Rain, Rain and more Rain!I

I'm getting ready to build the ark. I have assembled two animals of each specie I can get my hands on. The dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, deer, racoons, possums, porcupines, squirrels, skunks, etc. all which inhabit my property are ready to go.
It has rained for 48 of the last 62 days here in the Texas Hill Country. Biblically I think that is enough days to launch the ark. The river at the end of the road is overflowing it's banks and will take us eventually to the Gulf of Mexico. There we will seek out dry land and wait for the sign. Perhaps a dove with a cedar branch, since we are real low on olive branches in this area. I'll throw in a couple of doves for good measure. They are all over the place here. I noticed they are fattening themselves up for the journey. Certainly that is a sign. I'm having a problem talking my good wife into helping me propagate the new race since we are really getting too old for that nonsense. Perhaps there can be some type of immaculate conception here. That would save me some bother, though I don't think she would be too happy. I look out the window. The rain has stopped for awhile. Perhaps I can disassemble the ark and work on my back deck again. Maybe I'm not the chosen one afterall.

It's Been a Year

A year ago we were in Kansas anxiously awaiting the birth of our grandson. I remember that day vividly. My daughter was getting induced and we all went to the hospital to wait it out. We were there from early morning to late in the afternoon, the grandparents(all four of us), nurses, doctors and OB technicians. They all were so wonderful and took good care of our only child and our unborn grandson. After awhile we got kicked out but my wife got to stay and watch the birth. I wanted to but my daughter wouldn't let me. Well after a few minutes we had a beautiful grandson. What a gift from God. It's hard to believe it's been a year. Lots of things have happened. He speaks a few words, walks a little, developed his own personality and gets into everything. Last week they moved to East Texas and we got to give him a birthday present, a new infant swing for for his swing set in the back yard. He thoroughly enjoys it. Happy Birthday!, little guy.

Doctors, Doctors, Doctors....

Last Thursday was my day to see the doctors. I planned to visit three in one day. My first stop was at 8:00 am and I went to an imaging place to get my thyroid tested with an ultrasound. This was to be a recheck to see if the nodules on my thyroid had changed. The technician was a rather large lady who put my portly shape in perspective. She had a set of hands, stronger than mine for sure. She prodded and pushed that machine into my throat like there was no tomorrow. After about 20 minutes of this I was free to go. I left in a hurry and headed to a gas station that I had seen on TV that was close to the medical center where they were selling gas for $2.77 a gallon. I can't believe I was getting excited about that price. In Italy the people pay over $5.00 a gallon and we complain when it approaches $3.00. I next went to a small taco place for a couple of tacos and a coffee before I headed to my next appointment.
This was at another imaging place. This time it was for a brain MRI. I think people had long wondered if I really had a brain, especially my mom who would yell at me, 'Mark use your brain!' When I got there I was promptly put into a cubicle to put on some paper shorts, which immediately ripped in the crotch. They then put me on a plastic table and strapped me in. They then slid me into a plastic tube,or should I say,'tomb'. I'm glad they gave me earplugs because the symphony of hammering sounds was way too much for my ears. I looked up and imagined being buried alive( I've got to stop reading those mystery novels). After about 20 minutes of this torture they slid me out, filled my arm full of dye and did another 10 minutes of pictures. It's hard to believe I was actually paying for this. They then sent me on my way.
After a casual lunch with a panini, a stop at a bookstore and some mystery reading and a purchase of some fragrant hand soap I was on my way to the last appointment. This one was with the dreaded urologist.Now he is a nice guy and didn't have too much torture in store for me. First they weighed me(ouch!), then took my blood pressure- real good. Then a pretty young nurse came in and pulled my pants down, placed her hand on my crotch(not kidding) and gave me a bladder scan. She took blood from my left arm( the right one was already filled with holes from the dye), and told me to wait for the doctor. After a few minutes he was in and had me strip down and bend over as he put on the dreaded laytex glove. After a few moments of agonizing pain he said I was OK and sent me on my way.
Now I'm not into 'S and M' but you would have thought it. Doctors are necessary for us to live. I wonder if I will get this 'good' treatment when we are in Italy. A national health care plan is not like what we do here. I know, I lived in Can ada. I guess I 'paid' the price of maintaining my health. I'll let you know how the tests turn out.

The Old Number '9'

You are probably wondering what the Old Number '9' refers to. It's the hiking/running/biking trail that circumsects part of the town of Boerne.This is where my wife and I often bike, especially if we are in town invariably we include part, if not all of the trail. At this time of the year it explodes with the smells of frangrant trees and the colors of the Texas wildflowers( the rains of May have brought us an abundant supply of wildflowers).
It was named after a train( the San Antonio and Aransas Railway) that used to serve Boerne in the 19th century. It connected San Antonio with Kerrville and then connected to the German town of Fredericksburg. On weekends many Boerneites would travel into San Antonio or further North into the Hill Country to shop, visit or recreate. Today the trail was part of my morning ride. I connected it with the downtown and the Cibolo Nature center. The Nature Center trails were alive with deer, waterfalls, wildflowers of all sorts and of course, the endless supply of birds and butterflies. I concluded this ride with a stop at 'the Daily Grind' where I simulated the times we sat in outdoor cafes in Italy, especially Sarnano, and watched the people go by and the business of the town happen. Later in the afternoon after a thorough cleaning up of our garage I took our dog, Pax to the Cibolo Creek so he could wade in the water and chase things. She really enjoyed her outing. She will be my constant companion since my wife flew off to Kansas where she will be helping our daughter and her family get ready for their move. I already miss her.

A View from The Hammock

School is out so it means we wearied educators get a much deserved break from the throngs of gigggling, silly students. Of course they get a much needed break from us.
What does one do with all that newfound free time? Some travel. I like that option and by this time next year I have a summer of traveling planned. As it is this summer will take us to Wichita, Lufkin and Canada. However, much of my early free time is being spent on much needed projects around the house. My wife and I also get to spend lots of hours outside, some of it in gardening and working on our two acres of property, but a lot of it is spent in the hammock.
Now what does one do in the hammock?( keep your dirty thoughts to yourself- I'm too old for that).Usually I read since it is so peaceful in our back yard. Sometimes I watch the flowers grow and the butterflies enjoying them(see an earlier entry on that pastime). Today I got to be serenaded by the most beautiful assortment of birds.
We had classical music playing on our outoor intercom system, but in the background the birds were going crazy playing their own minuets and chorales with their trills and puctuating high notes. They were also flitting around like I have never seen them before. The cardinal was interacting with the wren and the blue jay with the chickadee. It was like the muscic in the background inspired them to put on their own outdoor concert. It was a beautiful blend of man made music and the God made harmony of the birds. It lulled my wife to sleep, one of her favorite pastimes in the hammock if the mood is right. Today the view from the hammock was the sounds from the hammock. I think I need to lay back down now and relax.

Cycling with My Wife

When we move to Italy we want to use our bicycles a lot. Many people in Italy, as in other European countries, cycle from place to place. Many use their bikes to go to the market. We would love to do the same.
Now it's not easy to go biking with one's spouse. Usually the male is stronger( not trying to be sexist) and has to do a lot of circling around so the female can catch up. Also there are the usual mechanical problems- chains, seats etc. This Monday, Memorial day, all these proved to be true. I have to give credit to my wife since she likes to go cycling with me. We went out on a road in the huge ranch behind our property. We take the truck so we can go up the steep hill(miniature mountain)without riding on it. We park the truck, unload the bikes and proceed to ride.
Lynda, my wife, has a strained wrist so it is hard for her to ride right now( as you will see later it affected her mind). I did my share of circling back, fixed her seat level and we returned to the truck after a few miles. I gave her my keys with instructions to pick me up on the road which returned to our house. It was a beautiful day so I wanted to ride more.There were beautiful butterflies on the thistle patches, birds of all colors, goats and donkeys, cattle and horses and if I was lucky I might even be able to see the magnificent caribou that were on the wild game ranch. I was having a good ride and was waiting for Lynda to come by in the little red truck so I could motion to her to pick me up. No Lynda, no truck. I was climbing a hill and I thought I heard a truck behind me. No luck, wrong truck. I stopped and waited. I was getting tired and hot at this point. Finally I got my cell phone out and called her on hers. She had been having a 'blonde' moment as she was still waiting with the truck where we had left it. She has selective hearing and didn't pick up the phrase-'pick me up on the road'. To her it sounded like wait until I return. She hadn't even loaded her bike on the truck. So in the noon day sun I waited. Finally down the road came our little red truck and my lovely wife. She opened the door, I gave her a grave look and she laughed. End of story.

A Skunk is Still a Skunk!

This past week I have been involved in our school district's Nature Venture program for 6th grade students. This year I was the chairman for the event. This meant a lot of pre -planning in order to get over 800 gifted sixth graders to a nature park in the middle of San Antonio, Tx. We set up 29 different events at this site. Little did I know that I would be on 'skunk' patrol.
Now skunks are beautiful animals but are often, as most people know, a little annoying, but often misunderstood. They not only can shower you with long lasting odors, but also can carry life threatening diseases. Now when you get a report of a skunk near 400 students you move fast. This old body does not move too fast these days, unless it is on a bike. My partner, Anita, radioed me that there was a skunk near one of our activities so I 'quickly' moved to that area. She kept me in contact with the skunk as it moved from one area to another. The other facilitators that were listening to us on our walkie talkies must have busted a gut laughing at us as we kept giving updates about this tiny little critter who was making me walk all over the place. I kept the little guy in view as he circled activity after activity. I also told everyone I came in contact with to leave it be so they would not be wearing the skunk home, if you get my drift. Nature Venture is one thing but interacting too directly in nature is another. We were messing up this poor little guy's habitat considerably, as if the torrential rains of the previous days had not already done so. I watched( and smelled) the skunk disappear into the woods and I was satisfied he was not going to bother us any more.
This is not the end of the skunk's tale. Later that day in another area of the park I was driving my car with two of my colleagues in it when Ms. Skunk appeaared
on the road trying to get a drink from the water5 running across the road. The ladies I was with were pleading with me to stop and turn around s o they wouldn't feel the wrath of the critter but being myself, a risk taker, I slowly eased the car down towards the skunk to get a closer look. The skunk just ambled off in the tall grass near the pond. Later the next day another coworker saw Ms.Skunk walking towards a wooden bridge with food in its mouth to feed it's young who were hiding there. The skunk did not bother us if we left it alone. I guess the moral of this is that if we all learned to recognize each other's differences, whether it be race or religion, like the skunk who learned to not let 400 children bother it, we too could coexist in this world with others who seem different.
By the way there are no skunks in Italy.