I Have Questions

I'll update this as more questions arise....


- Why is it when I choose "date" to sort files on my computer it always goes to the last date, not the most recent date? Argh.

- Why when I'm tired do I not look up and make eye contact to people I don't know when I'm walking to work? Yet, if I'm in a good mood, I'll make small talk or even give compliments?

- Why is there a strand of hair from my head always on my left arm in the mornings?

- Why do I have to blow my nose after I brush my teeth?

- Why do I only notice people when they come back from the bathroom in the movie theaters?

- Why are the bathrooms at airports so small? And, why do the bathroom doors swing the wrong way? How can I roll my suitcase into the stall with both of these inconsiderate things?

- Why do I look at the q-tip when I take it out of my ear?

- Why do people have to constantly complain?

My Fall 2006 Mother/Daughter Weekend

Elephant Crossing!
My Mom and I take a mother/daughter weekend twice a year and the first weekend of October we went to an Elephant Sanctuary in Arkansas and then we spent a couple of says at a casino in Shreveport. My Mom lives in San Antonio and I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I flew down to SAT Fri morning and met my Mom at the airport and then we flew back together to DFW and then started our trek to Arkansas – about 6 hours away. I flew with her because she doesn’t like to fly and because she has emphysema and was nervous about flying in case she got anxious and needed oxygen. I calmed her nerves by flying with her, so it really helped I flew with her. I loved meeting up with her – it was really cool to spend extra time with her. My Dad was at home by himself but we called him several times a day to update him where we were so he wouldn’t worry, and also to receive updates on how the dogs were doing. It wasn't easy for my Mom and I to finally do this, but we did. She had a lot to do and I had a lot to do, before we could take the trip. But, we got everything done in time luckily. Oh, she did fly back by herself, and I was able to sit with her at the airport, even though I didn't have a ticket, because they let me through security to sit with her. I was so happy to sit with her, but so sad when she left. ;(

The elephant sanctuary was wonderful in Arkansas! We both cried when we first walked up on the elephants. We stayed the whole 4 hours of the visiting day and I brought chairs for us to sit in. We were lucky the weather was good - not rainy and not hot. The elephants were behind metal fences, but not chained up. There were a lot of visitors, but only a few others stayed the whole time like us. There were two baby elephants, but they were still almost 3,000 pounds!


Max and his Mom!

I was taking photos of my Mom with this elephant statue and all of a sudden these two elephants get in the view finder of the camera! I was so shocked and happy - and kept snapping away! She had no idea they were behind her - it was so cute when she found out. Everyone in the photos came out great!
I finally put up all the photos from our trip. Click here.

We then drove to Shreveport to stay at the casino a couple of nights. My Mom enjoyed the buffet and the quarter slots, but the smoke made her feel bad. I played poker one evening and thoroughly enjoyed myself! My second time playing limit poker at a casino and I won many hands, but made one HUGE mistake that I may never forget. I had a full house but didn’t realize it and mucked my cards when I saw the other guy had the ace high flush. As the cards were being dealt, I realized there were two kings on the board, and I had two fives, and the other five was on the board as well. Ugh! I stated it out loud that I had a flush (shouldn’t have said it) and tried to make myself look like a non-newbie by saying I just wasn’t paying attention. Then a guy next to me told me later I could really taken the guy for his money… I was only thinking I showed I was new, instead of thinking how much money I could have won! Even if it was only a $4-$8 game, still! I can’t wait to play again.


I don’t know how my Mom and I are going to top the elephant sanctuary trip! It was so much fun being around my Mom for that long – 6 days or so. We normally go to the Frio River in the Texas Hill Country for our mother/daughter weekend and this was nice, too, though.

I've Started Golfing!

At the end of June, I visited a good friend of mine and we played a few rounds Golf. Before this, I played a few rounds in the late 90s - mostly with my coworkers. You know the type of golf - everyone plays the farthest ball, so my golfball wasn't used many times. ;)


Here I am... look at that form!

So, I come back home and couldn't wait to play a full round of golf with my husband, Tony. He happens to be the manager of a Par 3 Course, so we went once in July and twice in August. The temperatures were in the 100s, so we went early in the morning. The golf course is so nice - even a few water holes! And... I love the outdoors SO much! Playing golf has really lifted my spirits. Absorbing the sun, getting exercise, learning, endorphins, walking, being outdoors, etc. I just love it.

The first round, my long game was good, my short game stunk. So, the second time we went, I practiced my pitching wedge at the driving range before we played. So, this time my long game was bad and my short game was good. Ugh! I wasn't getting the balls over the water all of a sudden. Golf is a very frustrating game! The third time I was able to control both long and short games and played good and felt so good to play a decent round of golf. I didn't get over 7 the whole time!

Here are are scores: Par 3 course, 17 holes, goal is 51.

First: Me 92, Tony 68
Second: Me 102, Tony 78
Third: Me 92, Tony 69
Fourth: Me 93

This is the first time I tallied up the numers. Wow - I thought I improved on the third round. Golf is amazing.

The fourth time I went out on my own. Although I love competing with my husband, it was pretty cool to be out there alone. It was close to sunset and only one other person was on the course. It was so peaceful and tranquil. I found myself talking to myself, but I overall played pretty good. I had a few really bad holes, but I got my first par! I immediately called Tony who was working only a few 100 yards from me because he was covering a shift at work. I had two other chances to get par - may not seem like much, but for me that's really good!



Tony and I have one more chance to play the course before his youngest brother, David, comes to town and we play a round together. I hope I play good that day - that would be so cool.... but his brother plays good, also, though.

'Til next time!
Melinda