Thursday, August 4, 2022
I’m back in Texas, y’all! I arrived in Denison yesterday afternoon and I’m staying at Stephanie and Hayden’s home where the air conditioner hasn’t been working for two weeks. I prayed it would be repaired before my visit, but it wasn’t. They are waiting on a part to arrive. It is bearable, though. They’ve installed some window units.
I ate breakfast from Whataburger this morning. Oh, how I’ve missed that. And I plan on worshipping in Mineral Wells this Sunday. I’ve missed that, too. Ray is excited that I’m spending the night at his apartment. He always tells us about his undesirable living conditions compared to our posh mountain cabin. He can’t wait for me to experience it in person. We are very grateful that God provided free housing for him.
Saturday, August 13, 2022
I had a great time in Texas visiting with some old friends and worshipping at First Baptist Mineral Wells. Ray’s apartment is bigger than I had imagined but sparse in furniture. He has a wooden chair and a small desk/table and a mattress on the floor. The hard mattress and the bright outdoor light kept me up most of the night, but at least he has air conditioning. Stephanie and Hayden still don’t. A horizontal attic unit was ordered and arrived instead of a vertical closet unit like they need. So they’re waiting again.
Trump’s Florida mega-mansion was raided by the FBI earlier this week on grounds of espionage.
Yesterday’s high here was 94, so it’s pretty nice. The big cats from the nearby tiger sanctuary must be enjoying it. I’ve heard them roaring (but it sounds more like huffing to me) the past few mornings while I filled my bird feeders.
I’ve been busy writing some short pieces to enter in the Ozarks Writers League contests.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
I finally completed and submitted all my entries for the Ozarks Writers League competitions. Their conference is scheduled for October.
Ray will be here full-time beginning Wednesday, although he will still be working remotely for the FWFD. I’m ready for some help around here, and he’s ready to live here. I give it ten days before we’re driving each other crazy. I’ve been a little nervous about the whole transition and retirement life. We’ll see what happens. Meanwhile, my thyroid medication is making my blood sugar wonky, and I’m tired of the golden years already except for the grandson part.
The FBI, the January 6 Congressional Panel, and most of the country, with the exception of a large number of violent, gun-wielding, irrational protesters are out to get Trump. School’s back in session, and Covid, Monkey Pocks, and now Polio creep in the shadows like the Grim Reaper, while the flu has just disappeared. Grocery prices are shockingly high, but we just passed another big money bill to help end global warming. In fear of an attack on a nuclear plant, we shipped more of our weapons to Ukraine. Plenty of food. Plenty of weapons. Plenty of vaccines. Plenty of everything, here in the good ole USA.
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Ray’s here full time now and I’m busy trying to make room for all the stuff from his apartment.
Ray and Matt bought two rams and ten ewes yesterday and one escaped while we were unloading. And I was operating the trailer door when she made her break. They chased her all over our place before deciding to make a trap of sorts to get her in the pasture without letting anything else out and waited patiently for her to try to join the others. She found her way back to the flock tonight after being out about 28 hours.
I leave for Texas tomorrow with Ray for his colonoscopy. We had no idea they’d schedule it the week after his consult or he would have kept his apartment for another week. The procedure is Tuesday morning.
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Ray laid in the grass yesterday to work on the chicken coop and got hundreds of chigger bites. He’s new to Missouri. I got bit while spray painting in the driveway. I wasn’t even in the grass. Now I spray down with OFF before I fill the bird feeders. He didn’t think he needed insect repellant. We rescheduled the colonoscopy. He’s been so good not to complain because he’s got to be miserable. He’s dealing with the itching by keeping the house cool—around 68 degrees—but I’m not complaining. I would have a nervous breakdown if I had that many bites.