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. 

Adulting Reprieve

My father-in-law was sent home with directions to see his primary care physician--advice he may or may not follow. But for now he's hanging on and plans on doing life his way. 

Marty and I are back on track for vacay later this week. I even went so far as to book a hotel for our first stay. I haven't packed yet... Perhaps that will come after my Adulting Reprieve is over. 

I've been up since 2 a.m. sitting with Luna, who just wants pets and rest. The kittens Overlords see it differently and have been doing their best to cheer her up all night. They even gave back one of their hostages Luna's toys. 

Don't let the lack of movement fool you.
 Thugs and the Clawsfather are in a short regroup before their next adventure.  

Adulting

 We've been having a few hiccups around the o'le Sunshine place. 

Luna is ill and I'm afraid her best days are behind her. Doc P gave her some meds, but she can't keep them down. Right now we are on a watch and see regimen. She sleeps most of the time. She drinks a little milk and hangs with me. About 237 times a day, the kittens bounce in, bring her greetings and joy and drag out whatever Luna toys they can carry when they leave. Most of Luna's toys are bigger than them. 

My father-in-law was rushed to the ER this morning. He's 89. I don't have further news. Marty and I are slated to go on vacation to another part of the country later this week, but instead, we might be going back to Arizona. 

Polly asked me this morning what to do if Luna takes a turn for the worse while we are (hopefully) on vacation. She already knew the answer, but was looking for a way out of that kind of hard decision.   

Blackberries and Old Friends

This past Saturday, I drove 56 miles of back country roads to Daingerfield Texas. Daingerfield consists of a Dollar General, an EZ Mart gas station and Greer Farm, the u-pick blackberry and blueberry farm. As a public service, y'all need to know: if one follows GPS , they aren't going to end up at Greer Farm.

Trust me on this one. This is where the GPS took me. 

Not Greer Farm

With a bit of perseverance and more help from a passing motorist ("Go on about two more miles past the railroad tracks, turn right at the second pond then take a left after a spell."), I made my way to the blueberry and blackberry patch. Apparently, there's a main entrance somewhere, because half of East Texas also happened to show up Saturday morning and they weren't on that same country road GPS insisted I take. Below is probably a quarter of the blueberry and blackberry bushes. Somehow I managed to get pictures without the swarming crowds. Not sure how that happened...

Greer Farm

More Greer Farm

Full disclosure: I sampled a lot of blackberries. 

After an hour of blackberry picking (and eating), I paid for my haul and opted to forgo the blueberry bushes. The blueberries weren't completely ripe and I had places to go. 

From Greer Farm (and yes, I backtracked to that back road once again) I made my way another 20 miles to Mount Pleasant, Texas where I met Melissa and Barrett for lunch. I've known Melissa for 25 years. We were friends in Mesa. Barrett is her 10-month old grandson (she has 6 grands). About fifteen years ago, they moved to Sulphur Springs Texas (near Dallas). Mount Pleasant is closer to her than me, but probably the best option for the two of us. 

After a lunch of laughing and bad Mexican food, I shared my berries with Melissa, squeezed Barrett and promised to do this again before December. Kenny Rogers said it best: you can't make old friends. I needed an old friend Saturday and didn't know it. 

By the way, I had two pounds of blackberries. They all went into a blackberry cobbler for yesterday's church get-together. It was my first blackberry cobbler and strangely enough, I couldn't find a recipe. So, I modified a blueberry cobbler recipe I'd made before. My audience gave it rave reviews, however, I prefer blueberries. They are easier to find (like the grocery store) and they don't take two pounds of berries to make the recipe work. 

There's enough cobbler left for Polly, who asked me to save her a bit. However, she'd better act fast because three others might get to it first and I'm not going back to Greer Farm any time soon.