The Weather is not always good in Paradise, But it is sure better than other places.

I have just lived throught 5 days of very cold and wet weather here in the Valley. Temps here dropped 40 degrees as two fronts back to back made their journey from the North country throught Texas and out into the Gulf.  We actually had 2 days of almost steady rain that turns the dirt and gravel roads with the park into a gumbo stew.  Luckily most of the roads here are paved but I am not so fortunate. My site borders on the new expansion area with hundreds of feet of exposed water, electric and sewer ditches. When it rains the area is truly sticky and some of that stuff flows where my travelway is.  But my site is high enough that I am not too impacted.

View from their Room

Lee, Jay, Rita and Bob

Lee, Jay and I journeyed to South Padre Island to visit out friends Bob and Rita from Iowa.  They are spending several days on the Island as a precursor to an annual trip to Savannah Georgia for their annual St. Patty's day celebration. They stayed at the Northern End of the Island here.The day we were there had temps in the high 60s with light winds.We ate a little. Drank a little and told stories on the other a lot.  It was a great reunion. I hope to see then In San Antonio, Texas as I make my way back north in March.

Speaking of eating...We have a snowbird restaurateur team here in the park.  He and his wife have an eating establishment back home in Michigan that family members run when they head south for the winter. Every week he and his wife prepare a soup and salad meal as a fun raiser for the activities club.  This week they added on a spaghetti supper of shrimp Alfredo or Italian meatballs. I acted as a waiter for 2 hours and had a blast giving complete service to my assigned tables.  It was well received and will happen again in February featuring a different main course.
Who says you can not teach an old dog new tricks!

Donuts, Dice,Dinner and Drink

5 'aces'

I went on my first ever "Poker Run".  The purpose of this event is to be a fund raiser for the activities program here at the park.  Each person pays $11 upfront for a chance to be the sole winner of $100 at the end of the game.   There are 5 stops involved.  At each stop we support the local food or drink vendor first. Then each person rolls a cup of 5 dice and we count the number of '1's (aces) for each person.  After we return to the park the one with the most aces wins the pot.

Notice the straight out red flag!

The weather was really raw today. It was rainy, temps in the 40s and 30 mph winds off the Gulf. Yet 38 resort people here used cars, trucks and vans  to travel 70 miles for a day of fun, food and fellowship. Stop 1 was a bakery in the town of Rio Hondo 31 miles from the park.  This was the community that I use to winter in.  I rolled 2 aces. The highest rolled was 4.  After 30 more miles we made Stop 2 - an outside beach bar on South Padre Island gulf. I rolled 2 aces. The highest rolled was 4.  Stop 3, five miles away, was a bar on the bay. I rolled 2 aces again.  The highest rolled 3.  Stop 4, three miles away, was an all u can eat fish restaurant. My luck changed...I rolled 1 ace (bummer).  The highest was 3. On Our return to the park I roll another ace.   Well the winner had 11 aces and all I got out of this was a great time with good food and drink.  Now I am back in the RV. I have the fireplace on to take the chill out and a kindle book that I have just downloaded to read.  Life could be worst. I am good.

Lots of signs at the beach bar...

Ive got friends in low places....

and can spell?

2011 and a New Year is Beginning

Life is good even when you lose the Orange Bowl

Tux is required for NYE Party

Daisy and I for a night out dancing

Its the beginning of a new year with lots of promise.  Mine began with a "bang" or rather I should say a pop! After dressing accordingly for a festive party in the resort clubhouse, I partially opened a magnum sized bottle of champagne by removing the wire harness that holds the cork in.  I walked away from the table to get a cloth to help me twist the cork out and ....yep a very loud pop echoed in the club house. At my table the flying cork flew up 20 feet into the ceiling leaving a dent that will out live my presence. Mean while the contents of the bottle decided to put on a foaming exhibition like Mt St. Helens at its peak. Needless to say I will be remembered for a long time by my table mates and the recipient table of the orbiting cork on its re-entry.

Purple Jellyfish high and dry-docked

Surf fishing score

Since many of the winter Texans here are from multiple time zones, we had to celebrate the coming new year in three time zones. Lots of hugs and kisses this night. The evening started with pulled pork and coleslaw that was provided by the park management with the rest of us snowbirds making heavy snacks.  Needless to say I had a great time dancing and eating and partaking of the remnants of the sparkling bottled volcano. My friend Daisy came down from Virginia for a short visit and with others we went across the border and dined in Mexico and even walked the beaches of South Padre Island.  (You will see a repeating theme from me on the Island and crossing the border activities so might as well get used to it!)

Janet and Barry with Mickey. Met them 6 years ago in ND

 French Canadian Continent-- Roseaire,Daisy, Petra, John-Paul and Sharon

It is great hooking up with "old" people who are important to you, and meeting "new" ones. I have been accepted in the French Canadian social circle here and am a recurring guest at their social and golfing events. They make it a point to let me know when they are talking about me. But I may have to start learning French if I come back here next winter season! We even have people here from the Netherlands. My Dutch is just as bad as my French!

Border crossing with Lee and Daisy

Yep, this Canadian even had a kilt.

Last winter season I was recovering from appendicitis, but this season I am making up for it! Though I sure wish my golf game would reflect such improvement. There is a valley dance to be found every night of the week and different people in attendance. Even some with bagpipes!
I begin this year with a quest for enlightenment and contentment. With God's help it will be just that. Check back later for new adventures of this Seeker.