HAWKS ARE AT MY HOME

AMAZING, I read a story in the Sunday paper about the grey Hawk hanging
around local neighborhoods. A very interesting article. Of course I can't find the article
when I want to quote it.

I was sitting outside catching the last sunshine rays of the day. At the back of
our lot we have a bush that covers up the turn on valve for our water.
The birds, small birds, don't know what they are, but they hang out in this
bush and on the clothes line.

All of a sudden, there was BIG commotion. I clapped my hands to get rid of
the birds and I saw a BIG bird. Luckily, I had my camera outside with me and
I shot a few pictures of that grey HAWKEYE.......hanging out in my back yard!
Except this was not the grey Hawk, it was colorful, brown and white with the
dark eyes.

It is starting to get noisy, at 7 PM......down here in the valley, not only do
they shoot off fireworks, but they are just like the deceased SAD MAN.......
they shoot their guns in the air.....Anything to make noise......I will be
INSIDE with my cold Duck and FINE cigar at midnight..........

Don't forget your resolutions...........C

Colder than !!!!!!! IOWA

Well, not much, but at 8 AM, we were at the same temp, however,
it two hours, it was 50-48 Ankeny over Alamo. BUT, the dashboard
showed sun in Texas and clouds in Iowa. 75 to 34 now, after the
Iowa game is over, at 4 PM. I sat outside and read the paper for
a while, then went on a bicycle ride. Still issues with the seat on
Jeff's bicycle. I tried to fix it, adjust the seat itself as well as the
height. All of a sudden the stem slid down the shaft, stuck
inside! I sprayed some Pam inside, no luck, went to the shed
and found a needle nose plier and that worked. After a few
adjustments, I thought I had it. rode for half an hour, but I did
not like it. The bike is not easy to ride. I will adjust the seat higher
again and see what happens. I wish I had brought my Trek
along with me. I might go to the Pawn shop and see what they
have to offer.

IWBB went down to the wire vs. #7 Ohio State. I had to watch
the gametracker and once in a while the video worked. Any of
you smart computer people have any suggestions? Do I need to
add more gigs to the laptop? There was an ad in Comp USA
today for "Parallels Desktop for Mac"

$50 to run Windows and OS X at the same time, is this something
that would be worth my money so I can use my All Access on the
iMac? Or should I get more gigs on the laptop?

I have a cold beer in hand, sun is shining, I am headed back outside
to catch some more rays of sunshine.

Hauoli Maki Hiki Hou my friends..........

Too Windy to Golf

If I almost get blown off my bicycle, then it is too windy to golf. OH MY, 50 MPH
winds in the valley. 78 degrees today, but when you can't stand up over the
golf ball, OH MY.

I am also getting tired of being spoiled, as in being an owner of an electric
dish washer in Iowa. In the Valley, I am getting soggy hands from washing
dishes! Oh the good old days before retirement, just put the dishes into the
machine and walaa, they are clean in an hour, spotless. But, I think I am
saving water by doing them by hand, figure it out, I am just being lazy.

What do the kids in the Valley need? I think someone to know where they
are at, at 230 in the morning. When I hit the sack at night, I usually watch
an hour or so of DVD's before turning off the light. The last couple nights
I heard some voices when the TV was on, I thought it was from the show I was
watching. However, last night, the voices woke me up at 230 in the morning.
I looked out the back window and there was at least one boy in white, sitting
on the side of the shed, talking with his friends. Must have been about
10 to 12 years old. I think these are the same boys that were stealing the
oranges from the Hillman's trees. I went to the Police Dept and reported
the incident and asked for a drive by patrol from 10PM to 2 AM. I don't
think these kids need to be out goofing off at 230 AM. I hope it is just
goofing off and not casing the joint.

Moving right along, weather is great other than the wind and I am finding
myself spending at least one hour sitting outside enjoying the sun and
catching some rays every day. This afternoon there was a big boom from
the new construction to the west. I jumped up when one of the men
screamed. I was afraid someone fell while carrying a 4 X 8 panel to the roof.
The support on one corner just collapsed.

Finally back to some basketball tonight, in the middle of all of the bowl
games and Bobby Knight. The Iowa women are in Minnesota and they
better win, since Minn had most of the team either graduate or quit
after last season. They replaced 11 players! GO HAWKS...........

HOW COLD IS IT?

I awoke to the news on the radio.....35 degrees at 7AM.

OH MY, Jan says to that news, with a laugh!

Texas is as cold as Minnesota and Iowa..........

840 AM, 38 to 21, Alamo warmer than Ankeny.

What am I going to do today? Go shopping for that on sale
waffle iron, only $10. I think I will wander into Wally World and
laugh at the return lines.

Paint the hallway today? Too cold to golf this morning and
supposed to only make it to 69 this afternoon. Weeds are
growiing, I wonder if Tony will mow today? I hate thinking
about actually having to get the lawnmower out of the shed.

I wish I had taken the time to drive over to South Padre on
Christmas Day to brag like Marla is about golfing on the 24th!
Her course looks much nicer than the affordable courses I
play here in the Valley. I know of only two beautiful courses,
one in Weslaco and the SPI course in Laguna Vista.
Check out Marla's blog: grannynannyandbuck.blogspot
to see the beautiful course they played.

Oh, I need to go back to the linen store and see if they have
curtains on sale. Jeff got rid of the curtains in the living room
and kitchen a few years ago. I bought some kitchen curtains
on sale the other day, but need one more set.

Decisions, decisions......what to do.......make a pot of coffee
and read the paper.......take down the Christmas tree and
get rid of all of the Santa Clauses that I collect. Ornament
shopping! That's it! All Xmas stuff will be marked way down
starting today!

Gotta run..................go find the long johns and stay warm:)

Tracking Santa Claus

I have been following Santa's route. At 7 PM he was in Rio de Janiero, sp?.
the report came from Lt Rodriquez a Norad Pilot. Oh boy, Santa Claus is coming
to town........HO HO HO.........

Track Santa Claus

Check this web site....

www.noradsanta.org

I just logged on, Santa leaves the North Pole in about 9 hours.......

Hot Dog!!!!!!

Santa Claus is coming to town...........

Rain to Tornado or Snow?

It is raining in Iowa and thunderstorms in Texas. Will yours turn to snow?
Will mine become a tornado? I have NO basement, my neighbors don't
have basements. I guess I will be headed to the bath tub along with my
billfold and credit cards, cameras, photos disc box, where is the passport?
Cover up with a big pillow or maybe a table of some type, TV Tray?

This week is full of memories. 19th is when my Mom died, two funerals
for her, one in Alamo on the 22nd and the 2nd in Ankeny on the 26th along
with burial. The 23rd is the anniv. of my parent's wedding, 1933 in Waterloo,
Iowa. Oh, a blizzard was in progress. I think that equals a thunderstorm in
Alamo today!

I have been replacing a lot of worn out items in the mobile home. I was
wondering if the time will come when I have eliminated all of the products
that my Mom purchased in the past? Will the day come when all physical
items of hers will be gone? That will just leave her memory. HA.....I won't
get rid of the butterflies, ever! There will always be something here to
remind me.

It is quiet outdoors now. Grampa across the street just drove in. Yesterday he
brought home a bicycle for his grandson, free from some local group that
rewards good students!

I hope Santa Claus finds you, don't forget the cookies and beer chaser!

HO HO HO............Cindo...........

Crazy World In the Valley

Santa Claus just drove in, my wonderful mail man, Eric. He is a happy camper,
not like the carriers in IOWA who are constantly being threatened with their
jobs!

An interesting item in the news. A Texas soldier served in Iraq, came home,
was in an accident just south of me on Alamo Road, and died on Oct 3.
His name was Jesus Rodriquez. When his personal belongings arrived at
his mother's home, she found a letter written to him from his tocayo, his
name twin. Jesus Rodriquez is 10 years old and lives in Elsa.

The soldier's mother found him and gave him some momentos including
a puppy. The boy said YES, he'd like the 7 month puppy, a PIT BULL!!

My neighbors have a pitbull and another bigger dog tied up behind the house.
I saw it last week when I went for a walk. There are signs, beware of dog.
I carry a golf club when I walk. Most of the people that walk on this street
carry a stick of some kind.

I stir up conversations with the golf club and yesterday I had on a
Nebraska Tee shirt when I went to the store. I had four or five people stop me to
talk! They were from Kansas, Neb and one was a Cyclone Fan. I had a great
visit with that man.

Sun is shining, 64 degrees at 1130 AM. Guess I will be a bum again today,
feeling better, should be almost 100% by Monday. Here's looking up your
old address.........C

At Home with Freddy in Alamo

Here's the new look of the mobile home in Alamo. This is what I did the second week
in the valley, when it was 50 degrees. I need to finish the job, some touch up in
a couple places. Also need to go down the hallway to the bedroom and finish
with the yellow. Maybe I will find time to do the bedroom. If I do, that means new
carpet! Fun Fun Fun........Holly Happydays ya'll........

Cold in the Valley

That's right, cold in the Valley, ME, not the temp outside. It was 84 when I went to
Walgreens an hour ago, the dashboard says 74, perfect. I loaded up on Zicom,
throat lozenges Reeecola!! $2 for a package of 50, sounds ok. The house looks
like a junk yard again. Too much stuff around, I was working on the iMac all
day Sunday trying to learn how to use it. Washed the dishes, set them out
to dry, still have not put them away. The kitchen table is my junk drawer!

New family member via Heather and Stan Moore, Jan and Don Moore's 8th
grandchild. 5 girls and 3 boys. Newby was born on the 16th, 26 hours of
labor and finally a c section. Aunt Marla, Jr., and Cousin Megan won the pool,
right day and sex and only off about 2 oz. New pool has started for Megan
and Andy's son that is due on Jan 30.

The house to the west of me is progressing quite nicely in construction.
One guy is a hoot, he just screams in the Mexican language and sings
when I come outside. I looked at the house today from the front door,
it is huge! I am sure it will also be brick like most of the new built homes
down here. Cost must be lower than upper Midwest charges.

Hope to hit the beach again this week, if I feel better. I will have
Christmas dinner over in Mercedes, so I want to be healthy for that nice
meal. Four packages under the tree so far, maybe I need to go shopping
for myself! I have! But wrap them also.

Freddy is watching me to make sure I don't open any of the gifts. He has
that golf ball in his hand, like he might throw it at me any time! The
radio reported that 3 of 4 women snoop and open their gifts before the
25th, on the sly. I only did that once, egged on by Tiger Lilly Justice!
aka Mona, as in Mary Beth's mom. I think I will have to go visit her
this week if I get better, before all of the family arrives from Iowa and
Tulsa and Houston.

Celebrity quote about Christmas, "I quit believing in Santa was I was 6.
My Mom took me to see him and he asked for my autograph."
Shirley Temple.

I need a nap. Better set the alarm. I have received a bunch of Christmas
Cards. Thanks to everyone that sent one, especially great are the ones
with photos, that makes it less lonesome while here. I can look at the pix
and talk to you! Thank goodness the pix don't answer me?

I need a nap......XXOO

Beaches and raffic problems

It was finally time to hit the beach today. I have been in Alamo for three weeks and FINALLY!!

The raio talked about an accident on my route to the Island, so I decided to delay my leave time,
missed by 30 minutes, had to go for a bicycle ride. A normal 70 mile trip took two hours.
Expressway 83 east of Mercedes is under destruction, just like I 235 in Des Moines. When I
could see about one mile of back up, I exited. Take the frontage road for a while, more
back up. Turn around, go to What A Burger, east my sandwich and contemplate.....let's
go south, Business 83 should be within a half mile....wrong....

I finallly made it to the island after a two hour and 15 minute drive. However, all of the
delay just melted away when I stepped into the sand on South Padre Island.......

I had hoped for a longer day at the beach, but I figured more delays were ahead of me
on the way home......I made it through Harlingen and found business 83 with no problems.
Guess where there is more construction? Right.....

The waves were awesome today, a lot of surfers. One man was new to the sport. I
applaud him, I don't know if I can do this sport, without a life jacket....

I brought home some shells and hope that I can get enough gathered to make a
wind chime. If I can make another trip over before the 25th, I might go real early
and try to find some big shells to make a wreath.

It was 80 degrees on the way over. When I arrived at my favorite billboard, it was
still 80 and the billboard, rented by Budweiser, had a photo of Bud Select bottles
on it. Awesome.....Every year when Greg and I make our annual vacatiôn to the
Valley, I have to stop and take a picture. I have a bunch of billboard photos......

LIFE IS GREAT IN THE VALLEY

All of a sudden, things are really great. It must be the internet
hook up. I love to surf the net and I am finally hooked up on
the new iMac!

It will be a long week without any Iowa basketball. Can't wait
for Saturday, I think the Bulldogs will be beating up the Hawks
in Des Moines. I think Dr. Tom needs this victory so he can
retire. After he wins, let's send an e mail to Bowlsby and tell
him off, for the way he canned Dr. Tom.

Off to the beach on Weds since I haven't been there since
a year ago October!

Stay warm....

ANKENY IS FAMOUS IN TEXAS NEWSPAPER

Yes, Ankeny made the Monitor newspaper down here in
the Valley. We live in an "upscale Des Moines suburb",
according to the article. It was about Captain Jack
selling off part of his tree farm. I think I read the same
story before I made my road trip south. that means it was
in the DSM paper at least a month ago!

The weather is sweet today and supposed to be so all week
long, in the 70's. Overcast for a couple days, but Weds
will be blue skies smiling on me! Guess that means a
trip to the Island! There was an accident again, a barge
hit the cement that holds up the bridge. they put in some safety
measures five years ago when the bridge was partially
destroyed and there seems to be NO problem. I am so
happy! There is a park area, with public bathroom, so
I think I will buy the yearly pass for that area to rest and
relax and take pictures. I'd love to get a great shot of those
birds for the Art Center Photo Contest.

Tony is out and about on his big John Deere already this
morning. He tows a small wagon with tools, pretty funny!
He does yard work on a lot of mobile homes in the area, to
keep him busy. He keeps helping me out, like throwing out
somethings that I didn't want to go in the garbage.

Stay warm and if it gets to be too much of a drag the snow,
take a vacation and come on down! C

SOUTHERN LIVING

I guess I will have to stay at home for the bowl game, the

automobile repairs just cost me a new plasma TV and a

road trip to San Antonio. Oh well, things could be worse.

I have DSL finally and painted the living room while waiting

for warm weather. It is 45 today with rain, but it is NOT 14

like Iowa.

Put up the christmas tree and outdoor lights, looks festive,

but I am still unorganized. I don't have a junk drawer! Two

TV's on a tall 5 foot stand takes up too much room, I need

to do something about this problem. The computers are on

a table in the middle of the room so I can watch TV at the

same time.

With my Direct TV set up, I have been able to watch some BB

games from home, IOWA over ISU last night was great to watch.

I also saw Iowa's game in Arizona, forgot about the UNI game

in which they knocked out Alford again! What a hoot, they

really have Alford's number up there in Cedar Falls.

Pass along the blog spot address to classmates whose e mail

address I do not have. Keep in touch and have a great Christmas.

COLD AND WET IN TEXAS

45 degrees at 10 AM and holding. In the middle of the
night, more rain. Kind of fun listening to it rain on
the awnings, very musical at times. Things are looking
up, the DSL is up and running and I keep calling the
phone number to make sure it is really working and I
am not on dial up. I am still upset with the car dealer
and plan to call the Better Business Bureau on Monday
and find out how to file a complaint.

Tim Smith is my local weather person and he reported
on Friday night that Sunday, Monday and Tuesday the
temps should rise into the 70's. If that is the case, I
will be headed to the island and get in a round of golf.
In Iowa, if we had this temp with no rain, I bet the golf
courses would be busy, almost like Nov 8 when Marla
and I played 18 at Toad Valley.

Living room painting is pretty much done, I have to get
a small can of brown to touch up places where I smeared.

Did I mention the broken window? I was cleaning the
windows and took out the screen for the small bedroom
window. I put the screen on the ground and in that split
second, the glass fell out and hit me on the ankle, on my
sock. WOW, a few inches higher and I would have been in the
emergency room!

Guess that is my next repair job! The last for a while I hope.

I was able to watch Iowa men and ISU men play BB last
night. I forgot to check the schedule for the Iowa-UNI game.
Wow, I think UNI has Alford's number.

Back at you later, Northerners. Stay warm. I am cold, had to
buy a pair of slacks and sweats, but I AM NOT 14 DEGREES!

Buenos Tardes............C

It Ain't So Easy

I thought it would be easy to move. Go figure. Things are basically about five
years behind the real world when you think about DSL hook up and Direct
TV hook up. At least the TV was done on time, but the wind tore the hook
up off of the mobile. Anothe $50 to reset it with a tripod. DSL............it is
hooked up, but will take a few more hours tonight...

The Jimmy problem? OH, just 500 to fix, but they found something else that
they convinced me was necessary...........go figure, another 500..................

Today was beautiful, 80 degrees after five days of 50-60 temps. I could have
made a run to South Padre. I am so glad shit was happening......why?
because a barge hit the SPI bridge again. Five years ago it was destroyed
and Greg and I could not make the trip to the Island. Tonight they say it
is minor, no cars into the drink, the emergency warnings did their job.

We have plans for Christmas. I have invited my friends to come over, since
their park had bad food and delays in serving for Turkey day...........I think
they should come over to my home.......

The train whistle sounds about the same time every morning. I know
which crossing the train is encountering. Tower Road first, then Alamo
Road then Cesar Chavez...........that CH in Chavez is pronouned CHA.....vez.

Stay warm, cheer for our Iowa teams. come on down if you find some time.

Buenos Tardes..............Senorita Paca...............................

I CAME TO TEXAS FOR HIGH TEMPS

So who is responsible for the low temps in Texas? The
first week A OK, but now......still in shorts, but the furnace
is running at night, due to temps in the 50's. We might
have something warmer, due Sunday, then back down
for a few days........is my early Christmas present coming
with temps back in the 80's?

Keep saving your money. I am glad I did, the Jimmy is
F#$%&* with me and I had to take him to a repair shop.
I think I am getting screwed over by the local car dealer.
$500 to fix the problem and they found something else
wrong, another $500. They convinced me that I need the
2nd problem fixed. AND, a recall item.......something with
the emergency flashers......

I painted today, the first coat that is necessary so I can
paint over it, on panelling. panels can be slick and not
hold the paint, so I am good with the first coat. The
carpet that Jeff bought is multi colored......there is some blue,
some black, some maroon, some beige? Go figure,
HELP me with the color. I'd like to get this done before
Christmas Day.......the photographer speaking now.

Keep warm my friends, I am cold, at 60 or so, but I am NOT
14!

Aloha, buenos noches.............C

Rain Rain Go Away

Saturday and rain, what's a winter Texan to do? Set up the iMac
and try to hook it up with the new printer. Denial again, the Mac
can't find the USB cable, go figure. How about a trip to the Mall
and hardware stores? OK, but lesson learned, stay away from the
Malls on Saturdays. Our favorite sporting goods store will open
on Dec 22 at 8 AM and close on Dec 24 at 6 PM. SHOP TILL YOU
DROP IS THE TITLE!

Guess I have decided to paint the walls inside the mobile. New
carpet last year does not match, pretty goofy looking, two
different patterns.

Watched the Hawkeye men last night in their win over the local
team, Pan Am. Lousy first half, but they had a great second
half for the victory. I wonder if I can watch tonight's
championship game?

Wow, December 2 and no snow yet. Go figure. TV commercial
is of Best Buy with snow blowers. Big TV's, maybe that will
be my christmas gift to myself. HDTV is awesome, I think I
have found the right one for me........:-)