Yea for FaceBook

I know there are the naysayers that think that Face Book is a bad thing and I guess like anything it can be!  However, I really enjoy it since it has put me back in touch with many friends from the past both near and far.  I have reconnected with several people from my hometown, Lamesa, TX, out in the Panhandle of the Lone Star State.  One in particular is Susan Speck Fenner.  Our grandfathers actually were in the grocery business together for a short while in Lamesa and our dads went to school together there.  Susan and her family moved from there but came back when we were in elementary school but move away again after our eighth grade year.  Off and on we have crossed paths, she went to Austin High School with Curtis, but was a year behind him.  We went to UT and she and I were married within a week of each other.  However, after UT we lost contact for many years.  Face Book has been the vehicle to re-establish our friendship.  So my hat is off to the electronic age and its many wonders.  I kind of feel sorry for those folks who don't want or cannot learn to be techno savvy.  

It is with a very heavy heart that we learned that our friend, Gene, passed away on Tuesday night in Scottsdale, AZ.  Our prayers are certainly with his wife, Sara, and children, Jonathan and Jennifer.

Perhaps he's got it

Ok so maybe we are becoming the trained ones, but Zeke seems to be catching on a bit more to the housebreaking idea.  He does now take care of business when he is taken out, plus when he has peed in the RV he has actually gotten on the pad!!  Hate to say much about it because he will surely make a liar out of me.  But oh, well.  For now we're enjoying success.

We got notice last night that our friend in Phoenix, Gene, has taken a turn for the worse.  He had a stroke over a month ago and has been in rehab in Scottsdale.  However, he kept passing out so the doctors determined that his gall bladder was the culprit and did laproscopic (sp?) surgery on him Sunday morning.  It was determined last night that there are now blood clots in his lungs which traveled up from his legs.  Because the reason for the stroke was a bleed in his brain, he is already on high doses of blood thinner and cannot be given more.  His children were flying in last night from their homes in CA.  We are all praying for a miracle for him.  He is about the same age we are so this is a very sobering thing to us.  

After much ado, I remembered the masking tape to bind the canvas edges for the needlepoint Christmas stocking I am making for the new grandbaby.  It is teddy bears and I think it will be a nice addition to the ones I made for Connor and McKenzie and will certainly work for both girl or boy.  I hope to have it done very quickly and not lollygag along as I did with the other two.  But I am afraid "procrastination" is my middle name!!!!

A Call To Prayer

It is a new year, a new president and all the old problems.  This is a call to prayer for our nation.  No matter what side of the political fence you sit, this country is in deep trouble, morally and economically.  I would encourage everyone to hit their knees and pray in earnest for our leadership both governmental and corporate.  Pray that they each would seek out the face of our Creator and Savior, ask for forgiveness and ask for His guidance in their lives.  That would be my prayer for each of us also.  This country's peoples need to turn back to the basics of faith and that faith should be and must be in Jesus Christ.  Please make it a priority to pray for the US and our leaders and ourselves.

Super Bowl Bound

After 20+ years in Arizona, the Arizona Cardinals are Super Bowl bound.  Shock and amazement! Kurt Warner not only is an outstanding quarterback in the literal sense, he is more importantly a quarterback for the Lord.  Last night after playing in a nail biting second half of the winning game, he first and foremost gave thanks for God's provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.  This is in total opposition to the little bratty tantrum of Anquan Boldin who after just winning the NFC title with the Cardinals stormed into the locker room to "gritch" and moan about the selfsame team!  Unbelievably bad behavior and certainly not role model quality.  Even though I know as I'm sure Kurt Warner knows, the Lord does not care a whit about who wins a football game, it is so wonderful and encouraging to hear His Name lifted up in praise and thanksgiving over the airwaves that carry all over His world!   Boldin needs desperately to come face to face with Jesus and explain to Him why he feels the need to belittle the abundance that has been given him by professional sports!  Anyway, go Cardinals!!! Beat Pittsburgh!!!

Ins and Outs of Puppy Owners

This week has been one of the more eventful weeks in the life of Zeke, the mini dachshund pup.  He got his third puppy shot,  was able to begin his leash training, and was bitten by something the vet seems to believe was a scorpion.  After calling in to the vet about the swollen left side of his muzzle, we took him in for a vet visit.  She gave him a shot of Benadryl, prescribed children's Benadryl for him later that night and this morning then sent us on our way.  He is now back to normal after being kind of loopy for the past 24 hours.  He loves going outside but still needs to figure out his purpose and priority of the walk.... it is not just for sightseeing!  

Curtis and I have been hired to work at the Surprise, AZ spring training facility in the concession area.  We have to go to a training session for food handlers and get our permits to work with foods as AZ requires on Feb. 5.  The job starts on Feb. 25th and lasts for about 6 weeks.  The Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals use the stadium for their training and there are games every day for the entire time.   We don't have our schedules for working yet but I don't think it will be for every game.  Should be fun doing it so we are looking forward to giving it a go.  Our motor home will be parked in the area, too, so we don't have a long commute to and from the stadium.  

Growing Up

Our little puppy, Zeke, successfully graduated to his leash yesterday after his third puppy shot.  He can't quite get the hang of it yet, but that will come in time and with some patience on our part.  I have to admit my patience wore a bit thin yesterday, however.  The one thing that our previous dachshund did that drove me crazy was whine and cry when in the presence of other dogs or children, if he was not allowed to freely get to them.  Anytime we went to the vet's office or if we were walking outside with him while in San Francisco and dogs or children appeared, he would put up such a fuss it was embarrassing.  Well, it seems that Zeke has decided this is something he should also do!!!  By the time we got home yesterday, I had a raging headache from listening to him whine and my patience was taxed to the limit.  I really want to teach him that this is not acceptable so I hope I can withstand the effort.  He is doing well though for such a young pup.  He weighed in at 4.8 lb which is 13 oz over this last checkup.  He was a real trooper when it came to getting his shot as not so much as a whimper was made.  His personality is beginning to shine through also, a bit of stubbornness and strong will but really a cuddler, too.  I think he will grow into a delightful addition to our home and lifestyle.  

Monday's drill

Seems as though we have gotten into the habit of doing laundry on Monday.  For years I have resisted that chore on Monday choosing some other day like Wednesday or Thursday for the mundane.  Somehow we are stuck on Monday and it is really hard to break the mold since living in a motor home limits the amount of accessible necessities (ie. undies, etc.) to fewer than if living in a house or apartment.  Don't know why I am telling you all this....:)  Anyway, you will notice a picture of Zeke and me that Curtis took yesterday afternoon.  He has developed a need to lie on the sofa up against my back and look out the window behind us.  Sometimes he will fall asleep and become like dead weight on my shoulders.  Tomorrow he gets his 3rd puppy shot and hopefully we can start the leash training outside!