No. 22: Surprise a friend in another city for lunch

No. 22: Surprised. or at least unexpected.


I mentioned last week that I managed to knock off two of my challenges while in Texas.

I'm counting No. 22: Surprise a friend in another city for lunch, even though I didn't actually make it for lunch. More like dinner. But I can assure you my showing up was a surprise. Or at least not the tiniest bit preplanned. 

Leaving Colorado, we were a little caravan of three cars. Bunny and I in her car, Bunny's friend boy drove his truck pulling a U Haul and the friend boy's mama was in her car.   We didn't 100% stay together but we did all meet up at the Texas/New Mexico State line. 

                                     

Back in Texas.

And then the really really long part of the trip began. 

Bunny and friends were determined to do the drive in one day. 

We stopped for lunch in Dumas. If you are ever in the armpit of Dumas between 11am and 2:30pm on a weekday, stop at the Alley Cafe.  To say this cafe has limited hours is an understatement but the food was so fresh and yummy. A lovely respite from drive through fast food and Stop N Rob Convenience store snacks.   

Since Carlos was with us, he got to stay in the car. The restaurant is behind the courthouse so I felt fairly comfortable leaving Carlos in the unlocked running car while we watched him from the cafe window.   This was one situation where I could not count on Carlos to be protective. I'm pretty sure if anyone got in that car, he would have gleefully welcomed them as long as they took him on a ride.

                     

Let's go! I love riding in the car. 

(What a goof!)

And then we continued to drive across Texas. 

And we drove.

And we drove.

And we drove. 

Texas is a big ass state. 

When the sun started to go down, my allergies started to kick up. So I was not only tired, but sneezing and my eyes were fifty shades of red. 

Bunny and friends were all "Let's keep driving. We'll get in at 1:am! We can do it." Remember the friend boy was pulling a big Uhaul. I was skeptical. 

About 9:30pm I was done. Just done. Tired of the car. Tired of driving. Tired of trying to make it across Texas. 

Fortunately I had been texting off and on with friend Sue who has a house here in Colorado. That's how I met her. I saw a huge Cadillac with Texas plates go up my Colorado road and had to investigate.  Carlos and I took a walk and met Sue and her husband, Mike, and their three dogs, Sophie, Skip and Molly. We all hit it off right away. Well, everyone except Carlos and Molly. Those two still aren't the best of friends.

Mike with Molly, Skip, Sophie and Carlos.

Anyway, Sue graciously offered me a room for the night. We were coming up on Ft. Worth at that point, Bunny was driving and I was toast. Everyone else felt like going on. We all stopped, Bunny got in the truck with her friend. I put Sue's address into the GPS. Ten minutes later Carlos and I were being welcomed into my sweet friend's  home, dinner still on the stove for me, treats and a backyard to play in for Carlos. 

And did the rest of them make it all the way to Sugar Land? 

No. On the other side of Ft Worth, they caved in also. Found a hotel. 

But I'm counting my unexpected arrival at Sue's house as "surprise a friend for lunch". (Dinner). 

Because you know what? Surprising someone out of town is not as easy as you'd think. I almost accomplished it once, then weather came into play (snow I think that day). But really...if you are going to the trouble of leaving town, usually you make plans to meet people so that you know you will get to see them. Spontaneity is harder to pull off than you might think! At least in this case.

So. This counts. 

Back again

Back..again!

Back from two weeks in Texas.

It was a whirlwind trip. I managed to complete two challenges on my list which was a huge plus. Nice to get moving on that again. 

Let's break the stay down by numbers. 

ONE Main sewer line back up, inconveniently the night before we drove back. (Although, when is a sewer line backing up into the house EVER convenient?). Our departure was delayed a few hours while I hunted down the  city contractors who had been cleaning sewer lines on our street the day before. Somehow I figured the two things were related and fortunately, they agreed. Line was cleared at no cost to us and we were on the road by 9am.

The shower drain- happy again.

Never think about those babies until they back up.

TWO Emergency room visits with my dad. Unfortunately being 92 and in pain is not considered an emergency. I promise, this getting older is not for sissies. 

THREE scheduled meals with good friends. I miss so many of my Texas friends and any time I get to see one, that's a good day. Thanks Martha, Libby, Dee, Diane and Lucy for making/taking time to meet me. I also managed to run into a few people randomly which is always fun.

And no, I did not get any pics. 

Boo hoo.

FOUR vet visits for the assorted animals. One of the cats bit Bunny while aiming for the vet. Carlos had to be drugged and muzzled just to get shots. And the poor horse, well. That's another post. A very sad post.

 Me and Carlos headed to the vet.

One of us is heavily sedated.

This is the nice cat, Minah. 

She did not bite anyone. 

The bad cat doesn't get his picture on the internet. 

FIVE medical tests including Yay! No.43: Get that Colonoscopy. I am happy to report that my bones are strong, I am basically healthy and I have the colon of a 30 year old. 

The nice doctor gave me pictures of my insides. 

I won't share them with you.

SIX bags off to Goodwill. My side of the closet is pretty much empty. All those "maybe" clothes are gone. If I don't wear it now, then I probably won't next year. The exceptions are denim. Old worn out jeans go but the vests and denim jackets and shirts stay. The hubs did come in and say "Are you moving out?" Um, hon, don't know if you noticed but I did that 2 years ago. Gone also are kids clothes, some books, stuff, stuff and more stuff. The old towels went to the vets office. The overflow of pet bowls and dog Elizabethan collars went to the Humane Society.  I feel 100 pounds lighter.

A car load of stuff we no longer need. 

I love cleaning out closets.

There was a lot more packed into that two weeks. Bunny and her friend boy found him an apartment for his year long stay/school in Texas. His mama  bravely stayed at our house those first few nights even though I could not vouch for the condition of the room she was to stay in or the condition of the house in general. Kudos to the hubs for pulling things together and getting the place presentable. 

There were lots of visits with the parents and a brief chat with my brother out in the front yard one morning. He was in town for 24 hours and staying at the peep's house so I got to see him before work. 

Also there was heat. And humidity. And snakes. Texas did not necessarily put her best foot forward for me this trip. Lots of highs and lows. Not much sleep.

One of the three snakes I pulled out of the pool one morning 

before I gave up and decided to not swim.

They were all small, but still. 

It's a pool. Not a pond. I don't swim in their creek. 

They shouldn't swim in my pool.

Happy to be back in the cool. Happy to be back at work with my crazies. Happy to be back. 

Yep. 101º

So much fun.

Taking Leave

Taking Leave....


Of my senses?  Possibly.

Of Colorado.   Definitely.


Bunny, Carlos and I are headed to Texas for a couple of weeks.   The neighbors are keeping an eye on the cabin. In case you feel like breaking in, keep in mind that the nice neighbor across the way is packing heat most days. He also occasionally doubles up on his pain meds, which makes him cranky. Just saying'.

We are off to visit with the family and experience civilization. Restaurants! Shopping!  Doctor's appointments. Ok, so not all will be fun and games.

The blog is taking an official hiatus until I return. Mid July is the target return date but right now our plans are pretty fluid.

Everyone have a fabulous Fourth of July and I'll see you in a few.

No matter how much I try preaching "Pack light", 

one of us doesn't listen.