If tomorrow turns out to be the disaster today was, I quit. I mean it...I quit...RV'ing, marriage, I will even quit talking and that says alot.

We took off about 6:15 am for San Antonio for the VA doc appointment in the ortho clinic. I didn't sleep well at all last night, nothing new there. Was up at 5, and finished the last minute things to lug out to the rig. As we begin to pull out, the break line to the car starts beeping. We stop, and 10 minutes later we try again after The Great Genius looks over the system. We get on the highway and the sucker starts beeping on and off. Then just shuts up. Ok, all is a-ok. We hit construction as soon as we get on 281 in Edinburg. Sigh. I am now ready to go back to bed...so I lay down on the futon and try to get some zzzz's. We arrive in San Antonio, drop the rig off at the Walmart parking lot near the freeway and head over to the VA hospital. After two hours, we see two docs, and find out that total joint replacements are being scheduled way out to September. That's fine...will fit into our plans OK with the Branson gig. So, we find out The Genius needs to have a physical and then a dental appt to clear him for surgery. We can't schedule these until we have a date, which they will have to notify us when that will be. Grrrrr....

We head back to the rig, hook up and head for the campground, Rio Rafts RV park in New Braunfels. The bitch in the box has us on state route 281 instead of I35...talk about traffic...everyone in San Antonio is heading north on 281 and there are lights out the ying yang. After several "exchanges" I decide I will just keep my mouth shut. Nothing I say can break thru The Genius' mental wall. OK.

We finally get to the park. It is after 5 pm and when I had called the park eariler, the host told me to just take one of NINE spots numbered 60-70 (one rig was in a spot in that area...). Of course, The Genius goes the wrong way to the sites...we can't really swing into any of the spots...he wheels around again thru the campground and pulls into the spot right NEXT to the other rig. Nine empties and he takes the one right next to the other people. Then he exclaims "The hookups on on the wrong side." No shit Sherlock...how long you been driving this rig? So, we once again troll thru the campground, diesel engine letting everyone know that we are stupid people and can't pull into a simple pull thru 60 foot rv space. Like I said, Genius. He finally settles on a spot. Under trees. Nine spots and he picks the one with trees. We have Satellite TV...trees are not good. Genius then gets out to start the hook up process. He does the outside, I do all the stuff on the inside, slides, furniture placement....all the fun stuff...he deals with cords and sewer lines...fair trade in my opinion.

He climbs back into the rig and starts to move forward. This was after I asked if I could put out the living room slide....NO he shouts! I yell back OK, take a chill pill....he spits back that all he did was answer my question...yeah, like hell he did. OK, he gets out and then yells for me to start up the rig and move it back more...OK. After I do this, he comes back inside and I again ask him if I can let out the LR slide. OK says the Genius. I hit the button and all of a sudden he starts screaming at me to stop! He says in a very nasty tone, "Did you even LOOK before you started the slide?" Well, like NO, I am at the other side of the rig..." He starts yelling that the fan was in the area behind his seat and would catch in the slide. OK. I stop the slide and turn away and go into the bedroom. He is continuing his tirade of how I never take "responsibility" for my actions. Excuse me? What in the heck is he talking about. I yelled back that if he didn't shut his mouth, I was gonna hurt him when he was asleep. So...such is the first day of our four month odyssey. Grief. Aggravation. The urge to slap someone!

So, I am five feet away from The Genius...and am not talking. Not talking, not looking, totally ignoring. Putz.

And so it goes...another joyful day of fulltiming at it's best yanno? Maybe a good nights sleep will be good for both of us.

hugs

dennise

I was so tired yesterday after moving clothes (well, some anyways), computer and office stuff, music stuff, and my medications that I didn't post. I was supposed to take some pictures of the inside of the rig, but it was such a mess, I decided to wait until later today. We keep loading and loading stuff. But no where near what we brought back with us from Illinois. I am trying to decide what type of clothes to bring. It is warm here, obviously, but who the heck knows what it will be like in Missouri? I guess I will bring two pairs of jeans and a couple of sweatshirts, a light jacket and then my regular summer stuff. I finally bought some new shorts. I purchased a pair of khaki shorts in Michigan three years ago. That's it. The rest are hold overs from when I first bought clothes when I lost the weight. It will be 7 years this summer. Can you believe I haven't bought any shorts in 7 years. Cripes, that must be a record. I do have to say, that for a while I didn't wear shorts...I have a lot of jumpers that I became fond of with a simple tee shirt underneath. I prefer a dress or jumper sometimes when going out. Pants and shorts are fine for casual stuff like a run to the grocery store, but out to lunch or to a meeting, I like to dress up a tad. Summer is perfect for a jumper/tee combo and then I don't have to wear hose. Or socks...just my Berkies. Cooler than shorts and sneakers sometimes.

Paul and grandpa are off to Mexico this morning...Paul to get his crown finished and grandpa to buy booze. Grandpa is driving me nuts...he continues to bring things to me to take in the rig. For heaven's sake, I can't take every fricken' thing he doesn't use...then he asks me what things are...jeez...what do you think round circles that look like CD's are? Have you never seen a three hole punch old fart? Grrrrrr. I live here too...some things are mine that are gonna STAY here OK? Like out of season clothes. Some of my baking stuff...some books, photo albums and my Christmas CD's. Ok, I know I am being a bitch, but NO I am not taking the Kitchen Aid mixer! Where do you think I can put it in the rig...up my arse? It is bad enough that he constantly makes comments like "When youse are gone, I am gonna clean up that desk." "I am gonna go to WalMart everyday and buy what I want to eat" That comment particularly pissed me off...Paul has bent over backwards to make good interesting and nutritious meals for him, keep his cookies well stocked, buying what GRANDPA likes. He hasn't put a dish in the dishwasher (just the sink, grrrr), cleaned anything like all his magazines laying on the table, or done a load of laundry since we got here in October. He lets us do everything, then complains for the most ridiculous reasons...his continual "I can't FIND anything" is BS. Let him eat Raman noodles til he turns into a porker, let him eat sardines that stink up the house and leave the oily can sitting on the counter to attract insects and vermin...let him eat his freakn' cheap polish sausage until he drops over from the fat and cholesterol. I emptied the entire pantry...I even took all the spices...left him some Cheerios and some Ritz and all those stuooopid Ramen things and his cans of sardines....Grrrr...then I went into the Texas room and took EVERYTHING off the desk...pictures, phone book, EVERYTHING except a roll of tape and a jar of pens and pencils and three stamps. I took the stapler and the scissors. I hid the thread and needles in the sewing box. I took all Zack's pictures off the top of the desk. I took the printer. I took all the printer paper. I took all the sharp pencils and the sharpener...I took all the good pens. Heh, heh, heh. Today I will finish the fridge...I will leave him his salad dressing WE brought him from Illinois that he likes a lot and missed...Lonzotti's sweet Italian...I will leave him the milk for the Cheerios, and his creamer. I am going to take everything down to the bread and butter pickles. I am gonna take the bread we like which is a good healthy brand that costs like $2.75 a loaf and he can eat that bread from Walmart that costs 30 cents a loaf and tastes like paste. He can go to WalMart till he croaks. OK, I am thru ranting. I just can't wait until he has to do this stuff himself...of course, he always says he does things better than us, he hates our food, yada yada yada. Go for it old man. And remember, no one will be here to remind you that a soak in the hot tub does NOT equal a BATH. Pfffftt! I feel for the stupid ugly fat dog...he may never get another bowl of water. Oh well, and so it goes.

Well, I hafta go shower and get ready for my doctor appointment. I need maintenance prescriptions for like 6 meds...I have three months which was my last order from the rat bastards at Cigna. I start my Valley Baptist coverage now. Pays better than the rats anyways.
Just hope this is not too much for the doc to write...and too bad if it is! I'm on a roll!

Later...
hugs
dennise

Woke this morning and everything, including my butt, just ached. That's what I get for working so hard in the rig. Oh well, I could be like Paul...101 temp and a bit on the cranky side. I would be too...he wants to get lots done and he feels like crap. Oh well, what do they say in NY...C`est la vie ?

I worked on the bathroom today. Shower was really streaked with some crud that Windex all purpose cleaner wouldn't touch so I got out my trusty squirt bottle of straight up vinegar. The miracle liquid I have to say. Also had some rusty spots on the floor which I liberally doused with Clorox cleaner and let sit. The gold frame is actually holding up well considering how cheap and crappy it is. Paul brought in his undies and some pantry stuff...how does his mind think I wonder? Spices and BBQ sauce and tidy whities? Hmmmm. Still scratching my head over that connection...! I also cleaned the toilet (never again...next time it is Paulies job) and cleaned out the medicine cabinet. Lots of stuff leaked over the summer. Grrrrr. He told me he emptied the damm thing...dried and baked on Vick's green slime all over, even dripped into the lower shelf. Then I had to get the goof-off stuff to get rid of the residual adhesive from the stupid self-stick calendars he put all over the place. I guess he just doesn't get that if it sticks, it leaves stuff behind...stuff that is glue...adhesive that would keep the Shuttle together for cripes sake. (how do you like my brown to represent you know what up above...I am just sooooo talented, yanno?) So after smelling this gosh-awful goof-off stuff and getting high from the fumes, I was able to get the glue off. When Paul came back to the rig I told him if he ever stuck anything with self adhesive glue on it anywhere in the rig again, he would have to lick the crap off the surface. Then he just looks at me and takes something and throws it in the condiment basket I had just reorganized and cleaned out of all the crap in there! Screws do not belong in the basket with napkins, salt and pepper and the sugar shaker. Nor does some little black caplike thingy that he found on the floor, Zack's forgotten contacts container OR the coupon for Popeye's Chicken that is expired (and there is NO Popeye's in the Valley...) Geez...no wonder everything looks messy. Well, thank goodness we are leaving...I have given up cleaning up the crap grandpa leaves on the island in the kitchen. Everything from his hearing aids (eewwwww, I know) to slips of paper with gosh knows whose phone number...an old keyring with no keys, his name tag...the list goes on and on.

Channel 4, KGBT TV in Harlingen called this afternoon. They want to interview grandpa about his parachute jump. Ok. I know I am a bitch, but I have had enough of this for over a week now. I am sick to death of it. Truly tired of watching the video (can we count to 500 boys and girls...grrr!) and he looks at the photos several times a day. This afternoon, he invited the entire park (or what's left of the residents) over to the house to view his masterpiece. I stayed in the motorhome like some sulky brat. I am sorry. I have just have enough. Plus, if I hear one more time that he is a ladies man, dancing machine or karaoke master, I am going to puke. Can you TELL I need to get outta this place. Come on Wed!

Well, since today we were invited out for dinner, I guess I can end my tirade for now. Tune in tomorrow for more of....what pisses me off.

hugs
dennise

Well, it finally cooled off to normal for this time of year temps. 104 and sunshine is nice, but, it can be wilting to say the least. With the continuous breeze, even 104 can be tolerable, but being the wuss I am, I stay in the AC.

With the cooler temps, we were able to get into the rig to start cleaning and packing. Lots of stuff was taken out to the MH but it is sitting all over the place. I need to condition the maple cabinets and the island. I try to do that at least twice a year. Some of the cabinets have scratches and dings from various disasters over the year especially the large sink front. Hmmm. We talked about putting a backsplash around the stove(it's just wallpaper right now.) and are leaning towards stainless steel or tin...they have some great designs out right now, that can be used either as back splash or ceiling, similar to old ceiling tin. Maybe a sheet of the backsplash will be the answer to the sink cabinet door. Hmmm. Keep this to myself...Paul hates when I start "renovating". Putz.

I cleaned out the kitchen sink which got really disgusting over the winter. Ick. Why does dish soap ooz outta the pump bottle when left to it own devices for a couple of months? I keep forgetting to take it in and every year, dish soap has invaded the sink areas. It's like concrete in the heat, so I had to scrape it off the bottoms of both sink sides. Nasty. Then it was on to the fridge. We had put the innards of the fridge in the stupid dishwasher...am I dumb...and two plastic shelfs got warped. Grrrr. I hate plastic. A replacement shelf that slides into the door is like $40. Maybe I will take a heat gun and try to soften them up and reshape them...or do without. $40....pfffft! I think I will be creative and find something to substitute.

I wiped down all the cabinets and woodwork in the living area and the bedroom. Bathroom gets tackled tomorrow. I can do about 10 minutes of work then have to sit down for ten minutes! Then I took the bedroom and dash curtains into the house and washed and dried them. I redid the hems on the bedroom sets as the hemming tape I used was not holding up. I redid the hemming tape and then hand hemmed all four curtains. I had to hunt all over the place to find a stupid needle and thread. Must still have my sewing box packed someplace. I am hurting right now tho...and I am sure I will feel this tomorrow.

I passed on going to the Elks tonight...didn't feel up to it. Paul and I accomplished quite a bit today. He washed all the inside windows and the window tracks...all the vents and the ac ducts. He can barely move his arms at this point. Aren't we a pair?

Well, I promise to take some pictures when we get finished so you can see all the modifications we have made.
hugs

dennise

Last night we went to the Elk's club for Chicken Fried Steak. Really good stuff...salad bar, mashed potatoes, a huge meat patty, good cream gravy and a nice ear of corn. Last night, she brought me GREEN BEANS....OMG... the fat ones, with the humongous seeds in 'em. Ick.Ick Ick. I know, you all think I am nuts. I detest green beans...and peas. Blame my ornery father. He made me sit at the table and tried to get me to eat these cold, congealed veggies (from a can btw...eeeew) that I flatly refused to put near my mouth. One night I sat until my bedtime of 8:30 with those crappy beans on my plate. I wasn't gonna eat them and he wasn't gonna let me get away until I ate the suckers. Nope. Beat me, slap me, yell at me. I ain't eating no canned green beans with the fat seeds. Never. I won. My mother-in-law Catherine, tried for 20 years to get me to eat either peas or fat green beans. She would make beans with some sort of "sauce" from tomato soup! God, is there no justice in this world...ruining a perfectly good can of tomato soup...for FAT GREEN BEANS? She failed. My mother tried that nasty green bean casserole ("These are NOT green beans with the fat seeds, they are french cut skinny beans, and are delicious with mushroom soup in them." )Jeez, that was even worse! Green beans with fungus soup on them? Are you kidding me? Our friend Bev invited us to dinner and made a delicious hamburger and veggie soup. It had beans and fat green beans in it. When we passed our dishes over to her to help clean the tables, Bev says "Hey, who picked out all the peas and beans?" Every eye in the room turned to me. Of course, I got a lecture and to prove a point she put my bowl on the floor and her dog, Misty, gobbled up the peas and fat beans. This proves nothing to ME. Misty is a dog for cripes sake, she eats cat shit if she can find it, and licks other dogs asses. 'Nough said.

I just talked to Zack. He is at work at the putt-putt place in St. Louis Union Station. He attended a "job fair" at SIUE yesterday. He said there were long lines for instant interviews, and the layout of the fair was really poorly done. He said he talked to everyone that didn't have a line. Like Decatur. They were quite interested in him and the one principle of a high school said he would call Zack personally to interview him. OK, I guess Decatur is a possiblity. Like Zack says...a job is a JOB.

Paul went off to Mexico today to have his teeth cleaned. He and I have wanted to do that and just never go around to it. So here it is, 103 degrees in the shade, and gufus wants me to walk around Mexico in the heat. Sure. Be my guest. I will stay here and work on getting stuff together for our journey to Branson.

I cannot wait to get the hell outta here. I have been in one spot way way too long...
Plus, I need to talk to someone under the age of 80...

hugs

dennise

Well, after several hours of fiddling around with my JVC hard drive movie camera, I discovered that the files it creates are not Windows compatible. Crap. I found a video file conversion freeware that I used to convert the MOV files to whatever would work. Grrrrr.

So, here is my latest effort, with titles AND credits, but no background music. Just wanted to get 'er done and uploaded. I will work on audio when I have more patience.

Enjoy....

We are NEVER going to hear the end of this little escapade...

hugs,

dee

It's Tuesday and I am finally posting about our big weekend. Grandpa made his tandem jump on Saturday. We drove to Beeville, Texas, about 155 miles north of Weslaco, near Corpus Christi. We left about 9:15 am. Here is a smiling Gene with his lady friends Dorothy and Jeannie prior to leaving for the day.

We stopped for lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Corpus Christi after checking into our hotel. The hotel was quite a disappointment after viewing the photos as listed on the internet. It looked beautiful but is really run down. What do ya want for 6000 points I guess. Other Choice Hotels are like 20000 points in Corpus. You surely get what you "pay" for.

Grandpa was really quiet at lunch and barely spoke on the way to Beevilee. Hmmm, wonders I...is he getting cold feet? Nah. Scared? Perhaps, we shall see! His tandem jump is scheduled for 4 pm. We arrive at 3:10 and the 3 pm jumper is still waiting. Finally after about an hour's delay, the 3 pm birthday girl jumps. This was her birthday present from her folks...she has a rugrat, about three that his Daddy can't handle and the kid acted up the whole time Mommy was up in the air. I have NO patience for bratty kids. We all got neck cramps trying to see the plane and the jumpers. Finally we see them and the landing is very good. The gal seems quite happy. By now it is 4:30. We are instructed to go back to the headquarters just outside the Beeville Municipal Airport. We have forms and forms to complete (these folks are really covering their a$$ from a legal standpoint let me tell ya!) and we watch a film. Gene is signing his name and not paying attention to the film, so Dorothy scolds him and says if you don't watch this movie, you might get hurt. I think he is overwhelmed. The instructor comes in and asks the gal who works there, Misty, how old Gene is. "91?" Alex the instructor is a bit unsettled. He's never had someone this OLD jump with him. He takes grandpa and puts him in a rigging and hangs him from the ceiling like they do jumpers during training. He makes grandpa do all kinds of things. After he does each maneuver, Alex apologizes and says he just wanted to make sure Gene could do all the things he would have to do. He says Gene doesn't look or act 91.

By now, it is like 5:45. I am tired and bored. We are finally off to the airport for the jump. After another 20 minutes, they harness Gene up, the photographer jumper arrives and begins to tape, beginning with a brief interview. Here are some photos of the prep and getting on the plane.

This is Alex, the instructor harnessing him up. Alex is quite a big guy, about 6'6". I wouldn't mind diving with him either..

Gene is trying on goggles to go over his glasses but decided to just take off his specs. Sure hope he can see up there. The other guy is the photographer, can't remember his name, but he too was quite a large fellow.

Getting on the little plane...That's what would keep me from doing this...that plane was held together with rubber bands and duck tape...no way would you see me climbing aboard.

Shutting the door and beginning the taxi.
Well, it took FOREVER to get to the right hight(10000 feet maybe?) Finally we see the shoots of both the photog and grandpa. It looks as if he got quite a ride. We had trouble getting either still shots or movie clips when they were so high up, but we managed a few...

Here we go!

I was able to get some good video footage which I am going to work on uploading next. I should be able to add the video here. I also plan on putting it on YouTube. I am not yet proficient at the video stuff so this should be a learning experience of sorts. Grandpa got up and I think he was in a stupor, he couldn't even talk. The photog who had landed first, hit hard and tore up his leg a bit. We finally unhooked the old fart and off we went for dinner. They told us an hour for the video. After a so-so dinner at Chili's (but the beer was cold...) we went back. Unfortunately, the crew decided to do some free fall diving and didn't return to the office to work on the video. They promised to send it FedEx on Tuesday. Well, it still isn't here, so Paulie called and left a nasty message. You know Paulie, he figures nasty works wonders, the putz.

Well, that's all for now. It's gonna be 100 today and 103 tomorrow. I forced Paul to run the AC...I don't CARE if the nights are freakin' cool, the days will kill ya!

hugs,

Dennise

I am not a happy camper, pun intended, this morning. I went to my Flickr page to upload some photos, and I have used up all my free space. Drats. They want $25 per year to keep using it. Crap. Crap. Crap. I am checking out Snapfish to see if they have limits. I suppose I could delete the older stuff but I like having the pictures on line. I have them all on backup disks, but that is a PIA to find a particular photo.


Paul is off playing shuffleboard with granpda. The numbers are dwindling here this week...everyone is going home for either taxes or for the summer. Hmmm. Today Paulie and I have a birthday. We have decided no cake...we are going to go to Corpus Christi for the weekend. We have scheduled grandpa's tandem sky dive for tomorrow, Saturday at 4 p.m. up in Beeville. That is about 50 miles north of Corpus Christi. We had bonus points from the credit card and got two free rooms, and we will have not only a video of him jumping, but also about 60 photos. The photog will jump with him and the guy he's tandeming with. I can't wait to write about it. I keep trying to convince him to take the dog, and stick his body in the jumpsuit and let his head stick out. We could be rich if the tongue flies outta his face and streams upwards in the jump...America's Funny Home Videos here we come! I am going to put a part of the video on You Tube. "91 year old man skydiving"...look for it!

We have accepted a workamping position in Branson MO. Well, Paul is gonna workamp. I will prolly just do a few hours a week in the office. They have promised this would not be a problem if Paul did most of the work. We have to give them 24 hours of work for a free full hook up campsite. Considering in areas like Branson, full hookups are about $60 a day. Of course weekly and monthly sites are less, but nonetheless, primo in a vacation destination.
We will be getting show tickets that are either free or deeply discounted...this way when folks ask what is a good show, we can recommend our favorites. The campground is called Branson's Shenanigans RV park. Here is the web page: http://www.bransonrvparks.com/
It is a small 40 slot site so I think we will get our feet wet slowly. We had posted our "resume" on Workamper.com and we had 40 potential employers view our info and got 12 offers for interviews. I think that was pretty good, this late in the season. Most campgrounds in vacation spots line up workers sometimes a year in advance. Interesting biz, working for a camping spot. All the govt parks, state, local and national are non-paying and ask for about 32 hours of volunteer work for the host position with full hookups. Same for the Corps of Engineers. But they have the best camping spots, mostly west of the Mississippi. Private campgrounds require like 10 to 12 hours per person for the hookup and then pay $ per hour, ususally minimum wage, for hours after that. But who wants to work 35 to 40 hours a week. We are retired for cripes sakes. This gig will allow us to enjoy Branson for a couple of months with the benefits of the reduced show costs. We would never get to see that many shows or stay long at $60 bucks a day. Plus, we can eat at home, forget those stupid buffets. Eeeewww, they all suck. We will journey to San Antonio on the 16th for Paul's appointment with the VA, then head north. Gee, what to pack? It still is COLD in MO in April. Ick. Paul is confident he can work the job for at least 4 months. We are committed til Sept. 15th. His hip bothers him, but he wants to do the Branson thing. Who am I to argue?

Well, I need to go to the doctor and have some crappy test to see how much urine I can hold with out losing it. Betcha ALL wanted to know that right? TMI.

BTW, it is warm and sunny here...has been all week...beautiful breezes. Perfect weather.
hugs,

Dennise

I guess I flubbed again...said to come back for picutres and whoopsie, nada!

So so sorry.

Here is a pic of Zack, the only pic I got when he was here!

Here is a beautiful sunset over the palms here in the park....

Here is our Easter dinner...Paulie was so proud of that stupid ham!

I have a few photos to upload to flickr, but won't be able to do that until tonight.

hugs

Dennise

Hmmm...last post was 1/20. I guess January 20th must have been quite traumatic...

I never posted on this blog after that. Geesh. Perhaps I had nothing to say? Unlikely. Was I bored....well, I was getting ready to go down to Ft. Myers with Jan, Kathy and Mother. Oh, can't forget Cecil...

As much as I would like to tell you about that fatefull two weeks, I shall not, as it would mean I would have to offend somebody. God forbid. I did parasail which was the highlight of the trip. I also fractured a vertebrae in my T10...not parasailing...lifting Mother's freakin' suitcase. Turns out I have osteoporosis. Great. What else could happen. I won't speculate but all of a sudden my teeth hurt. I will shut up now.

Not a whole lot happening here in Weslaco. Paul and I have posted a resume on Workampers.com. We've had 20 hits from potential employers, and 5 offers. Three were in Iowa. Corn and Soybeans Iowa. Paul said NO. OK genius, where do you wanna work camp?

Branson. We are waiting to hear about a position there where we will work 26 hours(I will work about 6 in the office, on a chair, he will work the rest) and will get a full hookup site with 50 amp electric, water and sewer...plus free tickets to many many shows. RV park's get these freebies so they can tell their customers which are the best shows. Sounds good to me. The only complaint I have about the park is that it doesn't have a pool. Crap. Not that I am a sun bunny, but I do occasionally like to sit on a noodle in the water and cool off in the summer. The pool here has been icky and I won't go in...some idiot reversed the hoses and the guck went back into the pool. Shall we say germs, disease or lawsuit? Not me. I just won't put a TOE in the sucker.

Paul is off shuffling...he has become quite proficient lately and likes to flirt with all the women. Old fart.

I do have a serious case of hitch itch. I want OUT of Weslaco...I don't care where we go...I just want to be in a campground in our rig. I miss it. I am also needing space from certain elderly people here. No names to protect the innocent...or the guilty LOL!

I have some photos on the camera that I need to download. I will do that this afternoon. Look for some photos tomorrow.

Well, Barack is on the View and I gotta watch...

hugs

Dennise

The map below in the previous post represents where the SKP Graduating Class of 2006 is at this point in time...kinda cool to see where our friends are spending the winter or are off exploring. Sometimes you will notice that I reference our graduation "class" of 2006. This was a small thread that began on the Escapee's message board under fulltime rver's about who was hitting the road full time and when. They formed "classes" and so far I think there are about 6 "graduate classes" out roaming the USA. We had initially wanted to hit the road full time in spring of 2006, but our plans changed with my hip problems and two surgeries that summer. I had already purchased our pins and official t shirts but the class said we could still be graduates even tho we didn't leave until Thanksgiving 2006. Each class holds get togethers. For example the "Class of 2007" just held their graduation at Quartsite AZ, as did the class of 2006 last year, which we missed due to our travels to Texas. We just met some of our classmates for lunch on Tuesday and had a ball. There are quite a few who winter now in the RGV and some that are still on the move. The only reason we winter with grandpa is that we can store the motorhome for free and still spend time with him taking care of the place and getting things ready for our next trip. Due to Paulie having to have his other hip replaced we still don't know what we are going to be doing come March. I was hoping to volunteer at a COE park in North Dakota but I can't even apply til we know when his surgery will take place.



I will post some more later...I still am behind in my posting...I have had a super busy week and haven't even practiced guitar so I still stink. I tried out a wonderful guitar while in Fredricksburg and now my guitar sounds like one from the clown band. Ugh.



til later...oh yeah, we are off to see LaJoya High School's Folkloria...should be fun...

hugs

Dennise

Saturday PM

Just got an email from Flickr...they are down and some of the new photos I uploaded are gone. Crap. Crap. Crap. Now I hafta do this all over again. For me that is tragic! I am so not computer savy with this kinda stuff....grrrrr.



Now for my continuing saga...
We are having Bev, Ben and Dorothy over for dinner. I think Grandpa thought we wouldn't be home until later tonight and invited them for dinner...so now it's Paulie who is doing the cooking...steak, roasted veggies, salad, bread and of course, wine.

I had to go back to read what I wrote earlier so I can continue.

After Paulie got back from taking Mom to the airport we settled in to watch the bowl games. Illinois was playing in the Rose Bowl. Gee it was a waste to watch the Illini get their asses kicked by those left coast kids. Sigh...and I swore after the superbowl I would NOT get caught up in picking a team and rooting for the losers. Oh well. They say the road to hell....

The week after the New Year was unexciting...it took me several days to pack away all the Christmas stuff. My guitar lessons continue and I still stink. On Tuesday, Jan 8, Paulie was scheduled to go to the VA in San Antonio for an Agent Orange test. We had planned this trip in advance and scheduled several free rooms from Choice points in both San Antonio and Fredericksburg. After SA we headed to Fredericksburg a German settlement. Wow, the shops and bakeries are amazing. We did stop first in Comfort, Tx but there was little to see after Christmas. We missed the lights at Riverwalk in SA by one day...we got there and they were not only taking the lights down, they were DRAINING the canal. So it goes...lucky Paul and Dee.

We went to a brewery in town and saw three real cutie pie cowboys all dressed up in authentic cowboy stuff...right outta Hollywood. They were reinactors. I got my picture taken with them and while talking to the three of 'em I found out one was from Lombard! Some cowboy. Lombard has a lilac festival for cripesakes. They were cute tho and they were fun to talk to. We had great pizza at the place and the beer was pretty good too.

On Wednesday we shopped all day long...now for those out there who don't know Paulie very well...this was a monumental concession on his part...he hates to shop. I did leave him outside a few places to rest his hip, but actually we had a great time. We had a great lunch at a German place that claimed the best rubens and hamburgers in town. The ruben was only so so, the hamburger Paulie said was good. Pffft...you'd think I learn not to believe all the hype.

We got back to the room, and I took a nap after spending a few bucks. Can you believe I didn't have to BEG? We stayed in and watched the crap they now call TV. Jeesh it sucks. Game shows, reality garbage. I can now convince Paul that we should watch TLC and Disc and LEARN something.

On Thursday we headed over to the LBJ Ranch and State Park. What a great place. We took the tour of the ranch...I can understand why Texans from this part of the state always come back...the hill country is beautiful. His ranch apparently was his refuge. Lady Bird has been laid to rest next to Lyndon, but the family has yet to decide what to do for her headstone. Beautiful red roses now mark the spot. The house where LBJ was born has been reconstructed and it is a nice little place. They were like most at the time, quite poor. His grandfather along with his brothers drove cattle, grew cotton and raised sheep. LBJ's father was a local teacher turned politician just like his son. The Texas White House is still under the family's control until one year after Mrs. Johnson's death when it will be turned over to the State. They are hoping to at least refurbish the room used as a conference room and have it available by next summer. We visited the show barn and saw descendants of LBJ's first herd of cattle. His favorite saying was apparently something like the cattle go out and the money comes in. I was not a fan of LBJ due to my protesting of the Viet Nam was as a teenager. Now I know that he truly was a prolific President and many of the programs he initiated back then have made life for many Americans better such as Head Start, HUD and Medicare. These programs have been criticized by so many people over the years, but I believe that we are a better people for reaching down to help those who need a boost. We owe LBJ for enlightening us about our environment too...he passed many bills such as the clean water act, which I think we now take for granted. Enough of my grandstanding for LBJ whom I never really cared for as a President. I still don't agree with that war, but he did do alot for the middle and lower classes. Pffffft to the naysayers!

After the LBJ ranch we went to the Suter working ranch which LBJ established for folks to understand how life was like in the hill country circa 1915, when he would have been around 7.
There are interpreters who actually work the farm. I am glad we were there on Thursday...we saw the animals they were gonna butcher next week...pooor piggies and calfs.

After the Suter ranch we found Luckenback Tx. It's NOTHING. A post office and a dance hall. Period. What a waste. From there it was back towards San Antonio and then on to Corpus Christi. We landed at a Quality inn on the beach but it was pretty empty. The place was in dire need of cleaning and altho the pool and the hot tub LOOKED clean, upon further inspection I decided not to risk the plague and stayed out. We had dinner at a place called Blackbeards. I had FRESH yes, fresh red snapper caught that day, and cooked blackened. Ohhhh...heaven. Paulie had fresh fried clams and they were also very good. We were entertained by a clone of Jimmy Buffet who sang a lot of James Taylor and America. He was pretty good and I was able to watch his effortless chord movements on the guitar. I'll never be able to do that...

We headed back to the room, watched some TV and hit the sack. All that walking on the ranches wore me out, and my scooter was not really capable of traversing the land there.

On Friday we headed to Big Padre Island, and visited Mustang Island. I didn't see any mustangs tho. A few jaguars and a few beemers. Ooops...bad joke I guess...We also checked out a couple of RV parks...on a resort with pads for sale ($50k up to $90+k) and a nice resort I could stay at with no problems...right over the sandunes to the gulf waters.

In Port Aransas we had lunch at a place called Finn's. Great hamburgers and the fish baskets looked great also. After lunch we headed back over to the mainland and headed up Tx 77 back home. We made it home around 5. We took the Vue over to Pep boys as the driver who shall remain nameless smacked into a bag full of empty cans some ass had dropped on the highway and the right front tire is losing air. I guess reflexes do deteriorate over time (insert evil grin here....!)


Well, that brings us up to date. Now I am back to redoing the upload of all those pix. Wish me luck.

Take care and Happy New Year about a week or so late!

hugs

dee

Saturday afternoon....

I have been uploading pictures...there are quite a few...some good, some not so good...

I am too lazy to be picky about who wants what picture where yanno?

Go to the right hand column and select the set you want to see and click....Viola! Pictures of various events and places....


here is the link...
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ziaja/

hope you enjoy...will be updating more on the blog later....

I am staying in tonight...tired from our trip to SA/Fred/CC. It was a nice get away tho...

hugs

dee

Saturday...January 12....

I apologize to all my readers...I haven't posted since Christmas. Not that I don't have the time, its just pure, unadulterated laziness and lack of desire to put into words all the stuff going on. For this I have no excuse.

The last post was Dec 23rd, and I had sent the three fools (the Ziaja men) to Mexico to get them outta my hair. I did accomplish a lot while they were gone. They arrived back home about 4 pm. I had just taken the fat fart Pepi out to do his biznes and up drives grandpa's car with Paulie behind the wheel. I watch them disembark. Grandpa opens the door, and Pepi sees him and runs to the car. Grandpa then falls out of the car on the grass. Oh, great. The three fools are now the three drunk fools. Zack proceeds to the trunk, a bit of a weave in his step, and pulls out this bull whip. Yup, a freakin' bullwhip. This sucker must be 15 feet long. I go back in the house, leaving grandpa on the grass rolling around playing with that stupid dog. No way am I going to get involved in this foolishness. I stand at the kitchen window and watch my 22 year old son play with a bull whip. I was hoping he'd wack himself in the privates, but alas, I didn't get that lucky. That certainly would have put an end to the playing bullwhip crap. Then Paulie starts....oh how I wish for just one minute he'd smack himself...anywhere on his body would be fine. Again I am disappointed. The rest of the day goes downhill the minute the three fools enter the premises. I finally told Paul to get out and find something else to do...all he was doing was criticizing what I had accomplished. How dare he? He was playing with the bullwhip while I was making this party we all planned work and he had the freakin' nerve to criticize? Not to me he isn't. Once a fool, always a fool I guess.

Monday Dec 24th...

I go to my guitar lesson, leaving about an hour early....Paul and I head to Mcallen to pick up Mom and Cecil. No problems parking, the place is relatively normal. The mall across the street is jumping but access into the airport is unobstucted. We see Mom, she sees us and starts crying. Cecil proceeds to wander off into the farthest regions of the airport on his scooter which he has on full "rabbit", the fastest setting. He makes these u-turns in front of folks, scattering Mexicans as if he was Teddy Roosevelt. What an old goof he is. Mom, at the top of her voice starts that familiar screechy "Cecil....CECIL....CECIL!" Musik to my ears, LOL!

We get their rental car...mom and I drive the rental, Paulie takes Cecil. We head out of Mcallen back to Weslaco to their motel...at Victoria Palms. We get them checked in and settled in their room so they can take a rest. We will pick them up at 5 so we can attend Bev's Christmas Eve get-together. At five, Paulie goes to pick them up and they come back to see grandpa's place. We then head over to Bev's. Had a nice time...big group, good food which goes fast. Cecil fades around ten so Paulie takes them back to the motel. Zack, me and grandpa head home. Zack was so bored at the party he hit the hot tub. At home, the few little presents Santa is bringing need to be wrapped. Nothing changes in MY life or habits...jeesh, I wait until Christmas eve every year to wrap stuff. May have had it in the house for weeks, but never wrap until the night before...I have a circuit loose someplace in my Christmas brain section I guess.

Christmas Day....

We are up early, and I am at the hall by 8:30 to set our table up. I finish and go back to the house....we open a few presents. We told Mom we'd pick them up when they called to tell us they were ready, but the surprised us by showing up about 10:45. We have coffee and my absolutely delish stollen. (Martha Stewart's mom would be proud...it's her recipe and I make it very well, if I do say so myself....no bragging....truth as Paulie would say.) We get ready and head for the hall around 11:30 for dinner which begins at noon. Too damm early for dinner for me ...dinner is FIVEISH...am I right? I never like to eat at noon. That's LUNCH. We are the second to the last table called to hit the buffet line and the first three tables are like really empty. But there was plenty farther down, the folks here don't skimp when it comes to potlucks. The desserts look wonderful and of course, I get dessert before I eat my main meal.
We had a nice dinner and at the last minute, Katie, and older widow was planning on eating alone....she plays cards with Paulie (he said she's a viper at the table) so we invited her to join us. She was truly an enjoyable dining companion for Zack. He couldn't eat he was laughing so hard with her.

After we cleaned up, Paulie and Zack stayed for the major clean up. To my surprise, Zack volunteered and mopped the ENTIRE floor in the rec hall. Hmmmm.

Once back at the house, it was full speed ahead to get things ready for the open house. Mom rolled the sausage balls, the meatballs in the crockpot put in early this morning were coming along nicely. Paul chopped up all the cheeses, Zack wiped down the bathrooms, and grandpa wiped off chairs. Oh yeah...Cecil insisted on going back to the motel so Zack took him. PIA.
I did the parm cheese sticks...another PIA...I also had prepared the puff pastry brie so when the meatballs were done all I had to do was pop it in the oven. I had also done the fake eggnog, so all we had to do was add the brandy. I made the Mexican Rum Hot cocoa, and Zack had made the apple pie liquer the day before to age. We were doing great. I could hardly stand, but we were doing good. The hams had been sliced the day before when I baked 'em, and the rest of the stuff like the relish tray were easy. Nachos and salsa trays were easy, as was the dessert table. I had two different rum cakes, my fruit cake and a huge box of candy. Our guests would be bringing sweets for the dessert table. We had three different wines, but no beer. That's always a BYOB item here in the park. Well, folks began arriving at 4:45 and were amazed at the spread. I must admit we did a great job...we all worked together to accomplish my goal.

I wanted to thank Grandpa's friends and neighbors for keeping an eye on him while we are gone. It means alot to us that some many folks invite him to dinner, take him with them on trips to Mexico and Mcallen and making sure he is out and about.

Zack was amazing (now this is just from past experiences yanno...he IS maturing thank the good Lord!). He served drinks, he made drinks, he took trays of stuff and acted like a server...he was just , well like I said, amazing. I spent the entire party on my butt on the sofa in the living room. Everyone was tickled at the village (the one I painted years ago) and it looked great all lite up and set up in the living room, little trees and the pond etc. They loved my tree with all the santas and snowmen and the hand crocheted snowflakes drew a lot of attention. Those who had not seen the house were amazed at it's size. All in all, it was a great party and finally broke up about 11. Talk of the park for days I am told. We have been told we throw the best parties by far, which is good...there aren't gonna be many of them.

Well, the next couple of days were spent resting (me), lounging at the pool (mom) and fleamarketing (Zack and Paul). Gene rested and I think Cecil spent most of his time asleep at the motel...We made Zack's fav meal, marinated flank steak for dinner on Wed evening. Always a treat, it was really good.

We had to take Zack to the airport on Thursday. PIA Cecil decided he didn't want to spend the money on the rental car (great, now we can be at his beck and call...grrrrr) so we did that when we took Zack to Mcallen. I was so sad to see Zack leave. He was such a different kid!!! He was anxious to get back to his life....the life of older retiree's is not his cup of tea, however he was attentive and quite the gentleman with all Grandpa's friends.

After he left, we decided to get some lunch, Paulie wanting to try the Chinese buffet down the street from us. It was closed believe it or not! So we went to Keno's a local Mexican place. Had a late lunch, so we wouldn't need dinner. Took mom and Cecil back to the motel so he could sleep and mom could hit the hot tub. Later Paulie picked them up and we had a "leftovers"

On Friday, we took Mom and PIA to South Padre Island, giving them the visitor's tour. We of course ate at Dirty Al's and the shimp were as ususal terrific.

Saturday, we went to the flea market, which was lots of fun. Mom and I found denim jackets for 8 bucks...since PIA and I both had our scoooters, we saw alot. We took them back to the hotel, and made plans to go to Little Italy with them and the Elks gang grandpa hangs with. The food was amazing, but very very pricey. I had chicken marsala which was superb. After the meal, we headed to the Elks club for Karaoke. Yes, you read that right, Karaoke. Paul went to play Texas hold'em the poop...he hates Karaoke. We all had several drinks and sang. Mom cried when I sang her a song. Weepy Dawnie. Afterwards, we went back to Bev's to sing somemore and have some cocktails. Paulie took Mom and PIA home.

Sunday was Mexico. We looked at lots of shops....mom was going nuts wanting things, but since they had to fly from here to Florida, it was not possible to buy much. We then hit the Arizona, and true to form, we all got sh*tfaced on the twofer margaritas. We arrived back at the house and PIA fell asleep on the sofa, Mom in the recliner. We took them home around 8.

Monday, New Year's Eve.

Grandpa is the New Year's baby this year. We got him a sash that reads 2008 and a cardboard happy new year hat. He will wear an adult diaper, hold a cigar in his teeth and have a bottle of rum with a nipple on it. Should be fun. The party started at 8 so we had dinner at the house of leftover flank steak, fresh corn on the cob and salad...still good the second time around. The rec hall had been limited to 130 folks so the crowd wasn't too big. It was BORING...watching oldies just dancing. We were drinking premade bucket cosmos, and everyone else was doing scotch.
At 11:40, grandpa left to do his thing. At midnight, Old Man 2007 arrived with New Year's Baby 2008 in a wagon. It was worth the four hour wait to see grandpa in the wagon.

We went back to Bev's after the party ended at 12:30 but we didn't stay long. Paul took Mom and PIA back to the hotel...they are leaving New year's day.

Paulie picked them up about ten on Tuesday...we had a nice chat over coffee. I was so wiped that I didn't go with them to the airport...Paulie drove them to the airport and saw them off.
It was a great visit. I am looking forward to seeing Mom in Feb when I go to Ft. Myers.

Gonna take a break now...will post more updates about our trip to San Antonio, Fredricksburg and Corpus Christi later.

hugs

dee

Sunday....

After watching a very satisfying Bear's game on TV (lucky we got it here...this is Cowboys country....I can root for them now since the Bears are out of chances...)
I decided to move the Christmas Village from under the tree so Zack and I can set it up on a table in the Texas room. The little fat fart Pepi and that damm cat keep trying to sleep under the tree, I guess because of the warmth of the lights. Anyways to my sheer disgust I found Snickers poop in there. She must have liked the snow blanket that I have used for years...which is now safely in the trash...all houses and stuff wiped off with disinfectant wipes. Grrrrr, I swear, if she wasn't so old and it being Christmas and all, I would have thrown her out the freakin' door to fend for herself in an unknown territory. UGH. Ick, Ick, Ick...

I am having a wonderful Sunday afternoon all by myself, setting up really for the open house we are having on Christmas night. I sent the three fools off the Mexico...they'll all come back tipsy on those two-fer margaritas. Of course, BOTH grandpa and Paulie claim this shindig has NOT been discussed. Screw'em both for being stupid. I have been making lists, buying stuff, decorating and making stuff for WEEKS. Where the hell have THEY been? I can understand grandpa, he won't wear his hearing aides so he may NOT have heard some of my discussions with him or he's getting senile, but PAUL!?! Foolish goofman. Grandpa made out the guest list for cripes sakes...HE was the one who invited 45 people...I don't KNOW 45 people here....I have been talking menu for days and I get this struck dumb look. OK, dumb and dumber...I wrote it all down and made them READ the menu, where the setup and tables will be, what the drinks were....man, I am NOT happy.

We did pick up Zack on Friday and then had a nice dinner at Chili's. He looks very good, but then the hair thing is a bit unusual for him. He looks like a bearded Josh Groban...but really cute. I'm his mother so I can say that he looks cute!

Yesterday we took him to South Padre Island. Ate at Dirty Al's then took the "tour". The place was deserted, I am not kidding. You would think it would be jammed for Christmas....nope. We also stopped at the micro-brewery and had the sampler. Last night Zack and Paul played Texas hold'em and grandpa went to dinner and the Elks. I watched a tv movie, had two beers and was in bed by 8:30 for heaven's sake.

Well, I am off to make fudge for the party...and later will do my stollen. I still need some little things from the store, but I won't trust the three of them to pick it up for me on the way home...

I was gonna write a nice piece about Christmas but I am a bit on the frustrated side with the "menfolk" and losing what little patience I have left. Mom and Cecil arrive at one tomorrow afternoon...great, the airport is right across from the mall.....can't wait to make that trip.

Merry Christmas from the land of bedlam.

hugs

Dee

Tuesday

I had my third guitar lesson yesterday. I swear it is the most fun I can have on a Monday at 8:30 in the morning! There are between 23 and 28 at any given time, most of us beginners. Yesterday, the gentleman behind me was admiring my L'Boutique Target guitar. When I told him that I had gotten it on clearance for $32 he almost fell off his chair. It certainly isn't the best guitar around, but for a beginner it suits me just fine...and it has a built in tuner and it came with a case! It sounds as good as the rest of the beginners....if I decide to continue, I will look for a better one, but so far, this is it! I can now do FIVE songs...four with the same tune (Honky Tonk Angels has four songs with the same melody) and yesterday we learned.....Blue Eyes Cryn' in the Rain....can ya believe it? I am anxious to do something besides the downward strum, but Tom the instructor has his reasons for us to stick with the simple down stroke until we all understand the concept of timing. We are still working the key of C which has some tricky fingering but I shall persevere. My fingertips hurt like the dickens but I shall survive.

Grandpa is feeling poorly, I think he has that rotten bug that is going around the park. It starts with a fatigue and achy bones thing than slams you to the ground pronto. We have plied him with Zicam and nyquil/dayquil so hopefully he will be running at full speed by the end of the week. Zack gets here on Friday...I am anxious to see him since I haven't seen him since July. I can't wait to see how good he looks 100 lbs thinner either. I bought him some goofy undies like I usually do for Christmas and it was neat to by xl instead of 4x. Mom and Cecil will be here on Monday...at least their flight will be in at one instead of 4...I do have a lesson that morning (hey the guitar class voted and I am not gonna miss a class) so I guess I will just have Paulie and Zack drop me off, they can go have breakfest and then we can go to the airport to pick them up. They have rented a car, but there is NO WAY I am gonna get in the back seat with Mother driving. I wanna live a few more Christmases...maybe she will let Paul drive...then Zack and I can follow in our car. We have a Christmas Eve Party at Bev's...if we get them to Victoria Palms where they are staying which is just down the road from us about a mile, then maybe they can rest and have a bite to eat. There is an IHOP and a Luby's just down the road from them at the Palms. Christmas day will be a simple breakfast here, early because the park dinner is at noon....waaaaaaay to early for my taste. Then, we will be hosting an open house at grandpa's place with lite appetizers and rum and fruitcake. I am making "Mexican hot cocoa" which is really cocoa with cinnamon and some booze, and then some fake egg nog, made with milk and vanilla pudding with real rum and cool whip. I am not doing cookies this year, except Paul's favorite oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip (how very Christmasy his choices are....but who the hell knows where my cookie press is...spritz are MY favorite and I can't have any....saves on the pants size I guess.) I have all these plans in my head to do this and that and wind up just letting it go...I had to have Paul stir the fruitcake batter...I couldn't do it because of the fibro. Days like that really suck.

I am off to the doc's again this afternoon...bladder infection for the like 15th time this year. There is obviously some low level infection going on here that keep rearing it's fugly head. Enough is enough....

I have gotten some pictures from back home of the snow...ooooooh. I feel your pain....it is in the 70's but a bit overcast today...supposed to pop up to 85 and sunny on Friday...but then highs in the upper 60's on Saturday and Sunday. Anything is better than 2 below with a wind chill in the teens...of course, Christmas lights do look lovely covered in the white stuff, but I'll take my palm tree wrapped in twinkle lights and going out to pick an orange off the tree in the back yard.

Hope this finds everyone well, and not to far behind in your Christmas preparations....its only a week away yanno....be done already!!!!!

hugs

Dee

Tuesday

Well, yesterday the poor woman who is to be my new primary care doc got to meet me. I say "poor" cause I don't know if she knows what to make of me yet...all she kept saying was...."really" or "seriously" when we discussed my various afflictions. We did the obligatory blood work, urine test, etc. She did tell me that my cymbalta has probably contributed to my inability to lose that stubborn rotten #)($)(#*$# 20 lbs I have managed to slap on my butt. *Sigh*.

I have been practicing my guitar...my fingers are feeling a bit on the sore side...as the teacher said they would followed up by a "tough, get used to it" comment. I have now learned, well er, shall we say, I can "do" 6 chords. I can sing and play Honkey Tonk Angels, the Kitty Wells version, all by myself with just a bit of fumbling around really really badly. Practice makes perfect so I guess I just have to keep plugging away.

I am still searching for the Christmas spirit. Is there such a thing? I used to have it in freakin' October, now it's hard to come by. Maybe because I can't do the things I used to love to do. Bake, make candy, gingerbread creations, all the stuff that made the holidays so much fun...well fun to eat anyways.

This year I did make a batch of fruitcake...don't know how it will turn out...by the time I had the fruits prepared and soaking in brandy it was a whole week before the cakes were made....thanks to the flu. The raisins had soaked up so much brandy, Paul kept adding more. By the time I added the fruits to the batter the raisins turned it dark! It was ripe right out of the oven!

The tree has finally been finished but Pepi and Snickers have ransacked the town I had so laboriously put together underneath it...rotten flea bitten creatures. I am gonna have Zack fetch it outta there and we'll set it up on a table in the Texas room. We are planning an open house for Christmas night...we never really do too much entertaining during the holidays anymore and I figured folks could use a bite after such an early noontime Christmas Dinner. I will have fruitcake, rum cake, Mexican Hot Cocoa, Christmas punch, and some lite appetizers like sausage balls, hot crab dip, cheese tray, some sliced baked ham and little rolls and maybe a relish tray. I have added a request for Christmas cookies on the invite or a Christmas speciality to be brought along. Should be fun unless Paulie turns into the Grinch again like he usually does.

Well, not much else going on...a cool front has moved in along with some rain and it should be more seasonal....highs only in the low 70's... the hot has been nice tho...with that nice breeze, it really doesn't seem 90 at all...no air, just keeping the windows open lets the cross breeze keeps things comfy.

More later...

hugs

Dee

Wednesday

I am sorry I have been out of it... literally, for four days with the most wicked flu bug I have ever had. Thank goodness it didn't do what it usually does, morph into pneumonia like it normally does. It started Saturday and I finally came back to this world around noon today when the fever broke. I actually did make my guitar lesson on Monday, sitting in a dining hall chair for THREE hours ....but what the heck we learned I have no clue, I was out somewhere circling jupiter. Man. I haven't been this sick since I babysat Janice's kids and I caught pnuemona and laid in bed for four days before one of my "neices" decided to peek into the room I was in to check to see if I was dead yet. Same thing here...I had to call Paul on the freaking phone so he would come in and give me something so I could stop the chills. Zack called and I complained to him and then he called Paul and I guess told him I was really sick and he needed to check on me. I guess it made Paul feel guilty and he did come and check on me more frequently. I guess he thought I just wanted peace and quiet. The first temp he took after I had taken tylenol was 102. I guess he thought I was faking or something, who knows.

Well, Santa Claus is Coming to town is on TV so I gotta go...

hugs

dee

Friday...

Another day lost to the curse of Fibro and Meniere's. I did get the fruit cut up and soaking in brandy for the fruitcakes. I also made a banana bread. By then I was totally useless. The tree is still nekked except for the lights, and to be honest, the look is growing on me, LOL! Hey, I have three weeks to get this decorated right? I also set up the village under the tree, but it really doesn't look good down there. The tree skirt won't let anything stand up strait and that damm fattie Pepi decided he liked the warmth under the tree from the lights and knocked it all down so he could warm himself under the tree. Little p*sser. I will have Paulie move it out from under the tree...I had a bit of a problem getting my arse off the floor between the knees, hips and achy old body, I had to slide on my butt over to the couch and use it to get myself up. Too bad there wasn't a hidden camera, I'd have been the newest hit on You Tube.

I purchased a new photo scanner from Ebay. I bid 47 bucks and won...others older went for 75 to 100 bucks. Think I did ok. It is an Epson and it is designed to do only photos, negatives and slides. You can do four photos at a time and each one will scan as a single jpg. Unlike my visioneer, all photos were lumped into one image and then you had to crop out stuff to make four separate pix. There is an automatic feed for prints available for this, but it is about $150. I could load it with 24 photos and they will automatically feed and scan. I have soooooo many photos, and I have purged them several times. All I want to do is scan the photos onto cd's to make sure we save all of our memories.

The VHS to DVD project is going well...once we learned the correct DVD's to use.
Now all I have to do is find a software program to edit these...I can add music and still pictures and put in titles and stuff. Something to do on those long January nights when TV is so boring.

Paul stood in line for three hours on Wed in order to get tickets the the Weslaco Panthers playoff game. The have won the last two games and are now set to take on San Antonio's champion for some championship. There are several guys here in the park that go to all the games just because they like football. There is a running back on the Panther's that is a phenom...runs like 500 yards per game. He is only 5'7" so I am not sure any big name Texas Univ will take a chance on him, but he is sure to get a full ride scholarship to a smaller Div II school I am sure. This town is absolutely nuts over this game. Signs and posters everywhere. The pep rally last night drew huge crowds and there is a huge tailgate party planned this afternoon...tailgate parties are a bit different here...nachos, tacos, barbarcoa and other TexMex delights will be on the menu. I see how some of the locals eat their nachos....they positively LOAD the entire plateful with jalapeno peppers...just looking at it makes my eyes water and my throat begin burning, LOL!

Well, I guess I better get off my tush and do something around here...I should get all the pictures in one place and set up a work station to begig the scanning process. I will let you all know what happens. You all know how mechanically inclined I really am...

hugs

Dennise