Small Town Living

Found on the Texarkana FB's site. The man had been pulled over for speeding*. He explained to the officer he was having a "bad day" and was on his way to a funeral. He then commented he couldn't even get his tie tied. 

So, this happened. 

*The article didn't state if the guy still got a speeding ticket. I will tell you, around here, on any given Sunday morning, if a police officer pulls someone over and the motorist says they are late for church, there's a good chance the driver will get off with warning. 

Didn't I Hear It Was 117 Degrees There?

I'm Arizona bound tomorrow--provided my flight takes off at 6 a.m. Otherwise, I'm making a mad-dash to Dallas to catch my 8:30 a.m. flight to Phoenix because, American Airlines changed my flight and "helped" me by giving me an earlier flight. I originally had a 10 a.m. flight which would have been a great continency if the Texarkana flight is nixed. Crossing my fingers and toes this flight isn't cancelled. 

And don't even get me started about how American Airlines "helped" me by changing my flight home by giving me 30 minutes to go from terminal C to terminal E at DFW to catch the last flight of the day back to Texarkana. I waited on hold 90 minutes remedy that batch of chaos. 

This trip has been nine months in the making. Bliz, Pammy and Bucky and I are staying at an AirBNB in Tucson where we hang out by the pool and sip adult beverages for three days. We are doing this in Arizona because Bliz was already using her vacation to Dad-sit while her mother is gone for a spell, so she was already in the state. Next time I'm holding out for Maine, Greenland or the Southern Hemisphere--anywhere cooler than Arizona. 

Random Texarkana

A lovely and large hospital in Texarkana where
Buckaroo works on Tuesdays.
 

The kids and I are on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for health insurance. As of July 1, the hospital (and its affiliate services and doctors) in Texarkana--which happens to be the only hospital in a 70 mile radius--no longer takes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

I'll wait here while you read that again, scratch your head and process what I wrote. Take your time. 

Here's the funner parts of the above paragraph: health insurance companies won't let folks change policies outside of "open enrollment"--which happens to be around November. Therefore, we are stuck with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for our health insurance. We can also change insurance next April and be added on to Marty's garbage perfectlywonderfulandhowcouldIhavethoughtanythingotherwise? health insurance when his company has their own open enrollment. 

And the funnest part: the only insurance the local hospital (and its affiliate services and doctors) will take--other than Marty's health insurance happens to be their own in-house insurance (available in November!). Guess what? The price of their own in-house insurance just went through the roof. 

___________________

Luna is home from the hospital. Marty, Polly and Buck all got happy greetings. The Overlords crept in and stared to see if they were welcome. When Luna didn't growl, Roosevelt gave her a nose-boop-hello. Leon (our resident thug) carried away one of Luna's prized toys and didn't look back. 

Luna still isn't speaking to me for abandoning her. Her health is sorta better, but it is relative. Last Sunday night I wasn't holding out much hope. I'm more hopeful right now but right now Luna will eat a few ounces for Polly, and only Polly. 

___________________

This past week--and I swear I'm not making this up--I went hunting for the airport. Why? Because the City of Texarkana (Arkansas) moved it. I'm glad I went searching, because next week my flight leaves at 6 a.m. and given one now has to drive two miles down some winding country road, I might have missed it. By the way, there's still one gate. I hear TSA at the Texarkana airport is still ultra-militant and it doesn't matter if I have a Known Traveler Number. TSA Texarkana Arkansas doesn't honor it. Plus,  everyone checks their carry-on for the first leg of this flight. I'm curious to find out if the new airport has a  jetway or if the airport is still using the metal staircase in homage to 1954.  

Oh yeah... next week I'm heading to Arizona.   

Luna Update

Too sick to lift her head.

Luna is in the vet hospital, under sedation and being pumped full of antibiotics. She's going to be there until probably Wednesday, when she will walk out with a full and miraculous recovery. Right? 

Right??? 

I think Marty is more worried about me than her. The Overlords are looking around everywhere for her. They are so unnerved by the change in scenery, that they aren't even willing to steal her toys right now. 

Doc. P. said I can call "any time" but I doubt he means it. He also said I could stop by if I needed to, but cautioned it would be harder on Luna if I did--especially if she wasn't ready to go home. 

When I checked yesterday afternoon, she still hadn't eaten anything. Doc is supposed to "reevaluate" her this morning and will give me an update when I call at exactly 8 a.m. for an update. 

Back and Forth

I'm home from my first June vacation--a bittersweet time with Marty and extended family. Yesterday, Marty and I drove through multiple thunderstorms in six states during our eight hour travel, coming home to what Buck and Polly swore was a "clean house." It probably was and I just missed it. We also came home to kittens who have doubled in size but have some unfortunate (but curable) issue that now needs to be addressed by the vet. And, we came home to an ailing Luna, who is only worse for wear. Polly had taken her to the vet last week where she found out Luna had lost 5 pounds in two weeks.

Our travels took us to the East coast of Florida, where we hung out for a few days. We then went to our old stomping grounds, the West side of Florida where we visited Marty's Uncle Sunshine, who though near 80, is still one of the most positive and dynamic people I've ever met. And as much as I loved seeing my brothers, I doubly loved visiting with Uncle Sunshine. 

One of the great (or icky--you decide) aspects about driving is the amount of conversation possible. I'm not gonna lie, I had a few talking points chambered for Marty and I managed to get most of them in before we made it to Alabama on our drive to Florida last week. Marty and I have a few changes we are implementing. It's long-term plan and requires a lot of moving parts, but the outcome is promising and I recognize necessary and best for the Sunshine family. Sadly, part of that plan means I might giving up a few things, but I'll be okay. More on that when there's more to share. 

It turns out I'm at that age where I take pictures of birds when I'm on vacation. I'll spare you and only post two. 

For the record, that is not an owl.
That's an Anhinga. 

A pelican hanging out on Matlacha Island

My little brothers at a nature preserve
somewhere in Palm Beach County Florida. 

The view from the Airbnb on Matlacha Island

Buckaroo Update

Buckaroo, 14 years ago

Buckaroo* had an interview at the hospital today. For this volunteer position, he bought a brand new button-down shirt, and helped himself to one of Marty's ties and dress shoes. Starting next Tuesday, he'll be working in the ER two days a week helping with patient intake. He's doing this in preparation for his EMT program which starts in the fall. He'll be going to the University of Arkansas (Hope campus--30 miles from home).  

This is on top of is "real" job at Lowes--which he more or less hates but it pays well. At Lowe's he works in the garden department. It is typical that I will get a call at least twice a week while he's working asking something about plants. "Mom, I have a customer here who wants to know about potting soil." or "What's the best fertilizer you recommend for tomatoes?" Lowes would like Buck to work full time. Buck's bound and determined to pass EMT school so he can get away from Lowes. 

He's got such a great reputation in town for being industrious, that past week, Bob who owns the local quilt shop needed help setting up shelves and asked Buck to come over and take care of it. Sometimes Tessa the Realtor has odd jobs for him, like would he sit open a building going up for auction in a questionable part of town for a few hours? Or is Buck willing to clean out some big debris at a vacant home and take it all over to the dump? 

In addition to his working, he's raising the two kittens in our home. One of the kittens, Leon, came to us a bit feral. Buck is doing his level best to civilize this guy. Given Leon is currently curled up sleeping on my shoulder as I'm typing this, AND purring--that's a new activity for this cat--I think Buck is doing a pretty good job. 

Actually, I think Buck is doing a pretty good job at life in general. 

*Okay, I'm not supposed to talk about my young adults on this blog, but whatever. They don't read it and probably won't until I'm dead--and probably not even then. 
 

Welcome to Texas

It isn't the first time I've heard a similar story lately. The other one was in Texarkana, and the woman was sitting in her recliner, reaching out to folks on FB because she was too terrified to move and wanted someone to come over right then and there and remove the critter. A stranger came to her rescue.  

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a bit creeped out by this story. So, as I was posting this, I felt faint movement at my feet. I might have screamed and jumped back. The kitten in question wasn't phased and has gone back to batting at my toes. I'm certain if the occasion arose, these two beasts will vigilantly guard our couches.