Music to my ears.

Went to a hot springs last week and stayed in a yurt. Had a good time but had a very terrifying episode with a woman, her dog and hot springs that were not marked. The dog ran into the unmarked springs/hot.. and the woman ran in afterwards and all got stuck and were boiling... Rescue time of sorts...

Otherwise (Said Mrs. Lincoln), it was a great play.

ON ANOTHER NOTE>>>>>
I got a letter from an Georgia lawyer... actually a packet.. and thought, "Well, darn, Diana is suing me for misdirections on how to use this blog. " and I almost threw it away thinking it was an ad..
Glad I didn't. It was from a former class mate at Sewanee and friend who made a recording/ CD from tapes/ of the Swanee choir when I was on tour back in 68-69 period. I had a chance to listen to it last night and was stunned that I ever sang in a group that sounded so beautiful.
Do you all remember our tour through Louisiana then?

At the risk of sounding egotistical (me??? never...) I would be glad to make a copy and share it. I am thinking it is full of good 'Episcopal type' music that Kathryn might like and Steph came to the tour I remember ad maybe Diana too.

Steph, I will let you tell about the line: "I'm only 14 and besides, I'm Phil Ward's brother."

And on another 'note,' I played five songs in a benefit concert last night. I actually practiced for a few weeks and went beyond where I usually go.. I learned a very slow, soulful bluesy rendition of Brother, Can You Spare a Dime and then played Rock Me, Baby, Baby, Please Don't Go, Dusty Box Car Wall (Eric Anderson) and Coal Miner's Blues (Judy Collins among others, I think).
Two people said I sounded like Neil Young... or maybe it was Loretta Young..
I was really flattered as the mic system and acoustics were great for me.

My yurt accommodations...



















Later, Phil

Thanksgiving plans

This year I think I have talked the Crouches into coming to Marble Falls for Thanksgiving. It is a good year to break patterns with Bea gone. Besides, I have been wanting to cook the meal for many years. So I have begun to think about Turdukens and cranberry relish and yams and green beans. How about pies?

I talked to Diana Monday night and last night. She said they are planning to go to Baton Rouge this Thanksgiving, but for Christmas it looks like Atlanta (Smyrna) might be grand central station come December. I think (but don't know because it is too far away) that we will spend Christmas Eve/Christmas Day in West Columbia or Houston and then depending on the weather and level of energy (sometimes we just need time to ourselves, don't you know), I would love to drive far enough to see as many of you as possible. I know T, T, T and T might be around and Phil might be nearby getting his house ready to sell.

So that's what I am thinking right now, but we will see what tomorrow brings.

Cranes over the campus

Well, we may be cutting back on a lot of things at UT, but the cranes continue to move gigantic pieces of steel hundreds of feet above the ground to the new buildings going up. It is quite a graceful sight with the sun coming up behind it and condensation rising from the huge coolers 4 blocks away. From where I sit, I can see three tremendously large cranes on campus.

I guess I have officially decided not to get flu shots this year. Wish me luck or health or whatever. I cannot explain my reasons for not getting them other than it just does not feel right. Sometimes you have to rely on your gut reactions and hope that your gut does not rebel later on.

I know the leaves change in Colorado this time of year. I think the leaves change in the Northwest this time of year. Sometimes the leaves change in Louisiana in October or November. Tennessee - without a doubt. Atlanta? Maybe. What happens in Africa? In Austin and Marble Falls, not so much, but in about a month I have one tree in the back yard that will indeed start changing from green to reddish to yellow - and that is why I planted it. That and the leaves are so graceful. What kind is it? I thought it was a Chinese Pistache when I bought it and although it looks similar, it does not have the "fruit" common to a Chinese Pistache, so I just call it Lovely.

San Antonio, rain, and my weeds are growning

I had a really good time in San Antonio. The weather was "interesting" - some rain, some sun, some cool, some hot. I ate on the Riverwalk about 4 times - two breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner - all good. I have about decided that San Antonio may be the New Orleans of Texas. It is really hard to find a bad meal. I had planned to go see Jim Cullins at the Landing on Thursday evening, but got roped into a meeting and then by the time I got out of it was just too tired to go - that and I had to be up at 5 the next morning. If you go the San Antonio Riverwalk without me (why would you?), be sure and eat at the Original Mexican Restaurant. It looks like a typical touristy restaurant, but really does have really good food. They had the best pico de gallo, hands down.

On my way home I swung by Fredericksburg because I have been wanting a St. Francis statue for my yard and I knew I could find one there. Sure enough, I found one I really liked for a little bit of nothing, but I also found thousands of extra people because it was Octoberfest. I did not stop and drink beer with them, but I did have a nice glass of wine and some bread pudding at the Herb Farm.

We had one of Jack's old friends in for a few days when I got back (he arrived on Friday, I got home on Saturday) and had a nice time with him driving around the Hill Country, sitting on the porch, and going to see Zombieland, a movie I really did not expect to like, but thought was really funny (yes really - the gore was like playlike gore and didn't bother me hardly at all except when Bill Murray . . . never mind).

Now we have had some rain and my weeds with interspersed grass have grown quite tall. This next weekend I will get to play with the mower (if it is not raining) and maybe get to work on my room some more.

Well, that's it from Texasland on this bright, with a chance of showers Thursday.

Back to the real world and Diana's problem

San Antonio was great, but I had to be "on" way too much. I didn't even get to go listen to jazz.

Diana, evidently the invitation to participate only stays open for a while (a week or two). So it had expired. I sent a new invitation and if we get you on this week, you should have no problem. I will call you tonight to make sure all is well.

The same may be true of Emily and Erin. Since neither responded to the first invite, I may have to send it again. Kelly, let me know if Emily is interested and I will resend. Ditto Diana regarding Erin - after we get you on :-).

More later as I catch up on my work stuff.

Beware! Either the republicans or the crimson tide are sneaking through the bushes. Since I can not immediately subject you to my 300 photos from Africa I thought that you may enjoy one of an Elephant who was in front of our car; she was suggesting that we back off because she and her offspring wanted to use the road. We gently backed up to let them pass.

Fall-ish...

Well today is a fall day... football, falling leaves and falling temperatures. Diana called and is a member but cannot see how to post yet. If any of you read this, does Steph have to OK us before we post?

The pix on the left is kind of how Diana and I felt trying to get her to post and post.

I am so feeble minded I forgot.

Here is a bell weather photo for this week from Phil