Friday, October 31, 2014

2014 - Day 305/60 - Halloween...

BOO!  Did I scare you?  Maybe not, but then again you are not me looking in the mirror.  We do not participate in the Halloween madness on the edge of nowhere.  There were not (until this year) any kids within a couple miles of the house, and there is really no need to stop here.  We don't even need to turn off the lights and pretend we are not home.  There is just no one here to hide from!  I did wear a pair of scary socks to the office today (skull with bow ties and shades), and I did see a lot of skeleton offerings at the pharmacy this morning when I stopped by to pick up our monthly scripts! 

Other than that, folks down on Sixth Street will be walking around in circles in their costumes, and looking for a place to park (preceding the search for their cars when they cannot remember where they parked).  Also, F1 is in town this weekend as well.  Avoid the city at all costs.

We will be going in on Sunday, but tomorrow is off limits.

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

Thursday, October 30, 2014

2014 - Day 303/62 - Thursday...

Okay, bear with me while I make one (or two or three) more comment about the hotel I was staying in last night.  Overall, really it was very nice.  There are a couple things that make me think the room had been recently renovated and a couple things that make me think otherwise.  To begin (and this has nothing to do with renovations); most hotel rooms are carpeted, this room was partially carpeted and it also had a laminate flooring product on some of the floors and tile flooring in the bathroom.  The laminate flooring was sticky to my bare feet.  Does that mean that there is an equal amount of stickiness on the carpeted portions, but it has just been (somewhat) absorbed by the carpeting and does not necessarily feel sticky to the bare foot?  Just wondering.  Since I was assigned the handicapped suite, there was no transition of any kind between the bath flooring and the shower, just an incline of sorts in the general direction of the shower drain.  No need for concern though, since there was very low water pressure.  No concern for flooding the place at all.  And last for this rant is the fact that one of the smoke alarms that I discussed last night was obviously waiting for me to clear out so it could shower with a proper amount of privacy, whereby the shower cap that was covering it would come in handy.

Whatever.

Okay, so today I did something that I will most likely be sorry about in a day or two.  On the way home from San Antonio I stopped at the drive-through of a McDonald's on the Interstate.  It has been (probably) two years since I went to any McDonald's, let alone one on an Interstate.  Now I remember a couple of reasons for that avoidance.  First:  I wanted a cheeseburger,  Just a plain, ordinary cheeseburger.  Like the original cheeseburger that made them famous.  To the best of my knowledge, there is no option to order just a plain cheeseburger at McDonald's.  Second:  No matter what you order, you will not get that.  I do not know whose order I received, and I do not know who received my order, but I ended up with two kinds of sandwiches that I still have been unable to identify.  AND, by the time the discovery is made, I am back on the Interstate and travelling at a rapid rate.  Financially, I think I got the good end of that bargain, but that is not the point.  Third:  I believe I got two of the same sandwiches but they did not resemble each other in any way.  One looked like a sandwich, the other looked like a decoupage of items chosen randomly at a McDonald'
s store on the Interstate of a college town.

Enough.  There is more, but I am tired.

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

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

2014 - Day 302/63 - Wednesday...

I probably should not be too concerned about this, but it is causing me a certain amount of concern.  Two out of the last three times I have stayed in a hotel, I have been assigned to the Handicapped Suite.  It is interesting to take a shower in a room that cannot contain water from other parts of the bathroom, and there are other interesting aspects of the room (like the flashing lights when the phone rings or someone knocks on the door), but otherwise I just wonder if the Googles have informed these folks that I am (unbeknownst to me) somewhat infirm.  You know the Googles know everything, and I am sure they have some analytics that predict infirmness before it actually happens (so they can put ads for Depends on your Facebook page, but I would like it very much if they could at least give me a call so I would know a little more about what to expect!

Whatever.

I am in San Antonio tonight, preparing to take a Broker Responsibility class in the morning.  Clouds in San Antonio are just as lovely as those in central Texas, nearer to the edge of nowhere.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, OLD AGE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

2014 - Day 301/64 - Tuesday...

Today was a busy day, and I had to cancel meetings with Bo Derek, Jake Gyllenhall and Warren Beatty.  Speaking of Warren Beatty, I used to have a client that thought her mother was Marilyn Monroe, her father was John Kennedy and Warren Beatty was responsible for both their deaths.  She never really let these beliefs manifest unless she was not getting her way about something, and that was the tipping point.  If there was a problem it was Warren Beatty's fault.  But that actually has nothing to do with today's post (and actually there is never anything relevant in any of these posts, it is actually the Seinfeld Blog because it is really about nothing) but I am still trying to drum up the daily numbers.  AND because I did not take a photo of interesting today (that is not to assume that nothing interesting happened) so I am relying on a photo I took about a week ago of Mr. Speckles enjoying himself in one of the tanks in the back.  I hope you enjoy!

I did take the car in today for its' twelve month service (even though I, have only had it for about five months, I put lots of miles on it, just about 14,000 in the five months).  I expected to pick it up this afternoon, but it will not be ready until tomorrow.  But, there is the loaner with only about 300 miles on it, but I actually like my car better, and that is a first!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NOTHING, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Monday, October 27, 2014

2014 - Day 300/65 - Monday...

What is the difference between a squirrel and a rat? 

An elderly woman enjoys sitting in her backyard on warm fall days, tossing peanuts on top of the closed barbecue lid for the squirrels. She likes watching the cute rodents scurry up to the house and nibble on the treats. She thinks it's just adorable how they hold food in their little paws, sitting upright with their fluffy tails standing up behind them.

One sunny day, one of the squirrels is minding his own business, busy
 stealing birdseed from someones bird feeder. The elderly woman's husband is in the backyard with their beagle puppy, whistling contentedly as he grills up some dinner on the barbecue. A pair of yellow feline eyes are fixed on the squirrel in the neighbor's yard, inching their way towards him. A bird dives at the squirrel, knocking him from the ledge of the feeder and directly in front of the cat. He sees the yellow eyes and leaps away in a blind panic, as the cat flies out of the bushes after him. The squirrel races toward the old woman's house, and suddenly the beagle is tearing after them both. The cat shoots up and over the fence and into the neighbors yard, but the dog is focused on the squirrel. Just inches behind that gorgeous bushy tail, the chase leads them onto the deck, where the only option is up. The squirrel leaps desperately up and onto the barbecue, where so many of his meals had come from. The man shouts out in surprise as, with a horrible squeal of pain, the squirrel lands on the lit barbecue; his bushy tail igniting into a wild fireball. He swats the rodent off the grill and into the rain barrel, where the deadly fire is extinguished.

The beagle is put in the house, and the man grumpily disposes of his dinner while little squirrel crawls soaking wet from the rain barrel; his feet charred and his tail a skinny, hairless embarrassment.

A few days later, the old woman sets out a few peanuts for the squirrels and sits down in her old wooden lawn chair, enjoying the warm sun on her face. She hears a rustling in the grass and the scuffling sound of rodent feet climbing up the barbecue. Little squirrel, with sore feet and a hairless tail, had come for a snack. The old woman screamed in horror.
"A RAT!" She wails, "A wretched rat has come to steal my food, invade my house, oh LORD a RAT! Whatever will I do?"

She runs into the house, phones her husband and demands that he bring home the strongest rat poison they have at the hardware store.

A week later, the squirrel is dead.

What is the moral of the story?

I have no idea, I stole the whole thing from Google after I asked "what is the difference between a squirrel and a rat".  I only asked because I took a picture of Earl the Squirrel while I was out with the girls this afternoon.  This was the best of the answers.  If you know, send me a PM.

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

Sunday, October 26, 2014

2014 - Day 299/66 - Sunday...

What in the devil was I thinking?  It turns out that Trader Joe's is a GROCERY STORE!  Well, I KNEW it was a grocery store, but I thought it would going to be something special, like, not a grocery store exactly, but like a GROCERY store.  Whole Foods and Central Market are GROCERY STORES, where they just happen to sell groceries.  Those stores are an experience.  The Trader Joe's we went to in the Arboretum is in the former SAKS store, so that should tell you a little bit about what we were (okay, what I was) expecting.  I had heard stories of life changing rice dishes, fabulous chicken pot pies, really good cheap wines, better than average key lime pies.  Perhaps I was underwhelmed because I waited five minutes for a guy to back out of a parking space by the door.  He backed out, pulled back in, backed out, didn't like the second set of results, and pulled back in.  Finally on the third back out, he maneuvered his vehicle out of the spot and into the unknown.  I also remember SAKS as being a much larger place than Trader Joe's.  I know they need stock rooms and all, but this was ridiculous.  I was more like a Fresh Plus than the famous Trader Joe's I had dreamed about.  I will give it a second chance at some point, but will probably go to the store on Bee Cave Road.  There were some lovely succulents outside though.  Very nice!

Trader Joe's was our last stop in Austin today.  First off we went in and met Jetta, Colette, Michael, Lynda and Julie for lunch at Maggiano's at the Domain.  We all (I think) had a very nice lunch, and are looking forward to all getting together again soon.  Then we had another errand to run, then off to drive past the new association facility (coming along very nicely) and then to Trader Joe's.

The week ahead will be sort of (but not terribly) busy.  It will be a good week!

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

Saturday, October 25, 2014

2014 Day 298/67 - Saturday...

Temperatures comparable to September, not almost November here on the edge of nowhere.  But it must have been a good day for chickens, we got nine eggs today, and we have been averaging six or seven per day.  We have not had double digit egg production in quite a while.  As usual, Vera was up front and personal when I went out to gather eggs and read meters.  She still likes to be carried around like a puppy. 

Nothing much of any kind of productive happenings went on today, and that is just fine with me.  I did take a couple calls about listings, and did manage to work in a couple naps between taking the Boy Dog for a ride and going in to Georgetown for lunch.  And there was a stop at the HEB for bread and some hummus.

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

Friday, October 24, 2014

2014 - Day 277/68 - Friday...

And it seems another weekend is upon us.  I am not sure about you guys, but the past week seems to have zoomed by.  Jody said he was out in the yard today and startled Barney the Cat on the other side of the fence.  It seems when Barney is startled and leaps in the taller grass, he seems to be about twelve feet long.  It get the image; long, thin cat.  He has a good sense of smell on her too, as soon as Jody puts food out on the back porch (particularly canned cat food) it is not long before she is on the scene.  It is indeed to have an outside barn cat.  Things are different on the edge of nowhere.  I never had pets that were "outside" pets.  I never had a dog that did not get up on the furniture, or sleep in the bed with me.  It's just different.

In just another week we will be able to set the clocks back.  Then about two weeks after that we will set the clocks forward again.  The older I get (what I mean really is the SMARTER I get), it just seems kind of like a waste of time to study certain things.  I thought I was supposed to become more tolerant of things, but it does not seem to be the case.  Maybe I am just more aware.  Maybe I actually am more tolerant of things, there are just more things these days.

Whatever.

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

Thursday, October 23, 2014

2014 - Day 296/69 - Thursday...

Well, since this is Throw-Back-Thursday, I have decided to share this miniature statue I had commissioned of myself several years ago before I began meditation and pilates, combined with a couple nautilus workouts weekly and an organic carrot diet, supplemented with a couple colon cleanses and a couple chicken lard body wraps that are designed to get the toxins out of the system.  THEN, you put an activated charcoal wrap on the bottoms of your feet and wait for the magic to happen.

Or, you can just spend the night at the Texas REALTOR® Leadership Program retreat, and the same thing happens.  You walk in feeling unsure and uncertain, and you walk out a whole new person.  If you have not already tried it, you should!

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

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

2014 - Day 295/70 - Wednesday...

Where are the days going?  It is already (almost) the end of hump day, and it seems like the week only just began.  Traffic to and from the office continues to be a challenge, and there is no predicting it.  For no reason at all there will be congestion, and in the case of some sort of tragic occurrence drivers will whiz past as if nothing is happening.  It was a mélange of images today, a beautiful puffy pink sunrise which helped the time pass (you saw photos if you follow me on Facebook), and then there was this traffic disturbance, which caused four lanes to merge into three for no understandable reason other than to give everyone plenty of room.  If they are already going to pull over, let them pull over a little bit further would seem to make good sense, but what do I know?

I took the car down the street to have it washed, and asked that the only thing they do to the interior was to please vacuum the floors, I would do the rest.  I thought it was a good deal for $14.99 until I returned to the office to discover that ALL they did was to vacuum the carpets.  I went back and they could not understand why they had not treated the exterior with a moist, soapy substance, but everything was fixed and I was on my way a second time.

I continue to have communication issues.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NO WATER WASH, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

2014 - Day 294/71 - Tuesday...

I was at a couple stores today (shopping to provide treats to a GRI class tomorrow).  One of the things I was searching for was those little baby oranges (Cuties) that are easy for kids to peel and don't make such a mess.  None at Costco (where I was walking around feeling superior as I an usually wont to do at Costco) so I decided I would stop at an HEB on my way home.  That was, of course, assuming I would be able to find my car.  There were three of us walking up and down the parking aisles at Costco because we could not find our cars.  I was still feeling superior but also stupid.  So it was off to HEB.  They had little oranges (not the Cuties) and they were $7.98 a pound in a five pound bag.  I was about to fall over in an apoplectic fit, but there were some more for $3.98 for two pounds, so I bought five bags.  But still...that seems kind of high.  The salvation was that, in observance of the Holiday (in this case Halloween, Costco is already doing Christmas), they were selling caramel apples for $0.99, so I got one and Jody and I are going to split it tonight.

Everything has a rhythm.  Some rhythms just take a little time to get used to.  Stats were released today at the board for September, so I did two radio interviews, one tv interview, got a couple quotes in local papers, and it should keep going tomorrow as well.  I have finally got this figured out.  Had I REALLY figured it out, I would have washed my hair!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CARAMEL APPLES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Monday, October 20, 2014

2014 - Day 293/72 - Monday...

So, just in case you were wondering, this is what our little piece of heaven looks like.  This is the road that leads to our road.  I don't care what has happened to you during the day, or how you think a decision should have been changed, there is just nothing wrong with life when you can see miles and miles of miles and miles.  It is quiet.  If a dozen vehicles go up and down the road in front of our house during the day, it could cause a back-up. 

But...as a matter of fact, nothing terrible happened today, I am just glad to be home.

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

Sunday, October 19, 2014

2014 - Day 292/73 - Sunday...

Grub (n) a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect.  And that indeed is what I think these little boogers are.  There were a LOT of them under the bale of hay that was taken out to the cattle this morning.  I expect they contain a lot of protein, and the girls liked them very much.  Speaking of girls, after the coop was cleaned out this morning, I went back to discover that one of the Silver Laced Wyandotte’s had come to a demise, and it is not known as of press-time whether it was a natural demise or otherwise.  All I know is that one of the girls is no longer with us.  Tonight she is sleeping in the garbage can, waiting to be put out on the road tomorrow.  Poor girl.

This being Sunday, there was a bit of upkeep done today, most of which concerned cutting of grass.  We did manage to take the Boy Dog for a ride this morning, but other than that there was no travelling in anything without a cutter or a hay fork or shredder on it.

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

Saturday, October 18, 2014

2014 - Day 291/74 - Saturday...

Saturday.  The day to sleep in, read the paper, eat breakfast, take a nap, take the Boy Dog for a ride, take another nap, go into Georgetown for lunch, come home, take another nap, try very hard to pay no attention to the news, feed the girls, collect eggs, post a journal entry.  This is a photo of the martin colony houses in the front yard that is currently occupied by sparrows.  The martins left weeks ago, and we will clean out these houses in January.

In between naps today, I did and undid and redid the new weather station.   We received the replacement weather station for the one that we sent back to the factory.  This most recent one is (allegedly) less complicated but it also has less reporting modules.  Relatively easy to assemble, but I cannot get this one to work either.  It should not be that complicated.  Actually it is not that complicated, I am following the directions and have even allowed Jody to look over my shoulder and make sure I am following the instructions but I cannot make it work.  There is a "set-up help line available from 8am until 5pm CST Monday through Friday.  That is not much comfort to me at this moment!

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

Friday, October 17, 2014

20104 - Day 290/75 - Friday...

Today (this evening really) was the first time I have seen Barney the cat in several days.  I was pecking on the breakfast room window trying to get her to smile for the camera, and she was not in the least bit concerned.  She also has a perfectly clean fresh bowl of water but she prefers to hydrate from the dish that is the saucer for the geranium out by the pool.  So does the dog.  And the chickens.  And who knows what else.  This is the edge of nowhere for Pete's sake!

If it is Friday, I must be home!  Yippee!  The past week was a busy one, and I stayed in Austin two of the five nights.  Tuesday night I stayed in town because Realty Roundup was on Wednesday, and I needed to be there early in the morning.  Yesterday was the first day of our annual ABoR Leadership Retreat, and the meetings went well into the evening and I stayed in town to be back there early this morning.  Wonderfully meaningful information shared, good networking with colleagues, volunteer servants of every ilk, newly announced Directors and Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs.  2015 will be a very good year indeed!

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

Thursday, October 16, 2014

2014 - Day 289/76 - Thursday...

I am pretty sure it is Thursday...

It has been a good day.  After the Realty Roundup yesterday, today was our ABoR Leadership retreat.  A full day of orientation for Directors and incoming Directors, to prepare for the 2015 year.  Officers met at 8 o'clock, Directors met beginning at 10, and we finished at 4:30.  Lots of information, lots of good discussion, lots of planning, lots of processing, lots of participation, lots of interaction, lot of STUFF!

We had a quick break, and then had a reception and dinner.  It is truly a great bonding experience for all of us, seasoned and incoming.  The stuff we do is not simple, it is complex, detailed, difficult, and rewarding.

Good work was done by all.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HARD WORK, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

2014 - Day 288/77 - Wednesday...

Yes, and today really is Wednesday...

Today was a very full day at the Austin Board of REALTORS® Realty Roundup, the largest real estate trade show in the Hill Country.  Who knows, it might be the biggest in the state, but I hesitate to go there.  Anyway, this years event was really well done, and there were lots of our colleagues going throughout the show beginning at 8AM this morning, and continuing through about 5:30 this afternoon.  I baled out about twenty minutes past five.  I was honored to start the event, and I was the MC for the opening sessions, going from about 8:30 until 10AM.  Then at the lunch hour and preceding Dr. Jim Gaines from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, the officers of the board hosted a quick forum and had some electronic interaction with the assembled agents.  We asked yes, no or uncertain questions, and the audience could respond via a text message so we could see the responses in real time.  Interesting.  This is what it looked like from my seat at the table looking out into the crowd during the forum.

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

2014 - Day 287/78 - Tuesday...

Even though this post title says it is Tuesday, it is really Wednesday.  I stayed in Austin last night, and there was no wi-fi service, and I could not get the entry completed.  Better late than never.

So Tuesday was a pretty busy day, most of it leading up to Realty Roundup, which begins just a few hours from now.  Earlier in the day, we all went to a NARPM luncheon and then we went down to Palmer Auditorium to get our booth set up for today.  The opening of Realty Roundup is scheduled for 8AM this morning, and the trade show portion of the event begins (I think) at 10AM.

There was however, time to see a wreck and take a photo of it for this journal.  This particular wreck was at South First Street and Riverside drive,  Not exactly sure how it happened, but it did.  Both cars have front end damage, and they are both headed in the same directions.  Keep Austin Weird!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WI-FI, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Monday, October 13, 2014

2014 - Day 286/79 - Monday...

Occasionally I have been diagnosed to be lacking a brain. "If he had another brain it would be lonesome!"  Sounds kind of appropriate at times, one of them being this morning.  My plan was to head into Austin and drive OUT of the rain and tornadic (spell-check says this is wrong, but the dictionary says it is correct.  Yes, I do have a dictionary, about seven pounds of one.) winds.  Instead, it seems I miscalculated the weather prognosticators and drove 50 miles INTO the storms, accompanied by the hurricane gales and the tsunami of automobiles flashing their little hearts out on the side of the road.  How did those two cars get pointed the wrong way, headlights gleaming and up against the concrete barrier along the inside lanes of the Interstate?  Was that a chicken?  Am I hallucinating?  Did a bring a change of underwear?  What will happen if they have to take me to the hospital with those underwear on?  I knew better than to not bring an extra pair. 

But I did survive it.  It was very convenient of Columbus to discover the new world on this date (whatever) in history, and that caused traffic to be less dense than usual.  I believe that if this had been a "normal" Monday drive, I would still be heading into Austin.

But it wasn't so I am not, and we have recorded 3.27" of rain in the past four days.  Clear sailing for the foreseeable future.

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

Sunday, October 12, 2014

2014 - Day 285/80 - Sunday...

Okay, in the last 72 hours or so we have received 2.53" of rain and there is more forecast for the early morning hours tomorrow.  This photo of Barney the cat was taken this morning before the most recent round of showers, during which we received 0.654 inches.  As must as it is a terrible thing to say, the folks around here are not that happy with the precipitation, because it has caused the fields to be muddy and washed away the terracing that is important once the crops are in.  I expect they will overcome, but it is ironic that things work out the way they do.

So, it was mostly a grey and cloudy day, but the sun is actually peeking through as I write this.  I got the chicken coop cleaned (we only got four eggs today), got the truck inspected and the oil changed, got my flu shot for the year, went to Home Depot and then Jody and I had dinner (dupper) in Georgetown.  We finally got a chance to see the weather forecast on tv. 

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

Saturday, October 11, 2014

2014 - Day 284/81 - Saturday...

We watched 15 minutes of a football game on tv (that took over 45 minutes) and they went directly from that to Wheel of Fortune.  All we wanted to see was a little bit of weather, and there was no local news at all...all football all the time.  It might be a little easier if either one of us grasped the concept of football.  I do understand most of the rules, and the object, but when you just want to know if the rain is over, it is somewhat defeating, no matter who it is that wins.  Whatever...  Since the last post (overnight) we have received 1.88" of rain, and the fields are all muddy again.  Folks were plowing fields late into the night last night, trying to get the soil turned before the rain.  It has been grey and cloudy all day, but a nice thing is, with the cooler temperatures (it was in the low 60's all day today) the morning glories bloomed throughout the day.  They were a little bit worse for wear after being beaten down by the rain, but still pretty. 

Otherwise, I did not do much of anything today.  Jody and I did go into Georgetown for lunch but that was it.  We took some eggs to Hubert and Pauline and took the Boy Dog for a ride, and I did a little bit of work, but nothing else.

It was nap city around here today!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, LOW 60'S, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Friday, October 10, 2014

2014 - Day 283/82 - Friday...

There is always that awkward moment in the restaurant where you have to decide to ask for a carry-out or just keep eating until you burst.  I chose the latter in this case.  A new German restaurant opened last week in Bartlett, the Hausgarten Edelweiss.  I had the Spaetzel Schnitzel (I have absolutely no idea if I have spelled that correctly or not), and it was very, VERY good.  In a very nice mushroom gravy.  Delicious.  Jody had veal and pork brats (one of each) and he exhibited much more will power than me and brought one of them home with him.  I was actually expecting the place to be really busy, and there were two or three tables occupied when we got there, and several more arrived while we were there.  Again, it was very good, and I hope they do well.  We will do our best to help them along, but it will take more than just us!

This is the last weekend of ACL fest, and there is supposed to be a cold front coming through early in the morning (3:30 a.m.) and it is supposed to lower the temperatures (a record high today of 93 degrees) and bring a little bit of rain.  Wonderful to be able to plan to be awakened by the nervous Boy Dog and try to sleep in the dark closet with him.  We will deal with that when it happens.

Friday means awful television opportunities.  I think in that case I will just retire and get some early snoozing in before the Boy Dog goes berserk.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GERMAN FOOD, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

2014 - Day 282/83 - Thursday...

I stayed in Austin the last couple nights, and when I went outside to get into the car to go to my first meeting, there was evidence of rain drops.  I called Jody to see if there had been any sprinkles of rain on the edge of nowhere, and there had not.  I did not think that there was a lawn sprinkling system where I was staying, and later in the day I heard confirmation on the radio that there had indeed been a sprinkle or two here and there in Austin.  I slept through it.  Our official prognosticator in the kitchen says rain is likely, and the sage up at the end of the drive way is beginning to bloom again, so that is a good sign.  And if that is not enough, just look at these clouds.  BEAUTIFUL!

I finished my two-and-a-half-days of meetings with the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and following my meetings were meetings with the Board Officers Leadership.  I attended those the last two or three years (the years are running together), and I will be attending the TREPAC portions of the meetings for the next couple years, I expect.

Good stuff, good information and good friendships mixed with some controversy.  Add all those ingredients, stir gently and then get back to work for the mutual benefit of the membership. 

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

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

2014 - Day 281/84 - Wednesday...

Okay, another full day of meetings at the Texas Association of REALTORS®.  The first meeting was at 7 o'clock this morning, and it was great to share lots of information with my colleagues and, although it makes for long day and evenings (and sometimes tiring) it is really rewarding to share this time with my friends and folks who share values.

The first session is tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and I will be finished by about 2:30 in the afternoon.  Then it will be time to head to the office and then home, hopefully early enough to avoid traffic on the Interstate.  This is the last ACL weekend for the year as well, and there is no lock of freaks enjoying all that Austin has to offer.

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

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

2014 - Day 280/85 - Tuesday...

I do not think there is any way that this can end well.  I am attending a series of meetings with the Texas Association of REALTORS® and I am therefore staying overnight in Austin for a couple nights.  I will be attending a dinner in about an hour and a half, and I have laid in supplies for the rest of the night.  Diet Coke and fried pies.  Like I said, I do not think there is even the most remote possibility that this can end anywhere near a positive fashion.

I made it into the office pretty early this morning, did a couple hours of power real estate and then headed to the first meeting.  I like meetings that are supposed to last til 5 p.m. and actually end about 2:30.  I headed back to the office and did a little bit more power real estate, and now I am just kind of hanging until it is time for dinner.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHOCOLATE MILK, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

Monday, October 6, 2014

2014 - Day 279/86 - Monday...

Look!  Right up there!  Yep, it's Monday, isn't it?  I could tell.  Even though it was not a really terrible day, there were lots of little gnats buzzing around me...sort of literally and in the "just another name for bothersome" context. 

Here is a picture of the newest little girl (I have still not made an official determination) in the back pasture, Stormy.  She is a cutie-patootie, and she is just about 16 days old now.  I took this photo yesterday when I was taking a bale of hay out to them.  They were/are not particularly interested in the hay, they are really just a bunch of nosy cows, wanting to see what I was doing.

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

Sunday, October 5, 2014

2014 - Day 278/87 - Sunday...

Today was another day of trying to do as little as I possibly could, and at that I was quite successful!  I did get about 30% of the grass cut in the front yard (there is always next weekend), and I got the cattle fed and the chicken coop cleaned out.  I am trying to think if there was anything else I did, but I am drawing a blank.  The morning glories are looking awfully puny (the vines themselves) but the blooms were magnificent this morning.  Barney the cat did not care at all for all the racket and activity that surrounded the grass cutting, and the chickens are always up for a game of bug, chicken, garden tractor.  The garden tractor could easily win (mainly because chickens can think of nothing else when they see a bug), but the garden tractor operator believes that discretion is the better part of valor, and there is quite an investment in those chickens.  At (an estimated expense of) about $12.50 an egg, it is worth it to avoid running over a chicken, no matter the cost.

That was pretty much it for the day.  It was warmer today than yesterday, but the morning was very nice.  Temperatures are expected to rise through the week until about Thursday or Friday, when they may drop five degrees or so, which we will take gladly.

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

Saturday, October 4, 2014

2014 - Day 277/88 - Saturday...

It is a beautiful day out here on the edge of nowhere.  Clear blue skies, crisp fall-like temperatures (Fummer, according to some in the broadcast industry).  Lows gain tonight in the mid-50's, but up to the low 90's tomorrow and into the next week.  I never count on a real change in the weather here until at least the second week of October, and this year I am changing that prognostication to the second FULL week of October.  Cooler temps are taking their own sweet time getting here, that is for sure.  We do not have any more rain in the forecast until the end of next week, and only a slight chance at that, but the sage up by the road is just blooming its' little (collective) heart out.  Very pretty.

Today sees a UT game (lost to Baylor 28/7) and ACL Fest in full swing.  We avoided going in to the city at all costs, and I am certain that no one missed us.

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

Friday, October 3, 2014

2014 - Day 276/89 - Friday...

Much like George Costanza's father choosing to celebrate "Festivus" instead of the more traditional December Holiday, at this time of year, I try my best to ignore The Austin City Limits Festival in deference to my own, more appropriately named (in my opinion) event known to the masses as "The City is Full o' Freaks".  By way of documentation of that event, I offer this photographic record or a Pink Spandex Uni-tard wearing Pedi-Cab Freak.  Those of you who frequent this journal know that I have nothing at all against the color pink (I look great in pink), and I have nothing (personally) against freaks, it is mass quantities of freaks that bothers me.  It actually began yesterday and perhaps the worst day of it will be tomorrow, when about 101,000 drunken football fans will congregate at the University of Texas Stadium for an afternoon (I think) game against some other team, and simultaneously (about a mile south) there will be a congregation of about 150,000 people attending the ACL fest, and maybe another 50,000 folks just wandering around looking for a place to park.

I know, first world problem!

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

Thursday, October 2, 2014

2014 - Day 275/90 - Thursday...

Well, since we closed the office this afternoon for a couple hours to go see a movie, I thought this was an appropriate homage to Jack Nicholson, but with my own demented take on it.  REDRUM!  We went to the Alamo Draft House on South Lamar which recently reopened.  It is not an easy place to get to and what used to be a neighborhood shopping center is going to be an urban multi-use mecca that is going to try an be sort of a South Austin Domain.  Not my words, but cannot really find better words to describe t.  We saw "Box Trolls", which I had no idea what it was about, but I expected an animated (or maybe stop motion film) to be a comedy, but it were not!  Not sure what it was, but after a shaky start, I enjoyed it.  I would say you should probably go see it, just so it will give you something to talk about.

Otherwise, it was a pretty good day.  My new iPhone 6Plus has been cured of all its latent ills thanks to a rock-star at the AT&T store at William Cannon and 290, named Mikel.  Very nice guy and very smart, and he was able to get the phone to do more than just be a phone and he also took care of a phone problem that my friend Robert was having at the same time.  SCORE!

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

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

2014 - Day 274/91 - Wednesday...

The saga continues, but first...

These (what Jody believes to be Crocuses) little flowers were found underneath one of the Vinca bushes (this particular specimen would not likely qualify as a tree) this past Sunday, and there were several little clusters of them, and they remind me of spring time flowers like jonquils and things like that.  It is surprising that they survived because beneath that particular bush is the favorite territory of not only a BUNCH of chickens, but of Barney the cat also!  But nevertheless, there they were.  Coming into the driveway this afternoon also gave me a look at some of the sage up by the road blooming, and that is a good sign for the forecasted rain and thunderstorms we have been warned about that are scheduled to arrive tomorrow night.

And now gentle readers, back to the saga.  I have pretty much overcome the embarrassment of the huge electronic device that calls itself the iPhone 6Plus.  What I have yet to overcome is the loss of functionality of several of the applications that have not yet found their way from the cloud to the new phone.  Some of my telephone contacts are missing too.  The ability to log on to several apps without the need of a wifi connection has been eliminated.

So, I will make a pilgrimage tomorrow to an AT&T Store to see if they can correct the problem.  We shall see.  Wish me luck.

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