Surpised!

Long time friends Donn and Peggy Gordon from Carson City NV emailed us from San Antonio and said they were headed our way. What a surprise! They are staying on South Padre Island the lucky ducks! They arrived yesterday so Butch and I headed on down to see them. We ate at Pirate's Landing in Port Isabel and most of you know by now that is one of my favorite places to eat...that and Dirty Al's. Butch, not being fond of seafood, we chose Pirate's Landing this time. More non-seafood choices there. He is especially partial to their Chicken Fajita. It is great to see Donn and Peggy and we will be doing as many tourist things as we can cram in a few days. Tomorrow we will go to Mexico...the next day is a birthday party for the many friends we have with March birthdays...me included and Sunday is free as yet but I am sure we will do something.
I think they got sick of winter. Anybody else up there thinking that way?

Not much

Not much going on...taking it easy and fully recovering. The tree pollen count is very high as the leaves are budding out. The parrots sure like those buds and stop for a snack usually morning and evening.
I had fun yesterday working on a couple of computers. One was a simple problem. It was a new Dell completely underpowered. Doubled the memory and made a world of difference. Vista takes 1 GB to even start up in a timely manner so don't buy a new one with Vista containing less than that amount of RAM. The other problem proved to be a bit trickier. Another new Dell laptop and the windows updates would not install. There were seven to install and I managed to get 4 but the other 3 would not go. Investigating on the net said to start into regedit and I am not confident enough to do that so I had to advise they call Dell Tech support. First time I have had to tell someone that this season.
Here is a little cartoon for your added enjoyment.

All Better Now

Okay, enough of the sick talk. I would say I probably had the flu and no, I did not get a flu shot this year. Next year I will. I am much better now in fact very close to normal. Glad it is all behind me. Tonight I am playing in the park pool event and tomorrow is computer class as usual. I am up for it!!

Butch is home...

He came home early after driving all night. And he came home to a sick wife. I became sick Saturday night and I am now beginning to feel somewhat normal...this is Wednesday. I have hopes of being back up to speed very soon but there haven't been any additions to the blog primarily due to illness. In fact a nap is sounding very good right now....

Butch will be...

Butch will be on the road bright and early Saturday morning. Friends Terry and Lisa have sold their house in Canyon Lake TX and will be heading home to take care of that so they are consequently leaving a day earlier than planned. I think the three of them are ready to head south although I am sure they enjoyed their stay thoroughly. I am ready for the old guy to get back home so we can resume our life together. It feels a bit like my right arm has been missing. I will be glad to get it back!! The cat misses him as well.
I have many friends in the park and they have all made sure I haven't wanted for anything while he was gone and I sure appreciate everything that has been done for me.
Be sure to check the Magnolia blog too for things of interest. The link is on this page too.

Digital Converter Box for TV

Will you be needing one?

This is the link to apply for the coupon for the digital converter box. You are allowed two coupons.

www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html.

To the Casino!!

Hontas, Yunita, Butch, Terry and Lisa went to Central City CO to gamble a bit. There isn't any TV at Snow Mountain Ranch which pushes you to find other pursuits of happiness!

The Weather Channel Desktop

The Weather Channel desktop is what I use to stay on top of the weather no matter where we are. I change the location settings as we move from place to place. Right now we are set for Donna Texas of course. A foghorn or thunder sound is what I hear when an alert is sounded. This morning we have a fog alert.
It is a free download and you can find it here.

The Weather Channel Desktop download

Skier Butch

Butch called a few days ago and told me he had been told it was wise to either buy or rent a helmet. He has skied many other years without one but recently we had read of a snowboarder at Breckinridge who had died and he was wearing a helmet! Snowboarding is dangerous at best!! So Butch bought a helmet. Last night he called and told me he had a bad fall and credited the helmet with saving him from far more serious injury. He is fine but he said it was indeed a bad incident.


Gary and Jason are there with Butch now and for the next couple of days. I am sure they are having a good time.

I am not lonely. I simply have not had time to even think about being lonely. Sundays and Thursdays are my light duty days the rest are as full as I care to have them. Make no mistake, I am having fun doing what I want to do.

Traveler IQ

Have fun with the Traveler IQ

http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq

Fuel Woes

Fuel Price Woes – some helpful hints!

Our RVs might not move down the road as often as we’d like, but we feel your pain. Here are some hints about maximizing your fuel efficiency and fuel-related web links.

The experts we consulted all agree that getting back to the basics of good vehicle maintenance is key to controlling the gas mileage your RV or tow vehicle achieves.

Tires: Good tread, along with inflation pressure that is appropriate to the vehicle and road conditions, is very important.

Filters: Be vigilant about the cleanliness of your air and fuel filters.

Speed: Slow and steady wins the gas mileage race. Don’t rush to get up to speed. Make your cruising speed slower than you might have in the past because 55-60 mph can save you some money. The fueleconomy.gov website says, “… you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.”

Reduce idling time; idling gets 0 mpg.

Use your cruise control when you can; it’s more reliable at maintaining a steady speed than your foot!

Use a cash-back rewards credit card or gas card to purchase fuel. Every little bit helps.

This website, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/, is really handy. Just click on the state you’re wondering about and information about fuel prices and trends in that state is readily available.

The gas buddy website, http://www.gasbuddy.com/, includes the Canadian provinces.

Kite Festival

8th South Padre Kite Festival

Dandy Dog Dude


Unique hairdo on an old guy

Ready to Fly

From Lisa Linder at Snow Mountain Ranch

Hopi Campground where Butch and I worked all summer

Lisa makes an angel


Today it is -12but it is beautiful.

The first picture is a cabin here at SMR, the second picture is Hopi campground with the continental divide in the background. The rest are the "perfect" snow angel!!!!

Today Terry and I went walking all over the place and we went ICE SKATING. Believe it or not, no broken bones to report. We were going to cross country ski, but there was not instructors. And yes, we did let go of the rails when we were ice skating, and NO FALLS!!!!

Tonight SWIM AREOBICS for me. Last night when I left the swimming pool and walked to the truck my hair froze - for real.

-12 is like -27. But, it is so much fun.

Love,

Lisa

P.S. we saw a fox today basking in the sun, but, by the time I turned on the camera he disappeared into his hole. but, I will be presistent and get a picture of him to send.

Here is Butch!!

This is Butch on the webcam at SMR. He called me and told me he was in the area and I had to keep watching. It takes a new picture every 5 minutes and it takes awhile before it shows up on the website. Looks like a beautiful day at SMR.

Shipley's Fish Fry

Sunday before Butch left we went to Bert and Wayne Shipley's annual fish fry. Everything was very delicious and you can see that the Brooker's were clustered up and laughing. Pictured are Bill, Bernard, Mark, Marlene and Jo.

Butch is here...

This is a webcam shot from yesterday and this is where Butch is staying. If you would like to see webcam shots from there click on the link on the right.

For the checkers

I know I am behind! I have pictures to post and things to tell you so check in later today for this morning I am going biking and when I get back I am making the Crockpot Tequila Pie for supper so after that perhaps I can get caught up with the blogs.
Later!!

Hectic Day

The new park directories went on sale today so I had to be up at the hall early before coffee time to sell them. Then being a member of Warblers singing group I was scheduled to sing at 9:30 when coffee hour started. Then there were last minute sales before leaving for the golf course that I am now in charge of since Butch is in Colorado. Shot a 38 for 9 holes ...the best score I have had this year. Came home... took a twenty minute nap ...went to the neighbors for a small gathering ...drank a Bailey's...came home and burnt my supper. Too much Bailey's!! Sitting here sweating...probably from the Baileys but then it is still 76 degrees tonight. Jason called earlier from Boone IA and told me to go outside and face north and blow. Hovering around zero up there.
Butch called too. He said he had made it to Snow Mountain Ranch and was getting settled into his room. Lucky guy! So far he doesn't have any roommates. That could change at any time though. He said he was puffing pretty good going up three flights of stairs to his room. Altitude.
That is it for now. I am ready to take a break and let the Bailey's wear off!

Animal Rescue

Sister Myrla does animal rescue. Her "new" cat named Church has it better than he used to!
Hewy loves Church by the way.

Churches hut has layers of blankets and plastic.