I Live in the Heart of Ranger-Baseball Territory

So, this happened. 

For those unfamiliar with the reference, my Arizona Diamondbacks
are headed to the World Series to play the Texas Rangers. 

 

 

Protip

 When going out to eat with a group of people to a restaurant in the South, never sit in the middle of the table. You will be expected to give the blessing before the meal. I learned this early and I position myself strategically.  

I Went to Alabama

 No, no, not THAT Alabama. Oh please! The PTSD alone keeps me away. But then there's the whole statute of limitations... I honestly don't know when they expire. But that's another story for another blog. 

This weekend, I'm in New Orleans with a few of the ladies I know from Texarkana. We went to the Alabama Concert. Randy Owens looks old. His granddaughter is playing in the band now. 

Expedia Isn't Helping Her

This video is less than two minutes and VERY accurate. Especially the mosquitos, gas stations and well, all of it. 

(Here it is if the link doesn't work: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HJoEtEGRsDw)

Corona Party

Yesterday, I went to see Menopause, The Musical. It was freakishly accurate. 

There were 12 of us who sojourned the hour drive to Shreveport for this occasion. Afterwards, we had a surprise party for Tessa, who turned 70 69. Deb, her very best buddy in the whole wide world, swore to us it was Tessa's 70th. I was pretty sure it was not. No matter, Tessa was surprised and doesn't look a day over 35.

On the way back, Gail and I watched the Rangers-Cheaters Astros game on her phone in the back seat of Deb's car while Leah looked like she wanted to be anywhere other than listening to us talk baseball. In the front seat, Tessa and Deb were doing their very best impersonation of Bliz and me on a road trip (Tessa/Me: "Now turn there. No, not there. I meant there." Deb/Bliz: "Get it together before I make you walk!").

I love being with perpetually happy people who make me laugh. 

Suzy, Ginny and Linda couldn't make it.
This is the rest of us. 

Adulthood

This guy is 21 today. Where did the time go? 

Buck is my comedian and my storyteller. He is my hard working, "I can't hear you, if you are suggesting to me it can't be done," kid. 

In addition to all that, he is the one who threw back all my patented teenaged snarkiness in my face. I had it coming. My mother promised when I was 13, I'd have a kid just like me. I couldn't be happier with the one she ordered up. 

I'm so proud of Buck's childhood journey. I can't wait to see what's in store for him because I know he has a bright future in front of him. 

And yes, he was the one driving the boat--by himself in the Gulf of Mexico.
(Uncle Sunshine was close by to take over if necessary)

Ode to Joy

A wonderful and amazing Arizona friend pointed out recently life is too short for ickiness and it is always better to surround myself with activities and people who bring me joy. This was in reference to the September Ladies Auxiliary meeting. Though I haven't formally quit, I suspect they are as excited at the prospect of me being one of them as I am of staying on with them. 

As if I needed additional reinforcement, one woman recently sent out a group text, asking for help with a small side project. I responded I could be available. She wrote back to the group, "who is this?"  Okay... I've been hanging with all'y'all for almost a year and you couldn't be bothered to put my phone number in your contacts. Got it. For that matter, I know my name pops up as potential Facebook friend suggestion. None of them acknowledge this. That's okay. I don't acknowledge them either. 

Even Polly noticed a sharp contrast between how our church operates and the way the social structure functions at the Church of Christ. Ever the optimist, Polly thinks with more time, the Catholic Church could become more friendly and outgoing. The cliquishness they have exhibited since Texarkana was established 125 years ago would just dissipate if our parish just saw the bigger picture. After almost two years of attending there, I hold no such illusions and am grateful my Church of Christ pals let me be me. 

Circling back to the issue at hand, this week is the Ladies Auxiliary meeting. Originally it was on the 12th. But several folks (including me) couldn't make it. So, someone unilaterally thought moving it to the 11th was the answer. That same someone also made an executive decision to hold the meeting at some horrid overpriced restaurant with terrible food where I happen to be allergic to a good portion of the menu. I could suggest we change the venue (like to the church hall after dinner or to my living room, also after dinner) but then I'd be committed to going. Instead, tomorrow, I have a pressing commitment I cannot avoid: the Diamondbacks' playoff game. 

It was also suggested if one couldn't make the overpriced restaurant on Wednesday night, just call into the meeting. Apparently there's a lot to discuss this week about future Church activities. Nope. Not doing it. Last time I showed up I was told I was the new secretary. I countered with, No, I am not the new secretary.  

The writing is on the wall. I'm not cut out for this group. I'm trying to figure out a way to bow out gracefully. But nobody will be surprised. There are a few folks in there I really do connect with on a personal level. As a group, not so much. I think I'd like them better if I could just help out when the church needed help and avoid the stupid meetings. 

After the Flood

I spent four hours Friday cleaning up the yard from the storm. I put down more soil and mulch. My front yard looks amazing. The garden is still producing tomatoes. 

Where my car should go. 

Marty and I spent Saturday shoveling out the garage from the flood. We lost a lot of pointless empty Amazon boxes as well as several other things we shipped from Arizona that we probably don't need anyway. In the process, we emptied seven or eight plastic totes and a few more Arizona boxes. 

I now have the space to park my car in the garage, if I so chose to do so. But that would require Buck NOT to park his car right in front of the garage door. Therefore, I have a really spacious workshop.

Where Buck's car goes.

Though the yard and the garage look fabulous, the weekend's task came with a horrible price. My back is killing me. Rarely do I feel "old." But right now I do. I'm sure mobility will return in a day or so.

I Didn't Sign Up For This Either

 It rained today. 

A lot. 

Here are a few random Texarkana pictures, which really do not do this water justice. These were all taken by folks who braved the weather and posted them on Texarkana-specific web sites. Incidentally, I recognize all of these particular places and they are less than two miles from my home. 

What I didn't take a picture of was the water level that was about a couple of inches below my garage's  electrical outlet around 1 p.m. today. That was a fun ordeal. Polly and I became very creative while we worked to get the water out of the garage and build a make-shift barrier to stop it from coming back in. Sigh... I didn't need that area rug that we used because I didn't have sandbags.  

On Friday, the first day the sun is supposed to shine, I will be cleaning out the garage. Sadly, the furniture I'd set aside to refinish this winter is probably ruined too. Too bad, I'd found four really nice pieces. The good news is water didn't get to the freezer, which was at the back of the garage. However, it got under the freezer.