NICE, VERY NICE—THE WEEK IN REVIW We had really great weather this week, with highs in the 70s and 80s, lows in the 40s and 50s—great for daytime activities and for sleeping. And next week’s weather is supposed to be a mirror image. This is why we’re in the Rio Grande Valley. Monday saw the weekly “Tourist Council” meeting, choir practice, and pancake supper, followed by shuffleboard. Tuesday was a quiet day before and after our dance class. On Wednesday, Donald cleaned DunnGone while Kay began her online course from Arkansas State University at Mountain Home. This Microsoft Office systems course is going to be time-consuming, but very good. At mid-day, we made our first trip to Mexico where we lunched at Arturo’s, and enjoyed both a pedicure and manicure. We also received the first package of mail from home, thanks to our great friends and good neighbors, the Bodenhamers. Thursday was our first day at the swimming pool. With our weather, it is nigh impossible to ignore the pool, and though it is heated, it is not too hot. Thursday afternoon was the weekly church choir practice. After a quick change of clothes, we were off to Snow to Sun RV Resort to see a comedic duo from Canada perform their act. Early Friday morning we had our weekly shuffleboard match with the resort next door. Thanks to Larry Wortham, Donald’s partner, they won their match while Kay did some necessary grocery shopping. With fresh tomatoes, cilantro, onions, garlic, and peppers, Donald made some wonderful salsa, Mexican rice, and fajita chicken. After more homework for Kay, we were off to the pool for some rest and relaxation, and it was so nice. Kay returned to Mexico on Saturday to help with the childrens’ church, and we spent another afternoon at the pool. While in the hot tub, a north wind suddenly developed, dropping temps a few degrees. Saturday evening found us at the annual Pine to Palm Resort Spaghetti Supper; because it was card night, the dinner was a speedy affair, though the food was very good. Sunday, it was off to church, lunch at Luby’s, with an afternoon of Wal-Mart shopping (Kay got a brand new bicycle), shuffleboard, and reading. Maybe next week, our activities will slow down.

SAND BURRS AND TEXAS SNOW Two things we forgot to mention last year were the presence of sand burrs in the grass lawns at Pine to Palm Resort Park and Texas snow falling on everything in sight. First, the sand burrs; we rediscovered these as we were setting the leveling blocks under DunnGone when we first arrived, and again when we emptied the black and gray tanks last week. They stick in our bare knees and any other exposed skin that touches the grass. We wear Crocs a lot down here and the sand burrs stick in their soles, then track into the motor home, sticking in the carpet and ultimately in our bare feet. Also, a lot of sugar cane fields are burned and the resulting ash that falls is called Texas snow. Consequently, when you walk the streets, you pick up the black ash on your shoes, and track it into your place of residence. We learned early last year, by observing other residents, to take off our shoes at the door. This also serves to keep the sand burrs out. Because of the dry climate, we actually keep our sneakers outside under DunnGone and near the entrance.

IT’S COLD IN SOUTH TEXAS Guess the north arctic winds followed us down, because the week started out rather cool by South Texas standards, with highs in the 50s and lows in the low 40s. Fortunately for us, the cool weather abated about mid-week, and temps returned more to normal, with lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s.

WE’RE GETTING TOO BUSY AGAIN Both of us had forgotten how busy one can be down here. Our Monday AM started with a “Tourist” Club meeting, which is a meeting summarizing upcoming activities for the week. This was followed by choir rehearsal. This is the choir that will perform at the annual spring show in March. Free time Monday afternoon allowed us to do some much needed shopping (yeah, right) at the Outlet Mall for Crocs; at the fruit market for fresh pineapple, oranges, and peppers; and the hardware store in Mercedes for a shuffleboard stick—you know, all the necessities. Then, it was back to the park for the weekly Monday evening pancake supper, followed by shuffleboard. And it’s only Monday! The rest of the week found us cleaning DunnGone, washing the Saturn, and washing clothes; Kay doing some hard core shopping with Karyn who is down for business (as a government employee, she works about 12 hours a day, getting paid for 8), reading (Kay finishing The Shack, one of her best reads ever, and Donald reading 4 westerns), renewing our Texas 2-step dance lessons on Tuesday afternoon (we hadn’t forgotten everything, didn’t try anything fancy, and were more tired than we remembered from last year), church choir practice, a friendly shuffleboard tournament with the park next door, dinner and a movie on Friday evening, a quiet day on Saturday, and church, homework for Kay, and our January street party, all on Sunday. The street party deserves some additional mention. The theme was Robbie Burns Birthday, celebrating famous poet and song writer Robert Burns. The party began with a short quiz about Robert Burns’ life, followed by saying of a Scottish grace. We ate traditional Scottish food, mince and tatties, which is sort of a ground beef cooked au jus with green peas served over mashed potatoes. Both lad and lassie toasts were offered, and a somewhat naughty Scottish song was sung. All residents of our street were present except for one. After the street party, Kay attended a concert in the main hall. WOW, we can rest until 9 AM tomorrow, Monday, only 12 hours away!

SNOWBIRD SUBCULTURE The snowbird subculture still amazes us. There are a couple of hundred parks like ours in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), and our park has about 1,000 residents. Ours is a gated community where most people walk or ride bicycles for their most basic needs, everyone is friendly, and you know your neighbors, as well as many others in your “park city”. Activities are too numerous to mention, let alone in which to participate, and almost everyone volunteers to help or do what’s needed to be done; the one thing you don’t hear is, “We’ve already served and done our part, and it’s our time to rest.” Everyone participates in some form or fashion. Also, almost everyone is internet and email savvy, communicating with folks back home. About 65% of our park residents are from Canada, and most of those from Manitoba. A vast majority of the residents were farmers in Canada, Iowa, and other midwestern states. They seem to have brought the farm culture to us.

THE TRIP DOWN, 2009 WOW! Can you believe this is our second year to winter in the RGV. We departed home on Friday AM with a temperature of 25 degrees, driving all the way to just south of Oakwood, TX, where we stayed at the Buffalo RV Park. This was an austere park with only electric and water (EW), but we really only needed electric, and were just staying for the evening. It was T-shirt weather when we arrived, but sweatshirt weather when we left on Saturday AM. We drove the final leg of the trip with a strong tailwind from the north, and accompanying cooler temps, arriving at Pine to Palm Resort at 3:30 PM.

GETTING BACK IN THE WINTER TEXAN CULTURE After a hasty set-up, we headed immediately to the hot tub to soak out travel kinks, followed by a TexMex meal at one of our favorite restaurants, courtesy of Vicky and Larry Wortham. Kay was asked to sing at Pine to Palm church the following morning, so we retrieved the CD containing the soundtrack. After a good night’s sleep, we arrived at church to a very warm welcome, after which we had lunch with friends. The early afternoon was spent finishing organizing DunnGone, and traveling to near the border to view the BORDER FENCE, being project managed by none other than Karyn, Kay’s daughter