What Families Do

I am camped at daughter's house this week and will be here indefinitely.  I am so very thankful that our lifestyle at present allows me this flexibility.  Memories abound of an accident I suffered over thirty years ago.  Ol' Abner called Mammy and Papa in the middle of the night requesting that they come from West Texas to Houston "NOW".  Our children were two and seven at the time and Ol' Abner (not so old then) was in an understandable panic at the thought of dealing with a major ankle fracture requiring surgery for me while caring for two young children.  It was the busy holiday season and he was totally intimidated by the hectic social, shopping, school, and work schedules.  My parents, a few years into retirement then, scrambled out of bed in the middle of the night, gathered together loose change to purchase enough gasoline to make the eight hour drive.  After that dilemma, we convinced them that cash might be the best option, but a credit card for back up might be wise in an emergency.  They were there in the hospital room when I awoke from surgery and stayed until the New Year.  It wasn't the last time they came to help us through a traumatic event, usually the result of a broken bone.  I do so miss my mother, but I am ever grateful to be able to offer some assistance to my daughter's already self-reliant family.

Optimism

I feel as though I'm moving in slow motion this morning.  My head feels a little foggy and the beginning of a headache greeted me as I awoke.  I slogged around and finally took an anti-inflammatory medication to stave off the headache symptoms.  A review of my finger and toe nails forced me to face the reality that it's probably time to renew my grooming. The sky is cloudy outside...OK, that must be the source of my malaise!  I know we still crave rain in Texas, but rain seldom makes me smile.  I love sunshine and warmth...lots of warmth.

Packing a month's worth of clothing, toiletries and other necessities should be my agenda for today.  I can prepare to travel quickly though and I want to enjoy my home time today...now where IS that sun?  I think I'll go get a manicure and pedicure and maybe the sun will be out by the time I'm done!

This can't be SLEEP

Last week I went to  a local laboratory to sleep publicly overnight.  That thought in itself was rather intimidating.  An infrared camera recording my every twist, turn, and snort in the night isn't my perception of good times.  I arrived sans face cream, hair product or lotions on my scaly body per instructions.  I completed a thick volume of paper questionnaires and readied myself for bed. Wires and electrodes were attached to every muscle in my body, or so it felt.  It would be an exaggeration to say over 600 electrodes were placed, but certainly enough were in place to monitor my every move or twitch.  The technician happily snapped a photo when I mentioned my probable likeness to a "Frankenstein type character", then continued to apply more bits of paste with electrodes inserted.  When the trussing was completed, further insult  involved insertion of fat tubes into my nostrils to force air down my throat.  I was rendered speechless with cold air expelling uncomfortably from my face.  One would think this process would be enough for anyone ever.  Oh no, I returned as instructed for a second round last night.  Even though I knew what to expect this time, it was no less uncomfortable and certainly no kin to restful. How can this be a sleep study, when very little of that actually happens.  The technician assured me I slept quite a lot last night.  I guess she should know, but for some reason I arrived home wanting nothing more than to fall into my own bed.  Two hours later I had to get up to meet another commitment, but I assure you I will sleep well tonight.  There won't be a camera anywhere nearby to capture the experience, and I will awake without the dreaded PASTE in my hair!

Can you match the other ends?

Let the wiring begin

Emerging Skills

Golf is the most frustrating and satisfying process I've ever attempted to master.  I came off the driving range this morning with my arms aching after hitting two large buckets of balls.  With three lessons behind me, I have learned to swing everything except my putter. That comes next week.  In fact, I will have two lessons next week with the final one involving an actual round of golf.  It's been frustrating being stuck on the driving range, but my training wheels will finally be removed and I'll be on my own on the course, probably before I'm ready.  I rode with Ol' Abner earlier this week as he played a round of golf on the more difficult of the two courses in our little community.  My drives will not reach the distance he sends that little ball into the air anytime soon.  The hole he reached and sank into with four strokes will likely require nine or more before I can claim success.

The beauty of the course is relaxing when riding along as a passenger in the cart, and some of the slopes are downright breathtaking (as in knuckle-clinching kind of taking away my breath). I am anxious to test my emerging skills.  Today's practice elevated my ability to curse to a new level.  It's never been a talent nurtured, yet the words seem to slip involuntarily from my lips at times.

One of the few straight level fairways on
Highland Lakes Golf course.

Second Home

     Son and Daughter In Law love to ride their motorcycles to remote parks and outposts to gather with friends and family.  When they travel on the bikes, it's difficult to haul the gear needed for camping.  Someone must usually come along with a trailer to bring tents and other supplies to the destination.  Even more inconvenient is DIL's aversion to public shower facilities.  I fully understand this concept, so I was quite happy when I was invited for a tour of the new accommodations.  

     For several months they have tossed around a choice of purchasing a heavy duty truck to store in their already parking-challenged driveway.  A camper strong enough to haul both motorcycles in it's "garage" with all the other amenities required, would surely need the power of such a vehicle.  DIL wasn't willing to give up the parking space in the garage where her vintage mustang lives, and the motorcycles fill the other side.  The driveway in front of the garage is large enough to park her daily driver and Son's pickup, but the two big gas guzzlers fill that space amply.

     A solution was discovered when a sturdy lightweight, tongue pull, "toy hauler" was located in an RV dealership just a couple of cities to the north.  Further bonus included a bathroom with separate shower, toilet and sink.  It will sleep six (two of whom must be midgets, I think) and includes a propane refrigerator and freezer, indoor and outdoor speakers for the sound system, and a rear area (garage) that folds down as a ramp to load motorcycles.  Best feature though: It can be pulled behind the SUV that DIL drives now.

Ol' Abner went with Son to pick it up after the kids had gone prior to make their choice and arrange to pay for it.  DIL decided she just couldn't wait and joined them on the trip.  I'm thinking much will be learned in the weeks to come.  Discovery that two locks are included on each door and if both are not fully engaged, the doors will open at high speed.  It only took three episodes of flapping doors to find the second lock on each door.  Furthermore, DIL and Ol' Abner suggested that son might want to travel at a lower speed than usual until he was a bit more familiar with it's capability.  He quickly pointed out the 75MPH speed limit sign and told them it was clear he was doing just fine!  

They spent the remainder of the holiday weekend shopping for "housewares and linens" for their new vacation home!

Best Day!

Independence Day is my most loved holiday.  The waving flags, patriotic music, food choices in Red, White and Blue, outdoor meals, parades, and of course the fireworks at the end of the day.  This year I added a bit of shopping to the score.  Thinking it might be fun to catch a matinee movie with little interest for Ol' Abner, I strolled over to my neighbors house to recruit a companion.  She had seen same flick the night before but invited me along on a quick run to the big Swedish Box to take advantage of a big July 4th sale.  Intrigued with the Scandinavian take on our independence, I agreed.  We found a huge crowd at the store where the ample parking is never totally full and had to grab what appeared to be the last empty parking place.  Who knew shopping was a major Fourth of July event?  Festive Signs with red, white and blue specials...and bath towels at 99 cents.  With her pool almost ready for action, neighbor needed those for sure.  We finished our shopping, enjoyed an burger, fries and shake.  Heavy lake bound traffic slowed our return home, but we were here in plenty of time for the afternoon fun.

I had missed the morning parade in our little town, but vowed not to let THAT happen again.  Dancing Girl and Guitar Man expected all three of their kids for the weekend, and we were anxious to see them.
Oldest Son entertained us with a "deer feeding" event, but I'll have to talk about that later. (too many photos for this post).  As they arrived at the lake memories of all our children when they were much younger at this very lake made us all a bit sentimental.

Youngest Son with wife and of course, the youngest grand

These kids are so hard to please.
Give them a lollipop+ride on the golf cart=All Smiles!

After a few refreshing summer beverages, burgers, and chips, we made our way to the park to await the fireworks display.  This was the first up close and personal fireworks show for some of the the little people.  A perfect vantage point was necessary.  We found it just across a little ravine from the stands set up for release of the sparks.

As the sun set over the hills




Anticipation
mounted among the little folks and the not so little folks.

A few sparklers across the campground

Sitting on blankets expecting the show to start any minute!

 It was worth the wait!

Where to Go!

Everyone is traveling this month!  Everyone except me, that is!  I should probably be satisfied with short journeys around hill country and sprints through the capitol city we love so much.  While the views from these distractions are nice, the travel bug hasn't been squashed for me.  Hope to make a road trip to the West coast is slowly shrinking.  July is completely full with commitments and August just confirmed as full.  September was planned as a trip to the Ozarks and I still hope that will bear fruit.  All the teasers in my e-mail for bottom dollar flights and cruises for only a few dollars, are reminding me how precious my time may be.  Ol' Abner is sometimes interested when I show him the information, but seldom is he willing to follow through when the deadline arrives.

Medical tests and procedures seem to usurp more and more of our time.  We are learning the joys of aging!  I will enjoy a trip to San Antonio next week with Dancing Girl.  Her daughter is moving to Seattle and must be there following the upcoming weekend.  Because we really wanted to enjoy her company this holiday weekend, it was an easy choice to volunteer to supervise the movers loading her family's belongings.  Dancing Girl offered, and I offered to accompany her.  We promised ourselves a few days of eating out and drinking in!  I fear the sight of her daughter's empty house may bring reality crashing in.  We will need to hurry back to the peace and quiet of the lake to relieve newfound stress!