2017 - Day 120/245 - Sunday...

It turned out to be a pretty day, very sunny, VERY windy and cooler than it has been. We had some rain last evening, along with some thunder and lightning. Interestingly the two new girl dogs seem to be unfazed by thunder and lightning, although it was admittedly a puny storm here compared to the terrible storms further north and into Arkansas. But, we believe that is a good sign and that perhaps these two girls will not be as panic stricken by storms as were the Bear dog and the Maddie girl. Even though it was windy and rainy, the lilies are blooming nicely all around the property. I did as little as I could out in the yard today, I did get the lawn mower started and cut the grass up around the mail box. It is so much easier now that we can move the mail box while mowing, and just put it back when we're done. Everyone should have that magic mailbox. Other than that, I finished my writing assignments and now I will just get the stuff submitted. I am living with the anxiety that perhaps I missed the points of the three chapters, and none of the work will be accepted. Jody and I went into Taylor for lunch at the Lucky Duck. We both had cat fish, which is why the duck may be lucky, we are not sure. Then off to Tractor Supply for flock blocks and then to the HEB for a few groceries. Jody just came inside after having taken the girl dogs outside. He actually saw the white girl poop outside. Nine days in and that is the first time either one of us has seen her poop. I have also seen her take a drink of water from their communal bowl on two different occasions. Callie is not nearly as secretive; we have seen her eat, drink, pee and poop. They both eat like there is no tomorrow, and between the two of them, they are going through one can of food per day. We guess that's okay, we don't really have anything to judge by. I got a gizmo that hooks up the two dogs to one leash, and we took that for a test spin today. Overall we guess it was a success...it remains a work in progress. Holy Crap Batman...tomorrow is the first day of May. Does that make it May Day? Deeds, Axtions, Changes, GIRL DOGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 120/245 - Saturday...

Yesterday morning, a friend of mine (Paul) was apparently behind me while I was driving down IH-35 on the way to the office. He took a photo (both hands on the wheel) and texted it to me. By the time i figured out there was a text, he had exited the Interstate and headed west. Interestingly though, I have been behind plenty of other Teslas since I have had mine, but I have never seen my car from the rear while I was driving it. Fun! Today was a day of me mostly sitting at my desk catching up on stuff! And I got what I needed done today done. I have a few more things I need to get done (desk-work-wise) tomorrow, but it should not be too much of a problem. The work that need to get accomplished today was the biggest chore of the weekend. There was also a little bit of real estate work that needed to be touched, and that was what I did first. I did manage to get the lawnmower cranked up and run over the bamboo that I am trying to keep contained. So far, we have agreed that, if I keep it cut back every week, it will remain short enough that no one will notice it. Life is all about compromises. Deeds, Actions, Changes, REAR VIEWS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 118/247- Friday...

Alrighty then, it's officially been one week since we adopted the two girl dogs, Little Girl (the white one) and Callie (the one that you don't know if she is coming or going). The white one poops in the house, and we are working on that. We have still never see her take a drink of water, and we have never seen her poop. They both eat like there will not be another meal, but they don't really care for dry dog food, and the white one does not care for ice cream. How can that be? But, since she does not like ice cream, that precludes the push-me-pull-you one from having any ice cream. There is a possum that lives under the deck that leads from the house to the dog yard, and they are both fascinated with it, or they are just fascinated to hear themselves barking. Not sure which one it is. And they do indeed bark. There does not need to be anything for them to bark about, they will just bark for the hell of it. And when did dogs learn how to talk? When I was a kid growing up, none of my dogs knew how to talk. The Bear dog could talk, Maddie was happy to talk with you, and these two know how to talk as well. When did evolution get so far forward that now dogs can talk? I missed that. I was hoping for webbed fingers, but instead we got talking dogs. But otherwise, the first week was a success. Not sure if the white one will ever NOT poop in the house, but she is small, so her poop is small too. And now that we know where to look... Deeds, Actions, Changes, GIRL DOGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 117/248 - Thursday...

The poor, poor little crab apple tree in the front of the house has struggled to survive for the nine years that we have lived in this house. Every year we pronounce it dead, and every year it FINALLY puts out a few leaves and FINALLY puts out a blossom or two. So far this year, there is ONE blossom on the tree, but it is a beauty! Very healthy and robust looking, but I fear that the tree put its entire effort into this one bloom. There are several leaves on the tree as well, but it would never win any beauty contests. It is more like a Charlie Brown crab apple tree But, we will keep working with what we have been given, and it may just surprise us all one day and burst forth with vigor and vitality. That is kind of the story of my life! I too am a late bloomer. It was a day of good accomplishments, and for that I am proud. Good stuff done. Deeds, Actions, Changes, APPLE BLOSSOM, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 116/249 - Wednesday...

This is a photo of the Azalea Bonsai that Melody and Bruce sent Jody for his birthday. He has been pampering and fussing over it ever since it arrived, and it looks like it is ready to burst forth with blooms. There are plenty of buds on it, that is for sure. It is a beautifully healthy little plant, and it has a place of importance on one of the tables in the front yard. I have spent sufficient time believing that tomorrow was Friday. I did not necessarily think today was Thursday, I just thought tomorrow was Friday. I am greatly relieved that I have a whole extra day to get things done that I was not aware of. And tomorrow and Friday are not (so far) jammed packed with stuff that I need to get done. So, that means I can get all the things done that I should have already done, but just have not done. My 'To Done' list is getting pretty well completed, but there are things that haven't been done that need to be done. Just saying'... And once again, this was a pretty good day, I spent the morning at a Board Forum about 'Code Next' the zoning ordinance code the City of Austin has presented. The codes have not been redone in decades, and there have jut been additions/deletions and overlays...code on top of code on top of code. It is very confusing, and since Austin is the idyllic communist state, everyone has a say and nothing gets done. Time for a nap. Deeds, Actions, Changes, BONSAI, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 115/250 - Tuesday...

I took this photo over the fence into our neighbor's pasture. Interestingly, cattle do not really care for wild flowers, or they got the memo that it is a crime to pick them, or something like that. Anyway, it is interesting to see the paths that the cattle take AROUND the wild flowers. These were particularly pretty today, so there you go. The truck is all fixed, all better, all repaired and just over $200. I guess there is not too much of a mark-up removing snake skins from a fuse box in a farm truck. In addition to tightening the battery cables, ordering and replacing a relay (of some kind) I sprang for a new air filter. She (the truck not the girl dogs) runs just like the day we bought her about nine years ago. In nine years, we have put less than 30,000 miles on it. She mainly just sits there. The girl cat (Barney) is probably happy that she is back because that is her perch to spy on things that are going on around the property. Last year we had a squirrels nest in the engine compartment, and we did not run the truck until the squirrels were all gone. No need to disrupt the mama and the baby squirrels if you don't really need to. Otherwise, another mostly good day. It is getting warmer and more humid, summer will be upon us soon, and that will renew our complaining mechanisms. I cannot wait for that! Deeds, Actions, Changes, WILD FLOWERS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day114/251 - Monday...

Rumor has it that there is not a long mechanically wrong with the (farm) truck. Those of you that complained that the truck was (embarrassingly) dirty should be ashamed. We have had that truck for almost ten years, and it does not yet have 40,000 miles on it. Since we have had it, it has never been washed, and it has never been vacuumed. It is a FARM truck. It hauls stuff, and it moves stuff and it (generally speaking) is well maintained. It gets a new battery when it needs it, and it gets new tires with the current ones suffer from dry rot. The auto repair place said the start of the problem was loose battery cables, and then they could not get any power to it. They traced it (something) down to the fuse box, and when they opened the fuse box there were the remains of a couple (they said a bunch) of snakes and bugs and beasties. FARM TRUCK. They also said they needed to order some sort of a relay, and that it should all be back in working order tomorrow. On the envelope that I put the key in and put all in the 'drop slot', I should have noted that I would like to keep all the snake skins as well as the replaced parts. Oh well, live and learn. These plants that are now on the front porch are part of the stuff I had gathered up on my errands run yesterday. Pretty. Some kinds of ivy, petunias (I think) and other annual plants. Very nice. Not a bad day today, I was in the office most of the day, and left to go deliver an Option Fee check. Made it home just in time to see most of the news. Both of the girl dogs are doing well, thanks for asking.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FARM TRUCK, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 113/251 - Sunday...

Okay, this could explain a lot. The most common slang term/word in the year I was born (1951) was Nerd. I have never really considered myself a nerd, because I never really considered myself to be smart enough to be a nerd. BUT, perhaps I am a victim of 'second-hand-nerdiness', kind of like contracting cancer from second-hand-smoke, when you have never smoked a day in your life. I guess it could happen. I am not good enough with technology to think I could carry the nerd-mantle, but I will go with it. I am an early-adopter of many things, but I was never of the impression that, because of that I needed to understand how things worked or how they could be fixed. Hmmm... The house no longer smells of dog farts or of dog poop. The house now smells of burning cellulose, i.e. the sponge I put in the microwave to sterilize it. I forgot how long you were supposed to put it in the microwave, but it is apparent that six minutes it TOO long. Oh well. Speaking of girl dogs, one of them did in fact poop in the house sometime between bed time and getting up time. I have been witness to both of them peeing in the dog yard, and I have witnesses Callie pooping in the dog yard, but neither Jody or I have seen Little Girl pooping ANYWHERE. They ah=have both eaten some of their dry dog food, but they very much prefer the little cans of moist food or the small helpings of egg piles they have been offered over the weekend. I got a few things done around the house this morning, before I headed off to do some errands. After my penultimate errand, the truck decided it would prefer NOT go go in any direction, and it had to be towed to a repair shop and dropped off (key dropped in a slot in the door with an envelope describing the malaise it was suffering). It kind of reminded me of Arlo Guthrie singing about Alice's Restaurant, but I did not include an 8x10 color glossy photograph with lines and paragraphs on the back describing the evidence I was presenting them with. I will see what might be the problem tomorrow. Deeds, Actions, Changes, NERD, Kindnesses, Wh

irled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 112/253 - Saturday...

the house smells like dog farts. Well, in reality, the house just smells. It's been a challenge for most of the day, but we finally found it. In the bath off the den. Lovely doggie poop. We have been pretty attentive to taking them outside after they eat (they are not lacking in the appetite department), and periodically throughout the day, but one of them (or maybe both of them) snuck a couple piles in on us when we were not paying attention. Two little bath rugs will be in the wash on Monday, but for now, they are out in the garage. We made it through the night with no real problems, both of them slept with Jody for the better part of the night, and the Little Girl decided it was time to get up at 6 o'clock this morning. I was not really wanting to get up, but she was pretty insistent, and there you have it. The grass in the dog yard was pretty high, so I got that cut this morning. I also got the pool deck power washed, in anticipation of having that redone starting in May. Again, the white one is Little Girl and the silver one is Callie.

We have lived in this house for nine years, and let night Callie was fascinated with something under the beds. I got down and looked under the beds, and found dust bunnies and other oddities that had accumulated under there for the past nine years. SO...I took the beds apart this morning, and vacuumed under there. I expect that will help make some inroads on my allergy problems. I repeat, we have lived here for nine years; we also have a house keeper that visits us every two weeks. And I repeat, there was nine years worth of fuzz and dust mites and other things that grow under beds under the beds. That it all. Deeds, Actions, Changes, TWO NEW GIRLS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 111/254 - Friday...

Okay, I kid you not, I have never had dogs this nelly in my life. Granted, I am not a particularly masculine person, but I can also mingle like I know what I am doing on most of the Home Depot aisles, and not draw any attention to myself. However, Jody and I had been watching the Georgetown Animal Shelter web site for a while (me longer than he) and we stopped by yesterday on our way home from Austin to check out the dogs that needed a new home. We had seen a couple on the site, one a chihuahua mixed with something, and the other one a chihuahua dachshund mix (with escape tendencies). We don't need a dog that is playing Stalag 17 24/7. But when we walked into the area that was holding the adoptable dogs, these two were in a cage by themselves, and that was about all it took. A couple had retired and bought a motor home, and decided they wanted to travel sans pooches, so too bad for them (the pooches too) and good for us. There was an application pending on one (maybe both), but the potential adoptees had not seen them (just saw them on-line) and I got the call this morning that our applications were approved for them both. They were raised together, so there was no need to separate them at this point. So far so good. The schnauzer/poodle mix is named Callie. The maltese/poodle mis is named Little Girl. Right now, Little Girl is sitting in Jody's lap while he reads his magazine, and the schnauzer is passed out on the floor. All is well that ends well. And it is Friday too, so that is a bonus. Deeds, Actions, Changes, GIRL DOGS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 110/255 - Thursday...

Happy 4/20 y'all! This is another one of those days when this morning feels like it was six weeks ago or so. Lots of stuff crammed into this day, but overall it was not a bad day. Jody and I left to go into Austin about 8:15, and traffic was not bad at all. We were really early getting into town, so we went by the condo for about 20 minutes and then we started getting our errands done. A quick stop at the pharmacy, then to Jody's appointment, then lunch, then back to the condo and then I was into the office. I had a contract to get done, this and that to review, and then I had a 2 o'clock appointment. Back to get Jody and then back to Georgetown for another appointment. We got home in time for World News and the the late local news. Tomorrow should be a more calm day, nothing too much on the schedule yet. Barney was resting comfortably on top of the tractor when I went out to deliver his dry food. He is getting a little bit braver; he did not flinch (much) when I went past him to put out the food, but he had to jump down when I turned around and went the other way.

All is good in our world, the next thing on my agenda is some quality time in the big blue chair. Deeds, Actions, Changes, BARNEY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 109/256 - Wednesday...

It was a busy day today, lots of errands to be done. Jody had a variety of things he needed to do in Austin, so we went in and got his errands completed and then he spent the rest of the day at the condo. He had lunch with our friend James, and after lunch took time for a nap, always a good thing to do, before or after lunch...who cares. I had a couple of appointments and those things got taken care of, and I headed back to pick Jody up, and we were on our way back north by about 4:15. As I left the office, my usual route is to take South First Street across the river, and then go right or left, depending if I am getting on the Interstate or MoPac. Either way, I usually get a nice view of downtown, and today was a little extra special with the clouds as a backdrop. I'm a sucker for clouds, as you may well know if you have followed this journal for any length of time. Tomorrow will be another busy day, Jody has another appointment or two in Austin, and I have a couple appointments as well. Deeds, Actions, Changes, CLOUDS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 108/257 - Tuesday...

I had no photos for this journal entry, and I have no idea why I thought of this; Once upon a time I worked for a General Manager in the French Quarter. A very nice hotel. French Quarter/Hotel should be run by a Frenchman (or at least a French person of some sort). So they shipped this guy in from France, and he was my boss. He was actually a lot of fun to work with. He had a better grasp of the English language than I had of the French language, and it made for some interesting reading (memos were still the way to go back then). I remember one memo in particular that he wanted to stress the importance of all the staff to wear the proper uniforms at all times. The subject of his memo was 'Fantasy in the Uniform Wearing'. Loved it. If he wanted the courtyards cleaned, he would request maintenance to get their 'tube of water' and clean it properly. When taking F&B inventories, it turned out that 'pickled cashiers' was really a reference to kosher pickles. It went on and on, and it was fun (most of the time). I do not know whatever happened to that man, but when I searched The Googles for 'fantasies in the uniform wearing', this was the best I could come up with. Otherwise, it was a pretty good day, a little bit more rain and the sun is setting in the west, and all is tight with the world. Deeds, Actions, Changes, UNIFORMS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 107/258 - Monday...

Once again it is a Monday, and that will just have to do. It was kind of a busy day, the morning was spent in the office taking care of a few things, and the afternoon was dedicated to several errands, both business and personal. The first stop was to the bank, cashing a small check. Then on to the Board where we had our first meeting for my friend Steve's pending installation at President of the Austin Board of REALTORS®. There are a lot of moving pieces to something like this, even though the event will not be until the first week of December. Next stop was to the condo where I took some time for some oral hygiene in anticipation of my teeth cleaning appointment. Onward to Georgetown to the dentist, and it was starting to rain a little bit as I was heading north. By the time I got to the dentists office, it was actually raining. I got inside the office and was confronted by a receptionist that I did not recognize and an acknowledgement that the hygienist was someone that I had never met. That almost put me over the edge, but I succumbed and hope that the storm would cause a power outage, but no such luck. I gave the hygienist twenty minutes and she actually took five minutes more than I had allotted, but it all worked out in the end. Six more months of anxious anticipation, but I will try to be strong. I left the dentist office and headed to the HEB to get some grocery shopping done, and then it was a quick stop at the DQ for a couple Blizzards to go. Neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night shall keep me from the DQ. I had a mission. Deeds, Actions, Changes, DQ, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 106/259- Easter Sunday...

All the bases have pretty well been covered for wishing everyone a Happy Easter, and acknowledging the meaning of the day. I hope you all enjoyed your Sunday. I got started pretty early this morning and made a few minor accomplishments before I headed to the big blue chair by about noon. I had made it pretty clear to Jody that I had been hankering for pan cakes, and we decided to go into Georgetown for our usual early supper. We try for two meals on the weekend days, a nice breakfast and then the main meal about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. So, off we went to IHOP, which was okay, but we are going to suck it up and give Denny's another try the next time a pancake hankering comes our way. We also needed to do a little bit of grocery shopping, and yesterday we decided it would not be as busy at the HEB if we waited to go until today. We were right, it was not busy at all; they were closed. Good for them. So, having not taken any photos to chronicle the day, I went on-line to see what kind of Public Domain would be featured today. I have no idea of the reason, but this photo of Buster Keaton popped up, and I decided it was as good as any. Again, we hope you enjoyed your day. Deeds, Actions, Changes, BUSTER, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 105/260 - Saturday...

I did little bit around the house today, mainly cutting back some of the bamboo so we could walk back and forth from the chicken coop a little bit easier, then bundling it all up, first in the Polaris and then in the pick-up, since I got a little bit carried away and cut back more than the Polaris could hold. Jody and I went to the back and added the cut bamboo to one of the burn piles. We keep adding burn piles and never burn anything. Maybe get some of the piles burned in June...hint, hint, hint. And as long was we were back there, we decided to look in on the cattle, and get a couple photos of the new calf. I am pretty sure it is a female, and pretty sure she will be a week old tomorrow. Still not sure whose calf it is, but she is being watched over by my two suspects. On the right side of the photo, Daphne is on the upper right and Violet is on the lower right. My suspicion is the calf is Violets, but still not 100% sure. Other than that, I cut some grass around the bamboo, and then Jody and I went into Georgetown for some lunch. Possibility of rain tomorrow, but I suspect I will have time to cut some more grass. Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEW CALF, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 104/261 - Friday...

Every year I make some stoopid remark about this being Good Friday, and that almost all Fridays are pretty Good Fridays, or some other such thing, so I decided that for this day I was going to avoid making any such remark about it being a Good Friday, although, as days go, I would generally take a Good Friday over a Good Monday any day of the week. It is still a relatively cloudy day, culminating what was a particularly cloudy week, and the clouds are really not supposed to about themselves until something later next week. Slight chances of rain over the weekend, 50/50 chance on Monday, and then tapering off over the next several days. The space station is supposed to be passing overhead tonight (9:23 p/m. if you are in the area), but the clouds are also predicted to be in the way. We are going to watch the Sam Houston special (Part II of III we think) tonight on PBS. Tune in at 8 (9 Eastern) if you have the chance, our friend (and Sam Houston Author Jim Haley) is highlighted several times throughout the documentary. We expect Part III will be on next week. Deeds, Actions, Changes, SAM HOUSTON, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 103/262 - Thursday...

Finally home after another really long day. To top off the day, the Austin Chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS® held their annual TREPAC Cake Auction this evening, and it was pretty successful. Over $7,000 was raised, and that is a great thing to help our ongoing advocacy for property owner rights and issues that are important to REALTORS®. There were lots and lots of really interesting cakes presented, and this photo depicts a few of them. I bought one cake, and had intentions of dividing it up, but nobody really wanted any more cake, so I will be taking it to the office in the morning. No more rains since Tuesday, and there are chances of rain throughout the next seven days. Monday looks like it will be the best day for possible rain, we will just have to wait and see, Deeds, Actions, Changes, CAKES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 102/263 - Wednesday...

It is not everyday that you see a Citroen driving (being driven) down the street, so I think it was worth the game of tag I played trying to get a couple photos. It was really interesting, and in my humble opinion, it maintains whatever appeal it had whenever it was in production. We ended up with almost three inches of rain over the last couple days, and there is a chance of rain every day for the foreseeable future, the best chance being next Monday. It is a little bit muggy outside, and that is to be expected. The day started early, and off to the office then several personal errands and the day (night) is being a late finish. Deeds, Actions, Changes, CITROENS, Kindnesses, Wh

irled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 101/264 - Tuesday...

I took this photo of some of the Iris in the front last evening, in anticipation of the forecast rains. We have received almost three inches of rain since this time last night, but the Iris do not look too much the worse for wear. We have chances of rain the rest of this week, but we are really not anticipating anything overwhelming.Rains in Texas are a good thing, and we almost always welcome it. We are also prone to complaining, so if we receive too much of anything (rain, snow, heat, sunshine, clouds, blue skies, weeds, cold), we tend to complain. Let's not start a conversation about the Post Office or parking spaces. Let's avoid conversations about women drivers, men drivers, teenage drivers, senior citizen drivers and anyone but me drivers. We should at all costs avoid conversations about politics, religions, immigrants, emigrants, stupid people, smart people, rich people, poor people and anyone who isn't me people. Let's not discuss which lives matter, whether the globe is warming, if the ice caps are melting or if the waters are polluting. Let's try our best to be uncivil towards each other. Let's shoot someone because they took our parking space, and let's all go knock over sacred monuments, banks and institutions. But I digress... This all started out because it was raining, and if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes and it will change. And then we can all complain about it. Deeds, Actions, Changes, IRIS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 100/265 - Monday...

We have received almost a half-inch of rain so far today, and storms are predicted for tonight on through to mid-morning tomorrow. Some folks are getting some hail and high winds, but the forecasts looks like we will miss the worst of it. One of the models shows 12 to 14 inches of rain south and east of us, so that would be an interesting happenstance! We lost a large (and the only) limb on one of the trees towards the road today. One of the trees by the chicken coop is about to topple over, so it is scheduled to be cut down tomorrow, and now there is another one that needs to come down. I am going to start buying live oaks now and then (small ones) to try to replace some of the trees we have lost over the last several years. Live Oaks grow slowly, but I think that if you water them, that will help them along. Go drive down any new home subdivision that had the "two-tree-package" and those trees are pretty good sized after 10 or 15 years. Right now the winds are calm, but I think that is just the calm before the... AND, there is a new calf back in the back pasture. Unfortunately there is some in-breeding going on, because Mr. Speckles has been dead WAY too long for this calf to be his. I was expecting this, actually. We think it was born yesterday. We were back checking the cattle on Saturday, and there was no evidence of any calf then, and it does not look like it was born today, so we are pegging it as a Sunday Calf. And, we figure it is either Daphne's or Violet's. Pretty little calf, looks just like both of them, but won't know for sure until we see it nurse. Deeds, Actions, Changes, NEW CALF, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN

2017 - Day 99/266 - Sunday...

I went outside several times today, and forgot what it was exactly that I went outside to do. I am not sure if I ever did what I was intending to do, but I did get a lot accomplished, if puttering around here and there and cleaning off shelves and throwing stuff in the garbage counts as accomplishments. I cut all the grass yesterday, so that was not needed today. I started the truck and Jody and I went for a ride around the neighborhood, and into the back section of the property. The Bluebonnets are still doing nicely, and the cattle were close by so we said hello to them. The tanks are all looking nice, and we are supposed to get some nice measurable rain during this week. This is a picture of one of the Amaryllis we set out a couple years ago. They were gifts from our friends Joe Mac and Carolyn who live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It seems they have been plagued with allergies/sinus infections/bronchitis too, and hopefully they have turned a corner. I am not coughing nearly as much, and that is great. I actually slept in the bed last night. Deeds, Actions, Changes, AMARYLLIS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 98/267 - Saturday...

I can neither confirm nor deny that this photo was taken this morning. Or maybe yesterday. Or maybe the day before. Or maybe last week. I can unequivocally (in a way that leaves no doubt) confirm however that I did in fact take the photograph, and that I own the copyright to the aforementioned photograph. I own it, but if you would like to use it, you have my permission. Maybe. Just to be safe I would get it in writing. And notarized. Just to be safe. I am hoping I have turned the corner with the allergies/infected sinuses/bronchitis thing. I slept better and coughed less. I am coughing less today but it is hurting more. Coughing your way to tighter abs is going to be the new YouTube sensation. Mark my words. When I cough now, it hurts almost as if you could slice me in half from the pecs (hahaha) all the way around. BUT, as I said, I hope that I have enough of the drugs in me to be on the uphill climb towards recovery. And then there is the fact that I spent about three or four hours cutting grass outside today. With south winds gusting to about 30 miles per hour. That should not have any effect on anything. At least I hope not. Deeds, Actions, Changes, SUNRISES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 97/268 - Friday...

So, this actually caused me to stop at one of those octagonal red things the county is so eager to place around the roads between here and the Interstate. I very seldom stop at them, not to simply be a rule breaker, but because there is no reason to, I can see for a mile or two in all directions. BUT, today there was a good reason to stop, and this guy stayed a while so I could sufficiently document its presence. After a few seconds, it fly off to the next pole down the road, and by then I had what I needed and I was on my way. Very nice. I am sick. Went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with bad allergies and a sinus infection. Everyone else seems to think that I have bronchitis, which make perfectly good sense to me, but I am not the one that spent a decade or so in medical school. I have spent about that much time on the Internet, so that kind of makes me a doctoral student. When I cracked my rib, I looked it up on the Googles and they reported there was really not much that could be done, so I went on about my way. Self-diagnosing, self-medicating. That's me. So, other than spreading germs all around central Texas for the better part of the day, I have nothing exciting to report. Tomorrow I will be sleeping late. Good night. Deeds, Actions, Changes, HAWKS, Kindnesses, Wh

irled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 96/269 - Thursday...

The big blue thirty year old chair has made a comeback! A chair fixer (thanks Jon) came to the house and fixed it right up. I had thought about clamping it, but there was no way to put a clamp on it. What I didn't think of was just to smear some Elmer's Glue on it and put some screws in it where the dowel broke. I will know next time though. That brings up another problem. I kind of crave battery operated power drills, and I have bought two or three in the past and I have been given them as gifts. They have ranged in price from cheap to moderately priced, but they do not last worth a darn. The batteries don't keep a charge; they just don't work. Trash! I grant you that I am not using them on a daily basis, not even monthly, but it would be nice to know that if such an implement were needed it would be at the ready, but I do not have that level of confidence. BUT...the big blue chair is ready to shape itself to the contours of my ever expanding buttocks area, and that is a comfort. Deeds, Actions, Changes, BIG BLUE CHAIRS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 95/270 - Wednesday...

It has been really nice weather in Austin and central Texas for the last couple days, since the pounding we took Sunday morning. Very nice. High temperatures have been in the 80s and 90s, but it has not been as humid as we will experience in the summer. Another sign of spring (summer?) is spending a couple days here and there at the Hyatt. Many of our state meetings are at the Hyatt, and it is always pleasant to check out the skyline and Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake). Although they are not evident in this photo, there were rowing teams up and down the river when I took this, and there were other views from the 17th floor, but I did not even take a photo. I was in and out of the office today, there is plenty of work for me to do there, but there were a couple other meetings and some property showings to be done, so that was my day. I have a couple appointments in the morning, and not sure what is on my schedule for the afternoon, but I am sure something will take up the day. Deeds, Actions, Changes, LADY BIRD, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 94/271 - Tuesday...

And so the curtain closes on another very successful REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol. Months of preparation on the part of the Texas Association of REALTORS® and all their support staff made for a great day. This year, we presented to Legislators 'District Specific' information to them regarding the health of the housing market, along with issues we believe to be important to REALTORS® and property owners across the state of Texas. It was a great day. As you know, I tend to be easily distracted (squirrel), and so while many of my colleagues were posing for photos with their elected officials, I was distracted by these Beauty Queens. There was a Miss Texas Galaxy, Ms. Texas Galaxy, Mrs. Texas Galaxy and a Jr. Miss Texas Galaxy. That's all I know, and I did not deep dive into what that meant or why they were there, but there they were, and I got a photo taken to document the day. Deeds, Actions, Changes, BEAUTY QUEENS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 93/272 - Monday...

Today has been a full day of meetings, and there is one more day to go. I have to admit, this was a GREAT day, lots of ideas have been exchanged, and I think our Hill Visits at the Texas Capitol will be the best ever! We know what we are doing, and we will advocate to our elected officials about the items that are important to REALTORS® and important to property owners. Great committee and task force meetings and great TREPAC Trustee meetings. I think the Trustees are taking a giant step forward, and the Texas Association of REALTORS® has really streamlined the process, and has taken a giant step forward in showing our elected officials that we know what we are talking about and that we have the information they need and the documentation to present to show we are the experts when it comes to issues that affect property owners and REALTORS®. At the end of the day, it was time for some great networking with all the Trustees from across the state. Above is a photo of me, Tami and Diane, the Region 15 TREPAC Trustees. We had a great time at the dinner and did some serious bonding. A good time was had by all three! Deeds, Actions, Changes, TREPAC, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 92/273 - Sunday...

We were all huddled in the bathroom in the center of the house for about 15 minutes this morning. The weather forecast on yesterday had warned us that there could be some sever weather this morning around 7 a.m. It got here about an hour early (thunder and lightening) but there was really no rain until about 9:30 or so, and it got pretty intense about 10:15, and by 10:45 it was pretty much over, and I was taking a shower, getting ready to go into Austin to enjoy a Birthday luncheon for Jody at our friends Michael and Lynda's house. The luncheon was very nice, and there were nine of us attending (including Joel). I tried my best to convince Julie that maybe she really was no longer allergic to shell fish, but she did not bite. It would have been fun to see if she would swell up and if they eli-pens really work, but to no avail. Anyway...it was really nice to have these wonderful friends of Joel and me together. We do not get together enough and make fun of each other and laugh and steer conversations AWAY from politics. Very nice. Deeds, Actions, Changes, JOEL'S BIRTHDAY LUNCH, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2017 - Day 91/274 - Saturday...

I know and you know that today is April Fool's Day. I can neither confirm nor deny that everything in this journal entry is true and accurate, you need to determine this yourself. Today is Jody's birthday. He share the birthday with both my mother (Martha) and Mr. Speckles the dead bull. I am pretty sure Jody had a good day today, and tomorrow (if we are not rained out) we will go meet with friends at Michael and Lynda's home for a birthday lunch. On this day in 1700AD, English pranksters began popularizing the annual tradition of April Fool's Day by playing practical jokes on each other. Also known as All Fool's Day, it is celebrated in many cultures, but its exact origins remain unknown. So, it is up to you to believe whatever you read on Facebook, whatever you hear on the news or whatever you report to those you care about. I make a motion that from here on, all national elections be held on April 1st. Then we can decide if it was all just a bad joke or not. For me, I cut at some more grass today. I was under the impression that it was going to rain all throughout the day. It seems that has been pushed back till about 7 a.m. tomorrow, and it is supposed to be severe weather across a large part of the state. Everybody be careful. From the photo of the flags, you can see the clouds and imagine the wind. Be safe. Deeds, Actions, Changes, WEATHER, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!