No Camera No Love

It's been 2 months now since my camera went into the shop for warranty repairs. It turns out that the flash and the mother board haven't been right on the camera ever. No wonder some pictures were great and the very next one would be pitch black.



"Honey you just need to learn the settings" my husband said. Within a couple of weeks of buying the camera I went back to the store for help. "You need to bring in the camera Ma'am, we just moved over to our new year models and can't help you without your actual camera." Uuugh. Silly professional camera store, I thought they should know last years (two weeks ago) cameras'.



The store is in Austin near a location I go to about every other month. Next I brought in the camera, no manual. "Without the manual, Ma'am, we really can't help you." Uuugghhh. Life and it's busyness went on. Finally I managed to make it an hour from my house with both camera and manual, but no samples - my laptop had just been smashed and I'd lost my data. In one week, my cell phone, laptop, camera and two showers at our townhouses all went in for repair. I think my brain did too.



When I showed up with my camera and manual only to be told that the camera itself had been bad from the beginning, I calmly inquired if I could swap it out for another camera and upgrade to a more expensive type. "No, if you had brought the camera in within 30 days of purchase then you could have done that but now that it's been 6 months, we can't help you!" UUUGGGHHH. I'd been trying since day one to complain about that camera. Hadn't they tracked my repeated visits to the store, requesting help. Of course not.



And my camera is my pen. It writes the world I see. My blog has suffered. My advertising sites have suffered because I haven't had fresh pictures to put up. And most of all I feel like I have cotton stuffed in my mouth, no way to express myself without showing what I see visually.



I've been told I MIGHT have my camera back in time for July 4th. If not, I'm going to rent one, because to miss the visuals of those days is beyond my comprehension. And as soon as it comes back from warranty repair better than new, I can again see and share the world with you.

Hard to Let Go

We're trucking on 1431 winding along the S curve, I'm hanging on, trying to stay in my seat cause we're in the big Burban and it doesn't like that particular S curve too well (see the letter s, now imagine driving on it at 60 mph. Sick yet?).

My phone rings and I look to see that it says Dallas, Tx. I say to my husband, "What do I do, I don't know what to do!" As though I've never answered a cell phone before. humph But this kinda call, no, I hadn't. It was my first call for an inquiry about renting the townhouse.

My hands were scattering, my lips went pale. I gingerly said hello, hoping that the person on the other end wasn't some hard pale cruncher type who would be abrupt no warmth demanding (and yes I'm describing a later caller).

Instead it was the nicest southern female slight twang "Hey there just callin bout the townhouse for rent" and we went on to have a regular conversation. I had her pictured exactly in my head. And when she became my first renter I couldn't wait to get a glimpse of her to confirm what I already knew.

She dressed at Ann Taylors and Talbots. Had short blond hair. A cute family of 4 with a husband who wore polo shirts and was an investor or something. She was 5'4" weighed about 120lbs and played tennis. All this I could tell from a Dallas accent.

The week came. I had that townhouse lookin as good as it was ever gonna be. Little foo foo baskets like in fancy hotels. Pillows arranged just so and plumped. Fancy air freshener sprayed all over. What was I gonna do - it was our FIRST RENTER in our new business.

I parked and waited when I thought she'd show. And waited and waited and waited. Gave up when my daughter was screaming at me "You're a stalker, Mom!" Continued to find reasons to drive by somewhere that is not on my way to anywhere over the next week. Still a stalker. NEVER saw her.

Then her visit was over and she was gone :(. She sent me an e-mail to let me know she'd enjoyed it and all, and she'd left me a little somethin somethin in the basket as a thank you. A true Dallas lady all the way to the end. Pays me money to stay at my house then leaves me a gift. What do you know?

I rushed out the door in my pajamas drove drove drove threw open the door looked in the basket and found

A COUNTRY WESTERN CD BY THE KAT MOORE BAND! That was my Dallas matron of the favorite bee honey voice? Breathe. I ripped open the CD crammed it into my player listened on the way home and honey I was hooked. I haven't been able to get her tunes out of my head. She's playing on radio stations up and down Texas and she's famous. And I've e-mailed her since and she continues to be one of the nicest people I never met.

So was it Hard to Let Go of my stereotype? Heck no, what an idjut I was for ever thinking that all in the first place. Thanks kat -


p.s. click on the blog title to go to her website and hear some of her great music.

Vipers; a Green Boat; Speeeed Baby

We pulled into the parking lot of the Point Venture marina today to go boating and what did we see - SNAKES! no actually - Vipers - lots and lots and lots of Vipers - See the video!!! I couldn't get my husband and son out of the parking lot for 30 minutes while they strolled around and looked or drooled rather.

Then we met Kenny G. He says he's "Stimulatin' the economy" with his 2008 Viper and matching shirt. Here's a picture of Kenny with his car (is that the right word for something that probably costs as much as a small house in Texas?).

I think the right word is glorified man made thing of beauty. Because these cars glittered. And just ask my shopping friends, I like things that glitter. Even reptile things that glitter.

Speaking of things that glitter.... we finally made it onto the lake where we saw a GREEN sail boat. It was glorious. It actually had a neon green sail and a blue sail behind that (the blue doesn't show in the picture).

And everyone was out today in their detail cleaned, winter stored, ready for summer boats. We've been taking our boat out all winter every week or so, which means that our boat isn't detail cleaned, winter stored, ready for summer. But we had a great time all the same.

Although, it was kind of tricky trying to stay out of the way of the speeeeed thing going on. I saw a boat going faster than I've ever seen in person before in my life and if I could have jumped out of the boat and RUN on water to get away from it I would have. It was one of those tricked out racing boats that manages to go across the water without the boat part actually touching the water (do you follow me here?) The brave, death defying man driving it was of course completely outfitted head to toe in a helmet, gloves, fire proof, crash proof suit and boots. No, just joshing ya. He was shirtless and wearing his swim trunks!

All in all a glorious day on the lake and in the parking lot..... green things, speedy things, Viper cars, and sunshine.

Sunny Days = Busy Days

First we had unusually cold days in early March. Then came that Freak hail storm. Then came 3 days of incredible wind. The weather has not been cooperative. In my opionion, either give us rain, or be sunny and warm.


And finally someone listened, because the last few days have been beautiful. Which meant that us little beavers in Point Venture got busy.




In case you can't read it, the sign says "Point Venture Where Every Day is a Holiday." And our family took that adage to heart. We went to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Really I could upload 50 pictures and not show you enough to give you an idea of how beautiful it all was. But here are my two favorites.















A beautiful blubonnet and Spring Dancing
are my two favorite pictures and memories I take away from the Wildflower center (click on the pictures to see them blown up and in great detail).

Then of course, we had to hit the water and go boating. It was around 5 pm, not my favorite time to boat, but the south shore was bathed in sun and looked so warm. I think we saw two other boats on the lake. But we did see a wonderful group with a darling baby playing in the sandy beach at the park at Point Venture. They had pulled their boat into the shallows and anchored it. I hope they don't mind my displaying their picture?

So now I continue to hope for rain to fill the lake and hope for sun to fill the days. Either way I'll be a busy camper.

Freak Hail Storm Hits Town

We got a call last night around 4:30 that all of our plans for the evening were cancelled. There was a big storm headed to town and no one should be out on the road who didn't have to be out.

In Texas we're used to rain, although we're in a drought right now. Our family actually calls it Texas rain. As in - "Is it Texas rain or just sprinkling?" Texas rain may not last long but can come down in sheets, buckets, whatever term you want to use for someone turning on a fire hose overhead.

This storm, the news announcers said, was supposed to be different. Three inch hail. Tornado warnings. This isn't typical for hill country!

And then at 5:24 pm (how do those news reporters get it down so accurately) the storm hit our town. And the hail hit hard. I recorded it on video because I've never actually seen so much hail so large. It actually looks like people are tossing golf balls around in our yard! Just hit play on the picture below and you should get the general feeling of what it felt like. We had the TV on in the background constantly to check and see if a tornado actually did form.

Yep - an exciting evening all the way around. Our roof took a beating - have to call that in to insurance. Our cars took a beating - have to call those in to insurance. The only car that didn't get hurt; my husband's pride and joy, his 15 year old jeep.

We're o.k. Our doggies are o.k. Our home is o.k. And I can go a long time before I go through a hail of a storm like that one again.

California and Back

I went to California and ... I know it sounds like a song just can't think which one. This last weekend I went to California for my mothers 80th birthday. March in California is usually like March in Texas, springtime, sunny, warm, beautiful flowers. It was cold, sunny, windy, and on Monday when I left I nearly froze at the airport.

There will always be a spot in my heart for California. I grew up there, spent 43 years there. But I couldn't wait to get back to Austin, and hill country in particular. Where people drive the speed limit. And don't honk at each other at a moment's notice. If the light turns green and the car in front hasn't moved, they just ... wait!

I guess when golf carts rule the road like they do in Lago Vista and Point Venture life just goes at a different pace. Trucks don't drive as fast as when there are sports cars everywhere.

And the deer. I missed seeing them up close and so big. How could their coats change so much in one weekend. They've been shedding their winter coats and the deer looked smoother, more ready for summer. Of course it rained today, so the weather wasn't all that different, but when you watch the rain on a lake with an acre of field and trees spread out in front of you it just feels different. The air was warm. It smelled of manure (oops, that was my son's dirty shoes).

I knew I was in back in Texas when on the way home from the airport I saw a car flying the Texas flag.

And it was good to be home again.

Woo Hoo The Rodeo's Here!

Coming a few years ago from California, I'd never seen a rodeo, much less thought about one, in my whole life. Then I moved to Texas and the Austin Rodeo is a big deal. Almost nightly for two weeks, there's a big carnival, plus the rodeo exhibition then after that a concert. This year Akon, Credence Clearwater, Randy Travis, and Jesse McCartney (that's who we saw) were some of the performers.

The fun part for me is watching the animals. Before I ever saw a rodeo, I assumed it was some form of animal torture. After watching it in person, I personally disagree. The animals seem to know what's expected of them, some to even enjoy and respond to the noise of the crowd. And as a spectator, boy is it fun to watch. Cute men with big muscles flying through the air everywhere. Wild excitement to see who will get thrown off their animal and who will be able to hang on. Quickly becoming an "expert" and disagreeing with the judges. Just catching the excitement of the crowd is invigorating. It's an experience I can easily recommend for anyone who wants a couple of hours of laughter and shouting hooray. I'm just getting the hang of shooting video from a regular camera, but I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into the fun I had the other night.

Poking around Point Venture

What a sunny day. I had my camera in hand and some time to spare so I decided to check out those places in Point Venture I normally don't ... Venture... into. The fitness center. The golf course pro shop (way out of my league). The swimming pool - I've been there once or twice for a dip after the lake. But wait till you see the pictures of the people lined up in binkis! Not this body in a bikini - I'd have that pool cleared out so fast it'd be like a sudden tornado hit!

In the pool shot - the bikini clad people are on the left, I didn't want to zoom in and invade their privacy - and the fitness center is a room I've never entered before.

It was a fun time driving the one mile between the locations and the people were so friendly. Everywhere I went they were introducing themselves to me. Especially at the golf course. That is one soooocial environment down there. People were just sittin' in front of the pro shop hangin' out chatting, shooting the breeze. Some discussion bout whether it was fitting or not to bring a dog onto the golf course. Some were for it and some were 'gainst it and they was all pretty heated up bout it. (I tried to imitate the lovely Texas drawl to give you some of the flavor. I could listen to that drawl all day. Maybe that's why we moved here).

I did look into getting a single lesson at the golf course. But gee what a shame I didn't have my calendar with me so I couldn't schedule it!!! LOL

I think the man on the left looks like he stumped staring at the ball, and the woman on the right - did she make a perfect swing?

Tomorrow I'll add the close up shots of the individual people and the pro shop. Don't know what you want to see, so if you could let me know by commenting, I'd appreciate it.

Kate

P.S. Tomorrow - our visit to the rodeo with some fun video

4th of July rocks!

Summer's coming and so is 4th of July! A breeze came through the open window the other day. It just smelled of summer. My son, who lives in downtown Austin, immediately texted me and said, "Wow its such a nice day, feels like summer again." This got me to thinking about my favorite two day event of summer; 3rd and 4th of July.

This is when everyone heads to a lake to watch fireworks over the water. Whether they sit on shore or venture out on a boat, the spectacle of watching the lights all reflect over the water in their shimmer and color is like nothing. Better even than Christmas lights.

Then there's all the boats and swimming in the silky warm water at night. And Lake Travis has the best displays of any lake around. Last year we watched from our boat both in front of Lago Vista on the 4th and Carlos and Charlies on the 3rd. Ain't summer grand......

I promised I'd try golfing and I sure did. I was pretty good too. It only took me a few strokes to get the ball in the hole. And there was this amazing voice over that said NICE SHOT every once in a while. I played against my son and my daughter (we changed off ) and it was fun. I didn't hold anyone up. I could play this game again! sooner than 5 years! OK soon I'll take a lesson in the real game....... but the Wii sure was fun