Texas Day 5

We had a busy day today.  K, Gideon and I met C & E at a children's museum called Thinkery.  Gideon seemed to have a pretty good time.   It is my opinion that we need to get him out to the playground more often.  There are parts that he was afraid to do or didn't know how and other kids smaller than him had no problems.  It may just not be his cup of tea, which is fine, but with all the heat this year we didn't get out as much as we could have.  C was able to use a wheelchair and thus rest that broken toe.

Later in the afternoon we went back to the house and guests came by to visit and celebrate C's birthday.  I don't tend to be the party mingling type, but enjoyed the conversations and joined in when I could.  There was more delicious food, games and cake & ice cream.  It was a good day.  My happy for today is laughter with old friends and new.

From an early morning walk.

Gideon, not going down the rope slide. 

Playing with water. 

Lunch. 

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Texas Day 4

The thermometer was supposed to reach 104 degrees F today so we went swimming.  We went to Barton Springs Pool which is a public spring fed pool close to the center of the city.   It is a natural pool, the bottom is slippery moss covered limestone and the sides are either more rock or cement walls built to contain and shape the area.  It was slippery, the greenish blue water was a nice 68-70 degrees, there was detached moss floating throughout, and it was fun and refreshing.  Unfortunately, it was slippery on the rocks outside the water as well and C slipped and broke his toe.  We couldn't tell at first if it was broken or dislocated but X-rays at urgent care confirmed a break.  When he and E went home this afternoon C was in a fair amount of pain.  He held up amazingly well while seeing the medical professionals, but I think once the adrenaline wore off the pain came through.  😟

The rest of the day was hanging out at the house, a yummy dinner of enchilada casserole, a game and a walk to end the evening.  My happy for today is the swim time prior to the toe breaking.  Gideon hasn't learned how to swim yet and we couldn't convince him to try.  He did seem to have fun walking through the water holding hands though.  He also said that the water smelled like Pennsic porta potties.  I didn't notice this at all.  Later, as I was able to swim in the deeper sections and the water kept getting more and more blue, the thought of swimming in a porta potty kept coming to mind.  😜

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Texas Day 3

This morning started with a two mile walk.  By the end of our meandering around the paths and streets it was most likely close to 100 degrees outside.  This is why I doubt I will ever live in Texas again.  It was a good walk that included a little stop at the playground for Gideon.  We went out for an early dinner/late lunch with E and C and met a friend of theirs.  The restaurant (Tyson's Tacos) had a fun vibe to it, small with the seating all open air and cooled with misters and fans.    We went to an ice cream place after that followed by game shopping and back to the house to play Settlers of Catan.  It was a good day with family and friends and they are my happy for today.

Nikolai.

Brook

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Texas Day 1---Take 2 for August 15th

So this is to fill in for the post that disappeared.  I am not redoing it so much as adding some pictures.  Most likely my happy for this day was getting to Texas and seeing C and E. 

Pictures: 

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Huh

Yesterday's post seems to have gone away.  This confuses my tired mind.  I remember writing and posting it, and it appears that it has been read, but it doesn't seem that I am able to pull it up. 

My day started with me getting confirmation that the friend I thought I posted about as not doing well in yesterday's blog, passing away this morning.  So the number 3 has been reached in the last month and a half, for those who are superstitious about things like that, it's enough.  My aunt once had a month that she went to 14 funerals.  Not a multiple of 3.  I don't understand superstitions,  and that is okay with me. 

On to happier things.   I got in touch with my best friend from my days living in Texas and spent most of the day with her.   It was a bit cathartic.  We started by going shopping for a bathing suit,  because I haven't seen mine in a long time.   She made me lunch and we talked about life, love and things metaphysical.  Again I haven't taken enough pictures,  maybe tomorrow.

C & E came by tonight so I got to see them again,  this was good.  K cut E's hair and it looks really great.  I was worried, not the K couldn't cut hair well, but that I was used to E's hair being long,  but she rocks the new shorter hair and undercut.   These last two paragraphs pretty much cover my happy things for today.  Gideon had been really great too.  He has a hard time when Nikolai, the cockatoo, gets real loud.   I think he will learn not to run by the bird cage often before we leave next week,  maybe. 

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Tomorrow is another day.

We got to the airport only a tiny bit later than we should have.  Z was falling asleep at the wheel so drivers were switched and then the GPS took us a weird way, plus some rain slowing us down.  The lines to check in and go through security were very long and we ended up missing our flight to Texas.  After long talks with random airline people our flights were rescheduled to tomorrow.  Having only had about 2 hours sleep, we took turns driving, had breakfast, and a nap on the way back from the airport.  Our flight tomorrow is later by about 2 hours, but we are leaving only about a half hour later in the morning and not leaving much to chance.  Our bags did make it to Texas and I really hope they will be waiting for us upon arrival.

It is going to be an early night for me.  Gideon, the only one of us who had a reasonable amount of sleep will be bunking with me.  We will watch Mary Poppins or something and I will sleep, and he can watch the movie and fall asleep after.  He has been very active today and kept himself busy while the rest of us have been sleeping or at work.  My happy for today is that Gideon decided to start writing a diary.  I hope he keeps up with it. 

Gideon is mostly asleep but still able to smile for the selfie.

Drive by foggy, rainy, dark, blurry Boston. 

Gideon asked me to post his diary entry here:

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Tuesday  14 August.                     Mood:.  [on his iPad the emoji is a circle]                                                                                                                                                Hello diary so we went to the airport to go to Texas but we missed both of our flights but our luggage didn't so the luggage went to Texas and we are going to get it tomorrow see you tomorrow diary.

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Monday the 13th of August

The biggest concern for my day today was getting some pictures for the insurance company for my house that I am renting.  It all went fine though.  We also got most of the tents returned and managed to get a few other errands done and I am almost packed for the flight tomorrow.  The alarm is set for 2 AM so I can shower and we can be ready to leave the house by 3.  It has been a long time since I have flown.  My suitcase, that I thought was carry-on size is about 2 inches too long so it will be checked.  My backpack still works to carry-on, so my laptop is coming with me. 

Today my happy is getting to see a few friends even if only for a couple minutes while returning tents and things.  And then there is K in her new dragon pajamas...

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