Other great things going on in my little world? I have the habit of divding people in my world into two categories. Relatives and non. If I speak of a ‘best friend’ that can either be a  best friend=relative or a best friend=non relative. This past week I lost my very best friend=non relative. No death or anything like that. Just a lose. Someone I’ll miss very much. (don’t ask for details. There won’t be any forthcoming from me.)

Chat room: About the same. One of the idiots from the past has started lurking. He changed his user-name in hopes no one will recognize him then just logs in and sits. Cute. Oh, and there was almost a real conversation going on the other night. A few of us were chatting about design related things. Fun for about fifteen minutes.

Husband and I have been giving a bit of thought to selling our house. Neither of us have been overly happy with it. The house is just smaller than we’d like and the yard is way larger than we want/need.  Not something we’re going to jump into without serious thought. Right now isn’t the best time to get top dollar for any property. And no one in their right mind would want to move to our town. We’re just way to far from things. I’ll keep you posted.

Today’s photo is another from my front lawn. An antique, cast iron, wash pot. This was taken a couple months ago. Right now it holds yellow and pink flowers . Oh, and I just noticed. It’s a tad dull looking in the photo. Since this was taken, we’ve repainted the pot and frame. Maybe I should consider a new photo?

I know this is Saturday. My calendar confirms the fact. For some odd reason I have two clients who all but demand their sites be updated on Saturday. One is a photo that has to be updated once a month. Always, without fail, I update the photo then about 30 minutes later there’s an incoming e-mail with ‘the same photo but just a tiny change to it’. Every damn time. I’m so getting tired of this mess. (and people wonder why I’m thinking of quitting the business)

Have I mentioned how great my husband is? Well, he’s the best ever. For those who don’t personally know me, I have a problem. A wonky hip. Some days I’m fine, other day’s it’s all I can do to walk. My wonderful husband helps with house cleaning and cooking. Today he baked a pie. Ok. It’s a frozen pie, but, still. He’s also washed dishes today. Fed the dogs. I’ve been sitting here dealing with site updates and getting woozy from pain pills. Anything stronger than aspirin makes me very, very sleepy.

Today’s photo was taken March, 2000. Second floor of the Texas capitol building. Yep, that’s my husband.

The only thing, other than weather, going on with me is my car. I drive a huge suv and it’s having a bit of problem with the hatch. For those unfamiliar, a hatch is that back door thing that raises up to allow access for packing a ton of groceries in the back. Anyway, it’s stuck. Won’t open. It’s due for a visit to the shop first thing next week. Around this area, you make a mechanic’s appointment the same as you’d make a doctor’s appointment. No idea how this works in other areas.

Dogs. That’s always good for a paragraph or two. I know most dogs can tell time. They always know when it’s time to drive you crazy, when it’s time to be fed. Things like that. But, honestly, mine can tell time. Actual time. Bitsy, the Mini Pinscher, knows exactly when 4 pm rolls around. Food. A few weeks back we did the daylight savings time change. All of a sudden 3pm becomes 4pm. That means the dogs will be getting fed (stomach time as we call it) at 3pm. Nope, Bitsy never mentions food until 4pm. She seems to know exactly how to read a clock. Odd. Sissy, the Chihuahua, doesn’t care what the clock says, she just wants food.

Today’s photo entry was taken in my yard. There are four of these bushes scattered around. One of these years I have hopes they may all bloom at the same time. Bridal wreath is the local name. No idea what they’re called where you live.

Other stuff? City Hall. If anyone knows where I live, you’ll probably know about our police/mayor situation. All the area newspapers and TV stations have been milling around us. We’ve been featured in Wall Street Journal, Forbes and everything else out there. We had a crappy five person police department. They literally did nothing. Finally, last June, the City Council eliminated the entire department.  The department was reactivated six months later. A new Police Chife with one full time officer and two part time officers. We also have six reserve officers from the county. So far they’re doing a wonderful job. We also have a new judge who is doing everything that can be done to collect on any and all citations.  The last judge wasn’t doing very much in that area.  Anyway, to get back to my original subject. The Mayor has been doing nothing. Literally, nothing. The way city government works is for the Council to decide what needs to be done, give orders to the Mayor to see that their wishes are carried out. He hasn’t been doing that. Last month the Council called for his resignation. According to Texas law a Mayor cannot be forced to resign. He didn’t. Monday night there was a line item on the agenda again calling for the Mayor to resign. Seems the Mayor didn’t care enough about  the city to even show up. He walked into the office just after lunch, scribbled a note of resignation and walked out. WooHoo! Now the Council simply needs to decide who will fill that position until elections May 2013. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops. And for anyone wondering if I’m interested in getting my old job (Mayor) back. NO. Far as I know my name isn’t even being suggested and I’m happy not being involved any more than other regular citizens in town.

Today’s photo was taken Monday night. One of our city officers and two county officers were involved in the rescue of a citizen whose house caught fire while he was sleeping. They were being given awards for their actions. Well deserved. The two gentlemen in dark uniforms are who I call ‘my boys’. They were officers when I was Mayor. The only two to be rehired once the department was reactivated. Both very nice young men. The ones in tan uniforms are from the county sheriffs office and also nice men but I’m just not that well acquainted with them.

Today’s photo is from the web site linked above. It’s the type of school bus used at the time of that awful gas explosion. This is probably the only photo you’ll find on my site that wasn’t taken by me or my photojournalist friend.

I guess we could just end today’s entry right here. There really isn’t anything else going on around here.

City news: Our village idiot of a mayor is trying to see how many TV stations will interview him. He’s a total joke and an embarrassment to the entire town. At last month’s council meeting there was a unanimous vote asking for his resignation. He declined. I’m waiting to see what happens at the next meeting.

The local newspaper made a huge error in this week’s edition. Local meaning the nearest to our town. We don’t actually have a paper here. Anyway, they announced a blood drive to take place St. Patrick’s Day, April 17.  Yeah, April. After a few of us called to point this out to them, they managed to correct the online edition. Husband and I are scheduled to donate blood so the proper date is marked on our calendar.

Chat room news: Nothing at all. We almost had a conversation going on the other night but it didn’t last long.

Today’s photo was taken in 2000, I think. It’s just a pecan orchard with a heard of black Angus. A typical sight in Texas.

December 17, 1981 —- March 8, 2000

Today’s photo was taken January, 2006. I think. We’ve visited numerous times to this building and I honestly don’t remember which trip this was taken. It’s the dome of the Pricidio County courthouse in Marfa, Texas. Looking straight up while standing in the rotunda.

So, here goes. Everything you really don’t care about concerning me.

  1. I’ve had a valid drivers license since age 16 but I’ve never taken a drivers test.
  2. I have license to drive a motorcycle. Yeah, I took written and driving test for that.
  3. I own a CCW license. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a license permitting me to carry a concealed handgun.
  4. I have 2 tattoos. Both obtained since the age of 50.
  5. I have witnessed exactly 2 fights in my long life. I was in one of them. (hey, I was 9 years old)
  6. After much work, I finished school in 11 years instead of the usual 12 years. In the top 5% of  my class.
  7. I love driving even though I’m terrified of cars.
  8. My favorite color is red.
  9. I’m short.
10. I was on city council 3 years and mayor of the city for 2 years.
11. I love knitting and crocheting. I’m at the ‘expert’ level. Have a couple of original patterns that were published in pattern books.
12. I’m ambidextrous.
13. Blind in my left eye.
14. Love my husband beyond belief even though he drives me crazy sometimes.
15. From time to time, I have panic attacks.
16. I never ever under any circumstances make or receive cell phone calls while I’m driving.
17. Hate shopping.
18. Love computers.
19. I don’t mind helping someone but do not ask me to do your work for you.
20. Favorite TV shows: “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” (don’t blast me for that)

You have to understand something about me. I’m a Texan. Totally, 100% Texan. If I was allowed to only fly one flag at my house, it would be the Texas flag. Not the American flag. True, I am an American, but above all else, I’m a Texan.

Now to other stuff. Our weather. Around here if there’s noting else to talk about we bring up the weather. Today we enjoyed a high of 82F. Just remember this is March. Winter. We’ll be in total bitch mode by July and all the way through September. Heat. The unrelenting heat and drought we’re all becoming used to. We don’t like it but we learn to live with it. Winter makes it all worth living with the heat.

I’m really trying to come up with something else. (did I mention that lately my life is a tad boring?) Our Min-Pin is doing well. This was the week she had her teeth cleaned. Requires a trip to the vet. They put her to sleep, cleaned her teeth, trimmed her nails, gave her one of her vaccinations that was due and there was a little lump on her chest that was removed. Three or four stitches for that. Her nails get trimmed once a month so that’s noting big. Our vet does it for free. So, breaking it down. Teeth cleaning, vaccination and the little lump removed= $330. I swear, I spend more on that dog than on myself. Little lump was checked. A benign tumor. Nothing to worry about. All is well.

Oh, I did learn something in the chat room last night. Never try to help an idiot. They’re beyond help. Seems it’s easier to try having someone else do the work than do it yourself. Even something as simple as using Google/Yahoo/Bing for searching for answers.

Today’s photo was taken March 2000. I was standing in the rotunda of the state capitol in Austin. Looking up at the dome. Very pretty sight. We have a beautiful capitol building.

Big news at my house. Some way or other I managed to break my ‘E’ key. It all started the other night when I noticed my nails were getting a tad long. Just typing as usual and my middle finger left hand nail flipped under the E key and the little top popped up. Seems the keys on a laptop are different from keys on a desk machine’s keyboard. Anyway, the little thing now pops up whenever it takes the notion and anything with E or e will have to be retyped. Don’t ask how annoying this is. I’m thinking Super Glue. A friend suggested a new keyboard be installed but glue is cheaper.

We’re having wonderful weather in Texas. I know other parts of the universe are still mid-winter, but here in my world, it’s spring. We’re still having temperatures from mid 70′s up to low 80′s. Woohoo! We’ll all be wishing for this later. Our summers are brutal.

Big (ish) news in Tiny Town. Our Mayor is being either formally removed from office or resigning. No news there. (He’s an idiot) Anyway, news today is that he’ll resign on Monday. That’s March 5th. Elections are April 12th and the last day to toss your name in the election ring is, guess when?  Yeah, Monday. His thought is to leave the city without a mayor. I have hopes someone will be set to enter the race at the last minute. Only council members are officially up for election since the mayor’s position doesn’t expire until next year. It’s a mess for you to try and decipher and it’s a mess for anyone here to understand. Nope, been there, did that. I’m not in any of the election races. It’s much more fun to sit on the sidelines and laugh.

Today’s photo is from the same client site as the upside down vehicles. No idea who they are but their photo also appears on the client site so I have no problem posting it here.