Tuesday, December 30, 2014

• Nice morning, calm, high clouds, temp: 57, high: 66. Light rain forecast for later in day.
• Gotta get the place cleaned up for the return of Jim & Diane this evening.
• Got my 2 1/2 mile bike ride in before the drizzle starts.
• Ran over to the Valley Garden Center to get some new plants for Diane's planter.
• With the help of Candy's brother & her son, we moved the couch out of the living room & delivered it into Candy's mothers Texas Room.
• And Candy planted the new plants in the donkey.
• Lastly, I installed the phone holder in the van. We'll see how well it works this evening when I drive over to the Harlingen airport.
• Flight status info on the web says SY631 will arrive Harlingen at 6:30 PM, 20 minutes early. Nice.
• Supper at Paradise Bingo nite.
• Rainy night driving to Harlingen airport. Jim & Diane's plane was 30 minutes late. They were tired from their trip. And Jim's shoulder, in a sling, was not real comfortable. A good night's sleep should help them feel better.
• And now for something completely different.

My drone

Connor, I need your help to understand what the box says.

• Now give me several days while I unpack it & figure out how to put it together. Then several more days while I figure out how to make it fly. Then several more days while I make my first flight. Then . . .

Monday, December 29, 2014

• Cool, foggy morning, temp: 43, high: 63.
• (Diane:) trash out.
• Gerry, Bob, Dan & I had our regular Monday morning Canadian breakfast at El Rancho Grande where all the Border Patrol go for breakfast.
• Quiet day, not much going on.
• Went to the bank to get some cash.
• Received the drone I ordered a week ago.
• Tracked Dan & Dawn from Oklahoma City to Osceola, IA where hopefully last night they winterized their trailer as their temp in the morning was only 6.
• More pictures from South Padre Island trip.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

• Overnight gusty winds, rain, lightning, thunder. Morning, cool, temp: 50, high: 54.
• Very rainy morning - raining hard most of the time.
• Dan & Dawn arrive at 9:15 PM last Tuesday evening. They departed this Sunday morning at 9:15 AM. Thanks Dan & Dawn for wonderful company and a relaxing few days. Have a safe trip back to Minnesota.
• Hard rain has finally let up at 10:30 AM.
• Think rain may have finally stopped. Even looks likes it's clearing a little.
• Haven't done much today. Cleaned up around the house in preparation for return of Jim & Diane on Tuesday evening. Washed a load of clothes. Watched a lot of TV. Tomorrow's suppose to be better weather.
• Since I have a rule to not go biking when the temp is under 50, I can't even get in my ride today. Ugh.
• Sun finally came out at about 4 PM, but it's so windy, gusts up to 15 mph.
• Five o'clock, time for ice cream social, & then the movie, "Christmas Candle".

Saturday, December 27, 2014

• Warm morning, temp: 69, high: 78. Beautiful day, not windy
• Had French toast at the Saturday morning pancake breakfast at the Hall.
• Dan drained the black water in his camper.
• Three of us went on a mile bike ride.
• Mid afternoon we went shopping where Dan got new work shoes at Skecher Factory Outlet, I got a phone car holder for the van at Best Buy.
• Had lunch at Jason's Deli. Yum. Yum.
• Had a light rain. Mostly heavy sprinkles.
• Dan & Dawn are packed & ready to leave in the morning.
• Got lots of pictures from Dan & Dawn. I'll include a few each day.

Friday, December 26, 2014

• Another nice morning, temp: 62, high: 79.
• After breakfast of cereal, fruit, & toast at home, we decide today would be our big day to go over to South Padre Island.
• So we filled the van with E85,  headed for the coast via the Military Highway.
• Stopped at the Visitor's Center on S.P.I. & then drove to the end of the road at the north end of the island.
• Ran around on the sand dunes for an hour or so. Dawn got some very good pictures.
• Headed back south stopping at Clayton's Bar & Grill for lunch. 
• On our way off the island, stopped at the S.P.I. sign & took some pictures.
• Then as we drove back west, Dan called Joe & Linda (Joe is Theresa's little brother, one of the younger twins in the family) in Donna to see if they were home.
• Spent a couple hour at Magnolia Park where Joe & Linda winter.
• Came back to Pharr, had supper at Stars drive-in. 
• Then last last night, Dan & Dawn drove up to Valley Fruit Company in Pharr.
• I'll be getting lots of pictures from Dawn to post covering the last several days.
• Finally, here a few pictures Dawn gave me last evening that I was too tired to load. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 25, 2014 (Christmas Day)

• Merry Christmas to all my friends & relatives from the Southern most location in the USA - Pharr Texas.
• Coolest morning this season, 38. High: 67. Very brisk, but mostly clear.
• Dan & Dawn are here sharing their Christmas with me. We'll keep this blog open reporting events of Christmas day 2014 as they occur.
• We may be even able to post Dawn's pictures of Pharr lights from last night this morning.
• Keep watching.
• Had breakfast of cereal & fruit & toast.
• Opened Christmas gifts. Thanks Dan & Dawn for that NASA book & sudoku books.
• These are pictures of downtown Pharr that I took last evening with my phone. Later I'll replace them with Dawn's pictures as they will be clearer.

• Had a delicious Christmas buffet at Echo Hotel in Edinburg with Dan & Candy Sasse & Candy's son, Jason.
• Just got home from touring down to Chimney RV Park in Mission on the Rio Grande.
• Late this evening, past my bedtime, Dan & Dawn drove over to the Hidalgo Festival of Lights. Hopefully I'll get some pictures from Dawn to post on this web site.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

• Dan & Dawn arrived at about 9:15 PM last evening & were setup by 10.
• Very cool, clear, & windy today, temp: 49, high: 63. No swimming today for Dan & Dawn.
• Had a What-A-Burger for lunch.
• Then went to H-E-B for a day & a half of groceries.
• Napped.
• Day stayed sunny, hot, & windy all day.
• Fixed bacon & cheese on toast for supper. Mmm . . . good.
• Finally to prove that Dan & Dawn are here, here's the GMC & Scamp parked in slot 28 at Paradise Park.

• In the evening we drove to downtown Pharr and Dawn took lots of pictures of the beautiful Christmas lights. I'll give you some sample tomorrow night.
• Kathy called wishing us all Merry Christmas. Thanks, Kath, for the call. And Merry Christmas to you & your family.
• Finally, what a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas with Dan & Dawn here with me. Perhaps Kath & Dave & their families can make it in later years.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

• Nice morning, temp: 67, high: 76. High winds forecast.
• My son, Dan, & his wife, Dawn, stayed overnight just outside of Tulsa, OK on their way to Pharr.
• Kathy sent me a nice gift card to Cinemark Theaters. So this morning, while I still have a car and before Dan & Dawn arrive this evening, I'm going to go see "The Theory of Everything" a movie based on a book I've read by noted physicist, Stephen Hawking. Perhaps then I'll be able to answer the question my RidgePointe friends have for me after they saw it.
• On my way to the theater, Jim called me. He sounded excellent. Of course he's still on pain meds. He described the surgery to me and sounded in great spirits.
• And, by the way, the movie was excellent. It was mostly about the personal life of Stephen Hawking rather than about his physics. I really enjoyed it.
• Napped.
• Biked 2 miles despite wind gusts of 40 mph.
• Dan took his APRS tracking equipment with him, so I'm able to look at a map see where he is. Right now he's just south of San Antonio at 6 PM on Tuesday. Should get here between 9 & 10.
• Below are a couple of the nicer decorated trailers.

Monday, December 22, 2014

• Today is Jim's shoulder surgery. Hope all goes  well.
• It's warmer. Temp: 61, high: 78.
• Trash was taken out at 6:30 AM. (item for Diane)
• Travel arrangements to/from Phoenix were completed & distributed to affected parties.
• Besides Dan Sasse & I, breakfast with Canadians this morning only included 1 other person, Gerry . . ., Gilbert was going to the sale yard, and Bob had a water leak needing his attention. The 3 of us had an excellent breakfast with an excellent waitress at IHOP.
• Since J&D may have time on their hands today, I'll post this & then update it as time transpires. So to each reader, have a great day.
• Just talked to my son, Dan, who's driving down here with his wife, Dawn. They're in Albert Lea having breakfast. Had to tell him about the Austin/San Antonio bypass.
• Don't know if you knew it, but Jim had rotator cuff shoulder surgery this morning in Blue Earth. Before corn picking he fell off a wagon and damaged his shoulder, but felt he couldn't stop until now to have it fixed. I have just received the following message from Diane.
• "James is out of surgery and in recovery. All went well and should be able to come home after lunch. They gave him a block, plus he has an IV pump on him that should last 4 days, he was very comfortable before they took him into surgery. Hopefully he can rest now and get some sleep."
• The weather has finally warmed, so I went out for my 2 1/4 mile bike ride. However, I think Jim told everyone here that he had appointed me his Press Secretary as numerous people stopped me to find out how he's doing. Most everyone remembered that his surgery was today. So, as all cards say, "Jim, get well soon."
• Napped
• Dan & Dawn are nearing Kansas City.
• Just had a nice call from my son, David. His back pain is flaring up again and he briefed me on the meds that the Specialist at the VA prescribed for him. Thanks, Dave, for the phone call.
• Mail is late today. It finally arrived about 6:00. Latest ever.
• I don't have any pictures this evening as Jim's surgery was the high priority for the day. But I'll be sure to include some tomorrow.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

• Cool & wet again this morning, temp: 54, high: 64.
• Picked up a few groceries at H-E-B.
• Called Margaret regarding travel arrangements. I'll be spending 1/22/2015 to 1/27/2015 with her. Once I get confirmation, I'll post them and send them to my kids & Marg.
• Dan & Candy Sasse invited me to a meat loaf supper at 5:30 with Candy's son, Jase, & mother, Irene. Thanks, Candy & Dan, for a wonderful supper and great company.
• Here's another of my Christmas trees.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

• Very cool weekend. Currently, breezy, cloudy & 57, with high only 63. But they forecast over 80 by Christmas.
• And I didn't have any pictures for yesterday. Have to get busy today & take some.
• Margaret called last night, but I was asleep & missed it.
• And Dan called yesterday afternoon to talk about our router. Thanks, Dan, for the call.
• Today's a good day to stay in & read books or watch TV. 
• But I did find a spot mid afternoon to do my 2 1/4 miles bike ride.
• Don't think I showed you my new TV & TiVo. As most of you know I run Windows Media Center at my home in Minnetonka which gives me DVR capabilities. To match those features here in Texas I had to get a TiVo. In the process, I also purchased a Samsung Smart TV.

Friday, December 19, 2014

• Gloomy cloudy, cool morning today. Scattered showers early, temp: 63, high: 72.
• Mailed off J&D's envelope of 4 mail items to Kristina. Will go out today. Should be in B.E. by Monday.
• Really slow day. Dreary, cold, damp, clammy. Read a book & watched TV in the morning.
• This afternoon, I worked on flight arrangements to Phoenix to see Margaret & Ron.
• For my daily exercise, I biked down to the Burger King for supper.
• Current TV is forecasting weather over 80 for Christmas day.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

• Nice morning: warm, calm, cloudy, temp: 71, high: 77. Scattered showers forecast.
• at the men's breakfast, several guys ask about Jim & Diane. And on the way home scattered showers started with a light sprinkle.
• Worked on my "To Do" list: decorating Christmas tree, collecting trash & putting it out, taking cardboard boxes to the Hall, setting up Meds, updating blog, daily sudoku, cleaning 3 Surface tablets, bills, etc.
• Had a delicious lunch of leftovers including great guacamole.
• Ordered my first drone, with a camera. It's a SYMA model X5C. A Facebook user said it's the most fun he had in all of 2014. Should be here in the first half of January.

• Gloomy day, cloudy, light breeze, cool, temp: 68. But got my 2 3/4 miles bike ride in.
• A drizzly wet evening held attendance down at the pot luck dinner - about 15 people - food was great, though.
• Today I hit the jackpot. My daughter, Kathy, sent me a Christmas tree (see picture below), a University of Minnesota polo shirt, & sun screen lotion (for our trips to SPI). Thank you, Kath.

• Haven't got the baubles put on the tree yet because I need to go buy some hangers. Kath - here's the picture you asked for.
• And early tomorrow, I'll be sending 4 J&D mail envelopes to Kristina Meyers, 339 Tanglewood Lane, Blue Earth, MN 56013.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

• Had high wind & rain overnight - woke me up. Then another light shower in the morning. Suppose to be another nice day. Current temp: 69, high: 78.
• After breakfast, I printed out the 15 paper copies of my Christmas letter for relatives who didn't send me their e-mail address.
• Then I went to the H-E-B grocery store for a few items I needed, including envelopes for the above. Sure is time consuming to break in a new grocery store. Musta spent an hour and a half in there and I only got 17 items. Ugh.
• Worked on paper Christmas cards that now number 20 what with inaccurate e-mail addresses.
• Lunch at the jam that I attended for the first hour.
• Then my son, Dave, called to give me a report on the funeral of Theresa's brother, Lindsey's wife, Jody. Thanks, Dave, for the update.
• Then came back home to work on cards again, and a delivery man brought me a package. It contained at 24" Christmas tree. Have no idea who sent it to me. Whomever it was, I thank you. It's just what I need to get my room into the Christmas spirit.
• With rather inclement weather: sprinkling, cloudy, windy (but it's warm), I went on a 2 2/3 mile bike ride.
• Christmas cards/e-mails are all out. Yippee.
• This evening I attended the performance of Ralph Kuster, Entertainer. 
• And to show Jim that I went to the Jam without him, here's a picture of the old man & wife singing.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

• Light sprinkle this morning, calm, temp: 69, high: 71.
• Taking Jim & Diane to the airport in Harlingen for a 10 AM flight so they can fly home for the holidays and so Jim can have his shoulder surgery next Monday.
• Their flight SY630 left HRL on schedule at 10:00 AM, but will arrive MSP 14 minutes late, must be headwinds or traffic.
• And Cathy Bailey found me a ticket for tonight's concert by the McAllen Symphonic Band. Thank you Cathy.
• Candy came by to ask me if I could 16 envelopes containing their blood test results to various residents around the park. Did that while I was biking.
• Late afternoon, my son, Dave, called & brought me up to speed on his family news. Thanks, Dave, for the call.
• Supper tonight at the Hall preceding local Bingo night.
• Lastly, the concert was just great. Lots of Christmas music. Just the event to get into the spirit of Christmas.

And just so Jim & Diane don't forget & want to stay in Minnesota (where water is not liquid), this is what a pool looks like. And when the temp gets to 80, it really feels good.

Monday, December 15, 2014

• Another nice morning: clear, calm, temp: 68, high: 80
• Had breakfast with our Canadian friends at El Rancho Grande. Good breakfast
• Moved chairs & hide-a-bed out of living room in preparation for new furniture to be delivered later today.
• Delivery of the new couch will have to wait til after Christmas as the couch at the store had a rip on it.
• New chairs look nice. And now I've got a chair.
• Jim went with a group of guys to a polka jam. Ugh. Meanwhile the ladies went shopping.
• I talked to the Office about space for Dan & Dawn's trailer. They said no problem, don't need reservations. Cost is only $35 per night.
• Such a beautiful day for a bike ride. Two miles, sunny, nice breeze, temp: 80.
• Two other guys and Diane & Candy & me moved a small hide-a-bed from the van to the living room
• In the evening, Diane went to play Bingo, while Jim went to the Hall to play cards.
• Figured y'all'd like to see the new living room chairs. Enjoy. They're very nice looking.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

• Another beautiful morning, high clouds, breezy, warm, temp: 66, high: 81.
• While the women went shopping, Jim & I napped. 
• With perfect weather: mostly sunny, breezy, temp: 80, I went on a 2 1/4 mile bike ride.
• Later, my daughter, Kathy, called to bring me up to date on her family news. Notable their family plans for the Citrus Bowl where they all want to go if they can find reasonable transportation costs. Connor will be going with the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Hope to see  him on TV at halftime. Thanks Kath for calling.
• Had a hotdog supper at the Hall prior to the night's movie.
• Movie was very good: Gimme Shelter. If you haven't seen it, do.
• Since we all went to Bingo last night, I thought a couple of pictures of the Bingo hall might be appreciated.

Bingo hall at Pharr South

Our group of 6

Saturday, December 13, 2014

• Another beautiful morning, clear, calm, temp: 62, high: 79
• All day Yard Sale; canceled pancake breakfast
• Fixed Diane's computer; mouse unfixable
• Fixed Candy's computer successfully
• Lunch at Taco Fiesta with Dan & Candy; then women went shopping
• Biked 2 1/4 miles
• Started receiving Christmas cards from friends & relatives
• Had supper at Pharr South preceding Bingo. Both Dan & Diane won at Bingo

This is Dan & Candy's home during the day.

Their place again, at night. Christmas lights didn't turn out as spectacular as they really are because I had to get so close to pick up the light.

Friday, December 12, 2014

• Beautiful morning, calm, clear, temp: 66, high: 77
• After breakfast, went for a 3 mile bike ride around the park.
• While I biked, Jim & Diane went to the barber. They now look human. (But they won't let me take their picture.)

Some of you should remember this fountain.

• After lunch, Jim & Dan went off to a polka jam. Suffice it to say, I did not join them.
• And later Diane & Candy went off to run errands.
• Sure is quiet around here. While sitting at the Hall patio, Lois Mitchell brought me her iPad because mail wouldn't download. After 15 minutes or so, I was unable to fix it & suggested she take it over to the Geek Squad at Best Buy.
• This evening while the girls went off to play Bingo, Jim & I went up to Pharr South for an entertaining evening of bluegrass & Christmas music by Lindley Creek made up of 4 members of the Greer family. Most enjoyable.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

• Nice morning, high clouds, calm, temp: 64, high:76
• Candy is the coordinator for the medical team that does blood testing here at the park. So Candy & Diane set up the Hall while Dan, Jim & I ran up to H-E-B to get 3 dozen donuts for those being tested.
• Then we went to the men's breakfast at Taco Fiesta with perhaps 20 other guys.
• On a trip to Walmart to pick me up some medical supplements, we stopped at Jason's Deli for lunch. Delicous.
• Napped
• Since I know everyone likes pictures, this will help you remember where we're at. I'll try to include a couple of interesting shots each day.

• An absolutely beautiful evening at 8:00 PM. Calm. Clear. Temp: 70.
• Women went to Paradise Park in McAllen to play Bingo while the men went out for a leisurely supper. 
• I found an interesting picture for tomorrow. Till then.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

• nice morning, high thin clouds, warm, temp: 62, high: 78
• Jim headed out early, I think, to a polka jam. Usually he asks me if I want to go along. But he's learned that me & polkas don't mix. So now he doesn't even ask me.
• Jam this afternoon was much worse than last week, so both Jim & I came home
• I went for a 2 mile bike ride
• J&D went over to Dan & Candy's to play cards. 'Twas a fairly quiet day.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

• cool, breezy morning. temp: 60. High: 70. But no fog this morning. And no rain forecast.
• first off this morning, I have to report that Jim was the Grand Champion at cards last evening at the Hall. He says he never wins but last night he was the big winner. Congrats, Jim.
• the Minnesota Breakfast was held at the nearby golf course club house with about 20 attending. had a good time
• then upon returning, Jim, Dan, & I went over to the Zone Action Park to play mini-golf. After completing 36 holes, Jim beat me by 2 strokes on the front 18 and by 1 stroke on the back 18.

• after that strenuous exercise, we returned for a nap
• then after that rest, I biked 2 1/2 miles around our park.
• finally, we picked up Jim's prescription at Sam's Club & washed the car at H-E-B.
• my son, Dan, called early evening, brought me up to date on news in his world. Thanks, Dan, for the call.
• in the evening J&D played Bingo at the Hall while I watched TV at home.

Monday, December 8, 2014

• Cool morning, temp: 61, high only 65. In fact, no 80s for the next week. And it rained a little again last night
• Good breakfast with Canadian friends at Colo's in Pharr
• On a cool, cloudy afternoon, I went for my first bike ride since the 10 mile ride last week. While my legs tired, I wasn't sore or seem to have any after-effects from the longer ride of last week.
• Jim, Dan & I went to Sam's Club for Jim to renew a prescription followed by a stop at Lowes to size a water heater.
• At 3:30 I helped Candy get her Christmas letter writing organized. She also wanted to use Microsoft Word to compose it.
• After a delicious supper prepared by Diane, everyone left for a variety of evening activities.
• Diane took a load of girls over to McAllen Paradise Park to play Bingo.
• Jim went to the Hall to play cards.
• And I stayed home for a quiet evening of TV.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

• Not too cold this morning at 63, but it's suppose to be a cool day, high only 70. In fact, it looks like we're in a cool period for the next several days with high temps only about 70 each day. And several of those days include rain. (But you never have to shovel rain.) ;-)
• now, do we have a surprise for you. For us it was a once in a lifetime experience. But let me start at the beginning.
• We heard that some Budweiser Clydesdales were at the fairgrounds at Merced (30 miles east of here) and could be viewed by the public. So late morning, we headed for Merced.
• Sure enough, we found the horses, but they were all loaded into 3 semi trucks about to head down the road.
• In fact they were headed for Mission, TX, where they were to show the horses complete with the wagon & dog. So we followed them for about 40 miles to this residential street where they parked the 3 semis.
• We ended up talking to the boss of the group who told us they were making a presentation to a local person who have won a raffel.
• But as luck would have it, heavy fog blanketed the area and prevented the horses from being off loaded as each horses harnes costs $100,000 and take 2 weeks to dry out when they get wet.
• However, they did offload 2 horses & walked them to the front lawn of the house of the raffle winners.
• One of the really important conversations with the Budweiser employees was about that story of discontinuing the Clydesdale operation. They said it was not true, that it was press errors. And they told us of their schedules into late summer.
• I took lots of pictures below.

• Tonight we're going to the ice cream social at the Hall, followed by hamburger or hot dog supper, followed by the movie, Philomena. Should be a fun evening.