Flowers are blooming, Cactus is done

The cactus blooms are almost done for
this year. I wonder what they do in
Texas. I might have to take some back
with me in the fall. Day Lilly is an
Ankeny Hawk, maroon and gold and the
orange blooms call the butterflies to
it as well as to the larvae plant. Can't
remember its name. I planted ONE 12
years ago and have at least 7 today,
thanks to the neighbors taking down
their trees. I put in some seeds today,
hummingbird and butterfly flowers and
some zinnias. This should have been
done a month ago. Maybe they will be
in bloom into late fall.....

A Few Things About Last Week

the Outback Blimp was in town
on Saturday. It was getting in
position for the Triathlon on
Sunday. I am boycoting, it is
sponsored by Hy V, who cancelled
their senior women's golf event,
for a triathlon.Truman had their
yearly trip to see the I Cubs.
Bad night, the home team was
slaughtered, all of the good
players are in Chicago carrying
the Big Cubs. Greg, Debe and I
went to Jester to Golf on Sunday.
Beautiful day, I had a 34-31!

The flowers are Blooming

Mom brought home the yellow cactus from Texas many
years ago. We used to have the flower bed along
the south side of the house full of cactus. They
bloom only one time a year in Iowa. All told, I
might get a total of about 200 blooms this year.
My Truman rose, as I named it. Purple, for the
Truman Bulldogs, my alma mater. I have six roses
in my butterfly garden, memorial for my mom. Four
have bloomed. The orange bush is getting ready as
is the white liatris. I have a new red flower to
put into the ground. The butterfly bush might
need to be replaced this year.

Just another day

Just another day on the golf course, not really, My
dear friend Marla, the new "Granny" was home for
the week end from Arizona. We three played a round......
of golf in Dayton, took a cruise on the pontoon on
Miller's pond and feasted on home made rhubarb pie.
a great day with great friends. This was Memorial
week end.

What to do about the Crooks and lowlifes?

I am wondering what to do about this man BILL..who took the money
from my Aunt and Uncle and from his sister and her husband.....and he
invested the money.....and he put his name on the papers.....so he would
inherit the money when they died..........What does the law say? We don't
want the money, my cousin and I would rather that this man is stopped
from his manipulation. If there are more families involved.......maybe they
should know about this man, so they can change the language and give
their money to charity........I guess a phone call to the attorney general is
in order..........If anything, brother Greg could use some money for new
hearing aides.

Moving right along...........check on your parents and their investments.
Make sure the person who is handling the investments is not doing a
number on them.......get it in writing........pass on the money to family
or mom and dad's favorite charity............

Screw these SOB's.........they will get their reward............

A Lot Has Happened Since Last Blog

HLO AGN, HLO,

Since the last entry, my last Aunt passed away. She was 92 and lived in Arizona.
She and her husband left Illinois in the 40's and did not come back. He came back
one time and Aunt Dutch came back maybe four times. She was my mom's last
liviing sibling. She is buried in Prescott, AZ, along with the ashes of her husband.
I was able to visit her at her home in Florence, AZ., about five years ago, I assume
the last family member to see her.

I was able to golf with my dear friends Mark and Marla over the week end. Marla
was home from AZ and her grandson. We didnt' play good golf, but we had fun.

Ladies golf league was OK, but we need to talk to some of the women who do not
move along.....When this course opened, we walked 18 holes in just over 4 hours.
In league play, we are lucky to get 9 holes done in three hours!!!! We had a five some
last week, I walked, and we were on the tail of the three some ahead of us all night
long.

The pros are here this week...The Principal Champions event, the senior tour. I hope
to go out for one day. If we had the practice time, we could all be smooth like Freddy,
et al.......

SO...keep your head down and follow through.......have a good week...........C

A year away from the PU, or rather PO

As I look at my calendar, I see that tomorrow, Sat May 26,
is the one year anniversary of my last day on the
mail route. I can't believe a whole year has gone
by so fast, but I have not been idle as you know
if you have been reading my blog. I will celebrate
with my co retiree from last year, in another
mandatory golf outing.......

Wish I was Back HOME AGN

I am not happy with Charlotte. I wish
I was back on my island. I must be patient. Due to a
screw up by the powers that be, we bowled on Monday NIGHT,
instead of at 1130 AM. That messed up my schedule in a
major way. AND, no one in this city knows there is a
bowling tournament,it is all Nascar. No who knows how to
give directions. Two ladies from Illinois that were
bowling with us last night missed the first game, they
were lost and made a dozen stops to ask for directions.
They saw several bowling alleys....AND, where is the Speedway?
Follow I 85 and you will see the signs.......wrong!
Guess I will try to catch some sun in the morning after
breakfast and head for the airport by noon. Since I have saved
some money on this trip, I can afford the $5 beers at the
airport!I'll be home on Thursday, to golf. have not taken
hardly any photos and have found NO postcards to send, guess
they are at the airport.......carry on.......

More sights around the Ozarks, this is a Test

I am trying to figure out how
this program sets up photos
and text. My first posting
tonight had words all broken
up between two photos. The
last one the photos were set
on left side, this one is
supposed to be unknown, let
them do it....The last one is
the devil's tea cup, I think.
Down by a good fishing hole.

Hanging Out In The Ozarks

Shelly and Issiah and yours truly around
the good fishing hole and overlooking
part of the MO. water ways. I had a
great relaxing time in the Ozarks
after two long days of driving. The
beer is 5 point, not like Iowa's 3.2.
I crashed early on the first night before
I was told about the high point beer.
I'd like to go back for a week, when we'd have
more time to go fishing, or walk around the
tourist areas and watch people. A very
peaceful home....

Lady Bird Did Good

This is an example of the Texas road trip home.
Lady Bird Johnson started the beautification of
the Texas highways and I am one happy traveler.
I have my camera set for distance and hold it to
my cheek and shoulder and shoot. I have to take
quite a few shots, to get one good photo.

blue bells are so pretty, I wonder if we can grow
them in Iowa,along with the yellow flowers......to
draw more hummingbirds......Just a thought......

No News is Good News

Way too much going on in Iowa....I was so sick to hear of the fires on Catalina Island...I was there for a
day. It is awesome, a beautiful island to relax on. I guess the casino and Avalon are OK, but did not hear
about the golf course and the Wrigley mansion.

I am trying to get back into my bowling groove. I practiced last week and bowled in the senior women's
event today. I had my average for the first four games.......then hit the wall.....

Earlier in the week.....

Eye appointment, not enough of a change to need new frames and lenses. Dentist is taking my money,
need a crown on the root canal tooth.........Final product will be installed on Tuesday.

This coming week...pack a suitcase for North Carolina. Golf league week #2 with the Solheim Cup.....
First week of golf didn't show much. Two chunks, three three putt greems, two long putts either
lipped out or stopped one turn short......It is early golf on a decent course, not like what I played all
winter long in Texas. There is grass on the fairways, large flat and smooth greens......sweet golf in
Iowa, at Briarwood.......my wedge was good.......

Class reunion is on the horizon, three months and counting and only a hand ful of responses....we had
a deadbeat class..........I don't understand them.......we aren't 18 anymore, let's have some fun!

I hope to post some new photos soon.....from North Carolina.......take good care my friends...........

Hello Again, Hello

I have been home for two weeks. i am NOT organized.
I am not set up with TV in the bedroom. There is a
critter in the house. I leave for North Carolina in
2 weeks. i have to bowl in a tournament next week
end. I am working out. I would like to drop five
pounds before NC. I am wondering if life will slow
down any time soon? I am loving this new job......
a retiree......I am watching the cash flow. I think
I need to have a garage sale to get rid of my "stuff".
Class reunion in July. Let's go play some golf......

DSL At HOME

I will be home from now on, using my own computer and posting. Brother Jeff did NOT get the DSL
hooked up in Nov, 2006, but we paid for it! Excuses as to why it didn't get done. Anyway, we will
receive a refund and we are hooked up and I am thrilled to be back online at HOME.......

We have another critter in the house.....I have not seen it, but the boys have. I think IT came in
while we were unpacking the car when I arrived home. Greg had IT cornered in the bathroom
this morning. Where it went to, I don't know. We opened the door after a couple hours and no
sign of the brat! I imagine it is in the basement or in the closet hiding.

The Cubs are NOT in last place today/
I Cubs are in 2nd place and doing OK, but no Prior for the rest
of the season. Have not heard how Woody is doing, I can't seem to get organized
yet. Too many piles still and messes. I hear "garage sale" singing to me......then Goodwill.......

Class reunion materials are in the mail, airplane, etc., has been ordered for North Caroliina......

Carry on.........

Home Again

I am back home, in Ankeny, and ready for
my other life. I guess that's what it will be, forever,
two lives, in two homes. What a great plan for retirement!

I arrived home about 3 PM on Thursday evening, the 19th.
Gas is down, cheaper than Alamo. Played in one golf event
already, we shot a 65 in a four person outing at Honey
Creek in Boone. Nearly made my official hole in one...hit
the flag on one hop, it landed a foot past the cup!

This week, unpack, practice bowling, bowl state team event
on Saturday and get ready for North Carolina. I leave for
Nationals on May 19, return on the 23rd. I will bowl with
women from Virginia in Doubles/singles and in Team, two mother/
daughter pairs from South Dakota and Milwaukee. Sounds like
we will work out just fine. Ages of daughters and moms range
from 37 to 80 and my doubles partner has been to 20 national
events, so she should be about 10 years younger than me.

Brother Jeff did not finish up the work with Qwest, a good
package, telephone, DSL and Direct TV for $102 a month. He
paid for the DSL for five months, without getting it installed!
Now, I have to use the Library for two weeks to keep in touch
with ya'll......So, no photos for a while. I have some great
pix from the drive home and while in the Ozarks for two
days.

Please limit the joke e mails for a while, there were 90 when I
logged onto the AOL address last Friday. Only 40 today.....

Back at ya later....keep your head down and follow thru......

An Okie in Muskogee

This is the last posting......as a Texan......a winter
Texan that is......I am in Oklahoma tonight and tomorrow
for three days, a Missou visitor......then back home
to my home and family.......FORE..........

I have a vehicle full of sunshine and hot weather, et al......

I have to keep the sun tan...........

OH MY.......says Jan.......back to the next stage of
life.......retirement is just one big time of vacation.

Next trip is to North Carolina in May....I think Alex
and Osakis need to be scheduled and Colorado in Sept....

Back to Alamo in November.......

OH, class reunion in July.......Happy Days...........

The Bougainviela in Alamo

I think this is mark and granny.......Mark is doing
well, not so for Granny. Will see in the fall who
is dominate. the other four to follow........

The Hawk Dog is a Champ

Why should anyone be surprised that there
is a new MASTER'S champ? The real pro, Arnie, did
not win every year. How many men have won
more than one Master's title? Zach was the only
player to go to work on Sunday on the back nine.
He didn't swear or spit or pout, he just went to
work and finished.....Hooray for our Iowa Man and
New Master's Champ.......Zach Johnson............

The Last Few Days as a Texan

The last trips to the beach and to Progresso.
Marion and Milo Christiason from Cedar Falls,
family friends from the 1940's. the jetty goes
out about a quarter mile, the pelican is hungry.
I caught it on the last dive. Just what I have
enjoyed this winter....I might have to come
back before November,, I love Mother Nature and
her great artistry...........

The Days are Dwindling

HO HO HO......Only two days left in the Valley for
this season. I have to pack the rest of the stuff on
Thursday, Friday, return the cable stuff so I won't
be charged for the next 6 months. I am having a steak
on the grill Thurs night, then throw out the last
of the charcoal. Where did the winter go? December
was full of getting adjusted, I caught a virus, went
to the doctor, was OK for Christmas, Marian was sick
so Milo and I had dinner together. January was rain
nearly every day......no golf......February, back on
schedule, golf at least twice a week, Greg came for
his birthday, we golfed five days, overcast skies, but
we golfed. In the meantime, I went to the beach.
March, I went to Indianapolis for the big 10 BB
tournament. Marlys came from Colorado, Greg and I
went to visit them two times. March saw a lot of
trips to the beach and the two club golf course to
work on the short game. NOW, it is April, time to go
back to my real HOME......i hear there is snow....

First stop on Sat, Austin, TX. Second day, Muskogee,
Oklahoma, next stop, Forsyth, MO., for 2 days with
my Kenworthy Drive neighbor Shelly and her husband
Dan.

I hope the snow is gone in one week when I did the
Interstate for the last road trip. I am about 7 hours
from the Ozarks to Ankeny.......then unpack, start
work on the class reunion, two golf outings, three bowling
events, one a trip to North Carolina in May......
class reunion in July, Colorado in Sept and back to
Texas via Arizona........

I will miss this beach scene......

Girls just want to have fun........travel......enjoy

On the Road again.........Just can't wait to get on
the road again........C

Pinochio

what a tease........I watched Pinochio for about three
hours today. first we feed, fly away, return in about
5 minutes, do this for about 40 minutes. THEN....I
noticed Pinochio was sitting on my cactus, resting,
warming up to feed again. this lasted most of the day.
The last time I caught Pinochio was about 530 PM....
Just sit and warm up and stay out of the rain.....
Mother Nature is wonderful...........

Stan's the Man

I drive by Stan's Alligator Bar every time I
go to the beach. However, I have NOT stopped
for a cold one. If I had someone to drive
along.....to be the designated driver..........

It would be fun to check out Stan the Daddy's
other source of income........

Pass it along......

Birds.......Boys........Beach

My hummingbird, whom I named Pinochio,
was entertaining me this morning. I had
to find some odd jobs while taking video
and still pictures. My neighbor Adrian,
whom I guess I will call my adopted grandson
to keep up with Marla, well, he came over
to visit, along with the new born puppies.
The brown and white one is BETTY and the
bald one is Stormy.......At the beach......
if I chose the best photo, they use a kite
and a surfboard to fly across the water...

I will miss these distractions when i make
the trip back north. My hummingbird was
teasing me today. After feeding, he would
rest on my cactus. I took video and was
tired holding up the camera. What an awesome
sight. My garden in Ankeny will change this
summer, to attract more hummingbirds...

At least one more run to the island is on
schedule for this week........

Another Day of Tough Work

I turned on the A/C a little while ago, 88 outside, stuffy inside.

Rough day. my new refrigerator arrived. The man said keep the
door closed for 3-4 hours, that's how long it will take to cool
down. Well, after two hours, it is cooling down, so I put everything
inside, except for the beer. I had to drink the frozen strawberry
daiquiri and fix a batch of choc chip cookies, they were thawing.
The meat will be OK, it didn't thaw all of the way through.

One more batch of cookies, then I will go outside and wash the
sea shells I brought home yesterday. I don't know what to do
tonight, no BB until Saturday. I have some movies and LOST
is on.......maybe I can work on my picture frames.....

I turned on the a/c and opened the back door to close the
windows. I saw something move, it was a big ugly lizard. Must
have been living in the a/c unit. It went under the mobile.......I
hope it leaves the vicinity soon.........

Wasn't That Fun?

All kidding aside, the last week has been fun, great
weather. I checked the dashboard at 5 PM today, Alamo
was 86 and Ankeny was 82 and Phoenix was 78. I am happy
for IOWA. Karen and Merle brought home the great
weather for ya'll.

I made my travel plans, April 15, hopefully by 8 AM,
I will start my journey back to Iowa. I am stopping
in the Ozarks for two days to visit Shelly Mynatt
Johnston and her husband Dan. I am planning to be
home in time to golf on the 21st at woodside, aka
Woodland Hills. Then I have to get ready for the
state bowling tournament and buy an airplane ticket
to North Carolina for national bowling. I should have
my tax refund by that time, I hope.

Ankeny friends Mary Beth Justice and her mom Mona
and their friend Rita, and I went to Progresso for
Winter Texan day. The businesses give away small
sombreros that they either pin or staple to your
shirt. They give away food and cut prices on some
liquor. We had pony Coronas for a dollar, but at
the next bar the strawberry margaritas were two for
$7, normal price $2.50.......We stayed with beer.

I have to figure out which day I go back to the
beach, probably on Monday or Tuesday. Early is the
trick, the college kids are still in bed and the
families won't be there, only the winter Texans
that haven't left for home. Gas is up to $2.36
a gallon.

I have been hoping for a lot of upsets in the
tournaments, like Drake over Tennessee, didn't
happen. My pre season pick to win, the Okie
women lost today, so I have to cheer for the
Lady Vols and Pat Summitt. I think they are going
to hire her to replace Slick Alford....

Carry on my friends......

My Billboard

The powers that be finally have
my picture posted on a billboard.
Thank goodness I did my exercises,
see next blog entry......

A View from My Breakfast Table

this little bird was teasing
me the other day. I sat inside for
about an hour, waiting. It came
around every five minutes
before taking off. You have
to be fast....

New Exercise to Lose Weight FAST

i shimmied.........I was shaking........a wiggle here
and a wiggle there.....after about an hour.....my love
handles were gone. success at last in the valley......

Can You Dig It?

I heard an oldie on the radio the other day.....Sly and the Family Stone,
Can you dig it?

I can dig it you can dig it we can dig it they can dig it you can dig it........

Can you sing it that fast? I did it, good memory or what? I can dig it!

Can you dig it baby? The sun beaming down between the trees.........

Just like Texas........great sunshine...........cloudy today.....that's OK....

Can you dig it?????

There are Great Hawkeyes Everywhere

The first in line when the
college plates were sold. I don't know who the owner is,
but they are in the RGV, shopping at Fiesta Village,
Mission, Texas.There are many Iowans in the Valley,
some Ankeny folks live down the street in Alamo Palms.
They had an Iowa party, 160 people attended, just in their
park! GO HAWKS

Work and The Beauty of Alamo

This is the finished product of my
walk way from the cement patio to
the garage, aka "shed". Nothing
spectacular, but I like it. Step #4
covers up the electrical line that
runs from the pole to the mobile.

What do you do after all of this hard
work? Clean up and fix hors deouvers
and a cocktail and relax and watch
Mother Nature entertain. Enjoy.......

Update on Aunt Dutch

She is found, alive and living with a man and his wife, in
AZ. Debe's mom joined in the search and found a neighbor of
Aunt Dutch's that had a phone number of a cousin on the other
side of the family. He lives in Chicago. Cousin Mark called him
and received the address and phone number. He called her
either that morning or the next day, talked to her and she
seemed fine, except for her hearing. Her aide was in the shop
getting fixed.

SO, all if well with my only Aunt that is still alive, she is my
mom's sister. On to other things to keep the winter exciting.

95 today in the RGV, I actually turned on the A/C for the
second time this winter.......gotta love it!

Spring Break

Back to the beach after a week in Indianapolis, I
discovered some interesting sites. It wasn't too
busy for the first week of spring break, a Thursday.
I bet the college students were not happy with few
pickings, maybe things picked up over the week end.

They walk in groups of 3 or 4, first come the girls
followed by the guys. Two big display areas were
set up, this one is by the TROJAN group, also one
by the National Guard. Finally, when you're hot,
sometimes you're NOT........no problem, no one knows
that guy and he is having fun!

More later....

HOW 'BOUT THOSE BULLDOGS

I was raised on DRAKE basketball. First at Vets
and Maury John and his belly button defense, on
to the final four, losing to UCLA even though
Dolph blocked a shot by Lew Alcindor. Along
came the women's teams, after I graduated from
college. JFK was a pioneer with college women's
BB. the old days in the field house had few
spectators, but moving to the Knapp Center and
bringing along Lisa Bluder changed everything
and sent Drake to the next level.

We met Amy Stevens at the luncheon when she and
Dr Tom joined the DU family. We teased her that
she is taller than Dr Tom!

The tradition continues in the NCAA's with
few players. Just like the Hawkeyes, the bench
is short due to injury and now a player is sick.
I don't think she will be healthy enough to
play vs. Tennessee. Getting into the tournament
like DU did, of course, gives you a 16 seed. Now
they have to beat the greatest coach in history.
do you think Candice will dunk one on us? I hope
so, that will get her some air time and the world
will get to see the Bulldogs on TV, over and over
again! she did it two times in one games last
season in the tourney.

Best of luck to the Bulldogs and Coach Stevens
and her staff.

What A Difference A Week Makes

Alamo really bloomed while I was in Indianapolis for
the tournament. This is a flower that has popped out
of the cactus at the front window. Of course, my
tomatoes have started, but I don't think I will have
any to eat before it is time to travel back north.

I am planning to bring home the tomatoes. I will get
some big pots to put them in and hope the weather will
be good enough to keep them alive. Guess they will go
INSIDE the motel room and night #1.

The trees are shedding their brown leaves and are
budding. I need to make a trip to the big birding
park very soon, for photos and to witness Mother
Nature at her best, spring time!

Good Time in INDY

Here I am with my young friend Kallie at the Mall in Indianapolis.
No games in the big 10 on Saturday, so I hooked up with the Mitchells,
we did the big sporting goods store and the mall and out to eat at a
fabulous BBQ place.

Weather has been great and is good for take off on Tuesday morning to
take me back to Texas for five or six more weeks.

I am using the wireless hookup in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn.
My hotel hook up is lousy, they claim the company sent a modem for
residential instead of commercial....go figure. Oh well, I will just
have a stiff back from sitting crooked in the front seat trying to type
and read and just to be able to read the screen.

Can't wait to get back to Texas and my shorts and my beach. I am
already planning on going to the beach on thursday. Weds I will have
to get my stuff back together, go to the grocery store, et. Thurs is
good since I need exercise and the Iowa men don't play until Friday!
Lots of great BB again this week heading up to selection Sunday and
the NCAA's start in less than two weeks. ISU women will probably make
the NCAA's. Iowa women maybe the NIT. Iowa men same and maybe UNI men.
the rest, Drake teams, UNI women and ISU men are probably all done
until next season. I hope LIsa gets a shot at the NIT, she needs some
redemption from last weeks ugly game.......carry on, keep your head
down and follow through.........