Texas 2014-2015 Blog

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Pleasant morning, high thin clouds, calm, cool but warmer day, temp: 48, high: 64. Even saw the moon peaking through the clouds. Sure beats the terrible cold, snowy weather back home.
Attended 9 AM Residents Activity Meeting.
Then Diane & Candy went shopping while Jim & Dan went to a previous resident's memorial service.
I was left to help Roger & Ken set up tables & chairs for Bingo later tonight. Took about 45 minutes.
Had a nice nap after lunch.
Then, it was a beautiful afternoon for a bike ride; went just over 2 miles. No wind, sunny, warmer, temp: 61.
The afternoon was so nice that I sat outside on the deck in the sun working Sudoku puzzles.
Jim & Diane went for a nice bike ride.
Then we went over to the Hall for supper before Bingo.
Below are some pictures taken by Dan when he was here. Reminds me of the wonderful time we had together. The first one is at the Pancake Breakfast on the day before they departed.
They parked their trailer in the RV section of the park just a block South of our site & rode the bicycles back & forth.

Another very cool day, cloudy, blustery & windy, temp: 43, high: 55.
Had a good breakfast with our Canadian friends at Denny's in McAllen.
Diane went for groceries at H-E-B while the men were at breakfast.
Then Diane, Candy, & Jason went to the Ropas. Wonder whom they're buy clothes for?
Even though the sun is shining, I cant' go biking yet as the temp isn't even 50 yet. That's my Minnesota rule, no biking below 50.
Diane, Jim, Candy, & Jason went shopping ending up at Harbor Freight where Jim bought a new electric drill.
Dan & I then met them at Taco Palenque for lunch.
After lunch, I drove Jim to PT.
Upon returning, temp is over 50, in fact it's 54. So I'm goin' bikin'. Since it may rain for the rest of the week, I biked my 2 1/2 mile route. Fairly calm, mostly sunny, cool, temp: 54.
After supper, Jim & Diane went over to Paradise Park in McAllen to play Bingo. Good luck!
Finally, no pictures today, but I'll have some for tomorrow. Promise.

Beautiful morning. Stars out. Moon shining bright. Light breeze. Clear. Temp: 45. High: 60
Updated family web site with connection to this blog & Christmas letter.
Dan called this morning to tell me of the death of Mary (Redig) Meyer's mother, Rose. Here's a link to her obit. Thanks, Dan, for the phone call.
J&D went to the 10 AM church service.
Then we're going to Don*Wes Flea Market at 11:15
Had lunch at the flea market restaurant - good soft taco. Also, see picture of "country" entertainers in the restaurant.
Due to the very cool temp, the flea market was fairly quiet.
Stopped at DQ on our way home for a snack
Both Jim (with only one arm) & I each went for a bike ride. I made 2 1/4 miles.
One of our neighbors made a tilt chair handle extender so that Jim can tilt his new chair with the additional leverage. See pictures 3 & 4.
Sunday is movie night here. Tonight's film is "The Lodger". It was an interesting movie. I didn't fall asleep.
Also, at the request of readers, I'm including a picture of Diane's beautiful new couch.

Cloudy, calm, cool, temp: 48, high 61, sunny afternoon
Attended regular Saturday Pancake Breakfast. Mmm . . . good.
Lunch at Wallbanger's
Football afternoon
Finally, about 4 PM, the sun came out and it warmed up. Someone said it was the first sunshine since the day after Christmas. And to verify the situation, I took the picture below. Note, it is such a momentous occasion that even Jim is smiling.
Then late afternoon, we drove up to Pharr South for Reuben sandwiches & and evening of Bingo.

Overnight low was 47 from yesterday's high of 46. Today's high to be 54, nearly 10 degrees higher than yesterday.
Daybreak temp: 45 (feels cool), light mist, light breeze.
Loafed the morning away.
After lunch, Diane is taking Jim for his first physical therapy (PT) session, while I meet the deliverers of the new couch & show them where to put it.
Jim's PT meeting went well. He starts the actual PT next Monday, then Wednesday, & Friday.
Couch delivery was uneventful. Diane's seems pleased with it. It's a queen sized hide-a-bed.
Jim & Diane are going to Pharr South to play Bingo this evening. Guess I won't go.
Kathy sent me a link to the Citrus Bowl video of the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Thanks, Kath, the videos are great.
I'll include the links below:

Kath, can you add a comment on where Connor is in this picture, and where you, Cam, & Kyla were sitting in the picture. Thanks.

Another blustery, cold morning, but at least it's not pouring down rain. Oh well, it will warm up. . . but when?
And I lived up to my goal of falling asleep before midnight. Can't remember the last time I saw midnight.
Kathy & family are in the air, in route to Orlando, Florida, to attend the festivities at the Citrus Bowl where the University of Minnesota is playing football, at noon on ABC. Have a great day, Kathy, Kyla, & Cam.
Jim & I helped to clean up the remains of last night's party in the Hall.
Came home to watch the Rose Parade on TV. Have been there live on 2 different occasions. Most exciting parade ever!
Citrus Bowl started with 3 turnovers, now Minnesota has settled down & is looking good.
Ugh. Mizzou just took the lead.
It's time to take the lead back, guys.
Which they did, but just couldn't keep it together and ended up losing. Bummer. :-(
Should would have been better if the scores were reversed.
Diane made a delicious crackpot of Chili & had Dan, Candy & Jason over. I'm not a Chili fan, but this was very good.
Below is a picture taken by Dawn of Theresa's brother, Joe & his wife, Linda, with Dan & I. We visited them last Friday on our way home from South Padre Island. See Friday's post in this blog.

Miserable morning. Rain, wind, cold, temp: 50, high: 51.
Had 19 at men's breakfast this morning at Taco Fiesta.
Blustery, soggy, cold morning. After breakfast, nothing to do but sit around & work Sudoku. Not real exciting for the last day of 2014.
Something to do on a bad weather day is get a haircut, so we did.
Then we met up with Candy & family and went to Gatti's Pizza buffet for lunch.
No biking today.
Recall that the University of Minnesota (UoM) football team is playing in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, tomorrow at noon on ABC. My grandson, Connor, plays in the UoM marching band has been in Orlando for 3 days. Hope to see him on TV tomorrow. Kath & family are flying down to Orlando tomorrow early morning and back late tomorrow night. While it will be a very long day, I'm sure they'll have a great time. Thanks, Kath, for the phone call briefing me on your plans.
We celebrated the New Year with a group of 8 of us having a delicious dinner at Red Lobster. Afterward a spontaneous card game arose.
And Happy New Year to all who read this. Leave me a comment on your New Year celebrations.
And now for more S.P.I. pictures taken by Dawn. Thanks, Dawn.