Audio Books

 
How do we do audio books?
I get our audio books from www.audible.com or www.amazon.com. Neither are cheap but they sure make the miles go faster or they are a great alternative to bad TV. I have been a fan of Audible.com for many years. The way to make it cheaper is to join one of their plans. I am currently in a 2 book a month plan for $20 some dollars. I will stay in it for awhile until we get an accumulation of books we haven't listened to and then I will cancel. There isn't any contract so you can jump in or out as you want. I transfer the books to our Mp3 player and then we can listen to them in the car or motorhome by using an adapter. Newer cars might have the connections needed and you wouldn't need an adapter. The adapters are not expensive.

You can also go to the library to get audio books. Cracker Barrel also has an audio book loan program. You pick up a book at one Cracker Barrel and when finished drop it off at another.

Some people have trouble adjusting to listening to audio books and it can take a bit of practice. We always turn it off when we go through cities and construction zones.

It is worth the work to get started!

My Tulips

Thanks Keri!! Since this is the only way I will be enjoying my tulips this season I am so glad she has sent me the picture. Tulips in March in Iowa! Who would ever believe that would happen?!!

Run, Run, Run!

I have been extremely busy with park business this past month trying to get some things done before we take off mid April. Some of it has been spinning my wheels in frustration and I plan to remember those times when the nominating committee comes around to ask about re-election. Being president has been too much like a full time job of late. I am now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and it looks mighty fine.

We want to get down to Padre again before we leave and maybe do some other touristy things as well.

Butch washed the roof of our little home yesterday and halfway through a cane field burn started giving off what we call "Texas Snow", the black charred bits of cane leaf that drift wherever the wind takes it. And the wind took it onto a freshly washed roof.  Butch said,"&*%  *!%* so and so's. " Or something like that. He waited a bit for it to quit snowing and then resumed his work. So he too has had a bit of frustration.
I also have some cleaning I want to get done in the next couple of weeks before departure. I have had some time to work on bracelets. I have done 3 chunky's in the past week and that tells you two things; there is nothing on TV to watch and I do get to sit down come evening. We are still listening to audio books, still listening to "Catching Fire"  and look forward to "Mockingjay" , the second and third books of  "The Hunger Games " trilogy.
Later...

Two lives

We Winter Texans all have essentially two lives. Our summers are very different from our winters. For some it is busier in the summer when they return to their northern climes. For me it is the opposite and I intend to keep it that way. Someone asked me if I planned to "get involved" in our old hometown. The answer is no if it means going to meetings and taking on obligations. Interested? Yes. Involved? No. 12 months of involvement is too many. The season in Texas ends April 1st. I will be helping wrap up getting the hall ready for its summer rest later this week and getting loose ends taken care of and then I am free. My time can once again be my own. I am very ready for that. You might be happy to know that the blog will be more active when I have time to mull over things to share with you.
Till next time...

The Hunger Games

Butch and I listened to The Hunger Games (TV is LOUSY) and then tonight we went to the movie. It was excellent. They followed the book as closely as possible. There were times when I thought of details I was glad I knew from the book that enhanced the movie. It would be very beneficial to read the book first. We are now listening to the second book in the trilogy Catching Fire.

Apps For Your Kindle Fire

 For the friends of mine who have a Kindle Fire and maybe for me in the future!
Click on link:

Apps For Your Kindle Fire

Senior Moments- Brain Farts

And here is  one we seniors can all relate to

http://www.youtube.com/embed/9nndS22Qda0?rel=0

Elise Videos from Grandpa Gary

Elise "coloring": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHlGfUdd41M


Elise with Hat holder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A73XngHw4kc


In the park -
Sliding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSo4OdFqCa4


Swinging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlltX7FMx4Y


On Horsey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDwTVSZuByU

Peggy gets caught...

reading!!

Costco and Cheddars

Donn and Peggy are Costco members and the Rio Grande Valley now has their first one so she invited us to go with her to have a look-see. And then we went to Pecan Bill's favorite restaurant which is Cheddars. It was very good and I am sure it will not be our last visit.

Classmate Patti Miller

Patti Miller is a classmate of mine...way back when. She has always been an activist and she still is. This is my small way of helping her so have a look at what moves her heart.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/280232377/return-to-freedom-summer-passing-the-torch

Alfred E. Neuman?

This local sports announcer reminds us of Alfred. What do you think? His name is Joel Villanueva on Channel 5. Excellent voice.

Kay S. says: Alfred E. Neuman will work, but every time I see him on TV I think of Alfalfa.

Too Busy Day

Most of my day involved my job as president and it was stressful  and boring to most of you and not much fun to me but putting that aside Butch fielded a phone call to me from my doctors nurse who needed to talk to me and she finally did reach me. It seems a company called Select RX faxed my doctor saying I had requested a back brace and they needed her okay. Since my doctor and I had not discussed a problem with my back she was checking with me to see if this was true. Of course it was not true and I informed her nurse of that. But how many times is a similar situation mishandled with someone receiving a back brace they do not need and Medicare paying someone committing fraud.
It was just one of those days as the song goes.
My job as president is suspended on April 1st and does not resume until November 1st so I can see the end of the tunnel and it is looking very good. wink, wink.
Back with ya'all very soon.

Tulips!!

Keri sent me a picture of MY tulips in MY front yard in IOWA in MARCH!! Can you believe it? They will be bloomed and long gone before we get there.

No envy from those who stayed north this year. It is only a few degrees cooler up there than it is here in sunny South Texas.

Thanks for the picture, Keri. How many of your perennials have shown themselves? 

Gonzales Burgers

This picture is of the place where we purchase Gonzales burgers. It is located on Silver Ave. in Donna but as you can see there is NO sign. Everyone learns where it is. 

You place your order, pay for it and they give you a number.

Then you wait 45 minutes to an hour for them to cook it.

This line is waiting to order.

Our table mates were from Siesta Village and had their food before we did. They shared.

I decided to give them a sign! This is a figment of my imagination.

Butch and I share a sandwich. I cut off 1/3 of it and that is more than enough for me. We skipped supper!

It's been awhile...

It has been awhile as it was pointed out to me yesterday. I said I know the park blog has been getting all the attention. It will not be long until the official season will be over for the winter Texans and I will have some spare time on my hands. That will be good and I am ready.
In about 45 minutes I will be headed to Allen Hall to set up the equipment needed for a presentation by the Border Patrol. They no longer give tours of their local facilities for security reasons. It should be good and I will report on it ASAP.
After the presentation I believe the Gordon's, the Stilson's and we Brooker's are going to Gonzales Burgers for lunch. Need to check on that...
An electrician from Harlingen is supposed to be giving me an estimate to upgrade the electric in Allen Hall. He was supposed to be here yesterday afternoon. I figure he will call while we are at Gonzales Burgers.:-(
And that is close to what it has been like lately.
More later...

Elise this weekend

Grandpa Gary and Grandma Susan getting their Elise time. 

Downstairs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w10jBEGwBvA

Dress Up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXe7OvX4Wjo

Elise Silly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8-o5-SY6jE

Walk a mile in Grandma's shoes

Love the sound of clickety clack!

For Goodness Sake!!!

Where have I been? Well if you check out the Magnolia News Blog you will definitely know. But yesterday Donn, Peggy, Butch and I went to Mexico. Just little old Progreso. Really it is not much like being in Mexico at all. We see many more faces that look like us, old and wrinkled, than we do guys in military gear with guns strapped on their backs. Actually the military presence of years past is no longer evident. I do not know where they went. We did hear they were on the south edge of town at one time but now they say they are not there either. Is it safe to go down there? Probably not. But what we are doing is taking the chance nothing will happen in the few hours we are there and having faith that a higher power will keep us safe. So far it has worked.
While we were there we loaded up on all we will need so another trip will not be necessary and I did pick up the items Marlene Kelley and Jason Brooker asked me to get.
We also stopped at Garcia's for Pancho's and they tasted as good as ever.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me...it started off with a knock on the door and they needed two more players for shuffleboard. It has been a very long time since I have played but I agreed. Near the end of that Kay V. and Irma looked me up because they found a projector. That statement is at the end of a very long story. Kay Voss has been trying to line up a tour of the Border Patrol facility for three years. It is a very popular choice for tours and it was always full but this year she contacted them as soon as she arrived and lined one up for the fall of 2012. They called her on Wednesday and informed her that tours were no longer possible under any circumstances but they would come to the park for a presentation on the 16th at 9:00 AM but they would need a projection screen( we have) a laptop computer (we have) Speakers/ sound system (we have) and a projector(do NOT have). Kay and Irma located a projector so it is on. I did have to take my computer to Allen Hall and hook everything up to make sure it all worked and it does. That was exciting.

Then we went to Mexico. On the way home we stopped by the park where the guy resides who sells the PVC pipe cranes and bought 4. I am adding some of this info because I know the right people read it and will get the message. wink, wink.
Caught a quick nap after we returned and then had to head to the pool hall for the Mixed in-Park Pool league. Last night for that. My partner, Don Harper and I had a very good time playing but we were never in the running for a prize. Butch and his partner, Dorral Guzman, probably had a much better chance but it did not work out for them either.

Whew!! I think I am a little bit up to date.
In about 45 minutes I must head to the little hall for computer class so till next time...

First Week in March 2012

Our friend Everett Beebe is now home and doing well. I understand he had a bit of an emergency due to an allergic reaction to medicine but for the most part he is on the road to recovery. It will be good to see him when we return this spring.
The first week in March in Magnolia Park is busy, hectic and sometimes traumatic. For one thing the election takes place and it is when the officers and board members, I being one of them, find out if their actions of the previous year have met with the approval of our peers. No one can ever have a 100% approval rating and it would be most unrealistic to ever think that was possible. I have been re-elected for another one year term so I have been awarded a pat on the back for subjecting myself to one more year at the helm. It is a part of the process I am always glad to see behind me.
Today is my birthday and I have had special greetings from many directions. It has been a happy one. Two of my birthdays were memorable ones. When I was 8 or 9 I brought a bunch of kids home from school with me in a blizzard for a birthday party my mother knew nothing about. She rose to the occasion. She was good about that sort of emergency. Another birthday of note was when we lived in Denison IA and my birthday happened to be a warm one-much like today in Iowa at about 60 degrees. I decided to wash sheets and hang them on the line. A naughty little neighbor boy painted them with mud.
As people now start heading home things will take on a slower pace here so perhaps I can be more faithful with my posts.
Till next time...

And the beat goes on...

The cold is better. Feeling very much back to normal and that is a good thing. Our friend Everett is getting better. He has all the tubes out and is talking, something that Everett enjoys very much. He and Butch share that trait.
My house still needs cleaned but I will get to it one of these fine days..or not. I am still making bracelets. The latest one is for an auction. I will post a picture of it later.
Jason tells us we are in for bad weather here on Tuesday and when I asked how he came to this conclusion he said because they are supposed to be having 60 degree weather in Iowa. I hope he is wrong about OUR weather. I do remember one birthday of mine ( March 6th) when we lived in Denison Iowa and the weather was so nice that I washed sheets and hung them outside to dry. And then the neighbor boy put mud all over them. I was incensed!! But it did make that birthday a memorable one.
We have been here long enough for Butch to feel a bit bored. He is anxious to get back to Iowa and work on the house. Of course we know the weather up there could get quite ugly yet so he will just have to get over it.
Till next time...