Monday, January 19. Wow—time is really flying by. There are still things we want to do and see before we head out in a few months, so hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Dick continues to work almost daily, either in the office or supporting the remodel of areas here in the park. He certainly stays busy for a retired guy!
Tuesday morning I attended the weekly session of “Stitch and B…”. The temperature started out in the mid-40s, but climbed to the mid-70s by afternoon. This day was only one of the times we’ve been able to sit outdoors and enjoy the sun and warm breezes that we so enjoy here. Friends Marty, Sharon, Marge and Terry joined me at our patio to sit and chat that afternoon. When Dick returned from his day on the job we decided to head to the Adult Club House to try out the newly renovated pool and hot tub. What a hit! Marty and Terry joined Dick and me in the pool, while friend (and Marty’s sister) Mary just came to the pool to sit and chat. We spent a good hour or more there before heading home for dinner.
The day’s events weren't over yet. Cody Dooley, a local boy making it big in Branson, Missouri, was due to entertain that evening in the Family Club House.
Wednesday’s Family Club House Dinner was preceded by Happy Hour. Although folks bring their beverage of choice—anything from water to soda to wine, beer and the hard stuff—we mainly get together to chat, share and laugh. Good times! That night’s dinner was a beef casserole topped with poppy seed dumplings, smashed Yukon Gold potatoes, peas and carrots, a ribboned jello salad, and key lime pie for dessert. YUM-YUM! (Thanks, Chef Betty, for continuing to satisfy our pallets!) (And no, friends Tom and Les—the key lime pie was not from Sara Lee! Ha!)
The women overcame their deficit in Pegs and Jokers on Thursday evening by beating the guys 2:1. Knew we still had our mojo—it must've been put on the shelf for a few days last week…
Thursday night and Friday brought about 1.6" of rain to our part of the Coastal Bend. That also brought wind and temperatures in the 50s. Texas still needs rain and every little bit helps. The ponds in our park, which had become more like puddles, are slowly filling again but it will take a lot more moisture to get them back to where they should be.
Friday afternoon’s happy hour was followed by dinner at home and an evening of movies. We watched an entertaining and cute one called "Barefoot," starring Scott Speedman and Evan Rachel Wood.
Jay (Scott Speedman), the "black sheep" son of a wealthy family is on probation and working as a janitor in a psychiatric hospital. While there he meets Daisy (Evan Rachel Wood) a naïve and young psychiatric patient wh''s been raised in isolation her entire life. Against probationary rules he leaves California, taking Daisy the naive young woman home for his brother's wedding to convince his family that he's finally straightened out his life. Daisy impresses the family with her genuine, if unstable charm. Along the way, through an exciting trip across the country evading the law, they fall into an improbable love
That afternoon, Dick was able to hop on his motorcycle for the second or third time this year (due to the uncooperative weather) to run errands and just to feel the road beneath the wheels. He stopped at PJ's, a local fish monger, to pick up some fresh grouper for dinner. Wow! The fish was fabulous. Fixed it simply, dipped in egg and a bit of milk, then in Panko crumbs, a bit of flour, salt and pepper, and fried in olive oil. Served it with homemade tartar sauce, baked potato and peas. Perfect!
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| Above: bird pier at Little Bay in downtown Rockport; Great White Egret, Spoonbill Below: White Pelican, Whooping Cranes and Sand Hill Cranes |
That evening we watched another movie, “From the Rough,” a sports drama based on the true story of Catana Starks (played by Taraji P. Henson), a former Tennessee State Tigers swim coach, who became the first woman ever to coach a college men's golf team. She was tasked with building TSU's first golf team, with no initial support from the athletic department. TSU was historically a black college, but she was able to find only one available African American golfer—Craig, a former caddy with lots of talent but no confidence in his game. She scoured the globe to find kids to fill the roster, ultimately opening up TSU to underprivileged kids from all races. Her passion for the sport, drive and guts was evident as she took an unruly and mismatched group of kids from around the world, coaching them to an all-time record at the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship. Some of the other actors in the movie include Tom Felton, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Henry Simmons. Good flick!
Sunday morning we again attended First Baptist Church of Rockport’s 8:30 a.m. service. Pastor Jones continues his sermon series on Awakening 2015, with this week's focus on repentance. Repentance is the change of mind leading to a change of action, and a change in a person’s whole personality. His 3 points were: 1) Repentance is acknowledging personal sin and its consequences; 2) Repentance involves a desire for God and (re)turning to His ways; and, 3) God can be trusted to respond positively and graciously to heartfelt sorrow over sin which results in returning to Him. God always gives grace and grants forgiveness. Here’s the link to the message: http://fbcrockport.sermon.net/ It’s worth a listen.
After breakfast at home, we headed to Aransas Pass, Texas with friends Bob and Sharon, Marvin and Shirley, and their friends Marty and Jackie, to see "Always…Patsy Cline," at the Rialto Theater.
Based on a true story about Patsy Cline, "Always…Patsy Cline" is a tribute to the legendary country singer, and her friendship with Louise Seger, a fan from Houston, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961. Their friendship continued until Patsy’s untimely death, the darkest day in Country Music history. March 5, 1963, just when the best of Patsy Cline's life was beginning, it ended when on the journey home to Tennessee after performing at a benefit, Patsy, her manager Randy Hughes and Grand Ole Opry stars Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas were killed in the crash of Hughes' 4-seater airplane. For 18 years following this horrific loss to country music nothing was written of this unique personality. Today, Patsy has become more famous in death than she was during her lifetime. It seems now that the world cannot get enough.
This 2-cast play included good ol’ down home country humor, some audience participation, and true emotion, as the story was told and her songs were sung. Many of Patsy's hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Walking After Midnight—27 in all—were performed in this 2½ hour homage to one of Country’s most famous—but short lived—singers. The show’s title was inspired by Patsy’s letter to Louise which were consistently signed, "Love ALWAYS…Patsy Cline." Here's a link to "Crazy."
Emotional, fun, and a wonderful play. "Always…Patsy Cline" plays through the end of January, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For $15 per ticket, it was money well spent. So glad we did.
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| Above: Inside the Rialto Theater, Aransas Pass, Texas Below clockwise: "Patsy" and "Louise", Randy, Jackie, Marvin and Shirley, Bob and Sharon, me and Sharon |
By the time we left Aransas Pass we were starving…so we decided dinner was a definite necessity. We headed back to Rockport for an authentic Mexican meal at the original Vallarta Restaurant. For $5.99 per person we noshed on chips and salsa, crispy tacos, enchiladas, tortillas, rice and beans. Oh, and the tortillas and chips are all homemade. YUM-YUM!
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| The original Vallarta Tex-Mex Restaurant, Rockport, Texas |
Well, that's it for the week. Stay tuned for next week's edition, as we report on our ride on a Pirate Ship.
Love…always,
RJ and Gail
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