3/5-3/8/2012 I Don’t Ever Want to Hear the Words

…..DROUGHT and TEXAS in the same sentence again. NEVER! Trust me, after this winter there is no drought in the Rio Grande Valley. I’ve said this before and I say it again!

It’s being said that this is the strangest year for weather. Places that get snow measured in feet only got flurries. Other areas where the average high for February is in the low 40’s are having days in the mid 70’s.

These four days we’re back at work. Our days are overcast and cloudy, chilly, some rain. Oh, this is not what we thought it was going to be. Of course on our days off, the next four, you guessed it, periods of rain. Its like my life is consumed by thinking about water falling from the sky! We have got to move on, that’s all there is to it.

I’ve gotten some things in email that I want to share with you.

With a feline's normal aversion to water, it is surprising that a cat would enjoy being on a small boat, off shore with his owners, particularly hanging around the boat's edge where he could easily fall into the ocean. In this case, however, the cat's natural curiosity wins out as he has "discovered" dolphins alongside the boat, something he's never seen before. The cat is so fascinated with the playful creatures that he invites them to join in his favorite kissing game - and they do! They are just as curious and fascinated as the cat. You can see this remarkable video HERE

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

'One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me,' said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, 'One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me...'

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. 'Come here quick,' said the boy, 'you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls!'

The man said, 'Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk.' When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.'

The old man whispered, 'Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord...?

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, 'One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done...!

They say the old man had the lead for a good half-mile before the kid on the bike passed him.

BAGPIPER AT A FUNERAL

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a Funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's' cemetery in the back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic
tanks for twenty years."

And on that note I’ll close this.

3/4/2012 Borderfest

March is month that all the festivals, rodeos and celebrations for this or that start.

One of the oldest and largest is Borderfest.

Our first glimpse as we approach the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.

This festival, started in 1977 as a project of the Hidalgo Chamber of Commerce. The idea was to promote cultural, international and community spirit. The first event was a small community festival that lasted one day and drew about 500 people or so. Today, the festival has grown to become a nationally recognized, award winning Heritage and Music festival attracting more than 65,000 people over the four day run.

This year’s Borderfest celebrated England. Each year a country or another state is featured. You may find acts, costumes, music and even food geared to that culture or state. In 2008 China was featured, in 2011 it was Hawaii.

After paying our $10.00 each admission fee we walked in to the sights and sounds of a festival in full swing.

The first show we came upon was Wild About Monkeys.

We had seen this show before in Arizona at the Ostrich Festival, same guy, same monkey. Cute show all the same.

The next tent down brought us a hypnotist. I didn’t catch his name but he was quite entertaining. Oh wait, his subjects were quite entertaining I should say. Here they are “asleep”.

A pit stop for both of us brought us close to the car show, if you will. There weren’t many there, and what was, wasn’t all that.

I don’t even know what kind of car this is. Anyone know? I’m not seeing brake lights so this has had to be modified.

Maybe its just me, but I don’t get this. If I had a antique car like this I just wouldn’t DO THIS! I’d try to restore it as best I could, including original color which very likely was black.

Back on the midway we caught the tail end of a dance production.

I just love these colorful costumes!

I haven’t seen this automobile pictured below since 1975 when I was driving straight through from Delaware to Indianapolis, Indiana. I happen to see this at about one in the morning when it passed me. Did I do a double take? Oh yea!

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile is 27 feet long and stands 11 feet high. It doesn’t have a sun roof, it has a bun roof. The driver’s seat is even the color of relish! The drivers of this vehicle have to attend Hot Dog High in Madison, Wisconsin. It is here they learn all things Oscar Mayer. Each driver takes a one year driving tour visiting venues such as this festival. This is truly one of the most unique and most recognizable vehicles ever made.

Do you see the diver’s in this pic?

Here’s a diver on his way to the high dive platform.

When he reaches the top he will be at height equal to eight stories.

….and he dives!

….and the crowd cheered!

Now remember, this festival is supposed to be honoring England. I found this strange seeing as most of the people in this small Texas town at this festival were either Mexican or Canadian. I didn’t hear anyone from England the whole day. I did hear a lot of Spanish and a lot of French.

When we got to the big tent we finally saw something that reminded us of England. These costumes on this boys band (?) who all sang in Spanish.

Some of the younger ones came down and danced with audience members.

The only song they sang that I recognized was Frank Sinatra’s My Way because of that familiar tune.

After they left the stage we were entertained by a Johnny Carson frequent guest….María del Rosario Mercedes Laura Jennifer Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza,,,yes Ms. Cuchi-Cuchi herself,,,,CHARO!

I will be upfront with you. I have never been a Charo fan.

She claims she is only 60 years old. If this is the truth, and I’m doubting that, then all I can say is this woman has been ridden hard and put away wet on more than one occasion. If she is only 60 years old that means she was only 13 when she married Xavier Cougat from what I’ve been able to find on her.

Now I will give her this. She has a killer body!

It was here when I started praying. “Please God, run her over with a truck.”

I had a very hard time understanding anything she was saying. I did catch that she has been asked several times to appear on Dancing With the Stars but she keeps turning them down because she doesn’t like Bruno Tonioli. She says she can’t stand his accent!

After what I am assuming was a comedy routine because people were laughing and singing some songs, she played her guitar for us.

She does play classical guitar very well.

In additon to all the shows and the great food court provided by HEB and the headliners performing in the State Farm Arena this festival also boasted a good sized carnival and lots of games of chance.

We had the perfect day weather-wise to visit Borderfest!

3/3/12 Fashion Comes to Mission - ROPA Style

The park has been all abuzz the past few days, it seems its all the ladies are talking about. There is going to be fashion show this evening but just not any fashion show, we’re having a ROPA Style Show!

Do you remember a few months back when I took you on a trip to ROPA?

This is where the ROPA Style Show fashions came from. Let me clarify this, this is where they started. Better dresses, gowns, cocktail dresses, designer clothes were culled from these same donations and taken to a storefront where they are hung on hangers and displayed. That store is where most of the show’s clothing came from,but not all. Some came from the pile above.

The leader of the show, the one who works tirelessly putting it altogether is Patty G. She shopped for some of the clothes, organized the ladies in the park to be the models and was emcee for the evening. She has been one busy lady!

I made my way to the Friendship Hall a half hour before the show started so that I could get behind the scenes pics.

The lovely Dixie is sharing a laugh with the ladies before its time to strut her stuff.

One last look in the mirror.

Patty P., one of the park’s Activities Department workampers wrapped up in her pink boa.

There was so much activity in the quilting dressing room with last minute touch ups to make-up, changes in jewelry, getting out of comfortable Crocs and sneakers and putting on those unfamiliar high heels.

This wardrobe change was a huge difference from the everyday shorts and summer top or jeans and a sweatshirt on those chilly days.

Some of these dear ladies just don’t have the steady hand they once did so their friends graciously offer to help with applying of their makeup and helping them make their clothing selections.

Now, lest you think this park has some butt ugly ladies let me tell you right now that we think Ralphina is just beautiful!

He She is quite the fashion icon in the Rio Grande Valley.

It was soon time for the show to start so I went out to the auditorium to claim my front row seat.

This is Joyce M., she is wearing a Jessie Harris white rayon wrapped dress, a throw back to the 1920’s.

Sun Z. is wearing a Caroline Wells Collection dress. It is a long beige flowered sheath with an overlay of net. This dress cost Sun thirty cents. You read that right, thirty cents not thirty dollars. She got it from the pile so she paid by weight.

Sun spends hours and hours at the ROPA each week digging through the pile and finds the most amazing buys.

Carol I. is wearing a beautiful cocktail dress with cape that started out as a long formal. Ever so handy with a needle and thread Carol cut the dress to cocktail length and made a cape out of the material she cut off.

The dress has hand stitched beadword on the bodice trim and twenty one covered buttons down the back.

This lovely lady is Phyllis B. the better half to Ralphina.

Phyllis is wearing a silver accented, 100% pure silk, black dress by ShoMax.

She and Ralph, her husband of sixty years will be ready to trip the light fantastic when she puts this little number on again.

Marge H. is our 2011/2012 Mission Bell/Trade Winds Park Queen. She wore this black creation for the coronation and to the Citrus Festival Activities.

She shopped til she dropped and found this frock for a whopping $10.00! Now that’s a good buy!

Irma F. is modeling this beautiful sequined sheath with cap sleeves. This dress is completely covered with black sequins and decorated with gray and silver sequins set in a pattern on the bodice.

This dress weighs in at about five pounds with all the sequins! Another great buy at $23.00

Alma G. really hit the jackpot with this sportswear outfit.

Alma’s black slacks are by Jaclyn Smith, her red knit top is by Designer Originals, her black and white jacket is from Coldwater Creek and to complete her outfit she is wearing leather boots by Bandolino.

And the purse? Coach. Yes, Coach.

This entire outfit, including the Coach purse, set our Alma back a whole $7.00 !

Audrey F., our Activities Director, continues the sportswear line with a tailored suit jacket, that you can’t see, slung over her shoulder. It is by Kasper by Nights and made in China.

Her vest is red with black and red beading with a black zipper. She didn’t know the brand name but suspects some little old ladies from the Philippines made it.

Her favorite black jeans are made in the good ol’ USA and her underwear were made in Mexico.

Audrey is one culturally correct chick!

Elinore N. is wearing a sequined long sleeve dress by Mark & John of Sonia Suri Inc of LA. This dress features a scalloped hem which hangs longer in the back.

Elinore was a very smart shopper with this cocktail dress. She bought it by the pound and it set her bank account back a pretty penny. In fact, twenty pretty pennies. That’s right, 20 cents!

Joyce looks terrific in the blue velvet dress with a touch of old fashioned lace at the neckline.

She looks like she’s ready for Dancing with the Stars!

A whole lotta shopping has been going in the last few weeks getting ready for this ROPA Style Show. Some of the models even had two or three wardrobe changes for the show. I’m sorry I couldn’t show everyone and every outfit worn during the show but I can only blog so much.

As I said, a whole lotta shopping has been going on. You never know what your going to find at a ROPA. Designer dresses, high end sweaters or slacks or skirts. Name brand coats, the possibilities are endless. Yep, you can find just about anything. Clothes in blue, green, yellow, pink, red and even animal prints. Including the animal print outfit below that Ralphina modeled. It brought the house down!

I can only bet that it takes a ton of work to organize all this which turns out to be a fun evening for the folks here. There were plenty of ooh’s and aah’s as the models walked the ROPA runway. Yes, a lot of work goes into this. Again, we have Patty G. to thank for this fun evening.

Here is Patty receiving a token of appreciation from all the gals involved in this year’s ROPA Style Show. Patty is wearing a beautiful, long, purple dress by Alex Evenings that has a slit up one side. Over it, she is wearing an over blouse of sparkly stretch fabric.

This was another fashion find at twenty cents! Patty is planning on wearing this dress to her granddaughter’s evening wedding.

So its over for another year, but the ladies will be digging through the ROPA piles again next year and I bet they find some great buys once again.

3/1-3/2/2012 We Can Now Say…..

We can now say, “We are leaving here next month.” Ask any workamper or even just someone who full times and stays put for a season, you get to the point when you just want to go. We are so ready.

If the truth be told we’ve been ready for awhile. It’s not the workamping and it’s the not the managers, they’ve been very good to us. it’s the more than adequate amounts of rain. It’s the nearly never ending wind. it’s the chilly temps. Simply put, we’ve had enough. It’s better now, we can say….next month.

Today, the 1st of March is my dad’s birthday. We had a nice long chat on the phone today. I am so anxious to get back to Delaware as it has been almost two years now since we’ve been home. Too long, much too long.

Today we had a park model move out. It was sold recently and because it is an older park model the buyers had to take it out of the park. This is an effort to get the older, less modern looking park models out and to make room for new ones.

Actually, I think was a regular travel trailer and they built an addition on to it and added a roof over the whole thing.

It was leaning a little to the left. I would not be comfortable towing this down the road, especially since I heard it has to go about 15 miles to its new home.

We were on our way out and saw it again on the main road.

While out and about in the park today I came across this very pampered pet. I believe the pup’s name is Molly, or maybe its Maggie, I know it’s an “M” name. It should be “C” for CUTE!

As you can see it’s a rare beautiful day in the neighborhood. I took good advantage of it and spend the afternoon at the pool. Burnt myself to a crisp! Hangin’ out in the pool, talking away, paying no attention to the sun reflecting off the water and the next thing you know I’m as red as cooked lobster! Will I ever learn?