Tax Day Flooding

It was a very hard week for Houston this past week with the flooding, apparently to be called the "Tax Day Flooding".     I was actually out of town (work conference) when most of it occurred, but my mind and heart were very much with my city.

The recovery for many areas will take a long time, and sadly some of those most affected are the very people for which a recovery will be the toughest.  

All the photos and articles out there have summed up the situations better than I ever could.  My favorites are those that show the many ordinary people coming together to help others - people and animals - in need.  Please take time to find ways to help.  I personally plan to donate and also need to make time to go donate blood, not necessarily for this disaster but a good supply is always needed and the local blood center lost 2 days of possible donations with all the closures.

I do love this image, a man rescuing an armadillo, based on a real man's actions during the flooding.

Final Four

Since Final Four is in Houston this weekend there is a LOT going on.

We decided to check out the free concerts at Discovery Green on Saturday.....and boy did we underestimate the set up and turnout!      We  rode our bikes downtown and when we arrived, we saw the park completely fenced in and never-ending lines from the gates, one literally wrapped around a city-block size building and then some.

We took advantage of BikePlan Houston's valet bike service and wandered around to see the spectacle.    We saw so many fans of all 4 teams, love seeing our downtown so busy.

Realizing that we would probably never get into the concert area (and I'd probably have a claustrophia attack if we did) and honestly not caring since we don't follow any of the performers that would be there, we went to Market Square park instead ---- way more our speed!  We had a great afternoon downtown and enjoyed the gorgeous day.  

We even stumbled upon Real World auditions...,,I had no idea the show was still on.   I think real world is real enough, don't need a show following a bunch of 20-somethings to show me what life is like.....

Spring Break

I had a great one day Spring Break.  We went to the beach with Kevin's brother and his family (wife, 3 kids - baby stayed with grandparents).   We had to 'wait and see' all week with the weather, but it turned out to be a great day!     Cloudy in the morning, but cleared off.  The water was chilly but that didn't keep the kids out, they were in it all day.....  we had a great time, and grilled some delicious hot dogs.   I am so glad I had some cash, since an ice cream truck came by and we got each kid a treat.....best way to have dessert - -watch kids eat it, all the fun and none of the calories.  The weather held out for us, and then stormed on us going home -- complete with hail, and its a cool front!  

Great way to spend the day.

only in Texas..

I debate just taking this blog down I write on it so rarely, but still like documenting our adventures so for now it stays.  

I'm at a conference for work this week in San Antonio.  For what a quick drive it is to get here (3 hours) we should probably come here more often, but I haven't been since our holiday trip a few years ago...

I saw this gem in the hotel gift shop and had to take a photo.....only in Texas......this is especially relevant as my school (and other colleges and universities around the state) talk about how to implement campus carry.

This conference is the same one that I have served as an officer with and so I"m excited to get to be an attendee this year and to get to see so many folks I've gotten to know through being involved with it.

I wish Kevin could've attended with me, but during the semester he really can't get away, so he stayed home with Smokey.

PSA: donating items

I am becoming a master at finding charities who need the random things we need to give away -- for example, old towels, bathmats and empty pill bottles - animal shelters can use them!  

It makes me happy when I can find an organization that needs items that we no longer have use for.

Please consider local charities when cleaning out your belongings....I'm trying to reduce what goes to Goodwill and find more direct use charities, there are so many out there that need help.

I haven't talked much about it publicly, but we moved my parents to an assisted living facility towards the end of last year and have been dealing with how to work through the belongings they don't want anymore at their last home, it made for a different sort of holiday but was the best move for them, really for all of us.