I've been in Austin for just over 3 months now after leaving Canada on November 12th. After living parked on a driveway opposite the church I will be moving back to Pecan Grove Campground on Monday. It will be a relief to once more have a 30-AMP hookup and not have to think about turning off the heat before I run the microwave, start the coffeemaker, or make toast. With the thermometer about to hit 90 again by Tuesday it will be quite pleasant to be able to count on running my A/C. It will also be a relief to have neighbours who speak English as a first language. Being weird is an Austin Tradition; the neighbourhood that has been home these three months is a foreign country. Hispanic and Afro-American.
I have become relatively accustomed to Texan's relaxed sense of timeliness, fondness for hot foods, failure to serve vinegar with fries, smoked BBQ, Spanish as the second language on packaged goods, tortillas and salsa, black and refried beans--not, up and down weather, rapture at the arrival of rain,.... I am less excited about my neighbour's treatment of the great outdoors as their garbage dump, fire crackers on Christmas Eve and fireworks at New Years, outdoor parties with loud Mariachi. Not particularly a welcome neighbour is the trucking company next door with its fleet of trucks departing at 10:00 AM and 2 AM daily or the roar of traffic on the overhead expressway that begins at 4:00 AM. I'm not fond of the little ankle bitter from next door that gets loose at least twice every day nor of the neighbour further down who lets their German Shepherd roam the neighbourhood at will.
After four winters in Austin I seem to be developing a new set of allergies beginning with Red Cedar, (Juniper), which blooms in late December. Next up is Texas' State Flower, the bluebonnet:
I have become relatively accustomed to Texan's relaxed sense of timeliness, fondness for hot foods, failure to serve vinegar with fries, smoked BBQ, Spanish as the second language on packaged goods, tortillas and salsa, black and refried beans--not, up and down weather, rapture at the arrival of rain,.... I am less excited about my neighbour's treatment of the great outdoors as their garbage dump, fire crackers on Christmas Eve and fireworks at New Years, outdoor parties with loud Mariachi. Not particularly a welcome neighbour is the trucking company next door with its fleet of trucks departing at 10:00 AM and 2 AM daily or the roar of traffic on the overhead expressway that begins at 4:00 AM. I'm not fond of the little ankle bitter from next door that gets loose at least twice every day nor of the neighbour further down who lets their German Shepherd roam the neighbourhood at will.
After four winters in Austin I seem to be developing a new set of allergies beginning with Red Cedar, (Juniper), which blooms in late December. Next up is Texas' State Flower, the bluebonnet:
A plant which, as you can see, occupies major sections of real estate when it is happy. We'll see, I wasn't around when it came out last year. Bleeding sinuses are not fatal but they certainly aren't comfortable, guess I'll have to go back on anti-histamines.
Singing at musical events is fun; choir rehearsals not so much. At this point it feels like I've visited every senior's home and hospital in Austin. The arrival of the Choir of the West, from PLU in Washington has to have been a highlight. Forty-four choristers singing from memory without accompaniment is impressive. A few weeks ago I finally got to see the Texas State Capitol and the nearby History Museum. After years of allowing concealed weapons in the building they now force those with metal buckles to remove their belts before passing the scanners. Did you know Texas is a major grower of Cotton, in early days supported by 500,000 slaves. The oil everyone has heard of.
Just learned that Samsung, who made my RV TV are subject of a class action lawsuit due to faulty capacitors. Alas, I have to wait until my Canadian TV is back in Canada to have it repaired.
