Late Start Today

I didn't roll out of bad until 8:20 this morning and I didn't really want to.  But I know how I am, even if I am still very sleepy my mind is aware that it is morning and day light is burning, even if I don't have anything to do.  I can't go back to sleep once I wake.  I woke up last night at 2:30 am for some reason.  I was wide awake and tossed and turned until 3:30 am so I decided to get up to keep from waking the slumbering 'K' with all my thrashing about.  I read for about an hour and started to feel a small touch of drowsy so I laid on the couch and actually fell asleep.  I was awakened by a happy little pup that jumped on me to say good morning about 6:30.  'K' was then up so I snuck back to bed.  Hence the late start.

We have started trying to take down all the dead vegetation the Snowvid left us.  Most things that will green up again have already started.  So most anything else is getting cleaned out.  I started feeling the lack of stamina really quickly.  Being locked down and closed in for all these months have really taken a toll on an old man.  I have been out walking Snickers almost every day but it hasn't helped much in the stamina department.  The weather today is perfect for this kind of work.  I am taking a short break and will try to get a little more done after.  'K started helping me with the clean up but she had to go get her crown fitted.  

Interesting week for us.  We came home one day and found this guy in our fire place behind the glass doors.

Heard of this happening with others but in 30+ years it never happened to us.  I opened the doors, it squawked, landed on the hearth then flew across the room and hit the window.  As you can see he was still woozy from the head knock.  He finally seemed to come around and hopped into the woods behind us.  I thought he was a mocking bird at first but didn't quite look right.  He is a curved bill Thrasher as per google.  Very pretty amber eyes you can't see here.

Saturday night we went to a fund raising event we help with.  We are part of a chapter here in Texas of Sacred Selections.  Ours is the Hill Country Chapter.  WE raise funds to help Christian Families adopt babies and children so they are brought up in a home with Christian Values.  We raised just over 194,000$ in two hours.  It is very moving to see the generosity of fellow Christians digging deep to help strangers, but they are Brothers and Sisters in Christ, so not really strangers.

We also went to the grocer and Costco.  At the grocer we saw this. 

Godzilla needs to eat too.  

Happy Trails

Another Vet Visit

This past week we had to take Snickers to the vet again.  He had been throwing up and not eating and was lethargic.  It started last weekend and then the next day he was his old self, until that evening and it hit again.  We talked to the vet on the phone and they thought it was serious enough that we bring him in.  They had no appointments but if we could bring him and leave him they would try to see him in between appointments.  Initial exams turned up nothing so they wanted to xray and do a blood test to rule out other things.  They were looking for a possible blockage that happens so often on dogs.  It is even more likely in a puppy that will chew and eat things he shouldn't.  Snickers had brought in a piece of firewood earlier and had scattered the bark all over so he could have ingested that.  Maybe it cause a blockage.  Fortunately nothing showed up and they believe he just at something that gave him and intestinal infection.  His small intestine was distended with gas so he was pretty uncomfortable.  A couple shots and antibiotics and $400+ he is back to his old self.  Now Momma is relieved and happy,  and you know what they say, 'when Momma's happy, everyone's happy.

No plans this week.  Watching the weather to see if I can get out and start painting.  I am not wanting to do that much but yet I am anxious to get it done.  

I was surprised to see a few Bluebonnets sticking up in the back yard this past week.  

It is much later than usual, thanks to the Snowpocalypse we had.  I didn't think we would have any.  I am still waiting on some hedges to start sprouting green like the oaks have.  Nothing yet.  I hope we didn't lose them all but it's not promising.  Neither have the potted plants sprouted any green yet either.  If they don't most likely I will plant some tomatoes in those pots since I am not planting a garden this year.  

I got a dog to walk, Happy Trails

Following Up

I mentioned in my last post that getting the vaccine has had another effect.  No, not side effects.  'K' informed me she wants to get on the road with a trip soon.  We had wanted to do some road tripping this past year and then the Chinaflu hit and canceled all that.  I hadn't even considered it and was a bit surprised.  

She got on the internet and started looking at destinations and what was available.    I know a lot of states etc. are still shut down to visitors and require you quarantine about 10 days when you get there.  At least they were last time I checked which has been a good while.  I don't want to stay anywhere for 10 days other than my home.  Not sure this dampened her desire.  I have no inclination to go anywhere.  I didn't tell her as I know it would crush her.  It has nothing to do with the kung flu or availability.  I just don't have that 'feeling' I get when I want a road trip.  No idea why that is.  It's probably age related.  

It is also time for me to try to get more of the painting completed we started last Spring.  I have about 2 months before it gets too hot for me to be out painting.  That may seem like plenty, but when I can only work like that about 2 hours a day plus many of those days have weather issues, that's just not a lot of time.  I have been obsessing over it already.  She wants this road trip to start May 1.  Ugh.

I really don't want to break her heart since we have been through so much over last 7/8 years.   

We have had no ill effects from the vaccine as of today.  No third eye or any other appendage has sprouted...yet.  Praying that we never will.

Happy Trails

Vaccine

'K' has been trying for a while to get the vaccine.  Every time I looked to see what was out there, there was none available.  Admittedly I wasn't real excited about getting one so I didn't try real hard.  Somehow 'K' found out the city was getting a new batch of vaccines and would be administering them by appointment at the Alamodome.  A time was announced for when you could 'try' to register.  Evidently there was so many folks trying to sign up that servers weren't working too well.  After a few minutes of trying she got an appointment.  So I decided to try to get my Mom signed up as she has finally agreed to get one after missing 2 appointments due to her reluctance.  'K' was trying also.  She even was trying to get one for me.  After a bit of time she got us both signed up.  

Yesterday was 'K's' appointment.  She wanted me to drive her incase she had a reaction.  We spent about an hour before we got it administered.  I took my registration incase I could squeeze in too.  No dice.  Even though they were letting folks in whose appointment time was not up yet.  Mine wasn't until 4/1.  But we got her done.  My Mom's is a couple weeks later and 'K' will take her.  

I have to admit it was pretty well organized.  We never left our car.  That was great, not having to stand in line for an hour, made it much easier.  Kudos for that. 

One thing I did notice.  They apparently don't care who has signed up, as per the age thing and who should get it first, i.e. first responders, seniors with health issues etc.  They were taking any and everybody.  Since they ask your age etc. on the registration I thought that would be how they weed out those not yet eligible.  I was in error apparently.  I guess that is one reason why it has been so hard to get registered in this big city area.  Everyone is trying to register regardless of the guidelines.  Not a complaint, just an observation, I would not deny the vaccine to anyone that wants it if they are able to get it.

Then I got really lucky.  We stopped at HEB on the way home for groceries.  'K' noticed they were giving vaccinations in the pharmacy, even though their website says they have no vaccine.  I went over to check it out.  Appointment required.  I asked how I get an appointment since their website says they have no vaccine, etc. etc.  They got me in line and now I have been vaccinated too, even though I hadn't really planned on it.  It was much easier than the other process.  I got very lucky.  No ill effects.  We already have an appointment for our second dose.

All this has had another effect.  More on that later.

Happy Trails

Cha-ching $$

Last week was an expensive week.  First the thermostat for our heater/ac quit working, partially.  We have one of those Nest learning thermostats.  I really like how it works.  It also connects to the WIFI for reasons I won't talk about here.  It was under warranty.  However I had to have someone come out and check it to make sure it was faulty, and then there was the installation.  We also had to have another test done on the dog (Snickers).  He had Giardia at our first visit and it was treated but had to have a follow up test to make sure it was gone.  There were a couple other things that were thrown it on top of that, and we didn't even go grocery shopping.

'K' woke up with a toothache Thursday morning.  It was worse Friday.  Called the dentist.  They were closed, they alternate Fridays closed.  However he leaves an emergency number.  It's his personal cell phone.  He called her back while he was on the road out of town.  How's that for personal service?  He determined from his asking her questions that she has an infected root.  He ordered some anti-biotics and they called her to come on Monday morning first visit.  It's not good news-root canal due to an old filling/cavity that has gotten worse.  But at least the anti-biotics helped relieve the pain of the infection.  She will get the root canal Wednesday.  

'K' has decided to go natural with her hair color.  She has colored her hair for  several years.  She has decided that it just doesn't get the job done like before.  The gray is more resistant to the color it appears.  She went to her hair dresser and is in the process of the change.  I have to say it looks much better and she is very pleased.  Now we will both be gray.  But she looks much better gray than I do.  

I've been able to score some free cases of water.   First the Sherriff's Dept. was handing out some last week.  This week the Texas State Guard is handing out some.  I have restocked and have a little more than before.  Not sure why they are doing it now after when we really could have used it, (we couldn't have gotten to it anyway) but I am grateful to them.

We gave begun returning to worship services and hope to continue regularly.  Unfortunately it is not with our home congregation.  We are currently attending with our kids at their congregation.  The reason is that one congregation requires masks and one doesn't.  We have been worshipping during streaming services this entire time except for a few weeks this summer.  We are just glad to be able to return to the thing we love the most.  It is a longer drive, maybe 3-4 miles, which isn't a lot but when you already drive 20 miles it adds up.  However, it is easier to get to this congregation as we are able to drive on the expressway almost the entire way instead of roundabout as we have been doing.  The time driving is even less.   

Happy Trails

Alamo Day

Today is known as Alamo Day.  

March 6, 1836.  The assault on the Alamo began at 4:00 AM under cover of darkness.  Many of the defenders were asleep.  After two failed attempts, the North wall of the Alamo was breached.  Colonel William Barret Travis commanded at that location.  He was one of the first to fall.  After approximately 90 minutes it was all over.  All defenders were either killed where they stood or if captured were executed.  No one really knows the truth of any survivors and it remains a controversy.  However these men died with honor.  They are no less heroes.

The numbers of those defenders are also not known exactly.  They have changed the numbers over the years as additional evidence was uncovered.  It now stands at 189, the number most often given.  I have read others think there may have been as many as 250.  The discrepancy lies in the number of possible Tejanos that may have participated.  Little is available to confirm this.  Whatever number is closest matters little.  They were up against overwhelming numbers of trained Mexican Soldados.  The numbers also vary, from 1500 to 5000.  I think it is somewhere in between.  The Texian defenders sold their lives for a heavy price.  There was courage on both sides.

Even in death the Texians suffered more indignity by Santa Anna, as he had them all burned in a pyre.  The location of the remains are also uncertain.

Remember the Alamo!

This Texian always does.

Frustration With our Politico's

HAPPY TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY!

March 2, 1836, Texas became a free and independent republic.

I just learned that Senator John Cornyn has voted to confirm Merrick Garland for Attorney General.  After watching a couple clips of him being interviewed during the confirmation hearings I can't understand why anyone, would vote to confirm, left, right or in between  I have never been a fan of Cornyn.  Yes I voted for him to keep from voting for a worse candidate.  I did vote against him in the primary.  He will never get another vote from me.  He was known for being a RINO for sometime, going against President Trump several times and now has crossed the final line for me.  I will actively work against his reelection.  But he keeps getting reelected sadly.  I'm sure there are a lot of folks not paying attention and will never know about this vote for a radical lefty.

I see that the media still has a Trump fixation even though he is not in office.  This fixation comes in the form of trying to keep him from being heard by anyone when he speaks.  He lives rent free in their heads.  He will never get a fair shake from them.  Hence we are never going to find out the truth about what happened in the election.  If they were honest they would investigate, if only to shut up those hated Trump supporters.  But no, they just want everyone to comply with the results 'unquestioned.'  Honestly, I don't know if the election was stolen or not.  There was enough fishy stuff going on to raise many doubts.  But why is it wrong to find out the truth?  Why would you want those that may have doubts to just shut up and go away if there was nothing wrong?  With so many that have doubts, it would help their cause to prove there was no corruption.  

Our RINO governor is going to make another pronouncement today.  He had hinted that he would lift COVID restrictions 'very soon.'  Will he do as the Governor of Florida did and lift things completely or tease us with a partial?  I will be very surprised if he goes the way of Florida.  I think it will only be a partial lifting of the restrictions.  There is a bill, HB 3, that has been filed to give him more emergency power to enact the things he did previously and make them lawful.  Basically it takes away your liberty even more and puts it in the hands of a politician.  Our liberties are being stripped away faster and faster and they don't even try to hide it any more.  Please don't get me wrong.  I am for taking precautions against COVID.  However, having the government or politician tell me what I can or can't do with my liberty is over the line.  I'm responsible for my own well being, not them.  I am responsible for me not infecting others.  I know this, I practice this, without them making it a law.  Just tell me what is the best thing to do and let me choose.  I know how to avoid those that won't or don't care.  Stripping my liberty is not the answer.  

That brings me to another thing Abbott has said.  He wants to make Texas a gun sanctuary state.  Regardless of what other states/folks may think, Texas is one of the most restrictive states on gun rights.  Abbott has failed on gun rights in Texas by failing to take a stance supporting (pushing/leading) constitutional carry that has come before the legislature several times and is there again.  You will not see him come out in support of this.  It won't even get out of committee.

I am so sick of these RINO's.  Abbott talked a good game when he was the State's Attorney General, raking  obama's policies over the coals in the media, it got a lot of play.  Now we see it was just a ploy to get elected to governor.  He has been a major disappointment.  Never again.

I know, I don't talk politics here much, but I just had to get this off my chest.  I don't expect anyone agree with the way I see things.  I am often wrong.

Happy Trails