Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Deer in the Headlights

Deer season opens this weekend. Information that never meant anything to me until I met a deer hunter recently. NOW I realize it is a big, big deal. It IS a big deal in Texas as I'm sure it is in many states.

I figured guys just went to the woods, sat in a tree and shot at things moving - each other, possibly, and hopefully deer.

I'm sure the deer know something is up as prior to the season starting, I've been told, all kinds of activities must be completed in preparation for this holy grail of manhood. Some of these activities like going in advance to make sure the "cabin" is ready for about eight men to sleep in bunks in ONE room. Evidently it is not a "sitting in a tree" experience but more like an air-conditioned cabin that is "tastefully" furnished - I say, tongue in cheek.........

Not only do they make sure the cabin is ready, I'm told, but also the deer feeders. Now again, I imagined that they threw old dried ears of corn on the ground and the deer came. Nooooooo - nowadays it is a battery operated, computer generated deer feeder! What's next? I mean, geez. High tech, even in the woods. Who knew?

Indeed, instead of camp stools, they take upholstered leatherette black office chairs. Get the picture? I'm chuckling as I write this.

When I asked if many women went, I got a look of utter amazement at the silliness of my question. Oh and then I thought of eight men in one room after having eaten at the local diner and thought, "WHY would any woman go there?" Ha.

Evidently the rural towns are ready for these guys. The restaurants stock up on chicken fried steak, the hardware stores stock up on anything that could possibly be used in this venture and last but not least, the deer processing plants who make a tidy sum.

Now before someone sends me a comment about killing God's cretures, let me say that there is an overabundance of deer in Texas and not enough ground cover or water to feed them. Especially now with the terrible drought.

So, that is my post on Deer 101. I thought it very interesting to learn about something that has gone on all my life but that I never really knew any of the details about.

See, I've been busy this last six weeks in Texas.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

100 mph, 15 inches and 5 dead - Hurricane Jova

It didn't seem from the blogs I've read and the wee bit of news I was able to find that the hurricane in one of my favorite parts of Mexico was that bad.

THEN I got a call from my great friend John who lives in Calechosa about 8 miles north of Melaque with tales of his damage. In addition, John, in an ATV, did an assessment trip with a friend of about a 30 mile area.

Lordy, the damage to bridges, roads and the flora and fauna was quite severe. John lost his solar inverter but not his palapa roof. Although he said at times, even though he is forty feet above the ocean, he was wondering if he was going to survive. This from a man who has weathered storms along the Gulf Coast for 70 years! He said the winds howled for five hours.

My friend is without refrigeration and it will be at least ten days before the road to his place will be open since there are so many washouts and trees over the road.

John however, is a handy man, and with his horse Palooza he can ride the couple of miles through the jungle to the highway to get supplies! He says the seas are still too angry to use the kayak to cross to Cuestacoamate.

Thank heavens for satellite cellphones or my friend would have had no way to contact the outside world to let folks know he is alive and well, but shaken by the experience.

I'm sure there are thousands and thousands of people in that area that are having a hard time recovering. Hurricanes are a deadly force.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Galveston, Oh Galveston!

I've been in the USA for four weeks as of today and I've somehow managed to be in Galveston four times! I'm here now for four or five days. Firmly ensconced in my friends Sue and Vandy's house just two blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. Aaaaah.

Good friends Sue and Vandy are........I have a key for the front door "forever" according to them. I reciprocate and they have stayed in my house when I've not been there. The last time for a month. I'm blessed to have many good friends like this.

I LOVE Galveston, always have. I used to kiddingly say that I lived on this island in another life. The first time I drove over the causeway in the early 60's I had such a sense of deja vue that I'm convinced I was a deck wench on a pirate ship.......or something like that.

It's not just the water. It's the funkiness mixed in with the few highrises mixed in with the farms on the far west end of the island. The beaches are ALL open to the public which I find amazing. In addition there are lots of areas where there are no buildings and so a good long walk looking at dunes, seabirds and the beautiful sky is a real treat.

It's also a very laid back place. No fancy clothes necessary - well, except if you're going to something fancy. In fact, the social calendar here is amazingly diverse and very, very busy if one wants to get into that - with tuxedos the norm.

I'm not planning on anything fancy this trip. My friends have gone out of town while I'm here. So I'm just planning on lazing on the beach - eating some good seafood and enjoying the laid back attitude after having driven around Houston for a lot of this past four weeks.

I'm off to the Wings Over Houston airshow tomorrow. And last night was Ned's 75th birthday party - of Ned and Billie fame - so, this vacation has been busy and GREAT fun.........even though I am a wee bit antsy. Maybe being at the water will quiet that feeling. It usually does.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Kinda Antsy

When I'm in San Miguel, I forget that most of my friends in the USA are NOT retired. To get together is like planning the invasion of Normandy. And, most of the time it has to be "quick" as they have tight schedules along with the ALWAYS present I Phone to remind them of their busyness.

So I find myself at loose ends after being here almost four weeks. I do have plans for the weekend and a few days next week but then.......

Everything I needed to bring back to San Miguel is firmly ensconced in the back of the car - some of which was not on the original list but just couldn't be resisted. You know how that goes........

Home is beginning to call. It has been great - seen lots of friends, had lots of good food, shopped, slept in many places at friend's houses, but, home is calling.

One great adventure was going camping with the family last weekend. I'll save the details for a photo essay but suffice to say, I am NO longer a camping person. I said this out loud to the trees and whatever else might be listening at about 2AM while walking the dark trail to the restrooms. Funny now, not so funny then. The bookies in Vegas were laying odds I wouldn't make it 24 hours - I did. 26 hours only because I wasn't sure how to get out of there in the car in the dark at 2AM! ha.....The grandkids thought it was great to have me there. Hopefully it will be a funny memory for them some day.

Lots to tell you - will save it for when I'm down the road, far south of here.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Rollin' Down The Road

It has bee almost three weeks since I left San Miguel. Hectic, but fun, would be an understatement.

No hassles on the drive up. Lots of miles since I've been up here. I'm using a friend's laptop which is close to using a stone tablet and a stick. Aaargh.

Lots more later..........when I have a better computer.

LIFE is good!