunch we went to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. We hadn't been there for at least ten years and it is much improved. I took a ton of photos and ran out of room on my memory cards. In my attempt to delete some unwanted shots I erased an entire card of photos losing half my zoo pictures and all the rededication photos. I will be buying a bigger memory card. I must admit it is the first time experiencing three photo events in one day. Oh well...back to the zoo! And the Iwo Jima Monument. At least they aren't going anywhere!
Thursday, February 19
Written Thursday, February 19, 2004
Monday afternoon after Butch’s golf day we went to Sam’s Club in Brownsville and I spent my gift money from the great people at Senior Haven on some two-way radios. There has been more than one occasion when they would have been handy to have so now we have them!
Tuesday we went to a luncheon in Weslaco for Greene County Iowa residents and friends. Cass County has a gathering every week but for us it conflicts with biking and golf. Greene County has theirs only once per season. There is so much to do here it becomes a problem trying to decide what to do and what to pass on.
Wednesday the weather was good to go for the bikers. They do go very slow and it gets me to itching to go fast. Maybe when we get back to Iowa I can hit the trails and fly! We do plan to go to Georgia and see Rich and family and I know they have a bike/walking trail right behind their house….Hmmm.
Today the wind is blowing 10-25 mph so no golfing or biking. There is no point in frustrating ourselves by adding wind to either of those pursuits. So…we cleaned house which was long overdue and sorely needed.
I became reacquainted with a free translator website this afternoon. Buenas tardes! ;-) It is bueno way to learn a phrase or two. Check it out.
Written Wednesday February 18th, 2004
Finally summer like weather has returned. We have had two perfect days in a row with 75 degrees and no wind and the forecast looks wonderful.
Last Saturday was a bit on the cool side so we along with the Bill Brookers and the Shipley’s went to Progreso (Mexico) to have some nachos at Garcia’s- at least that was my goal. We had a good time knocking around. When it came time to leave we had to deal with the longest line ever to get back to the good ol’ USA. It didn’t seem to take long though.
Sunday we went to Marlene and Bernard’s place in Harlingen for a feast. Excelente! It was another beautiful day although on the cool side too.
Monday afternoon after Butch’s golf day we went to Sam’s Club in Brownsville and I spent my gift money from the great people at Senior Haven on some two-way radios. There has been more than one occasion when they would have been handy to have so now we have them!
Tuesday we went to a luncheon in Weslaco for Greene County Iowa residents and friends. Cass County has a gathering every week but for us it conflicts with biking and golf. Greene County has theirs only once per season. There is so much to do here it becomes a problem trying to decide what to do and what to pass on.
Wednesday the weather was good to go for the bikers. They do go very slow and it gets me to itching to go fast. Maybe when we get back to Iowa I can hit the trails and fly! We do plan to go to Georgia and see Rich and family and I know they have a bike/walking trail right behind their house….Hmmm.
Today the wind is blowing 10-25 mph so no golfing or biking. There is no point in frustrating ourselves by adding wind to either of those pursuits. So…we cleaned house which was long overdue and sorely needed.
I became reacquainted with a free translator website this afternoon. Buenas tardes! ;-) It is bueno way to learn a phrase or two. Check it out.
Written Wednesday February 18th, 2004
Finally summer like weather has returned. We have had two perfect days in a row with 75 degrees and no wind and the forecast looks wonderful.
Last Saturday was a bit on the cool side so we along with the Bill Brookers and the Shipley’s went to Progreso (Mexico) to have some nachos at Garcia’s- at least that was my goal. We had a good time knocking around. When it came time to leave we had to deal with the longest line ever to get back to the good ol’ USA. It didn’t seem to take long though.
Sunday we went to Marlene and Bernard’s place in Harlingen for a feast. Excelente! It was another beautiful day although on the cool side too.
Tuesday, February 17
Written Saturday February 14th, 2004
What a bummer of a week weather wise. I doubt if my friends in Iowa want to hear it. It has been cold and rainy. Yesterday it didn’t get out of the 40’s and for down here that is cold enough to worry a monkey. We did the typical wintertime activity. We rented a movie. Seabiscuit. It is an excellent movie.
Earlier in the day we did laundry and I helped a guy with his computer. It was my first experience with an IMAC and AOL.
We had planned to go to Padre today but I don’t think it is going to happen. They are promising a better week ahead with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s
What a bummer of a week weather wise. I doubt if my friends in Iowa want to hear it. It has been cold and rainy. Yesterday it didn’t get out of the 40’s and for down here that is cold enough to worry a monkey. We did the typical wintertime activity. We rented a movie. Seabiscuit. It is an excellent movie.
Earlier in the day we did laundry and I helped a guy with his computer. It was my first experience with an IMAC and AOL.
We had planned to go to Padre today but I don’t think it is going to happen. They are promising a better week ahead with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s
Wednesday, February 11
Written Tuesday February 11th, 2004
The Mariachi performance was wonderful. It is a music program put on by the University of Texas Pan American. All of these college students are excellent vocalists and play at least one instrument besides. The group of about 40 plays violins, trumpets, guitars, a harp and an accordion. The accordion player was absent for the night that we were attending but I have no doubts that he too is extremely talented. It was well worth the $5.00 price of admission.
On Saturday we went to Padre to visit Jack and Jan Tallman who are staying in a condo there. After tennis we went to Blackbeards for lunch and then wandered around the island enjoying the kites and the birds at the proposed World Birding Center next to the South Padre Island Convention Center. We returned to Tallman's condo to enjoy the spectacular 8th floor view and play some cribbage.
On the way to the island we became entangled in the Rodeo Days Parade traffic at Los Fresnos. We had to consult a map to find our way out of town and take an alternate route to South Padre. On the alternate route we came upon the burning of a cane field. It is a spectacular event and I tried to capture it in digital splendor. In the best picture of it there is a reddish hue on the left half of the picture. This hue is flames shooting 20-40 feet in the air obscured by smoke. This was the first time we were that close to a burning cane field. We usually see a tall plume of smoke off in the distance and then know another cane field is about to be harvested.
On Sunday the park had an anniversary party for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this calendar year. Bill and Jo Brooker fall into that category along with three other couples. Bill and Jo asked me to speak on their behalf. My experience at Senior Haven came into play. It was a nice party.
Monday- Butch's golf day and my catch up day. I did a fair amount of computer maintenance, defrosted the fridge, and sorted clothes for laundry. We did go shopping at Radio Shack when Butch returned and purchased a new pedometer and a microphone for the computer. Marvin Ludwig, square dance caller and friend, has been asking to communicate on MSN Instant messaging by voice. Like on the phone but free! We have it working adequately.
Tuesday-Woke up to 67 degrees and humid. Butch slept in this morning. He doesn't do that often. It did give me a chance to get a few things done. It seems I am always playing catch up!
One of our neighbors, Loni has been living in a motor home that hasn't moved for many years. People who know her say that when she leaves in the Spring she walks out the door without cleaning out the fridge, locking the door, or putting anything in order. I imagine it is quite disgusting in there. Loni has purchased a different place in the park and her daughter is here today to help her move. It isn't going well. Loni is being passive-
aggressively difficult and daughter is losing her patience. Deja vu! It makes for entertainment and a chuckle or two and it is much better observing it than living it!!
The Mariachi performance was wonderful. It is a music program put on by the University of Texas Pan American. All of these college students are excellent vocalists and play at least one instrument besides. The group of about 40 plays violins, trumpets, guitars, a harp and an accordion. The accordion player was absent for the night that we were attending but I have no doubts that he too is extremely talented. It was well worth the $5.00 price of admission.
On Saturday we went to Padre to visit Jack and Jan Tallman who are staying in a condo there. After tennis we went to Blackbeards for lunch and then wandered around the island enjoying the kites and the birds at the proposed World Birding Center next to the South Padre Island Convention Center. We returned to Tallman's condo to enjoy the spectacular 8th floor view and play some cribbage.
On the way to the island we became entangled in the Rodeo Days Parade traffic at Los Fresnos. We had to consult a map to find our way out of town and take an alternate route to South Padre. On the alternate route we came upon the burning of a cane field. It is a spectacular event and I tried to capture it in digital splendor. In the best picture of it there is a reddish hue on the left half of the picture. This hue is flames shooting 20-40 feet in the air obscured by smoke. This was the first time we were that close to a burning cane field. We usually see a tall plume of smoke off in the distance and then know another cane field is about to be harvested.
On Sunday the park had an anniversary party for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this calendar year. Bill and Jo Brooker fall into that category along with three other couples. Bill and Jo asked me to speak on their behalf. My experience at Senior Haven came into play. It was a nice party.
Monday- Butch's golf day and my catch up day. I did a fair amount of computer maintenance, defrosted the fridge, and sorted clothes for laundry. We did go shopping at Radio Shack when Butch returned and purchased a new pedometer and a microphone for the computer. Marvin Ludwig, square dance caller and friend, has been asking to communicate on MSN Instant messaging by voice. Like on the phone but free! We have it working adequately.
Tuesday-Woke up to 67 degrees and humid. Butch slept in this morning. He doesn't do that often. It did give me a chance to get a few things done. It seems I am always playing catch up!
One of our neighbors, Loni has been living in a motor home that hasn't moved for many years. People who know her say that when she leaves in the Spring she walks out the door without cleaning out the fridge, locking the door, or putting anything in order. I imagine it is quite disgusting in there. Loni has purchased a different place in the park and her daughter is here today to help her move. It isn't going well. Loni is being passive-
aggressively difficult and daughter is losing her patience. Deja vu! It makes for entertainment and a chuckle or two and it is much better observing it than living it!!
Tuesday, February 10
Written Friday, February 6th, 2004
It feels like Saturday to me, probably because Butch isn’t golfing today. Tonight we are a going to see a Mariachi performance in Edinburgh. Since it will be an audio and visual performance a report about it may not match the experience. Much of the experience here isn’t easy to relate. Some of the first things I notice when we arrive in the valley is the different smell and the different bird sounds. There is a sweet smell in the air sometimes. A thought just occurred that it might be from the cane fields when they burn them.
Sometime the smells are not pleasant; over ripe produce at the Farmers Market, overworked sewer systems from all the northerners being here since their plumbing is not very far below the ground surface. On warm humid days in Iowa the smells can be quite intense and I am reminded of that here too but yet it is different.
The sounds are different too. Most prominent are the Grackles, a noisy pest of a bird and the one most often heard. To me they say “why”. They drag it out and it is very high pitched. And then there are the Mockingbirds and they copy everything and everybody, a friendly bird and easily tamed. There are the sounds of golf carts now and then and when the wind is from the north a constant hum from the expressway.
When we are in other parts of the country and I hear Tejano or Mariachi music my thoughts always turn to South Texas and/or Mexico. It used to be when I heard Spanish spoken in the grocery aisles I knew I was in South Texas but that isn’t true anymore. Being in Wal Mart in McAllen Texas or Council Bluffs Iowa sounds the same these days.
What sounds and smells are you experiencing right now?
It feels like Saturday to me, probably because Butch isn’t golfing today. Tonight we are a going to see a Mariachi performance in Edinburgh. Since it will be an audio and visual performance a report about it may not match the experience. Much of the experience here isn’t easy to relate. Some of the first things I notice when we arrive in the valley is the different smell and the different bird sounds. There is a sweet smell in the air sometimes. A thought just occurred that it might be from the cane fields when they burn them.
Sometime the smells are not pleasant; over ripe produce at the Farmers Market, overworked sewer systems from all the northerners being here since their plumbing is not very far below the ground surface. On warm humid days in Iowa the smells can be quite intense and I am reminded of that here too but yet it is different.
The sounds are different too. Most prominent are the Grackles, a noisy pest of a bird and the one most often heard. To me they say “why”. They drag it out and it is very high pitched. And then there are the Mockingbirds and they copy everything and everybody, a friendly bird and easily tamed. There are the sounds of golf carts now and then and when the wind is from the north a constant hum from the expressway.
When we are in other parts of the country and I hear Tejano or Mariachi music my thoughts always turn to South Texas and/or Mexico. It used to be when I heard Spanish spoken in the grocery aisles I knew I was in South Texas but that isn’t true anymore. Being in Wal Mart in McAllen Texas or Council Bluffs Iowa sounds the same these days.
What sounds and smells are you experiencing right now?
Friday, February 6
Written Thursday February 5th, 2004
We enjoyed the King Ranch Tour last Tuesday. As we headed north out of Harlingen we were soon in King Ranch territory. You know you are in King Ranch by the fence posts. They intersperse steel posts with mesquite posts throughout their ranch. They use a heavy gauge fencing but never barbed wire because it injures animals and then they can lose them to infection or it is costly to treat them. On a ranch the size of Rhode Island it could be difficult to even find them. The ranch has been stocked with exotic deer (Niglai) and we spotted one on the ride through the ranch. We also saw Caracara (a Mexican bird), Harris Hawks, Egrets, Cranes, and a Coyote.
One of the things our guide related on the trip was the procedure required by law to burn off a cane field. They burn them off as part of the harvesting process. By burning it off all that is left is the cane that can then be easily gathered but before they can burn they must post a sign in all four corners of the field in both Spanish and English their intent to burn it. And then they must use a loudspeaker and announce it before they set a torch to it. It seems they have burned up a person or two, which accounts for the policy. I understand that it is a spectacular fire when they set it ablaze.
Back to the ranch?
When Richard King had his vision of a cattle ranch 150 years ago he knew he would need help so he went to Mexico and hired some hands. He built them homes on the ranch that remain today and this group of homes is called the colony. The descendants of these cowboys still work the ranch. Lolo is one of these cowboys now retired. See Webshots. Automation has changed the ranch of course whereby it used to take 250 cowboys to run it they now have 45. The King Ranch has been in existence since before Texas was a State and remains in the King family today.
We enjoyed the King Ranch Tour last Tuesday. As we headed north out of Harlingen we were soon in King Ranch territory. You know you are in King Ranch by the fence posts. They intersperse steel posts with mesquite posts throughout their ranch. They use a heavy gauge fencing but never barbed wire because it injures animals and then they can lose them to infection or it is costly to treat them. On a ranch the size of Rhode Island it could be difficult to even find them. The ranch has been stocked with exotic deer (Niglai) and we spotted one on the ride through the ranch. We also saw Caracara (a Mexican bird), Harris Hawks, Egrets, Cranes, and a Coyote.
One of the things our guide related on the trip was the procedure required by law to burn off a cane field. They burn them off as part of the harvesting process. By burning it off all that is left is the cane that can then be easily gathered but before they can burn they must post a sign in all four corners of the field in both Spanish and English their intent to burn it. And then they must use a loudspeaker and announce it before they set a torch to it. It seems they have burned up a person or two, which accounts for the policy. I understand that it is a spectacular fire when they set it ablaze.
Back to the ranch?
When Richard King had his vision of a cattle ranch 150 years ago he knew he would need help so he went to Mexico and hired some hands. He built them homes on the ranch that remain today and this group of homes is called the colony. The descendants of these cowboys still work the ranch. Lolo is one of these cowboys now retired. See Webshots. Automation has changed the ranch of course whereby it used to take 250 cowboys to run it they now have 45. The King Ranch has been in existence since before Texas was a State and remains in the King family today.
Monday, February 2
Written Monday, February 02, 2004
We went to Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park. It was a great photo opportunity with many different species of birds residing there. I was able to capture photos of Chachalacas, Green Jays, Altimira Orioles, Cardinals, Doves, and a Gold Crested Flicker. In addition we saw a Road Runner, Bluebird, and Vermilion flycatcher. A great place for bird watching and they have a bike trail as well
We went to Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park. It was a great photo opportunity with many different species of birds residing there. I was able to capture photos of Chachalacas, Green Jays, Altimira Orioles, Cardinals, Doves, and a Gold Crested Flicker. In addition we saw a Road Runner, Bluebird, and Vermilion flycatcher. A great place for bird watching and they have a bike trail as well
Thursday, January 29
Written Thursday, January 29, 2004
Full day yesterday. We rode 10 miles with the bike group. I tried something new for breakfast-machado and egg taco. Machado is like dried beef but not the dried beef we are familiar with; it is more like dried, shredded roast beef. Very tasty and I would not hesitate to order it again.
Nearly forgot to mention Tuesday. We went to Padre with Shipley’s and the other Brookers and spent the day beachcombing. Looked for sea glass, which is broken bits of glass that has been eroded by wind, sand and water. The edges are smooth and it has a frosted look. Bert found some but the rest of us were left looking. ;-) It was fun to look for it though. We enjoyed a pleasant day at the beach and I slept like a sack of sand that night.
See photos posted on Webshots.
After biking yesterday we went to Mexico. We wandered, shopped and made the annual purchases of medicine, vanilla and alcohol. Two little girls pointed to my camera so I snapped a photo of them. Some utility workers were setting a pole so of course we needed to record them for posterity and the guys up north. Wayne noticed the pole was off plumb after it was set but I am fairly certain plumb was not a priority.
Written 1/27/04(Tues.)
We were feeling sorry for all of you up north as we took our evening walk in short sleeved shirts and shorts. We are always aware of weather in other parts of the country. Those cold fronts do eventually make it down here and then we have daytime temps in the 60’s and nighttime temps in the 40’s.
I played golf with Butch last Sunday. It had been awhile since I last played and I played very well! It was the ShortShot Course and I tied Butch with a 66 on 18 holes. I beat him by 3 strokes on the front 9 and then we reversed that scenario on the back 9. It is always fun when it seems easy but unfortunately it is impossible for me to ‘make’ that happen.
Monday was the golf day for the guys. I haven’t heard scores but last night he said his plans were to go biking with me Wednesday so his frustration level must be high.
My friend Connie and her family have been in Florida this past week. I checked the weather there and it should have been a good week for them. She says the weather is always rainy when they take a vacation and if she had come to South Texas instead of Florida she would have been right!
Full day yesterday. We rode 10 miles with the bike group. I tried something new for breakfast-machado and egg taco. Machado is like dried beef but not the dried beef we are familiar with; it is more like dried, shredded roast beef. Very tasty and I would not hesitate to order it again.
Nearly forgot to mention Tuesday. We went to Padre with Shipley’s and the other Brookers and spent the day beachcombing. Looked for sea glass, which is broken bits of glass that has been eroded by wind, sand and water. The edges are smooth and it has a frosted look. Bert found some but the rest of us were left looking. ;-) It was fun to look for it though. We enjoyed a pleasant day at the beach and I slept like a sack of sand that night.
See photos posted on Webshots.
After biking yesterday we went to Mexico. We wandered, shopped and made the annual purchases of medicine, vanilla and alcohol. Two little girls pointed to my camera so I snapped a photo of them. Some utility workers were setting a pole so of course we needed to record them for posterity and the guys up north. Wayne noticed the pole was off plumb after it was set but I am fairly certain plumb was not a priority.
Written 1/27/04(Tues.)
We were feeling sorry for all of you up north as we took our evening walk in short sleeved shirts and shorts. We are always aware of weather in other parts of the country. Those cold fronts do eventually make it down here and then we have daytime temps in the 60’s and nighttime temps in the 40’s.
I played golf with Butch last Sunday. It had been awhile since I last played and I played very well! It was the ShortShot Course and I tied Butch with a 66 on 18 holes. I beat him by 3 strokes on the front 9 and then we reversed that scenario on the back 9. It is always fun when it seems easy but unfortunately it is impossible for me to ‘make’ that happen.
Monday was the golf day for the guys. I haven’t heard scores but last night he said his plans were to go biking with me Wednesday so his frustration level must be high.
My friend Connie and her family have been in Florida this past week. I checked the weather there and it should have been a good week for them. She says the weather is always rainy when they take a vacation and if she had come to South Texas instead of Florida she would have been right!
Sunday, January 25
Written Sunday, January 25, 2004
This past week has been cool and rainy so we have been doing indoor activities. We have still managed to get 3 miles of walking in every day and I was able to go on the Wednesday bike ride.
We had a dog incident on the bike ride that impressed me. Tuffy is our leader. He chooses the route and takes care of obstacles or problems as they present themselves. On the ride 3 German shepards and one mixed breed dog came charging out of a gate. Tuffy stopped and got off his bike confronted the dogs all the while misting the air with ammonia. Those dogs put on the brakes and backed right off. He also sprayed the ground as we approached places he knew that dogs resided. I liked the route that Tuffy chose because it was more rural. We did get sprinkled on a bit when we were closer to home but it was warm enough to not be a problem.
On Thursday we took Bert and Wayne to Ropa Usada (used clothing). It is fun to watch faces when they see it for the first time. On the way home we stopped at a Jukebox museum. Some were so old that the song selections were handwritten and some were even older than that! Jukeboxes have been around for a very long time.
On Friday we enjoyed the meal and music presented by the McAllen high school music department. They have some very talented kids. There was an English teacher seated at our table and we had some interesting conversation with her. She was a Michigan native married to a Minnesota man but now living in McAllen. She said that one Sunday she and her husband were trimming some lemon and orange trees in their yard. She was picking up branches when she felt like her little finger was on fire. She said the pain was excruciating. She went inside and washed her hands but it didn’t help. Her hand and arm were getting numb all the while hurting like crazy. Frightened and hurting she asked her husband to take her to the emergency room. She was lucky enough to get a doctor who knew what it was right away. She had made contact with a fuzzy worm called an Asp. It is furry and looks like a fuzzy caterpillar or wooly worm we have up north but this one has a tapered tail. It is a little like a porcupine in that when contacted it injects spiny things into your skin with histimine. There is nothing that can be done about the pain and it takes 4 or 5 days to go away. If this happens to you, you should take tape and place it over the site and pull to remove the spiny things. So if we see a fuzzy caterpillar down here I will take care not to touch it.
Yesterday Bill and Jo hosted a gathering. Marlene and Bernard came over from Harlingen. Bert and Wayne were there too along with us. We had a good time and a good meal. Maggie entertained us all royally by chasing her ball around the back of the pickup. She does this in an absolute frenzy.
This past week has been cool and rainy so we have been doing indoor activities. We have still managed to get 3 miles of walking in every day and I was able to go on the Wednesday bike ride.
We had a dog incident on the bike ride that impressed me. Tuffy is our leader. He chooses the route and takes care of obstacles or problems as they present themselves. On the ride 3 German shepards and one mixed breed dog came charging out of a gate. Tuffy stopped and got off his bike confronted the dogs all the while misting the air with ammonia. Those dogs put on the brakes and backed right off. He also sprayed the ground as we approached places he knew that dogs resided. I liked the route that Tuffy chose because it was more rural. We did get sprinkled on a bit when we were closer to home but it was warm enough to not be a problem.
On Thursday we took Bert and Wayne to Ropa Usada (used clothing). It is fun to watch faces when they see it for the first time. On the way home we stopped at a Jukebox museum. Some were so old that the song selections were handwritten and some were even older than that! Jukeboxes have been around for a very long time.
On Friday we enjoyed the meal and music presented by the McAllen high school music department. They have some very talented kids. There was an English teacher seated at our table and we had some interesting conversation with her. She was a Michigan native married to a Minnesota man but now living in McAllen. She said that one Sunday she and her husband were trimming some lemon and orange trees in their yard. She was picking up branches when she felt like her little finger was on fire. She said the pain was excruciating. She went inside and washed her hands but it didn’t help. Her hand and arm were getting numb all the while hurting like crazy. Frightened and hurting she asked her husband to take her to the emergency room. She was lucky enough to get a doctor who knew what it was right away. She had made contact with a fuzzy worm called an Asp. It is furry and looks like a fuzzy caterpillar or wooly worm we have up north but this one has a tapered tail. It is a little like a porcupine in that when contacted it injects spiny things into your skin with histimine. There is nothing that can be done about the pain and it takes 4 or 5 days to go away. If this happens to you, you should take tape and place it over the site and pull to remove the spiny things. So if we see a fuzzy caterpillar down here I will take care not to touch it.
Yesterday Bill and Jo hosted a gathering. Marlene and Bernard came over from Harlingen. Bert and Wayne were there too along with us. We had a good time and a good meal. Maggie entertained us all royally by chasing her ball around the back of the pickup. She does this in an absolute frenzy.
Written Sunday, January 25, 2004
This past week has been cool and rainy so we have been doing indoor activities. We have still managed to get 3 miles of walking in every day and I was able to go on the Wednesday bike ride.
We had a dog incident on the bike ride that impressed me. Tuffy is our leader. He chooses the route and takes care of obstacles or problems as they present themselves. On the ride 3 German shepherds and one mixed breed dog came charging out of a gate. Tuffy stopped and got off his bike confronted the dogs all the while misting the air with ammonia. Those dogs put on the brakes and backed right off. He also sprayed the ground as we approached places he knew that dogs resided. I liked the route that Tuffy chose because it was more rural. We did get sprinkled on a bit when we were closer to home but it was warm enough to not be a problem.
On Thursday we took Bert and Wayne to Ropa Usada (used clothing). It is fun to watch faces when they see it for the first time. On the way home we stopped at a Jukebox museum. Some were so old that the song selections were handwritten and some were even older than that! Jukeboxes have been around for a very long time.
On Friday we enjoyed the meal and music presented by the McAllen high school music department. They have some very talented kids. There was an English teacher seated at our table and we had some interesting conversation with her. She was a Michigan native married to a Minnesota man but now living in McAllen. She said that one Sunday she and her husband were trimming some lemon and orange trees in their yard. She was picking up branches when she felt like her little finger was on fire. She said the pain was excruciating. She went inside and washed her hands but it didn't help. Her hand and arm were getting numb all the while hurting like crazy. Frightened and hurting she asked her husband to take her to the emergency room. She was lucky enough to get a doctor who knew what it was right away. She had made contact with a fuzzy worm called an Asp Caterpillars">Asp. It is furry and looks like a fuzzy caterpillar or wooly worm we have up north but this one has a tapered tail. It is a little like a porcupine in that when contacted it injects spiny things into your skin with histimine. There is nothing that can be done about the pain and it takes 4 or 5 days to go away. If this happens to you, you should take tape and place it over the site and pull to remove the spiny things. So if we see a fuzzy caterpillar down here I will take care not to touch it.
Yesterday Bill and Jo hosted a gathering. Marlene and Bernard came over from Harlingen. Bert and Wayne were there too along with us. We had a good time and a good meal. Maggie entertained us all royally by chasing her ball around the back of the pickup. She does this in an absolute frenzy.
This past week has been cool and rainy so we have been doing indoor activities. We have still managed to get 3 miles of walking in every day and I was able to go on the Wednesday bike ride.
We had a dog incident on the bike ride that impressed me. Tuffy is our leader. He chooses the route and takes care of obstacles or problems as they present themselves. On the ride 3 German shepherds and one mixed breed dog came charging out of a gate. Tuffy stopped and got off his bike confronted the dogs all the while misting the air with ammonia. Those dogs put on the brakes and backed right off. He also sprayed the ground as we approached places he knew that dogs resided. I liked the route that Tuffy chose because it was more rural. We did get sprinkled on a bit when we were closer to home but it was warm enough to not be a problem.
On Thursday we took Bert and Wayne to Ropa Usada (used clothing). It is fun to watch faces when they see it for the first time. On the way home we stopped at a Jukebox museum. Some were so old that the song selections were handwritten and some were even older than that! Jukeboxes have been around for a very long time.
On Friday we enjoyed the meal and music presented by the McAllen high school music department. They have some very talented kids. There was an English teacher seated at our table and we had some interesting conversation with her. She was a Michigan native married to a Minnesota man but now living in McAllen. She said that one Sunday she and her husband were trimming some lemon and orange trees in their yard. She was picking up branches when she felt like her little finger was on fire. She said the pain was excruciating. She went inside and washed her hands but it didn't help. Her hand and arm were getting numb all the while hurting like crazy. Frightened and hurting she asked her husband to take her to the emergency room. She was lucky enough to get a doctor who knew what it was right away. She had made contact with a fuzzy worm called an Asp Caterpillars">Asp. It is furry and looks like a fuzzy caterpillar or wooly worm we have up north but this one has a tapered tail. It is a little like a porcupine in that when contacted it injects spiny things into your skin with histimine. There is nothing that can be done about the pain and it takes 4 or 5 days to go away. If this happens to you, you should take tape and place it over the site and pull to remove the spiny things. So if we see a fuzzy caterpillar down here I will take care not to touch it.
Yesterday Bill and Jo hosted a gathering. Marlene and Bernard came over from Harlingen. Bert and Wayne were there too along with us. We had a good time and a good meal. Maggie entertained us all royally by chasing her ball around the back of the pickup. She does this in an absolute frenzy.
Tuesday, January 20
Written Tuesday, January 20, 2004
We are creatures of habit. It seems that once settled we fall into the same routine, doing the same things over and over. That doesn’t mean there is nothing new to write about but it does mean it might take a bit of thought rambling to come up with something unique.
Recently I have been on tech support with 7 computers. Most of that took place in one day. One of the local ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) changed their access number and that was three of the computers. One lost their folder list- that was an easy one. One had Blaster worm and we got rid of that. One had printer problems and I wasn’t much help there. One is an older computer with Windows 95 that is corrupted. I might try loading Win 98 instead but I am not sure I have a Win 98 CD. That would be new territory for me. I have seen it done but never done it myself.
Some of the things I have used the Internet for lately using good ol’ Google is looking up immigration laws and the number allowed in every year (700,000); Migraine headache triggers and new developments in varicose vein treatments. A wealth of information resides in this little black box!
Friday we have tickets for a Dinner Musical Theater put on by one of the McAllen High School Music Department. Full report later.
The kite days on Padre are coming up soon too.
We are creatures of habit. It seems that once settled we fall into the same routine, doing the same things over and over. That doesn’t mean there is nothing new to write about but it does mean it might take a bit of thought rambling to come up with something unique.
Recently I have been on tech support with 7 computers. Most of that took place in one day. One of the local ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) changed their access number and that was three of the computers. One lost their folder list- that was an easy one. One had Blaster worm and we got rid of that. One had printer problems and I wasn’t much help there. One is an older computer with Windows 95 that is corrupted. I might try loading Win 98 instead but I am not sure I have a Win 98 CD. That would be new territory for me. I have seen it done but never done it myself.
Some of the things I have used the Internet for lately using good ol’ Google is looking up immigration laws and the number allowed in every year (700,000); Migraine headache triggers and new developments in varicose vein treatments. A wealth of information resides in this little black box!
Friday we have tickets for a Dinner Musical Theater put on by one of the McAllen High School Music Department. Full report later.
The kite days on Padre are coming up soon too.
Thursday, January 15
Written Wednesday, January 14, 2004 too.
After the tests we went south with Bill & Jo and since we can’t go very far south without crossing the border that is what we did. It hasn’t changed much from years passed. We do get border-crossing reports on the news and the length of time it is taking. For Progresso it has been no delay. We enjoyed a nacho plate at Garcia’s over the Canada Store (pronounced ka-nah-duh). It is the first time I have eaten in Mexico that I enjoyed the food. I didn’t partake of the peppers though.
It was finally warm enough to go on a bike ride. We biked 8 miles and I could have gone much farther but it was probably smart to hold it down for the first time out. I did put on a few extra miles within the park. There are new pictures at My Webshots.
After the tests we went south with Bill & Jo and since we can’t go very far south without crossing the border that is what we did. It hasn’t changed much from years passed. We do get border-crossing reports on the news and the length of time it is taking. For Progresso it has been no delay. We enjoyed a nacho plate at Garcia’s over the Canada Store (pronounced ka-nah-duh). It is the first time I have eaten in Mexico that I enjoyed the food. I didn’t partake of the peppers though.
It was finally warm enough to go on a bike ride. We biked 8 miles and I could have gone much farther but it was probably smart to hold it down for the first time out. I did put on a few extra miles within the park. There are new pictures at My Webshots.
Wednesday, January 14
Written Monday, January 12th.
The day zips by really fast, especially when Butch is playing golf and not standing over me saying, ”What are we doing now?” ;-)
The day started off bright, sunny and calm. I downloaded a new book from www.audible.com to listen to while I went on a walk. Stopped at Bill & Jo’s and we booked a tour of King Ranch for February 3rd.
I paid a bill using www.mycheckfree.com. It happened to be my Sam’s Club bill but that is how I pay most of them. I also got caught up on email, did the puzzle from www.jigzone.com. I posted one email from Gary about turning blue. I emailed him and advised him to use either salt or vinegar to set the dye in his shirt. I registered about 5 books at www.bookcrossing.com. I put one in the phone booth and one in the laundry room. Book crossings is a catch and release program for books and an excellent way to keep books in circulation and the weight down in the motor home.;-)
In this particular blog you have been told about several websites that I use all the time. You should be able to click on any of the highlighted sites and be taken to that particular website. Enjoy!
The day zips by really fast, especially when Butch is playing golf and not standing over me saying, ”What are we doing now?” ;-)
The day started off bright, sunny and calm. I downloaded a new book from www.audible.com to listen to while I went on a walk. Stopped at Bill & Jo’s and we booked a tour of King Ranch for February 3rd.
I paid a bill using www.mycheckfree.com. It happened to be my Sam’s Club bill but that is how I pay most of them. I also got caught up on email, did the puzzle from www.jigzone.com. I posted one email from Gary about turning blue. I emailed him and advised him to use either salt or vinegar to set the dye in his shirt. I registered about 5 books at www.bookcrossing.com. I put one in the phone booth and one in the laundry room. Book crossings is a catch and release program for books and an excellent way to keep books in circulation and the weight down in the motor home.;-)
In this particular blog you have been told about several websites that I use all the time. You should be able to click on any of the highlighted sites and be taken to that particular website. Enjoy!
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