Year 3 Week 40

March 18 to 24, 2007

Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Year 3 week 40

 

Sunday ; Today was sunny, hot, humid, and windy.

OOOOOPS ! ! ! This morning Joanne got a black eye ! Immediately after showering, she crawled onto the bed to wake me up and hug me. Bo leaped over to get his fair share of "love ups". As she bent down to kiss the top of his head, he twisted around quickly, lifting his head to lick her face. With his mouth open, his muzzle smashed into the side of her face. OUCH ! Three of his teeth banged her eyelid and side of her eye, leaving 3 deep purple bruises on her eyelid and the side of her eye. Clumsy woman meets exuberant dog !

This afternoon we ran errands. First we went to the propane business down the street from our RV park to take advantage of their offer to pick free citrus. All the orange trees had already been picked clean. All they had left were grapefruits. Too bad. We've already got all the free grapefruits we can handle, and then some. We drove to Mission to find the Post Office. I'll stop in there tomorrow on the way to my dentist's appointment in Mexico. I'm expecting a package from Passport America at General Delivery in the Mission Post Office. And I'm still expecting another batch of forwarded investment mail from my cousin's husband Bruce in Thunder Bay, Ontario, at the La Feria Post Office, 45 miles away < sigh >. We drove to the Wes/Don Flea & Farmer's Market between Weslaco and Donna to buy fresh produce at the farmer's market. What great fresh fruit here in The Valley ! Then it was on to Joanne's beloved Whataburger for a late lunch. Maybe they should change the name to Whatamoron, in honour of the employee they had working the front counter < rolling eyes >.

Our last stop was Wal-Mart in Alamo. I had forgotten my vow never to go Wal-Martin' on Saturdays and Sundays < fume >. I dropped Joanne off at the trailer, to put away the groceries, and I took Bo for a short "drivey" to refill some water containers and buy a Sunday newspaper. I spent the rest of the afternoon working on the fiberglass repair of the two remaining stress cracks on the trailer. I've become awfully darn good at fiberglass repairs.

After using our spiffy new stainless steel barbecue for the first time, to barbecue chicken for supper, we watched Amazing Race.

 

Monday ; Today was mostly sunny, hot, and windy. It's forecast to be quite windy for most of this week.

OOOOOooooo ! The freezing is coming out and the discomfort is rapidly increasing as I type this at 6:30 P.M.. I had oral surgery in Mexico today.

This morning I made some phone calls to local tour companies about one day trip bus trips into Mexico, mostly trips to Monterrey, but also one trip to Matamoras, Nuevo Pregreso, and Reynosa. All of the tour companies' day trips for this week have been cancelled due to lack of interest. The Winter Texan season is pretty much over. Darn ... I wanted to take a day trip down to Monterrey in Mexico with Erbon and Lorraine this week. I finished the fiberglass repair on the 2 stress cracks I fixed yesterday. Now all that is left is to paint the 3 repaired cracks.

After lunch we left for my dentist / periodontist appointment in Mexico. On the way to Nuevo Progreso we stopped at the Post Office in Mission to pick up a package I am expecting from Passport America. The line up at the Post Office was very long. I don't do long Post Office line ups ! I'll return tomorrow. When we got to Nuevo Progreso, I went to the dentist's office, and Joanne went shopping. The periodontist, Dra. Elizabeth Lince ( Linn say ) diagnosed infection in my gums around 2 lower teeth, especially around the tooth that has been bothering me for the last 2 weeks. She recommended surgery. I consented, and asked if it could be done immediately. It could.

She moved me into their oral surgery room and began. We discussed anaesthetic. I told her I'm a big gringo, I want mucho anaesthetic, por favor. She accommodated me with 5 injections of anaesthetic. She sliced down through the gums, along each of the two teeth, on the front side and the back side. For about an hour and a half she cleaned infection out of my gums by scraping and cutting. I thought gums were soft tissue, like skin. They're actually quite hard, like gristle. She stitched me up with 16 stitches in my gums. The bill was U.S.$450, and since I wasn't carrying that much cash and / or traveller's cheques, I had to pay by credit card, with a 5% surcharge, which is quite common when paying by credit card in Mexico. The credit card charge was U.S.$473.68 ! Must have been a Mexican calculation of 5%, I guess !

I went across the street from the dentist to Farmacia Linda and filled the prescription Dra. Lince wrote for antibiotics. We crossed the border back into the United States, for the fourth time with expired passports. Still no problem, no delay. Driving back to Mission, we stopped at H-E-B for more Cajeta ice cream for Joanne.

Oh ... Erbon and Lorraine have just arrived. After a late supper ( my supper was a bowl of soup ) we visited with them, planning our activities for the week.

 

Tuesday ; Today was cloudy, very warm, humid, and windy.

I felt light headed and woozy this morning. Must be the pain killer and antibiotic medications.

This morning we drove to the Post Office in Mission to pick up my package from Passport America. It wasn't there yet. Doggone it ! Why does it take so long for mail to reach The Rio Grande Valley ? ! ? It seems as if any mail that has to pass through the Houston Post Office on its way to its destination gets delayed. Houston seems to be a bottle neck in the U.S. Postal Service. I phoned the Aloe Vera farm in Mercedes and booked 4 spots on their Thursday afternoon farm tour. It was too windy today to paint the fiberglass repairs on the trailer. I fear that's going to be the case all week.

After lunch we took the laptop to the clubhouse, I set up Joanne with Wi-Fi and Google, and she searched for grapefruit pie recipes. She found 7 recipes that she liked. Many of them were on Texas based web sites, so I guess grapefruit pie is sort of a local specialty. I shot 3 games of pool with Erbon. I lost all of them. Hey ... I'm impaired by drugs. We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in the screened porch of Erbon's and Lorraine's rental mobile home next door to us, and chatted away the afternoon with them.

We shared supper with Erbon and Lorraine, in their mobile home. Erbon and / or Lorraine prepared a garden salad. Erbon prepared spaghetti with meat sauce. Joanne prepared a fresh fruit salad. I sat around looking stunned on drugs !

 

Wednesday ; Once again, today was cloudy, hot and windy.

Erbon and Lorraine are scheduled to go on a birding expedition tomorrow morning, down the Rio Grande River by canoe. It might be cancelled because for the last couple of days, the Mexican drug runners and the U.S. Border Patrol Guards have been shooting at one another as they race up and down the Rio Grande in high speed pursuits in fast boats. HA HA HA ... for some reason, that strikes me as perversely amusing. I told Erbon and Lorraine to go anyway, just wave a Canadian flag if they see any high speed boats approaching, and hear gun fire. As soonas the Mexican drug runners realize it's a canoe with pudgy, old Canadians, implying pockets full of mucho dineros they ( the Canadians ) intend to spend in Mexico buying Cremino chocolates, they ( the drug runners ) will stop shooting. HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA ! I can't be so sure of the American Border Patrol Guards , though. Wait a minute ... I'm laughing so hard as I type this, I have tears in my eyes !

Right after lunch I picked a half a dozen grapefruits from the tree in our RV park for Joanne to use in making a grapefruit pie. Then Erbon and Lorraine climbed into the back seat of Lanoire and off we went for an afternoon of assorted activities. First we stopped at a local RV dealer to look a new Winnebago View class B+ motorhome they had sitting out front. I read an interesting article on the new Winnebago View, and gave it to Erbon and Lorraine. We all wanted to take a quick look at the Winnebago View. Nope ... nowhere near as well engineered as the Roadtrek class B made in Kitchener, Ontario. Next stop was the Wes/Don Flea & Farmer’s Market. Erbon wanted to take a look at the man’s silver and turquoise bracelet that matched the one he bought for Lorraine 2 weeks ago. With a bit of encouragement, he bought the man’s bracelet today. Very expensive, but worth it. Both his and Lorraine’s bracelets were made by a Zuni Indian artist in New Mexico, whose pieces have a “signature” design, incorporating silver snakes wrapping around the turquoise stones on the silver bracelet. The artist is now blind, and not producing any more pieces, so her unique design pieces are becoming collector’s items. Very nice work !

We crossed the street to the farmer’s market and restocked on fresh fruit. From there we drove to La Feria for the third time to pick up the batch of mail I’m expecting there. It wasn’t there AGAIN ! ! ! I’m really pissed off, and worried. We want to leave The Valley on Monday. If the mail isn’t at La Feria by Friday, our planned departure will be delayed. And I’m still awaiting mail at the Mission Post Office, as well. We drove back to Weslaco along Business 83, looking for the best price on diesel. I refilled Lanoire, then we drove to Valley Nature Centre in Weslaco a few minutes before it closed for the day, to see if it looked like a worthwhile place for Erbon and Lorraine to return for birding. We went to a pool supply store where Erbon and Lorraine bought mesh "chairs" that slide onto pool noodles, like the ones Joanne and I bought in Palm Springs, California. From Weslaco we drove back west along Expressway 83 to Mission. We stopped at H-E-B for some groceries, then refilled some water jugs before returning to Seldom Rest Ranch.

It was our turn to prepare supper for the four of us, so while Joanne prepared supper, I went to the clubhouse to retrieve our 2 MasterCard statements. Joanne prepared a corned beef hash recipe, using some “left over” wonderful home made corned beef we got from our table mate at Saturday’s communal St. Patrick’s Day dinner. She’s been making the corned beef for this park’s St. Patrick’s Day dinners for the last few years. She worked in a diner for 20 years, preparing this home made corned beef recipe on a weekly basis as one of the diner’s weekly specials. It was very good ! Yesterday Joanne researched and downloaded some home made corned beef recipes, and might try making home made corned beef, since beef brisket is readily available in the grocery stores down here. We don’t see much beef brisket up north. Apparently, there isn’t much of a market for brisket up north, so the butchers usually just grind it into ground beef.

After supper we spent the evening chatting with Erbon and Lorraine.

AOL advises me when a reader posts a comment to my blog. Today I received a comment to my blog entry from April 21, 2005 ! ! ! From a complete stranger ! HUH ? ? ? Somebody that I don't know is reading my blog ... from almost 2 years ago ? ! ? WHAT ? ! ?

 

Thursday ; Today was cloudy, warm, and windy.

I felt fairly ill for much of today due to a severe flare up of colitis. The antibiotics seem to have caused my colon to inflame and ulcerate. I lost a lot of blood today.

Erbon and Lorraine went on their birding expedition by canoe on the Rio Grande River this morning. They managed to not get shot. HA HA HA ! They were the only ones on the canoe trip. The other dozen or so people cancelled or failed to show up. Wimps ! Hey ... this is Texas ... y’all gotta expect some gun play. HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA !

This morning I printed the MasterCard statements and Joanne's downloaded recipes. She promptly made a grapefruit pie. It looks pretty good ! We didn't eat any yet. It has to solidify in the fridge.

This afternoon we all loaded into the Dickinson's car, drove to Mercedes, and found our way to Aloe King Farm, for our afternoon tour. It was very interesting, and much more than just a farm tour. It started with a presentation by the owner's 84 year old mother about Aloe Vera farming, the products they produce, and their manufacturing processes. Then the owner's father took us on a walking tour of their factory, where we saw how the Aloe leaves are filleted for use in products, or prepared and packaged for shipping just as Aloe Vera "leaves". They sell well in the Southern and Eastern U.S. grocery store produce departments, to be used as a salad vegetable. Then we went on a tram tour, driving around the farm to see the Aloe Vera plants in the fields. We bought some products in their gift shop. A small bottle of Aloe Vera first aid cream, a bottle of Aloe Vera juice, and a jar of Aloe Vera and grapefruit jelly. Now there's a local specialty product ! The Aloe Vera juice is meant to be drunk daily, an ounce or two, for medicinal purposes. I'm going to try it, to see if it has any positive effect on my colitis.

After the farm tour, we drove over to La Feria, where my batch of mail from Thunder Bay, Ontario had finally arrived. We drove all the way back across The Valley to Mission, to the Post Office there. My package from Passport America had not yet arrived < sigh >.

We returned to Seldom Rest Ranch briefly, then went out for supper to Cici's in McAllen. Cici's is a pizza buffet restaurant chain that Joanne and I like. It was Erbon's and Lorraine's first visit to a Cici's. They liked it.

 

Friday ; Today was cloudy, hot, and windy.

This morning we set off for another visit to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. We followed the Dickinson's in their car to the Toyota dealer in McAllen, where Erbon was taking their car for service. Then it was off to Nuevo Progreso. West on Hwy. 83, then south on FM 1015 to the border. We parked and walked across the International Bridge into Mexico. Erbon bought some medications at Discount Pharmacy, then we walked the entire length of Nuevo Progreso's main shopping street, browsing as we went. Joanne bought some gift items. We crossed the street, and wandered all the way back in the direction we came. When we went into the store where we always buy Cremino chocolates, Joanne stopped to take a look at a large jar of Cajeta ( Mexican caramel ) she had noticed, delaying me from getting to the Cremino chocolates. By the time I got to the shelf with the Cremino chocolates, the shelf was bare. And then I noticed Erbon, sauntering towards the cash register, with an armload of Cremino chocolates. HEY < STOMP STOMP STOMP POUT POUT POUT > ! ! !

We walked over to Arturo's Restaurant to have a late lunch. It was closed ! There was a huge black wreath on the door ( I've never actually seen a black wreath before ! ) with a notice that the restaurant was closed due to a death in the family. We decided to cross the bridge back into the United States, and head to Ray's B-B-Q Buffet in McAllen for a very, very late lunch / very, very early supper.

Well ... there's nothing like eating a few pounds of barbecued meat to take the hunger edge off. HA HA HA ! We sure can pack away the “barbecue” for a bunch of gringos. HA HA HA ! Of course, I couldn't eat any barbecued pulled pork or sausage, but I certainly had my fair share of barbecued beef ribs, chicken, and beef brisket. Even with the restriction of not being able to open my mouth very wide, and only being able to chew on one side.

I dropped Erbon and Lorraine off at the Toyota dealer to pick up their car, and we drove to the Post Office in Mission. My package from Passport America still wasn't there. Oh, for crying out loud ! ! ! Back at Seldom Rest Ranch, I napped while Joanne, Erbon and Lorraine spent the rest of the afternoon in the swimming pool.

I didn't feel like eating any supper, but Joanne, Erbon & Lorraine wanted a late, "light snack" supper. Joanne prepared fresh guacamole, which she has become very good at, and they ate guacamole with tortilla chips, and Joanne's fresh grapefruit pie. Erbon expressed his appreciation by giving us a box of Creminos. Thank you. We spent until late into the evening chatting with Erbon and Lorraine.

 

Saturday ; Today was cloudy, very warm, and windy again.

This morning I phoned the Post Office in Mission to check whether my Passport America package had arrived. It had not ! I filled out a change of address form I picked up at the Post Office the other day. If the package has not arrived when we check at the Post Office on Monday morning as we 're leaving The Valley, I will leave the "change of address" form so that when the package finally arrives, it will be forwarded to Oroville, Washington, the U.S. town across the border from Osoyoos, B.C.. We'll have to pick up the package in a month, just before we cross back into Canada.

This afternoon we went with Erbon and Lorraine to the annual Onion Festival at Weslaco. We parked and walked into the large park where the Onion Festival was taking place. The first thing we saw was the "dancing horses" exhibition in the outdoor arena. WOW ... I didn't know one could train a horse to do that ! These dancing horses could prance sideways, and backwards, and high step in time to the music, and walk on their front "knees". It was quite interesting. Then we wandered through an area filled with barbecue competition teams, and their honkin' huge barbecues, fired up with huge chunks of Mesquite wood. They take their "barbecue" really serious around here. The judging was already completed, and there was only one team with any samples left. We walked over to the field where the food vendors were, and stood in line to buy "onion blossoms". Huge, sweet onions, cut, opened like flowers, breaded, and deep fried. I've never seen anything like it ! Joanne and I shared one onion blossom, and could eat only about 2/3 of it. And ... given the severe colitis flare up I'm currently experiencing due to antibiotics, it was a bad choice for me to eat. Shortly thereafter, and for most of the rest of the day, I felt pretty sick.

After eating our onion blossoms, we went over to one of the three music stages, and watched a musical group from Peru. From there we walked over to another stage where a local redneck garage band called Texas Heat was supposed to begin playing. They were 40 minutes late starting. As they were preparing to begin, I booed them loudly, then walked out in the middle of their first song, to show them the same level of disrespect that I think they showed their audience by starting 40 minutes late. I was sick, and now I was pissed off ! We left the performance, and left the Onion Festival.

Once again nobody felt like eating supper so we sat in Erbon's and Lorraine's screened porch and chatted all evening.

 

DSK

Year 3 Week 39

March 11 to 17, 2007

Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Year 3 week 39

 

Sunday ; Today was cloudy, windy, hot and humid.

This morning Erbon and Lorraine left. They are driving to Kingsville today and staying overnight so that they are close to King Ranch for their guided birding outing there tomorrow morning. Then they'll return to Port Aransas, and will be returning here in 8 days to spend another week with us.

My priority this morning was to change all clocks and watches to daylight savings time. I did some e-mail, then went to the clubhouse to get online, send and retrieve e-mail, and update my blog. After lunch I read, then napped. Ahhhhh ... back to normal routine. Joanne did laundry while I napped. We went to H-E-B in Palmview to replenish groceries. In the parking lot was a Golden Retriever puppy, scratching incessantly due to severe flea infestation. His ears were almost stripped of fur, and he had bald patches on his body where he had scratched so long and hard that the fur was worn off. Poor puppy. Neglect of dogs is an element of Mexican culture that's difficult for me to accept. While looking for a tub of ice cream Joanne found a flavour that she had never seen before. Cajeta ! I asked a young Mexican man walking by what Cajeta is. He said it's a Mexican form of caramel. We bought a tub of Cajeta ice cream, and now Joanne says it's her new favourite. She hopes it's available in Keremeos, B.C.. HA HA HA !

We had a late, leisurely supper, and watched Amazing Race. While we enjoyed our time with Erbon and Lorraine, it's nice to be "alone" together again. We very much enjoy being just the two of us.

 

Monday ; Today was cloudy and warm, with intermittent light rain. Well, the "Upper" Valley ( La Feria to Mission ) got light rain. The "Lower" Valley ( Harlingen to Brownsville ) got heavy rain.

The gloomy weather inspired a late start to the day. I made a few phone calls before lunch. After lunch we went out for a day of errands. First stop was to adjust the air pressure in one of Lanoire's tires. It seems to have a slow leak. I hope it's just the valve extender, and not a puncture. I removed the valve extender, and will monitor the pressure carefully for a few days. Next stop was to refill Lanoire with diesel. Gee whiz ... the price of fuel has just gone up, for spring break week, no doubt. We went to an RV parts dealer to pick up theSlide Out Slickers that they special ordered for us. I looked at them and realized that they would not be suitable for our trailer now that we've replaced the carpet with vinyl flooring. We didn't buy them. The RV dealer was miffed. As a former retailer, I can appreciate that. Next I stopped at a used auto parts dealer to ask if they would buy Lanoire's factory air intake system. I replaced the factory air intake system with an after market high performance air intake system while we were in Palm Springs. I don't want to throw out a perfectly good factory air intake system. I'm trying to find a used parts dealer that will buy it from me, while we're here in The Valley. There are a few used auto parts dealers here in The Valley.

We drove all the way over to La Feria, to pick up 2 batches of mail I was expecting to be waiting for me at General Delivery. Doggone it ... only one was there. I'm going to have to drive all the way back to La Feria later this week to get the second batch. We drove back towards Mission, stopping at Wal-Mart in ... I don't know ... I think we were in Alamo. While Joanne started Wal-Martin' I went to Pep Boys to browse for truck accessories. After Wal-Mart I stopped at a couple more used auto parts dealers. No luck yet selling Lanoire's factory air intake system.

There is a small notice in the clubhouse from a local propane supply company. They are expressing their appreciation for the Winter Texans' business by inviting us to come and pick all the free citrus we want, from the citrus trees on their property. How nice ! After supper we watched a movie Joanne borrowed from the clubhouse video library. An old John Belushi and Dan Akroyd movie. YUCK ... what a stinker. I gave up halfway through and went to read a book in the bedroom.

I have just returned from walking Bo late at night, after a light rainfall. The park smells like a perfume factory thanks to all the Mexican Oleanders in bloom.

 

Tuesday ; Today was hot and humid. It started out cloudy and raining. The sky cleared by late afternoon.

Today was a lazy day. This morning I walked Bo, then went back to sleep until noon. I phoned some more used auto parts dealers trying to find one that would buy the factory air intake system from the truck. No luck. Very reluctantly I am going to discard the perfectly good parts. Because I had a toothache for a couple of days last week, and now some sensitivity on the same tooth, I decided I need to see a dentist in either Reynosa or Nuevo Progreso, the 2 nearby cities in Mexico. I did some research, checking ads in the local tourist newspapers and magazines, got a referral from the owner of the RV park, and did some online research. I selected a dentist and made an appointment for Friday at noon. The air pressure in the truck tire seems to be holding okay, so hopefully the problem was just the valve extender. I'll keep checking the air pressure for a few more days, then if everything is okay, I'll just replace the valve extender.

I composed some e-mails regarding the purchase of our new RV lot in Keremeos, British Columbia. I prepared an e-mail to Valid Manufacturing regarding the 2 utility pedestals and concrete bases we will need, and another one to my investment broker about the money I will need to pay for the lot and its development. I finished reading a book, then surprisingly fell asleep. How can one sleep until noon then fall asleep for a nap 6 hours later ? ! ?

For supper I barbecued "Texas seasoned" beef ribs. They were great ! Holy, mackerel ... Joanne scarfed down an entire tub of Cajeta ice cream in 3 days ! And she wants to go to H-E-B for more ! HA HA HA !

 

Wednesday ; Today was sunny, windy, and hot, temperature in the 90's !

Well, this morning I finally discarded the perfectly good factory air intake system from Lanoire. It irritates me that I wasn't able to sell it to a used auto parts dealer here. They seemed to be concerned about buying parts from a stolen and "chopped" vehicle. Understandable, I guess. We spent most of the day washing both the truck and trailer. Whew ... what a tough job.

Late in the afternoon I filed our corporate GST return online. I suppose that once we get settled in our new "home" in Keremeos, B.C. I'm going to have to "dissolve" Misty Ventures & Developments. YIKES ... more money lost in the market. I hope the stock market stabilizes and starts heading back upwards again soon. After supper I continued working on the latest incoming batch of mail we recently picked up.

 

Thursday ; Today was hot and humid, cloudy in the morning, clearing in the afternoon.

Today was another day of running errands. First we drove east on Hwy. 83 all the way back to La Feria, to get the batch of mail that wasn't there a few days ago. It still wasn't there. Darn ... that's a 90 mile return trip... for nothing ! On the way back to Mission we went to Lowe's in Pharr, and bought a new barbecue. A very deluxe, stainless steel one. I didn't know they made such nice barbecues in small table top versions. Next stop was PetsMart in McAllen to buy cat food. I stopped at a truck accessory business and took a look at brush guards for Lanoire. Huge, honkin’ brush guards / "Mazda swatters" are "de rigueur" for pickup trucks down here in Texas. I'm considering buying one. HA HA HA ! Last stop was H-E-B in Palmview for milk, bread, and < whispering > more Mexican pastries. What can I say ?

Late in the afternoon I began to work on repairing a stress crack in the fiberglass on the trailer. I'm trying to figure it out as I go along, and if it turns out okay, there's two more. After supper I went to the clubhouse, got online with Wi-Fi, and retrieved mid-month investment updates. HMMM ... not great !

 

Friday ; Today was sunny and hot.

The population of The Valley is slowly declining. The mass northward migration has begun. Except for the Manitobans. We are noticing a disproportionate number of Manitoba license plates in the last few days. I wonder why the Manitobans haven't begun heading home ? Could it have something to do with the fact that the temperature is still 15 degrees below zero ? ! ? HA HA HA !

This morning we headed east on Hwy. 83, then south on Hwy. FM 1015, to the Mexican border, for my dentist appointment in Nuevo Progreso. WOW ... consultations with 2 dentists, and x-rays. Total bill : $10 !

I arrived at the dentist's office at 11:30 A.M. for my appointment at noon. I was in the chair, being seen by Dr. Ricardo Carreon ( Caddy own .. roll the "rr") at 11:45 A.M. ! WOW ! A dentist who see patients even before their appointment time. What a pleasant surprise ! Without a doubt, this was the cleanest, most impressive dental office I've ever been in, even slightly superior to our "regular" dentist in Los Algodones, Mexico, south of Yuma, Arizona. Certainly superior to our upscale expensive dentist in Ottawa. All instruments are in sealed packages. All water used is distilled water imported from the United States. Even the handles on the dental lamp had plastic sleeves on them, which were changed between patients. Before he even looked in my mouth, based on my description of the toothache problem, Dr. Carreon suspected it was a gum problem, not a tooth problem. He examined my teeth, then took an x-ray. No cavity, no loose filling. He is a specialist in teeth. He called in his associate, Dra. Elizabeth Salinas. She is a specialist in roots. She tapped hard on the sore tooth, blew water on and around it, blew air on and around it, studied the x-ray, and concluded there was no root problem. That leaves a gum problem. They recommended that I see their periodontist / gum specialist, who isn't in the office on Fridays. I made an appointment for Monday with Dra. Elizabeth Lince ( Linn say ). There was no charge for the examination and consultation with Dr. Carreon. There was no charge for the examination and consultation with Dra. Salinas. The x-ray cost ten dollars. When was the last time you went to the dentist and the bill was ten dollars ? ! ?

We crossed the border back into the United Sates for the third time with expired passports. For the third time, there was no problem. We drove back to Seldom Rest Ranch, had lunch, read, napped, then spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool. I did some minor maintenance, then some online work, retrieving some corporate income tax forms.

 

Saturday ; Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Today was sunny, hot, and humid again. As nice as the weather is here in The Valley, we still prefer the weather further west, out in Arizona and Southern California, because of the much lower humidity.

Today was another lazy day. I finished working on my fiberglass repair of the first of three stress cracks on the trailer. It turned out pretty good. Tomorrow I'll tackle the other 2 stress cracks. I assembled the new barbecue. Very nice. After almost 3 years in the world of full time RV'ing, it's time we move up in the RV world, to a deluxe stainless steel barbecue. The RV world table top version of those stainless steel "outdoor kitchen" barbecues. Gotta keep up with the Jones ! HA HA HA ! Somewhat hard to do when the neighbours have half million dollar Wanderlodges and three quarters of a million dollar Prevosts.

We took Bo for a long obedience walk, followed by a tennis ball play session. That left just enough time to read and nap before attending the park's communal St. Patrick's Day dinner in the clubhouse. Very nice corned beef and cabbage. Well ... nice corned beef, anyway. I'm not a big fan of cabbage. Or, more precisely, Senor Colon isn't a big fan of cabbage. The park's residents contributed desserts. We got an introduction to a local favourite. Grapefruit Pie ! Very good ! One of the park's residents invited me to come pick fresh limes from the lime tree in his site. After supper, while walking Bo, I did that.

I spent the evening updating my investment spreadsheets. HMPH ... lost half a dually !

 

DSK

Year 3 Week 38

March 4 to 10, 2007

La Feria to Mission, Texas

Year 3 week 38

 

Sunday ; La Feria to Mission, Texas

Today was cloudy and cool in the morning, but the sky cleared and it warmed up later in the day. This morning we prepared for departure from La Feria RV Park, and just as we were about ready to leave, Erbon and Lorraine showed up. They had left Port Aransas early this morning, to meet us. We drove about an hour west in The Valley, on Hwy. 83, to Mission. We found our way to Seldom Rest Ranch, an RV and mobile home park where we had rented a mobile home for a week for Erbon and Lorraine, and an RV spot for us right next to their mobile home.

After getting set up, and having lunch, we left to go explore Bentsen State Park nearby. We picked up information on the park's birding activities and schedules at the park's visitor centre, planning to return another day. From Bentsen State Park we drove to "Pepe's On The River", a local honky-tonk of some renown. HA HA HA ... welcome to Texas ! Pepe's is sort of an indoor / outdoor thatched roof honky-tonk. The first building we went to was a huge, thatched roof, no walls, dance bar sort of place. Live country band, lots of old people / Winter Texans with pitchers of beer, drinking and / or dancing, overlooking the banks of the Rio Grande River, and Mexico on the opposite shore. We walked along the shoreline of the Rio Grande River, looking at birds, over to the other Pepe's building. This was the indoor portion. Similar to the first building, but a bit smaller, and with walls. We ordered beer and Margaritas, and sat down to listen to the country and western band. Hey, you know ... when in Rome ...! Lorraine promptly spilled her Margarita all over the table. Ooooops.

After finishing our beer and Margaritas, we left Pepe's and drove next door to an old "mission", La Lomita Chapel. We walked around the grounds, and inside the old, small church. The city of Mission is named for this "mission". We drove into Mission and stopped at H-E-B to buy a few groceries. We drove over to Mission Nature Park and walked around briefly, admiring huge Prickly Pear Cacti, and the blooming wild flowers.

Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we sat and visited ( and drank Jack Daniel's ) in the nice screened porch attached to Erbon's and Lorraine's rental mobile home. I barbecued some really nice steaks we bought yesterday, that Joanne had marinated overnight. MMMMM ... very good. Following Lorraine's example of earlier today, I spilled a glass of wine all over the dinette table. Ooooops again ! Have another bourbon, Dan !

 

Monday ; Nuevo Progreso, Mexico

Today was sunny and very warm. For breakfast I picked a fresh grapefruit off the tree by the clubhouse in our RV park. We left this morning for a day in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. But first we had to drive west on Hwy. 83 to the city of La Joya ( "J" sounds like "H" ), where we bought tickets at the high school for their Saturday evening Mexican Folkloric concert. We back tracked east on Hwy. 83, then south on FM 1015 ( FM is "farm to market" road ) to Progreso, Texas. We parked and walked across the International Bridge into Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Joanne and I have been to Nuevo Progreso a few times. It was the first time Erbon and Lorraine have been into Mexico. Our first few stops were at pharmacies. Erbon wanted to buy some medication for their friend Marion in Port Aransas. Once we got those medications purchased, we spent a couple of hours wandering down the main street, shopping for nothing in particular. Erbon and I each had a $1 Margarita, sipping on it as we walked down the street shopping. Hey ... welcome to Mexico. I bought a leather pocket change pouch. Erbon and Lorraine bought a custom made signature bracelet for a friend's child with an unusual name. Joanne recommended it. We had purchased these personalized name bracelets for her nieces a couple of years ago. We had a great lunch at Arturo's Restaurant, a restaurant Joanne and I have not tried before. After lunch we went for haircuts, all four of us. $4 for men, $5 for women. Then we did some serious shopping. Lorraine bought a dress. I bought a lot of Mexican chocolates. So did Erbon, although not quite as much as me. I bought our old standbys, Creminos, Nugs, and Coconugs. But I also bought some new ones to try. Turkos, which are similar to Creminos, but flavoured differently, Nugs Crujiente, and Mui-Bon. My backpack sure was heavy, loaded down with all those chocolates and chocolate bars. Lorraine bought a straw hat.

We were all shopped out, with sore feet. We walked back across the bridge into the United States. We drove to a nearby new state park called Estero Llano Grande ( double "L" sounds like "Y" ). Erbon and Lorraine picked up information and schedules on birding activities. While they did that, I sat on the visitor centre's outdoor deck and watched a Naria swim around the marshy pond, and hunt on the shoreline. A Naria is a local small mammal, looks somewhat like a beaver or an otter. We drove back to Mission on the "scenic route", Hwy. 281 A.K.A. Military Highway. We stopped to watch a plane doing crop dusting. YIKES ! That's certainly not the way I was taught to fly an airplane.

Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we quickly changed and headed for the swimming pool while there was still some sunshine and warmth left in the day. While were all changing out of our bathing suits, some mystery neighbour hollered through Erbon's and Lorraine's screen door that he was leaving some grapefruits. They didn't even see who it was, they just heard the voice. Some grapefruits ? ? ? Geeeeez ... it was a huge box full. We were laughing that grapefruits in the Rio Grande Valley must be like zucchinis back home in Canada. When they're ready to harvest, you can't give them away fast enough.

We convened in Erbon's and Lorraine's porch to plan our activities for the rest of the week that they are here with us, So much to see and do, and so little time ! We ( well, everybody except me ... hmph ! ) decided we weren't very hungry, after such a large lunch at Arturo's. Joanne made a fresh fruit salad, and we had that with Mexican pastries for supper.

 

Tuesday ; Today was sunny and very warm, a bit windy in the afternoon.

This morning we loaded into Erbon's and Lorraine's car and headed for Bentsen State Park, about 4 miles south on the road we're located, Bentsen Palm Drive. We wanted to go on the once per week guided birding tram tour at 11:00 A.M.. It was very good. We were driven around the park on a tram trailer that seated about 20 people, towed by a pickup truck, stopping periodically at bird viewing stations. Erbon and Lorraine spotted about a dozen new types of birds to add to their birders' list. We saw Altamira Orioles, Green Jays, Chachalacas, Kiskadees, a Screech Owl, and very interesting Leaf Cutter Ants at work. The Ranger who led the tram tour was a Naturalist, now retired from the National Parks system and working part time for Texas State Parks. It seemed as if most of the 20 or so people on the tram tour were Canadians. It appears as if the American Snowbirds / Winter Texans have begun their migration back north, but the Canadians haven't yet. After the tram tour ended back at the park's visitor centre, we spent about a half an hour at each of two of the bird viewing stations in the park before heading home to Seldom Rest Ranch.

We had lunch, then headed for the swimming pool to float away the afternoon. The park's very sociable female cat visited with us at the swimming pool. After the pool it was time for a nap for most of us.

Finally ... the much awaited and anticipated supper hour arrived. We loaded into the Dickinson's car for the drive back towards the border crossing into Mexico at Progreso. We had some difficulty finding it , but ... just before Progreso ... there it was ! Fat Daddy’s ! ! ! The best barbecue in the Rio Grande Valley ! Actually, I thought it didn't quite live up to its reputation. But I couldn't eat the signature pork spareribs. Erbon, Lorraine, and Joanne all thought that the pork spareribs were the best they've ever eaten.

 

Wednesday ; Today was sunny and hot.

We slept in this morning. Erbon and Lorraine left early this morning for a birding tour in Estero Llano Grande State Park. We met them for lunch at Whataburger in Donna, about half an hour east of here on Hwy. 83. After lunch we went to the Donna / Weslaco Flea & Farmer's Markets, between the cities of Donna and Weslaco. I wanted to buy a few small items I needed that I knew would be available at the flea market. Joanne was looking for something specific that she bought here before, but the vendor she bought it from was not here this year. Erbon bought Lorraine a very lovely silver and turquoise bracelet made by a Zuni Indian artist from New Mexico. Joanne stocked up on fresh fruit and produce at the farmer's market. It was about 3:30 P.M., and Erbon was much too tired from a morning of walking around the state park to want to stay near Weslaco for another couple of hours to view the late afternoon return of the green parrots that roost in Weslaco each evening.

On the way back to Seldom Rest Ranch I stopped to pick a few blooms off the top of a Yucca tree. Erbon and Lorraine had been told that the petals of the blooms on the Yucca trees are a nice addition to a garden salad, and the Yucca trees are in bloom right now. It was bit difficult to find a Yucca tree that I could reach the blooms on top, but finally Joanne spotted one that was growing bent over, and I was able to reach the blooms on top. Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we all headed for the pool and hot tub for the rest of the afternoon. Erbon and Lorraine made supper for us tonight. While they prepared supper I went to the clubhouse and got online with Wi-Fi to check e-mail. After we had supper Erbon and I returned to the clubhouse with my laptop so he could pay a bill online. We shot some pool. HA ... I won, two games to one.

 

Thursday ; Today was sunny and hot.

This morning we left for the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. East on Hwy. 83, then south on Hwy. 281, then ... WHOA ... < SCREECH > ... MEXICAN BAKERY ! I slammed on the brakes and turned into the bakery. Joanne thinks I should have a bumper sticker that says " I brake for Mexican Bakeries". HA HA HA ! I bought a bunch of Mexican pastries, as did Erbon and Lorraine. I also bought a white chocolate cappuccino, and when we got to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge a few minutes later, the cappuccino and a pineapple empanada were my breakfast. Ahhhhh ... life is good ! HA HA HA ! We walked slowly around the grounds of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge viewing birds ( and lizards ) until it was time for our guided tram nature tour. It was an hour and half around the refuge, stopping occasionally at interesting places. After the guided tram tour we ate our picnic lunches, then hiked into the refuge, following the Chachalaca hiking trail, to view birds. Erbon and Lorraine are still spotting "new" species of birds. These past few days in The Valley have proven to be quite productive to them as birders.

Tired, and mosquito bit, we returned to Seldom Rest Ranch around 4:30 P.M.. Today was the first time we've encountered mosquitoes in The Valley. Joanne and I headed to the swimming pool and hot tub for awhile, then had an early light supper. At 6:30 P.M. we departed for Bentsen State Park, and the evening nature walk. A few days ago when we signed up for tonight's evening nature walk, Erbon and Lorraine got the last 2 spots available. Joanne and I signed up as "standbys". Everyone who had signed up showed up tonight, so us "standbys" didn't get to go on the tour. Joanne and I returned to the trailer, watched Survivor, and I downloaded and processed some photos before driving back to Bentsen State Park at 9:00 P.M. to pick up Erbon and Lorraine.

 

Friday ; Today was mostly sunny and hot. There were a few clouds this morning, due to high humidity and heat.

This morning we loaded into the Dickinson's car and headed west on Hwy. 83 to Falcon State Park, about an hour west of here. We first visited FalconState Park when we went there a year ago to visit friends of ours who were WorkCamping here. Falcon State Park is at the Falcon Dam, on the Rio Grande River, creating Falcon Reservoir.

At the park we spent some time viewing birds from inside a bird blind, then explored the park a bit by car before having our picnic lunch. We wandered from the picnic area down to the water's edge where I chatted with 2 couples from Winnipeg. Small world ! They told me about a nearby "hippie couple" who have turned their 2 acre piece of property into a bird watching haven. Following their directions, we drove out of Falcon State Park, found the small village of Salineño ( "ñ " sounds like "n" followed by the "y" sound as in the word "yellow" ), drove down to the Rio Grande River, parked, and walked to their property. We spent an hour and a half sitting in lawn chairs in their yard, viewing birds. The "hippies" are an 80 year old couple from Michigan who have been coming to this property of theirs for the last 22 years, from November to April each year. They have turned their yard into a bird watching area, and invite all birders to visit, opening their yard to the public each day from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M..

Alongside the road I broke a long segment off a huge Aloe Vera plant, to sample fresh Aloe Vera gel ( I know ... I’m a bad boy ). We drove back into Falcon State Park, and did more exploring by car and by foot. We drove to the city of Roma, and briefly explored the waterfront area looking across the Rio Grande to the Mexican city across from Roma. I can't remember the city's name. As the sun set we went for supper to a restaurant in Roma called El Mexicano. Our friends Jack and Sharon Board took us there a year ago. The meal we had there today was good, but not as great as the meal we had last year. And the service was poor. And they no longer are licensed, so I couldn't have an ice cold Dos Equis cerveza ( servaysa / beer ) to cool down my tongue which was on fire from the salsa that came with the tortilla chips as an appetizer < opening mouth wide and breathing fire >.

It was a productive birding day for Erbon and Lorraine again. They continue to identify “new” species of birds that they have never seen before, including 2 new types of orioles. Spring has arrived in The Valley. Everything is blooming. Falcon State Park smells like a perfume store.

 

Saturday ; Today was sunny and hot again.

This morning Joanne and I slept late. Erbon and Lorraine left early in the morning for another guided birding outing in Bentsen State Park. They are leaving tomorrow morning to return to Port Aransas, but have decided to return in a week for another week in The Valley. So Joanne and I are going to stay here for 2 more weeks.

When I lifted the hood of the truck to do today's preventive maintenance, an old man wandered by to stick his head in under the hood with me. That's a common occurrence in RV parks when one lifts the hood of one's truck. HA HA HA ! We chatted for a long time about my relatively new Dodge truck, his old Dodge truck, and what pieces of shit both our previous GMC trucks were. His burnt to the ground. Said it was the best thing that could have happened to it. HA HA HA !

We spent the afternoon floating around the swimming pool. Nice work if you can get it ! We had an early supper. Erbon and Lorraine bought a Honey Mesquite barbecued chicken at H-E-B, and Joanne prepared spinach salad and potato salad. Most barbecue down here is done over Honey Mesquite wood because the Honey Mesquite trees grow like weeds around here.

After supper we loaded into Lanoire and drove about 15 minutes west of here to the city of La Joya ( remember "J" sounds like "H" ), to the gala concert at La Joya High School. It was the 25th anniversary of the high school's performing arts program, featuring their musical instrument and singing group, Mariachi Los Coyotes, and their dance group, Grupo Folklorico Tabasco. It was a 3 hour performance of Mexican music, singing, and dancing. It was great ! A real treat was that the last quarter of the show featured alumni. Graduates of the performing arts program over the last 25 years. As they mature, Mexican women might lose their shape, but they sure don't lose their voice. Seeing the 40 year old alumni makes me think I should cut back a bit on the Mexican food and pastries. Aiy, Chihuahua ! One of the 3 principal female singers of Mariachi Los Coyotes had a vocal range and singing ability that made shivers run up and down my spine !

 

DSK

Year 3 Week 37

February 25 to March 3, 2007

Port Aransas to La Feria, Texas

Year 3 week 37

 

Sunday ; Today was sunny and mild.

We went with Erbon and Lorraine to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They picked us up at 8:00 A.M.. We drove about an hour north, "zigzagging" along the Gulf Of Mexico Coast. First stop was the Visitor Centre, where Erbon confirmed our spots on the 10:00 A.M. guided tour. The guided tour, led by 2 older women, with 8 participants, in a van, drove slowly around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge for 2½ hours, stopping at places of interest to view birds and / or wildlife. Highlights were seeing the rare Whooping Cranes, and a couple of Wild Boars. After the guided tour, we had a picnic lunch, enjoying the warm sunshine. Lorraine and I both have colds, and didn't feel great today. After our picnic lunch, we drove slowly around the self guided 16 mile auto tour, stopping frequently to view birds, and occasionally alligators. Erbon and Lorraine are avid birders. To me, one big white bird is the same as the next. What a Philistine ! HA HA HA !

They dropped us off at our RV park about 5:00 P.M.. We walked Bo quickly, then hurried off to this park's ice cream social held every Sunday at 5:00 P.M.. HUH ? Nobody in the clubhouse ! And no announcement about the ice cream social being cancelled. Oh, well !

I finally and reluctantly concede that something is wrong with our TV antenna. So I set up our little tiny "emergency" TV, with its own little antenna, and we watched Amazing Race while we ate supper. After supper I downloaded and processed a couple of photos I took today of alligators, then went to the clubhouse to get online with Wi-Fi so I could do my weekly blog update. Oh, for crying out loud ... this park's Wi-Fi is out of service again !

 

Monday ; Port Aransas to La Feria, Texas

Today was sunny and hot ! I finally felt my cold diminishing significantly.

This morning we prepared for departure and left Port Aransas heading south on Hwy. 361, driving the length of Mustang Island, and crossing onto Padre Island. We turned inland heading alongside Corpus Christi Bay towards the city of Corpus Christi on Hwy. P22 which became Hwy. 358. Through Corpus Christi and onto Hwy. 44 heading west, then we turned south on Hwy. 77.

We drove a few hours south on Hwy. 77, turning west on Hwy. 83 when we reached the Rio Grande Valley at Harlingen. We found our way to La Feria, and La Feria RV park, where we've stayed twice before. We got hugs from the couple working the check in office. They are Escapees who are WorkCamping here. We checked in and got settled into our site. Joanne did laundry and I got online in the clubhouse with Wi-Fi. I updated my blog, sent and retrieved e-mail, and did some Internet surfing.

We took Bo for a walk, everybody enjoying the great weather. We did some planning of where to go and what to do with Erbon and Lorraine when they come to The Valley to visit with us next week. We finished the evening by giving Bo a bath. What a filthy little cur ! How does he get that dirty ? Mind you, I guess my wife asks that about me, too, especially when she’s washing my shirts. HA HA HA !

 

Tuesday ; Today was mostly sunny, hot, and humid. Evidently spring has arrived in the Rio Grande Valley. My cold is mostly over. I felt healthy for the first time in a week. It was unfortunate, and inconvenient, that I was ill the entire time we were visiting with Erbon and Lorraine in Port Aransas / Mustang Island.

First thing this morning I reinstalled the repaired fluorescent light fixture over my folding computer desk. It was waiting for us when we arrived here yesterday. I sent it back to the manufacturer for warranty repair when we were in Benson, Arizona less than 2 weeks ago. I'm impressed that Thin-Lite in California repaired and returned it that promptly. We drove over to the Post Office to buy a stamp and mail a letter, then over to a nearby motel to check their rates. We're looking for a suitable place for Erbon and Lorraine to stay next week.

After lunch we drove into Harlingen. First stop was, as usual, Wal-Mart to replenish supplies and groceries. Then we refilled with diesel at the Wal-Mart gas bar. From there we found our way to a Walgreen's Pharmacy to buy a few items that Joanne had Walgreen's coupons for. On our way back to La Feria there was a very serious looking single vehicle accident on the freeway. Back in La Feria, we stopped at Mexicana Bakery #2 and stocked up on ... well, you know ... a bunch of Mexican pastries. I wonder where Mexicana Bakery #1 is ? HA HA HA !

When we got back to the trailer, there were chores to do, but ... what the hell ... the pool looked too inviting. We spent a couple of hours floating around the pool, chatting with a couple from Missouri. I spent the remainder of the afternoon on the roof of the trailer trying to determine what was wrong with the TV antenna. I determined the problem, and began to work on the solution. The problem is corrosion, caused by 8 years of exposure to the elements. The connections are rusty. The coaxial cable core is rusty. Everything made out of metal is rusty. Everything made out of plastic is brittle and cracked. I managed to get the antenna head removed before it got dark. Certainly the antenna head will have to be replaced. Perhaps the entire antenna head, shaft, and mounting assembly will have to be replaced. Oh, well ... at least we don't have to whack the starter every time we want to start the truck and go somewhere. HA HA HA !

Joanne wants me to mention in today's journal entry that her incessant nagging ( well, that's not exactly the wording she used ) for the last 6 months ( it seemed like 6 years ) about the TV reception problem was justified. HA !

 

Wednesday ; Today was sunny and hot.

Whew ... lost an awful lot of money in the stock market yesterday. Oh, well ... as my Quebecois friends would say ... "spway cadeau" ( ce n'est pas un cadeau / it's not a gift ). I expected this market correction. The stock market's been too hot to hold.

I started out this morning by having to dismantle the plumbing underneath the bathroom sink, to retrieve the electric toothbrush battery that Joanne dropped down the drain < sigh >. Then I climbed up on the roof and continued working on the TV antenna. I needed to know if the coaxial cable was rusted just at the end of the connection, or had the rust extended down into the cable core. I cut off the rusted connection and an inch of cable, and discovered that the cable was okay. I installed a new cable end connection. Now I knew I would only have to replace the antenna head, and not the entire assembly. Then I did a minor repair underneath the bed, where the bed slide mechanism is. That went okay as well.

After lunch we headed west further into The Valley. La Feria is near the east side of The Valley. First stop was an apartment hotel in Pharr, to see if it was a suitable place for Erbon and Lorraine to stay next week. Not bad ! Next stop was Camping World in Mission where I bought a replacement RV antenna head. A bit more expensive than I thought it was going to be. Finally we went to Seldom Rest Ranch, an RV park in Mission that also has some rental units available at reasonable rates. We liked the place, and selected an RV site for us, right next to an older mobile home available for rental for Erbon and Lorraine. It has a nice screened porch which I'm sure we'll all enjoy, including Teddy. Teddy misses the large screened porch of our last home, in Ottawa.

We began to head back east, stopping at the Farmer's Market in Weslaco. We bought some fresh fruit and produce, including some massively huge Rio Red grapefruits, 5 for a dollar, and some local oranges, 15 for a dollar. From there we went to H-E-B for a few groceries, then we drove back to La Feria.

Back at La Feria RV Park we had to decide whether to wash the truck, or head for the swimming pool. Some decisions are easier than others. HA HA HA ! On the way back to the trailer from the pool, we found that neighbours, from Sarnia, Ontario, were searching for their misplaced kitty. We took Bo for an obedience walk, searching for the missing cat while we walked. About half an hour later the neighbours found their cat, cowering under a truck 3 sites over from theirs. They were extremely relieved. Been there, done that !

After a great supper of huge barbecued beef ribs, we phoned Erbon and Lorraine, making arrangements to meet with them on Sunday to head to Seldom Rest Ranch in Mission. Afterwards we administered Teddy's and Bo's monthly flea treatments and heartworm medication. I went to the office to retrieve month end investment updates. YIKES !

 

Thursday ; Today was partially cloudy and hot.

This morning I installed the new TV antenna head. It took a little longer than I expected, but the results were good. After lunch we spent half the afternoon floating around the swimming pool. We chatted with a woman from South Dakota who is here for the first time on her own. She and her husband had been coming here for a number of years. He died in July of cancer. The rest of the afternoon was spent washing the truck. Very thoroughly, inside and out. Just because it was nice to work outdoors in such nice weather.

I retrieved my February bank statements and reconciled them. I spent the evening updating my investment files with month end data.

 

Friday ; Today was sunny and hot here in The Valley again. Kind of a repetitive theme, n'est-ce pas ?

This morning while Joanne went off to do laundry I got up on the roof to do some resealing with rubber roof compound around the TV antenna mount . I tried to pay the MasterCard bills by phone, but MasterCard was experiencing some technical difficulties. I'll have to try again later. I phoned Passport America and renewed our annual membership. I disinfected the fresh water holding tank.

After lunch we spent much of the afternoon floating around the swimming pool, and lying on a lounge chair in the bright, warm sunshine. Another repetitive theme. Joanne took the truck and drove into Harlingen to do some shopping. I did some reading, took Bo for an obedience walk, and finished my investment updates that I had not completed last night.

While Joanne prepared supper, I went to the clubhouse, paid the Canadian dollar MasterCard online, then paid the U.S. dollar MasterCard by phone. I can't pay the U.S. dollar account online. The stock market continues to decline < sigh >.

 

Saturday ; Today was sunny and hot.

This morning I got up on the roof and finished up the resealing around the TV antenna. I had to slice the rubber roof compound I applied yesterday, around the base of the antenna, to allow the antenna to turn for tuning. I didn't think I was going to be up on the roof very long, but I can tell from the feel of my shirt on my shoulders tonight ( ouch ) that I should have worn a shirt while working up on the roof in the bright sunlight of South Texas.

After lunch we went out to run errands. First stop was Mexicana Bakery # 2 in La Feria to stock up on Mexican pastries before we leave here tomorrow morning. Then we stopped at a market in La Feria that was advertising freshly picked pecans. We bought a pound. I'll shell them and Joanne will bake a pecan pie. Pie made with pecans fresh out of the shells is great ! We drove to Harlingen. Joanne went into H-E-B to buy groceries. I went into the adjacent Radio Shack to look at small TV's.

When we visited with our new friend Mary Anne from Virginia while we were in Hondo, she showed us a small TV she had just bought at Radio Shack. We wanted one. Today I looked at 5 different models they had on sale, and bought one. It has a 5 inch colour LCD flat screen, operates on both AC and DC power, and tunes / finds channels electronically. It will replace a boxy little black and white TV we have that works on AC and DC power.

Back at La Feria RV Park, we spent the balance of the afternoon in the swimming pool. AHHHHH ! Life is good !

DSK