Patty's visit over

76º with high winds at 11 am Thursday - expected high today 85º

Took Patty to Harlingen airport by 8:25 am for her 9:30 am flight
to Houston, then on to Kansas City, MO - enjoyed her visit during February.

Phyllis back to work - this is her office door into the Rec Hall

This is not the official photo of the couples married 50 or more years at Saturday night's event.  Hope the one Ed
Stanger took, with a lot of placing of people, will show more faces.  Will post it when I get it.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Catholic Definitions
- Choir: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync.
- Holy Water: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
- Hymn: A song of praise, usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation’s range.
-  Incense: Holy Smoke!
- Jesuits: An order of priests known for their ability to found colleges with good basketball teams.
- Jonah: The original “Jaws” story.
- Justice: When your children have kids of their own.
- Kyrie Eleison: The only Greek words that most Catholics an recognize besides gyros and baklava.
- Magi: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.
- Manger:
1- Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn’t covered by an HMO.
2- The Bible’s way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.
- Pew: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic Churches.
- Procession: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass, consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.
- Recessional: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass—lead by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.
- Relics: People who have been going to Mass for so long that they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.
- Ten Commandments: The most important Top Ten list not produced by David Letterman.
- Ushers: The only people in the parish who don’t know the seating capacity of a pew.
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Betty: “I wish I had enough money to buy an elephant.”
Joe: “Why do you want an elephant?”
Betty: “I don’t. I just want the money.”

Have 2-hour Barbershop practice in McAllen starting at 1 pm then a concert tonight in San Juan, TX starting at 7 pm.

More later Lynn

Rainy day in the Valley

71º - at 9:00 pm Monday - light rain most of the day.

Deb & Jack Stone - entertained us with 3 songs after
the 50+ Wedding Anniversary evening.

Saturday evening a program noting all couples in the park married 50 or more years was held at the Rec Hall.  They did a group photo, but I have not gotten  hold of it yet.

Don Steinke giving some humor at the 50+ Wedding Anniversary evening.

Virgil Green doing MC duty at the 50+ Wedding Anniversary evening.

Theresa Van Onen handing out Roses to the ladies - Ed Stanger,
at right, was able to catch most couples getting their flower when introduced.

Ice cream and cake with punch or coffee was served afterwards

Darlene and Bill Winslow - from Michigan

Ice cream and cake being served.

Rev. Baker greeting us before service.

 These photos taken Sunday morning at worship service in the Rec Hall.

Rev. Baker singing, with wife Evelyn playing piano.

Pat Smith did a very good collection song on the piano
in memory of Rev. Billy Graham who passed away a few days ago.

Following church service we went with Harold and LaRhoda Neher to eat lunch at Pelican Station in
Port Isabel - at the west end of the two-mile-long Queen Isabella Causeway to South Padre Island.

We drove by this old Turtle Rescue building back to the new building, but did not have
time to do any looking inside. --  and, I forgot to take a photo of the new building.

This drawing of new building taken
off web site.

Internet photo of inside of new building, showing huge
area for educating about the turtles and their rescue program

Sunday evening, after Phyllis' announcements and then
Ice Cream, this couple put on a good program of country
western songs, many by passed entertainers.

Patty had helped Phyllis with taking money for
tickets to the Sunday evening show.

Great Granddaughter Jessica at Christmas

Great Granddaughter Jessica 

We were happy Saturday to receive several photos from son Cam and his family.

Son Cameron with his wife Patty

Their whole family.  From top: Heath
and Ashley Long, Patty & Cam Miles
Emily Miles holding Jessica Long

1

Last day Patty was able to be at the Line Dance Lessons

Border Patrol man put on a very interesting talk on activities
of the Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley

For "last supper" with Patty tonight we ate supper
at the local Whataburger.

Will be taking Patty to the Harlingen Airport, about 7 miles from our house, for her 9:30 am flight back to Kansas City in the morning.  Have enjoyed her nearly month-long visit.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Things I've learned from my Children……….

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with rollerblades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh," it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject PB&J sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably do not want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. The mind of a 6-year old is wonderful. First grade...true story:
One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs in her class. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to accumulate the building materials for his home. She read, "...And so the pig went up to the man with the wheelbarrow full of straw and said, Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that straw to build my house?'" The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that man said?"  One little boy raised his hand and said, "I think he said...'Holy crap a talking pig!'"
25. 60% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
==============================

Till another time - Lynn

Thursday

83º with 28 mph winds out of the south at 11:46 am Thursday.  Click photos to enlarge.

Phyllis at her office desk.

 Spent a little time yesterday over at the south-west corner of the Park where several guys have constructed a race track for their Radio Controlled cars.   I didn't catch any pictures of it, but there were many, many times that two cars came together, rolling or spinning out, or jumping over the field-tile border.  It was almost comical, but they just kept running.  Every so often someone had to go over to the pickup to get a screwdriver or something to tighten up or repair something and then back out on the track.

With them periodically wetting down the track and with all the driving
on it, it is becoming a very hard packed surface.

Eating onion rings at the new Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen between
us and Harlan along Interstate 2

The new Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen between
us and Harlan along Interstate 2

We had chicken - shrimp - and blackened fish sandwich at the new Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Reverend Francis Norton woke up Sunday morning and realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf.  So... he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick and convinced him to say Mass for him that day. As soon as the Associate Pastor left the room, Father Norton headed out of town to a golf course about forty miles away. This way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish.  Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!  At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, "You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"  The Lord sighed, and said, "No, I guess not." Just then Father Norton hit the ball and it shot straight towards the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole. It WAS A 420 YARD HOLE IN ONE! St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?"The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"
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A Few Business One-Liners::
- For every idiot proof system devised, a new, improved idiot will arise to overcome it.
- For every credibility gap there is a gullibility fill.
- For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
- Fill what is empty; empty what is full; scratch where it itches.
- Familiarity breeds attempt.
- Far-away talent always seems better than home-developed talent.
-----------------------------
A Spanish patient goes to an English doctor.
Doctor: "What is it that's brought you here?"
Patient: "An ambulance. Why?"
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To go to the celebration of those married 50 years or more this evening and to go to South Padre Island with the Neher's tomorrow.

Later, Lynn

'Nuther week goin' by

Well, Son of a Gun - been several days since I have posted this.  Last few days were "long pants" days as it got cold and rainy.  Right now (12:30 pm Friday) is sunshine with 80º.

Lets see, what have I been doing-----   (Click on photo to enlarge)

Phyllis, through this winter, has had park residents from several states put on a program at the regular 4:00 pm Thursday Meet & Greet telling about their state.  Thursday was Michigan and they did a good job telling about different aspects of their state with lots of statistics to back it up.

 Thursday noon Patty and I (Phyllis was tied up at the office) went to the famous Gonzolez Hamburger place in Donna with many others from the park.  They take a side of beef in the morning and work it all up in to hamburger, start cooking at 11:00 am and close when they run out of meat.
Best hamburger you can come up with.

Gluing on a repair piece -- even stools need fixed sometime.

This is a pair of jeans I have been wearing for years -- just spotted
this print on the pocket side of the pants.  Had not seen it before!

Wednesday evening was the bi-monthly Pot-Luck supper at the hall.  Good attendance and food.

Got to show you my "solar heater" - some frozen hot dogs in the sun
sitting under the microwave lid. Worked good!

Was a bit warm Tuesday when driving back from McAllen after Barbershop Chorus practice.

Monday we went to Mexico for a "small" problem for Phyllis - turned out to be a 2.5 hour root canal and set up for some more crowns.  Will be returning next week.  Below are pictures of rolls & coffee before she went into the dentist's chair.

Had to take this photo so Phyllis' sister could see it!

Since I missed Terry Smith's show here in Kenwood last Sunday as I
had a Barbershop performance at the same time, we drove to Donna
Tuesday evening to catch is show there.  Really enjoy him.

Had a good crowd at "Quiet Village II"

Few pictures from Men of A-Chord practice in McAllen Tuesday

Someone, unknown, made this platform for the director and had it delivered Tuesday.
Though Herb stood on it for a few seconds, he said he wouldn't use it.

We had arranged for one of the quartets from Men of A-Chord to perform after our "50-year Wedding Anniversary" party Saturday night, but just this morning got a call that one of them is in the hospital so they won't make it.  At this late date will just not have a program after the "more than 50 year" couples are introduced --- just go directly to the cake and ice-cream.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than ten years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
"How old are you?"
"I'm four and a half."
You're never 36 and a half . . . You're four and a half going on 5.
You get into your teens; now they can't hold you back.
You jump to the next number. "How old are you?"
"I'm gonna be 16." You could be 12, but you're gonna be 16. Eventually.
Then the great day of your life; you become 21.
Even the words sound like a ceremony.
You BECOME 21 . . . Yes!!
Then you turn 30. What happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk. He TURNED! We had to throw him out. What's wrong?
What changed? You BECOME 21; you TURN 30.
Then you're PUSHING 40 . . . stay over there. You REACH 50.
You BECOME 21; you TURN 30; You're PUSHING 40; you REACH 50; then you MAKE IT to 60.
By then you've built up so much speed, you HIT 70. After that, it's a day by day thing. You HIT Wednesday . . .
You get into your 80's; you HIT lunch, you HIT 4:30. My grandmother won't even buy green bananas. "Well, it's an investment, you know, and maybe a bad one." And it doesn't end there . . .
In the 90's, you start going backwards. "I was JUST 92."
Then a strange thing happens; if you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
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A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children fell to discussing the dog's duties.  "They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster.  "No," said another, "he's just for good luck."  A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrant."
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Later, some time --- Lynn