Day by Day

This week passed by very fast, seems like as we get closer to leaving it seems to do that. About the only thing that we did differently this week was take in a movie, The Kings Speech. We both thought it was very good, which surprised me, as it was not Chucks kind of movie. Thought he might catch a nap but he didn’t. We also had a Red Hat lunch in the park, and the entertainment was Auntie Kreamsaugen. She was very funny, the family puts on a show in the Jasper Theater in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Defiantly worth checking out if ever in that part of the world. Quite a large group of Red Hatters, almost 200, think everyone had a good time. Know that I did. Also been putting together our taxes, which is not hard to do, using Turbo tax, can even get away with the free edition. But glad to get it out of the way.

The weather has turned fairly hot, the other day actually hit 96, too early for that. Thankfully it was only one day. Kind of sad though the freeze we had for a few days last month killed all the flowers, so unlike the last few years we have no bougainvillea, or anything else. But the blue bonnets are starting to show there flowers, so it won’t be long.

Saturdays are busy days here, first breakfast at the club house, then duplicate bridge, Chuck and I play together, after, usually we run to the flea market, for fruits and veggies, then pegs and jokers tonight. Anything to keep us off the streets. Chuck had an accident free round of golf yesterday, yippee! That about does it for another week, thanks for looking in on us, know that we sound like we are in a boring rut, but actually having a great time, spending our kids inheritance.

Life is Good

Accidental Golf

Anyone know where I can get one of these outfits? Seems like Chuck needs one of these for when he plays golf. Friday he got hit with a golf ball, luckily his arm was across his chest, so it took the blow. Huge black and blue area. Then Sunday he is out again, and manages to get tangled in some weeds, brush, shoe laces, and falls on his face. Fat lip, skinned knees, just to name a few of the booboo’s. Glad that both incidents had plenty of witnesses or I could lose a case of spousal abuse.

,

An A-OK Week

That about says it all.  All Chucks tests turned out fine, which was a big relief.  So glad that we are past the “what if” stage, and can at least start thinking of making some summer plans.  Do not think they will include the Escapees Rally though, and that makes us sad, especially since our friends, Bob & Molly have taken on the job as head cat herders, but we know that a lot of our friends that will be there supporting them.  Maybe we can send some proxy stand-ins. 

This week has literally flown by, what with golf, bridge, cards, lunch in Mexico, seems like every day was full.  Today we are having a get together wishing some new friends, Dave & Bev, bon voyage/farewell.  They are leaving for a cruise through the Panama Canal, and then returning to Iowa.  It was their first year here and they purchased a park model, so looks like they will be back next year.  We are storing our golf cart in their car port, which keeps us from having come up with other plans for it.  And if for some reason we don’t make it back next year, they will have a cart to use, works for us.

Our park has a big party celebrating St Patrick’s Day, and after that it tends to empty out fairly fast over the next month.  Not sure if we will be leaving here then, but if we do we will probably not go further than either Rockport or Fredericksburg.  Do not want to make the mistake of thinking that all the weather has become spring time.  We did that the first few years, and dealt with snow.  Not leaving Texas till the middle of April.  But the way diesel is going up, we may be in trouble, been here 2 months and seen it rise 60 cents a gallon. Funny, does not seem to be a subject the media thinks relevant. Not going there, not saying another word, won’t  let them ruin my wonderful day, living in this fabulous place with marshmallow clouds and pink sky. 

Life Is Good, Life In A RV Is Even Better

Rent A Tire

Seen a store this week called Rent a Tire, maybe it is just me, but think this is about the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard of. But then maybe not. Our park had a yard sale this morning and there were some interesting items for sale. When the permanent homes sell in the park, they usually come with everything in them, which a lot of probably has been there since the first purchaser, so there are some oldies and everything was selling. Chuck was having a great time, he got rid of a few things, but for him it is all in the sale. He loved his sales job, maybe that is why he was so good at it.

We made our run to San Antonio again this week, had the truck detailed the day before we went, and we just happened to have a slight rain for a few miles, so back to square one. It sure got cold on us, temps dropped about 25 degrees in 10 miles. It had been so nice, didn’t think to check the weather for up there, so I didn’t even have a jacket with me. Spent the night on the base again, and back here the next day. We are hoping the next trip will be when we are leaving Texas, spend a few days there making sure that his hearing aids are doing good, and we will be off to……some where. Missed our parks craft sale, they have one once a month, and a big quilt show the next day. Seen pictures and there were some fabulous quilts. Bev and I played bridge in the Olympics, but did not bring home a medal…..darn.

Finally getting our doctors, dentists & tests out of the way. Chuck goes in the hospital Tuesday to see if he needs to have any stents put in. If he does they will do it right away and he will spend the night other wise he gets to come home the same day. Slowly but surely checking all the boxes.

RETIRE to WHERE?

You can retire to Phoenix , Arizona where...
1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your hiney from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
OR
You can retire to Southern California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud and Drought.
OR
You can retire to New York City where...
1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan .
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature."
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn. (Ed. Note-if you have a car).
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.
OR
You can retire to Minnesota where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup and Tabasco .
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for casserole.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter and construction.

6. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.

7. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
8. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
9. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
10. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"

OR
You can retire to the Deep South where...
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Sue, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder."
It's important to know the difference, too.
OR
You can retire to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home, so he stops at the day care center to pick up his daughter, Granola.
3. A pass does not involve football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.
OR
FINALLY You can retire to Florida where...
1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people or Q-tips.

That could be the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, too!

Now I'm off to rent a tire. Yes Sirree, Life is Good.

When It’s Cold, It’s Really Really Cold

A week of extremes, weather wise that is.  We have run the air conditioner, and the heater, both at full blast in same week.  But makes us appreciate the great weather when it returns.  Glad we only had a few days of winter, feel for all who endure months of it. 

Wednesday we met up with Mark & Dortha, and Roger & Barb for a charity show that was being put on by Bernie & Red.  They are a couple that have been coming to the valley for quite some years, and have a fabulous singing, comedy act. Red came out in this outrageous red outfit, and out of six of us we had all forgotten to bring a camera.  Tried to have a photographer e-mail me a picture, but none have arrived.  Guess I should have slipped him a picture of Ben Franklin, might have had better luck.  We left there and had dinner at Rudy’s, it was so good getting together. 

The cold weather caused the electric use to become so great that they were doing rolling black outs, unfortunately we had one hit us, but when they went to turn it back on, everything went south fast.  The electric company was out here most of the day replacing transformers.  We had heat cause the heater fan ran off the battery, and we got power back before it went dead.  We used to have rolling blackouts in California but they were in the summer when air conditioner use was high.  The cold sure hits the cactus hard, all the flowers that were getting ready to bloom are no more.  They are saying most of the oranges and grapefruit have been picked.  Although there are a lot left on the trees, but that is because the powers that be (aka government) will only allow them to meet certain quotas and rest goes to waste.

Saturday the weather was back to normal, we had been holding off doing the laundry, so took off to get that taken care of.  Later in the day was talking to Barb and we decided to give the kite festival a try, on Sunday, and we couldn’t had better weather.

Pictures of a Christmas sand sculpture in the visitor center at South Padre Island.

We took our little portable picnic table and a lunch and had a marvelous time watching kites and eating. And yes, we did have cameras.

Some were huge.

This week we have another road trip to San Antonio for Chuck to get fitted for his hearing aids.  Hope that the next visit can be worked in around the time we are leaving the valley.  Not a drive that we look forward to, okay if you are on to new adventures.