Dec. 28: Christmas in a hot climate

Monday I finally went to a local clinic to have my shoulder and foot checked over. My ankle is sprained and my shoulder is bruised. Nothing I didn't already know but glad to know there was nothing more. I also got my flu shot while I was there.
The men(?) decided to go swimming Christmas day just to say they did. Here are photos of them getting in (the air was about 75 deg and the water was the same or cooler) and posing for photos. I directed the video and I think they did reasonably well. The two guys on the left end are Guy and Joe and they're saying Merry Christmas in French. Tom, on the right, threw out Feliz Navidad. The guy by Larry is who we call "White Guy" is Richard and he's from Topeka.

Natalie was the lone woman to get in. She is married to Joe and they are both French Canadians. She speaks some English and is always smiling. And then as you can see, the event photographers were plum tuckered so we sat in the shade where it was cooler.


Christmas day we attended the dinner in the club house. The park provided two spiral cut hams and we all brought in the rest. I took Taco Bean Soup. As you can see, there was lots of food and about 50 people in attendance. I had a new dish. It's meat pie - not mince meat pie - just meat pie. It was hamburger browned and then cooked between two layers of pie crust. Then you pour maple syrup over it. Really quite tasty. It's a French Canadian Christmas traditional food. Others said their meat pies were with chicken and pork hunks cooked between the crust.


Caroline cutting the ham in the kitchen.






Friday, Larry and I did laundry. Got back to camp long enough to unload and head out with the group to go play pool. The tables are free - we have to buy drinks but that's sure not a problem.


My first game was sad - I couldn't even hit the ball. By the last game (2 hours later) I managed one simple combo. Larry had Elise as his partner and they did quite well. Tom and I ended up winning the last game so I felt like we were the champions. Guy and Rita did well too. Rita and I had the same problem - actually hitting the ball.






Here's Guy showing Rita where to hit the ball.









Tom making his Minnesota Fats hit on the ball.





And because we needed sustenance, we ended up at D.Q. The boys wanted to go to Hooters but we felt (us girls), at our age, we should spread out the excitement.

Went to Hooters Saturday afternoon. Made the boys happy. This was after we'd gone to Harbor Freight - apparently they were having some kind of a big sale. I spent about $8 (for Bingo prizes) and Tom and Rita spent about $4 - so we got out pretty cheap.

I finally went swimming after we returned from Hooters. Corpus broke their record high that day and it was 90 deg. I felt that was good enough to go swimming, just didn't expect the water to be so cold. Didn't linger long in the water - mostly sun bathed.

I have another assignment to work Monday & Tuesday mornings at the local Valero offices. Just answering the phone while their people are in training.

Dec. 21: Hard surfaces meet soft skin

This week has been busy. The company I worked for in Alice called and wanted me again for one more week. So I had to get out of bed again and drive almost a hour each way for 4 more days of work. We think we're done over there but we'll see.

Larry spent the week trying to find a card shuffler, getting a hair cut, swimming and playing cards in the club house. Our friends here in the park are really good about hauling him around with them to keep him entertained.

On the down side, Wednesday as I was coming down our stairs from the bedroom to the kitchen, I fell. I have a really bad sprain of my left ankle and my left shoulder has something wrong with it but not sure what. I pretty much landed on that shoulder and right now I can't lift my whole arm forward. I can more it backwards and up about half way to my side. After working with my arm last night, I can now raise it up in front of me without too much grimacing.

Then Thursday, Larry fell over a parking block and skinned up his knee really bad and tore up the palm of his right hand. It also has a really bad bruise - going down his wrist. But we applied polysporin and dressings so it's dried up really well. Needless to say, everyone in the park is picking on Larry (everyone else is showing me the respect that I obviously deserve by not mentioning my injuries or klutziness too much). They want to help him walk. They yell at him to walk slowly. They ask if he should have his glasses on. They offer to help him up and down curbs or pot holes. In general, they are really having a good time with him.

We both are moving more carefully and slowly, because as you know, after a fall you find more sore places. Fortunately, I don't think falling down screwed up either of our backs further.

We went to the hockey game Friday night and I got a picture of Elise and me with the Sting Ray's mascot, Rascal. However, the one Larry took has us frowning at him because he was having a hard time working my camera. The picture here is the one Tom took of us finally laughing at Larry. Tom also took a picture of me taking a picture of all of them.





Here's one of me taking a picture of all of us who came to the game from the park; and my picture of the group.






When ever the Sting Rays make a goal, a small group of fans throw baby sting rays out onto the ice. Still haven't decided if that's really cool or really gross. We did win so we saw the little boogers twice and once again at the end of the game.




This poinsettia tree is right next door to us - you can see our camper in the background. It is the largest poinsettia I have ever seen. It's a little spindly this year but still impressive.






We have 3 different ants around our camper that Larry goes out and tries to keep contained with chemicals. One of them is this leaf cutter. They are the larger of the three and I probably don't have to worry about them getting in the camper. They will, however, kill a tree if given the opportunity. Of the other two smaller ants, one is a fire ant so we try to stay on top of them and keep the crumbs and sugar cleaned off the counters.


The cats "seem" to be getting along better. Today they chased each other back and forth never coming very close. When they got too close, Gypsy would hiss and swat at Buster. He held his ground this time and chased her. They went back and forth for quite a while until I think they pooped each other out. Maybe there is hope yet that they'll start liking each other.

Tonight we went on a tour of the city to see the lights. An area of the city is know as Candy Cane Lane. It's a whole block of these large candy canes as shown in the picture with lots of neighboring block homes being decorated. I couldn't get the lane of canes because there were too many cars coming at me.






However, I took these three along Ocean Drive. This street has lots of big beautiful homes. I wanted to get some palm trees decorated since being from Kansas I can associate palm trees with the Christmas season. I also got some Mesquite trees in the circle drive way and a large Live Oak with red lights--all trees of Texas.

Dec. 14: Trip home to Wichita

The trip home was much more dramatic than the trip back to Corpus. North of Oklahoma City we ran into snow and ice. Slowing down to 50 MPH, we finally arrived at Rebecca's home around 9:00 pm. That day, we went from 74 deg. in Corpus to 21 deg. in Wichita. Right now (Sunday 8:40pm) it is 13 deg in Wichita and 73 deg. here. It only took us 12 hours to get back to Corpus vs. the 15 hours it took us to get home.

It was a busy time for those 4 days we had there. Rebecca was constantly studying for tests and finals. Trina had us out to her academy Wednesday evening for a family session on stress management. The class covered officer suicide. I call it the elephant in the room - everyone knows it's there, but no one wants to talk about it. Wichita now has a special team to help with this problem.

The next day we went back to the academy and had a BBQ with everyone. After that lunch, I met a couple of the girls from my work and we had another lunch. Then that night, we met a couple of friends from the cruiser club and had supper. It was Larry's birthday so he got the sombrero treatment along with being sung to.




Friday was Trina's graduation at 10:00. Larry's brother from Waggoner, OK, Dean, and his wife, Lethia, drove up for the ceremony. My brother, Gene, and his wife, Cindy, drove in from Newton. Rebecca took the day off and the boys were out of school for the day. Willie is not working at this time so he made it too and was able to get Nathen back to school for 1/2 day (required for trying out for the bowling team). Her family was well represented. That grin on Trina's face is because after about a dozen of the graduates crossed the line with no applause or cheering, her Uncle Dean decided she should be the first, and all of us, of course, all joined in. The chief, as he presented her a diploma, said "Must be your personal cheering team." Trina's first day is Tuesday. She's been assigned the east side and will be on 3rd shift. She also knows that she will be working both Christmas eve and Christmas day eve. Trina does not like her hat (they call it a bus driver hat) and her bun in the back made it sit a little high on her. The middle picture is of Trina and Justin. He graduated from the academy also but will be going into the Sherriff's Department. He was previously in law enforcement at Reno County and Olathe, KS., so he has some experience going into his new job with Sedgwick County.


The graduation was held at Friends University - established in 1898 (previously Garfield University from 1887 to 1898 off and on) probably the oldest university in Wichita if not the whole south central area. It is a beautiful old building (most of the campus has been modernized) and I was only in it as a young girl doing a piano recital on the first floor. I've never been in the upper part of the building and heard many others saying the same thing. The stained glass window was at the back of the auditorium.



Around noon we all went to Old Chicago for lunch and then to Trina's apartment for cookie cake and ice cream. On the way home, we stopped at a bowling alley to watch Nathen try out for the Goddard Bowling Team. Won't know until tomorrow if he made it or not - grades may pose a problem for him - but his scores were great. Here's a picture of him bowling with his orange Tigger bowling ball.





Saturday, Rebecca, between taking finals on line and studying for more, cooked and served dinner (Trina made the gravy). We also played games. Hopefully, here studying paid off and her finals are all OK.




This dinner was our Christmas since we'll be here in Corpus Christi at that time. Trina and boyfriend, Justin, came over for dinner (and to play Guitar Hero - and who wouldn't want to). We had gotten each of the boys a very small radio controlled helicopter called a Mosquito. Kinda cute and they can be played with in doors.

I have discovered a new game - Guitar Hero. Boy is that a fun game. I spent most of the weekend playing bass and the lead occasionally. The last hour, before we had to go to bed to get ready to leave in the morning, I discovered the drums. Obviously, I am a frustrated drummer. Was probably a drummer in a former life. That was soooo much fun. Unfortunately, the drums are a borrowed instrument for the boys, but there is always next Christmas. Photos and video will show my enthusiasm. The song, in case you don't recognize it, is "Living On A Prayer" - one of the few on the game that I actually knew. The hand sticking up at the left is Willie on bass - Nathen is on lead, but let's face it - it's all about the drummer.

Dec. 7: Corpus Christi

Been listening to the neighbor - all day - tune up his ATV - with all the backfiring and thinking life on the lake was much quieter. But I know he'll shut it down by dark.

Not much of an active week for us. I worked 5 days last week so that was an adjustment. My job is complete tomorrow. I'll work 4 hours in the afternoon and that will be the end. Larry ate out with the group from the park. They went to Landry's Seafood House for lunch. Landry's is located on an actual boat so it went up and down with the high tides they had during Ike. He brought me home a three layered chocolate cake. It was so rich, it took me three days to get thru all of it. (Photos complements of Tom Offer of P.E.I.)

Tuesday we leave for Wichita because Trina graduates from the police academy Friday, the 12th. We'll be heading back to Corpus Saturday or Sunday depending on if I have another assignment by Monday. Looking forward to seeing family and friends even though we'll only be there a few short days.

We've started meeting at a couple of camp sites around 4:00 in the afternoon and hang out for a couple of hours having drinks and swapping lies. It's jacket weather down here (60's during the day) although some are still in shorts and short sleeve shirts or tank tops. Still playing cards each evening around 7:00. Did bingo last night.





Not much to report. Just wanted to let you all know we're still alive and well in beautiful Corpus Christi. Next Sunday I'll have photos of family from Trina's graduation.

Nov. 30: Thanksgiving Week

I worked three days this last week and the company I work for was nice enough to pay me for the holiday. A nice little surprise. I'll be on my own for two days next week so we'll see if I can keep myself busy. Ashley has a hard time doing her own work and finding things for me to do too.

Larry and I went swimming on Thanksgiving day and the day after. It's been a little cooler here since a cold front came thru late Friday night. Temps have been down in the 60's - too cold for me to go swimming. Larry went several times last week and today with some of the Canadians - temp. is 67. Another front is coming thru tonight and it should get clear down into the 40's overnight and 50's during the daytime.






Thanksgiving dinner was great. The owners fried two turkeys and provided a spiral cut ham. Larry got the honor of carving the turkey. He got to work with only the dark meat (the owners had already pulled the breast off and cut it up). Later, it was all put into aluminum pans and reheated in the oven. Everyone brought great side dishes. We had the mandatory green bean casserole, several dressings, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce jello mold, couple of salads, rolls and turkey & ham. I brought the pumpkin dessert that I like to make - the recipe from P.T. Cruiser friends. The serving table is the air hockey game table. You can see the arch that goes over the top that keeps the score and time. They have special made plywood pieces to fit over the table and then we lay down sheets and a table cloth. Makes a good buffet surface.

There were lots of leftovers that we all got together the next night and ate again. Stuffed two nights in a row.

A couple more Canadians have moved in yesterday and I understand that the park will be full by January. Six of us (4 Canadians and us) went to the local hockey game last night - the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. About 4 of the 5 starters are from Canada. We played the Mississippi Riverkings. We girls all came away with free T-shirts so we'll be properly attired by the next game. They do play the Wichita Thunder occasionally - just not this year. I didn't take pictures at the hockey game because one hockey arena looks like another. However, I will take the camera next time because the mascot is really unique.


Almost every night, we meet our friends, Elise & Guy (pronounced Gee with a hard G) Cote (pronounced Kotae) and play Farkle and Queen of Spades. They're from the Quebec area. The other couple that came in yesterday, Tom & Rita, are from Prince Edward Island - more frequently referred to as PEI (home of Anne of Green Gables written by a distant cousin of Tom's). Rita said Texans seem to know about both Prince Edward Island or PEI as the Canadian locals call it. She said in Florida they kept asking what part of Rhode Island were they from? There have been other Canadians in the park but most move on to the valley after a day or two or a week at the most. By the end of January we'll be full of Canadians - which is good. Makes for different conversations on politics, food and traditions. It seems that our health discussions are about the same everywhere.

Nov. 23: Working around Working

This week has been a new experience for Larry and me. He's been left home alone and I've gone off to work - neither of us is used to that. Larry has gone swimming, attended the ice cream social and went to the dine out at a seafood place in Rockport where they dump the boiled shrimp, in the shell with the head, out on the table on wax paper. He did put in an application at the O'reillyAuto Parts store to drive a delivery truck but they haven't called back either.

My job in Alice (named after the King Ranch owner's daughter) is about 90 miles round trip. I work for National Oilwell Vargo which does sales, service and parts of oil rig equipment. I've been doing scanning, data input, and filing. So far it seems to be very interesting. Monday I get to learn a new copier already. Their old one was two years old. I'm replacing a lady who had a breast cancer tumor removed with full reconstructive surgery. Larry has not been called for any further assignments. We did complete a job application on-line today for Pet Smart. He thought maybe he could be a stocker.

We got the idea because we were in Pet Smart buying new kitty toys for our new cat and saw a sign that said they were hiring. The cat is a 2 1/2 year old calico that I named Gypsy. We bought Soft Claws for her nails but may eventually get them removed. So far her and Buster haven't seemed to hit it off. They hiss and growl at each other every time they get within eye sight.

Friday we went to the local roller derby - Hurricane Alley Roller Derby. We watched the Broads on Quads and the Black Eyed Bruisers - I think. They have a web sight: www.hurricanalleyrd.com. We sat on the front row. The front row gets giant fly swatters and when a girl gets an infraction, she skates by the front row and everyone gives them a swat. Then they either rejoin the pack or go sit in the penalty box. The fights that broke out were not very genuine. But it was loads of fun. My personal favorite was Side Show Sally. She's over 6' tall and quite hefty. When she blocked - you were blocked; when she was the one who skated thru the pack to make points - you got out of her way. This is a picture of her with her trophy of the year for best blocker skating past the fly swatter row.





Here's a short video of the fun that we had. The "arena" is just a small cord taped down to outline the track and the whole thing takes place in an old store located in an old strip mall. The area is about the size of a Goodwill Store.



Last Monday, we took the bikes up to Ocean Drive and rode along the coast. It was a beautiful day but probably didn't get much exercise because we just cruised. Went out on all three piers that are located here and rode around on them. One of the piers holds Joe's Crab Shack and Landry's Seafood Restaurant. The other has a boat ramp and a place to buy fresh fish. Took this picture of the USS Lexington and a shrimp boat that as coming in. Notice how calm the water is - no wind. We'd never been to the coast when the water was this calm. Totally different than when we were there last weekend.


Tonight we watched the Canadian Football Leagues super bowl - the Grey Cup. One of the Canadians here has Canadian satelite. They ran a cable from her camper to the club house and hooked it up to the TV in there. Some of us were rooting for the Montreal Alouettes; some for the Calgary Stampeders. There were 9 of us watching and Larry and I were the only Americans. Half of us were for the Aluettes and the other half for the Stampeders - made for a loud evening. We all brought snacks so we didn't starve. The Stampeders won. Canadian Football rules are different from ours: 3 downs, 110 yard field, 30 ft end zone, 10' wider field and 12 men. There were other odd rules but those were the most obvious - especially that end zone.

We've also been playing Farkle and Queen of Spades every night this week with our French Canadian friends who arrived last Sunday. Tomorrow it's back to work but it's a short week and Larry's going to do laundry. He's also going to apply at Auto Zone to see if they need drivers. Also going to go to another employment agency to see if they can keep him busy. He's done the dishes for me two nights but doesn't like messing with dinner. We ate out twice and I cooked something quick one night. He's going to BBQ tomorrow night.