It’s twins!!…kidney stones, that is..

Gotcha!! Long story short, I have been suffering the last few days with what I thought (key word, THOUGHT)  was a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection, for all you home science freaks). Well, after going through a series of antibiotics, and a much needed visit to my new Urologist, it turns out I have a complete set of matching kidney stones stuck in my left ureter..OK, I know..TMI!! I ended up in the Imaging Dept. at a clinic to get a Cat Scan of my abdomen…and that’s where they were discovered, lurking around and causing havoc..I have decided to name them Damien and Lucifer…those nasty little devils. Yep, got me some Flomax, Ibuprofen, gallons of water and a strainer…What a party I can have with all of that stuff, right???WRONG!..I will definitely be testing the Rum and Coke theory..My theory is that if water is required, Rum and Coke would be even better…We who imbibe do know how many times you need the bathroom while drinking adult beverages…FLUSH THEM OUT, I SAY!

Being that I am ill (not only mentally, but now it’s physically too), I am getting a lazy old blog of photos together to set my nostalgia mood..these are photos we took at Falcon Lake State Park , Roma TX in January of 2012…What a place for birders!!! These photos make me happy.

Two pictures on left are Pyrrhuloxia…They do resemble Cardinals, right?..The little guy right, is a Black Crested Titmouse..

Oriole, Armadillo, and Cactus Wren..

The Orioles loved oranges and jelly!

Left is the stunning Green Jay…not sure what that guy is on the right…HEY!!! I need the Birdlady of Blogland to guide me here!! I am now going to savor even more of this trip with a few well placed other photos…all taken in January, 2012, at Falcon Lake..

All spots are pull-through and they have some with W & E, and some full hook-up…OOPS! How did that old bird get in there?????

The “caballeros” in the photo behind me were traveling Catholic missionaries who frequented Texas in the 1800’s..Right photo, well, that is the Rio Grande and Mexico just over our shoulder!

Viva Zapata! is a 1952 biographical film starring Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn (won the Academy Award for that movie) and directed by Elia Kazan. The screenplay was written by John Steinbeck. Part of this famous movie was filmed in Roma, TX. The Roma National Historic Landmark District contains over 30 structures built before 1900.

So, that is my lazy blog by re-posting some old photos of Falcon Lake State Park, TX. If you decide to go, go only in the Winter..It is too damn hot in the summer..Also, be very aware that the bridge to Mexico is just 2 miles from the park entrance …and be very aware of your surroundings…AND..if you want to go boating and fishing, check with the park …Unfortunately, a few years ago, an American couple went on a Skidoo across the lake to the Mexican side….he was murdered, she survived …

So now that I have probably scared the beJesus out of you from going to Falcon State Park…Seriously, it is a beautiful park and destination…Please, use your head, don’t be stupid.. and you will be just fine…

I sure do LOVE me some Roma, TX history!!!!

Another Sandwich Fair comes and goes…

This past weekend we had a mini Cave-A- Palooza here …Chris and John arrived with the boys Friday night to attend the tractor pulls on Saturday…Terrie and her 3 kids came over too..Kelly and Cindy are in NYC celebrating their anniversary. They were married on 9/11/2007 in Ireland. Their trip to the Big Apple included the 9/11 museum and a trip to the new memorial to observe the ceremony commemorating 14 years since that devastating day.

September 11, 2007, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.

It turns out they attended the Today Show at the Plaza on Monday morning..How fun!! One of our friends caught the following photo of them in the crowd, waving at the camera.

 

Yep…there they are, the couple in the middle!!

 

They also managed to get some great pictures with the hosts, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer…Kel and Cin said that everyone on staff was extremely cordial and nice!

Last weekend was also the Sandwich Fair…Den and I walked out with the Wolffs and a couple Heisers Saturday afternoon..

 

This was on Saturday afternoon….The tractor pulls start Saturday evening at 6:30PM…I am NOT a fan of the loud “pulls”..Hearing them from our house is about as loud as I like it…So, I stay back here with the kids and we toast marshmallows…

The crazy people who go to the tractor pulls park here in our driveway and walk out to the fairgrounds (only 1 block from here). Then about 9PM, when they are over, the loud and rowdy tractor pull fans (our family) walk back here for adult beverages and the wonderful campfire ….that I STARTED, I might add!!

So, as usual, we had a wonderful and very busy weekend with our family. As you can see, everyone was in sweatshirts at the campfire Saturday night, but our wind switched Sunday and the past few days have been 80 degrees with a fabulous South wind..a little touch of summer!  I do feel Fall in the air though, and that means MacGyver will soon be in the combine, playing farmer in the corn and beans..This means I will soon be a farmer’s widow.  Trust me, I find things to occupy myself…like shopping, lunch with girlfriends, and maybe even a trip to visit the Wolff family in Zionsville, IN.

  I forgot to mention I did manage to get an appointment with an endocrinologist at Northwestern  University Medical Center in Chicago (shock of shocks!!) I am tired of wondering if this hyperparathyroidism is REAL, or just in my head…They must have seen something the docs didn’t like in my Nuclear Scan I had last May…THAT, after all,  is the reason I had that surgery on July 23rd of last year!!!!. So, on October 7th I see yet another doc…in Chicago. I’m not going to shut up until they decide if I DO have an adenoma ( tumor) on my parathyroid or DON’T!…It might take another Nuclear Scan…but WIT! (whatever it takes!!). Meanwhile, I am having all my scans, x-rays and records sent to the new doc…Let’s get to the crux of the problem and fix it, so we can head South after Thanksgiving, right?

Speaking of camping, (I cannot WAIT!), we are going to rent a rug shampooer and clean up the Hiker’s carpet before we jump in and get on the road. Actually, it isn’t too bad, but being a light color, I think there are some traffic spots we need to “brighten up”. I am soooo ready to get out of here, and I fear the older we get, the less chances we have…Life might get in the way of our plans one of these days…CARPE DIEM!!

My Autumnal Poem time…with apologies to Robert Frost.

I just love this time of year…There is something magical about crisp nights, full moon, campfires, candles, pumpkins and mums…Tom and Jerrys and Hot Buttered Rum…. I was outside a few days ago with my phone camera, taking a few photos …..

One last blast of summer..This little guy looked like somebody chewed on his wings!

And then there is the ever present sign of Fall. This dude was hanging out around my patio umbrella. Left is his top side and right is his underside. Pretty evil looking, and he kept me from cranking open my umbrella until Super MacGyver swooped in, wearing his famous raggedy T-shirt and jeans shorts, and did away with said Mr. Evil…Dennis…my hero!!

It is almost time for our Sandwich Fair to begin. It opens the Wednesday after Labor Day. They have 5 days of events, rides, animals, cooking and sewing prizes…you name it they have it..One thing they WON”T have this year is our famous Sandwich Fair Grandstand.

The grandstand was built in 1915. The photo on right shows Den’s Grandma Jenny Bark sitting in front 4th person from the left (second woman). This was taken not far after 1915.

Above is what it looked like last year….

…and this is what we have this year…How awful. I cannot believe that the old grandstand couldn’t be saved. I just bet if they would have asked for donations and fundraisers, it could have been fixed and saved…”They paved Paradise to put in a parking lot”…right?

On a lighter note, we are looking forward to November for many reasons…Of course, leaving for Florida is right up there, but also we are going to Indianapolis for the Monumental Marathon. Some of our kids and spouses are running in the Marathon and the Mini Marathon…Christie, Terrie and Tim are running the marathon, 26.2 miles Kelly and Cindy are running the mini marathon, 13.1 miles. Den , Moi, Terrie’s 3 kids and John Wolff (Chris’s hubby) are going to be driving around like crazy people to cheer them on.  Actually, last Sunday our oldest daughter, Terrie, ran a mini marathon in Batavia ,IL. She went up alone because her hubby, Tim, had to sleep so  he could go to work the midnight shift. Enter, Dennis and I..unbeknownst to Terrie. We decided to drive up to Batavia (30 miles) and surprise her at the finish line.

Here she comes!!! Only Terrie would co-ordinate her running attire…soooo unlike her mother!!!

Check out her Wonder Woman socks…Hey, she IS my daughter after all!!! I do love my “fashion statement” socks…(hmmmm, I might have to add these to my “ensembles”.)

Other than this excitement , we are pretty boring here at the Cave Dwellings..Oh…I do have to add one more “event” that is coming up.. Dennis’s Aunt Jeanette will turn 100 years young Sunday, September 6th. She was born in 1915.

Not sure when photo on left was taken..maybe1940’s..middle one is pure Jeanette, taken Thanksgiving 2012…her age was 97…The picture on the right was taken in 2013, when Uncle Clarence was at Alden’s rehab..She is one amazing woman.. It’s been a rough year for both of them, but they are now both at  home with a part time caregiver…She did NOT want a big party, but that won’t stop us from taking a cake….with a few close friends…right??

I told you it was time for my Autumnal Poem…I have posted this before, so feel free to nod off..I won’t care…

AUTUMNAL ANTICIPATION

Farewell Summer, Oh, I’ve had fun,

But FALL is what I love!

Bright new colors catch the sun,

Crisp, clear evenings have begun

And ..Oh, those Harvest Moons above.

OK, Jack, bring on your frost.

We’ll have a campfire every night.

And fallen leaves the trees have lost

By chilling winds they’re gently tossed

As flocks of geese begin their flight.

Oh, Fall, I relish all you bring,

As yet another Summer ends.

And different birds begin to sing

Oh, I’ll be loving everything!

I welcome you, my Autumn friend!

                                 D.Cave 08/30/2011