Thursday, January 24, 2008 (DAY 28) After a great night’s sleep in a bit cooler weather, we started our day at country western dance class. We decided to attend today rather than try to go Tuesday PM because we have to turn in the rental car on Tuesday at 3 PM. We did well, for beginners. After several lessons, we had become acquainted with the instructors and, consequently, got a lot of personal instruction today as they knew it was our last day. We have essentially completed the basic class, which included the 2-Step, the western polka, the swing, and the waltz, all with inside and outside turns, and conversation steps. We’re ready to put this into action! Actually, country western dance lessons were a high light of the trip. The weather today was cloudy and foggy, with occasional rain. After dance lessons, it was off to our last choir practice, followed by our quintet practice. Pine to Palm sponsored a dance in the evening, with a 4 piece country western band. It was time! While the band only played 2-step music, we danced part of the night away, and I didn’t embarrass Kay.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 (DAY 27) This was a "free" day in as much as neither of us scheduled any activities. We decided to travel to Mission, TX, and visit the World Birding Center at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. We hiked most of the roads and trails, a little over 4+ miles, and saw some very colorful birds, a raccoon, and several javelina, or collared peccary (see photos). Included in the bird species were green jays, chachalacas (about the size of a small pheasant), ladder-backed woodpeckers, mourning and white-winged doves, Harris hawk, cardinals, and Altamira orioles (much larger than the Baltimore oriole). We took several photos, but photography does not do the colors justice. Interestingly, the birding center is only about 0.2 mile from the US-Mexico border (see photo of boundary marker), and there is constant US Border Patrol traffic on the interior "no autos" roads, and it is somewhat a disturbance to the birds. Nevertheless, there were a couple of blinds, and they proved invaluable in watching different birds feed. After the long hike, we tried to make the senior lunch special at Golden Corral, but missed it by about 2 minutes. Here’s the thing about the senior lunch special, i.e. buffet. The senior lunch special is about $2.50 less than the regular buffet, and extends to 4:00 PM. Many of the RGV seniors, and Mexicans, try to arrive at Golden Corral about 3:45 PM as the steaks and shrimp begin showing up in the buffet line at 4:00 PM. That way, they get the full buffet at senior prices. You got to watch these seniors! Unfortunately, we got behind some folks who culturally don’t move too fast, nor did the young lady at the cash register, and we had to pay the full amount. Our friend, John, will have to let Ted, the Golden Corral CEO, in on this little tidbit of senior trickery. We watched television the rest of the evening. We’re sure going to miss HDTV.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 (DAY 26) It was time again for dance lessons and I could hardly wait! Our classes consisted of practicing what we learned thus far, with focus on turns. Actually, we did pretty well. While we were not the best, we weren’t the worst either. Upon leaving Victoria Palms where the dance classes are held, we noted an Arkansas licenses plate. We rolled down the window and Kay asked where the folks were from. They were from Batesville, and were the Pooles. They had owned and operated a number of catfish restaurants in Arkansas, including Catfish Wharf in Batesville. When it came time to come south, they couldn’t find a suitable manager, and just closed the place. They were friendly folks, and we have to visit with them again at home. After dance classes, Kay visited the beauty shop to keep the gray away. If only I had enough hair… We attended Marriage Enrichment class in the evening, and got the results of our personality profile. Both of us had completed several of these previously, so no surprises. In fact, we’re pretty much like you all see us.

Monday, January 21, 2008 (DAY 25) Kay woke up early and did all the laundry while I emptied the black and gray tanks. As is the custom, Palm to Pine Resort Park general meetings are held on Monday mornings at 9:00, and Kay attended, though no new news. We decided to do some grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, after which we ate lunch at Fiesta TexMex. We were seated by the stand where the lady made tortillas, and she was good. After a lengthy delay in receiving our food, she offered us some hot tortillas with butter, and my oh my were they good. We learned that flour tortillas are rolled, corn tortillas are pressed. We had a great lunch, and returned to Pine to Palm where I played shuffleboard and Kay read. We bypassed the pancake dinner, but played shuffleboard again in the evening. I began formalizing this journal on Good Sam Club Personal Travel Website. It was another great weather day in the lower RGV, but we’re thinking more and more about returning home.

Friday, January 25, 2008 (DAY 29)  Only 6 days left now, and the weather is not cooperating; today was rainy and cool (high 40s) negating any outdoor activities. It still beats the weather at home, a high in the low 30s with some frozen precipitation. Kay and I discussed the insanity of our returning home to that kind of weather. Oh well, we’re both a little homesick for Dunnhill Lodge, our friends, and church. Because of the weather, we took it easy today (seems like we do that a lot), reading and surfing the internet. We did a little planning on our route home, and will probably go via Houston. Linda Hagedorn, our cousin from Houston, called and said she and Tom were coming down on Monday with Jack and Betty, from Judsonia, next door neighbors to my sister. My, but it’s a small world. All these folks, along with two or three other couples, camp together each spring and fall on one of the Corps lakes in Arkansas. Anyway, we plan to get together with them at least once before our leaving on Thursday AM. Larry and Vicky invited us to go with them and Lynnette to the Olive Garden in Harlingen, followed by a movie. Kay and I had our usual calamari, soup and salad, and it was all good. We opted to see Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It was a great movie about two guys who were diagnosed as terminally ill, became friends in the hospital, and made out a “kick the bucket” list of things to do before they die. We thought of our friend who, though not terminally ill, made out a “bucket” list several years ago, completed it, then made out another and completed it this fall with a safari to Africa and a trip to Switzerland. Kay and I made out our own “bucket” list when I retired, and are completing things one at a time. This trip to the RGV and learning to dance were on the list! Consequently, seeing the movie along with facing our own mortality, has caused us to renew our efforts to do the things on our own “bucket” list.

Sunday, January 20, 2008 (DAY 24) Today at church, Jerry continued to preach on the triune man, but with a focus on Jesus as a minister, prophet, and king. This is a great topic and could be the subject of a whole series of classes. After lunch at Chili’s, it was back to Dunn Gone for football. We were rooting against New England, and particularly liked Green Bay and New York. Kay decided to vacuum, then walked around the park; I read. It was a beautiful day, weather-wise, with a high temperature of 72, and partial sunshine. Finished 14th book of the trip.

Saturday, January 19, 2008 (DAY 23) We’re into our 4th week. We got up early today to go to breakfast with the Saturday AM breakfast group. We ate TexMex, and it was not too good. I had the standard two eggs, sausage, hash browns, and wheat toast, and all of it was cold—not cool, but cold. After breakfast, Kay went shopping with the girls and I read email, paid a few bills, balanced the checkbook, called dad and wished him a happy birthday, and began reading another novel. Kay returned and cooked a pot roast. She watched a John Grisham movie on TV and I continued to read. While we have really enjoyed our time down here, it is beginning to get a little monotonous, despite all the activities at the resort here, or at other resorts in the area. The weather somewhat offsets the monotony, but home and all of our toys and stuff are looking better and better.

Friday, January 18, 2008 (DAY 22) This 22nd day of our winter Texas trip was quiet, but COLD by south Texas standards, never getting above 42 degrees. I washed a load of dark clothes, and Kay went shopping, more for exercise than anything else. When she returned, she brought mail that our great and kind neighbors packaged up for us. We are so lucky to live near Wayne and Loretta Bodenhamer, as they are wonderful folks. Getting and opening mail is like Christmas—we spent about an hour going through mail. After mail time, we practiced a song with Jerry and Doris Hart, and Vicky Wortham, "He Made A Change", to sing at our last Sunday church service in the park on January 27. We then had a fried chicken dinner from Church’s, and watched two movies on DVD, including Patch Adams. We enjoyed them both, and particularly enjoyed Patch Adams. We didn’t realize it had been based on a true story, and after watching some of the extra stuff on the DVD, Kay looked up information on the internet, concluding our day’s acivities.

Thursday, January 17, 2008 (DAY 21) Today marks the end of 3 weeks away from home. We begin each morning with a cup of cappuccino and the Today Show, and today was no exception. We are learning to take retirement to another level. After our coffee, and with today being trash pick-up day, we emptied the trash baskets, and took the trash to the street. Kay did a couple of loads of laundry and I caught up writing this journal. Then, it was time to schedule my monthly allergy shop. I called a recommended clinic, and was told I would have to see the doctor. After much frustration, Kay began calling and was told the same thing. As a note, my allergist seems to think I can just walk into a clinic with the allergy extract and get a shot. It’s not that simple and really puts a damper on travel. Anyway, I finally agreed to see a doctor just to get the shot. His staff said to come on it, it wasn’t too busy—yeah, right. I waited 3 hours, but finally got the shot. The wedding ring finger was still swollen, and was beginning to hurt, and after soaking in both hot and cold water, with lots of soap, the ring still would not come off. Kay called a jeweler and we drove back to town to have the ring cut off. After some 15 minutes and $25, it finally came off, and the finger was a mess. It’s surprising I didn’t get gangrene. Oh well… Back to Pine to Palm and a 1½ hour nap, it was time for choir practice. With only 2 tenors and 2 bases, the male sections were pretty thin. After choir practice, we attended a "soup and dessert" 51st anniversary party for Jerry and Doris Hart. My, oh my, but there were some good soups and great desserts brought to the party. Kay and I took smoked turkey and sausage gumbo. Kay brought disposable muffin tins for us, so we could sample a number of the soups at one time. It was a very nice party, and well attended with a lot of folks there from or near Puxico, MO, attending. After returning to Dunn Gone, we watched TV for a couple of hours, and we were off to bed. Today marked the 21st day, or 3rd complete week of our trip.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 (DAY 20) A trip to Mexico was the main event today. We crossed the Progresso International Bridge about 10:30 AM (see photos), paid our quarter, and began shopping. Pharmacies and dentists were everywhere. We finally arrived at the Canada store, and found their prices to be a bit better than anywhere else we had looked. We checked the price of some meds like penicillin ointment, amoxicillin, and Z-paks, found them to be competitive, and decided to return after lunch at Arturo’s. We both had the lunch special—enchilada, taco, tamale, rice, and refried beans. Then, it was off for a pedicure before finalizing our shopping. Kay negotiated for both of us to have a pedicure, hers with polish, for $18 total. It was a first for me (see photo), and gosh, did it feel good. On the way to the Canada store, Kay bought some silver jewelry. At the Canada store, we bought a bottle of tequila for Ron ($10.50/liter), 4 bottles of vanilla ($3.50/liter), and some mesh bags. As we crossed back into the US, we had to pay 30 cents to Mexican officials to leave Mexico, and $1.25 in Texas liquor tax on the tequila as we entered into Texas. After a dinner of smoked turkey and sausage gumbo, we attended a show at Pine to Palm ($3 each)—Myrna Hunt, the Redneck Comedian. Although we had heard a number of her jokes previously, she was funny, and sang very well as we particularly enjoyed the gospel songs she sang. For some reason, my wedding ring finger began to swell, and I attempted to get the ring off, but with no success. More to come on this? We received some very sad news after returning to Dunn Gone from Mexico; our dear friend, Judy Minardi, had passed away. Judy was a beautiful redhead, full of life, when we met her and Ray, her husband, over 3 years ago. She and Ray made a wonderful, fun loving couple. Our last visit with her was during a bowling night several weeks ago when she was having the time of her life, and Ray was setting the lanes on fire—so much laughter. Judy had had several bouts with cancer, beginning some 25 years ago when she and Ray met, but was unable to overcome this last battle with bladder cancer that returned a little over a year ago. Judy, we will miss you and think of you often. Save us a place in line in Heaven! (NOTE: This is part of growing old that I don’t like, as more and more of our relatives, friends, and acquaintances pass way.)