We went to the airport Friday, long lines to get into the terminal. Had to use the automated ticket machine. American does not or will not do ticketing, just boarding passes now at most locations. Only one location for face to face operations. Cheap and getting cheaper or is it less for more and even less than that. Plenty of agents around to collect for checked baggage.
The through the TSA mish mash. Took forever, there was a line for the great unwashed and a line for the priority check in. It appeared every other check in was a priority check in, so it took about 20 minutes for Judie just to get to the guard that allows you to pass on the gate inspection zone. What a zoo!
She called after arriving. The overcast was up there too. Except the stuff had burned off here by the time she called.
Now she will have a good time with Will and family. Glad she can go. Too much trouble for me - a ton of pills to sort out, etc.. Easier for me to drive up and we will do that later this summer.
She will be back Tuesday. Until then things will be quite around here. I miss her!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Fritzinna . . .
Well, we think it is Fritzinna, she is bigger than previous lizards that have lived in the wood pile in the past years. And she seemed to have a mate for a while but he moved on. I think I saw him out back in the hose winder house. I saw him run and hide underneath that box. And she is lacking the small coloration on the throat, it is usually a small blue patch. That indicates she is a female; she is larger, more drab coloration, etc. that normally indicates a female in birds and other animal species.
We are amazed at Fritzinna's range. She typically lives in the wood pile next to the chase lounge on the patio. The wood pile is distinct in that her colors match the old oak limbs exactly, so she can sun and it takes a sharp eye to distinguish her from the wood. We often see here on top of the wood pile looking for insects white she sun baths.
We saw her the other day climbing up the Hackberry tree located by the main bathroom window. Slow going but up she went. Must be some food source up there for her to climb it. We wondered if she stayed up there or what.
Then I came around from the back of the house the next day and there she was in front of the big garage door. She would hiding under the flap of the store bought mulch bags that were parked between the garage doors. She would come out and did not seem to be afraid of me. But if Judie showed up in her red blouse, well she ran into the garage or under the mulch quick like a fox. So apparently she can tell her colors and my white T shirt is not a threat but Judies red coloring is a threat. Or at least she does not like Judie.
So we know that she roams quite a distance. I have seen her "deposits" as far away as the air conditioner compressor. And we have seen her up the tree and in front of the garage. She must foray quite a distance for such a small animal. Food reigns king; so she goes where she has to find what she needs.
Pity, she does not like June bugs. But spiders and especially crickets are her delite. Suffice to say, we no longer are plagued by singing crickets at night. She done et them all!
We are amazed at Fritzinna's range. She typically lives in the wood pile next to the chase lounge on the patio. The wood pile is distinct in that her colors match the old oak limbs exactly, so she can sun and it takes a sharp eye to distinguish her from the wood. We often see here on top of the wood pile looking for insects white she sun baths.
We saw her the other day climbing up the Hackberry tree located by the main bathroom window. Slow going but up she went. Must be some food source up there for her to climb it. We wondered if she stayed up there or what.
Then I came around from the back of the house the next day and there she was in front of the big garage door. She would hiding under the flap of the store bought mulch bags that were parked between the garage doors. She would come out and did not seem to be afraid of me. But if Judie showed up in her red blouse, well she ran into the garage or under the mulch quick like a fox. So apparently she can tell her colors and my white T shirt is not a threat but Judies red coloring is a threat. Or at least she does not like Judie.
So we know that she roams quite a distance. I have seen her "deposits" as far away as the air conditioner compressor. And we have seen her up the tree and in front of the garage. She must foray quite a distance for such a small animal. Food reigns king; so she goes where she has to find what she needs.
Pity, she does not like June bugs. But spiders and especially crickets are her delite. Suffice to say, we no longer are plagued by singing crickets at night. She done et them all!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Two More Gone . . .
Two more childhood friends have died. One, a classmate, Deanna Patin Roy. Deanna was always a stately looking lady. She was at our class reunion and looked the very picture of health and beauty.
She died of Pancreatic and Liver cancer. The class reunion was only two years ago.
Deanna married a Roy from Marksville. He was in the banking business and ended up being the big owner of the Cotton Port Bank. And that is the reason Cotton Port Bank has a branch in New Roads. She was a Vice President of the bank. Her husband predeceased her by a number of years.
The second was Michael Janis. He grew up across the street from where we lived on Main Street in New Roads. The house is still there. It was always neat and very reserved. I recall when the built it. The street along side is Janis Street, named for his family and his father.
Michael was a year older than me. So there was little contact after we started getting older. I do not recall him in high school, yet I know he was there.
He apparently died of heart failure. I seem to recall that is also what did his father in. Our hereditary diseases seem to catch up with us all.
My fellow class, Alvin "Al" Fabre, let me know. I did not have to wait on the Banner to learn of their untimely deaths.
And the beat goes on . . .
She died of Pancreatic and Liver cancer. The class reunion was only two years ago.
Deanna married a Roy from Marksville. He was in the banking business and ended up being the big owner of the Cotton Port Bank. And that is the reason Cotton Port Bank has a branch in New Roads. She was a Vice President of the bank. Her husband predeceased her by a number of years.
The second was Michael Janis. He grew up across the street from where we lived on Main Street in New Roads. The house is still there. It was always neat and very reserved. I recall when the built it. The street along side is Janis Street, named for his family and his father.
Michael was a year older than me. So there was little contact after we started getting older. I do not recall him in high school, yet I know he was there.
He apparently died of heart failure. I seem to recall that is also what did his father in. Our hereditary diseases seem to catch up with us all.
My fellow class, Alvin "Al" Fabre, let me know. I did not have to wait on the Banner to learn of their untimely deaths.
And the beat goes on . . .
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Foxes . . .
The other night as I usually do, just before going to bed, I turn off the lights in the living room so I can see out in the back yard. We often have deer visit our compost pile, they like the veggies or what's left of the veggies.
So I flipped on the backyard light and there were two foxes in the yard. One moved on pretty quickly, the other one fooled around quite a bit. I called Judie and we watched as the fox marked all around underneath the bird feeders.
The squirrels often feed at the feeders and underneath the feeders. I am pretty sure that is what attracted the one fox, the scent of the squirrels. Perhaps the birds to leave a trail but I rather think they think of squirrels as dinner or sorts.
That fox messed around for about five minutes, sniffing, marking and sniffing some more. It was really interested in what scent there was underneath those bird feeders.
They were not red foxes but rather brown foxes. They did have magnificent tails, big bushy tails for display. You knew there were foxes and not dogs or coyotes. Smart little animals, good neighbors to us.
We watched until they moved on. They were unperturbed by us. I am sure they could not see us inside as we could see them outside.
What a pleasure.
So I flipped on the backyard light and there were two foxes in the yard. One moved on pretty quickly, the other one fooled around quite a bit. I called Judie and we watched as the fox marked all around underneath the bird feeders.
The squirrels often feed at the feeders and underneath the feeders. I am pretty sure that is what attracted the one fox, the scent of the squirrels. Perhaps the birds to leave a trail but I rather think they think of squirrels as dinner or sorts.
That fox messed around for about five minutes, sniffing, marking and sniffing some more. It was really interested in what scent there was underneath those bird feeders.
They were not red foxes but rather brown foxes. They did have magnificent tails, big bushy tails for display. You knew there were foxes and not dogs or coyotes. Smart little animals, good neighbors to us.
We watched until they moved on. They were unperturbed by us. I am sure they could not see us inside as we could see them outside.
What a pleasure.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Billy Hayden . . .
My cousin DR. William DeGraffenried "Billy" Hayden died over the weekend. Billy was the youngest son of Uncle Mule and Aunt Claire. He was a graduate of Tulane medical school, a surgeon and general practitioner in Paris, Texas. Billy was 83, in poor health and had recently suffered a stroke.
I recall attending his wedding in Carencro, LA back in 1957. I don't remember much, I was but 17 years old at the time.
Billy also took care of his mother in her elder years. She had cancer and he did all that was possible to cure her. I am pretty sure she died of old age, not cancer; she was well into her 90s when she passed on. My last conversation with her was in 1983 when my mother, her little sister, died. Even then it was too arduous for her to travel to the funeral, but she did call and I took that call.
Burr (Lovell) was the oldest, next was Billy and then St. Claire (Little Sister or just Sister). Burr lives in Monroe where he practiced law with Uncle George (Aunt T's husband) and Sister lives in Delaware married to James D'Wolf - I believe he is or was a chemist for DuPont.
They all grew up in Shreveport, LA. The war interrupted Billy's studies, Burr was too old and Sister was to young for service. Stange, they all departed Shreveport. I can remember spending a short vacation in Shreveport but not much else. Uncle Mule and Aunt Claire's house was a simple affair.
We will go to Paris, TX for the funeral. His wife, Betty, is recovering from surgery. Tough to lose your loved one even though he may have been in pain or suffering. Surely, he, the doctor that he was, knew he was dying.
Our time is coming . . .
I recall attending his wedding in Carencro, LA back in 1957. I don't remember much, I was but 17 years old at the time.
Billy also took care of his mother in her elder years. She had cancer and he did all that was possible to cure her. I am pretty sure she died of old age, not cancer; she was well into her 90s when she passed on. My last conversation with her was in 1983 when my mother, her little sister, died. Even then it was too arduous for her to travel to the funeral, but she did call and I took that call.
Burr (Lovell) was the oldest, next was Billy and then St. Claire (Little Sister or just Sister). Burr lives in Monroe where he practiced law with Uncle George (Aunt T's husband) and Sister lives in Delaware married to James D'Wolf - I believe he is or was a chemist for DuPont.
They all grew up in Shreveport, LA. The war interrupted Billy's studies, Burr was too old and Sister was to young for service. Stange, they all departed Shreveport. I can remember spending a short vacation in Shreveport but not much else. Uncle Mule and Aunt Claire's house was a simple affair.
We will go to Paris, TX for the funeral. His wife, Betty, is recovering from surgery. Tough to lose your loved one even though he may have been in pain or suffering. Surely, he, the doctor that he was, knew he was dying.
Our time is coming . . .
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