Texas here we come!

It's official, we are on our way to Texas February 28 for a month. Al is so excited he is ready to go tomorrow! I'm getting there. It will be nice to be able to be in the warm sun, and spend time with mom. I'm taking all of my work stuff: computer, printer, scanner, paper, etc, etc, etc, and will be able to work from the table in the camper, or out on the picnic table or in the truck or wherever. It really is a gift to be able to do this, and I'm so grateful for the changes in work, even though I really didn't want it in the first place. Who wouldn't love to work in this setting? And to tell the truth, I will probably be a bit bored at times so it will be nice to have that to do.

Of course, this is where Al and I and the dogs will be living FOR A MONTH! We will probably be so tired of the cramped space we will want to scream, but I guess that's just more motivation to get a different (read: bigger!) camper. At least we did figure out how to put a king bed in there, so that will be nice.

And this is the street that we will drive/walk everyday:

And this is what Al will be doing everyday:

And again the next day:

Hopefully he will catch this:

Instead of this:

And this will be where we spend a lot of time. If you look closely mom, Doug and Al are there.

This is where we watch the dolphins play:

And where I TRY to capture the pelicuns flying.

This one actually isn't bad, but I WILL have better ones this year.

And this is the sunrise when I take my walk on the beach with mom every morning.

Ok, now I'm really ready!

Just had to post this one!

Al and Tai, asleep as can be. Al snoring, Tai cozy as a bug in the warmth of Al's butt! Sorry, but it was cute. He's going to kill me when he finds out about posting it, but what the heck......

New Arrival

Appropriate for today

Sunday I went through old paperwork that I hadn't had a chance to deal with and sorted, tossed, filed and scanned everything. I found a folder that was Matt's from high school. It looks like it was from a writing class of somekind. As I read through them, I found two writings that he must have written 5 or 6 years ago, but they are appropriate for today. I'm not completely sure he can be credited for them, or if someone else wrote them, but I like them so I thought I would share one today. I will save the other one for a later date!

It is time for a change.

Time for a change in the way we are
A change in the way we live
In the way we work in the factories
In the way we buy fancy things
In the way we drive without care
In the way we consume without a watchful eye

It is time for a change
A change in the way we act
In the way we play together
In the way we argue against each other
In the way we talk with each other
In the way that we walk by each other

It is time for a change
A change in the way we love
In the way we care for the sick
In the way we help the needy
In the way we treat each other
In the way we love each other
It is time for a chance, for it will not happen on its own.

So it's official.

We officially have tied the record for the coldest day EVER in Waterloo. It was -34 yesterday morning. Of course it really doesn't feel much different at -34 than it does at zero, but it's the mental thing of it. -34! I know it's not Wyoming cold, but it's cold. Now, after I just wrote that I was curious what the coldest and snowiest has been. Here you go:

Wyoming: coldest temp: -63 on Feb 9, 1933 at Moran, highest temp: 114, on July 12, 1900 in Basin. Annual precipitation (rain & snow): 5" to 45" depending on the year.

Iowa: coldest temp (statewide): -47 on Jan 12, 1912 in Washata (never heard of it) and again on Feb 3, 1996 in Elkader, highest temp: 118 on July 20, 1934 in Keokuk. Anual precipitation (rain & snow): 26" to 36", although last year Iowa ranged from 34" to 75" of precipitation. We had around 54" of snow last winter season, 4th highest ever. But we are on track right now to beat that. We have already had 35" this year and it's only January.

There you have it....your useless knowledge for the day!

Matt's Birthday

Matthew turns 23 on Sunday. We are going out with him in Cedar Falls tomorrow night (we were told not to stay out all night. (maybe he has a new chick he might meet later, or else we might just cramp his style in case he meets one)). LOL....On Sunday we are having dinner at the house with everybody. Wish it was nice out so that we could grill, but oh well. He said he wanted Famous Dave's like food. So I'm thinking roast chicken, pulled pork and I might try to do a brisket. Al is making cornbread, and probably will have potatoes and green beans.
Nothing else exciting going on this week, just working.
Have a good weekend!

A new year, but thinking of family that are gone

We are home from Wyoming, and it's back to work tomorrow. We had a nice trip. Short, but nice. And a bonus: nice weather (at least on the way home). We had freezing rain again last night but it wasn't too bad. Only .10 inch or so, but enough to make it very slick. Needless to say we didn't go anywhere today. Matt and Sarah came and visited, though, even with the icky roads. They said Highway 21 was fine, Dysart was a little slick.

While we were at mom's, she and I scanned in some old pictures that Grandma Sara had at her house and I thought I would share a couple of them.

This one is Grandpa Lawrence with a couple antelope. It looks like it was at the ranch. He looks quite young, maybe early 20's I would bet.

This is one of Grandma Sara when she was a child. I just like this one. She was very cute.

And last, but not least......one of us. Looks to be maybe 1978 or so I think.