Getting ready to split Big D.

July 30, 2009


Our month in Dallas is coming to an end. Bruce will be heading to the east coast to visit friends and play golf...anticipating his shoulder and neck will hold up. I will be going back to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas for the month of August and my cousin Roy will be joining me at the end of the month. Bruce and I will meet back in Big D early Sept and figure out where to go and what to do next.

Scruff likes to lounge pool side..he's missing his margarita.















Bruce's Steppin Daddy Mike and Momma Rosemary.










Texas restaurant decor...see how kind they are to animals, these are wood carved!






We've enjoyed the Texas hospitality and all the grandness here. Texans, at least the ones we know and meet, are an independent sort and take full advantage of all the opportunities the US has to offer....they seem to be anti-government assistance and prefer little government intrusion. The cost of living in the DFW Metroplex is incredibly inexpensive compared to the PNW, but man is it hot!



Went to see Legends of Surf Music at the Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth. Dean Torrence and Al Jardin performing with All Star City Surf Band. Al Jardin's son Matt sang most of Brian Wilson's parts and sounded just like him.








Although we've always loved the restaurants here, for some reason we've had little desire to eat out..unless it's sushi....for some reason the food we've always raved about is not that appealing. Mexico exposed us to fresh locally grown foods and boy howdy, is there a difference!

We've visited many old and dear friends, and lots of family. I've played tennis often at the one of the best private tennis clubs in the nation and managed to give myself a black eye (accidentally hit myself with my tennis racket)..and Bruce has managed to extend his losing streak playing the market. Stuff happens, life is so good!

A night out with my buddy Debra, my brother Tim and sister-in-law Karen.


Below my brother-in-law John testing out my 3rd trial of peanut butter cookies.....my quest for the perfect cookie eludes me.

Last photo: Friends from the 90s reconnect and reminisce of old times, nice to be back in touch....Joan, Pat and Sheri.

The Joys of Pet Sitting

July 18, 2009

Our pet sitting services are in demand for friends and family while in the Dallas Metroplex. Bruce and I are split between two homes now: he cares for a dog named Homer....but lovingly calls him Homer-sapian; and I am the slave of the two cow cats - Jillato and Scruffy. We pet, we play, we feed, we clean after them and we sleep with them. Caring for these animals adds quality to our stay in Big D.










Bruce and Homey taking an their afternoon nap.















Homer's a lover not a fighter.















Friends, pets and a kitchen...life is good!

Couch Camping in Big D

July 10, 2009

We are now on babysitting assignment for my sister during the month of July in Dallas Texas. Yes, it's hotter than h_ll and we're glad not be sleeping in the van. My sister is on vacation in China and has left the care of her 2 cats in our hands. It's been tough.........but we've managed. Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex of 6.5 million population is not exactly a vacation destination, for us at least. Thank goodness there's a great tennis club nearby with indoor air-conditioned courts.



Jillato (above) and Scruffy (with Bruce) are known as "cow" cats. Scruffy is a major lover, he was found as a stray 15 years ago and is now in his golden years. Jillato likes to play, bite on cords and help with the cooking.
































The DFW Metroplex encompasses 12 counties, 9286 sq.miles, (larger than Rhode Is. and Connecticut combined), and the 4th largest metropolitan area by population in the US, hence Big D. Above photo is just a sampling of traffic in The Metroplex at 4pm.

Hill Country of Texas

June 28, 2009
We had the good fortune of our friends Kenny and Kathy’s offering us their Hill Country ranch near Junction, Texas. After acclimating to the Texas heat we visited San Antonio for a couple of days, New Braunsfel, and Georgetown seeing long-time friends along the way. Bruce and I ate at one of our favorite TexMex food chains, Pappasitos and stuffed ourselves.





BBQ in Blanco, Texas.

Eating-wise it seems I have discovered BBQ, blackberry cobbler and Texas ice tea. When we lived in Texas I rarely ate BBQ (only at Bruce’s request) and now it seems I can’t get enough, same with the ice tea.


Gravel roads on ranch property.

Meanwhile, we returned to the ranch for a week of total relaxation of reading and indulging in watching the Wimbledon Championships. There are no cars, no air traffic noise just the viewing of exotic game roaming during morning and evening walks, the Milkyway and Hill Country scenery: total peace and quiet. I would call this Texas Heaven.





You can't help but appreciate the outrageous Texas Pride.










After pigging-out at Pappasitos we walked along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, we found it lovely but very crowded. This, and the Alamo, is the most frequented spot in San Antonio.

Llano, Texas memorializes WWI heroes.















Our good friends John and Sharon Kelley, we've sailed across the gulf a couple of times in their 52' Endeavor, Ariel Star.












Walking around Fredericksburg we found ourselves at an old Lutheran Church, unlike the churches in Mexico, the doors were closed to the public.















My girlfriends of 25 years...wow, we're ageless!










Everythang is big in Texas.

Somewhere in West Texas

June 19, 2009


The great thing about traveling via roadway is you get to see the topography change out your window: the evolutionary changes of certain plants and the subtle progression of territorial formations. Also the economy: certain areas produce certain things depending on the local resources; this is the case for Mexico, Guatemala and the US. We see wealthy and prosperous communities and the fallen and downtrodden that at one time had prosperity. In the US it seems the smaller towns are becoming sparser.




We have recently learned it is a much “greener” lifestyle to live in a populated area as oppose to the countryside. Supposedly, city dwellers have less of a carbon foot print. In cities, resources are funneled to support a larger populous compared to resources being diverted to homes outside a metropolis as it would take more piping, laying of electrical lines, cutting of roads, and land occupation. In the city less space is taken up to house people and the countryside is left alone to support whatever flora and fauna that may still exist. However, the ideal situation would be to have a self-contained home non-dependent on any community resource divergence….kinda like the Chiapaneca indigenous…humm..to hard of a life for us. What we would do without electricity, potable water and internet?

Before returning to the States I thought it would be easy to know where we wanted to live. The Mexican lifestyle (at least in Oaxaca and Chiapas) seems much healthier in terms of fresh food, having to be alert while driving, being in places that promote walking more than riding and forcing habitual conservation as a way of life. Electricity is outrageously expensive and tap water is not safe for consumption and in some areas you never know when a pipe may break or a bribed official may cut off the water. The Mexican culture promotes politeness, family closeness, a naturally strong work ethic starting from birth (resulting in independence), and the cleanest floors I’ve ever seen in my life. For the American-born, the Mexicans teach you patience…..albeit unintentionally. Vive Mexico!!

However, upon our return to the US I see the simple things in our country as a luxury: wide, smooth, well-maintained and well-signage roads, stop lights you don’t have to guess at and water…..sweet-potable-tap-water. I will never buy bottled water again…..unless I’m in Florida (tap water grows algae in a matter of hours). The roads are litter free, doors open automatically, bikes are for recreation and we haven’t seen a car yet that is older than 20 years (unless it’s spruced up). However, the over consumption and wastefulness is mind-boggling. Life seems easy in US. USA!! USA!!

Carlsbad Cavern decorations.


Traveling eastward we stopped at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. For any child or family this is a must see, as is the Grand Canyon. The USA’s National Parks are a fabulous recreational resource and they are here for the people of the world….beats Disney World hands down…es mas economico, tambien.

We ended up staying in Ozona, Texas on our way to the Hill Country. This West Texas town is off I-10 and has 3 hotels, the cheapest being Travelodge - $77 USDs. Compared to Mexico, this place is a dive for the price, but it beats sleeping in van in oppressive humidity. A good night’s sleep has it’s price.

Life in the Southwest

June 16, 2009

The more we explore Tucson, the more we like it. This area has so much to offer: hiking, biking, excellent tennis clubs, golfing, easily accessible national and state parks, Mt. Lemmon's pine forest which offers skiing in the winter (I'll believe it when I see it). If you want to get in shape and enjoy the outdoors doing so, this is the place to be. The one negative is the relentless sun...although my PNW friends would disagree. The dry heat is surprisingly tolerable as long as you're in the shade with a fan, but to stand or sit in the sun can be life-threatening: immediate by heat stroke or delayed by skin cancer. The intensity makes you run for shade. Hence the best parts of the day are before 9am and after 5pm. For a city of 1 mil (in the area) it is amazingly quiet and their street lights seem muted. This is a sleepy desert town and most residents appreciate the colorful sunset displays as noted by the prevalence of patios.

While hiking we saw 2 giant jack rabbits, they had to be at least 1.5 ft tall, I thought they were kangaroos.










Tomorrow we head to Texas to check out the Hill Country around San Antonio, a year of traveling has us longing for a place to settle....unsure of when and where....Mexico or the US?





Skeletal remains of Saguaro cactus.




















Cool Mt Lemmon, at 9,000 feet, is one a hour drive from the hot desert floor.











Desert lizards are everywhere.

















Short, strenuous trail gives beautiful city
views.












Arizona National Golf Course in the foothills. One of Bruce's favorite golf courses

Tucson Time

June 6, 2009

On our way from Flagstaff to Tucson with a stop in Sedona for a hike in the Red Rocks and BBQ lunch. Sedona is a beautiful city and obviously very affluent. It reminded us of Aspen. Porsches, Jaguars and Mercedes everywhere...and huge houses on huge lots. Many tourists here and the streets were very crowded. No recession here.


We hiked the 5-mile, Brin Mesa trail along with a couple of other trails that equated into a loop which was quite a treat. A moderately difficult trail, it wound through the forests, buttes and mesas northwest of Sedona. The red rock formations and desert shrubbery really adds to the place's uniqueness, plus the 4k foot elevation keeps the temps down a bit. It's easy to see why this is such a desirable place to live.


Back in Tucson, we settled into a casita at the La Posada Inn on Oracle. Very nice place to live for a couple of weeks. Small, private backyard that overlooks a par-3 golf course and rabbits, squirrels and birds everywhere.

Surprisingly, we have been talking about possibly buying a house here. I have always loved Tucson but Pat has had reservations about the sun and heat. My master plan to lure her into wanting to move here seems to be working. Home prices have been beat up pretty bad in Arizona. I suspect the prices will be even better next summer.

This morning we hiked to the 7 Falls in the Sabino Canyon Park; 8 miles of a moderate and beautiful hike through Bear Canyon and saguaro cacti. Pictures are better than words.....

Photo right: large birds' nest in fuzzy cactus.