ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

We are in Snyder arriving in west Texas this past Wednesday. As is usual in this part of the state in the spring, it has been very windy and today they are forecasting gusts up to 40 MPH. But, it is a warm wind and we are experiencing some increased humidity (as compared to AZ or NM) and it was 60’f when I got up at 5:30 am. We’re staying home today after several days of exploring the delightful spider web of highways around Snyder from Lubbock to Midland. Our travel east from Lakewood, NM on US 62/180 was not without incident. The last 30 miles Penny started doing her thing—dying when we slowed down or stopped at a light. She started back up each time and if Phil kept the RPM’s up she would run, so he would put her in neutral and keep his foot on the gas when we had to slow down or stop. Our sweet girl has an appointment tomorrow morning for diagnosis (Phil is pretty sure it is the alternator) and repair. Through these trials and tribulations, we do our best to keep our minds in a positive place because we know “this too will pass!”

This is NOT Verizon country! We have been on “extended network” for almost two weeks and it has taken a toll on my phone and it won’t hold a charge longer than one day if it is turned on. Yesterday, I charged it and turned it off so if you call, leave a voice mail and I’ll get back to you ASAP. For some reason, Phil isn’t having a similar problem with his Verizon phone … odd? This too will be resolved when we find a Verizon store!

When you hear the term, “flatlander” what do you think of? There is a Flatlander Festival in Goodland, KS and it is also the name of a country music band. Actually, this idiom originated many years ago as a derogatory term used by people from regions in Appalachia—primarily people from Vermont describing anyone from outside the area and I have decided it totally describes my mindset. I love this country! Take any highway and you can see for miles in all directions as you ride along. On the red and blue roads you will see farmlands, ranches, cattle, oil wells, old barns, antelope, and very few big trucks. Best of all are the small towns and I collect pictures of U.S. Post Offices so looking for them, we drive through and take a good look around. Phil always drives and he can wander all over the road and sightsee to his hearts content without my having anxiety attacks as happen to me on the interstates. We can see oncoming traffic miles in advance!

Did you know? When Texas was annexed in 1845, a resolution gave it the right to fly it’s flag at the same height as the national flag; Texas ranks number one in the U.S. in production of oil, natural gas, cattle, sheep, wool, rice, watermelon and cotton; Texas leads the nation in most farms (205,000) and most farmland (130,900,000 acres); Texas boasts 100 species of snakes, 16 of which are poisonous (southern copperhead, broad-banded copperhead. Trans-Pecos copperhead, Texas coral snake, western cottonmouth and 11 kinds of poisonous rattlesnakes)! Texas ranks first in the U.S. in highway mileage, with over 70,000 miles; Texas leads the nation in the sale of pickup trucks and this final factoid: along with birds that flock to the south in the winter, so do 100,000 or more retired folks, affectionately known as Winter Texans. They reportedly add $250 million to the Texas economy each winter. Phil and I are certainly doing our part LOL!

Lots of pictures this week—we have been on the go just about every day. Oh, and BTW, when I said, “I don’t do caves,” I should have listened. After everyone telling me I would be “just fine” down in Carlsbad Caverns I decided to go. BIG mistake! About three fourths of the way through the “Big Room” I was nearly felled by a major anxiety attack. I all but ran for the elevator (nearly 15 minutes away) and once I was at ground level, my nausea and shortness of breath disappeared. My funny man, Phil says, “No matter how bad you want to go, I will never take you into another cave!”

Until next time,