Monday Moments - Wild Week in PA

Happy Monday!  I am back in TX after a week  (4/19 - 4/26) in PA. Whew!  It was crazy

I had lots of walks around our block and  spring was just blooming

Sat out front and just looked up...up...up

 And good to look down for one lone remaining  tulip. 

After two years, Covid caught up to the family. My brother, his wife, and  sister ended up  with cough, stuffy nose, etc. All are doing fine. Dad had a rough couple of days, but thanks to vax and booster - he came through.  One recovery morning as we were getting him dressed and situated, he began to sing Bruno Mars Lazy Song  "I just want to stay in my bed"    What 90 year old knows that?

And that's why we keep the old man going...you just never know how he'll surprise us. 

Take a walk. Look for surprises.  And also,  have a sense  of humor - that is key!

Friday Flashback to Easter Fun (and Candy)

I've been in PA  visiting my super senior dad and relieving my siblings  from 24 hour care. No doubt I will have stories to tell.  But I've done some filler posts.  Let's flashback to fun Easter and cute girls in lovely Easter dresses - Dakota and Skylar.   Sweetness. 

Makyla is older sister and just growing into a lovely young  lady who loves the arts, etc. She has my heart - truly creative and finding her way. It's amazing. 

The whole family.  We had a fun Easter Sunday - good cookout, egg hunt, and  turns out new twin goats had been born. No pictures, but life in the country (an hour drive for us) yields a whole new world. 

No doubt I will have a Dad story or two in the weeks  ahead. OMG - he's a mess, but he's our mess. 

Until then,  Happy Friday. TGIF and have a great weekend. We zoom into MAY.   How can that be?  

 

Wednesday Whatever - Botanic Garden Fun

That time of year - a stroll at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. I met up with my friend Trish on a gorgeous Thursday - perfect temps, no wind. A miracle day. And the flowers did not disappoint. 

This snowball tree is SO full. 

Pensive moment

Special theme throughout - It's a Bug's Life.   Creepy good

Watch out for the web. 

After our hour long walk, we went to Lucille's, a Fort Worth restaurant institution. Lunch lobster roll. No we aren't in Maine, but dang, they know how to do it right. We had a splendid day. 
 

Monday Moments - boys of summer are back

Opening  Day for Texas Rangers baseball was Monday 4-11-2022 and we were there bright  and early for batting practice. 

A happy Ray had worked hard since  February to get his knee rehabbed enough to make it to Opening Day.  We did take advantage of closer parking  and the ADA shuttle. That service helped a lot!

I received a 20 game package from Omega for my retirement gift.  Sweet seats.  This big screen isn't even the BIG BIG screen.

First day is always fun and full of energy.  The new ballpark is very functional. It lacks the character  of the old one. I read a description, "It feels a bit like walking in a shopping mall."   Alas, that's true. 

 But it does have a roof that closes.  Opening Day temps were wonderful and it was nice  to see blue skies.  But by July, when it's a steamy 100....oh that closed roof and air-conditioning will be wonderful.

Play Ball!

P.S. New glossy ballpark does not necessarily guarantee a winning  team. It  took them four hours  to lose.  (We were long gone home - I believe in the 7th inning  stretch and leave.  Ray's knee was done too)

Finally Friday - Let's go random

 I like this quote. I've always liked Anna Quindlen's writing. Alas, I believe there is one grandchild who likes to read...Obviously I've failed!

Moving on...

Quick book review - The Cellist by Daniel Silva is almost scary in how straight from headlines is this novel.  Apparently he re-wrote the ending in six weeks due to fast changes in the world situation. 

We have Viktor Orlov, a Russian exile, who is killed, in his London mansion, by documents contaminated by deadly nerve gas. An investigative reporter had delivered the papers and now she's gone. 

Who do you call?  The intrepid Israeli super spy extraordinaire - Gabriel Allon, Silva's hero in his thriller series. 

London, Amsterdam, Geneva. Gabriel's group of spies must  work fast to stop Russia's rich from dividing America into further chaos. 

cover blurb - Elegant and sophisticated, provocative and daring, The Cellist explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West  today - the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by a revanchist and reckless Russia.  

Whew!  This book is a page turner and Gabriel Allon is SO cool. Silva is on top of his game. 

Wednesday Whoa! The Judge's List by John Grisham

 Wandered through the library the other day, and picked up this 2021 John Grisham book,  The Judge's List. I wanted something I could count on to surprise me. Grisham is consistent and did not disappoint. 

Jeri Crosby's father was murdered twenty years ago. She's been obsessed with solving this crime, uncovered a suspect, and stalked this serial killer. Indeed, she's tied this man to eight murders and has now contacted Lacy Stolz who works for  the Florida Board of Judicial Contact.  

But how to prove?  cover  blurb. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most  cunning. He knows forensics, police procedure,  and most  important: he knows the Law. 

(Cue dramatic music)

He is a judge,  in Florida - under Lacy's jurisdiction, and he appears to have a list of targets. Folks have crossed his path and wronged him.  They end up with a distinctive rope tied  around their neck with a double clove hitch knot.  Yikes!

How can Jeri and  Lacy avoid his list and bring him in to confess?  Read the The Judge's List and find out. Keep your lights on. 

Monday Moments

Monday Moment - I love Fran Lebowitz. Her dry humor can crack me up. She's awesome with words. I loved this Instagram meme from her last post.    Too true.    Gotta read, folks. Gotta read. 

 And this killed me, truly made me die inside.  The Dallas Morning News has a News Quiz on Tuesdays.  Here's the Newsplace for 3/22/2022.  Hello......question mark.  I hope my readers know that what is marked is France.   Their answer was Spain.  From the news, that was the correct answer - extra Sahara dust did blanket Spain.  BUT - the DSM education department (??) picked the wrong country to mark.   Serious duh. 

Texas is busy banning books - is one of them a geography book?  Are there no proof readers at the News?

Yes, I wrote them a correction notice and they did post it on Wednesday.  Huge sigh, though. 

And that's our Monday Moments.  Have a good week