RGV Weather

Location: Rio Grande Valley, TX



Two nights ago the weather was warm, people ran around in shorts, and the sleeping was comfortable with just a sheet for covering. We had a beautiful sunset that nicely silhouetted the palm trees, but it seemed to usher in a nasty cold front.

The front brought cold, horizontal rain during the day yesterday, and last night the temperatures hovered right around freezing. There was even a possibility of snow!

We didn't get any of the fluffy white stuff, but if we had it would have been a really big deal. It has only snowed here once in memory, and that was on December 25, 2005. The local kids were all hoping! But we woke this morning to green grass and a bright sun. Temps will stay relatively cool today (high 50s) and then start back up to the more normal 70's and 80's.

Keets X Four

This is Ivy and Candy, the two parakeets we've had for a long time:



We bought them a new cage:



And realized that there is lots of room for a couple more!

So this is Baja (the yellow one) and Newfie (the blue one), named for the furthest reaches of our trips this year, Baja California, and Newfoundland and Labrador.




Pecking orders have been determined and are strictly enforced, except when Baja and Newfie -- at the bottom of the list -- rebel and push their way to the feeder. Ivy often gets upset with the newbies and perches above them, glaring down just like a vulture patiently waiting for some chubby little cottontail to finally kick the Bunny Bucket. She tries to intimidate and push them around -- sometimes it works, but sometimes they just push right back. Baja is better at standing up to her, but sometimes the feathers literally fly as they flap and peck at each other.



As our four "girls" adjust to their new family situation, their squabbles just give us a bit of avian intrigue and scheming to watch!

Truth in Begging

Location: Rio Grande Valley, TX

I haven't posted recently because... well, not much has been happening! We've settled into our spot in the Rio Grande Valley, having run as fast as we could from Olde Man Winter who was fast on our heels. This time of year is catch up time -- time to clean out cupboards, sort email, beat John at a pool game every so often (and he beats me the rest of the time!) and read those books that have been gathering dust -- electronic dust as it turns out, because most of my reading these days is on a Kindle.

But I did happen to catch this guy panhandling near the highway the other day. They say truth is the best strategy -- guess it's working for him!

Would YOU Have Signed This?

Location: Waco North KOA, West, Texas

After a long day on the road, we pulled into the Waco North KOA (Kampgrounds Of America) in West, Texas. The check-in procedure was standard, and we gave them a credit card for the night's payment.

When the clerk handed us the signature slip, she showed us two lines where a signature was needed. The first was the regular signature authorizing the night's charge. She vaguely said that the second was our agreement that we'd pay for anything that we damaged.

But here is the full text of that second statement:

"I understand that I am responsible for damages to property and/or facilities at Waco North KOA caused by me or members of my party, and I authorize Waco North KOA to charge my credit card for the cost to repair or replace the damaged property or facility. I further agree that I will not dispute charges to my credit card made by Waco North KOA, and I will not initiate a chargeback for any reason whatsoever."

... EXCUSE ME??? They wanted us to sign a statement that authorized them to charge ANY amount for ANY perceived damage, and we would not dispute it? While I doubt this type of statement is even legal, I flatly said we would NOT sign it, and was ready to walk out.

They backed down and did not require the statement to be signed.

My guess is this is a local attempt to put that seminar on Management Through Intimidation and Quasi-Legal Procedures to good use, but if it is a new KOA policy they have seen the last of my money.