2014 - Day 31/334 - Friday...

Well, it is finally Friday, and it is of little compensation because next week is going to be REALLY busy!

I am still in Ft. Lauderdale, the conference is over and I have returned from dinner with Paul and Nancy.  Pretty soon I will be all piled up snug and cozy in the bed getting some snooze in!  The conference was very good, I am taking back lots of good information for our Association.  Interestingly, not all the information that is the most valuable is what is learned during the formal conference itself.  Some of the most important and worthwhile information is garnered during a break, or at the lunch table, or while having a drink or dinner.  There are all kinds of places that information can be shared.  In that vein, this is a photo of the dessert that the three of us shared tonight...a chocolate volcano something!  Dee-Lish!  It looks obscene, it is obscene!

It has rained every day that I have been here.  I did not know it rained in Florida ALL the time.  But the rain did stop late this afternoon, but it gets dark really early here, too!  I am threatening to go down and stick my feet in the water tomorrow before we leave, from my room, the ocean is about five hundred feet away, I think I can make it...

I am looking forward to getting home, but I will be sleeping late in the morning.

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

2014 - Day 30/335 - Thursday...

At least I think it is Thursday, sometimes I am just not too sure what day it is.  My day started really earlier than I would have liked, but I made it.  Breakfast at 7:30, first conference session at 8:30 and not stop meetings and break out sessions until about 5 o'clock.

This is the view from my room, I am on the fifth floor of a nice Hotel, looking right onto the beach and the ocean.  There is still a lot of wind outside, enough that is whistles as it goes along.  It seems that there was a ship of Haitian immigrants that came ashore not far from the Hotel this morning, so the helicopters have been going back and forth all day long.

It is still rainish here, but the rain was pretty much finished when we were returning from dinner.  We all had a great dinner at an Italian Restaurant.

Tomorrow will be another day full of seminars and break out sessions, but it will end at about 4 o'clock instead of five.  I will return to Austin on Saturday morning, so that is great.

These business trips sound exciting months ago when they are in the planning stages, but in reality they are exhausting.

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

2014 - Day 29/336 - Wednesday...

Okay, so here is the challenge.  I have had three glasses of wine, I am in Ft. Lah-dee-dah and jut got back to my hotel room after a nice reception and a dinner with friends.  We tried to post my journal entry at the restaurant, everyone was going to post one sentence to it, but we could not figure out how to do it.  It does not really validate the fact that we are all here at a pseudo-technological conference, but we could not achieve the goal.  Sorry...

I did however, manage to get my usual photo in the cock pit of the Southwest flight I was on from Austin to Ft. Lauderdale.  PLUS, I met a nice guy named David from Dallas that will be flying back on Friday and I introduced him to Brandy, so that will all be  good.

So far, I seem to be somewhat in control, and the spell check feature on my computer seems to be working. Did I mention there is a hurricane in progress here in Ft. Lauderdale?  Both Barb and Brandy have brought that to my attention.

My first meeting is tomorrow at 7:30 (6:30 Austin time),and I think I can do that.

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

2014 - Day 28/337 - Tuesday...

I was thwarted once again in my quest for entrepreneurial dominance on Central Texas.  I got in the car earlier than I have the last couple weeks, hoping to get into Austin before all hell broke loose.  It seems all hell broke loose just outside the garage and I made it only about three miles before I turned around and came back home.  By that time, the car was covered in a pretty thick sheet of ice and the windshields were icing over as well.  It did not bode well for a 50 mile trip into Austin.  My advancing age is throwing me some curve balls recently; common sense and logic has never been something that I took advantage of, but it seems to be working out in my favor.  This is a photo of Earl the Squirrel who was trying to gnaw his way into one of the chair cushions outside the office window.  Feathering his nest with poly-fil as it were, and it was pretty much useless to try and dissuade him.  Whatever...

SO, I stayed home today and worked from here, making phone calls, answering e-mails, that kind of stuff.  I did make it to my dental appointment at 4 o'clock.  The dentists office did not even open today until 1 o'clock, so they were pretty much on time, most of the earlier appointments called in ice-bound.  BUT, everyone was in a good mood, so that was okay.

Tomorrow I HAVE to get into the office earlier than usual.  I have LOTS of book work to do, and then I am heading out to Ft. Lauderdale in the early afternoon.

I will send you a card.  Maybe.  Okay, maybe not.  We will see...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PILE-UPS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 27/338 - Monday...

Honestly, I can not afford another snow day, I have too much stuff to do!  I think the threat of really bad temperatures and frozen precipitation has lessened, but I have not really been able to pay attention to the weather forecast since early this morning.  I know one thing for sure, I will be leaving for Ft. Lauderdale on Wednesday afternoon, so if it does freeze over it had better get over itself by Wednesday morning.

This was a pretty good day for getting things done even if it was a Monday.  I was in the office before 8 o'clock, and got settled in before anyone else got there.  Trouble was, I had to go to my first meeting at 1:30...the meeting was at 1:30 but they are working on MoPac for the next 18 months with various lane closures, so you never know what impact that will have on a commute.  I think it will only take one or two fatal wrecks on that piece of road (wrecks due to the poor planning of the reworking/rethinking/re-whatevering of that major traffic artery) before there will be some real hell to break loose.

I'm just saying...

Tomorrow can be concentrated on office work, and I have a dental appointment in the late afternoon.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SNOW?, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 26/339 - Sunday...

My only REAL chore today (to get the cattle fed) developed into a couple emergency chores.  I went out to feed the cattle and was climbing over one of the gates (on the wrong end of the gate) and that gate sprung off its' hinge.  Great, can't stop what I am doing right now but have to get the gate fixed.  I jerry-riggedproblemos!  This is a picture of Violet (our first born) with her (and our) latest calf peeking out from behind her.  Cutie...but not as cute as Hudson (maybe).  Not sure which would look best in a bow tie!
that gate so the cattle can't escape and go get some cattle feed and hay for the cattle.  I get the feed distributed and open the feed lot so the cattle will be distracted while I put out the hay.  I get out to the place where I want to put the hay and discover that the hay ring is laying in two pieces.  SO, I unwrap the hay, and haul-ass back to get some tools and some nuts and bolts to fix the hay ring (first) and then the gate.  Happily, I was able to get everything fixed and operable before the cattle even noticed that I was messing around.  No

After all that, Jody and I took a drive.  We went into Davilla, made our way to Cameron (where I stopped and cleaned out the CVS of jelly beans) then on to Milano (where we were going to stop for lunch at Phil's Diner and Used Tires, but we thought better of it).  Then we were off to Rockdale, Thorndale, Taylor and back home.  After naps, we headed off into Georgetown and had dinner (Fish Tacos) at Fish City Grill.  Yummy!

On the way home, we stopped and Dairy Queen where Jody got himself a Blizzard.  I cannot have a Blizzard, since I have five hundred pounds of jelly beans in the trunk of the car.  You have to cut back somewhere!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ROAD TRIP, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 25/340 - Saturday...

I had intended to stay in bed a little while longer than I did this morning, but the furry brown alarm clock, aka The Boy Dog in full whine mode this morning.  I do not think he really wanted anything in particular, other than to let us know that as long as he was awake the rest of us might as well be awake.

I paced myself in the chores department today.  I got the truck unloaded of cattle feed and got that all put up in the feed shed.  Then I was off to Berry Creek Park where I get a truck load of split pecan fire wood.  Again, I am not sure if that will last us the rest of this season or not.  Some of the wood is a mix of hickory and pecan, depending on how and what was grafted to what decades ago.  Getting the wood into the truck was no beg deal, but getting it out of the truck and stacked took a little bit longer.  Nothing terrible though, and Jody helped on that part of it.

I also got the chicken coop cleaned out today (a day earlier than usual).  All that REALLY needs to get accomplished tomorrow is to get the cattle fed, and I will plan to do that early in the morning.  I think Jody and I are planning to take a road trip somewhere, not sure where that will take us yet.  Hopefully we will just point the car somewhere and see where we end up.  That is usually the most fun!

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

2014 - Day 24/341 - Snowpocalypse

Okay, let's cut to the chase and get this over with.  Yes, it was below freezing for about 18 of the last 24 hours.  Yes, there was (about 0.09") of precipitation, which froze on some surfaces in the area.  Yes, I played hooky from work today because a whole bunch of other idiots decided to go INTO work, therefore causing major traffic challenges on many of those previously mentioned surfaces.  I am including this obligatory photo of some of the precipitation that froze on some of the surfaces leading up to our house, solely because of peer pressure and the fact that it is expected.  I hope you are all satisfied!  PS:  It is supposed to be 70 degrees on Sunday, but we are expecting more cold weather in the middle of next week.

Even though I did not make it into Austin, I did make it in to Taylor and Round Rock.  I had intended to go into Taylor and then go into the office, but by the time I would have arrived, it would have been almost time for me to turn around and go home, so I chose not to sit in my car in the parking lot sometimes referred to as IH-35.  Instead, I went into Taylor and got a load of cattle feed then I went into Round Rock and made a visit to Barnes & Noble (when is the last time YOU were inside a bookstore?).  Our newspaper delivery was detained this morning so I picked up a paper.  I also picked up a couple meals for future consumption; one set of dinners from Chipotle and another set from Fire Bowl.  We should now be able to survive the rest of the weekend.

Tomorrow morning I have to unload the cattle feed an head over to Berry Creek Park and get the truck loaded up with firewood.  We are using more firewood this year than we did last year, so I like to have it in supply.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SOLID PRECIPITATION, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 23/342 - Thursday...

We may as well just call this one Friday, because I do not think there will be much happening tomorrow!

We are experiencing some freezing precipitation right now...it has actually arrived about eight hours earlier than had been expected.  It is not going to get REALLY cold (or that is what they tell us).  I think it is going to get down to about 27 degrees overnight, should get up to 46 tomorrow, 70 on Saturday and 75 on Sunday.  BUT, for now, we are (collectively) in panic mode as to what to do next.  This photograph reminds me of what it used to look like when I was a kid growing (groaning?) up in Michigan.  The sun never shined in the winter.  Of course, when the sun did shine (winter OR summer) you could not really tell because it was hidden by the discharges of the steel mills, chemical plants and other assorted foundries.

Personally, I am all snug like a bug at home on the edge of nowhere.  I expect I will be sleeping late in the morning, and I think I will plan to head into the office about 10AM.

How was your day today?

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

2014 - Day 22/343 - Wednesday...

Today seems to have been the media day (so far) and I am pretty tired.

I did not even make it to Georgetown this morning before I was stopped on the Interstate.  AND, when I got to the (alleged) wreck, it was not even on the Interstate and never was...it was on a service road about 100 yards from the Interstate.  Really?

Okay, I made it into the office about 8 o'clock...which was about 45 minutes later than planned, and got some business taken care of and worked to prep for an interview I was doing on KVUE for their midday newscast.  I am usually not too nervous about things like this, partly because I am usually in charge and can say anything I want.  Someone else (Yvonne) was asking me the questions though, and I was not in charge.  AND it was LIVE.  I made it through though, but I think my nervousness was evident.  EVERYONE at KVUE was very kind and very gracious and very accommodating.  Here are the folks I can remember; Billye, Andrew, Yvonne, Albert and Matt.  Thanks everyone.  Oh yeah, and Albert took a photo of me and Yvonne.  THANKS!

Okay, it is time for me to put the girls to bed, and then I am going to reward myself with a bowl of ice cream before I put myself to bed.

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

2014 - Day 21/344 - Tuesday...

I attended a couple meetings today and then I sat for a couple hours in a room full of folks of questionable repute!  I think there is some grey around the edges!

First was a breakfast meeting, then a lunch meeting and then I went to be fingerprinted for my CHL license.  That is where the shadiness was most obvious.  In addition to the general assortment of questionable characters, there was a priest being fingerprinted for his CHL license.  REALLY, now they are going to use guns?  I was absolutely DYING to make conversation, but discretion was the better part of valor, and I kept quiet like a good person should.

Today was really a GREAT day, and I am proud to say that I believe there were accomplishments made and that things are going down the right track.

Don't mess it up.

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

2014 - Day 20/345 - Monday...

Traffic was not a problem at all on the way into work this morning, I was glad that what Helen had mentioned on her Face Book page held true for me, I hoped she had not jinxed it.  HOWEVER, there was one little hiccup on the way in...as you may recall, the bridge is out on 972, and even though I know it is out and I consciously thought about taking the alternate route to get to IH-35, I got into the car and began pondering the meaning of life and found my self at the 'bridge that is not there' and had to turn around and go back.  I added seven miles to my commute this morning, just because I have ADD.  BUT, and this could be why I forgot about it, there was a lovely sunrise, I wonder how many people were awake to see it.  Mostly those of us that were not allocated a Holiday on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I also made great accomplishments on my list of things to get do.  My 'to done' list is actually seeing the progress of my progress.

Tomorrow I have a breakfast meeting and a lunch meeting and a 2:30 appointment.  I am glad I got some work done today, and will continue to get some more done tonight from home.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MLK Jr. DAY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 19/346 - Sunday...

Among other accomplishments today, we got one burn pile taken care of.  We have been here over five years and the environmentalist in me lost this battle.  When we first move here, we had some work done and we told the people that we did not want the stumps and limbs and stuff (stuff happens) burned, we wanted it shredded.  Til this day everyone thinks I am cray-cray.  They are actually pretty confident in their assessment because we are 'the people with the wind mills' (that is what they call the turbines).  BUT ANYWAY, I burned the first burn pile today, and it is all gone now.  I need to drag a lot more brush and dead tree carcasses to THIS PILE and burn it, probably before spring.

Immediately after setting the fire, I decided it would be prudent to see if there was a burn ban in effect, so I called Hubert.  He said I needed to call the Sheriff and tell them I was burning brush.  I called Williamson County SEVERAL times and got recordings of into a mail-tree that would not quit.  Then I called the Bartlett Police Department (more recordings) and then I called the Bell County Sheriffs Office and they patched me through to a REAL PERSON at Williamson County.  It was not an emergency, but there should be at least ONE PERSON answering the phones somewhere.

There was a chicken fatality today.  Just one of the Wyandotte's fell over dead.  Strange!

Tomorrow is a Holiday for some, not for me.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BURN PILES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 18/347 - Saturday...

Even though it is Saturday, I was up (relatively) early this morning.  I needed to be at a 7:45 class in Georgetown, so I was up (I think) by about 5:30.  I made it to Georgetown with 15 minutes to spare, but that is pretty typical for me.  I was taking the instruction part of the Texas Concealed Handgun License training.  The lecture and testing part of the class was interesting with the possible exception of the attempted brainwashing and proselytizing and the other awkward parts that I did not laugh at (and interestingly I was sitting next to the only other guy in the room that was not laughing) and the video parts of idiots shooting themselves in the thighs, calves, feet and other bleedy parts was pretty darned interesting.  The videos of Barney Fife were pretty good too, but I think the parts where idiots were making themselves (and sometimes others) bleed were the most interesting.  I made 100% on the 25 question true/false/multiple choice test.

Then we were off to the shooting range to prove competency with a weapon.  I have weapons, but up until today I have never shot a weapon (if you do not count pellet guns and stuff like that).  I used to tag along with my father when he would go pheasant hunting when we lived in Michigan, but I never shot a gun.  SO, I was fully expecting that I would be right up there with the idiots inflicting great pain to fleshy and delicate parts of my anatomy and I was getting a little bit nervous.  When I finally admitted that I had never shot a gun, ALL THE IDIOTS (except for the guy next to me and my friend Kerry and her daughter Ellyn) thought that this was the most interesting thing they had ever heard.  At the shooting range, I was 'adopted' by a juvenile former army person (who, incidentally had child bearing hips) who would load my magazine for me and offer advice like 'put yourself in a happy place' before stepping back out of the line of fire.  We fired a total of 50 rounds (I think that is a technical term for bullet) and each round was worth five points.  I scored 232 out of 250 which is almost a 93% for my first time to fire a gun.  I definitely could have hurt someone with a score like that.  Here is a photo to commemorate the event.  This is a side of me that folks SELDOM get to see, so I hope you all enjoy it.  On Tuesday I go to get fingerprinted (again) and that should do it.  I will let you know when the license comes.

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

2014 - Day 17/348 - Friday...

I went for my very first time to an In 'N Out Burger place.  Never-ever been to one, but had always heard good things about them, but though I have been to California a few times, never had an opportunity to stop.  They have opened two (maybe three) stores in and around Austin and I drive past one of them EVERY DAY that I go back and forth to Austin.  Chris and I spent several hours looking at properties and previewing more properties, and we decided to stop at In 'N Out on the way back to the office.  Parking was a bit of a problem, but we got our order placed and we were served within about 10 minutes.  The burger was good, the fries were good and the Barq's was good.  Nothing that I think I would gush over, but maybe that is just a California thing.  It is a good place to eat, not crazy ridiculously expensive, but not sure I would stand in a crazy long lone just to get one.  The clientele were friendly too, and bribery will get you almost anything!

My little soiree to the Emergency Room three days before Christmas (horrible case of sciatica, had them before, never like this and when you determine you cannot walk, crawl or otherwise move yourself from one place to another, you decide to go to the ER) caused a few notices to be delivered this week from that fine medical establishment.  It seems the total expense for my visit (Jody thinks we were there longer than 20 minutes, I am not so sure)  was about $1,300.  During my visit, I filled out some paperwork (I was able to get in on crutches), saw an intake person and then saw the doctor.  I was given a Tylenol with codeine and a steroid pill and sent on my way.  They were all very nice, $1,300 worth of nice to be exact.  My Blue Cross/Blue Shield covered almost 75% of the expense, so I guess I should be grateful.  I just hope I never have to visit a hospital emergency room for something really serious and survive.  I probably won't be able to afford it.

I have a class in the morning beginning at 8 AM, so I am going to hit it early tonight.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CULINARY TREATS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 16/349 - Thursday...

It was a good day, but a long day and traffic both ways was thick and uncooperative.  It took me a LONG time to get home this evening.  So long (how long was it?) that the girls were already in their beds when I got home, so I just had to get them all secured...the coyotes were all howling not far away, too.

This is kind of what my day was like, just a little bit of it.  Technology things are just kind of out of control in my world.  Technology here, technology there...just when you get one thing figured out it becomes obsolete and replaced by something else.  I am behind the curve, need to catch up.

Today was Meals-On-Wheels day too, always a nice way to spend some time.  Chris went with me and that is ALWAYS more fun than delivering alone.  Chris, congrats on the ride, too!

Tomorrow is Friday, which means that Saturday will be next and then Sunday and then Monday it will all start again, HOWEVER, I am looking forward to all of it!

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

2014 - Day 15/350 - Wednesday...

FULL MOON ALERT!  You have been warned...

This was another really great day. I am never really surprised about this, but I an always amazed at how many really intelligent people I am surrounded by.  How do people get that smart?  That is the crazy part!

There was a lovely sunset this evening, and Hubert came by and brought us two little cakes (thank you Pauline) and a fresh supply of egg cartons.  What are neighbors for if not to hare what we have with each other?  Oh, well, there is the just visiting and gossiping part, I really like that part too!

HOLY CRAP BATMAN!  We have been discovered by a cult that goes door to door delivering religious paraphernalia.  Who ratted us out?  It is just highly unlikely that they just happened to be in the 'hood' and stumbled upon us, I am not buying that.

I have started reading the audio book that has just recently been published by Shirley Jones.  I just finished a really good book by Michael Moore that some of you will most likely NOT run out and purchase.  This Shirley Jones thing is really just a piece of fluff, kind of like sherbet for me to use to cleanse my pallet (spell-check says that is right, but it doesn't look like the kind of pallet I am thinking about) before I begin (are you sitting down) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  Never read it before.  45 CD's.  It should take about a month to finish that one. 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ALL CAPS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 14/351 - Tuesday...

BEETS!  It's what's for dinner.  Along with some stuffed chicken breasts and green beans and a variation of a lovely Waldorf Salad.  Yummy.

There have been signs all up and down Highway 972 for about ten days saying that the road was going to be closes near Opossum Creek beginning yesterday.  That is the way I go to work EVERY DAY, and I like going to work that way.  There are not too many other ways I can get to work.  Okay, I guess there are several; one way makes my commute two miles longer, and other ways would mean my commute would be about 10 miles longer, minimum.  There are other ways that would add 20 to 40 miles each way, but we won't go there right now.

Yesterday evening, I came home down 972 just to see what was going on.  The road was not (really) closed, but there were barricades on either side of the bridge, so no vehicles could cross the bridge.  Nothing else, just the barricades.  No workers, nothing else.  This morning, as I was leaving the house, I made a mental note that I needed to go the other way to work, but as I drove, I got engulfed in thoughts (not unusual if you know me) and I was on auto-pilot and I ended up where the bridge was blocked.  Instead of going backwards and adding many miles to the trip, I headed off down a county road and ended up who in the hell knows where, but I eventually made my way to 971 which put me mid-way between Circleville and Weir.  I will try to remember not to get caught in my thoughts tomorrow and go the other way to begin with.

I also need to call someone in the county and ask them how long this project is expected to take.  There is no indication on any of the signs.  Somebodys cage is in need of a good rattling.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CANDY'S BEETS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2013 - Day 13/352 - Monday...

If you haven't do so already, you need to set your personal electronic device down on the table next to you and go outside and look at the moon.  It is VERY BRIGHT and kind of egg shaped.  BONUS:  If you actually do that, it counts as exercise, and I know most of you made a New Year Resolution to do more exercising in 2014, so DOUBLE BONUS!

Today was a pretty good day, mostly in the office, actually taking care of some real estate business, and going to a Luncheon in New Braunfels.  The luncheon was in New Braunfels was the installation of the newly formed but not necessarily named (yet) merged Associations of San Marcos, New Braunfels and Seguin.  It is kind of interesting to me that people (many of them anyway) that consider themselves to be locals of those areas cannot form the words New Braunfels.  VERY OFTEN it comes out New BraunSfels.  I just don't get it.  I heard that mis-pronunciation many MANY times today.  Don't get me started on Pedernales either!

Tomorrow will be a day of mostly office things, but I am planning to get a lunch thrown in there somehow.  Wednesday I have a couple meetings and a lunch, Thursday a meeting and Meals-On-Wheels and so far Friday is yet to be filled.

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

2014 - Day 12/353 - Sunday...

Today was cattle feeding day, chicken coop cleaning day and various little accomplishments day.  All in all, not a bad effort.  There is one thing I noticed though.  When I was a little kid (don't run and hide, this is only gonna take a second) 65 degrees was a lot warmer than it is now.  Does that mean there is NO GLOBAL WARMING John?  I kind of doubt it, and yes, global warming was all my fault.  If only I'd had a Bean-O.

I also got a lot of little things done in the office today as well, and I will continue on with that in just a little while, as soon as I get this entry finished and go outside to put the girls to bed.

There are no freezing temperatures forecast in the seven day guesses, so I put all the plants back outside.  That will be just the needed provocation for the weather to freeze again soon. 

This week coming is expected to be relatively calm.  I should probably not have mentioned that.

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

2014 - Day 11/354 - Saturday...

Frozen Pizza!  It's What's For Dinner!  Really, there is no need to always put on the feed bag...there is nothing at all wrong with a frozen pizza for dinner every now and again!  It is not like we are going to starve or anything, either. 

I got up late this morning (it is Saturday) only because the Boy Dog allowed me to sleep until about 6:45.  Yep, for some unknown reason, he came back into the bedroom and decided I should be awake so he laid there looking at me and whined pitifully until I got up out of the bed.  Once I was awake, he walked back out into the living room and laid own and took a nap.

After coffee, reading the paper, loosing the girls and making a pile of eggs, it was time to do a little bit of work and then head into Bartlett to do a couple chores.  Nothing big...

I did manage to take the wreaths off the front door and the front gate and to replace the flags on the flag pole.  I have had the flags since just after Christmas, but there was no sense in putting them up with the gale force winds that have been coming through.  The winds were calm today, and it was a balmy 70 degrees, perfect for flag changing.

Other than that, it was a nice calm day.  We did go and visit a friend in Jarrell who was having either the latest Christmas Party or the earliest Christmas Party, depending on your perspective.  And I worked on two separate real estate deals along the way as well.  All in all, the day was pretty darned good.

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

2014 - Day 10/355 - Friday...

I don't know about you guys, but I had a GREAT day today!  It started that I got to sleep in until about 5:15 this morning because I did not have to leave the house until about 7.  My first stop was the Board where I got to help with new member orientation.  I really REALLY enjoy talking with these new colleagues, it is great!  I get to introduce them (a little bit) to the world of Governmental Affairs, Advocacy, TREPAC and Ethics.  All in all, not a bad way to spend an hour of my time.  I even still laugh at my own jokes.  It is really a BLAST!

After that I had one more quick meeting at the Board, and then it was off to the office where I participated in some power Real Estate, and then I was back in my car and headed home by about 4:30.  All in all a perfect day.

When I got home I was happy to see this pretty pink sunset playing out in the western sky.  What could be a better way to end the week?

I hope you all had a great week, have really good plans for the weekend, and are looking forward to next week.

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

2014 - Day 9/356 - Thursday...

If it is Thursday, that must mean that it is almost Friday as well.  As usual, we had a PM meeting in the AM, and then I was off to the Women's Council of REALTORS® luncheon at the Board.  Our Meals-On-Wheels route was covered today by one of our Property Managers, Beaux...thanks Beaux.

The guest speaker at the luncheon today was Dan Hatfield, 2014 Chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®.  It was a great talk provided by Dan, and it is interesting to get an outsiders impression of central Texas.  Dan is from Bandera County.  One of the stats he cited during his talk was that (+/- I did not take accurate notes) there were 433 sales of homes (in 2013) in the Austin MLS that were priced at $1M or more.  Dan's comment was, there were not even 433 homes that sold in all of Bandera County in 2013!  That kind of puts things into perspective for you!

After that, it was back to the office for a bit more power real estate.

Tomorrow will be a day to start a little bit later than usual.  My first appointment will be at about 8:30 at the Board for New Member Orientation.  I always enjoy those meetings, and it gives me a good reason to go and shake hands with some of our newest colleagues.

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

2014 - Day 8/357 - Wednesday...

My first meeting this morning was at 7:30; the annual Austin Board of REALTORS®/Home Builders of Austin Housing Forecast.  I was asked to make the opening remarks to the assemblage as well as a couple other things.  One thing about being asked to speak at functions like this is, you do not have time to eat.  Not the worst thing in the world to happen.  As always, it was a great vehicle for the delivery of some very interesting statistics and the message going forward for the folks in and around Austin is nothing but good.  We are all truly lucky to be where we are at this time.

SO, that is what I was doing until about 11 o'clock, and then I had an 11:30 appointment at the Board.  I have not mentioned it yet, but when I left the house this morning there was a bit of drizzliness in the air.  It only got worse, although I was fortunate to get through traffic events and missed entirely the five vehicle debacle on IH-35.  There was some (not enough and it seems I am back to the Housing Forecast) talk about needed improvements to our infrastructure, but I think it is really too late for that.  We all just need to live close to where we work, but I don't always work in the same place, so that is a challenge.  One of the interesting topics was about micro-apartments, modular units installed by cranes that measure 10 feet by 30 feet.  It is kind of like living in one of those rooms at IKEA.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I am going to try and switch gears again, let's see how successful I am. 

Meanwhile, back at the Board...  My first Board of Directors meeting with me as the guide was scheduled to begin at Noon, but we were a little bit late getting started.  Overall, I think the meeting went well, and we all concluded the meeting without any blood shed or visible wounds.  There was one meeting after that, an orientation for incoming Directors (Steve and Jason) and I was back on the road and headed home by about 5:40.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to fix myself a celebratory bowl of ice cream.

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

2014 - Day 7/358 - Tuesday...

The temperatures we have been experiencing here at the edge of nowhere can best be described as did the First Class Mate on the Titanic, when asked by a First Class Passenger if the water was going to be cold.  His reply was a simple "definitely not hot".  And I think that pretty much sums it up!  The temperature today was in the middle 40's and it is not expected to freeze overnight, and in fact we could see temperatures pushing 70 by the weekend.  HOWEVER, frozen things here will take a day or two to 'un-freeze'.  Things like this water fountain used by the chickens.  They have other sources of water, but since they cannot take advantage of this one, this is their water source of choice!

Today was another day of meetings and it was a really good day.  Unfortunately, traffic on the way into the city was not cooperative.  I managed to avoid one traffic delay pretty well, only to be thwarted by two 18-Wheel trucks that determined they could not share the same piece of road and thought they would see who the best trucker was.  I believe it ended in a tie.

Tomorrow I will try my best to leave the house not later than 6 am, my first meeting begins at 7:30.

After tomorrow, life becomes a little bit more calm through next week, but as I am all too aware, that could change at any minute!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MORE COLD, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 6/359 - Monday...

This is the lowest temperature reading I could come up with from out here on the edge of nowhere.  18 degrees Fahrenheit computes to -7.7 degrees Celsius.  The lowest wind chill reading I came up with was 1 degree, which in Celsius equals -17.2 degrees.  Makes me sound smart, right, like I know algebra or something, right?  Well, don't give me too much credit for it, you can do almost anything if you have a computer.  You do not even have to know how to spell Google!  The prognosticators are forecasting an even lower temperature tonight, but from my hand-held electronic device it looks like we might be on a warming trend.  If we can all survive into tomorrow, we should be okay for a while.

This was a really good day, with lots of good accomplishments, and I am already tired.  I will be in the bed soon, and up again early in the morning.  I want to give a big shout-out to all my over-achieving friends out there:  Helen, BARB, Tom, Candace, Terry and all the rest of you.

Another early day tomorrow, try to leave the house really early so I can get stuck in traffic early enough to get to the office early.  Can you see a trend here?

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CELSIUS CONVERSIONS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 5/360 - Sunday...

This Christmas Cactus that lives in the 'lab' at the back of the house kind of reminds me of me.  Doesn't always do what it is supposed to, always delivers but is on its' own schedule.  Yep, I think I like this cactus!

It has been cold (anything under 40 degrees is cold) and miserable all day today.  When we got up, the outside temperature was in the mid 30's and the wind chill was in the low 20's.  It did not get much better at all.  The wind has died down somewhat, but the temperature (not the wind chill) is supposed to go down to the mid 20's tonight.  We are not liking it at all.  Tonight and tomorrow night, and then we should be done with it until the next time.

I did get a pretty good amount of stuff done today though, most of it from the inside.

Tomorrow begins the first REAL work day of 2014 for all practical purposes.  Gonna be a busy week too!

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

2014 - Day 4/361 - Saturday...

Something like this is (most likely) not going to happen in Central Texas over the next several days, but the forecast overnight low Sunday into Monday is 24 degrees, and then the low Monday into Tuesday is 21 degrees.  Then, following that, it warms back up to the mid-60's during the daytime hours and into the 40's overnight.  We will just have to make do the best we can.

Because tonight at midnight will be the HIGH temperature on Sunday and temperatures are supposed to drop throughout the day, I was a very smart guy today and got the cattle fed and most of the 'have to get done' chores completed that I generally get done on Sundays.  I am (to be honest) feeling very smug that I have gotten that stuff done, and I can just sit around on my butt for most of the day tomorrow.  There will be a few things I need to do...put fresh hay in the nesting boxes, stuff like that.  But otherwise, I think we are pretty prepared.  That is (honestly) yet to be seen, however.

I had a couple appointments to take care of early this afternoon, and I made a side trip to IKEA in Round Rock.  Even though they expanded the store and added a parking garage, I do not think the retail portion of the store is any bigger than it was before.  Maybe it is an optical illusion...maybe...

Jody and I went to the Crossroads Café (in beautiful downtown Schwertner) for dinner tonight.  You know it is downtown because there is a flashing light there (I think).  Good eats anyway.

We will see what tomorrow brings.

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

2013 - Day 3/362 - Friday...

Finally!  The first week of the new year is over.  FINALLY!  This was the longest week EVER!

Not really...

Chilly overnight, kind of cold actually this morning.  It warmed up to the mid-50's this afternoon, but it was not a warm-warm, if you know what I mean.  But Saturday night into Sunday morning it is going to change to cold-cold, if you know what I mean.  Two nights the low temperatures will be in the teens to 20's, forecasting the coldest temperatures in three years.  Where are Republicans when you need them to argue global warming?  How can there be global warming if it is snowing outside?  BECAUSE IT IS WINTER!

Whatever...

There have not been any posts of the Bassets lately, and they have been more in evidence lately as I have been leaving for the office a little bit later and getting home from the office a little bit earlier.  See how that works?  Anyway, those dog tracks you see on the driver side door of the car are from this big boy.  He is the friendly one, his female counter parts does nothing much more than bark and snarl.  I expect he would crawl up into the car if he were invited.

I have a couple appointments tomorrow and then will try to get some work done on Sunday.  That too remains to be seen.

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

2014 - Day 2/363 - Thursday...

I am conscientiously working to relieve myself of unwanted e-mails.  I am diligently working to 'unsubscribe' from as many e-mail 'subscriptions' as I possibly can.  This should in no way be considered a New Years Resolution, I am just going to do this as long as my attention span holds out.

Speaking of attention spans (okay, OCD) I am now also tracking (on a daily basis) the number of spam e-mails that go into my spam folder.  Yesterday was a slow day (only 86) today is more normal, I am at 153 so far.  Someone help me, save me from myself, PLEASE!

A good day work wise, got into the office early and got some stuff done, PM meeting in the AM then Meals-On-Wheels delivery, then a couple errands and an appointment at 1 o'clock.  Back in the office about 2:45 for some power real estate, then headed home at about 3:45.

Tomorrow will be a mostly office day, two appointments in the late afternoon.  Next week will be a killer; all day meetings for the first three days, then little breaks for breath on Thursday and Friday.

That is why they make weekends.

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

2014 - Day 1/364 - OMFG It's Wednesday...

Well, well, well, here we are again.  Five years of this journal wrapped up and starting the sixth year.  I have to keep going (I guess) because I renewed the domain (thanks Chris) for another five years. 

Jody got the black eyed peas going early this morning.  These are some peas from Pauline and Hubert that have been in the freezer for a couple years, but the sure were good.  A nice tradition and no sense taking any chances!

I did not get nearly as much stuff done today as I expected to get done.  I can remember a time that I could change a lamp switch with no issues.  Lately I am having issues with many things electric, so I am taking the lamp in to a lamp repair shop for them to change the switch.  It is really not that complicated, but for the life of me, I cannot get it to work.

I had six things on my To Done list, and only one of them can be crossed off.

We shall see what tomorrow brings, but it is looking like it will be a busy day.

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