2018 - Day 31/334 - Wednesday...1857...

Overnight the winds shifted to the south, and the clouds rolled in, which meant there was no lunar eclipse viewing for us. So instead of lunar eclipse photos, you get a photo of Barney the Cat. We had not seen Barney for about a week, and we were very happy to see him yesterday, sitting on the driveway acting as if he had been there all the time. We have been having hawk problems, I told you about the hawk in the chicken pen the other day, well, yesterday there were two chickens and a hawk in the cast iron plants by the front porch. Jody went and roused them all out of there and the hawk flew up into a tree by the driveway. jody had a stern talking to to the hawk and let him/her/it know that he/she/it was not welcome, and that he was sure there were other targets in the area that were just as appealing to him/her/it.

Today was calmer, no signs of hawks or other predators, but I am concerned about it. We have been here going on ten years, and we have never (well, maybe we did and just didn't know it) had issues with coyotes or hawks. I hope this is not a new trend, but this weekend, there will be three or four plastic owls surrounding the perimeters.

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

2018 - Day 30/335 - Tuesday...1866...

As I sit here in the office at home, I can look out the window and see the great big moon, the second full moon of the first month of 2018. I am not really sure when it is supposed to be at its' peek, but I will try to be conscious for five or six minutes to take a look at it, and take a couple pictures. Driving home tonight, after I turned of IH-35, this was an interesting view of the big moon rising up off the horizon. In front of me was the moon and in back of me was the sun, bot at about the same levels on the respective horizons. It was pretty interesting to pay attention to that fact. It did not make for a good photo, but it was interesting.

Go take a look for yourself.

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

2018 - Day 29/336 - Monday...1851...

It is almost February, and it is almost the full moon. Not sure exactly when the full moon will break, but it must be a day or two at least/ If it is going to be considerably bigger and brighter than tonight's moon, it will be something to see. This is something that is interesting about living on the edge of nowhere; we get to see things like the full moons, sunrises and sunsets. I know I have mentioned that before, but I am reminded of it again because I will be staying in Austin one night this week. I will be taking a full-day class in San Antonio, and it will just be a LOT easier staying in Austin and not on the edge of nowhere.

This was a pretty good day if I do say so myself. Made lots of strides in the office, and got lots of things done that were not so much business related. We are all preparing for our state association winter meeting, and that will start at the end of next week, so we are all trying to get as much done as we possibly can in preparation.

If you are reading this, quit reading it and go outside and look up. You will be glad you did.

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

2018 - Day 28/337 - Sunday...1851...

It started out pretty chilly here on the edge of nowhere, but it turned out pretty nicely. We made it up to 69 degrees, they made 70 degrees in Austin. Today makes two days in a row that I got everything on my 'to done' list cleared, plus a little bit more. Among other things, I took two bales of hay out to the cattle, and I shredded some of the dead weeds out there on about 20% of one of the pastures. That is really no great accomplishment, but it is a start. Jody and I went into Taylor, so I could buy some crap at the Harbor Freight store. Crap I tell you! Whatever. Later this afternoon, I was taking the garbage up to the road, and there was a hawk in the chicken pen. Not in the coop, just in the pen. There is a fence gate that I leave open to the pen, and lots of times birds of various ilk get in the gate but can't figure out how to get out. I got it out. The chickens were hiding in the rose bushes in the driveway circle. I had seen the hawk hanging around two or three times in the past, but thought he/she/it was just scoping stuff out. I hope this 'trapped feeling' will discourage it from coming back and harassing the hens, but I doubt it.

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

2018 - Day 27/338 - Saturday...1869...

After the great chicken massacre of 2018, I replenished the chicken supply with a dozen chicks two weeks ago. Four of the chicks were already two weeks old, and the other eight were just a couple days old. One of the chicks died in the first week, which I do not think is at all uncommon. The other eleven seem to have flourished so far. The four oldest chicks were moved to the next sized pen (I have three different pen sizes for the chicks before they are put in the coop with the other hens) this afternoon. There are still some chilly nights that will come along, but they are equipped with a heat lamp and seemed to have token to their expanded space with no real issues. I will go out an check on them again tonight before I go to bed. But, I think chicks and chickens are more robust and of stronger spirit than we give them credit for. Unless they are attacked by the neighbors dogs or coyotes.

I have been having challenges keeping up with my nuts lately. I have been snacking on nuts, and I keep moving them and forgetting where I have moved them to. One night Jody and I spent thirty minutes looking for my nuts. In case I ask you if you have seen my nuts lately, please remind me that they are on the bottom shelf in the back kitchen.

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

2018 - Day 26/339 - Friday...1875...

At my advanced age, I really don't mind standing in lines or waiting for traffic. Generally speaking. I take great pride in only going to the post office when I have plenty of time. I make fun of the people who complain that there are four windows but only one is open. Chill out dudes and dudes! Same thing at the bank. When there is something that needs to be done that requires that I actually visit a brick and mortar bank, I expect that I will be there for longer than I would like, but I take it (usually) in my stride. What really gets me riled up is the questions that I am required to answer at the drive through, but that is another topic. And so today was not really any different than any other day. I was in the wrong lane on the Interstate. Nothing to be surprised about there, but this was the first time EVER that I was notified of that fact WAY ahead of time. No need to wonder about it, it was as plain as the Halloween Orange lettering on the sign. Interestingly though, the left two lanes never did have to merge right, we just kept barreling (at four miles an hour) ahead, and eventually, it was all over.

Have a nice weekend.

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

2018 - Day 25/340 - Thursday...1886...

This is how you spend $63 t Walmart. I think the only time I spent that much money at Walmart was when I bought soaker hoses or car batteries. But, There is a lot of diet soda in that photo. And a mop and bucket for the chicken coop (and some Pine Sol), some pink rubber gloves for my delicate digits, and some scrubby thing. I went with a list and added a few things to it here and there. All-in-all not a bad haul (that rhymes), and I won't find it necessary to stock up on diet sodas for another couple of months.

Another pretty day in Austin and the surrounds, so we are happy with that. No freezing weather for at least another week according to the prognosticators. I am looking forward to the weekend, I have big plans for at least four or five of the new chicks, we will see how all that works out.

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

2018 - Day 24/341 - Wednesday...1865...

Two or three years ago, Julie gave us a Christmas Cactus. It's beautiful. It finally bloomed this year, and I thought I would share that with you this evening. Very pretty. It looks healthy, not malnourished or anything, I just suspect it is slow...maybe it was on the short-bus as a shoot. Not sure. But beautiful.

Weather remains nice, tonight is the last night of possible sub-freezing temperatures, maybe for at least a week. I will haul the plants out tomorrow morning before I head off into Austin (if it is not too cold). I am thinking of putting the chicks into the outside pen as well...they will still have the benefit of the heat lamp, but... Maybe I should give them another week, although a few of them are a week older than the others and it shows. They are definitely about ready for some more room.

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

2018 - Day 23/342 - Tuesday...1869...

There are hardly ever any wrecks that I get to see while driving down an urban street in Austin. This was taken just after I left the office this afternoon, and I doubt there were any injuries, with the possible exception of the telephone pole and the fire hydrant that you can't see. It would have been a lot more interesting if the fire hydrant had been more properly run-over and caused a great geyser of water. But you can't have everything.

There has not been much complaining about the weather lately, but it seems a lot longer than just a week ago that we had such severely cold weather. Recently (okay, the last few days) the skies have been blue and the afternoon temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Overnight, cold temperatures in the 30s and a few 20s.

No earthquakes to be reported nearby, so that is a comfort.

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

2018 - Day 22/343 - Monday...1861...

I was out showing some property in East Austin, and I do not think I could have documented any thing at all that would have better made a representation about East Austin. East Austin is being gentrified, and at the same time there is a movement to save some of the flavor. Historically, East Austin was inhabited by persons of color, particularly hispanics and blacks. Austin is not and has not been a city of diversity, and the East Side was where you could get great Tex-Mex (among other things). Now let me try to dig myself out of this hole. The hole was dug with the absolute best of intentions, so I hope there has been no offense. Anyway...many of the homes on the East Side are being scraped and replaced with McMansions...you know the story. BUT...I stopped traffic behind me to take this photo, and I think it is a great representation of trying to preserve the flavor of the East Side.

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

2018 - Day 21/244 - Sunday...1859...

When I was a little kid, the saying was Don't believe anything you read and only half of what you see. I think we need to update that. Even if I see it, I don't always believe it. Things are kind of interesting, and there are all kinds of cop-outs. Performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) have now morphed into performance enhancing dialogues. Spin doctors. Spins. Alternatives. Whatevers.

So...just let's all try to do our best and try our best to figure out what we think needs to be figured out, and react and respond to it in the best way we each can. Carefully. Respectfully. Kindly.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, KINDNESS. Kindnesses. Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 20/345 - Saturday...1870...

I swear there was a pack of coyotes outside our bedroom window last night at 3:38 a.m. I think they were watching a football game. They woke me up, but Jody slept through it. It is not the first time they have wakened me, and it seems to be more frequent now. I am on extra alerts to the coyotes since the great chicken slaughter of a couple weeks ago. I also think they were in the bed of cactus in the circle of the drive. Late this evening I noticed a lot of the cactus broken, and that is the only thing I can think of that would have caused it. The chickens were safe. I lock them up in their coop shortly after the sun goes down, and the chicks are doing well. We did lose one of the chicks, but so far I think one of twelve is not a terrible mortality rate, considering we have had temperatures down in the teens.

I also put down new sheet vinyl on the floor of the chicken coop this morning. The temperatures are climbing back to closer to normal temps...it made it up to almost 70 this afternoon, that was nice. We are supposed to have a little bit of rain in the next twenty four hours, and nice days for most of next week. I hope the girls like their new flooring, it certainly makes everything else look better out there in the coop.

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

2018 - Day 19/346 - Friday...1862...

I spent five hours more than I needed to today at one of our properties, while the Keystone Cop parade of characters came and went. And came back again and then left, only to come back again. Stuff is so expensive today because no one is prepared for anything. Oh, I don't keep thermostats in the truck. I will go get thermostats. I just installed the thermostats, but they are the wrong ones. I need to call around to see if I can find them. No thermostats in the city, they will need to be ordered. I have a lead on a thermostat, I will call you back. That thermostat has been discontinued. I found two thermostats that should work. I think I just tripped the breakers. Can you call someone to let me into the basement? I'll be back. I need to go downstairs to my truck to get some wire nuts. You don't have any wire nuts, do you? Okay, then of course I had to go downstairs at least twice to feed the meters. And then; this one thermostat is not working. Where is the breaker box? Are both these thermostats on the same breaker? Oh, I see what the problem is. I wired this one wrong. I fixed it. DONE!

But the view was decent, and even though I could have taken a nap, I was conscious the whole time.

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

2018 - Day 18/347 - Thursday...1864...

Do you ever have one of those days when nothing goes right? Well, this was not one of those days for me. Some things did go right for me; I woke up, read the paper, drove in to the office, and a lot of things went right. But there were several work things that did not go right, and those things did not go right unnecessarily. Things did not go right because folks just don't want to do what they say they will do. Other people break and default on legal binding contracts, just because they think they are smarter than other people. And then I become the enforcer. I am sorry that your lack of planning has caused you this inconvenience. I am extra sorry that your lack of planning has caused you this inconvenience, and that your inconvenience has caused ME to be inconvenienced. It was not my challenge, it was all yours, and now you think you should be released from responsibility, at the harm or someone else. Well, that is not how it works. Fess up, face up, and shut up.

Other than that, I have no strong opinions.

Oh yeah, this was a pretty cool sunrise this morning.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FESS UP, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 17/348 - Wednesday...1870...

Just in case you were wondering, the coldest thing in the world is a fart in a dead eskimo. Just ask anyone. There is nothing colder than that. I don't care about witches boobs, or anything else. The coldest thing in the world is a fart in a dead eskimo. It was almost that cold this morning on the edge of nowhere. Colder than it has been in many, MANY years. Not record breaking, but really cold. It warmed up to just a little bit above freezing this afternoon, and the sun was out, so that was nice. It will be in the 20s tomorrow morning, and then we are finished with the freezing temperatures for at least a week or so. I do not think it got to below freezing here more than twice in the last two or three years, so this is taking a toll on all our already weakened mental capacities.

Whatever...

Deeds, Actions, Changes, ESKIMO FARTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 16/349 - Tuesday...1868...

I have no idea what (okay, I am a liar) this is, but the chickens have had a pretty good time with it for most of the day. I saw it on the path late last night, and I just left it. Either the cat or the chickens will find it, and it will be put to good use.

As I write this, the temperature at the edge of nowhere, is 25 degrees. The low overnight is expected to be 16 degrees. It was a pajama kind of day...but...since I don't wear pajamas...um...I stuck with the sweat pants and pull over jacket. It has been REALLY cold all day, and REALLY windy too. North winds in a Texas winter is not a good thing. North winds in a Texas summer is a GREAT thing. But I digress. The state closed down for business today, based on the prediction that there would be freezing rains over (last) night. But it didn't happen. Maybe it happened in Austin, but it didn't happen on the edge of nowhere. I repeat...it was cold. The new chicks are all warm and cozy in their pen with the heat lamp on them. We hope the cat is taking advantage of the heat lamp we have installed in his shed (we never know), and we think the grown chickens are wondering why the hell this light is turned on while they are trying to sleep. We assume the cattle are holding up with no real problems, and everything will be back to normal by the weekend. Two more days of this crap.

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

2018 - Day 15/350 - Monday...1881...

Well, central Texas is in shut-down mode. It was 70 degrees in Austin this afternoon, but we are supposed to have freezing rain (maybe some snow) overnight. The expected low temperature overnight is supposed to be 27 degrees, the high temperature tomorrow 30, the low temperature on Wednesday morning is 19 degrees, Thursday morning 24 degrees. Then we get back to some semblance of normal. Back up to 70 degrees on Saturday. Perfect. I'd rather have the bad mojo during the week than on the weekend. It was a nice sunrise this morning, and I am posting that instead of the interesting wreck I saw on the way home. No casualties, no injuries, everyone was standing around and talking while BOTH vehicles were loaded onto one tow truck. And, I guess tow truck is not really appropriate anymore, since they kind of drag them onto a flat-bed sort of thing. BUT, two tows at one time seems to be a step in the right direction.

Just announced Austin schools are closed tomorrow, that is kind of the bench-mark for those schools that were on the cusp of making a decision. Schools in the area started sending out notices about noon today. We are such cowards, but I know someone that will be sleeping in tomorrow.

I still have a box of Twinkies in the garage refrigerator. I didn't open them during the hurricane, but it is comforting to know that they have a shelf life longer than I will be around. I'll be dead and they will still be edible.

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

2018 - Day 14/351 - Sunday...1872...

When it comes to all things technology orientated, I am a very stable genius. That (as was the original) is somewhat lacking in credibility. Jody and I recently decided to become subscribers (again) to Netflix (the ones where you actually get the DVD in the mail, because we live on the edge of nowhere). And we are in our second week. Last week we had Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and this week was La La Land. I had not seen Miss Peregrine's..., but I was surprised to find that it was produced in black and white. I was a little suspicious, but I went with it. It seemed to fit the movie, so that went right along with it. I had read the book so I knew the background, so I didn't think much about it being in black and white. I did think it would be possible that at certain points it may change to color (a The Wizard of Oz), but that was not to be.
la

Last night we watched La La Land, and I had seen that movie earlier, so I knew it was in color, but not for us. We watched the whole thing in black and white, and finally late this morning I determined that the cables were connected improperly and I finally got them fixed. The first try, I got color but no sound. Finally I found the perfect combination, and life was good. We watched the whole movie again, and it is definitely better in color.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COLOR TALKIES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 13/352 - Saturday...1898...

We lost two more chickens this week, both on Thursday. One just disappeared and the surviving Pancake was left just to die between the front barn and the road. I found her early afternoon on Thursday and left her there to see if she would recover. That chicken has fooled us a couple times. When I got back home Thursday evening, she was in the same spot, had not moved, but she was still alive. I put her in a box and put her inside the coop out of the cold. She was dead the next day. SO...that makes ten hens we lost in about a week. I went out and bought a dozen chicks this afternoon, figuring I could get them big enough to be not quite as needy by the time I make my first out of tow trip this year, around the end of February. By that time they should be big enough that they can be outside in the intermediate coop and not too much maintenance required. By the middle of April they will be moved into the coop with the big girls.

Interestingly, we have been pretty lucky in the nine years we have lived here, with the occasional lost chicken, but ten in one week is a little bit overwhelming!

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

2018 - Day 12/353 - Friday...1892...

It's Friday. I had a meeting (very interesting and productive) and a 5 minute presentation this morning. Things get very finicky when it comes to minutes. I can NEVER speak for the allotted amounts of time. Being interesting is a curse. But I gave it my all this morning. Part of it was because the presenters before me took more than their allotted time (that is the only thing I can think of. I was on the agenda at 9:20 a.m. I did not start until 9:26 a.m., and my presentation took six minutes. Like I said, I am working on this.

Friday. Did I mention this is Friday? I am very happy that it is Friday. It makes me want to bust out in song. Black Friday. Finally Friday. Friday Night. Aloha Friday. Friday on my Mind. Friday. Friday I'm in Love. Last Friday Night. Friday Night in Dixie. Friday to Sunday. Friday Night Chicken. Friday in a Flower Pot. Fish Stick Kinda Friday.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, FRIDAY. Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 11/354 - Thursday...1891...

I could have used another photo of an ambulance chasing me down IH-35, but instead, I chose to use another photo of a sunset, albeit an interesting photo of a sunset. I left for Austin late this afternoon, almost 2 o'clock, but there were a couple things I HAD to get done. That is where the ambulance chasing me part came into the picture (get it?). I got to the office about 3 o'clock, did some power real estate, did a little bit more power real estate, and then headed back home about 4:30. We are expecting another freeze tonight, and maybe through the weekend, but all the plants are in, the plant lights are going, the chicken lights are going, and the barn cat has a heat lamp out in his shed. I think everything will survive.

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

2018 - Day 10/355 - Wednesday...1896...

I had to take off a little bit earlier this morning, I needed to have my car in for service at 7:30. I was about ten minutes late, but they were okay with that. I got a loaner, and then it was off to the office for some power real estate. This is a photo of the waiting room in the service center, looking out into the service areas. It is kind of like the old restaurants where you could watch them cook your food, only not as greasy!

Then it was off to the TREC Offices where I sat in on the Education Standards  Advisory Committee. I am no longer on the committee, my time served ended in December, but I still want to attend the meetings to keep up with what is going on. It is really interesting (to me, not to everybody), but I can spare a day every three months.

Tomorrow will be a late day going into the office...maybe doing some work from home...

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

2018 - Day 9/356 - Tuesday...1896...

I usually don't make too much of the passing parade of car wrecks littering the north and south bound lanes of the interstate on a daily basis. It is just another experience on my commutes. Generally, I see wrecks, a few of which you would wonder how the folks walked away from, but those are really just a testament to the automotive engineering that has been accomplished in the last couple of decades. Today on my way home, there were three wrecks, spread out over the 35 or so miles that I travel back and forth on the Interstate daily. I know where the pot holes are, where the expansion joints need to be repaired, and where the traffic will stop for absolutely NO reason at all. The first of this afternoon's wrecks was nothing spectacular, but it was bothersome. Pretty close to the center of town, too much traffic, too close to run hour for it to be anything but a pain. The second wreck (the sandwich wreck I referred to on Facebook) was on the left side of the road, two trucks with a pick-up sandwiched between them. I took photos as I am won't to do, but the occupants were all outside the vehicles exchanging information. The third wreck was the bad one. There was a fatality. There was a whole platoon of emergency vehicles. A car carrying three people left the Interstate, went airborne and ended up in Berry Creek that, at one point north of Georgetown and south of Walburg, goes under the Interstate. I saw one of the emergency workers giving CPR to one of the victims.

It was terrible. It was awful.

Just be careful out there, and leave a little bit earlier so you won't be in such a hurry.

Deeds, Actions, Change, WRECKS, Kindnesses, Wh
irled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 8/357 - Monday...1893...

I know two little girl dogs that are going to the beautiful parlor tomorrow. Wash and rinse, nail job and maybe one or two other things...no hair cuts though. We are going to put them on a monthly shampoo and set and a quarterly cut. We are not used to having these kinds of high maintenance dogs, we have had cockers, dachshunds, and miscellaneous other mixed breeds, but these little dogs seem to need more shampoos and sets kinds of things, so we are getting it all figured out. Have you ever seen a cuter little dirty girl in your whole life?

I called the Taylor Feed store this afternoon to see if they sold laying hens or knew anyone that did. He handed the phone to a woman that said she had about ten laying hens she would sell for six dollars a piece. I would need to pick them up before Wednesday, because someone else wanted to buy them and he was going to pick them up on Wednesday. And...by the way...they aren't laying. They are  just hens.

Well, that kind of defeats the whole purpose if you ask me. A laying hen that doesn't lay is just about the same thing to me as the hens that were massacred last week.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, SHAMPOO & SET, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 7/358 - Sunday...1891...

Half of me wanted to feel the cattle, half of me did not want to feed the cattle, and half of me wanted to take a nap. The cattle got fed. The chicken coop got cleaned. The stove got cleaned out. The garbage can is up at the road. This and that got done, and I am good with the done stuff. It looked as if it was going to rain all day long today, but nothing. Plenty of clouds, plenty of wind, and it felt like rain, but nothing.

There has not been any coyote activity in the last two days, at least none that we are aware of. The girls, down to 12 from 20, gave us only one egg today. The coyotes got many of the new girls and the rooster. The new girls are definitely not as smart as the old girls when it comes to the ways of the edge of nowhere. I am already planning on getting some new chicks, and maybe seeing if I can find some laying hens somewhere. They used to sell laying hens in Taylor at the feed store. I will make a couple calls this week.

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

2018 - Day 6/359 - Saturday...1903...

Well, we believe the real culprit was coyotes. Or a pack of something. Not the bad neighbors dog(s). I watched everything today, no activity. I did buy a couple more cameras, and I want to get a couple more before this is all done. We will have monitoring of the property pretty well covered before this is all over. The thought of some fencing did enter my mind, but if it is coyotes, they will be able to jump the fences. It is kind of eerie not seeing all the girls. Very few of the girls came around the house to the back patio where Jody usually feeds them. Kind of odd, but that is what happens out on the edge of nowhere. I was considering buying more checks later in the spring, but now I may try to get some grown laying hens somewhere, just not sure.

On a lighter note, this is a photo of the paper white that I got late last year (maybe late November) that comes in a bulb kit. I got one paper white and one amaryllis. The amaryllis has not caught up with the paper white yet, but I will give you all a report when it does. BUT, the paper white does have a lovely fragrance. Sweet.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PAPER WHITES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2018 - Day 5/360 - Friday...1918...

This is a photo of what I did NOT share today while lunching with my TREPAC Trustee colleagues. There was a whole assortment of deliciously appealing desserts, but I remained strong. Yes, a resolution to cut back on stuff is still being adhered to, and if that did not put me over the edge (five days in), then there is still hope.

I was not happy to come home and have Jody report that something took out two chickens, including the large and proud rooster. When I went out to put the other chickens to bed, I did a head count, and we are down eight (8) chickens. This is not a good thing. I will be monitoring this to see if I can catch the offenders over the weekend. Last weekend, I have documented that I chased the bad neighbors dog off the property, and there was no harm done on that occasion. BUT...I am (again) unhappy, and will be on patrol for the next several days.

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

2018 - Day 4/361 - Thursday...1911...

I was in a class ALL DAY today, taking, not guiding. My friend Valorie and I sat together, and that was fun. Mark sat with us in the morning, but he took a powder after the first class. There were a series of 4 classes in total (not including a 90 minute speaker for which there was no credit), with varying levels of CE credits, but all in all, the day was 7 hours of CE credits, and I got some good ideas out of some of the hours. Overall, not at all unhappy with the day, and I will take it again next year if it is offered.

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

2018 - Day 3/362 - Wednesday...1909...

Okay, we should all be out of our miseries pretty soon. Overnight tonight should be the last of the freezing temperatures for the near term. There was a record breaking low temperature of 15 degrees reported at the airport this morning. This reading of 18 degrees was captured about 7:30 this morning during my drive into Austin. So far, so good. The temperature when I was driving home this afternoon, was 56 degrees and the sun was shining. Everyone is in a better mood.
The seven day forecasts shows us to be on a warming trend, and a week from Friday there is a forecast temperature in the mid-30s. But after this, we expect we will be able to survive.

The year is getting off to a slow start. Things are really quiet real-estate-wise, and I was in the office most of the day and got lots of busy things done. I was an idiot, and headed for the board for a 9:30 meeting this morning, and there was NO meeting. That is the second time in a couple months that I have showed up (somewhere) for a meeting, and there was no meeting.

Tomorrow, a full day of continuing education (I am a student), and Friday most of the day will be with TAR TREPAC meetings.

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

2018 - Day 2/363 - Tuesday...1915...

I was shocked. SHOCKED I tell you! While I was driving home from the office this afternoon, some precipitation was hitting my car, and then it FROZE! FREEZING PRECIPITATION! What the hell is going on? The prognosticators mentioned nothing about precipitation of any kind, let alone the kind that would freeze to the windshield upon contact. I was glad I left the office kind of early, and did not really consider the consequences that others might face. There have been multiple accidents involving multiple vehicles, multiple injuries, at least one death (ugh), multiple road closures and the traffic reports are just crazy. The most recent mention of any rain for the area was supposed to have happened yesterday, between the hours of 2-5 p.m. Well, that didn't happen, but it happened this afternoon, between the hours of 2-5 p.m. And I guess it continued a little bit longer into the dark hours. Not sure if it is still happening, and I do not believe there was a single dribble of precipitation at the edge of nowhere. Current temperature is 27 degrees right now, expecting an overnight low of 22 degrees, and in the 50s tomorrow afternoon. Then I think there will be one more early morning freeze in this event, and we will be in the clear for the foreseeable future. 50s for the rest of the week, except for Sunday, when it is supposed to be 65.

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

2018 - Day 1/364 - Monday...1921...

Welcome to the New Year...as far as I am concerned, I was not terribly sorry to see the old one end. Hopefully, I will never look back on 2017 and refer to it as the 'good ole days'. Fingers crossed! We all have traditions; I heard on public radio that there is a show called 'Dinner For One' that is traditional New Year's fare for folks in a country that I cannot recall, but it is not the country in which the program originated years ago. My tradition for the last several years is posting this same photo from the first day of this journal. Today is the 3,287th consecutive entry in this journal. When the whole thing started, it was to be a one-year gig, hence the website 365DaysOfBill.com. But of course, since I am CDO (look it up in previous entries), I just got sucked into it, and don't seem to be able to stop. This journal actually started on December 31, 2008. It was kind of a trial run. And today, I am entering into the tenth year of this journal about nothing in particular. I do prefer the entries in which I am ranting about something, I find those particularly fun. Sometimes the entries are just totally boring and I put myself to sleep. I also like the entries I complete having had a wee-bit too much Merlot. I don't really remember composing those, but they are fun to review the next day.

SO...we will see what this New Year brings. I hope dear readers, that you do not become bored to tears with my repetitive prose, but if you do...well...come back tomorrow and maybe you will be entertained!

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