2014 - Day 334/31 - Sunday...

There is not a cricket to be found outside our house on the edge of nowhere.  Neither Jody nor I have seen a cricket outside the house this year.  Not even in the garage.  That is because all the crickets are INSIDE the house.  Live crickets.  Dead crickets (often in multiples).  Crippled crickets.  Fornicating (allegedly) crickets.  I say allegedly because I have never seen a movie or power-point presentation on the mating habits of crickets.  Not even in Junior High School Health Class.  Chirping Crickets.  Hiding Crickets (preferably in the t-shirt or pull-over jacket I put on after rising from a troubled nights sleep.  That is because there are crickets in the bed clothes.  I do not think the crickets sleep, I think they just die.  No crickets outside, but plenty of crickets (see above) inside.

The same with leaves.  No leaves on the trees or shrubbery or ground out here on the edge of nowhere.  They are all in the pool.  Don't believe me?  Ask Denny!

And don't get me started about chicken sh*t.

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

2014 - Day 333/32 - Saturday...

It was 77 degrees in Austin today, probably the same out here on the edge of nowhere.  This is a photo of the sunset, very pretty indeed.

After sleeping late, I made a pile of eggs for me and Jody, and then I headed into Austin to run some errands and do some other secret stuff.  Just stuff.  I did go to the office to check things out.  Okay, I also did a little bit for the economy today.  Did some small shopping.  Something that has never happened before, happened today.  I was taking bales of hay out to the cattle this afternoon, and I cold not get the first bale off the hay fork.  I had to peel that sucker off like an onion.  There is hay strewn from one end to the other out there.  The second bale cooperated as was expected, but you never know what is going t happen out here.  After that, I gathered up Jody and we went back into Georgetown for lunch, cam home and we both went down for naps.

Tomorrow is chicken coop cleaning day, and more fence work.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HAY BALES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - 332/33 - Friday...

I am thankful for another (former) neighbor today; Randy.  I was out acting like I knew what I was doing, trying to put the fence back together this morning, and I beckoned Randy over to help me.  He is the undisputed fence expert of the edge of nowhere.  Randy and Irene lived next door when we moved here, and they sold part of the property earlier in the year, and bought some land in Salado to be closer to their children and grand-kids.  Anyway, Randy came over and helped me get the fence re-wired and strung back together, and that was great.  Of course, the fence is not working yet, but I will work on that some more tomorrow afternoon. 

After the fence stuff, Jody and I went into town to run some errands, and we then went to Taylor to buy some cattle feed and had lunch at the bar-b-cue place (Vencil's) by the rail yard.  Good pulled beef (I think, I just eat what they put in front of me) and a diet-Coke.  Perfect.  We got 500 pounds of cattle feed, 200 pounds of chicken feed (trying a new brand), and then another stop at HEB before we headed home and we both went down for naps. 

The new bull calf (Giblets) is looking fine in the back pasture, and that is good.  This is a picture of one of our other neighbors cows, they were all gathered up around the front fence when I was unloading feed and checking meters.

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

2014 - Day 331/34 - Thanksgiving...

In addition to all the things I am thankful for on a daily basis, today (this being Thanksgiving Day) I am especially thankful for Pauline and Hubert, who came and helped me fetch Mr. Speckles who (this is all I can figure) jumped the neighbors fence and went courting their heifer calf.  We ended up having to cut out a section of fence and bribe him back in to our pasture with cattle feed.  Then, instead of stringing the fence back (we cut four of the five barbed wire strings and the goat fence) I put a gate panel up there.  Tomorrow I will secure the gate panel better and hook the electric fence back up, but it will not string the fence back, just in case there is a replay of this incident.

To add to the excitement, Violet had another calf this morning, and in honor of the day, we are going to name him Giblets.  Yes, it is for sure a bull calf, I saw him pee.  Mother and son are both doing well, and we will discuss the retained placenta later.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, STRAY BULLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 330/35 - Wednesday...

Repeat after me; today is not Friday.  If you don't believe me, just look at the title of this journal entry.  It was a ridiculously busy day, again not with work accomplishments, just with stuff.  Stuff here and stuff there, and most of the stuff got done, not all of it, but most of it.  I will be able to accomplish the rest of it in the next three days though, in that I am confident.

It seems we now have two cats hanging around the house.  I was back in the lab late this afternoon and happened to glance out the door t see a grey cat looking back at me.  I think we were both kind of surprised at that, I know for sure I was.  A little while later, there was Barney hunkering down beneath one of the tables out on the back patio.  I wonder how many cats we will end up with.  I guess it was inevitable that, if you have one cat (okay it is not like Barney actually belongs to us) you will most likely wind up with another cat.  Where will this end?  Where do these cats come from?  I know we live on "Abandon Your Animals Boulevard", but this is getting just (maybe) a little bit out of control.

And the coyotes are having a party across the street.  Survival of the fittest out here on the edge of nowhere!

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

2014 - Day 329/36 - Tuesday...

Okay, I am running out of time.  Tomorrow is the last work day of this week, and I have just about got everything done.  Persistence is a good thing, if you're me, not if you're the other guys.  But who could possibly refuse my wonderful smile and my happy demeanor.  It seems no one can!  I got to do a test drive today at the Capitol with my CHA license.  In like a breeze, no questions.  Of course Carrie had no issues either, but all she had on her was a drivers license and a credit card.  BUT it worked, and that is all that matters.  I think it will get a little bit more use next year with the Legislature is in session.  I think it is going to be one of those years.

I have a few things on  my list that I will get checked off tomorrow, and then it will be four days of sleeping late and taking it easy.  And then there is the first half of next week...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EASY IN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 328/37 - Monday...

I am sorry to report but this three day week is just really not going to work for e.  I have too much stuff to do to cram it all into three days.  And the first three days of next week are jam packed as well.  What to do, what to do, what to do...

I was super happy to go and visit my dear DEAR friend Emily today and have lunch with her.  We sat in the restaurant and gossipped and laughed and laughed and laughed!  It was a blast, and I do not want to wait that long to go visit again.  Right about now she and her boys (all
three of them) should be enjoying some pie and collapsing into sugar shock.  What could be better than that? 

I actually did get a lot of stuff done today.  Stuff, not work.  I got very little work done at all.  Just stuff.  I expect to get more stuff done tomorrow.

Oh, an I have decided on the theme for February (traditionally the theme month on the blog).  February, 2015 theme:  Who can I blame?

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

2014 - Day 327/38 - Sunday...

Day after day I am reminded that I am not getting younger, I am getting older and all my bravado and energy is really nothing more than an act.  Last night was the preview party for the Austin Empty Bowl Project, and that was a lot of fun.  Today I did a volunteer shift at the TRASHMAN for Empty Bowl, and my shift was from 10 til 1.  In the middle, I filled in for selling $1 tickets for the quilt drawing (they know I am not ashamed to ask for money; if you don't ask, you don't get).  By the end of my shift, I was spent.  I had to come home and take to my blue chair, and get in a nap.  I know there are many MANY more volunteers who work much harder than I did, and I totally respect them for that, and I bet they are taking a really well deserved rest right about now.  My respect and admiration go out to Hester and Kris for the tireless hours they spend planning and coordinating this great event, and I would not be surprised if they did not re-surface until the first of the year.

Congratulations to a job well done!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, EMPTY BOWL, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 326/39 - Saturday...

For all practical purposes, it has rained all day.  Well, perhaps I exaggerate that just a teensy little bit.  For all practical purposes, I has rained all day when there was something else I could have been doing, but it was raining so I couldn't do it.  Overnight, we had about 0.16" of rain.  Since I emptied the gauge this morning, we have had over an inch, and it is still raining.  Jody and I went into town (left the edge of nowhere at about 5 o'clock) to attend the Austin Empty Bowl Project Preview Party, and it was raining.  We made it to the party, and we could hear the thunder and all, and they made an announcement that there were more storms coming (all the business had been taken care of) and there was a grand exodus.  We made it home with no issues.

Tomorrow will be the actual event, come on out if you get a chance and buy a bowl (hand made by local potters) and get some soup, listen to some music, have a nice time.  All the weather is supposed to be done soon after midnight, and it is supposed to be a beautiful day!  I will be easy
to spot, just ask for the "trash man".

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

2014 - Day 324/41 - Friday...

The devil has been busy beating his wife all day today.  Pouring down rain and the sun is shining to beat the band! 

I am pretty darned happy that today is Friday, even though that also means a dearth of television programming.  I think I will be able to keep myself busy.  Speaking of rain (see above), it is supposed to rain overnight and for most of the day and night tomorrow.  BUT, Sunday is supposed to be a beautiful day.  That will work out because that is the day of the annual Austin Empty Bowl Project.  Every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, folks line up around the building to get a hand made bowl, some bread and soup, and listen to some local music.  This year will be no exception, and it is always a great event.  We have been long-term sponsors of the event, and continue to do so.  If you want to know more, go to http://www.austinemptybowl.org/ and find out all about it.  On Sunday I will be volunteering as the TRASH MAN, and I have to tell you, I do a pretty darned good job!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, TRASH MAN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 324/41 - Thursday...

Umm...okay...Tis the season to be...INTERESTING.  Yeah, that's it.  INTERETING!  That's my story and I'm sticking with it!  So, once again, there I was, minding my own business, and I come up against this guy.  Fern.  That's his story and he's sticking with it.  I did share with him that "Fern" is my porn name, and if you want to know more about that, just ask.  It is (aren't they all) an interesting story.  But I digress.  Fern (no me the porn star, this guy in the photo) works in customer service, and he was very helpful.  I don't think too many people argue with him.  He was a very nice guy, and it just goes to show you that you should not judge a book by its' cover.

I made it home this afternoon, and shortly after I happily in the house, it started to rain.  That is not supposed to happen until Saturday, but there it was.  Last I looked, there was 0.06" in the gauge, and it has rained a little bit since then.

And finally, just in case you are having a hard time finding that perfect gift for that man or woman in you life who has everything, this is for you!  I am stealing this word-for-word from the Bartlett Tribune-Progress (Serving Central Texas Since 1886):  Public Notice - Historic Bridge Available.  The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announces the availability of a historic eight box concrete culvert for relocation and preservation in compliance with the U.S. Secretary of Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties.  The bridge is located on County Road (CR) 115 (signed Colorado Street) at Willis Creek located in Granger, in Williamson County.

The bridge was built in 1925.  It consists of eight concrete boxes measuring eight feet by six feet.  It has an overall width of 32 feet and a clear roadway width of 20 feet.  THe total length of the bridge is 70 feet.  Technical difficulties and substantial costs associated with relocating and reconstructing the bridge should be anticipated.

Limited financial assistance is available to help with relocation costs.  The Austin District of TxDot will be accepting reuse proposals until August 1, 2014.  For more information, please contact Monica Swensen at (512) 832-7181.

Marketing this bridge to a responsible party is required under Title 23, U.S. Code, Section 144.

There you have it, even if it is too late to get it (according to the deadline published in the paper yesterday).

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

2014 - Day 323/42 - Wednesday...

Who knew Sandy Clause does not have a favorite charity.  I would have expected that if anyone was on the knowing end of who would be in need of a little bit of assistance, it would be good old Sandy Clause hisself!  There I was, minding my own business, when Sandy walked past.  I acknowledged his northern presence on a lovely balmy day in northwest Austin, and he responded with the obligatory hohoho's and the this-n-that's, and kept on walking.  Always thinking and with a certain presence of mind, I hollered back to him and asked him if he would grant me a selfie opportunity.  It seems the old guy is not a bit bashful nor camera shy and is up for any and all self-promotion (even though it is not even Thanksgiving yet).  I queried as to a favorite charity as a trade for this pictorial documentation of the event (perhaps thinking temporarily that I was back in the southern hemisphere where every llama and colorfully clad coca leaf peddler is photographable for a fee), but he declined.  I did mention that I was heating up the road to make a charitable donation to the Coats for Kids drive, and he thought that was just fine.  This particular photograph does not capture his full sartorial glory, red jacket and green velvet (perhaps velour) pants and pointy shoes.  You just had to be there.

Reports of Austin losing its' weird are highly exaggerated.

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

2014 - Day 322/43 - Tuesday...

Oh Siri, you silly, SILLY girl you.  It's kind of like you are a genie in the phone, but you are a cantankerous little devil deep down inside, aren't you.  You do give me good driving directions, I have to admit, but you are not worth crap when it comes to finding a phone number for the place across the street.  Admit it.  Whenever you are asked to locate the closest so-and-so, you seem totally incapable of giving me you full attention.  And just today, you erased all my calendars from my phone.  POOF!  You freakin' little...  Oh, sorry, this is a family oriented journal.  But it took me until just now to figure this whole charade out, and it was right in the palm of my hand the whole time.  I have been accused time and again for "obviously pushing the wrong button" or even "I guess we'll just have to do a factory restore" or "I don't know how you manage to f up your phone all the time".  But it is really you, isn't it.  It never occurred to me.  I think you are actually the opposite of artificial intelligence.  Are you in cahoots with a dude named HAL?  I used to think it was the GOOGLES that I loathed and despised, but I now find that it is you , little Miss Siri.  Why I oughtta...

MEDIC!

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

2014 - Day 321/44 - Monday...

The coyotes are across the road doing an a cappella version of "Baby It's Cold Outside".  Not sure, but it sounds like 6 or 8 of them.  And the sound carries much better on these cold dry nights.  The girls are relieved that I have tucked them into their coop for the night, too.

Today was a really good day for a Monday, even though it was a Monday.  And there were lots of meetings to attend, back to back.  10 til 4:30. But there were lots of significant advances made and for all those accomplishments, I am proud.  On the way to work there was this beautiful sunrise.  It was a lovely sight, since we have been days with clouds and drizzle.  We are all glad we don't live in Seattle, because we (here on or near the edge of nowhere) cannot tolerate too many days without sunshine.  I guess the folks in Seattle feel the same way about drizzle.  They can only go so long without it.  What do you think Melody?

Tomorrow is another full day, as is Wednesday.  Thursday and Friday will welcome a little bit of some scheduling opportunities, and next week looks pretty wide open, even if there are only three days in the work week!

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

2014 - Day 320/45 - Sunday...

Sad news is almost worse than bad news.  There is plenty of bad news, but add a bunch of sad news in with it, and it is almost intolerable.  Bad news is about crap that adults perpetrate upon themselves (or others) and sad news is about babies and puppies. 

It was one of those days, nothing bad happened (see above) and nothing sad happened (see above), but it was cold, drizzly, grey and windy.  Just the perfect day for working outside an doing stuff that would be better done on a day when the temperature was closer to 70 degrees, with a light breeze out of the north and an occasional cloud just to block enough sun so that you don't begin to glisten.  But no, it was as I previously said, but I did (along with Miguel) what needed to be done, and was pretty much finished by noon.  I have also been able to keep the fire in the stove and that is nice.  I thought you might like seeing this wet spider web that I photographed before it was (regrettably) destroyed when we had to take hay to the cattle.  Spiders are not known for their good sense in choosing a locale for their homes.  I often wonder if tragic endings like this one are reported on the spider-new channels as a really big storm that came through and destroyed the dwelling.  Do spiders need big-wind insurance, and if so, what are the premiums like.  I think it might be really bad for fire-ants, because I wreak havoc on those at the drop of a hat.

Hmmm.

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

2014 - Day 319/46 - Saturday...

Let us begin with this query:  Who in the HELL would ever need to visit the web site www.doiwantarootcanal.com?  I do not need to visit that site to get the answer.  I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER to that question, and I expect there are a bunch more stupid questions that I already know the answer to.  I heard an advertisement for this place on the radio today, and I was just kind of struck dumb.  Okay, dumber than usual.  Just to make sure that I was not hallucinating, I visited the site, and they even know he answer.  The answer is NO! 

But I digress...

It was a quiet day on the edge of nowhere, I made it into Bartlett this morning and bought two hay rings for the cattle, two bags of bird seed (I am going to try and grow my own birds, Jody is not in favor of it, but I am going to give it a shot) and two bales of cedar shavings for the girls.  We had a guy come out and replace the garage door opener, and I tried following the directions that were provided to me by the manufacturers help desk for the NEW weather station, and that did not work, either.  Perhaps we are not destined for a new, advanced weather station.  It has been dribbling from the sky for about the last five or six hours, just a fine mist, I would not expect there to be any recordable accumulation, but you never know.  Another two or three cold nights, and back up into the 70's by next weekend.

Yippee!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, THE ANSWER IS NO
, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 318/47 - Friday...

Well, I have successfully gotten the first fire of the season going in the wood stove, and that is nice.  From the looks of this cloudy and grey sky, you could squint adequately and convince yourself that you were in some (select the deity of your choice) forsaken place like Ohio or Michigan (no slam there Diane, last I saw you were snorkeling).  It reminds me of when I was a kid and I would go pheasant hunting with my dad when we lived in Michigan.  Cold, grey, damp...and after that came the really bad parts.  Yes, sometimes I get tired of the heat here on the edge of nowhere, but I really do not have that many good memories of freezing temperatures and snow.  The worst memory I have of that kind of climate is 1976, Rochester, New York.  Ask me about it sometime!

A good day today, all in all.  Got lots of work done in the office, got lots of good things accomplished at the board, and pretty soon it will be time for bed.  Except it is Friday night, and that means there is a real lack of choice on the tube.

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

2014 - Day 317/48 - Thursday...

You are welcome to your own opinion, but this is mine:  Nothing (and I mean that), NOTHING in close proximity to a urinal in a public men's room should be emblazoned with the logo Nut-Locker.  It is just not rational to me, and if you have a differing opinion, please feel free to comment, but please also provide the rationale.

Having arrived in Houston yesterday with no overnight kit and no hotel rom, I think I survived pretty well.  Before leaving the office yesterday, I was able to scrounge up a tooth brush and a disposable razor, so I thought I was pretty well set.  It was only after I completed my shower and was drying my hair that I remembered that I also was not endowed with a brush or a comb.  SO...I adopted the look of one of the three stooges for the day...or maybe a combination of them all (except for the one with no hair, with apologies to David and a plethora of other friends).  And I made it through the day pretty much unscathed and arrived home on the edge of nowhere (because that is further than the middle of nowhere) all safe and sound.

Tomorrow will indeed be another day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NUT-LOCKER (OFGS), Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 316/49 - Wednesday...

The beginning of this day was really hectic, the middle of the day was calm and peaceful, and there were a couple surprises towards the end of the day!

Beginning:  According to our super-duper thermometer, we did not get below 37 degrees overnight.  On my drive to work, there were no readings below 35 degrees.  It is supposed to be colder tonight, but I am not expecting a hard freeze.  I packed for an overnight trip to Houston (I have to take a class tomorrow), and forgot a few important items.  To begin with, we could not get the garage door to go down last night, so I released it and closed it manually.  Today, I got it up but could not get it to go down again, so that was a challenge.  Further into town I realized that I did not remember to pack my overnight kit, but I could endure without it.  I found a tooth brush and a razor in the office, so I am all set.  I was scheduled to do a KVUE Midday Interview, and that went well; this is a photo of me and Andrew, the KVUE Producer that I have had the honor of working with all year, a really rewarding experience.  That was the beginning.

Middle:  Not much to report, nothing really worth noting.

End:  I made I to Houston at about 6:30 only to arrive at the Hotel to find out I made reservations for tomorrow, not today.  I am not kidding. Oh, and there was no room at that Inn, and they were unaware of any available rooms in the area, since they had been trying to find accommodations for others (they were over-booked).I eventually found a room, and I expect that I will look back at this some day and laugh.  But probably not tomorrow.  Or any time soon.

My class starts tomorrow at 9 a.m., and I expect to leave about 7:45, just in case.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GOOD, BAD, UGLY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 315/50 - Tuesday...

The "other" Lutherans (there are/is a plethora of Lutherans here abouts) had a chili dinner tonight.  Last week another set of the "other" Lutherans had their annual Wurstfest, so I guess this is something of a November Food-A-Rama.  This is (as far as I know) the first year of the chili dinner event, but it was pretty good, and it just so happened that this is the coldest evening of the fall/winter season, so the timing was perfect.  The folks that were serving did not look too happy about the abrupt change of climate, but they picked the date, I just showed up as directed by the signs.

First day back to the office after being out for almost a week, and it was pretty darned busy AND productive.  I like productive, that is always better than just being busy.  I made good progress on several fronts, including teaching a quick "Know Your Code" class at the Austin Board.

Try to stay warm!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHILI/CHILLY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 314/51 - Monday...

I'm back!  After terrorizing folks in another state, I am back at the edge of nowhere (that is further than the middle of nowhere) and happily ensconced at my desk.  It was a toss-up as to whether I wanted to get this photo, but there was no reason not to.  It is always a challenge when I am told there is nothing I can poke, prod or push that will cause any problems, and I always delight at the pilots face when I say "What about this one?".  I was cautioned today about one particular pair of throttles or thrusters that I should avoid at all costs.  FINALLY I know what to go for the next time!

Aside from the information I received at the Annual NAR Conference, and the networking with colleagues and the observations of the NAR Directors (again) in action, I also had the opportunity to visit a few places I lived while I was living in New Orleans, and last night (for the first time in almost three decades) I walked the Quarter with my friends Barb and Steve.  We visited the Hotel I used to work at (How are you today Sir?  Not as good as you!), did even more laughing and cutting up, and I had a really good Seafood Platter at Café Pontabla on St. Peter Street, home of the WORST.  KEY LIME.  PIE.  EVER!  Did you know pedi-cabs charge by the block, per person.  That was an awakening!  I should have been keeping up.

But, overall, it was fun, educational, motivating and totally worth it.  But I am glad to be home!

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

2014 - Day 312/53 - Sunday...

And, this is the penultimate day of the 2014 NAR Annual Conference.  A series of meetings today (including two different breakfast meetings), concluding with the Caucuses, and tomorrow will be the Board of Directors meeting, and then off to the airport for the trip home

Crazy.  We meet with boards, committees, task forces, PAGs, and each other, and at the end of the days, we are exhausted and spent.  Perhaps that is why it is so easy to smile.  Smile and laugh.  Laugh and tell secrets.  Connect.  Connect and understand.  Understand and go forward.  Share. 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 311/54 - Saturday...

So, I really need to concentrate, I only have eleven minutes to get this done.

Today could have gone either way; I had a really great day, but there were other things that made me really reflect and think about how lucky I am.  I have professed to this journal many times that I consider myself to be the luckiest man in the world, and that is a true fact.

My friend Steve was very kind to me today, and took me to view a couple of my old haunts here in New Orleans.  Some were not affected at all by the Hurricane (Katrina) and some wee destroyed and are still not inhabitable.  It was NOT the hurricane that devastated this city, it was the breach of the levy system AFTER the hurricane that flooded many parts of the city, and still there is no concrete answer as to why that happened.  SO...this is a photo of the apartment I lived in before I bought a home in Now Orleans East...the home has been re-built since my last visit about four years ago, but this apartment (which was a very nice place) is just now beginning renovation.  After the flooding, the property stood vacant for years, then it was a home for vagrants (really?) and maybe even homeless folks, but ultimately for some reason it was set afire...maybe someone was trying to stay warm.  But I have really fond memories of this place, and this is what it looks lie as on this afternoon.  My friend Steve took me on a tour of my old residences in the Crescent City, and it made me really realize how lucky I am.  I did not live here when the hurricane hit, and I was happily ensconced in Austin with the love of my life when this devastation occurred, but this is the reality.

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

2014 - Day 311/54 - Friday...

Okay, so...today may or may not have been a good day...it is all up for you to decide.  These are things that may or may not have happened today...

10.  I may or may not have laughed my ass off today.
  9.  I may or may not have had some key lime pie today/tonight,
  8.  I may or may not have told the best dirty joke of the day.
  7.  I may or may not have listened to what OTHER folks thought were really funny jokes.
  6.  I may or may not have learned what a "hoo-hoo" is or is not.
  5.  I may or may not have had an in depth discussion about the gaseous properties of flour.
  4.  I may or may not have determined the differences between curtains, ashtrays, pizza pies and Volkswagons.
  3.  I may or may not have been a "walk-on" in a movie being filmed in New Orleans.
  2.  I may or may not have laughed deliriously for the first time in a long time at jokes that were not funny.
  1.  AND I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH THE COUPLE AT THE NEXT TABLE AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO "PAY IT FORWARD".

It is all up for you to determine...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, MAYBE I DID, MAYBE I DIDN'T, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 310/55 - Wednesday...

Really?  When is the last time you had a Shirley Temple?  I'm thinking decades, and over the years (I hate to admit) they have somewhat lost their pizazz! 

It was a good day in New Orleans, here for the National Association of REALTORS® annual conference.  Tomorrow is when the real meat of the conference will really begin.  Today was just a couple meetings working up to the committee meetings, educational courses and networking.  My first meeting is at 7:30 tomorrow morning, and it goes pretty much through the entire day, and I will be beat by the time it is over.  BUT, there are always really good ideas and notions to take back to our own association when all is said and done.

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

2014 - Day 309/56 - Wednesday...

Well, when I got up this morning, we had (as I recall) 0.66" of rain in the official gauge.  It rained pretty much all day, and the rain followed me to New Orleans (if it is not here yet, it is on its' way).  At last count, Jody said there was another 3/4" or so in the gauge, so that is pretty good.

I got to the Hotel in New Orleans about 5 o'clock this afternoon, and I have not left the room, but I have made some great accomplishments in answering e-mails and getting a little bit of work done!  I have no idea what the local television channels are, and I am freezing.  BUT, I love the bed side lamps.  They are beautiful (a little bit commercial) and very nice heavy (maybe) crystal.  Not sure if they will fit in the suitcases but I can ship them.  They are really nice!

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

2014 - Day 308/57 - Tuesday...

This is strictly my opinion, but I believe that if the girls had a choice, they would prefer more daylight without all the bother of clocks being set backwards of forward.  However that needs to be done, they are in.  Maybe me too.  Why can't it just be 50/50?  I was on the expressway (oxymoron) this afternoon at about 5:15, and it was almost dark.  Given there were LOTS of clouds, and spritzing rain, it was still dark.  At 5:15.  By the time I got home, it WAS dark.  That is just not right.  So, this is what the girls look like on their respective roosts.  I think there are a dozen of them in this photo, which means there are 14 more in other spots in the coop.  Vera is in this group somewhere, I expect.

It is supposed to rain all night tonight, most of the day tomorrow and into tomorrow night.  I am scheduled to head to New Orleans tomorrow afternoon, so that should be interesting.  I expect the rains will follow me, and maybe I will see the sun again on Thursday or Friday.

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

2014 - Day 307/58 - Monday...

This is verification that fact is stranger than friction.  HAHA, I'm just gonna leave that in there because I think it is funny.

I had white bread for dinner tonight.  Of course, it was accompanied by a few other things as well.  The Lutheran's (one of the three sets) in Walburg celebrated their Wurstfest tonight, always on the first Monday in November. I think this is our sixth Wurstfest, having closed on this house in October of 2009 (we think).  This year was MUCH better than last year, so we are happy with that.  I tell you, they have it down to a science and everything runs very smoothly.  The only challenge is that you have to go inside and sit down to eat if you want dessert.  That just seems wrong.  Another set of Lutherans will be having their Chili Supper on November 11th.  I have never noticed that they had a Chili Supper before, but they now have a sign outside the church, so they are promoting it.  I think we will try it if the have a drive through-working.

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

2014 - Day 306/59 - Sunday...

Coot:  noun
1. any aquatic bird of the genus Fulica, as F. americana, of North America, and F. atra, of the Old World, characterized by lobate toes and short wings and tail.
2. any of various other swimming or diving birds, especially the scoters.
3. Informal. a foolish or crotchety person, especially one who is old.
Take your pick; it was either me in the tank this morning while I was feeding the cattle, or the little bird like creature that I photographed as shown here.  Honestly, my money is on the bird!

This being Sunday, it was farm chore day.  Also, this being November 2nd, it was set your clocks back an hour day.  The latter was really not paid too much attention to, except for the fact that I expect I will be getting into bed tonight at 7p.m. instead of the usual 8p.m.  But the chores got done.  I get two bales of hay out t the cattle, after staring down Mr. Speckles and getting him to move from one pasture to the other.  He was the only longhorn in the pasture where I wanted to put the hay, so I took the Polaris about fifty feet from the gate, stopped and proceeded to trim my finger nails.  Curiosity got the better of him and he finally walked over (after about 15 minutes) to see what in the hell I was doing.  He did get a nice head rub out of the deal.  I also got the chicken coop cleaned out, and they are all set for this coming week.

A bunch of happy animals!

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

2014 - Day 30/60 - Saturday...

Holy Crap Maude Evelyn, it's already November.  It feels like Halloween was just yesterday!

The low temperature this morning (at least the one I saw live and in person) was 43 degrees.  Not too shabby, and I resisted Jody's pleas (not really) to turn the heater on.  I did manage to stay in the bed until about 7 o'clock, and then it was a sprint to have some coffee, read the paper, make a pile of eggs and get to Berry Creek Park by 9a.m. to get the first load of firewood for the season.  We like getting firewood from Berry Creek, it is nicely split pecan wood, great for the wood burning stove.  I had mentioned to Jody last week that I needed to make arrangements to get a load of wood, and suddenly it is nippy outside.  This is a picture of a little lizard that was moving really sluggishly in the cold temperatures.  He was perfectly happy to be slumbering among the firewood and was not really that happy to be awakened.  I put him in a safe, out of the way place, so I expect he is doing just fine at this time.

I showed property this afternoon, and had an equipment malfunction, that Chris came to my rescue to help.  Actually, the malfunction was not in the equipment, it was with the equipment operator.  I forgot to take the adapter for my key (that works with my new huge tool).  I stopped at the AT&T Store in Georgetown and they were totally useless.  I walked in and told them I just needed to buy an adapter.  Instead of telling me where their accessories were (they are in TWO different places which make totally perfect sense) they spent 15 minutes looking on their iPad to see if they had one in stock.  I finally found one set of the accessories and sure enough, they did not have one.  They then made a broad, sweeping gesture to another wall in the store and said that I might want to check there, but that according to their iPad, they had not had one in six months.  BUT, ANYWAY...  Chris came to my rescue and I am very thankful to him for continuing to make me look good in spite of myself!

I have begun the ritual of setting the clocks back one hour.  This is actually one of my favorite things to do.  I am not that thrilled to set them forward one hour, but I am all over setting them back an hour.

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