27 Jan: Sun: We are sleeping a lot! Maybe we should go to bed before midnight? We worked out driving the motorcycle to the fitness center. had dinner at Ransom's Steakhouse and Saloon by car since the rain started to fall. And here we are working late once again. Goodnight!
26 Jan: Sat: Soon to be running out of January and nice weather, we walked to the fitness center to work out (3 miles RT). Bill S. was available in the afternoon, so Ron rode to Waller while Cynthia had spa time before having dinner with her four children and 12 year old granddaughter Zoe. Cynthia was elated with the big hug from Zoe when she opened her gift: a framed drawing Cynthia had done when she was in the sixth grade (like two year ago?)
25 Jan: Fri, Temps in the upper 70's are nice for riding that baby blue! We drove to Sam Houston National Forest for an hour plus hike in Texas humidity. The trails are desperately in need of maintenance, but we avoided the tackling any of it. Realizing our physical stamina is pretty low for the amount of work yet to accomplish by the first of February, we made plans to delay departure. Ron is doing asset allocation, reading the last six month's mail sent from KC, working on the Index for Vol. 6 of the Wrangel Years, while Cynthia is working on business stuffs.
24 Jan: Thurs. Cynthia did not wake up until 11 AM. Good for her. Ron slept until ten. Good for him! He enjoyed riding Baby Blue to Wally World for egg whites. This was errand day: the bank, UPS, fitness center, ride to Sam Houston National Forest.
23 Jan: Wed: The car went in for servicing and new tires - Ron rode to Wild West Honda BMW to pick up the new license plates for the bike and took Smooch Smooch out for lunch before he rode to Hempstead for the license registration for the motorcycle trailer. Cynthia's wait at the Lexus dealer was an agonizing six hours. She shoulda gotten a loaner car because she was worn out cookie by the time she arrived back in Montgomery.
22 Jan: Tues: Cynthia had annual medical stuff all day with the back specialist who injected a new medication with a lumbar epidural procedure under X-ray. Two discs are bone on bone; surgery is not prescribed; hopefully this new steroid injection will help. Walking works wonders.
21 Jan: Monday, What did we do Monday????
20 Jan: Church and I-Hop before hopping to the fitness center for a workout; dinner with son Jon and Barb, Cindy and Jim. We had a great time
19 Jan: Nice walk to the Fitness Center (3 miles RT) with half an hour on the elliptical machines. We celebrated Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's days plus the birthdays of three of Cynthia's grandchildren. Steven (soon 21) was amazed when Ron handed him the phone with his favorite band owner Tom Scholz on the line wishing him Happy Birthday! It was the talk of the table for quite some time! Tom was Ron's college roommate who is the nicest guy yet today; fame has not changed him. We also celebrated Eric's new truck (the love of his life). He was accepted into TX A&M College of Engineering following his HS graduation in May. Granddaughter Rachel and fiancé Ryan were there showing off the ROCK on her finger with such excitement that Ryan pulled off the surprise proposal on a cruise a week ago. Grdaughter Samantha (Steven's sister) was accepted into grad school - another reason to party. Granddaughter Lauren completed her GRE and is grad school shopping after May graduation from TX A&M. Eric got it right today, "We had a blast!"
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| Steven, Sam, son Jon, Lauren, Rachel, Ryan (standing), Eric, Cynthia and Ron |
17 Jan: The sun is now appearing! Arise now and greet the morning, the day begins anew: The SCS councillor reports are mailed; Austin has finished his project with a final report delivered to the SCS; the rental laptop has been returned; the Bankston DNA article submitted for the SCS Spring newsletter which promises to be most interesting overview of Anders Bankston, his DNA, his grandson Lawrence's descendants among the SCS members. Cynthia is doing tax stuff ad nauseum.
16 Jan: I'm hoping that the forecast makes for a nice motorcycling afternoon here in Montgomery, Texas. It was just too cold after all.
15 Jan: Poor little Smooch Smooch had to hop abruptly outta bed immediately after awakening at 6:45 am in order to get trapped in traffic en route to see Sasha, then to a new (Turkish) ENT, and she finally returned home in light rain after dark.
13 Jan: Moving Moment: Hundreds of waterfowl-a-flutter taking flight from our back "yard."
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| Waterfowl and Cynthia's Thumb |
12 Jan: Apple Store One-on-One training was ... Ok. The assistant did not receive our request for specific topics: 1.) transcribe sound into text from cell phone vox messages. 2.) How do we use IBooksAuthor? But, he was good at winging it; we learned some shortcuts. Dinner with Cynthia's son Jon and his Barbara, friends Cindy and Jim at Pappadeaux was delightful.
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| Jim, Cindy, SmoochSmooch, Ron, Barbara and Cynthia's son Jon |
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| A hair-raising ride |
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| Baby Blue and Lexus "Mom" |
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| Sunrise at the Texas Lakehouse |
8 Jan: At our Lake Conroe home: Ron the Egg White Omelet Chef outdid himself after discovering the mushrooms hidden in the refrigerator:
7 Jan: Cynthia went off to the optometrist and was given a clean bill of health. Towards noon she experienced low blood sugar fatigue because she missed seeing the protein drink in the driver's side door of the car placed there so lovingly by her beloved Smooch! Her labs were not as good this time: higher blood sugar, higher cholesterol. [ed note by Cynthia: The labs are excellent by normal standards; by the cardiologist's standards they are a little too high; I am diabetic and have to keep my BS well below 95 to maintain the nice little arc without the peaks and plunges]. Ron behaved himself organizing projects and preparing recycling. After all, we plan to motorcycle the entire year. Pappadeaux prepares wonderful dinners; too bad their restaurants are so terribly noisy.
6 Jan., Sunday: We thoroughly enjoyed Sunday Services at Grace Lutheran Church nearby followed by egg white veggie omelets at IHOP and Blue Bell Spicy Pumpkin Pecan ice cream. Yup, we celebrated the good news from the doctor by pigging out on ice cream this afternoon. Jon &Barbara visited briefly this evening, and we are back to work until bed time.
5 Jan.: Sluggish today. I'm going to bed for a nap.
4 Jan.: We always enjoy seeing Dr. Gould; he is an inspiration. In particular, his professional opinion is that I am still alive despite the two blocked arteries. Cynthia did not receive as favorable a review since we are all concerned with her blood pressure, blood sugar, and momentary black-out at dinner Dec 14th. After our doctors appointments and lunch at the Oaks, we drove to Wild West Honda, test rode a deep blue 2009 R1200RT around the block, and bought it from Bo. Plugs and fuse panel to be installed before we start riding.
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| Wowee Zowee! Let's Ride! |
3 Jan.: That is one long drive from Baton Rouge to Houston. Lots of swamp to be seen at first, then lots of development. Cynthia noted fewer trees, probably victims of rising water levels & global warming.
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| Lake View at Hilton Garden Inn Columbus, GA |
Nice visit en route to Columbus, GA with Cynthia's niece Danielle
