Christmas Car Crash

My sister Catherine got clobbered in an accident just 20 minutes after leaving Ft. Smith on the 26th. Traveling in the left lane, she was hit by a lady changing lanes at an entrance ramp. The state trooper that was attempting to merge onto I40 got hit by both the lady's car and Cathy's car. She had to correct right to keep from going into head-on traffic on the opposite side of the interstate. Cathy's beautiful Saab was creamed and sits in a tow yard in Sallisaw. She is all bruised up from her seat belt but at least it saved her. I never knew what a hassle it is getting back home when you are in a accident that totals your car. Insurance pays for thirty days of rental car but if you don't take it back to the place you got it, you have to fork over a $250 drop fee. We went through all kinds of scenarios of me driving her there and flying back, $400. Her flying and trying to mail all her stuff back to Dallas, $500. Me taking my car to Dallas & back, Joe thought my car was not in good enough shape. Finally, Bill drove her down and is spending the night. What a Christmas!!

Thanksgiving - Cath and Diana

Mom, Cath, & Bill

Friday Razorback game - such a downer

Jumbo-Tron & Joe

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Razorback 31 Tennesee 13

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Monday Spent at XNA

CAP got tickets to the Presidential visit to NWA on Monday the 6th. Left home around 11:30 - got back home around 8 pm. We were packed in the hangar like sardines and nearly every time you put your camera in the air to get a photo you ended up with a picture of other cameras or pom poms. I got a couple of usable ones. We have one CAP member who in the very tall and has a great camera. He was able to get some great pictures.

The flowers in my garden were absolutely stunning this year. Alas, the frost last night finally got them. I planted most of them from those 10 cent seed packets and they survived without watering when I was out of town for staff college and the trip to Virginia & DC. Many of the bedding plants and baskets that I bought didn't make it through.

Cosmos
seeds -
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petunias

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marigold

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another butterfly

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Bees on flowers too

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Learning to use my camera

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more Monarchs

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Monarch butterflies coming through

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more flowers

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From my garden

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Flowers & butterflies

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Bridge Tournament

This was the best tournament I have ever had in my life...........

Joe & I played together in 4 events. We won three of them and came in second in the other one.

See http://web2.acbl.org/tournaments/results/2006/10/0610053.htm for all results in the tournament.

Bonus - Joe & I may actually be able to play together. We have avoided it for so many years. Perhaps age mellows some of the tensions that are prevalent in competitive pairs events.

Another Live Present

Sir Hops-A-Lot (Hopper for short) brought another present - a baby squirrel who quickly ran up the wall. You can see him right there at the top.

Arkansas Wing Conference

I received a National Commander's Commendation, my Level IV Garber Award, and a "Find" at the recent Arkansas Wing Conference.

Southwest Region Staff College

I have just returned from 8 days at the Southwest Region Staff College at Kirtland AFB in Albequerque NM. It was a gruelling & fun experience. We had what are called "swamp coolers" instead of air conditioners. The air is so dry that it doesn't feel as hot as it does in Arkansas. But it was still hot. We were in uniform and in class around 5 hours a day and had projects to work on at night. They kept us pretty busy. I will write more and post some pictures later.

Quazi's 2nd Visit

Quazi came back home tonight. We are wondering if her adoptive family has moved. This time I was smarter - I put both the boys in separate bedrooms before I let her in. I am trying to decide where to keep her tonight. I definitely will keep her in the house - just where is the question.

Let it snow - Let it snow

We had 3 inches of snow last night. These kitties act like they have never seen snow before. Hopper paws at it like it is a toy. Ricky leaps through in smart fashion. Neither of them will stay out too long, wind chill is about 6.

Quazi Visits

Quazi came for a visit Tuesday night. We haven't seen her in a year or so. About 11 o'clock I looked out and saw two little eyes at the back door. I knew both of our boy cats were already in the house, so it had to be Quazi. I let her in and she went right to the food bowl. She was hungy.
Sensing something afoot (or smelling), Ricky came downstairs to find out what was going on. He went right for Quazi. I managed to chase him off and was in the process of locking him in the Cath's bedroom when all of a sudden there was a huge commotion - cat fight- in the rest of the house. Fur was flying and Hopper was chasing Quazi up the stairs, behind the couch, around the den, back down the stairs, around the living room, up the stairs, etc. What a chase. I had an afgahn in my hands and finally caught Hopper upstairs and threw it on top of him. Joe was thourghly awake by now and came out just as Hopper escaped from the afgahn and started another round of chasing. I finally captured him again under the afgahn after taking a turn back downstairs & back upstairs again. I was winded after the late night chase. Joe double wrapped Hopper in the afgahn and he wiggled and squirmed and tried to bite & scratch Joe as Joe carried him to the garage. I got the cat carriers, put Hopper in one out in the garage, Quazi in the other in the house. Then we traded places. Me with Quazi in the garage & Joe with Hopper in the house. I petted Quazi awhile and fed her out in the garage. What a fun night.

Ricky learns a lesson - I hope

Having a relatively mild winter, the pool hasn't frozen over much. I have been scared several times watching as Ricky has jumped out onto the ice and chased leaves or sticks around. He really enjoys it. The sticks fly across that ice like a hockey puck and he skates over to his toy, sliding around on the ice while I have a heart attack.

Saturday around noon we had a gentle snow coming down and the pool was starting to freeze over. Key word here is "starting". I had just gotten home from CAP and the cats wanted out. Hopper took off to the side yard but Ricky........ approached the side of the pool. He took a rocking start and bent over the edge. I opened the sliding door and scared him so he moved back away from the edge. I closed the door and he went back to leaning over the side. I figured this was a better time than most, I was there watching and could easily get to the net to rescue him.

He started his rocking and leapt onto the ice. He had a satisfied grin on his face for about half a second, then.... the ice began to crack and into the drink he went. He couldn't get his paws onto the side of the pool and the ice would break when he tried grabbing it. I flew out the door and ran for the net. The net was not in its usual place so I had to go looking for it. I finally found the leaf basket and rran to the pool, scooped it under him and raised him straight up. I hadn't started to move him toward the side yet but he flew onto the deck, up the stairs, and into the open door.

The floor was sopped and I could see a trail or water through the kitchen, through the living room, and up the stairs. I got a towel and tried to dry him but he was having none of that.

I sure hope Ricky has learned his lesson. I tried to convince Joe that we should also throw Hopper in while we were home to rescue him so he could learn the lesson too. Joe declined.

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Seems I can't see my blog. I keep getting "Forbidden. You do not have permission / access on this server". What might this be?