Update

Jimbob's surgery went well last week. The doctor feels that he got all of the tumor. That's such a relief for both of us.

I know he wants to jump back into everyday life, but I keep telling him that he's still recovering. He does sleep a lot and that's perfectly normal. After all he's gone through major surgery. He's still getting accustomed to wearing a black patch over his eye. He tells all his young students that it's not something to be afraid of.

One young boy, M, (about six) sent him a "Thinking of you card" with a picture that he'd drawn inside. It was two stick figures, one obviously larger than the other. M had drawn an arrow to the larger person with a note that said, "fake eye" and "you". The other one he had labeled, "me." It was cute in his innocence and lack of guile.

Jimbob will go back to the doctor a week from tomorrow to be fitted for the artificial eye. It seems really soon but what do I know.

Fall and More

This is my favorite time of the year. I love the way the mornings are cool and the days still warm. My friend and I are going to the Texas state Fair this Thursday and it promises to be a beautiful day.

There were a few years when I went that it was still way too hot and none of the drinking fountains in the park work. Instead you have to buy bottles of water from the food vendors and they are very expensive.

That's never stopped me from going though. A cold beer is always good to cool you off. I love the animal exhibits and arts and crafts. There's also a raptor show that I think is really interesting. And then there's the auto pavilions. Last year I sat in a Hummer just for the hell of it. First, last and only time. They usually have some really expensive cars on display. Like an Austin Healy for $175,000. Maybe I'll order a dozen for Christmas presents.

You can buy just about anything deep fried at the fair. So if you're on a diet, kiss it good bye for the day. Of course you also do a lot of walking, so the fat calories don't count. Now that sounds like a plan to me.

Tomorrow, Jimbob has his surgery. I know it's traumatic, but as the doctor told him, you get on with life. And it beats the alternative.

Below is a picture of me and my new grandson; Reed Anson Moore. He arrived last Monday and weighed in at 7 lbs 13.6 oz. Of course, I think he's beautiful.

I went for a walk early yesterday morning and found this character stalking along the edge of a local pond. For once I was able to get close without scaring him/her off. He looks downright prehistoric.

Wish us luck tomorrow and hope that all goes well with the surgery.

Mystery Solved

We had a bit of a mystery when we were in Philly last week. Monday morning Jimbob got up, showered and shaved and we walked to the doctor’s office.

Tuesday morning, he got up showered and couldn't find his electric razor. I looked everywhere including under the bed, but couldn't find it. The strange part was we had 2 laptops sitting there and they weren’t touched.

Wednesday, before leaving for the airport, Jimbob went down to the desk to report that his razor was missing. They were very apologetic and told him to go ahead and buy a new one when we got home and they would reimburse him.

That evening when we arrived home, Jimbob went inside while I was unloading the car. By the time I got all the bags in the house, he met me at the door with his electric razor in hand. I asked him where he found it and he said, “In the bathroom. I only thought I packed it.”

And I only thought he'd done a lousy job of shaving on Monday. Come to find out he hadn't shaved at all.

Balloons

One day last week, I took an early morning walk and saw these

balloons hovering over one of the nearby neighborhoods.

The people in the balloons were laughing, waving and calling to

those on the ground.

I figured someone got a balloon ride for a birthday or anniversary gift.

They were having a whole lot of fun.

They were drifting in the same direction I was walking,

and when I reached the park, they were nearly on the ground.

Then all of a sudden, this guy added more hot air

and shot up into the sky again.