2015 - Day 90/275 - Tuesday...

So...today was an interesting day to say the least.  I will give you bits and pieces of the more interesting parts.  It started with a fire in a warehouse on one of the roads I take into the office every morning.  I could see the flashing lights and all the commotion from the house, but there is a challenge with distance out here on the edge of nowhere.  It turns out this warehouse that was used to store FIREWORKS had caught fire, and when I took this photo the explosives were still going off.  When I came home this afternoon, the HAZ-MAT folks were still there, and the building was still smoldering.

There was a bit more daytime drama with the cattle this afternoon.  The cowboys came back to get Domino late this morning, and before it was all over, he had destroyed more of the truck, ripped all the lights off the trailer, destroyed the gates on the trailer so they could not be secured, gored one the horses and the horse required 150 stitches.  If you want to see what requires 150 stitches on the back end of a horse, let me know and I will send you a couple photos.  Needless to say, I expect by this time (or soon) that Domino the steer is no more.  It is probably a good thing; looking back in time, he had been getting more and more aggressive ever since Mr. Speckles drowned.  I am glad the cowboys were here and brought that behavior out so it could be dealt with, instead of me being surprised one afternoon when I was taking a walk in the pastures.  So, that leaves us with four head of cattle, and the back pastures already look more idyllic.

It was an eventful day, and that is not even all of it, just parts of it.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CRAY CRAY CRAP!, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 89/276 - Monday...

Well, I have to admit that today ended differently that I would have expected.

First off, I made it into the office this morning, and got lots of work done.  There I was, minding my own business, and almost tripped over this cute little child who had (to the best of my knowledge) been abandoned in the hallway adjacent to our front desk.  Upon further observation, it appeared that the child in question was indeed being paid some attention to by a young lady that was in the conference room filling out an application.  I do not know for sure which one of us (me or the child) was more startled.  All my cooing and billing ultimately resulted in nothing more that a crying child.  I have that affect on some people.

Joe and Carolyn (our friends from Mississippi) are visiting for a week to help us celebrate Jody's birthday, and that was exciting to see them when I got home.  I had also received a call earlier in the day that Keith (a real live cowboy) was going to come out and move some cattle.  I had intended to keep five head (which would mean they would haul off five head), and it was really interesting to see them work the cattle on their horses. 

Things did not really go as planned (although I knew pretty much the demeanor of my cattle).  Things looked at first like they would be going well, but ultimately there was a lot of drama, and one of the steers (Domino) decided he would take the opportunity to do bodily harm to one of the bulls that was being taken to the auction barn.

Lots of drama, and I think Domino will be the next to go. 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BABIES and DRAMA, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 88/277 - Sunday...

To many people, high temperatures of 84 degrees would mean they were in the throes of summer.  In central Texas (and particularly on the edge of nowhere) it is just a nice, sunny, cloudless spring day.  Even though I did a nice 25 mile bike ride yesterday, I was not terribly exhausted today, and managed to get a lot of work done, even if much of it was sitting at my desk at home, or going into Georgetown and taking care of chores.

It was indeed a beautiful day here, and the trees are budding out, the Iris are starting to bloom in earnest, and the wisteria up at the road is blooming.  There are lovely sightings of bluebonnets, and I think we will have a great spring for wildflowers.  All in all, who could ask for anything better?

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLEAR SKIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 87/278 - Saturday...

Some things about bike rides never change. The scent of sun-block, the sound of a tire pump coming off the tiny little valve, badly discarded packs of goo, the acknowledgement that 'I have that same jersey at home in a box', and the rows and rows of porta-potties. I did my first big bike ride in October of 1999, and the Rosedale Ride that year was one of my training rides. I rode 25 miles that year in that ride, and again today, I am using this ride as a training ride, and again I did 25 miles (okay, it was really almost 24 miles, but I am rounding up).  It was a beautiful day for a ride (it started out a little chilly), but it made it up to 84 degrees this afternoon. 

I have already had a couple naps, and I think I will pile-up this evening a little earlier than usual.

May I be excused?

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ON YOUR LEFT, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 86/279 - Friday...

It's Friday, so that means I need to try and drive some numbers to the journal. I am also being ridiculed by all sorts of folks for my predisposition to leave two spaces after a period. I am working on that, but I can report very little improvement. There is a lot of truth to old timey sayings:  You can't teach an old dog new tricks, pecking order, there's more than one way to skin a cat, the man in the moon is a lady, when it's tulip time in Holland, two lips are calling me.  Just as examples.

So, I was fortunate to have a Barney sighting, so that is the photo of the day.  Cats, kids and Emily are sure fire ways to drive numbers to the journal.  I wonder if Emily has a pet?  I need to check that out, there could be a triple play if she does, but I don't think so.  I think I would have known.

I am off early tomorrow to participate in the Rosedale ride.  I am gonna be good for about 25 miles.  Wish me luck.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FRIDAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 85/280 - Thursday...

It seems that today is the day for traffic challenges.  I heard that a truck had run into a bridge support about 12 miles or so north of us on IH-35, so on the way home, I was paying very close attention to the traffic reports.  Allegedly, traffic was stopping on the Interstate about 5 miles north of my exit, so there should be no problem with my commute.  Well, that information was incorrect by about 15 miles.  Luckily I was able to sneak past the troopers re-directing traffic, and made it down the service road to my exit with only about a 35 minute delay.  But even before that, there was a wreck on Loop 360 that was causing a few problems, as documented with this photo.  This photo also documents the fact that I am in violation of the hands-free ordinance in the city.  Boo-Hoo.  I think travelling down the road at about 5 miles per hour qualifies as STOPPED.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Otherwise it was a pretty darned pleasant day!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TRAFFIC, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 84/281 - Wednesday...

Home again, and I like it.  I stayed in Austin last night because of late night and early morning meetings.  It is fine (and easier sometimes) to stay in Austin, but I never really sleep that well the first night or two when I am not at home.  I always sleep wonderfully well at home.  Even taking into account the self-medications.

As I alluded to above, there were three meetings one-after-another this morning, beginning at 8:30.  I got to the office about 1:30, did some power real estate, and made it home about 4:30 this afternoon.  I had planned on meeting my friend Steve for a bike ride at 6:30, so there was a lot of coordination going on.  We are doing a charity ride this weekend (Rosedale Ride) and we are planning on doing 25 miles.  I have been on my bike three times this year, and I think Steve has been on his bike twice, but he is a couple decades younger and many pounds lighter than I am.  I do not have a really terrific feeling about the ride, but I am confident that I will make it, complaining all the way.  Oh, that gives me something to look forward to!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BUSY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 83/282 - Tuesday...

I am beat, it is way past my bedtime.  I was in the office most of the day, and got a good bit of work done.  Working on a couple listings, finishing up some this, and some that.  Went to a dinner tonight in downtown Austin, so I am staying in town tonight.  This is a photo from the restaurant, there is a lot of activity over at the Capitol I'll bet!

I have an early morning meeting tomorrow at the Austin Board, so that will make things a lot easier.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BEAUTIFUL DAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 82/283 - Monday...

It was another beautiful day here in central Texas, as evidenced by the veritable plethora of sunshine and beautiful blue skies.  The day did begin with a lot of fog, but once that was gone, it was all sunshine and spider worts!  This little beauty was sticking its' head up down by the road, and it was just screaming for me to document it photographically (or maybe it was screaming because a chicken was scratching around it), but either way, it is now officially the photo of the day for this journal.

The day was made even better because I got to guide folks through a couple classes at the Board this afternoon.  I really enjoy these classes, and I am happy to do it.  In addition, I get to learn stuff as I go, and that is always a good thing.

Pauline brought us some cookies, too, so I will taking full advantage of those for the next several days!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COOKIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 81/284 - Sunday...

Well, for the second full day of Spring, 2015, this day did not suck that badly.  It started off kind of shaky, but ended up pretty nicely.  I was supposed to go and do a ride this morning, but, well, let's just say that did not happen.  I did expend a little bit of energy power washing the back patio and the front porch, and a little bit more cleaning the chicken coop.  I was required to take a nap in between sessions, and that was not the worst thing that could have happened, either.  If I do not get on my bike pretty soon and put in some serious miles, the death certificate will note April 25th as the date of my demise.

It really is a very pretty spring day here on the edge of nowhere.  Lovely clouds and the chickens are content.  Cattle all around are warming themselves in the sun.  Birds are flitting all around, and pretty much all is right with the world.  Just do not turn on the national news.  That will make you want to crawl to the corner in a fetal position.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CRAP, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 80/285 -Saturday...

Between our times of being busy doing absolutely nothing today, Jody and I did take a break and went into Georgetown for lunch.  On the way (we are SO predictable because we do the same things every weekend) we stopped at Berry Creek Park so Jody could feed the boys.  It was still sprinkling a little bit (stopped now and over the last couple days we have received about an inch-and-a-half) but the boys did not mind a bit, and they were all happy to see each other.

After lunch, I went to Walgreen's where I was inoculated for Tetanus, Diph
theria and Pertussis.  So far, no big deal, and now if I step on a rusty nail, I am covered.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SHOTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 79/286 - Friday...

The temperatures have been in the 60s for most of the day today, but now it is raining and it is not supposed to stop until Sunday, and there is a fire in the fireplace, and it is damp, grey and chillish.  The forecasters say there is a chance of up to 8 inches of rain here and there, so that means we will get nothing or we will all be flooded out.  I left the office early this afternoon, thinking the rain was not going to start until the evening, but it was SO MUCH DRIVING RAID ( is it called driving rain because it happened while I was driving?, or is that just a coincidence?) that we were all driving like a bunch of grannies on the expressway.  Usually it is just me, but today I was surrounded by either like minded grannies or freakin' IDIOTS.  I am actually comfortable with either class, but during a precipitation event on an expressway, I tend to lean to the granny side.

It is again going to be too wet to do really any work in the pastures or around the farm this weekend.  It is supposed to be clear Tuesday and Wednesday, but rain chances go up again next weekend.

There will be a lot of wet people at SXSW this final weekend, and I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere that water filled depressions in the earth and electrically powered amplification systems are not compatible.  We shall see.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, RAIN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 78/285 - Thursday...

In the last couple days, I have seen Mountain Laurels blooming, Indian Paintbrush, and Bluebonnets.  I am still a little bit hung up on publishing photos on the same day that I take them, and I got an opportunity to take a couple photos of Bluebonnets this afternoon.  This photo is one of those difficult to categorize ones; part nature and flora, part social commentary.  However you choose to categorize it, I hope you enjoy it.

Today was a lovely day in central Texas, clouds with some occasional sunshine.  Tomorrow it is supposed to begin to rain, and we are under flood warnings beginning at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon until 7 o'clock Saturday evening.  Some areas could get about 8" of rain, I hope they get that much over the lakes.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, VOMIT, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 77/288 - Wednesday...

Today was a veritable gold mine of photographic opportunities, and not just because of the population swollen hordes of great unwashed in town for SXSW.  There were rain photo opportunities, freak opportunities, rainbow opportunities, DOUBLE rainbow opportunities, dozens of beautifully documented cloud sightings, but I settled on this one.  It is not everyday that you see a woman riding a horse down the sidewalk (and going the wrong way, I might add) on Riverside Drive at Travis Heights Boulevard.  Plus, she was leading another horse, not sure where, but there were two horses and only one rider.

If you have followed this journal for a while, you will remember that I was (over six years ago) more prone to post two or three photos a day, and accompanied them with lots of words.  Now, I find I am content with lest verbiage and fewer photos.  I kind of find a photo of the day, and talk about that photo, and I'm done.

Perseverance is the first thing to go.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COWGIRLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 76/289 - Tuesday...

Austin is hemorrhaging people.  Where are these people coming from?  It took me 40 minutes to go about 10 blocks this afternoon.  And the crazy thing was, I chose that route on purpose, thinking that the chaos that I experienced yesterday was just a fluke.  It was not a fluke, and please remind me to take a different path tomorrow.

This was a pretty respectable day.  Two morning meetings (presentations) and I am pretty proud of both of them, even though the immediate results were not overwhelming.  BUT, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with just one step.  I like that, someone write that down, making sure you give me credit for that.  Or cash...I'll take cash for that.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PEOPLE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 75/290 - Monday...

As Mondays go, this one was superior.  I would venture to guess that about 65% of the central Texas population is observing spring break, so they were not commuting somewhere this morning.  HOWEVER, that percentage of the population has been replaced by a great number of unwashed, grunge types from lands far away.  The only real thing they have going for them is (I assume) disposable income.  The streets are overrun by 'beatniks' and unhealthy types trying their best to transport these aliens via pedi-cabs because (I assume) their rent is coming due in a couple weeks.  When it comes to paying rent in Austin, a heart attack or stroke may be a more dignified alternative than being ousted for non-payment.  Maybe. 

Anyway, the corporate types and the celebrity types are all here (although I have not seen any of them, mainly because I am in bed by the time they make it out) and we (okay, I) suspect they are all vampires.  They only come out at night.  A&E has redone a place on Cesar Chavez to resemble the Bates Motel façade, and that is pretty cool (originally reported by Chris).  All kinds of trendy things are trending in central Texas right now, but very little promotion for a good LuAnn Platter.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SXSW, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 74/291 - Sunday...

I got a lot of crap done at the farm today, but the one thing I wanted to do did not get done.  I went and got a new battery for the lawn tractor and got it started, but the blades will not engage now, so I am still stuck in the tall grass.  I still cannot get the walk-behind mower to start either, so I am just gonna call it a day on the grass cutting.  I did manage to get the chicken coop cleaned out, got two bales of hay taken out to the cattle, went and surveyed the continuing decomposition of Mr. Speckles.  There were seven vultures playing pinochle out there on the carcass this morning when I went back there.  I also managed to get the tractor stuck, unstuck and almost stuck again before I finally decided I was done with the tractor in the wet clay.

I also cleaned my bike, vacuumed both cards, broke down a bunch of boxes and generally did a little more this and that.  I have some seeds to plant tomorrow night before the rains begin again on Tuesday.  The rain will help out tremendously, but the mud tends to get things kind of 'mucked up'.  But, this too shall pass and we will be asking for more rain before you know it.  One good thing about the rain that is supposed to start on Tuesday, it looks like it might bring some rain to the hill country where we hope it will send some water into the lakes.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TALL GRASS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

20105 - Day 73/292 - Saturday...

So, I did it.  I actually did it.  I got up this morning, fixed me and Jody a pile of eggs (down to seven versus nine when the Boy Dog shared eggs with us), did a few chores (change ac filters, replaced batteries in the under counter lamps in the kitchen) and went for a bike ride.  I rode from the house to the Walburg Restaurant and back, close to 15.5 miles (but who's counting).  I got back to the house and immediately took to the blue chair.  Not too shabby for an old guy, but I need to keep at it for my Rosedale ride at the end of this month, and then the 50 mile ride at the end of April with the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.  If you guys want to ride with me, let me know, and get it in the saddle!

After a little nap, Jody and I headed into town (close but no cigar).  I needed a new bike bib, since the vermin had used my last one for nesting materials.  A bib and a battery for my bike computer.  Tomorrow I think I will do a shorter ride (no sense killing myself) and then there will be plenty of work to get done around the house.

I put air in the tires of the riding mower, but cannot get it started.  I put the charger back on the battery.  I tried the walk-behind mower, and I could not get that one started either.  Ratso!  But, tomorrow is another day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEW BIB, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 72/293 - Friday...

South By SouthWest (hereinafter referred to as SXSW) is kind of like a former boyfriend or girlfriend.  With the passing of time (supposebly (that's for Jonathan)), lots of the crap parts fade and all is left is the good memories.  Then you see the aforementioned boy/girlfriend, and you remember why you left in the first place.  The crazy crap (and in the case of SXSW, the crazy crap is really crazy crap) comes flooding back to reality, and all you con do is moan in low tones so as not to draw attention to yourself and hope for a quick and painless end.  It is kind of like the worst family Thanksgiving you ever had, a festival forever stuck in the dark recesses of your psyche, that bubbles up to the surface occasionally, triggered by a commercial on the television, the thought of which makes you excuse yourself and retire to your bed with the covers pulled up over your head until once again the sun shines.  That is kind of like SXSW.  The town is full of crazies, but the sun is shining and otherwise it is a lovely day in central Texas.  Only two more weeks to go!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CRAZIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 71/294 - Thursday...

The sun came out in Austin today, and everyone has been (okay, not everyone, and not me for part of the day) has been in a much better mood.  I was still having some residual affects of the grey Seattle weather, but my spirits improved greatly as the day progressed.  The chickens and I cut my toe nails out on the back patio, that was fun, and the cat enjoyed laying in the grass under a bush, keeping the property safe from avian intruders.  Life is good!

A couple accomplishments at the Board today, then some accomplishments at the office, then some accomplishments outside the office.  All in all, not a bad day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SUNSHINE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 70/295 - Wednesday...

This is a photo of a group of friends and colleagues at a TREE (Texas Real Estate Education) Forum that was held tonight and that also benefited TREPAC.  The entire event was scheduled, and planned by my friend David S (see photo).  He got all the sponsors, Forum participants, booked the room, EVERYTHING.  It is totally incredible what ONE PERSON can do.  My hat is off to you David, thank you for your hard work and for all your dedication!  Pictured are Brandon, Kenya, DAVID, Moi, Barb and Becky.  It was a great forum full of great information, and I am proud that you are my friend!

Other than that it was a pretty quiet day of office work, a little bit of shopping and some preparation for tomorrow appointments and the rest of the week.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DAVID S, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 69/299 - Tuesday...

This do in remembrance of the Boy Dog.  RIP my dearly beloved BOBO Head.  RIP to the big Bear guy.  You will indeed be missed.

We were never sure how this wonderful dog ended up in the Williamson County shelter, but there he was.  When we first moved into this house, we started talking about getting another dog.  I checked out the shelter sight, and there he was.  I was immediately attracted to him because he was a "leaner", in the photo he was leaning against someone's leg.  A few weeks later, we went to the shelter and there he was.  It was fate.  He was the best dog we have had since we lived here.  All the dogs we have had were the best dogs.  But the BOBO was a talker too.  He talked.  I never had a dog that could talk.  Maybe you could not understand him, but Jody and I knew exactly what he was saying, and it was always something good, it was always something appreciative.

He was a happy boy with us, but he was especially happy with Jody.  Everyone I know wants to be reincarnated as Jody's dog.  Excuse me while I finish this and have a good cry.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BOBO, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 68/297 - Monday...

Well, it seems the rain event has come to a close, and we have totaled 1.94" of rain in the last two days.  There will be a little more in the gauge tomorrow morning when I empty it, but there is no more rain predicted in the seven day forecast.  The unfortunate thing is that this was another "no rain where we need it" event.  Everything was mainly east of the lakes and reservoirs, so we still are at only about 30% capacity in the lakes.  We still REALLY need rain west of Austin.

The chickens are soggy, the ground is soggy, I was reduced to wearing sensible shoes to the office today.  The fields out here are flooded, there will be no plowing of tractor work for weeks, there is nothing worse than abandoning a tractor in a field.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WET, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 67/298 - Sunday...

If it's Sunday, this must be Portland. As much as I would love to say that this photo was taken today during a break in the clouds that allowed the sun to shine through for a few minutes, I just cannot allow myself to stretch the truth that much. It would make my complaining seem much less worthy, and I am all about the complaining! There has been no sun today. There has been no break in the bleak, overcast, drizzly skies. It has taken all day for us to (so far) receive 0.12" or precipitation. I was out of the house at 7:30 this morning to meet some very good friends and show them a couple houses. It started to drizzle in earnest when I got to Georgetown, and I cannot remember if it has quit or not all day long.

I did stop on the way home at the Natural Gardener, a locally owned long-time Austin tradition in native and hearty local species. I bought two climbing rose bushes to put at the trellis that we have, for the past two or three seasons, failed to get Passion Vines to grow. These climbing roses are supposed to be much easier to grow considering things like clay soil and chickens.

It is supposed to rain for the next few days, it would be nice, as long as we are being inconvenienced with the rain, if a little bit of it would fall over he lakes. Is that asking too much?

I have gone back as best I could, and corrected my double spaces after the periods.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLOUDS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 66/299 - Saturday...

If it could be spring, I sprung it.  If it could be hauled, I hauled it.  If it could be sprained, I sprained it.  Nothing broke however, to the best of my knowledge.

I started the day off with breakfast (it is Saturday after all), and then it was off to the pasture to check on the cattle, take them a bale of hay (before the rains begin for the next several days), took a ride back to check on the decomposition of Mr. Speckles.  Interesting, the predators started at the back end and are working their way towards the front.  If you want documentation of this, send me a message and I will be happy to forward you photographic proof.  Then it was off to the feed store for chicken feed, and bird seed and pine shavings for the nesting boxes.  A quick stop at the post office to post some mail, and then to the gas station to get two five-gallon tanks of diesel for the tractor and the Polaris.  Then it was home for a quick nap, then off to Berry Springs Park for a truck load of fire wood.  Then home and changed into a lovely spandex ensemble and back to Berry Springs to meet my friend Steve and we did about a 10 to 12 mile ride.  That was my first ride in almost two years, and I have committed to a 50 mile ride in about seven weeks.  We have both signed up for the Rosedale ride as well, which is the end of March.  When I got home, I unloaded (most of) the firewood in the truck.  Then I reset the five thousand or so clocks in the house so I can "spring forward".  Now I am done.

Sorry Jill, I have failed at only leaving one space after the period, but I see no creeks or rivers.  Maybe the eyesight is going first.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FIRST RIDE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 65/300 - Friday...

At this time Sunday evening, it will be (almost) eight o'clock, and the chickens will be declaring victory.  In the summer time, the later the chickens go to bed, the later I go to bed.  Not fair.  I can tell you that those girls are in no big hurry to go to bed.  Who can blame them, there are lots more bugs out in the spring, summer and fall months.  And there is a lot more day light.  I do not understand this extra hour of sunlight crap.  How come all the crops don't burn up?  I don't get it.  Where was that extra hour hanging out all during the winterish
months?  Vera tried to explain it all to me this afternoon while I was out there gathering eggs and reading meters, but she finally gave up.  She thinks she is Sheldon and I am Penny.  I am smarter than I let on.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, DAY LIGHT SAVING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 64/301 - Thursday...

In an effort to prove that I am not able to learn new tricks, I am going to try my very best to put only one space after the periods in this journal entry. I have to confess to my friend Jill, others have tried in the past to reform me to the one space thing, and they have failed big time. Also, I like rivers and creeks in my paragraphs. It gives me something to do when my ADD kicks in and I find the prose to be boring. We shall see how this all works out. No promises. So far it looks like one giant run-on sentence.

Thank goodness for paragraphs!

This is what happens (see photo) on a 'snow-day' in Austin (or places close to the edge of nowhere). The sun comes out, the temperatures reach the low to mid 40s, the traffic to and from Austin is tolerable, and people in the frozen lands make fun of us. AND, little snowballs (who answer to the name of Olive) show up at the office. I think it was 'take your olive to the office' day.  Perfect.

Regardless, I was able to get a lot of work done, and crossed many items off my to-done list.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SNOWBALLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 63/032 - Wednesday...

The weather forecast says it will get down to 28 degrees overnight, and there is a good chance there will be some freezing precipitation in the area.  School Districts within a 500 mile radius of Austin have already announced they will e closed tomorrow, and there is not a loaf of bread or donut to be had in an HEB.  There is a chance of 1/10" of an inch of snow in the hill country, and people are already slapping their children out of fear that they will be house bound until noon tomorrow.  We have not seen a ray of sunshine in the last six weeks, and I am thinking of volunteering for the one-way Mars mission.  It cannot be any worse than what we are experiencing, and the forecast for the next twelve hours make a forty-five year trip to points unknown looks pretty inviting.  At least there would be stars.

We were down to our last vestiges of firewood for the stove, so on the way home this afternoon I stopped at one of the road-side fire sellers and bargained; $50 for $60 worth of firewood.  That was supposed to (at $1 per piece) give me 60 pieces of wood, which should get me through the rest of this week, when I can get over to my usual fire wood place.  I got cheated out of two pieces of fire wood.  What in the hell is happening in this world?  That will teach me for trying to negotiate.  On the other hand, perhaps the moral to the story is, don't try to negotiate with people that cannot count.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FIRE WOOD, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 62/303 - Tuesday...

And now for something even more different than before...

Giant Flesh-Eating Devil Chickens roamed North Dakota!  Ten-foot-tall Satan Fowl prowled aptly named Hell Creek...The middle of North America was overrun by terrifying swarms of enormous flesh-eating demon chickens about 66 million years ago, "scientists" have declared.

It was a giant raptor, but with a chicken-like head and presumably feathers.  The animal stood about ten feet tall, so it would be scary as well as absurd to encounter.  They jokingly called this thing the 'chicken from hell'.

Three partial skeletons of the dinosaur - almost making up a full skeleton - were excavated from the uppermost level of Hell Creek rock formation in North and South Dakota, a formation known for abundant fossils of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops.  The new dinosaur was 11 1/2 feet long, almost 5 feet tall at the hip and weighed an estimated 440 to 660 pounds.  W are talking about some serious drumsticks here!

Unlike the inoffensive, tiny chickens of today (except for Vera, of course) the demonic gobblers did not restrict their diets to bits and bobs pecked out of the dirt in front of them.  I am told they ate vegetation, small animals and maybe eggs.  Had there been HOmoSapiens around at the time, I expect they would have been on the menu as well!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHICKENS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

·SWINGBELLIES! Take heed! Drinking WINE is good for your LIVER

·Major US news organisations to develop ROBOT JOURNALISTS

·ALIENS are surely AMONG US: Average star has TWO potentially Earth-like worlds

2015 - Day 61/304 - Monday...

Sorry, the Complaint Department is closed.  We will be open during normal business hours tomorrow, 8AM until 5PM Singapore time.  For your convenience, we do take complaints electronically; simply log-on to www.DoYouThinkIGiveACrap.com.  If you choose to complain to us electronically, it may take a week or two to reach us, since I just bought the domain name a few minutes ago.  IT'S MINE!  You can also direct a complaint to us via e-mail.  Please address your complaint to I'mNotReallyPayingAttention@DoYouThinkIGiveACrap.com.  Your complaint will receive the attention it deserves whenever we get around to it.  Valid complaints are discarded first, and lesser complaints will be discarded at some time in the future.  Let me now provide you with a list of complaints I dealt with today.

It took me 4 hours and 15 minutes to get to my office this morning.  By the time I was informed that an 18-Wheeler ran over a car, flipped on to its' side and caught fire, I was at the point of no return.  I was trapped.  Nothing for me to do, but call everyone in the world that might just possibly be awake and/or not at work.  I took a series of 'selfies', read the Austin Business Journal TWICE, played a series of games of solitaire and took a brief nap.  I have not seen any reports or injury or death because of this accident, I hope there was none, but they were still clearing, cleaning and repairing the Interstate when I returned home this evening.

Then I got to my office, tried to log-on to a banking site, and was informed that it was time for me to re-set my password.  I did not want to re-set my password, but I was forced to.

Then I went to swap lock boxes at the Board.  This is not a complaint, but merely an observation.  By the time I arrived, I was in a stupor and resigned to the fact that this would be like standing in line at the Post Office around the Holidays.  The observation part is, the more cheerful I became, the more unhappy the people around me became.  Honestly, in the grand scheme of things, the 2 hours and forty minutes I spent swapping lock boxes was inconsequential.  We do that about every eight years, and it is never something we look forward to.  BUT, we are all better for it.  No complaining here.

I only got six eggs today.

It is rainy, cold, foggy, cloudy, grey and unpleasant.

Have a great evening.

Deed, Actions, Changes, COMPLAINTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2015 - Day 60/305 - Sunday...

And now for something completely different...

I made it home from Scottsdale this afternoon.  I changed my flight from a 4 o'clock arrival to an 11 o'clock (in the morning) arrival.  Getting home at 4 in the afternoon is just too late, even if I did have to change planes in El Paso AND pay an upcharge for the privilege.  I really need to quit making these last minute flight changes (or the weather folks need to quit causing issues that result in cancelling flights).  Whatever, I am home, all is good, and I could not be happier.  This is a picture I took from above the clouds.  It is VERY unlike me to take a window seat, but I did on the last leg of the flight, and it was really kind of nice.  I think I might do it more often.  It is much easier sleeping next to the window than it is on the aisle.

I started working another contract while I was in Scottsdale, and it turned into a multiple offer situation, and that is all done now, and I know at least four sets of people are satisfied with the decision.

This week will have its' busy moments and then its' ordinary moments.  Overall, a good week coming up though.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLOUDS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!