2018 - Day 90/275 - Saturday...1720...

Finally I found a place to stop and take a photo of Bluebonnets. It seems like there will be a good crop this year, and people are saying it is because of the recent rains. That certainly has not hurt, but the Bluebonnets thrive when there are fall rains, and we had a couple good fall rains. They are lush along some of the roads, and there have been a few sightings of Indian Paintbrush and Indian Blankets as well. Lovely.

Who knew that the riding lawn mower (that we have had for about six years now) had a parking break on it. I didn't. I picked up the lawnmowers yesterday after they were serviced, and this morning I decided to move them off the trailer. The rider started just like a jewel, but I could not get it to budge. It was like the clutch was frozen. It ran wonderfully, but I could not get it to move. Finally about four o'clock this afternoon, the man from the repair shop called me back (he was the second guy to call me) and asked if the parking brake was on. What parking brake. Oh, that orange thing? I have wondered for years what that was for, but I had no idea. Dumbass!

I planted about 250 bulbs today; elephant ears by the creek, gladiolus, lilies...I think that's it. 210 lilies, 70 glads and the rest elephant ears. Tomorrow I will water. The only other thing I have to do tomorrow is to water the bulbs, clean the chicken coop and take hay to the cattle.

Easy!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PARKING BRAKE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 89/276 - Good Friday...1721...

I kept forgetting that today was Good Friday. I would think of it (traffic was not horrible this morning) and then I would not think of it for a while. The phones were not really ringing in the office, and then I would think of it again. I left the office this afternoon about 12:30, and made a couple stops on the way home. Once I got home, I hooked the trailer up to the truck and went into Georgetown and picked up both the lawn mowers after having them serviced. That kind of opens up a lot of time for me on Saturday.

I also bought some bulbs today that will be planted tomorrow; elephant ears for over by the creek, gladiolus (there has been one poor lonely gladiola in one of the beds for the last nine years), some day lilies and I think that is about it. I may have some other stuff out there, but that is what I can think of right now.

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

2018 - Day 88/277 - Thursday...1729...

Today will go down as the reptile day, although I first had to determine if a turtle is a reptile or not, and having satisfied myself that a turtle is indeed a reptile, I decided to refer to today as reptile day. On my way home this afternoon, I saw a turtle crossing the road, which makes one ponder to oneself 'why did the turtle cross the road'? If the response is something like 'to see if it can make it without some redneck in a truck using it for target practice', you might be right. I think it was the old sage Jeff Foxworthy that said 'You might be a redneck IF you run over turtles on the road with your pick-up truck', but I am not 100% sure of that. At any rate, I did take a photo of the turtle prior to my giving it a boost to the other side of the road (always put them on the side of the road in which they were heading). After dinner tonight, I was loading the dishwasher, and Jody told me to go look out the window; and there was a rat snake on one of the patio chairs looking for an entry point into the house. I donned a pair of gloves, grabbed the snake (a particularly slow moving snake), snapped a couple photos for good measure, and flung it across the fence to one of the neighbors pastures. No harm done, and hopefully it will live to kill a rat another dy. It looked pretty healthy if I do say so myself!

REPTILE DAY.

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

2018 - Day 87/278 - Wednesday...1721...

The worst part of the rains overnight and today (we received almost 3") was trying to get the girl dogs outside to pee. Interestingly, these girl dogs have no fear of rain, thunder or lightning, and I don't understand that either, but they are afraid to get their feet wet. I could get them out onto the back deck, but it was really not to their liking that I was insistent on them getting off the deck and considering the bladder relief I was longing for. Nope, they had no interest in that at all. Finally, later in the day, during a brief reprieve from the rain, Jody got them outside where they finally did what I was trying to get them to do for a good while this morning.

Otherwise, it rained most of the day, and it is supposed to clear up and be lovely now through the weekend. Perfect. The repair shop called and told me both the lawn mowers were ready to be picked up, and I just hope I don't get the truck stuck in the wet ground.

We shall see...

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

2018 - Day 86/279 - Tuesday...1740...

We planted some poppy seeds last spring, and some of them have come up, and some of them have not yet. The bluebonnet seeds have not done a thing, but there is always next year. I like poppys, especially when the beds are full of them. beautiful. The thing is is to let them dies back, and then take them out, after they have reseeded...and next year they should be fuller. I have never really paid close attention to them is the early stages, so I had no idea that they were hairy little boogers. Interesting.

I am not sure if I mentioned that all the chickens are now in the big girl coop. The littlest ones are not too excited about being in there, but they don't have much choice. They are not joining the others on the roosts yet, but that will al be taken care of in the next months or so...once the pecking order gets established, and they all know their respective places.

I plants several packages of morning glories up by the front barn, I am hoping they will grow up around the chickens pen outside the coop. That would be interesting...and hopefully they will grow better with a little bit of relief from the full sun.

We are supposed to have some heavy rain over the next 24 hours or so, so I hope all the seeds don't get washed away. So far we have had a brief little drizzle, less than 1/10".

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

2018 - Day 85/280 - Monday...Status Quo...

This wreck was not even on my side of the expressway, but traffic had come to a near dead-stop, just so folks on my side of the expressway could gawk and take photos. How terribly uncouth of them. I hate people who have no couth.

It was a really good day (so far), and there was a good sense of accomplishment on my end. I got lots of things crossed off my 'To Done' list. It's at times like these that I really can't remember anything that I accomplished today, but I know for sure that I got a lot of things done, and that is a good thing.

I attended an HOA meeting tonight that went on A LOT longer than I had anticipated, and I am just about to go snoozy-bye...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SLOW DOWNS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 84/275 - Sunday...1731...

Today was a really good day, if I do say so myself. Up early, coffee, eggs, newspaper. And then working in the yard. There are lots of things to get done, including potting the plants that we bought yesterday. There is a threat of rain in the meddle of the week, but almost everything has been watered. If I did not water, and relied on the weather forecasts to plan on, it would never rain. This way, most everything has been watered, so if it rains, so much the better. It was kind of dribble most of the day, but I doubt that there was anything more than a trace. The transplanted Iris are beginning to bloom, and the other bulbs I planted are doing well. I potted some petunias and some geraniums, so I hope those things will do okay. My tomato plants are doing well, but they don't seem to be getting any bigger really.

All the chickens are in the big coop now. All 21 of them. There are challenges here and there, but that is just part of being a chicken.

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

2018 - Day 83/282 - Saturday...1742...

I visited another Austin icon that I will never (most likely) visit again. The Light Bulb Shop on Burnet. They are closing their doors, another (I assume) sign of progress. I think it was just time for them. The building and property has been sold, no immediate plans for use of the property, most likely just gonna sit on the property and see what kind of development potential comes along. Buck Moore Feeds called it quits a couple months ago, there is no telling which long time business will be next.

I had three appointments this morning, and that turned into four before it was all over. I was back by about 2:30, and Jody and I sent into Georgetown and had some lunch. Then we stopped at Home Depot and I got some annuals to give us more color around the property. Not like we don't have enough color already, but we have some pots that need filling, and I can always find an empty spot here and there that is absolutely SCREAMING for something to fill the space. Tomorrow will be a day of watering (started today), and planting the things I bought today, and transplanting some stragglers that did not make the move last summer.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BRIGHT IDEAS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 82/283 - Friday...1771...

Home again, home again, jiggly jig... It is late but I made it home from Houston (far south Houston). Traffic was crazy. Just because you have seven lanes of traffic going in one direction does not mean that the traffic is going anywhere fast. It is not. The day was a good one, the class and the folks attending the class were fun, and both sides of the deal learned some things and had some take-aways from the class. Mission accomplished.

I will go sit in the big chair in a couple minutes and watch some news, have a popsicle, and then go to bed. I have two appointments in the morning, so I will need to leave the house around 9 to make it to both of them with a little bit of a 'time cushion'. No problem.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLASS CLOWNS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 81/284 - Thursday...Stagnant...

It was a long, but a really fun day. I enjoy instructing classes, and especially when I get to do it in an environment that is different than my usual one. I am in Houston, guiding a class, and the attendees are great, fun, ready to laugh and learn at the same time. There are a few differences in scheduling and things, but overall, I enjoyed the class, the attendees and the day. This is a photo taken of the class, almost the first thing after I introduced myself! FUN!

After the class, I met up with Jim, and we went out and had dinner, and then we went to visit with Bonnie in the library where she works. She was covering for another staff member, but we were able to have a nice meet-up and enjoyed our short, quick visit. Thanks to Jim for taking me around and showing me some parts of this side of Houston.

Thanks.

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

2018 - Day 80/285 - Wednesday...Stagnant...

IMHO, this does not look like the face of somebody that is smart enough to manufacture a sophisticated bomb. That is just my humble opinion. It just does not make sense. How is it possible that someone so smart is also so stupid as to drop packages off at a FedEx storefront (wearing a really bad wig)? How is that possible? I have absolutely no idea. I am certain though, that in the next several weeks we will know more about this young man than we need to. Another one of my humble opinions is, we need to shut this down right now, never show his image again, never say his name again, and pretend that he never existed. It is not worth our combined times. Im my humble opinion, I can think of nothing better we can do at this point, than to deny him his 15 minutes of fame.

Evans out...

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

2018 - Day 79/286 - Tuesday...

Today was a better day all around, although I did not sleep that well last night (anxiety hangers-on), but today was just fine, and the rest of the week will be a piece of cake, although cake is not on my restricted foods list.

Whatever...

The wisteria up by the road is doing very nicely. The perfume of the wisteria is absolutely intoxicating, and when I was up there checking meters this afternoon when I got home, it was really intense. It is interesting to me that everything is smelling better to me this year. Jonquils, daffodils, Mountain Laurels, wisteria; everything has a more intense odor to me, and I love it. So far the allergic reactions are not driving me crazy either, so that is a good thing.

Unless you have had your collective heads in a hole, you are aware of the person or persons that are placing package bombs around the city. We have now reached the point where there are suspected to be 'copy-cat-bombers', which is just exactly what we need. There is not enough crazy in the world, we have a person (or persons) that are blowing things (and people) up.

Crazy! And you can't fix stupid!

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

2018 - Day 78/287 - Monday...1749...

This photo does not really do justice to the bulbs that I planted last fall, and that are just now coming up. The grape hyacinths were (in my opinion) underwhelming, but these are really pretty. The other bulbs have not really done anything yet, but it is still early. The Iris are beginning to bloom, and up by the road are some wisteria that are taking off. I stopped and bought some supplemental frangipani the other day since not all of them that Mike brought us last year survived. Delicate little bastards!

Unfortunately, it was a typical Monday. Items that I had worked on all weekend proved to be for naught, meetings I was supposed to attend went unattended, appointments I was scheduled to have were cancelled, computer programs were not working properly, printers were not printing properly. It was just one of those days. But in the end, I had some great advice, so great counseling and I was shown extreme kindnesses by a person I consider a friend, and I was talked down off the edge.

Overall, the day turned out just fine. No issues.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BULBS, Kindnesses, Whirled Pes, FUN!

2018 - Day 77/288 - Sunday...1752...

The rains overnight (about 1.1") and the little bits of rain we got today (more than a trace) opened up my day very nicely, and I got to spend time doing things that would otherwise have been interrupted by the timer on my cell phone going off and me needing to go and move hoses, sprinklers, etc. Wonderful! I did manage to get lots of chores done around the house, and even put together this marvelous fountain that I got from Costco last week. I really like this fountain, although I an not 100% convinced that this spot on the porch is its' final resting spot. If I leave it here, I want to get another one for the symmetry of the whole thing. I really wanted one that I could put out in the crushed grant walk, and that may be the place that it ends up, I will just need to play with it for a while and see where it lands.

But I like it very much.

All is done for this weekend, and I am about to go and head for the big blue chair.

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

2018 - Day 77/288 - Saturday...1775...

As I write this, it is raining outside. Wonderful!This particular photo was taken about three hours ago and the weather folks were predicting no rain for us, but rain for the folks north and east of us. I don't care about the forecasters, we are just glad we got some rain. I will let you know how much we get in another post. I did do a little bit of watering this morning, not a lot because I had three appointments, the first one was at 10 a.m. I made it home by about 2:30, and after a little bit, Jody and I went into Georgetown for lunch and to pick up some things at Tractor Supply. The great thing is, there is nothing better than rain, and the other great thing is that I will not have to water tomorrow. That opens up a LOT of time for me.

Otherwise, all is good out here, the chickens are happy, Jody is happy, I am happy. There is a lot of happy going around.

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

2018 - Day 75/290 - Friday...1753...

Friday, Spring Break, SXSW=Wrecks on MoPac at high noon. Kay, Tosalyn and I went to an estate sale this afternoon, it is kind of a Friday afternoon thing we all like to do. We bought nothing. Occasionally we will buy something, but nothing today. I kind of like it just to get inside different houses. And then there is all the stuff. I like rummaging through other peoples stuff. I like it, plus there is always the chance that I am going to buy that million dollar item for fifty cents. That is what I really want to do. This wreck was encountered on the way back to the office. If it is not a wreck, it s someone putting packages on someone else's front porch and blowing them up. Craziness happening in the Live Music Capitol of the World.

Crazy.

Someone told me today that they wished they could just work all weekend. I told her she should get her real estate license. It is Friday, and I am looking forward to the weekend. I have three appointments tomorrow, and then I have some preparation for some classes I will be guiding next week, and then I have some work to do in the yard. That will pretty much cover it.

BUT...to and from the appointments, there is always the chance that I will run into a yard sale!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WRECKS, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 74/291 - Thursday...1758...

Beware the Ides of March...

Just saying'...

The sky was not really red this afternoon on my way home, but it looked like it from the rearview camera. We are back to the cycle of clouds, although the day started out sunny and clear. I don't think there is any real chance of rain until Sunday, and only slightly then, but I expect the clouds to be with us until Monday or Tuesday. It will be close to 90 for the next couple days, so the clouds could have a redeeming value. Time will tell.

Otherwise, not much to tell. I did get to Costco on the way home this afternoon. That is always an experience, and gives me an opportunity to feel superior to the folks that act as if they will die of starvation if they fail to get a wiener on a toothpick. Damn the shopping carts, full speed ahead. Oh, sorry, I am in the middle of War and Remembrance. Getting ready for the Battle of Midway.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, RED SKY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 73/292 - Wednesday...1773...

Last year I was appointed to a committee that makes my membership sound like I am more important than I really am, The Texas Association of REALTORS® Public Policy Committee on Business Issues. Whew! Sounds impotent! Or Important, not sure which. Anyway, I was honored to attend the meeting today with several of my REALTOR® colleagues from across the state. Good thing happening means good planning and good execution of the plan. Happy to be a part of this.

Happy Pi Day everyone, and my friends Casey and Jaime welcomed their son today, just after noon I believe. A really happy occasion for a really wonderful couple. I could not be happier for them, and know they are happy as they can be as well.

Spring break is still in full tilt, and any benefits we would ordinarily derive from that lack of populace is removed by the influx of freaks attending SXSW. It's fun, I am not going to say it's not, but there is plenty of congestion without all that. A little break for those of us that are not spring breakers would be a nice thing to happen.

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

2018 - Day 72/293 - Tuesday...1775...

Overall, not a bad day. I checked a few items off my 'to done' list, and that is always a satisfaction. I also added a few items to my 'to done' list, but overall I think it was a net gain on the accomplishment side of the ledger.

My watering schedule is taking shape, and it is not as hectic as it was last year. Things are much more under control, and that is a good thing. It is amazing how flora react to water. It is also amazing that it took me until last year to figure that out. I guess I thought the landscaping would survive on the rains, but that is kind of an oxymoron here in central Texas. It is either drought or flood, there is really no in between.

The Mountain Laurel that was here when we bought the house (closing in on nine years) did better last year than it had ever done, and it is doing even better this year. Mountain Laurels remind me of the first summer I moved to Austin in 1985; every chance I had, I would stop and take a deep breath of the perfume. It smells just like grape bubble gum. It wasn't too long after that that I got my first taste of central Texas allergies as well. They go hand-in-hand; flora and allergies.

The allergies are not as bad as they used to be, and that is progress.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MOUNTAIN LAUREL, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 71/294 - Monday...1783...

I hate Daylight Saving Time. I may have mentioned that in previous journal entries. Not sure. Today was the first work day after (grudgingly) converting to the dreaded DST. I had an 8 o'clock appointment this morning, which meant I needed to leave the house by 6:30 in order to compensate for traffic. Which meant I needed to get up at 5 a.m. (really 4 a.m.) in order to accomplish my goal. The girl dogs were not even ready to get up, so you know for sure I wasn't ready! I did manage to leave the house on time, and made it to my appointment early. I had not taken into consideration that this was the first day of Spring Break, so traffic was not quite as crazy.

Breakfast was with our US 35th District Representative Lloyd Dogged. We generally meet up with the Congressman twice or three times a year; usually a couple times in Austin and once in D.C. Always a nice meeting, always interested in what is going on in our District, and always open to hear challenges we are encountering. Fun to meet with him and our volunteers and staff Socar, Tami, Robert and Jeni.

Anice start to the week.

I asked the Congressman where I could get a brooch like his...but it doesn't look like I'll be getting one...

Oh, and the city is full of freaks. SXSW is in full swing.

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

2018 - Day 70/295 - Sunday...1779...

The Callie girl stuck to me like glue whenever I was in the blue chair today. We took a couple good naps together, and she decided next to me was the place to be.

There were not nearly as many chores on the list today. I hate Daylight Saving Time. Just saying. We got up late (according to Daylight Saving Time) and read the paper and had coffee. I made breakfast, and then went outside to do a couple things. I took hay to the cattle, cleaned the chicken coop, planted four tomato plants, hooked the trailer up to the truck, loaded the riding mower on the trailer and put the wake behind mower in the truck bed. I am hoping to be ahead of the curve on getting the mowers serviced and ready for spring and summer. I am also threatening to but a new riding mower. Threat and reality are close to the same thing in my vocabulary.

The girls that I moved into the coop last night survived with no obvious damage. This evening, they were back in their little girls coop, so I had to move them back into the big girls coop. I have a new plan for tomorrow evening, so we shall see if it works.

I hate Daylight Saving Time.

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

2018 - Day 69/296 - Saturday...1770...

Is there a Merit Badge for cutting grass? How about changing the batteries in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors? Chickens? Is there a Merit Badge for keeping chickens? Can I get a Merit Badge for ANYTHING? I really think I deserve one. It was 90 degrees on the edge of nowhere today, and the high temperature is expected to be 65 degrees tomorrow. 90 degrees is a more than acceptable temperature for this area in the summer, but it is still winter here. Not even spring yet. 65 degrees is totally acceptable for that grey period of time between winter and spring, but 90 degrees is pushing it a bit. I watered beds today, not all of them but about 40 percent of them. I should finish the rest of them tomorrow. I cut grass today, not all of it, not even most of it, but some of it; the dog run and the other side of the creek. But that was something. AND the biggest of the littlest chicks have been put into the coop with the big girls tonight.

They had their first taste of free-ranging today, and they all did really well. I will put the other seven chicks in with the big girls in about another two weeks, no reason to rush it.

Hopefully it will rain a little bit in the next couple days, but maybe not.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BULBS BLOOMING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 68/297 - Friday...1783...

I am not sure if these clouds are foretelling a rain event over the weekend or the ominous fruition of Daylight Saving Time. I am more afraid of the latter than I am of the former. The latter will actually last about seven or eight months, and the former will only SEEM like it will last that long. I am not a fan of Daylight Saving Time, and I may have mentioned that in earlier journal entries.

It is Friday, and South By Southwest has hit town again, and once again the city is full of freaks. Traffic is already horrific in central Texas, and this is not helping the situation.

I am expecting to enjoy the weekend, and it officially begins NOW.

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

2018 - Day 67/298 - Thursday...1782...

The girls went to the beautiful parlor this morning. It had been two months. The piglet girl (Lexie) could care less about her haircut. Callie, on the other hand, is NOT a happy camper. Her remarks are along the line of Have you taken a good look at me and Did you actually give them money to do this to me? I have to tell you, I was surprised when I got home and saw them. Jody was surprised when he picked them up. We had told them we did not need the little decorative kerchiefs around their necks (an extra $5 per girl), and they totally ignored that. Callie has a really ugly solid green kerchief around her neck (she has also taken to her bed in disgust), and the piglet has some kind of flowers clipped to her ears with a rhinestone thing in the center that cracks me up because it looks like she has eyes in the back of her head. I cannot help but laugh every time I look at her. HILARIOUS.

Otherwise, it was a good day to be me. Honestly, most days are good days to be me, since I am the luckiest man in the world.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PIGLET EYEBALLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 66/299 - Wednesday...1776...

There was a lovely sunrise this morning. I went out to loose the girls and check on the chicks. All was well. The littlest of the chicks are going to be set loose on Saturday morning, but they don't know it yet. We will see what happens. In the meantime, I was back at Tractor Supply this afternoon; I bought the wrong chick feed yesterday, and had to go back and get the right stuff. The ducklings were all sleeping, and the chicks were running around. Life is good for them.

There were lots of emergency vehicles going north this afternoon, but I have no idea what was going on. One of them snuck up behind me, lights flashing but no siren. When I noticed it, it scared the hell out of me.

Sneaky little bastards!

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

2018 - Day 65/300 - Tuesday...1793...

Let's talk about ducks. I stopped at Tractor Supply on the way home for dog food, cat food and various chicken feeds. I knew there was a possibility that I would get suckered in to look at the chicks (it is after all, chick season), but I resisted the urge to purchase more chicks. When the youngest chicks are all grouped in with the older girls, that will give us 21 chickens, and I think that is plenty. Maybe four more, but that will be the ultimate limit for this year.

These little ducklings were cute, but I am not sure they were making any little duckling quacking noises. If they were, it was drowned out by all the chick noises. But, they were just as cute as a bug, and I especially liked the one with the dark spot on its' head. I am not sure if you raise ducks if they stay around, or if they fly off. I guess you could clip their wing, but that is another bit of trouble if you ask me.

So, no ducks.

It is going to be chilly again tonight. It was 85 yesterday, in the high 60s today, and it will probably be in the high 30s overnight, but then it will begin a warming trend.

A good day in the office today, and I am looking forward to another good one tomorrow. I am getting a good group of sales and property management leads all of a sudden, so that is a good thing. I love referrals.

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

2018 - Day 64/301 - Monday...1790...

I was familiar with the glass work of Dale Chihuly, but I was really not aware that he did large pieces for hotels other than in Las Vegas. I was skeptical of the works I saw throughout the Royal Towers and the Coral Towers hotels in Paradise Island, but when I got home, I checked with the Googles, and yep, the pieces were done by Dale Chihuly. I am even more impressed now than I was while I was there. It was a great conference in a great setting, and everyone I hung out with had a great time. Thanks RPAC!

Today was a back to work day. My desk was a bit overwhelming when I got in this morning, but everything was pretty much under control before noon. There was a lot of busy work to be done, and I got most of it done. There will always be something left to do, but overall, it was a pretty good day.

There was a late appointment this afternoon, but I made it home before dark which was an added treat. I want to go on record that I will shortly begin to protest the fact that Daylight Saving Time begins in less than a week.

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

2018 - Day 63/302 - Sunday...1799...

I was smitten by this particular view from the other side of my hotel in the Bahamas. This series of photos was taken from the elevator lobby on the 7th floor of the hotel, and I took a photo from the same spot every (all four) day that I was there. It was a simpler, less developed view than the one from my particular room. There was nothing wrong with the view from my room, I just liked this view better. It was more peaceful.

It was another early morning start. I got up about 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time (an hour ahead of Austin time), and made it downstairs and checked out of the hotel by 7:15. When that was done, Debbie and Carl were waiting on me. So far so good. We got to the airport about 8 o'clock ( you are supposed to be there three hours before you flight. The place was deserted. We had breakfast, and discovered that our flight was delayed a few minutes (I think...it has been a long day). We got to Ft. Lauderdale with an anticipated three lay-over, and that flight had an extra hour delay. It was a long time to be in an airport, sitting in the Chili's restaurant, making small talk, telling jokes and solving all the problems in the world and including the world of real estate. It was a chore, but we took it on and had a blast.

It was so nice to get to know Debbie and Carl, Melinda and Steve, Holly and Gavin, and to hook up with other special friends like Tami and (the) Donald and Ray-Ray and Katy.

The whole thing was a blast.

And now I am going to bed.

Sweet Dreams everyone...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GOOD TIMES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 62/303 - Saturday...1790...

I am doing something in this journal entry (and on this day) that I have NOT DONE in the many years (forgot how many) that I have been composing this journal. I am duplicating a photo that I have used already on social media. This morning was our last session of this years' RPAC Annual President's Circle Conference. There were several great speakers, but the highlight of the sessions today was an address by former First Lady Laura Bush. Interestingly, we were told before her introduction, that there was to be no photographs allowed, no notes were to be taken during her remarks, and that we were not to make any recordings of here remarks.

She spoke to us for about 45 minutes, very interesting, humorous, serious, enlightening, passionate. Really interesting.

And...for the most part, our colleagues complied with those requests. I complied, and I went on about my day.

So that was the first highlight of my day. After the session was over, I met up with friends, and went down TWO water slides. The first was a relatively gradual descent, the other was pretty much straight downhill, through a tube at the bottom around which sharks were swimming, and into a pool at the bottom. Honestly, the angle of descent had to be greater than 75 degrees. While you were at the top of the slide, waiting to 'shove off', you could NOT SEE the slide itself. Straight down...it was a blast!

It should also be noted here that, after the second descent, I noted that my room key card had escaped the velcro sealed pocket in my bathing suit, but that was only a minor inconvenience.

Then we went on a tubing kind of river rapids kind of thing, which was also fun. After that, I went back to my hotel room, where, quite accidentally, I was informed that Mrs. Bush would be leaving the premises shortly. SO...I hung around and casually captured the photo added to this entry, and was roundly scolded for interfering with her privacy. But, I got the photo, and there is a lot more to this story, and I will be happy to give full disclosure, all you have to do is ask!

It was a good day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NO PHOTOS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 61/304 - Friday...1790...

So, today was a really food day. It was early, but good. Breakfast, then meetings throughout the morning. Really good information, varying viewpoints, random quotes and comments, similar causes,  various journeys to the same goal. Interesting stuff. I didn't make it to the water slide, but I swear I will make a better effort tomorrow. I did do a respectable amount of work, and so there will be plenty to show for these several days in the Bahamas.

Tonight was dinner with Tami, Donald, Robert and Mrs. Robert, Holly and Gavin. Then on for one drink where we met up with Cathy and Rick. Great conversations and great friends. Tomorrow will be another early start then a lunch with all the Texas clan and the final reception tomorrow evening.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SAME VIEW DIFFERENT DAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 60/305 - Wednesday...1790...

Okay, this was a fun day...We (Debbie, Malinda and their spouses) took the ferry over to Nassau and had possibly the worst food on the island. And we walked about forty miles to get it. Okay, there is a possibility that I am exaggerating...it is totally possible that it was not the worst food on the island. And maybe we didn't walk 40 miles, but the food was pretty bad and we walked a long way to be disappointed.

Once we got back to the Hotels, we checked in for the sessions that begin tomorrow, and this evening there was a nice reception.

My other bag finally arrived about 30 hours after I did, and that is good. Realistically, I could have gone the rest of the trip without it, but now I am somewhat obligated to open it and use whatever might be inside it.

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