Day 150

Last day of TAKS. The cat is out of the bag about the BIG MOVE. Received a wonderful call for another interview in the HIll Country. Left school early to run errands and returned to Bermuda Beach and a gusty, misty beach. Framed 3 paintings and THE birthday photo. Everything thing I touch turns to gold! I wish! Spoke to Tammy, Sterling and Seth today. Waiting on an update from brother Tim and Julie regarding their weekend arrival. Having wild rice veggie soup with sandwiches for din din. Bad news: the cat has fleas....sand fleas, of course. Photo today is yesterday morning's sky and the pair of historical concrete entries situation on the upper Seawall.

Day 149

Another day of TAKS testing.

Changing the subject, I picked up Kyla's 1st birthday gift today and it is amazing. I had a photo that Amber actually took enlarged into a 16x20 and will present it at the party. Will find a frame tomorrow. Sterling called and we discussed the big PARTY which be at Tapatio Springs in Boerne. Seth called last night with details.

Leaving S Street, I turned toward the seawall and came upon this mural painted on the concrete block back fence in a Galvestonian. Very interesting, I'd say. We like art and encourage all artistic efforts. I know it's a farm scene. Perhaps they might have chosen a marine image, but then maybe they miss the farm. It's art PEOPLE! Then I proceeded to Randalls for groceries as we are hosting company this weekend. Came home and made from scratch a key lime pie. It will be perfect. Had a multi veggie salad with fresh deviled egg sandwiches on the freshest wheat bread ever for supper. Then I had no patience and Doug through a brillant effort was able to use his AT&T plug and I am on the internet. He has called Galveston Internet three times today and no answer and still no reception. I know it is so boring to read about these trying technical times. When I grow up I've decided I want to be a techie. A cowgirl techie, ha! Have you noticed I'm a little hyper this evening?

Day 148

Long day of TAKS testing and came home to find that Galveston Internet Services is incapable of hooking me onto the website. Douglas had business in San Antonio and couldn't call them and determine the problem. I don't understand how we can be so close to Houston and fine technology and have the multitude of problems with our internet that we have had since we moved into our beach house. Oh...you probably don't know and it took us 2 months to discover that when we have strong winds or a storm the little box on the roof of a neighbor's house 3 doors down has to be adjusted. That neighbor hates Galveston Internet and refuses to use them, but the main switchbox for the entire neighborhood is on the top of his house. Doug has to walk to the man's house, climb onto his deck, climb up on a ladder and adjust the signal when we have problems. Sometimes this method works. See what I mean!!!!!

Meanwhile, I received a wonderful surprise gift in the mail today. Another childhood friend, Judy, who lives in Dallas mailed a gorgeous hand beaded cowboy red necklace to me. She is an exceptional jewelry maker and has a fine eye for design. I shall mail her my flying parrot painting (posted earlier...I think) in return. The photo today was taken after school when I u turned and then pulled over to capture these pasture horses that live on the exact middle of Galveston Island.

Day 147

I reconnected with a childhood friend today and talked nonstop over Ritas and Pina Coladas. My friend, Brandy, has had a marvelous life with long years of marriage, a successful teaching career in Texas City and two fabulous grown children as well as a 4 year old grandson. We had so much fun talking about old times! She is a sweetie!

I am able to post this message 3 days later due to severe technical problems logging onto the internet. Today's photo is from the early morning view.

Day 146

Sleep with all the windows we could get open last night. It was a heavenly breeze and the sound of the waves was better than the sound of a fan. Same ol same ol at school and came home to Laughing Cow cheese and brusetta. Then it's a cold pea and egg salad, waldorf salad and romaine for supper. Walked on the beach after supper and took many photos of birds of all types. Phoned Seth and Tim to say hello and arrange schedules. It's a great day on the beach.

Day 145

The best weather day yet on Bermuda Beach! High School Prom Party kids woke us up at 3:32 am this morning yelling and screaming delightfully. They had just returned from their Prom held at the Convention Center on the seawall. We were prepared because the Dad had warned us earlier yesterday. Dad rented the beach house behind us and invited a large group of seniors for the weekend. What fun! Doug worked on an estimate for a contracting job in Galveston today and I finished another seahorse painting. Our neighbors, Pat and Henry, joined us in watching beach goers get stuck in the sand with their vehicles. Doug used a rope and his Dodge truck to pull two people out after handing them the shovel to dig out a bit. I don't know any of these people, but took lots of dog and kid pics. Lunch on the deck was a great salad and supper was steak and baked potato. We took a short walk on the beach and came back and lathered up our feet with lotion. The salt water is a great healer, but also dries out skin fast.

Day 144

Fun Saturday. Up and out to hit garage sales on the island. Bought silk orchid planter for $3 and a gorgeous 16 x 20 frame for $2 with glass. Then over to the Mosquito Cafe for a corn,onion,cranberry, rasions, molasses muffin and two eggs over easy with toast and orange marmalade. Ate outside and enjoyed the palm trees swaying in the breeze. Photos around town as the Iron Man Triathalon brought many visitors to town. Back at the beach house for some r and r and lounging on the deck in the sun. People with dogs were all over the beach today. A group of high school kids and their parents had rented the beach houses behind us and were in town for their prom. The parent wanted to make sure we weren't disturbed by the goings and comings. Nice group. Alice of Dallas called and we met her and her lifelong girlfriend, Sally, at the Poop Deck for happy hour on the Seawall. Great time visiting with my Ebby Halliday Referral Contact Point Agent and continued conversation at Miller's Restaurant further down the seawall. Doug and I stopped off to check out the Chocolate Spa and it was closed and couldn't find the Bar None. Maybe we'll try again. Home to let the cat out.

Day 143

Love this weather! It's windy and hazy, but WARM. Doug and I took a long walk down the beach this afternoon and picked up driftwood. We saw a puffer fish washed up. And I'm working on my collection of feathers. They were everything from last nights big storm. We sat out on the deck after the walk and toasted the beach and watched the pelicans fly and glide over the deck. Doug had taken photos earlier today of a pair of labradors.

Day 142

Can't believe it's been 142 days and nights here on Bermuda Beach. What a wonderful life to live in a beach house 50 yards from the beach and sometimes closer! The wind howls and the waves shatter the sand. My cat loves sneaking out to watch the birds and I love looking out at the people lucky enough to share my beach.

On the way home from work today, I caught these 2 girls taking a bouncing high ride over the seawall. Ahhh...youth is a wonderful thing. I could hear my back cracking just watching them.

Day 141

Today is San Jacinto Day, but most importantly....My Dad's 88th birthday!!! Way to go Dad!!!!! I spoke to him by phone this afternoon and he had gone to therapy for one hour this morning to continue to rehab from quadruple bypass surgery 2 months ago. Mom baked him a "splenda" sugar free coconut birthday cake.

Came home and turned on Oprah which had a show about "doing what you love." Yes, I will get there someday. Doug is playing an afternoon round of golf and I'm livin island style. ..watching the goonies in the surf with kayaks. later,gator.

Day 140

If it is Tuesday, then this must be Galveston. Ha. Left school during last period conference today to run errands. Came home a little earlier than usual and Doug and I took the beach chairs out to the water's edge. We sat digging our toes in the sand and contemplating the seagull couple that possess our section of the beach. They chased off a nasty black crow, an invader seagull and a really fast piper. After about 45 minutes, I was getting pink on both sides so we retreated to the remaining sun spot on our deck and I laid on the beach cushion to begin the exposure of sun to the back of my lily white legs. Doug took a quick siesta waking only to take the photo of the naughty people driving the golf cart on the beach. $200 fine if caught. The cat sharpened her claws on the wooden deck and de planes were flying overhead. Finally, Doug decided to go for a 30 minute run down the beach. He asked if I wanted to ride bicycles and I lazily declined. Maybe next time. After all that adrealine pumping he began raking the deep sandy driveway so I could leave in the morning. What a sweetie!

Day 138

Monday arrived again. I manually dragged the heavy trash can out to our newly graveled former sandy road and of course, crossed the heavy deep sand in our driveway. But these muscles work fine and I was successful. The mystery is....when I arrived home this evening, someone had returned the trash can to under the stilt house. Hmmmmmm...go0d samaritan neighbor. After school, I went shopping for a frame for one of the seahorses and then found TWO new cute dresses. In for interviewing this spring and the other party dress for Kyla's 1st birthday. Picked up Douglas at Hobby Airport and then we went to Texas Roadhouse for celebration salad and steak and those fab rolls. Doug brought to me a "Life is Good" tote and all kinds of goodies from Oregon. Yes, life is good! More photos from family visit.

Day 137

What a day for an artist! I painted 4 new paintings and touched up 3 others during 9 hours. First, a walk on the beach and splashing water through my feet. Took photos of the sky and birds and a very dead fish. He photographed well, however. The cat is becomming dependent upon me and wants to sit in my lap while I paint. So...when gets too touchy feeling, I pick her up and turn her upside down like a baby because that is what all my guests do when they see her. She hates it. That makes her not want to sit with me for a while. Good call, huh. Have baked potato and grilled chicken for supper while I watch the country music awards. Have enjoyed the 800 range of adult alternative rock all day on cable. Lots of reworked songs and many ballad types I've never heard. I love being an artist!

Day 136

What a great day today was! Took the rebel and walked into the warm gulf waters barefooted after 7 am this morning to catch the rising sun. Saw my favorite seagull couple chatting away and then caught the hazy sun behind the clouds. The tide was very high today. Later, this morning the shrimpboats were abundant out from shore. Good photos of shrimpers in action. Went into town and solved the PDF problem. Headed toward LeChat Noir, my favorite antique shop on the Island. Bought mother's red hatted items for her summer birthday and a strong white wicker basket for my granddaughter's toys to store in....and thought I bought a 16 x 20 frame but it was 3/16th of a inch tooooo small. Came home and paid medical bills from my little bitty heart episode last Fall that has cost me a fortune (not that I'm bitter)(there was no reason to have gone in to ER that night and I'm not going NEXT time!). Reworked my large 30x36 acrylic seahorse on paper and then began a new seahorse. This one will be Gene Autry's horse. Can you name him? Additionally, I did bake chocolate cookies today, BUT I did not eat them all! yeah.

Day 135

I absolutely love Friday afternoons! The surf is up...about 7 rows deep with rolling waves. Birds are diving everywhere or gliding in the wind currents. People are out and about and the hope of a nice weekend is on the horizon. I came home and poured polyurethene all over my pink barnacle shell mirror that I made. So being productive immediately. Of course, I toasted my creativity by baking walnut chocolate chip cookies. Being southbeaching it all week, so just blew it in one baking. oh, well. The sliding door is open and the crashing wave sound is forcing it's way into my soul. Here's some great earlier photos.

Day 134

No good news for a second day. Saw this form and shape washed up on the beach as I drove down my beach road home. It's a snake or is it a phoenix rising from the ashes? Allows for good poetic musings...sideways photo...and I don't care if I change it.