2012 - Day 152/214 - Thursday...

Really?  It's the last day of May already?  Where did 2010 go anyway?  What?  We are already in 2012?  Wasn't Y2K just last week?  And Christmas is tomorrow?  Really?

WTF?

This is what I was greeted with on my way to work this morning.  A beautiful sunrise with nothing but promise for the new day, and the chance of a little bit of rain.  We did get a little bit of rain (0.28"), but that is 0.28" more than Austin got, so there.  AND the winds have changed direction, they are now coming from the north and the humidity is down, so that made for some pretty nice sitting on the front porch.

Today was my Meals-On-Wheels day, and Chris and I got that taken care of pretty quickly.  Interestingly, the client load was down to five this week, and we had nine last week.  Everyone was gone this week, everyone was home last week.

Tomorrow will be a busy and productive day.  Fun stuff in the morning (Ethics to new ABoR colleagues) and I really do enjoy that (insert Shannon shout-out here).  Then LOTS of leasing and property management appointments, and then it will be over, and I will have one day of weekend.  Showing about four properties on Sunday (all over $1M) so that will be fun.  I have NEVER sold a property over $1M.  Closest was $989K, but I did sell that property twice.

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

2012 - Day 151/215 - Wednesday...

Another day, another disclaimer.

This is not an actual photo of me, however it is a fairly accurate rendering of what I have THOUGHT I was looking like for the past four days.  What I have kept from you since Sunday (because your need-to-know was not actually that high i=on my need-to-tell list) is that one of the caps of one of my front teeth FELL OUT during dinner Sunday evening, and I have been carrying on extensive experiments with various over-the-counter temporary remedies, but nothing works as good as a visit to the dentist.  Consider the fact that I would just as soon have a root canal as to go to the dentist, and you can see why (perhaps) I felt no real need to share that information with you.  But go to the dentist I did, and I survived and I may just live to see another sunrise.  MAYBE...

And I even have another dental appointment on Monday.  Not really happy about that either, but I might just as well go on down that road, now that I have started.  Whatever...

Today was a day full of meetings, beginning at 8 o'clock this morning.  BUT, there was good work done and accomplishments made, and the meetings were still in progress when I had to leave for the dentists appointment.

Tomorrow is Meals-On-Wheels day, and that is always nice, and I am looking forward to delivering that route with Chris.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ALFRED E, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 150/216 - Tuesday...

Nope, this is not a photo I took, it is only representative of the scene I encountered when I got home LATE this evening and went to check on the girls. It took some doing (I did not really want to kill the snake) for me to corral it and (hopefully) gave it an escape route. These snakes are sneaky little bastards, and that sound you heard (well, you know) was just me.

Tomorrow will be another EARLY and LONG day, but then Thursday and Friday will be a little bit more calm and peaceful. BUT, they will both be REALLY busy days.

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

2012 - Day 149/217 - Monday...

Passionflower stands for faith. Not sure if it is the same thing for a Passion VINE, but I am going with it. On their way up to visit, Jim and Bonnie stopped somewhere and picked up some Passion Vines and they have been sitting outside during their visit so as not to suffocate from the heat of the car. We had some passion vines up towards the road, and they are a beautiful flowering bush, but I am not sure quite yet if they made it through the drought last year or not.

This was a nice and quiet day, a good day for observing all the things we have to be happy about and to remember all those that have served our country; past, present and future. I made an earlier comment today in one of my other posts, that it is not about red or blue, but it is about the red, white AND blue. Thanks to everyone that has made our lives what they are today.  A nice day, even though I forgot it was Monday!

I think I lost track of one of the calves in the last couple weeks. Jim and Bonnie and I went back to see the cattle and there were 17 in total, but I don't think there were any new ones, I think I just lost track. It is sometimes hard to keep up with the cattle. It is pretty easy to keep up with the chickens, but it is still hard to get a good count on the bees.

Tomorrow is the start of another work week, and it will be a kind of long week even though it is a short week.

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

2012 - Day 148/218 - Sunday...

Sage stands for good health and long life. When the sage is blooming, it is also supposed to mean that it will rain soon. The sage all over this part of the county is going crazy, but there is no rain in the forecast. I think there is a ten percent chance, which means it is not going to rain here. BUT, we do have the sage to enjoy and look at while we perspire and the ground cracks open from lack of moisture.

I did get the rest of the grass cut in the front of the house today, and escaped being stung by the bees. I also got an e-mail from one of the members of the Williamson County Area Beekeepers Association, noting that if you get stung, tape a penny to the sting, and it will keep the pain and swelling down.

Our friends Jim and Bonnie are visiting from Houston, and we went out to see the chickens, and Bonnie was promptly stung. So she is now walking around with a penny taped to her cheek. AND, if you ask her nicely, she will tell you about being stung on the butt by a wasp in a restroom of a public library in Houston. Just if you are really curious. REALLY...

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

2012 - Day 147/219 - Saturday...

I was lax in taking photos of anything today, so I thought I would share my new fried egg socks with you, I hope yo ulike them!

So I was up early this morning cutting the grass around the bee hives and was only stung twice (through the bee suit). I decided to quit when the bees became really irritated, but I got most of it done. Tomorrow I will try again, and see how far I get. I did get more grass in back of the house cut, and will try and do more tomorrow.

It is AFTER 10 o'clock, and Jody and I just got home. We were invited to our friends Lynda and Michael celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary, and that was a wonderful dinner. They were joined by about 15 or 20 other friends of theirs, and it was a wonderful dinner celebration. A very happy time indeed.

Time for bed!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FRIED EGGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 146/220 - Friday...

Okay, it's Friday, this is my Happy Dance, thank you very much. Be back next when you will read 'this is my Happy Dance'.

I got off to a good start this morning, and stopped on the way into work at an early voting site in Georgetown. I was the first one there, and from what I could tell, there had not been a tremendous turn-out leading up to this final day of early voting. Net Tuesday is the actual Primary Election date, but I wanted to avoid the crowd, plus I will not make it home until late that night.

I was able to get a good bit of work done in the office today, and managed to leave the office a little after two. I had a couple errands to run, and I also went to pick up my car this afternoon. The dealership in Hutto (Covert Chevrolet) is absolutely the best. They must have read all the books on customer service and instead of just reading the books, they are actually putting the stuff into practice. I know people say the auto service at a dealership is really not worth the money, but I am CERTAIN that I am getting my moneys worth at this dealership. PLUS, almost everything is covered under the warranty. I had my car in there for four days for service and recall items, and I had asked them to wash and detail the car while they had it. I very seldom wash the car, I just do not get around to it, and we live on the edge of nowhere, so what is the use? ANYWAY, the wash and detail was covered under the warranty as well, because there had been some recall items that needed to be completed. It was an inconvenience for me to have to leave the car (according to GM) so they picked up the detail as well. PLUS, I get free loaners when I have it serviced. Not too shabby in my book.

I am a true and loyal customer (right now) of General Motors and would find myself hard-pressed to ever have anything negative to say about Covert Chevrolet in Hutto.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EARLY VOTING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 145/221 - Thursday...

Today was my day for delivering Meals-On-Wheels. My friend Chris and I have started sharing that responsibility, and today we went together. There is one stop where I will go one way and Chris goes the other. We deliver most of this by memory. Today I went to one of our clients doors, and I knocked on the bell. A blind young man came to the door, and I introduced myself and said that I had not met him before, and he said he had not met me either. We exchanged courtesies for about thirty or forty seconds, and I asked him if I could pet his service dog. I thought he was a relative of the client client or maybe even a care-taker. I was glancing inside the apartment, and I realized I did not recognize the furniture, and that is when I realized I was at the wrong apartment. I apologized and went to the correct apartment, and that client was not at home. I wonder if I should go back next week and explain myself to him, or just forget about it? I am thinking I will go back...

I saw this beetle in the parking lot when I was leaving for Meals-On-Wheels, and I thought it was dead. When we got back, it was still there, so I thought it would make a great picture for this journal entry. Well, it was not dead, but I think it was pretty tired. Somehow, I think it just happened to have gotten turned over, and like a turtle was unable to roll over. I got a napkin and put him (assumption) on one of the nearby bushes, and he perked up and went on about his business. Moral of the story? Never expect your assumptions to be correct.

Tomorrow is Friday and that will give me the opportunity to do my Happy Dance. Speaking of Happy; Happy Birthday to Will.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEAR FATAL ASSUMPTIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 144/222 - Wednesday...

As I mentioned yesterday, I have lived in Austin (okay, the Austin area) since 1985 and I have NEVER been to the Peter Pan Putt-Putt Golf place until today. I estimate that (having lived in the Austin area for approximately 9,700 days) that I have past that place not less than 10,000 times. We actually used to live just down the street from it, which would cause me to pass it a minimum of 6 or more times a day. But, it is an interesting little oasis just a bit above the madding crowd, tucked into a little rise between McDonald's and the rail road track. In fact a train went by while we were there and it is not a quiet experience. But fun, and interesting and truly reminiscent of the time it was first conceived back in the late 1940's. One thing I know for sure, this is a photo of one homely giant Tinkerbell...

I am truly looking forward to the weekend, and getting some rest and also getting some work done around the house. In addition to that, our friends Jim and Bonnie are coming for a visit (just a quick visit) from Houston. They will leave Houston after church on Sunday, spend the night and go back to Houston on Monday afternoon. It will be really nice to see them.

I have a few appointments tomorrow, including my Meals-On-Wheels gig, and not a single appointment on Friday or over the weekend right now. I have some appointments booked a week out, but the next several days look calm.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PETER PAN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 143/223 - Tuesday...

White Lily: Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You.

Done.  That pretty much says it all right there!

I took my car in for service this morning, and I am driving a nice loaner car, a nice Chevy Malibu. It is rated to achieve 22 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. I have driven a little over a hundred miles today, and I have used up a quarter of a tank of gasoline. I am truly spoiled with the Volt. Oh, and if there is one option I will NEVER be without again as long as I live, it is a 'back-up' camera. I have become totally dependent on that thing, and I can hardly back up anymore without that little device. Just another example of how dependent we become on technology. I also recall a time (a couple decades ago) that I could remember friends telephone numbers, but that is another story. I also had to walk uphill (each way) five miles in the snow to go to school everyday.

Whatever...

Another productive day at work, and I even had a chance to get in a couple meetings (one in person, one by conference call).

Tomorrow evening I will be playing Putt-Putt Golf for TREPAC. You all need to come out and join us. Peter Pan on Barton Springs Road. I have lived in Austin since 1985 and I have never EVER been to Peter Pan!

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

2012 - Day 142/224 - Monday...

The magic of Buddleia, and why butterflies can’t resist it. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) is a shrub-like plant that looks sort of like a compact lilac, grows quickly and blooms in mid-summer. But the name tells you all about it: Butterflies just can't resist the flowers, and flock to the plants when they're in bloom.

It’s been a sensation in American gardens for years, and no wonder. Butterfly bush is easy to grow, blooms profusely, and has that magical quality: Butterflies can't resist it.

Here's why: It's not just the pretty flowers that attract the butterflies, like so many other bright blooms. Buddleias emit a special honey-scented fragrance that lures butterflies like a moth to a flame, and then once there, they find the flowers super-rich in nectar.

A butterfly bush in the garden will often be seen with a mass of butterflies on the flowers, especially during hot sunny afternoons. Buddleias attract other insects too, like moths, and the reddish ones strongly attract hummingbirds. So it's more than a name; it's actually a botanical phenomenon.

And the bees like it too. Unfortunately, in many parts of the country, it is considered to be a noxious weed, and it is VERY invasive. BUT, probably every garden should have one, you just have to be ready to stay in control!

Not too bad for a Monday, I actually got caught up on most of the work I put off from last week, and tried my best to stay up to date with the work that came in today as well.

I have to take my car in for service tomorrow, and that is expected to take three or four days. It is always fun to drive a different car when mine is in the shop and it takes the new car bug off my radar.  Just driving a different car for a while is interesting. I have to clean out the car this evening or first thing in the morning, because I am having the car detailed while they have it. Fresh as a flower!!!

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

2012 - Day 141/225 - Sunday...

Sunflowers symbolize false riches...

This is a pretty little sunflower that sprung up a couple years ago, and it keeps coming back. I like it very much, but of course if I wanted to plant a bed of sunflowers, they would not grow at all, so I will just settle for this solitary specimen.

I started the day with lots of ambition, but that soon faded, and I got very little accomplished today. I did get some weeds pulled, and where I pulled there is a big difference. Thirty minutes a day for the rest of my life should just about do it. I was going to cut at the grass today, but the bees would have no part of that, and I quit while I was ahead. I really need to figure this out, because I will desperately need to get the grass cut around the hives between now and next Monday (a Holiday that I am really looking forward to).

I am surprised that we are supposed to be able to view the Solar Eclipse from our house later this evening. Right now there is not a cloud in the sky, so we should be able to see it nicely. I will report back tomorrow.

BUT, in between naps, Jody and I did make it to Dairy Queen, so it is good to be getting back into the routines.

Tomorrow is another day, and I am ready for it. I did get everything unpacked today, and there is plenty of stuff to take to the cleaners.

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

2012 - Day 140/226 - Saturday...

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.

Or, in this case, DC is done for this year...

A long day of travelling, but I am home and that is great. Had dinner, checked the meters, saw a couple chickens and the new chicks that are getting really big. They are a little over three weeks old, and they are already getting on the roost in their mini-coop.

Gonna go to bed soon.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, JIGGETTY JIG'S, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 139/227 - Friday...

It's FRIDAY, and this is my HAPPY DANCE!

Okay, every night since I have been here, once I get into bed and am trying to go to sleep, I think I need to relay this piece of information in this journal. I AM SICK of the people in this Hotel SHORT SHEETING my bed. It has become progressively worse in the four days I have been here, and there is one more day to go. It is getting to the point that I am inching my way closer and closer to the foot of the bed. There is no blanket on the bed, just a top sheet, a flimsy duvet kind of thing, and some kind of little decorative cover at the foot of the bed. Finally, I get warm and go to sleep, but really, I like to pull the covers up to my chin when I am trying to go to sleep.

Again, WHATEVER...

I took some time for myself today in the middle of meetings. I was given tickets to a 'Old Town Trolley Tour' of the area (kind of like Grey Line), and my friend John went with me. We went through lots of interesting places, went past the National Cathedral, down Embassy Row, through Georgetown and saw lots of interesting things, including a house that is 9 1/2 feet wide and is on the sales market for about $800K. We got off at the White House stop, and walked to the World War II Memorial and the MLK Memorial before we had to head back to the Hotel and attend another meeting. Worth the time and the walk, and it was a beautiful day in our nations Capital.

Tomorrow I will head home, and I am ready. I have learned a lot while I was here, and there has been a lot of good work done by thousands of our colleagues.

Good night...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BEING A TOURIST FOR A CHANGE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 136/228 - Thursday...

Another LONG and really REWARDING day.

A very early start (7AM) with a meeting about how the Rally for Home Ownership will work. We loaded up on buses, made it to the Washington Monument, had a Rally (with about 13,000 REALTOR participants) and went on about our day. This is a photo of a group of us from the Austin Board, and it was great.

I went on to participate in two very good Hill Visits; the first with Congressman John Carter's office (the Congressman was actually on the Floor voting on the Flood Insurance extension), and the second with Congressman Michael McCaul. Both meetings were very productive and both of the elected officials have always been very supportive of REALTOR concerns and property owner rights.

Another day of meetings tomorrow, and then I will head back home on Saturday.

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

2012 - Day 137/229 - Wednesday...

And so it goes.

Made Hill visits today (in addition to a couple meetings), very productive with State Representative Lloyd Doggett and State Senator John Cornyn. Very good conversations and we were very successful in stressing our five Legislative priorities. This is a photo of the me and the folks I was hanging out with for most of the day; Susan, John, Judith, Pam, Jim, Cathy, Kimbrough and me.

The day has been pretty much non-stop, and I am still going. I figure I have about two or three more hours of work for the night, because my first meeting in the morning begins at 7AM. That does not give a lot of time for getting any work done in the morning.

Tomorrow, however, is going to be a really fun day. There will be a REALTOR rally (Rally to Protect the American Dream) at the Washington Monument. We are expecting more than 10,000 REALTORS to participate, and I am really looking forward to it.

Stay tuned!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HILL VISITS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 136/230 - Tuesday...

This has been a really , REALLY busy day. Non-stop from daylight to (after) dark. REALLY. There is so much going on here, I cannot tell you even a little bit of it. Wall-to-wall business. So much to absorb and comprehend.

On a more personal note, Jody says we have had over an inch of rain today, and Konrad (the owner of Round Rock Honey Company) brought us 21 pounds of honey that he extracted from one of our hives. It seems like we will be having a good honey year this year, and that is a good thing. AND with the rain we got today, it just gets us that much farther through the summer. This is a picture that Konrad took (I hope he doesn't mind me using it here) of frames that have had the honey extracted, but there is still a little bit of honey in them, but the bees will take care of that in a matter of about a half-hour. They clean the frames of honey and use it as food for themselves. Total recycling!

That is about it for tonight, more tomorrow.

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

irled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 135/231 - Monday...

I feel like I have been travelling all day, and I sort of have. Jody and I left the house this morning at ten past seven to get me to the airport for a 9:20 flight. When you can do 80 (legally) on the toll road, you make it to the airport in a hurry. I hooked up at the airport with several friends, and we were off.

I got into DC about 3:30 (local time) and then to the Hotel and then to dinner. Had a very nice dinner is GrillFish, and then back to the Hotel. My first actual appointment tomorrow morning will be at 10:30, but I need to register first, and do a couple other things. This is the view outside my bathroom window in the Hotel.

I really enjoy visiting DC, but it is not a place I think I would like to consider moving to, I think I am too old and settled with the slower pace of life. Even though I sometimes feel stressed, I cannot imagine the stress level living in a city like this. BUT, when you think about it, Austin is not that small really. I think it is pretty much more of what you get used to, and I am used to the central Texas lifestyle.

I am looking forward to all the meetings and rallies that will be going on during this visit. FUN!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TRAVEL, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN (more)!

2012 - Day 134/232 - Sunday...

A nice day today, I discovered a new calf, most likely born yesterday. Pretty sure it is a bull calf, that seems to be what we produce here at the JBA.

I hauled the 16 bales of hay that Hubert baled last weekend, and got them stored. Maybe Hubert will come this week and fertilize. That would be great, we may also get a little more rain this week, so that would be perfect.

I also cleared grass off about (taking into consideration all the back and forth) 3,500 feet of electric fence line. When the grass gets high and gets up on the electric fence, it cuts the impedance (I think) of the electricity and interferes with the 'jolt' and power of the charge. I do not want the cattle to think they can just mess with that electric fence line willy-nilly.

I am heading to DC for a week tomorrow, and Jody and I were off for this and that, and I found some this, but still could not find any that that I liked.

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

2012 - Day 133/233 - Saturday...

A perfectly wonderful day. I did very little of anything today.

I did go and pick up my car from the dealership. It has one new tire and another tire on order. The oil in the generator was changed, so I will have to do that again in about another 45,000 miles.

If you get stung one time while you are cutting the grass, it is an indication that you should suit up. I heeded the warning and put on my bee suit before I continued. There were no more incidents, and that was a good thing.

Jody and I went into Georgetown and went to Chic-Fil-A for lunch, where the server dumped Jody's milk shake in my lap. She said 'I knew I was going to do that' which left me a little bit befuddled. Maybe should should have had a better grip. Anyway, only the whipped cream got on my jeans, so it was really not a big deal.

We headed off to Catfish Parlor for dinner and Ruby and Chris met us over there. It was fun to see them and we all cut up at the table.

This is a photo of one of the rose bushes outside the garage. It is doing very nicely this year. Most of the plants in the ground are recovering from the last two hard seasons. So far this month we have had a couple inches of rain, so that will tide everything over for at least another couple weeks. Oops! Wrong picture. What I meant to say was, this is one of the orange and red cannas in from of the house. The leaves of this particular species reminds me of ginger plants. That is what I meant to say...

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

2012 - Day 132/234 - Friday...

It's Friday, and this is my Friday Happy Dance!  Enjoy!

Even though I have been unable to determine the 'meaning' of the Four O'clock flowers (Mirabilis) that are blooming in the front flower beds, they are beautiful and have a wonderful fragrance. I like them very much. The fragrance reminds me of the frangipani (common name plumeria, the flowers that leis are made of in Hawaii). Either that, or buttered popcorn, not sure which.

Whatever...

I got a lot done today, and there were really great accomplishments. Since I will be out of town all next week, I got my desk cleared, not counting the LARGE stack of papers neatly arranged in one corner. A couple good meetings, one including the planning session for our next MCE cruise in February of 2013. We will leave from Galveston on the 24th and go to Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. Fun time guaranteed, and MCE credits thrown in. Stay tuned for details.

When I got home from, Konrad (of Round Rock Honey fame) was here checking on my hives. He said they are all very healthy, no signs of moths, and he took some of the honey frames and will extract honey from them starting tomorrow. He expects to be bringing honey back next week, maybe Tuesday, but he was very impressed with the conditions of the hives. I am very impressed as well, since I am pretty much paying the bees NO ATTENTION whatsoever. I did keep them fed when we were in the more severe drought conditions, but I have not fed them in a couple months since we have been having a little bit of rain.

Speaking of rain, so far this year, we have ALREADY had more rain that we had all of last year. That is not really saying much. In April we had 11/100 of an inch of rain, and so fat this month we have had ALMOST 2 inches.

My car was 'ferried' to the dealership today because of the flat tire. Kind of interesting that the car has no spare or jack, but really, it is not really a problem unless you have a flat. AND, since I have about 42K miles on the car, I guess I can live with the inconvenience every 42K miles. Maybe, maybe not.

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

2012 - Day 131/235 - Thursday...

My automobile is so technologically advanced and so conscious of eliminating all unnecessary weight, they they found it improbable that a rubber component would fail. So, there was no need for a spare tire or a jack. Room that a spare tire and jack would normally occupy was taken over by additional batteries. This has not really been a concern until recently, and by recently I mean TODAY. But at least I was already in my driveway before even that was a concern. As you (those of you that are absolutely DEVOTED to this site) may recall, I am somewhat on the anal-retentive-obsessive-compulsive regimen of checking all the various meters around the property on a daily basis. On the way home, the vehicle alerted me that I would shortly be in need of fossil fuel, but that was really no big deal because overnight I would get a full charge, and could still go about 80 miles before I needed to even be concerned about gas. I pulled into the driveway and made a stop to check the first two meters (electricity to the front barn and the water meter). I got back in the car and I was informed by the vehicle that I needed to check the air pressure in one of the tires. Probably just a false alarm. I pulled up thirty or forty feet and was checking the rain in the gauge, and then into the garage (another thirty feet or so) and by that time, the back passenger side tire was FLAT. This is the shiv that I pulled out of the back tire.

Tomorrow, I will take the truck to work, and call OnStar (en route) and have them come and haul the car to the dealer and I will pick it up on Saturday. Having extra vehicles hanging around has its rewards! In the last 48 hours, we have had another .25" of rain; we have gone from a flash flood watch to a flash flood warning and we are now also under a tornado watch until 3AM. The weather alarm radio has gone off twice in the past half-hour, so I have a feeling it is going to be one of those nights. BUT, the clouds that were overhead while Jody and I were sitting on the porch were absolutely beautiful. We do not really take the time to stop and appreciate the clouds, so I hope you enjoy these.

Tomorrow will be another busy day, and I hope you all have a great one. If you don't hear from me any time soon, please check the shelter.

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

2012 - Day 130/236 - Wednesday...

This blogspot site is at it again. Changing stuff up on me, and even though I want to complain about it, I have to remember that it is FREE. And there is little I like more than FREE, so I will shut up (probably not really) and just learn to love it. I want everyone to know, however, that I can only deal with SO much change before I become completely and totally irrational.

Part of my crabbiness could be the fact that today I was wearing my stand up girdle and my sit down shoes. I used to hear that a lot when I was a little kid. Do they even make girdles anymore? Are they called SPANX now? Maybe that's it. ANYWAY, I was wearing REALLY uncomfortable shoes today and it made me kind of not happy.

Even though it is not raining now and has not rained in the last twenty-four hours, we are under a flash flood watch beginning tomorrow evening and going through sometime on Friday. BUT, it seems technology has advanced to such a degree that they can predict flooding conditions WAY in advance. That is good to know if it is a tornado or something, and I guess flash flooding is right up there on the list, but it seems (a little bit) like crying wolf. By the time the rain starts everyone will have forgotten about the flooding odds. We shall see.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FLOODS ON THE HORIZON, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 129/237 - Tuesday...

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain.  Wonderful rain.  It has been raining a LITTLE bit overnight and throughout the day.  We have a cumulative total for the MONTH of MAY of .23".  Almost a quarter of an inch in two days.  Which is DOUBLE what we had for the entire month of April, so we will take what we can get!  And the high temperature today was 70 degrees.  SWEET!  Keep it coming!

Today was a pleasant day (see paragraph above), and there were lots of good accomplishments.  Tomorrow will be a day of a couple meetings, and so will Thursday.  Oh, and did I mention I have a closing on Thursday? Yippee-Skippee.

And Friday is only one meeting.  Saturday will be an opportunity to buy socks and underwear.  You always need to buy socks and underwear!

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

2012 - Day 128/238 - Monday...

NEWS FLASH! THIS JUST IN! STOP THE PRESSES! GNATS CONTAIN MORE PROTEIN (POUND FOR POUND) THAN ANY OTHER FOOD YOU CAN CONSUME! This information came to me in a vision, and is based on absolutely no scientific research. It was an expensive study however, approximately the cost of several boxes of cheap wine. You see, I have basically just quit trying to fish the gnats out of my glass of wine every evening, and I am just swallowing them. I have never heard any reports that gnats were suspected carriers of any communicable diseases. Gnats are just a bothersome bunch of little insects, and the more of them I can consume, the closer I get to a Nobel Prize for Medicine. And if I keep reporting that kind of crap in this journal, I expect I am also on my way to a Pulitzer. Remember, you heard it here first...

Here is a chick update; two of you have e-mailed or called asking about the Vera Chicken status. The same night she was (thought to be) missing, I stood out on top of the storm shelter calling her, and soon she appeared and come over to me to be carried into the coop. She is generally the last girl to go to bed, and she takes great delight in being carried into the coop. If I ever expect to get into the bed before 9 o'clock, I am going to have to deliver her to the coop. AND, the remaining baby chicks (four of them) are doing nicely as well. They are now about ten to fourteen days old, and they are growing nicely.

Overall, for a Monday, this one was not too bad. Lots of office work, a couple property drive-bys, I got a haircut, and right at the moment it is sprinkling rain outside. If it would just do this all night long, it would be very nice.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GNATS AND OTHER SOURCES OF PROTEIN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 127/239 - Sunday...

Well, according to Jody, there was a tremendous lightning show last night and lots of thunder, but I slept through the whole thing. In Austin, they got up to an inch-and-a-half of rain, but we got nada. NOTHING. We did have gale force winds however, while we were at the breakfast table this morning the gauge was showing 25 miles per hour. But again, we got no rain and that is all we really cared about.

The tally is in, we got 17 bales of hay from the pastures. Kind of a disappointment, but that is 17 more bales than we had the day before. AND, if we get a little bit of rain, and there is some in the seven day forecast, maybe we can get some fertilizer on the grass and get another cutting before we have no more rain at all. 

This is what we were greeted with this morning when we woke up. A beautiful sunrise. We did not get to see the super-moon last night because there was too much cloud cover, but this sunrise was very nice.

We had some friends over this afternoon, and that was really nice. It was great to see everyone and not IMMEDIATELY start talking shop stuff. Pretty much it was a business-conversation-free day. Thanks to everyone for stopping over.

Tomorrow will not be a totally busy crazy start to the work week, and next week I will be out of town for the whole week.

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

2012 - Day 126/240 - Saturday...

When the language of flowers began in the Victorian era of the 1800s, morning glories signified love and affection, according to Victorian Bazaar. Given morning glory flower's short lifespan, it also signifies unrequited love. Images of morning glory vines can be found on Victorian headstones, symbolizing mortality, mourning, the shortness of life or resurrection, according to the Rochester's History website. Okay, I finished my book today The Language of Flowers, and it seems I cannot look at a flower without wondering what the meaning was/is. Very interesting. Most of the meanings I have discovered in the past week or so seem logical and appropriate. I am still intrigued that the yellow rose (the flower of the State of Texas and my father's favorite) stands for infidelity. Interesting...

 The four o'clock's are blooming as well, I will see what their meaning is and report back to you tomorrow. 

Today I pulled a few weeds, cleaned the chicken coop and scraped chicken poop off the patios. Not bad for doing nothing much today. Hubert also finished baling hay this afternoon. I think we only got about 15 bales (haven't counted them yet) but the grass that was exposed by the cutting, raking and baling looks really good. It would be very nice if we could get a nice rain shower now. If that were to happen, we could put down some more fertilizer and maybe get a more productive cutting in a month or six weeks. Regardless, we need some more rain.

 I am eagerly awaiting the super moon tonight. The moon-rise is supposed to be around 8:04 this evening, but we are having some clouds so I am not sure if we will be able to see anything or not. The new chicks are doing very well seemingly, and are growing nicely too. I think I may stop at Buck Moore Feeds this week in Austin and pick up a few more chicks, maybe see if they have any exotics. I think it should be easy to integrate some new chicks with these little ones, I would not expect there to be too much pecking going on.

I slept very nicely last night, so I am hoping for a repeat tonight.

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

2012 - Day 125/241 - Friday...

Yes, that's right boys and girls, step right up, IT'S FRIDAY. Don't waste time, it's only Friday once a week, you gotta make the most of it!

 The four remaining chicks are still doing well, they put away a LOT of chicken feed today, and they are growing!

 I went to Florence, Texas on the way home tonight and stopped at the Rattlesnake Inn (The Oldest Honky-Tonk in Williamson County) in honor of Avis, this years Texas Association of REALTORS REALTOR of the Year. Fun place, fun people, fun night.

 There is a great big GIANT moon out tonight, and it is supposed to (I think) get bigger tomorrow and turn orange. That will be nice. I seem to be going through a period of short entries. Enjoy it while you can.

 Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIG MOON, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 124/242 - Thursday...

I am beat... Shannon Alert: The four surviving chicks are all doing fine as of about 8:45 this evening. Happy as little clams, I think. I spoke to all of them, petted each of them, gave them some more food. They seem to be okay, and growing. We will continue to monitor closely.

 I am reading (listening) to a new book that I am really enjoying, it is called The Language of Flowers and it is wonderful. I am really enjoying it. I am also learning a lot from it too. I am about half-way through it, and I doubt that it is going to have a happy ending, but I think it is worth the read if any of you are looking for something new.

 It was a really busy day today, but it all turned out okay. Tomorrow is a calm day until late afternoon. I have a lunch time appointment first, then a 4:30 and then a 7 o'clock. It should all work out well. Saturday I plan to do some stuff around the house, and then on Sunday we will have a few friends over.

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

2012 - Day 123/243 - Wednesday...

Well, as you know, Jody and I bought six little baby chicks on Sunday. I found one of them dead this morning, and another was dead this evening when I got home. There is a really high mortality rate for baby chicks, but this is the first time we have ever lost baby chicks. Two out of 18 is better than ten percent. I have to worry if two of this batch has died, it may bode badly for the other four, even though they are perky and eating. We will just have to wait and see what is going on.

 It was another busy day in the office, and after that was all over, I did some volunteer phone-banking for one of our Congressional Candidates. If you would like to hear the spiel, just let me know, I pretty much have it memorized. Interestingly, the whole set up looked remarkable like this photo that I swiped off the Internet!

 Tomorrow will be a good day, it is my Meals-On-Wheels day, and that is always nice to do.  Ruby and I were out this afternoon and we drove past one of my Meals-On-Wheels clients, and she and her caregiver were getting out of a cab (they had been to the grocery). We stopped and said hello and gave her a hug. It was great. Thanks Ruby!

 Deeds, Actions, Changes, PHONES & DEAD CHICKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2012 - Day 122/244 - Tuesday...

It's May-Day. Can you believe it is already the first day of May? Well it is...

 This morning I went out to let the girls out of their coop before I headed into Austin. On the way, I went over by the Morning Glory beds and took a photo of these three little pretties. I cannot really think of too much I like better than Morning Glories. Okay, well, new calves are in the top two or three, and my Vera Chicken is pretty darned special. And of course Jody. And then there are a couple other things, but Morning Glories are still in AT LEAST the top 25. Maybe the top ten.

 I am pretty darned excited that Hubert is going to come over tomorrow and cut hay. Probably rake on Thursday and maybe bale the same day, but at least there will be fresh bales of hay by the weekend. I hope this will be a good cutting of hay, I need to make sure there is hay for the cattle, and I DO NOT want to have to buy hay. Now, if we could get a good rain or two after we bale, we could get another cutting in about another month. That would be really sweet.

 Tomorrow evening I am going to do some phone banking for one of our elected officials, Thursday evening a meet and greet with Austin City Candidates, Friday an afternoon appointment and then a party for Avis in Florence, Saturday is pretty clear, and then Sunday will be another fun day.

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