A Not So Happy Day--Game 5

Cliff Lee v. Tim Lincecum Game 5 = Game 1 Mulligan for Cliff Lee.

Ah, well, the do-over game was a nail-biter through 6 innings, but for both pitchers, the wheels feel off during the 7th inning, moreso for Lee than Lincecum.  Renteria's 7th inning HR put them up 3 - 0.  Cruz solo homered in the 7th, and that was it.  Stellar pitching, stellar environment, stellar time for the Rangers.  Oh how I wished for a win, but what an exciting time.

What a ride through the playoffs to the big show.  While our Rangers lost Game 5 and the World Series, what a wonderful season.  I never thought I would see this series happening in Arlington.

Game 3

1994-2002 Rangers logo

REDEMPTION on the 3rd ever World Series game in Texas!!

Thank goodness for home.  What an environment; what a crowd; what a show!

Kelly Clarkson started things off with the Star-Spangled Banner; Nolan Ryan threw out the first pitch; Rangers red and blue were everywhere.  There were a few fans in black and orange, but I think they were giving an early nod to Halloween, not to support the Giants--no way!  After walking into the Ballpark, their depressive demeanor deepened, anyway.  You could just tell that Colby Lewis and the Rangers were going to win.  That gorgeous American flag fluttered gracefully as the four-by-four fly over hyped fans even more.  The Ring of Fire never sounded and looked better, and Martha Plimpton sang a wonderful God Bless America.  Ballpark dogs and peanuts are at their best.  The Texas flags streaking across Green Field and red fireworks skyrocketing above were never better than last night!  What a game to attend, and finally a World Series win for the Lone Star State--Amen!

The 9-hole spot in the offensive line-up only matters if the defensive pitcher is pitching a perfect-game or a no-hitter with no walks given up.  Mitch Moreland's 3-run homer last night proved that underestimating the 9-hole batter is not smart.  The lead-off batter usually gets on base, so when the 9-hole batter gets on and the lead-off man gets on, the two and three men in the order are really set up to score runs.   Josh Hamilton did his job to add insurance; too bad, Andrus and Young were out the play before.  I love lots of Rangers runs, lots of them, but as long as we have one more than the opponent, I am happy.  Thankfully, the Rangers did score runs and the bullpen kept the Giants to scoring less.  What a glorious night!  Poor Cody had his hand squeezed so many different times during the evening, that it is amazing it is still working, today.

Bush 41 and Bush 43 are set to throw out opening pitches Sunday evening; catching them, Nolan Ryan! Lyle Lovett will sing the National Anthem, while Ft. Hood's 1st Cavalry Divison's Honor Guard and Ft. Worth's 301st Air Force Honor Guard will present colors.  US Combat Veterans will sing God Bless America, and at the end of the game, the Rangers will move to 2-2, and then on Monday, Cody, Jason, Dawn, and I will be cheering the Rangers to a 3-2 series lead.  Bucket list depletes by one!

Game 2

1984-1993 Rangers logo

What an absolute fiasco by the Rangers' bullpen.  Not a fan of C.J. Wilson because I think he puts himself first more often than his team, I think he pitched a very good game.  Yes, a breaking ball didn't break and a solo homer was given up, and then a walk in the 7th, but overall, C.J. pitched a good game--a true pitcher's duel with Cain.

With all but the 6th inning, where the Rangers could have taken the lead, Cain made the Rangers' bats look like rookie, AA minor league baseball, but the Rangers' bullpen was inexcusable.  Darren Oliver did his job relatively okay, but four relivers gave up four hits and four walks, two of which were BB-RBIs!!!  In the World Series, nonetheless.

Ugh.  I am glad today is a day of rest.  The Rangers have a day to regroup, and the fans will take care of the morale with a wonderful home field advantage and the first World Series ever to be played at Rangers Ballpark.  "There's no place like home (and home plate)!"

Game 1

1983 Rangers logo

No, the game did not turn out like I wanted, and Cliff Lee left the immortality god-status to the Greeks and Romans.  However, I have tickets to the World Series, and since the Rangers are playing Games 3, 4, and 5 at home, with a win in Games 2-5, they assure two things:  they wrap things up in front of the home crowd, and they play three games at home, while the Giants only play two!  Very crafty planning and cunning, I think.

Last night was supposed to be the game between the two best teams in baseball, but with the San Francisco Giants appearing in only their second World Series (first appearance in 2002) and the Rangers' inaugural appearance, nervousness was prevelant everywhere.  The totals for Game 1:  12 pitchers, 18 runs, 25 hits, 6 errors, all numbers not expected in a World Series game.  The two teams are evenly matched in most aspects of the game, so each team can match the other well.  Hopefully, now that the nerves have had a chance to settle, we will see better baseball for the remainder of the series.

C.J. Wilson takes on Matt Cain for Game 2, and I hope that C.J.'s ALDS Game 1 no decision is out of his head and he gives a stellar performance.  Matt Cain is an adversary.  Each pitcher started the same number of games during the 2010 season at 33, and while Wilson has the better Win/Loss record (15-8 v. 13-11), Cain has the better stats--a 3.14 ERA, giving up 61 walks and recording 177 strikeouts v. Wilson's 3.35 ERA, 93 walks, and recording 170 strikeouts.  The differences are not great, but Cain's consistency does give him the edge.  I feverently want Wilson to pitch the game of his life and the series ties at 1-1. 

Antlers Up!  Fear the Deer!  Get out the razors!  GO RANGERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

2010 World Series

1972-1982 Logo

Born the last day of spring in 1966, I am 44 years old.  I lived in Arlington, Texas from 1966-1979.  I have annually attended Rangers games since the team moved from Washington, D.C. in 1972.  I have taken student groups to the Ballpark in Arlington for field trips and rewards incentives.  I was a season ticket holder from 1995-2003.  My Mom and I have attended more Opening Day games than we have not.  I remember Arlington Stadium before and after the grandstands, the big, blue Texas in left-centerfield on the scoreboard, and the first dot race (yes, Arlington Stadium is where the dot races began and so did ballpark nachos).  I know all the Rangers logos and have about as many Rangers shirts as I do pairs of underwear.  I still own and wear the opening-day give-away shirt from 1994 when the Rangers' new ballpark opened.  I have my brother's beautifully framed 1995 All-Star Game ticket stub. Sitting at the kitchen table in 1996, Mom snapped a photo of me holding up the tickets and completing the paperwork to have the Rangers organization redeem my unused ALDS tickets, because the Yanks went 3-1 in the series.  I graduated from college in 1988, and have not felt this excited about sports since I was an athlete, myself, even though I coached, and loved it, for eight years.  There is an excitment, a ferver which can not be described, but I feel it down deep in my soul; it is more than a game, really.  I love and watch almost all sports, and can remember key persons or events or plays from so many events, but baseball, hands down, is my absolute favorite sport.  This sport is like no other--play begins with the defense having the ball, the offense never touches the ball, the players themselves, and not the ball, have to score, to name just a few of its idiosyncracies.  I want the Rangers to win in four games straight.  Yes, "good things come to those who wait."  I have waited for this Rangers season for 38 years.

Tornado

The Central Texas, I-35 town of Jarrell was literally wiped off the map in May 1997 when an F5 hit and killed 29 people and approximately 300 head of cattle.

At McDonald Middle School in Mesquite, one horrific, spring day saw a tornado coming from the northeast across the football field and a fire occurring in the building in the shop area simultaneously.  McDonald is a converted open classroom-concept school, which means there are very few windows throughout the building, so when the electricity went off in the building, most areas were in pitch-black darkness.  Due to the fire and the tornado, other people's children were outside to escape the fire and inside to stay protected from the storm. 

Lancaster and DeSoto experienced their own, real version of a tornado in 1994.  Its effects devastated the town square of Lancaster, wiping out many buildings, businesses, and homes.  I taught in Palmer at the time and was driving a van load of students to Stephenville to the 2AA regional tennis tournament.  It was dark, rainy, windy, and here I was responsible for a lot of other people's children, and we were in a car.  I taught in Lancaster in 1996 when the movie Twister aired.  It was not allowed to be shown at the Lancaster Cinemark theatre.  My classroom was in the older part of the building, and it had two skylights, and with the exception of a 36" high wall, the back wall was solid windows.  Whenever it became stormy, the kids became anxious and worried.

Working for the Freestone-Navarro Bi-County CO-OP, I serve 12 schools in seven districts.  A little over a year ago, construction began on a new campus in Rice--the Intermediate-Middle School.  Unfortunately, on Sunday, a high EF2 storm rolled through northern Navarro county at Rice and heavily damaged the new school.  Engineers announced that part of the building is structurally sound and will be salvaged, but part of the building will have to be torn down and rebuilt.

I was driving east on US 190 in Belton when I first heard about the storm on Waco 99.9 fm radio.  They announced that a tornado was on the ground and heading towards the schools in Rice.  I could see the western side of the storm cloud as I drove east, then north on I-35.  The most disheartening aspect was that cloud was beautiful from where I was.  There were no clouds overhead, only to the east, the sun was setting in a beautiful baby blue sky, and those terrible storm clouds were reflecting some of the most serenely beautiful purples and pinks and oranges.  As light began to wane and dusk dawned, the tops of the clouds shone a beautiful lightening storm; yet, with all that beauty, I knew there was a terrible destruction fraught with fear happening below. 

I text messaged tutors in the area, and one was in a closet at church, one was taking shelter at home while her husband stood out in the front yard tracking the storm, because he is a storm spotter.  Two others texted they were okay.  As their messages came in, it was dark and I could see the North Star clearly.  I was traveling north on FM 308 and watched the lightening stop and give way to what was left of a gorgeous Hunter's Moon peaking out from the clouds and then appearing fully.  For something that caused so much chaos, there was a lot of beauty, too.  I am thankful that everyone was safe.  I am thankful that the storm occurred on a Sunday.  I am thankful that the building can and will be rebuilt.

South side of building with almost no damage

8th grade wing, will be demolished and rebuilt

Front of the building, north side damaged, south side almost none

Married!

The "Bell" Honeymooners

Sunday 10/10/10

Long trip getting to the ranch. We each took our own vehicle, because I did have to attend two workshops this week, so Cody left the Country Home before me. I stopped to pay the electric bill in Corsicana. Cody stopped in Corsicana at Atwoods and Tractor Supply for toys for the ranch. We stopped at Love’s near Troy for restroom breaks, and then again, in Kileen for petrol and food. We finally arrived at dusk, and Cody cooked beef fajitas! We star-gazed, but I could not stay awake long enough and hit the bed. Cody continued to star gaze and took some amazing pictures of the unpolluted, ranch sky. Beautiful!

Monday 10/11/10

A lazy, sleeping late kind of day. We slowly loaded the Ranger with salt and mineral blocks, cow spray, deer corn, catfish food, and wood collection bags, and took off on a brief tour of the western and southern areas. Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, Cody Bell is the Cow Whisperer. We found two of the cows, called and enticed them to follow the 4-wheeler, and rounded up cattle the 21st century way. (Sorry John Wayne!) With food pellets on the ground, Cody sprayed and I counted, 54 cows, to be exact. We checked the Hunter’s Cabin pond—almost dry, the Horse Pasture pond—very low, but we did spot several small bass, and fed catfish at the Catfish pond—lower than usual but still in good shape, and the albino cat showed himself. We even spotted a male cardinal bathing at the far side of the pond. We returned to camp for grilled Alaskan salmon and a lazy, afternoon nap. Afterwards, we checked Carlos’ spot, the hog spot, and left deer corn, Hawaiian Sweet Bread hamburger buns, and leftover salmon. Then, it was off to the Special Place to look for arrowheads, spear heads, and flint for Mrs. Cook, but we didn’t find any. Cody did find one of his old trails from his childhood days, though, and we trekked through the woods. We also looked for some quartz, but no luck. Losing daylight, we came back to camp, rigged our rods, and headed to the Bass pond—down at least seven feet. It was an extremely sad sight, especially after the spring rains earlier this year. We caught small Bass and nice Bluegill, and while Cody killed mosquitoes, watched the sunset, and ate peanuts, I landed a nice Largemouth Bass on a red and white Clouser. After picture snapping, I casted my line so I could reel it in, and caught another, slightly larger bass! A fine day at sea! We came back to camp, and Cody cooked some of the best ribeyes I have ever eaten. We star-gazed, seeing many clusters, galaxies, and two planetary nebulas (what our Sun will become when it dies), until I had to pack it in, due to my workshop on Tuesday. Cody continued to gaze at the ebullient night sky.

Tuesday 10/12/10

I had to give the day to work, which meant a trip to the Service Center in Waco for a workshop. I spent the day learning technology, while Cody wrangled with securing the tractor to the trailer for its journey to Marble Falls for repairs. Cody ate at Taco Casa, and I did Chick-Fil-A. During the day, I received a honey-do list from Cody, and on my way home, I stopped at the grocery store, the ice machine, and Bush’s Chicken for a gallon of sweet tea (not for me but for Cody). We had to round up firewood, so we could roast hot dogs in honor of the Rangers. Dressed to show our support throughout the day, we are looking forward to the winner-take-all, Game 5 Division Series, Rangers v Rays game. It has been an exciting season, and we oh so want the Rangers to win and make a little more history.

We have been switching between TBS and FoxNews, as they ready to bring the Copiapo, Chilean miners out of the cave-in, after spending 69 days trapped 2,000 feet below. What an exciting year!

Rangers win the Division; Rangers win the Division; first miner is out. Emotion, emotion, emotion! What a day!

Wednesday 10/13/10

Another sleeping late, waking after sunrise kind of day. We checked the hog spot to see if they had eaten the buns or the donuts or gnawed on the mineral block, and while hogs had visited and stepped on a donut, nothing, not even the corn, had been eaten. We drove around the area a little more, but no evidence of hogs.

Cody had already loaded the Bobcat, and after showers, hair, and makeup, off to Austin we went. What a slow trek! We went the Burnet to Georgetown to North Austin route, and stopped in Georgetown at Chick-Fil-A, due to ample and large parking spaces. Ever onward to the Bobcat place. The Service Manager listened to Cody’s description of the problem, called a mechanic, and out they went to the trailer. The mechanic, Cecil, only had three tools, and he tightened and loosened screws, Cody drove the Bobcat off the ramp so each man could test drive it, and being good-to-go, they loaded it back on the trailer, repaired and at no cost.

We headed a convoluted path in to Austin to drop the truck and trailer off at a safe space, and drove to the Austin Convention Center, where Mervina and Maureen manned the Read Right booth. We visited for about 15 minutes, snapped some photos for facebook, and headed off to the truck. We picked it up and headed to Sportsmen’s Finest Fly Shop. After buying some Miss Prissy’s, gloves, and a belt, it was time to head to the Ranch. We stopped at Burnet’s Taco Casa for supper and then Wally World for petrol for the farm truck. When we reached camp, we learned that all 33 miners were out of the mine 22 hours after the rescue had begun, and the third of six rescue workers was on his way back topside. We enjoyed reading about the Rangers, photo and story at the fold, and the mine workers in the Austin-American Statesman. I have to attend a workshop in Waco, so no star-gazing tonight, but it is a good one. The nighttime temps are dropping into the low 60s. Definitely, a waning Indian Summer.

Thursday 10/14/10
 
Workshop in Waco on SMARTboards, an awesome piece of technology, I must say!
 
I returned home to the ranch, and we readied for Jason and Dawn's arrival.  Jason met Dawn the day we were leaving for Belize.  I had developed a stupid cold, and he was picking up a Z-Pak for me.  Dawn was the pharmacist on duty that morning.  We have seen texts, pics, and heard about Dawn from Jason, but we got to meet, today, finally.  We ate steaks on the grill and star-gazed until the wee hours.  Good friends, great life!
 
Friday 10/15/10
 

We toured the Ranch and showed Dawn some of its highlights, including feeding the catfish and fishing the pond.  We helped Dawn catch her first fish and drive four-wheelers.

Oktoberfisch Day 1 and Ranger baseball--ALCS, Game 1, baby!
 
We finally made it to Junction and got checked in to our spot at Morgan Shady campground.  We headed to Isaak's for our traditional Friday night meal, and even though the Junction football team played a home game, we went back to the Zoom for Rangers baseball.  Four people whoopin', hollerin', and then, cryin' in an 18 ft. RV makes for an interesting sight.  We'll be on the water, tomorrow, when the Rangers beat the Yanks at the Ballpark for a day game.  We are crushed over tonight's 5-6 loss, but antlers up; we believe the Rangers are going to the World Series!
 
Saturday 10/16/10
 
Oktoberfisch Day 2 on the South Llano River, a little piece of Texas paradise, and Rangers Game 2.
 

Dawn took casting lessons from Diane in the morning, while Jason, Cody, and I got our rods, gear, and boats ready.  We got on the water at 12:30.  This year, we chose to only 'yak the river from the state park to the campground.  It's just a five mile trek, so we did some extended fishing in nice spots.  I wasn't on the water five minutes before I caught a nice Rio Grande Perch on a red/white Clouser, oh yeah--welcome to Hill Country Texas fishing, baby.  I also got to use my new anchor Cody made for me as one of my wedding gifts.  Having an anchor really made a difference; I could hold in spots and slow drift long pool stretches. 

Unfortunately, the river was really down, this year.  The South Llano has several places where it forks and rejoins a mile or so down river.  This year, none of those forks were available for floating.  I did climb a fallen Pecan tree and fished about 20 ft. above a pool, catching a Longear Sunfish, and then I waded down the side fork and caught a second Rio Grande Perch.  Due to the low waters, we really stayed spread out to optimize our fishing.  While we all caught fish, our catch rates were the lowest they have been in a while.  I think the fishing is better above the state park--not so much traffic on the water. 
 

We were proud of Dawn, who caught her first fish on her own.  Dawn used a bumble bee pattern, and caught a Longear Sunfish on a topwater fly!  Excellent!  Everyone else is packing up, tomorrow and heading home after a morning fish, but Cody and I are staying another night.  Wahoo, an extra day to fish!

 Cody did have his Apple Phone and kept up with the Rangers.  After having a hidden branch knock me in the jaw and steal my hat (Cody Bell is oh so happy that hat is gone), Cody greeted me with a kiss and the news that the Rangers smoked the Yankees!  Double Glee!  On to New York, where we will dominate!  We came off the river as they began serving steaks, so we hustled around, got our raffle tickets, picked our raffle choices, and queued for steaks, baked potatoes, salad, iced tea, and cake.  Fine fair, and Cody won a raffle!

 

Sunday 10/17/10
 
Oktoberfisch Day 3
 

We fished in the morning, and Cody had ventured up a slew.  While catching a fish, a Blue Heron flew just above him and pooed on his pontoon boat, ewww!  Thankfully, the bird did not hit Cody, but the poo was big, blotchy spots that were loud!  Jason and Dawn fished with us in the morning, and Dawn really began to master kayaking and casting.  Jason harassed Cody about the bird poo.  They left while we were upstream, so I don't know if they caught anything. 
 

Cody and I having only a little luck upstream, decided to fish downstream of the campground--a first for each of us.  The Bonefish Bitter was not the fly for me this year.  In fact, I used several different flies, which caught fish--red/white Clouser, GirlieBugger, Bonefish Bitter, and a pattern I got from fishing Snoqualmie, WA, but I don't know its name.  Cody stuck with the Bonefish Bitter and CodyBugger with nice success.  Downstream forms a little lake in Junction, and Cody caught a nice bass, but I had no luck.  I did see many deer drinking along the riverbed.  We headed back up to the campground and loaded up the gear and boats, so we could head out, Monday.

 

No Rangers game today; it was a travel day.
 
Monday 10/18/10
 

We loaded up, pulled out, and headed south to Lost Maples State Natural Area, a place neither of us has visited.  We got to the park, and, of course, I bought a patch to add to my collection, we got a map, obtained some directions, and headed off to the trails.  We picnicked in the Zoom, loaded up our rods, since we had seen the Sabinal River ran along the East Trail, and began our hike.  Not long after we started, Cody fished a nice pool and pulled a beautiful Bluegill out.  We figured most of the fish we caught had never been caught before.

We hiked and fished along the East Trail to Primitive Campground A and then turned back.  We were only there for the day and knew we had to leave at 3:00 to make it back to the ranch by 7:00, so we enjoyed what we could.  We were amazed at the high cliffs and abundance of hardwoods that abound throughout, and then, when the trail reached the Sabinal Riverbed, Big Tooth Maples--everywhere.  At the Visitor's Center, we had seen the map display of Maple tree disbursement throughout North America, and Lost Maples appears to be the eastern-most point where Maples grow, until the Sugar Maples in Vermont.

We fished many pools catching aggressive, healthy fish.  At the convergence of the East Trail and Maple Trail, Cody pulled a nice, young Largemouth Bass out of pool.  It was a great hike showing the beginnings of fall colors in a beautiful area of the Hill Country. 

We headed back to the ranch, stopping in Johnson City to eat at El Charro's where they had the Rangers pre-game airing.  Feeling like we were at school, we wolfed down our food, and headed north.  We didn't make it in time for first pitch, but we heard Josh Hamilton's 2-run homer on the radio.  We did make it back and set up the RV in time for the top of the 3rd inning.  What a great game it turned out to be.  Rangers lead series 2-1.  Ahh, what a good way to end our honeymoon.  It's off to Waco for a workshop on Tuesday and a workshop at Nolanville on Wednesday.

Tuesday 10/19/10

SMARTboard 2 workshop, and Wow! what things it can do.  I am amazed at the amount of technology available to teachers and students.  I can not wait to write some SMARTboard lessons for Mom to use in her 1st grade classroom.

Cody cooked on the campfire after I begged him to do so, because I was starving!  I know it's really warm for October, and seems to be warming up, instead of cooling down, but hungry is hungry!  Besides, we had to get ready for the game, and what a game it was!  The Rangers took another game from the Yanks in the Bronx, and lead the series 3-1.  C.J. Wilson is going to get redemption, tomorrow, and we will be breaking in the Yanks new stadium with our World Series berth.  I have been waiting for this since 1972 and excitment is at a fever pitch!  I'll be leaving the ranch tomorrow morning and heading home, but we are coming back to the ranch for a Bell family weekend.  The ranch is definitely fun and another place in Texas we get to call home!

A Hard Life-Lesson

There are some events that we wished never happened, and, if time travel were allowed, we would turn back time.  Unfortunately, we lived through one Labor Day Sunday.

William and Judson came to visit for the Labor Day weekend, and they brought the four-wheelers and the dogs--Harley Earl and Zoey Lou, their Miniature Schnauzers.  They didn't arrive until late Friday night, so we didn't see them until Saturday. 

William and Judson had all kinds of four-wheeler adventures, riding for miles all over the place and packing the cooler.  Oh, they had fun.  William planned a riding adventure with his friend Johnny on Sunday.  We ate together, rode four-wheelers, and just relaxed.  That evening, Cody set up his telescope and we star-gazed for hours, seeing Jupiter, Mars, Venus, galaxies; it was great fun.

Sunday, I awoke early, enjoyed a bowl of cereal, watched a little t.v., and then went back to bed.  Around 9:30, I awoke to Judson banging and screaming on the front door, and when I couldn't get to the door fast enough, he was banging on the side doors.  I found him, and he was hysterically crying and screaming that Zoey had been hit by a car.  I saw Mom's car at the end of their driveway, and then, I saw Mom in her nightgown bent over Zoey.  A car passed by slowly.  So I ran over to where they were, and Zoey was alive and not bleeding.  We briefly talked about what to do, and I ran back to my house, grabbed some towels, flip-flops, and ran back to Mom, all the while Judson is running with me stride-for-stride.  No hug and no words could offer him any comfort, and he kept talking about the stupid leash and the accident was his fault.  Harley was still running around unleashed.  We caught him, and took him in to my house.  Judson asked Cody if he would look after Harley for Judson while we took care of Zoey.  Cody dog-sat Harley.

We put Zoey on a beach towel, Judson and Mom got in her car, and I put Zoey in Mom's lap.  I hopped in the driver's side, and met Cody who brought me my purse, and off we went to our vet in Ennis.  Mom told me Dad was supposed to be calling the emergency number.  I phoned Dad, who said he couldn't find the number, hung up with him, and phoned Cody to ask him to find the number.  It didn't exist in print.  Meanwhile, Mom is telling Judson the accident was not his fault, and Zoey is breathing laboriously.  Cody phones and says he can't find an emergency number.  I did phone the regular number in the hope that it would give me an emergency number--no such luck.

We reached the Vet's office, and there were no phone numbers on the door or on the closed for Labor Day sign.  Zoey was still breathing, Mom was cradling her, and Judson was relatively calm.  I pulled under the shade and left the car running, walked around as much of the clinic as possible looking for a phone number of some kind.  Dad pulls up at the clinic, and says he phoned William, who was driving to meet Johnny to go four-wheeling.  Dad located a business card that had a second number.  I dialed it frantically, and it went to voicemail, and I left a desperate message for help.  Dad had also dialed the number and left a message.

At one time, Mom had shown me what she thought was Dr. Boyd's home, so Dad and I drove over to it, but it was not his home, afterall.  Meanwhile, William began using his phone to find another vet.  Cody was doing the same thing at home with the Internet.  Evidently, we live in an emergency vortex, because no one was finding any emergency clinic in our area.  Cody found one at 75 & I-635.  A Midlothian vet left a holiday message saying there was a 24-hour clinic in, and after much searching, William found a 24-hour vet in Arlington at Little Rd. & I-20.  Still no word from our vet, who we knew was in church this Sunday morning, but none of us knew where.  I would have gone inside and asked for Dr. Mac Boyd, if I had known where he went to church.

Having few options left and not having heard from our vet, we make the decision to go to Arlington.  I made the decision to turn on the emergency blinkers and drive 20 mph over the posted speed limit.  Gratefully, people moved over, and we made to Arlington in about 30 minutes from Ennis.  We had phoned the clinic for specific directions, and they were waiting on us.  They take Zoey, and we begin the long wait.  Dr. Boyd phoned not long after we arrived.  He was in church and had his phone on silent.

The vet speaks with us and Zoey is critical.  She has air building on the outside of her chest cavity and her lungs are collapsed.  The vet tells us what they are going to do and we'll have to see what happens.  I don't really care for the vet, because she doesn't tell us directly what is happening, and she has trouble articulating what will happen.  We are told Zoey is still critical.

Mom and Judson, who had no shoes on throughout the whole mess, are waiting in the car.  I give them an update, and when I come in, we are having to pay for services rendered so far, and the bill is astronomical.  For every ounce, every mm of tubing, every inch of gauze, we must pay.  Oh, I how regret that Dr. Boyd had his phone on silent for many reasons.  We pay the $700.00 + bill, and we are still thinking that Zoey might pull through.  Afterall, she had tried to get up two different times while we were in the car.

We meet with the vet again, who tells us Zoey's lungs did inflate some and some air has been removed from her chest cavity, but that she is in critical condition and the suffereing she is in was not leading to her getting better.  The vet did not know whether there was a tear or pull in her esophagus, her lung, or a lung lobe, and keeping Zoey on oxygen for two days would be around $3,000., and then we would have to send her to a specialist to have the surgery, if she survived.

William made the decision to put her to sleep.  We mourned.  William and Judson rode back with us, and Judson ran through the gammit of not ever wanting another dog, to why didn't they go to Austin, to wanting to get another dog, to hating the leash, to just crying.

William and Judson went home Sunday afternoon and had to tell Penni and Makenzie.

I can not get Judson's hysterical banging on the doors and crying out of my mind.  We had not received any rain and the ground had huge cracks in it.  I am amazed that he didn't trip and fall or have his foot slip in the crack and break his foot.  Judson relieves the events and talks about them in vivid detail with Penni.

Harley and Zoey were staying on Mom and Dad's screened-in porch during the day.  William had left to go meet Johnny.  Judson was on the front porch gathering all his fishing gear, because we were supposed to go to Athens that afternoon.  Harley somehow got out and was running around.  Judson got a leash and put Zoey on it to try to get Harley to come back.  It was Harley's leash, and he bites at it sometimes when he's on it.  Judson was walking up Mom and Dad's driveway, barefooted, when Zoey saw Harley, and she lunged.  The dog leash broke and Zoey ran up the driveway and out in to the road where she was struck.  Judson ran back and got Granny, who drove to the end of the driveway, and then he ran across the street to get me.  What a horrible, horrible day.

A Plant, A Planet, and A Plan

A Plant

In my childhood days, I belonged to a Girl Scout troop. I stayed in scouting from the time I was a Brownie until I was a Cadet. (We moved within the city, and my new neighborhood did not have an active troop, so I did not finish beyond Cadet, unfortunately.) We always had summer day camp during the third week of June. The summer camp occurring on my 9th birthday, I remember three distinctive events--camp leaders killed a Copperhead snake, my Mom became seriously ill with the flu, and we learned about Poison Ivy. Mom recovered but still feels guilty to this day because we didn't celebrate my birthday until she was better. I have seen many other snakes and killed a couple, myself. We learned about Poison Ivy because a girl in our group unknowingly played in and with it. We had to use plants to create a project. This girl rubbed the poison ivy all over her face, arms, and of course her hands were inundated with it, too. I never saw the girl again, but my Mom remembered her and had seen her Mom, and she told me the girl had been violently ill. I still remember the saying they taught us so we could identify the horrible plant, "If it's three, let it be; if it's five, keep it alive." Well, the learning didn't stick, but it didn't need to do so, at least during my childhood years. I was not allergic to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Poison Sumac. I am now, though, and I have a small amount of Poison Ivy in my front flower bed, which I weed barehanded as I walk to get the mail or after watering my flowers or whenever I see a weed. I did not realize there was Poison Ivy there when I weeded two weeks ago, but it sent me a reminder, Saturday. I have seen two doctors, had two creams, pills, and a shot prescribed to treat the ills of this despised plant!

A Planet

Being the third rock from the sun is the perfect location in our solar system. Being in Texas is the perfect place to enjoy our closest star’s heat, light, sunrises and sunsets, and all the life that vitamin D brings. I love summer. I love a Texas summer, notwithstanding the summer of 1980. I don’t get hot until temps are 110 or higher. While others walk in the shade, I walk on the sunny side of the street. I hold dear that time of the year when I can wear my strapless tops, feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulders and back. I open the shades and enjoy the sun’s light instead of Edison’s.

I do have a weakness, or maybe it’s that the sun has baked my brain, I don’t always wear sunscreen or put on enough sunscreen. As a result, I sometimes get sunburned, not badly, but sunburned nonetheless. I have been lightly sunburned three times this year and within days, I have this strange red rash. After seeing the dermatologist for the Poison Ivy, I learned that the "red rash" was a chemical burn, and I am allergic to the sun. Having had high doses of radiation for treating breast cancer in 1994-1995 combined with an over exposure to the sun and age created the allergy. So, what do I do with an allergy to the sun when I refuse to become a recluse or a night owl?

A Plan

In 1951, Dylan Thomas wrote to his dying father Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, and I have chosen to follow his advice to rage, rage against the dying of the light. While it may cost a little more to enjoy being outside—100spf sunscreens, UPF Omni-Shade clothing, my adorable hat (even though I am the only person who likes my hat, besides, all Southern ladies have an outdoor hat: see Ouiser Boudreaux, Steel Magnolias), and my ever-present sunglasses—I will continue to go outside. I will continue to enjoy the Texas sun. I will see you on the water.

Day 81 of British Petroleum's Gulf Coast Oil Spill

I listened to the news yesterday on Day 80 of British Pertroleum's oil spill, and I thought about something that was not covered in the PBS report.

Yes, there were many people interviewed who expressed outrage and frustration.  Yes, there were people interviewed whose very livelihoods hung in a delicate balance.  Yes, people representing the "general public" expressed anger, but these expressions seem to be for media only.

Anger, outrage, and frustration seem to be reasonable and understandable emotions, and having traveled recently through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, it is a topic about which people are discussing and newspapers and tv news are continually reporting, but there is something missing--genuine public outrage and accountability.

I heard reported that BP's CEO, Tony Hayward, visited Saudia Arabia, purportedly to raise cash to pay for the Gulf Coast's clean-up.  The up-swing is that BP's stock is on the rise, and, if things remain the same, I would say it is a good investment.  I am not 100% certain, but I believe BP's financial backer is the British government, itself.

My first encounter with a BP gas station was in 1996 as my brother, Mom, and I traveled from San Leandro to Yosemite National Park.  We fueled at a BP just outside the Park.  BP stations in Texas are few and far between, but cross in to the Southeast, and there is a BP on every corner, and at busy intersections, two on the corner. 

I expected with all the outrage I had seen reported on the news that BP would be suffering financially.  What I saw was the opposite of what I expected.  Never, and this is not a hyperbolic statement but a sad, literal truth, was there a BP gas station without customers, customers buying fuel, not just shopping at the convenience store.  It appears that the outrage is good for soundbytes only.  If people are truly outraged with BP's performance, and lack thereof, why are they continuing to support BP by purchasing their petroleum?  Finances, offering the least expensive gas, is not the reason.  The majority of the time, the BP stations were not the least expensive stations, nor were they "the last station for the next 100 miles" stations.  If the public intends to make a meaningful statement and really impact BP, boycott their petroleum!  Otherwise, why should BP care about what we have to say if our actions contradict us?

Day 10

9:45 p.m., and home, we arrived, 909 miles later.

We left Pigeon Forge at 8:30.  The hotel's continental breakfast was lousy, so we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast, filled the tank, and headed to Knoxville and I-40.  We traveled non-stop as much as possible, stopping three times for gas and hitting the McDonald's drive-through for lunch and Dairy Queen (not like Texas' Dairy Queens but good nonetheless) for supper.  Mom drove after lunch from Nashville to Little Rock.  We saw an horrific accident on the eastbound side, and encountered a semi/van accident on our side.  We were near the accident on our side, so our slow-down was minimal.

We reached Mom and Dad's, and Dad had locked the back porch door.  I phoned Dad on Mom's mobile saying, "Let us in, let us in by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin!" and Dad wanted to know why I wanted him to unlock the back porch door.  I told Dad that we were outside, and he couldn't believe it.  Dad thought we were crazy and couldn't belive we had driven so far.

Mom and I were definitely glad to sleep in our own beds waking without an agenda.  I loved this trip, and I hope Mom doesn't wait another five years before we go on another trip!

Day 9

We headed across North Carolina to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!  It took us a bit of a drive, but we left Williamsburg destined for cooler temperatures.


Mom wanted to see the Smokies after looking at William and Penni's Springbreak Pictures, so it became our last destination, and it was a favorite.  We hit an afternoon rain storm that really cooled Mom off (temps dropped to a chilly 66 degrees).

We opted not to go through Cherokee and drove the Blue Ridge Parkway, instead.  Mom loved the mountains, tunnels, and peaceful sounds of the Oconaluftee River as it meandered along its bed.  I saw something I had never seen before--a rabble of Swallowtail Butterflies.  I have never seen a rabble before, and I just stood their amazed that I could see some of the butterflies' proboscsis drinking from the wet moss at the foot of exposed tree roots. 

Mom needed to get out and walk around, so we stopped at the Kephart Prong Trail bridge.  Mom walked around the trailhead admiring the quiet sounds of nature and the enclosed feeling provided by the towering trees.  We snapped some pictures of Magnolia buds, and of course, I got some photos of Mom.

Traveling on towards the park's Appalachian Trail (which is also the Tennessee/North Carolina boundary), we came to a small clearing where two dozen cars were parked and people thronged the side of the road.  Black Bear in tree, what else?  Mom has earned the title "Bear Whisperer."  Last year, on Mom's first visit to Yellowstone National Park, she and Cody see a baby Black Bear.  This year, Mom's first visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, she and I see a juvenile Black Bear.  The Ole Girl is two for two in bear sightings.  This bear munched non-chalantly on tree leaves really initially unaware that he garnered so much attention.  However, a couple of people talked so loudly, it attracted the bear's attention.  The bear began shimmying down the tree quickly.  So this one idiot moves closer to the tree, so the bear stops his descent and hisses, loudly I might say.  At this point, I take off running (afterall, I have heard the bear stories in the Read Right books, and I had no intention for Mom or me to become the topic of a new bear story).  After the bear hissed, he continued descending, then jumped the remaining 11 feet and lumbered off in to the woods.

Mom and I continued on our journey.  Cloud cover and rain descended over Clingman's Dome, and even though the new road opened, we traveled maybe a mile before realizing that the clouds and rain prevented us from seeing anything, so we decided to continue on to Pigeon Forge.  Our descent in to Tennessee continued to provide scenic, breathtaking views of the mountains, which really are blue in appearance.  Even though the Sugarlands Visitor Center stays open an hour later than the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, our gawk at the bear caused us to miss touring the visitor center. 

We reached Pigeon Forge (gratefully by-passing Gatlinburg, the most redneck place in the South; I swear the War Between the States is still being fought and is alive and well, and you might run in to General Lee and General Jackson).  Pigeon Forge was an eye-opener and a lively, little redneck tourist trap, but we were only staying the night, so after eating at McAllister's Deli, we headed back to our hotel. 

According to Cody's GPS, it is 909 miles from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to Palmer, Texas, but Mom and I are going to try to make it home tomorrow evening.  We will cross in to the Central Time Zone, so we do gain an hour.  Mom is tired and ready to eat and sleep at home, so travel we will.  It has been a great vacation, though!

Day 8

Hot, H-O-T hot!  Virginia is having a heat wave with temps in the high 90s and feels-like temps in the mid-100s.  The weather disappointed me for Mom, who has wanted to always go to Williamsburg. 

We enjoyed the morning at the George Wythe (prounounced with) home.  Why history ignores George Wythe, I do not know.  Not only a signer of the Declaration of Independence, George Wythe taught Thomas Jefferson law, became the first professor of law at The College of William and Mary, was mayor of Williamsburg, a self-taught scientist, a member of the House of Burgesses, and designer of the Seal of Virginia, to name some of his many accomplishments. 

In scoorching heat, we walked to the DeWitt Museum.  Originally, it was the first hospital dedicated to the humane treatment of the mentally ill in British North America.  Today, it is a museum dedicated to both the mentally ill and colonial America.

After lunch, we toured the Capitol, which quickly became Mom's favorite place.  The Capitol is two houses joined by a bridge.  We toured the Lower House, the House of Burgesses, walked upstairs to the Upper House, the House of Lords, and then to the courtroom.  We left and enjoyed a root beer at the Raleigh Tavern Bakery.  As we left, we were invited to a sing-along at the Raleigh Tavern's Apollo Room, where musicals, plays, and ballads begin in this country.

Heat began overtaking us, so we headed back to the car.  We drove around Williamsburg seeing the old and new, and Mom announced that she wanted eggs, so iHOP it was.

Seeing that Thursday's temperatures are going to be higher than today's, we decided to head to the Smoky Mountains a day earlier than planned.

Day 7

Not Gulliver's Travels, but travels nonetheless.  Originally, we planned to take the Outerbanks to Williamsburg, so Mom and I left Charleston traveling up U.S. 17.  Getting through Myrtle Beach was a crawl.  However, once we crossed the South/North Carolina border, we stopped at the North Carolina Visitor Center, where a very gracious lady helped us plan our route.  Learning we had to schedule a ferry ride that would last 2.5 hours and then take another ferry and travel across the Outerbanks would take 12 hours, Mom and I decided to cut through North Carolina using its backroads.  With all the small towns and speed zone changes, we made it to Williamsburg around 6 p.m. 

Mom and I drove around Colonial Williamsburg looking for a place to stay, and decided on the LaQuinta about two miles from the Visitor's Center.  We then visited the VC for a map and orienting us on the activities for the week, so we could plan which day to go to Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown and which day to visit Williamsburg.

Riding in a car does not seem like much of a challenge, but it does wear me out!  Great company and conversation, though!

Day 6

Mom chose Magnolia Plantation (yeah!), so up the Ashley River we went.  After enjoying a delicious continental breakfast, we headed 12 miles northwest of Charleston to the Magnolia Plantation which has been owned by the same family for 14 contiguous generations.  Like Charles Kuralt, I love going to this place.  500 year old Live Oaks line the drive, so perspective is established from the start.  We bought tickets to the grounds, the Audubon Swamp, and the house tour.  Mom liked the swamp tour, best.

Prior to the swamp tour, we toured one of the many gardens.  Flowers, especially Hydrangeas, bloomed all-around.  A majority of the magnolias had already blossomed, but we did see some trees with flowers on them.  Riding aboard the tram to take the Audubon Swamp tour, we saw several alligators in different swamps, several Snake Birds, ducklings, a beautiful Blue Heron, and deer.  Original slave quarters dotted the landscape, and we saw the oldest  pre-historic Indian mound on the east coast, which John Drayton Hastie refused the Smithsonian to excavate including writing this stipulation in his will).  Ending our day with the house tour, we saw some beautiful pieces of furniture, including a Chippendale bookshelf.

We headed back to Charleston, eating at the posh Palmetto Cafe, where Mom got me to try arrugala (yuck, ekk) for the first time.  Mom dined on scrumptious chicken salad, and I enjoyed a delicious seafood club.  Then, we took a walking tour down E. Bay Street to South of Broad, and on to Battery Park.  I had to leave Mom at Battery Park, because I had walked her to death.  I scurried up Meeting Street to our car, drove to pick her up, and we drove King Street visiting its design, apparel, and antiques districts.  We also looked for Trademark Properties, Richard Davis' business, but we could not find it, disappointingly so.  Exhasuted, we headed back to the inn.

Tomorrow, it is to Williamsburg via North Carolina's Outerbanks!  Lighthouses, yippee!

Day 5

We drove from Savannah to Charleston, which differed greatly form last year's birthday drive.  Mom thought I would be disappointed, but I was not.  We got to Charleston around noon, found our inn, and went to Ft. Sumter.  We enjoyed a nice, a/c ferry ride and pretty afternoon at Fort Sumter.

Driving down Meeting Street to our inn, Mom spotted a restaurant named Sticky Fingers and decided that is where she wanted to eat.  It was across the street from where we had to park the car (2 1/2 blocks away from the inn).  Come to find out, Sticky Fingers was bar-b-que, delicious bar-b-que, with a complimentary peach cobbler for dessert.

Afterwards, Mom relaxed in our wonderful room at Meeting Street Inn, and I took off with my camera.  It was a nice Sunday evening with few tourists.  I snapped many photos of historic buildings.  This birthday, while different from many others, was a great birthday.  I enjoyed sightseeing and spending the day with Mom.  We had a great time.  Being 44 is turning out to be pretty good.

Tomorrow, we are visiting a plantation and touring the city.

Day 4

Trolley tour, sight-seeing, and singing, oh my!

We enjoyed riding the trolley seeing Savannah's historic district and learning about Mr. Lincoln's 1864 Christmas present.  We returned to many sites we saw on the tour, lingering at a leisurely pace.  We lunched at the Six Pence Pub, where Hollywood filmed Something to Talk About with Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid.  Mom ate Shepard's pie.  We planned with the concergie, Calvin (who could be The Lady Chablis slightly chubby sibling), to attend "Cousin Billy's" matinee performance of Southern Nights at the Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square.  Walking around the square, we saw Juliette Gordon Low's home (yes, many Girl Scouts were there), Mom made a friend on a bench, and I saw where Zemeckis placed Forrest Gump's bench and filmed the floating feather.

Southern Nights delighted us, immensely!  It was a great performance of American music through the generations and genres with a few audience sing-alongs, and Maynard's, "Hey, now!" stole the show.  I met Billy's cousin, Matthew, and we enjoyed talking about the Capers clan.  Mr. Capers has never given me bad advice, but going to see Cousin Matthew has to be his best advice to me!

We leisurely strolled back to the hotel in a light rainstorm and headed out to spend time with Robert Louis Stevenson's ghost at The Pirate's House.  I ate the best linguini I have ever had in my life, and enjoyed touring around the oldest part of the city.  We learned that Stevenson stayed at The Pirate's House while writing Treasure Island.  Some of the more interesting tales were that men would come in to have a drink, the pirates would get them drunk to where they passed out, and then the pirates carried them through the secret tunnel to the ships at port.  When the unsuspecting locals awoke, they were already well at sea.  One such "victim" was Savannah's chief of police.  It took him two years to get back, but he was quoted as having the time of his life.

We ended the day at Bonaventure Cemetery, but the Bird Girl statue is not there any longer; instead, her home is now in the Telfair Museum.  We left before the hoodoo could begin.  Tomorrow, it's on to Charleston.