 |
| Bill & Merry, Ron & Cynthia |
28 Feb, Sunday: Ron awakened at 2:30 and was unable to get back to sleep, so he has been functioning on 2.5 hours of sleep (sigh). Church, then brunch with Bill & Merry, who lived through a nightmare of plumbing breaks last week caused by our icy winter. The Bishop's assistant conducted service at church, and Cynthia was able to understand because she talked slowly (apparently accustomed to us older folk). Packing continues apace, so did our three-mile walk to the lake. Ron did go for a second quick walk to bury his beloved compost. The hole he has elected to fill is almost level now; check back next year to hear if it settled. OK. This is the end of the road, the end of February, time for a new month. THE END... FINIS... TERMINUS.
 |
| Baby Blaire, Ryan, Rachel, Ron & Cynthia |
27 Feb: countdown 4,3,2 (exit apartment by 11AM),1 exit Texas westward after 2nd Pfizer vaccine. (We are keeping our fingers crossed.) Baby Blaire's baptism, a stop at Target to drop off recycling, oooops! We forgot to stop at Target! As much as Cynthia complains about the clutter of recycling, it is hard to imagine that she forgot to stop to rid herself of the annoyance. C'est La Vie.
26 Feb: Cynthia began her day by calling St. Luke's to see if we could indeed get our covid shot before we leave town and got us an appointment for 8:30 AM Tuesday. Perfect !! (St. Cynthia scores again.) She plans to return EVERYTHING to the storage locker today. Ron hopes that he is not included in that "everything." We are off to the storage unit by 2:00 PM, then to Jon's to pick up a package, and finally to Cynthia's doctor appointment at 3:30 and to the pharmacy for a prescription. On the way home we stopped for salmon and potatoes at the Cafe on the Green (aka Caddy Shack). Ron walked early this evening, but delayed to long to have daylight to wash the motorcycle (reading about powder-coated rims).
25 Feb: Our plan for today is medical and psychological; we go to Cynthia's dermatologist and hope that she can treat the "jungle rot" on Ron's face. She diagnosed it as a fungus (not nearly as exciting as jungle rot) and prescribed pills and a cream. Then we went to Sasha, Cynthia's hairdresser, for a much needed psychological lift. And Sasha was true to his usual energetic self although a bit obsessed with the yo-yos who think that a "little" socialism is a good thing. Sasha escaped communist Hungary and the Russians, so he has absolutely no tolerance for the idiots who have been indoctrinated to think that socialism is OK. Once they have power, they take away your rights; criticism of the regime is punishable by imprisonment and death. Traffic was not bad, and Cynthia was delighted to get to both appointments early and even have time for lunch at Jason's Deli, although it is a disappointment that sweet potatoes have not yet returned to their menus. We both received a recorded phone call telling us that our 2nd vaccination will have to be rescheduled. Phooey. Ron made the changes to Volume 7 to eliminate the snafu discovered yesterday, reran the table of contents and the index and the volume is now ready for final proofreading. A miracle: Ron thrashed through five boxes and is ready to return them to the storage locker. Ron wants only three things, none of which were in those boxes.
24 Feb: Up too early (5:30 again), Ron rode his BMW to Woodlands Premium Motorcycles for its 66,000-mile service (1700 miles late). Cynthia is cleaning and getting a manicure, but she is not feeling well in reaction to the novocaine-like injection for her tooth extraction. Despite a good day with Volume 7 while awaiting his motorcycle, Ron ran into yet another snafu to discuss with the other editors.
23 Feb: Good grief! Us, awake by 5:30 AM? Yup, we must be up, exercise, oatmealed, and take off by 7:00 AM (!!) for the dentist appointment (and extraction of a back molar). And we did just that (despite the odds). The biggest snafu was the line of cars that traveled only two blocks in 30 minutes. After we escaped that line by driving through the St. Luke hospital campus, we realized that the line was for Covid vaccinations. It was much worse than the one when we got our vaccinations because they rescheduled all those canceled by our once-in-a-lifetime (we hope) ice & snowstorm. Recycling drop-off went smooth and easy, and we were home by 2:00 PM with all six errands accomplished. Then Ron got really busy, first with more mending, then washing dishes, then washing the motorcycle, then burying compost, and finally washing body and clothes. All that and he was in bed by 10:30.
22 Feb: All we do is run, run, run! But the day was successful; many good things accomplished; only a trillion more to do before Monday. Ali S. sent a video of the Scott Forde Memorial Park in Alacati, Turkey taken last week showing how the landscaping has flourished since it was completed in 2005. At 8:30 PM Ron has the car loaded with his recycling treasures, now he will take a second walk. Cynthia is working on her sermon for Saturday's baptism.
21 Feb, Sunday: And we worshipped at Grace, followed by Sunday brunch at the Yacht Club - except that it was closed without notice, so we enjoyed breakfast at Magnolia Diner instead. Ron added a page of scandal to Volume 7 before we walked to the lake to enjoy the water, wind (lots), and painted rocks.
20 Feb: And another month falls through the hourglass with alacrity. The last vestiges of snow have disappeared; the grass is a vibrant green, and bright sunshine bounces off the water to blind us. Water is to resume running at 1 PM. Ron finished another portion of Volume 7. Only a few small items remain until he can call it done and send it back to Ken. We sashied out to the bank, to Kroger for groceies, to the Magnolia Diner, to the storage locker, and to Walmart for more groceries. Next up is a walk to the lake at 3 PM.
19 Feb: Thank God for today; we did get here alive, and we have a surfeit of blessings: electricity, heat, shelter, food, and rest. Not complaining, but it would be nice to have running water too. Ron was able to "milk" a pot of water from the faucets, and yes, he did boil it before pouring it onto his oatmeal. Projects continue apace, although Cynthia has already mandated a trip "abroad" today to search for gasoline and water. Wish us luck. Thanks for your good wishes; we did indeed find gasoline at the first station and food at the first grocery. We walked to the lake twice today, perhaps too much too soon for Cynthia's feet. They were used to those miles a week ago, but five days of zero miles caused her feet to complain during the second walk today. Ron is now frantically trying to finish all recycling projects while also finishing volume 7 while also finishing mending projects.
18 Feb: We awakened early at 8 AM and were done with exercises by 9 o'clock pill alarm. Ron has completed 53 pages of edits for Volume 7; only four more to do. Whew. At ten AM, the power went out sending Cynthia into panic mode. Evidently, we are going to be part of the rolling blackouts that our little street has missed over the past four days. We were without power the first night (Sunday) but it returned by 2:30 AM, keeping us warm and toasty while many family members have experienced up to 63 hours without power and water. Everyone is doing fine, but Roxanne had a burst pipe in her garage; Karen had some broken water pipes. The rolling outages have been challenging for the mothers of little ones, like Corrie. Samantha is expecting in July so this was a challenge for her, too. But, compared to so many millions of people we are fine. Aha! Our power returned two hours later. The lights are on, the electronics getting charged up in case this happens again, and we are once again cozy and warm. At 5:40, we lost water. Thankfully, Saint Cynthia put some in the refrigerator. We have to boil water once it gets back on. Hmm, boil water for oatmeal?
17 Feb: Today at 4 AM rain began falling at 32 degrees and continued until well past noon. The rain melted lots of snow, but there is lotsa ice! Cynthia grew up in Iowa and has learned to prepare for blizzards; always have drinking water, gallon jugs of water to flush toilets, a week’s worth of non-perishable food items, and always keep the car’s gas tank 50% full, minimum. Now we are prepared to flush toilets well into the next millennium. Ron swept snow off the covered walkway and shoveled inch-thick ice from the walkway into the parking lot. Late afternoon Ron walked through the little slush left on the streets to be disappointed that the gravel pathway looked very slushy and very muddy with tracks where utility vehicles had used it. He had a shovel in hand, prepared to move more of the gravel from a culvert back into the path, but turned around rather than getting muddy and messy (a sign of advancing age).
16 Feb: Today is supposed to max out at 36 degrees with bright sunshine - but it only made it to 32 degrees. Fortunately, the sun was bright enough to turn most of the snow on the roadways into slush, which will freeze solid tonight and be cemented in place by icy rain tomorrow morning. Cynthia’s pharmacy called to tell her that they had power this afternoon and could refill her prescription, so her son Jon picked it up and told us that the roads were passable, so we quickly hustled off to Walmart for grapes, bananas, berries, etc. Tomorrow's forecast is more freezing rain in the morning, 36 degrees high afternoon, and below-freezing temperatures all day Thursday. I tell you, it is Sooo nice to be here in the sunny South for the winter. Ron continues to make progress on Volume 7 and on several other recycling projects. One of these days he needs to start getting ready to leave Texas on March 1.
15 Feb: Snow !! An inch or two of the white stuff is covering everything in sight out our patio door (which will remain closed). Electricity came back at 2:30 AM; various family members have been without electricity on and off through the day. We need food so Ron left on skis searching for a market. Baby Blaire is undaunted by 18-degree temps, she loves the snow.
 |
| Baby Blair in the snow |
 |
| Galveston also got snow |
 |
| Our balcony view has changed |
 |
| Our front porch this morning. |
14 Feb, Sunday: Happy Valentines Day (click here). Best intentions went astray. We enjoyed a wonderful night's sleep to get our Valentine's Day off to a wonderful start, but that delayed our morning awakening until 9 AM, too late to make it to church. So we Thank God individually instead. By the time Ron finished exercises and breakfast, it was time to run off to the Yacht Club for Sunday Brunch, but fortunately, they are very, very busy on Valentine's Day, so we cannot get a reservation until 2 PM. That gives us time to get Cynthia's new medication and to get a walk-in before the icy rain starts, forecast to turn into as much as 2 inches of snow by tomorrow afternoon. Wow, this sure is a change from Spring-like weather last week. Today's listening is the Velvet Underground, one very weird old rock group that Ron likes. Another page of Volume 7 edits finished, another foot of thread added to mending, and it looks like the weather may stay dry long enough for Ron to walk another time. Well, Ron walked, but the return home into the wind and sleet was far less pleasant. There were several slippery places on the streets, so we can expect a bumper crop of accidents tomorrow. Ron is convinced that our best approach to exercise tomorrow is to wait a day or two for the snow and ice to melt. Then the lights went out about 7:30, so we went to bed Waaay early.
13 Feb: And it is another wonderful day, even if the temperatures are forecast to rise no higher than 38 degrees here near Houston Texas. (We are not accustomed to this.) Cynthia dreaded being cold on our walk to the lake today and was quite surprised that it wasn't too bad. Needless to say, several neglected indoor projects have become more desirable thanks to the cold weather. Ron has finished another page of Volume 7 and some mending; the dishes and kitchen cleaning are next. Tomorrow's agenda is much the same.
 |
| Dining at Amores |
 |
| Baby Blair |
12 Feb: Today Ron started listening to the Moody Blues. So far, only John Fogerty has rivaled the Cream in listening pleasure. Cynthia made a mandatory run to the manicurist, so Ron was able to get another couple of pages of edits added to Volume 7; 39 pages done, 18 more to go. Cynthia is preparing baby Blaire’s baptismal service. We enjoyed a lovely dinner this evening at Amores with Jon and his amore, Tina.
11 Feb: Another day another dollar, especially since the stock market is skyrocketing unbelievably. Ron is back to work on Volume 7 while listening to John Fogerty now. Cynthia posted (below) photos of Ron’s lake views for MIT alum Ed K. who enjoys Ron’s descriptions during nocturnal walks and phone calls. We ate beans and lentils this evening and slept quite well. No walk this evening, Ron was tired. It was unbelievable that we did not walk at all day today; no wonder Ron was tired.
 |
| SW sunset view |
 |
| west (notice rocks in foreground) |
 |
| longest view to the east |
10 Feb: Cynthia is oatmealed, exercised, and she is writing a baptismal sermon. Ron returned to sleep. Our walk started at high noon, with color radar suggesting it would be dry for a while, But, once we passed the fitness center, a light shower helped us decide to head home short of a goal at the lake. We did walk a second time in the late afternoon before Cynthia's dinner of Pritikin salmon and a baked sweet potato. Ron went for a third walk at 9:10 and is late for bed now at 11:20.
9 Feb: Surprise !! We are vaccinated!! St. Luke’s hospital in the Woodlands had a circuitous car caravan to the shooting zone. Cynthia had an appointment, but Ron had not heard from his registration. After the endless bumper-to-bumper crawl through all the paperwork, we arrived at the tent where we were to be shot, now informed that Cynthia's second shot will be on the 2nd of March, two days after we intended to leave Houston aimed for Sedona. Ron asked if Cynthia's second shot could be moved up a day from a firefighter who was helping organize the lines of cars. He immediately rushed off to ask the powers that be, who denied that request. Pfizer vaccine is 21 days between first and second shots, cast in concrete. Cynthia then asked him if Ron could also be vaccinated here and now before our trip. Our firefighter quickly went again to consult those powers and returned with a handful of papers for Ron to fill out ASAP. We thanked him profusely for being amazingly helpful. Our arms are a little sore, but nothing to complain about. Cynthia’s article about Harry King's DNA is returned from the editor, so Cynthia will now submit it to NGS for publication.
8 Feb: And TOMORROW is another day. Happy Birthday, Roxanne! We walked seven miles during the day and Ron walked another three at ten PM.
 |
| Thanks to Fyn for artwork |
 |
| and More artwork |
7 Feb: This is a gorgeous day! After worship, we celebrated Roxanne’s birthday with a brunch at the yacht club, and her siblings had fun sharing stories of growing up on an Iowa farm. Granddaughter Fyn (6 years old) sent a gift of artwork which delighted her grandmother.
 |
| Youthful Smooches in 2009 |
6 Feb: Day before Cynthia's big family birthday party - no aging information is available. Ron is continuing a respite from Volume 7 today, almost done logging receipts (prior to recycling them). Apparently, there is a crucial need to acquire a store-bought birthday card TODAY. We managed a nice walk afternoon and are ready for lunch/ dinner. The crucial need for the birthday card seems to have fallen into the background. Cynthia has to create thirty Lea/Lee family trees on Ancestry; searching, she found a fun photo from 2009 that needs to be re-posted ^^.
5 Feb: Today is the grim day that Ron has decided to clean the house. All those previous days he has been single-mindedly focused on the endless editing tasks for Volume 7. Cynthia has been a patient saint waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for the house cleaning to EVENTUALLY happen. We can call her Saint Cynthia from now on. The kitchen was mostly clean before our afternoon walk, delayed on account of rain and errands. Ron walked a second time after dark.
4 Feb: Life is still good. Our 10:30 Skype call from Maurice, Cynthia's newest DNA expert, was delightful and informative. This follows four half-hour video clips chock-full of tables and graphs.
3 Feb: Life is good. We awakened, thank God, exercised, ate oatmeal, and are now working on computers. No change from yesterday except that Ron's weight is finally down to 176.2, so he is allowed to eat pretzels again this evening. The weather is glorious; we were thrilled to see a magnificent bald eagle flying low over us, returning to his nest. Our walks take longer because we keep meeting new friends. Today we met Malcolm, walking his half-corgi, half-collie dog, and a fisherman recently moved from Wisconsin who wished he had moved here years ago. He was trying to decide which of his four poles would catch the biggest fish.
2 Feb: I guess we lost this day because my computer says today is the 3rd. But, we did have a lovely dinner with the bishop and two Luther seminarians on an internship in Texas at the April Sound Country Club.
1 Feb: Woooie, we had to be at the dry cleaners by 10 AM. It is a real rush for us to get exercised and breakfasted and out the door that early. Retirement is great !! Ron promised that he would mention Matthew in the blog; he is the pleasant new fitness trainer at the Fitness Center where we stop nearly every day. I should also mention Daniel since he asked. Our walk to the lake and back was a comedy of missing each other at the bathroom stop. Volume 7 is progressing nicely through 6 pages of the 57 pages of corrections from Peg. We baked sweet potato in a ZipLock bag for dinner, supplemented by oatmeal and cornbread, etc. Time for pills and one more walk this evening, although I will have to walk without talking because my cell phone battery is exhausted.
