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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. What a year this has been. Family came over along with my two great-grandbabes. My heat was off and it was cold, but you couldn't get anyone to leave til dark. It was a wonderful day of love, presents and family.

We have not been fortunate to get any fair amount of rain here in Anderson. I would say since October? Looks as though California is getting too much. Even though......TEXAS is the place to be!

Just paid my property taxes on line at 2:00 a.m. I was nervous about getting to Harris County online during the day tomorrow. Had no problem. and, I suppose I was the only one who read Sunday's Chronicle about this being the last year that we will be allowed a deduction on this toward our income tax. Has anyone else read it that way? It was thrown in with an article about the death panel and oil and gas predictions. Where is this world going to? and sounds as though they are trying to make retirement horrible for us babyboomers, even though we have worked all our lives for Medicare. What happened to that silver lining?

The bordak apples are alive and well out here in the country. The decoration is beautiful, may try it myself.

12/30/10 12:59 PM

#925

Richard Meek

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Holiday and a great 2011. I guess in Kay's case that means getting a lot of rain and in Ingrid's case getting dried out for a while. Have fun, stay safe and warm!

Rich

May God hold you in the palm of his hand until we meet again

12/31/10 02:32 PM

#926

James Ira Brown

Happy New Year to All of You

from All of Us

01/02/11 10:36 AM

#927

Kay-

The property tax article you mention may be this: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/7354738.html If so, the key phrase seems to be: "Homeowners who don't itemize their deductions will lose a tax break for paying local property taxes." I itemize so it appears not to affect me. If I did not itemize, I would be more than miffed and would look into itemizing to see if it helped. Seems a bewildering group of businesses did get goodies in the tax bill but that is a different subject.

I am not a licensed certified tax authority, etc., etc., so if you think you have a tax question, please see a licensed certified tax authority, etc., etc.

Hope this helps.

01/06/11 07:19 PM

#928

Anita Marbury (Marbury)

I loved the weather in Houston before Christmas. Wearing shorts was a true treat for me.

Since I returned Durango has been hit with monster snow storms and minus 20 weather.

Needless to say Houston looks good to a girl from cold country.

Happy New Year to all of you !

01/08/11 09:24 AM

#929

We had about 7" of snowfall last night and it is still falling a bit - this is on top of about 10" from last week. For those of you who feel snow-deprived, I took some photos this morning to show you how life is around here just after a snowfall. Enjoy!

Front yard:

House front:

Front yard. I need to re-fill the feeder for the poor birdies and the family of chipmunks who live under the front steps.

Side yard - the rosebushes have a nice insulating coat of snow now:

Side yard, different angle:

Garage:

Backyard gazebo. Mid-November had the last possible weekend warm enough to paint so I spent all day scraping and painting this. Apparently the last paint job was over 50 years ago so it sorely needed another. My lower back still hurts! Bootleggers built a special house a few doors down during Prohibition. Neighborhood lore has it that the bootleggers would throw block parties under this gazebo to help keep neighbors happy with their activity.

Neighborhood plow guy, plowing a neighbor's driveway. We fussed at him this morning because he has still not sent me a bill in over 2 years now. He apologised but didn't know when he would get to it. We waved a checkbook and asked if $150 would be OK. He shrugged and said, "Sure" so we settled it then. This is what we had to do 2 years ago so I guess we will have to go through the same in the next year or so.

This is the 70+-year-old woman across the street who has just shoveled her driveway & sidewalks and is now shoveling the ones for the 80+-year-old woman next door who then came out to chat with her & me. Then the younger woman in the next house came out on her front steps to chat with the 3 of us...and to complain that her feet were too cold (she was barefoot!) I threatened to take a photo of her - that got her back inside in the warmth. Then the plow guy stopped to chat with all of us. It was a chance for all of us to Visit.

Our street. A half block the other way our street T's at the NY Broadway everybody talks about but the famous part is in Manhatten and we are at the other end of it, 150 miles away.

This is the bootlegger house 4 houses down from us at the corner of our street & Broadway - it was built in 1922. This is the Broadway side and shows what looks like a single car garage but is actually the entrance to an underground facility big enough in which to turn a truck around. There are offices, 4 or so big clawfoot bathtubs, etc. Neat!

Same house from the front (on our street) while it was snowing:

About a mile or so south on Broadway is the world's largest Nipper, the RCA Victor dog. Those things sticking up on his ear are lights to warn off airplanes! There is a ladder inside him and a hatch on top of his head for maintenance. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipper and links from there.

A block south of Nipper is the Miss Albany Diner (MAD) which was a setting in the Streep/Nicholson movie 'Ironweed'. We like to have breakfast here. The movie was taken from a prize-winning book by William Kennedy who was from the neighborhood and wrote about it in many of his books. The movie, though, is not really a happy one, about down-and-outers during The Depression. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Albany_Diner

01/16/11 08:31 AM

#930

Wednesday we had another foot or so of snow. We were still sore from the big snowfall a few days earlier so we hired one of the older neighbor boys to do some of the work - they like to get extra $$ in this season. In this pic he's clearing the driveway:

This is our mailman at the house across the street. Even if the sidewalks are cleared he still prefers to wade through the snow from house to house even if it is 2-3 feet deep.

01/21/11 04:53 AM

#931

Thank you all, for your kind words concerning my son and his family. "Why do bad (in this case, horrendous) things happen to very good people? Just don't know, and don't know what the future will be like for all of us without Michael. I think because of his Dad's position, Michael was given a lot of opportunites to know many important people in our small towns of Anderson and Navasota and always with a smile and expressive remarks. He knew no boundaries. He was the kind of kid that before going to the Subway, stopped at the cleaners next door and would put his face in the window and wave and stick his head in to say hi, and let the lady at the counter know he was on his way to get a subway....little things like this, talk personally to the cashiers at Walmart, like he had to gather as much information of all people, places and things as quick as he could. Anyone he met, was then a friend to Michael. His parents are enduring the physical pain and encountering more problems right now. Todd is going for an MRI today as he is still nausous and medicine isn't helping. Cheli may be able to sit up as a result of her operation Wed. They celebrated their wedding anniversary today. Todd sent her roses and was wheeled to her room where they held hands and talked privately for two hours. I'm damm proud of them both as this won't be easy on em. Michael's funeral will be massive for this small town. The students in each grade have signed their expressions of consolation on a separate board and they will be put up around the gymnasium in which his public service will be held. We will have a private one before that.

In my case report cards will be delayed a week with the school sending out a notice to student's parents because of the tragedy. On top of all this, two hours before I was told by the sheriff of the accident on Sunday after church, I received a call from Linda Baker, my ex-sister-in-law that Dan Thomas Baker had also passed away. I lost two wonderful people. Dan's funeral will be held in Wimberley, TX at St. Mary's Church, graveside services only, for those that knew him. His children are all here from Ohio.

Please know that your thoughts and prayers are the best things that can help this family, and so appreciated at this time.

01/21/11 01:05 PM

#932

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

My heart and prayers are with you and your family Kaye. Such "grace" to be able to write on the forum for all of us to be kept up-to-date about your son and daughter-in-law's injuries and ongoing recovery; but mostly, through your memory of that precious little guy stopping in the door of the cleaners on his way to Subway. I hope you will continue to share such sweet memories of him because it brings us all to our knees remembering how fragile life is and how fast things can change in our lives. I read the Anderson newspaper and the write up about how much each of them mean and how loved your little grandson was to the whole community. It was inspiring how many people absolutely loved this family. I know you must feel and deserve to feel such pride in each one! May you feel God's warmth as you walk this very rocky road in your life. In fact, I pray he's carrying you!

Jennie

01/25/11 07:06 AM

#933

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

Kaye,

Thinking about you and your son and daughter-in-law. I hope they are physically recovering from their injuries. Daily prayers are being sent for all of you.

01/27/11 04:13 AM

#934

Hi all, it has been a busy two weeks. I've been spending time with Todd and Cheli at the hospital. They have been in separate rooms. Cheli had to undergo an additional surgery because the physical therapists broke her hip trying to force her foot down during exercise, and they overdosed Todd with morphine, he coded, but they were able to bring him back with a reverse of meds. Never really liked St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan. But things are better, they have now been moved to the Rehabilitation center and now they are roommates. Difficult time for all of us, as now that they are out of danger, they are dealing with their loss and we are all making plans for this Sat. funeral. They will be ambulanced to the Anderson HS gym and to the gravesite, near where my daughter is buried. Looks like we have all landed in the same cemetery, and will be altogether later down the line. They will be ambulanced back to the Rehab Ctr. after the ceremony to continue therapy for another week I think, and then their home is being renovated for wheelchair ramps, baths, etc. and they will be at home together for three to six mos.

Thanks Jen and all for your daily prayers and requesting your church pray together for this wonderful family. I have been overcome by all the wonderful people and kindness and love extended to us all and it is comforting and I know that God hears us in prayer.

Paige, Lola, Scotty, Sandy and Lindsey, so sad to hear of all the illness and sorrow that seems to plague our classmates right now. Always thought more older people die in the winter months, do ya'll think that? Well, we mighty Waltripians must gather our Ram power and forge on....Spring will be here soon.

02/03/11 03:02 AM

#935

Hello to all-

It has been a long cold Winter, has it not.? 7 degrees here in San Angelo, TX with a windchill

of -1. Moved from middle TN, where it has been even worse.

Kay, dear, you are seriously in my prayers. You've got a full plate. I have no answers for you,

just incredibly sweet thoughts.

I live in a senior complex with wife Susan since 11/4/10. We have about 400 residents here

at all levels of health. It is called Rio Concho and is a gorgeous facility. I am on Social Security

total disability with Medicare. Stems from a traffic accident with a drunk driver in which I was a

pedestrian getting the mail out of my mailbox back in Boulder, CO. I had a serious closed head

injury and injured my neck and back. Did not work for 3 years 1984-1987. I did manage to go

back to work fulltime from 1987 to 2007. Started having cognitive mental issues in 2007 with

my insurance presentations- I owned an insurance agency and sold for nine companies. I could

not remember my entire presentations and they had to be perfectly memorized for Long Term

Care and Medicare products. I carried Errors and Omissions Insurance protection for mistakes,

but began to see where I could have a ton of mistakes and claims. So I filed for total disability

with Mass Mutual, my carrier and after thorough medical studies was granted 100% disabilty.

100% disability is VERY hard to get. 98% just won't do, as Otis Redding used to sing.

In Aug, 2010, I had to close my coin business after working at it part-time at regional shows

for 37 years.

So here I am living with seniors that are old... My parents live next door and they are

90 and 89. We have assigned seating at breakfast next door at the Terrace Restaurant, in the

complex. Last week one gentleman at the table right next to me celebrated his 92nd Birthday.

But get this - he was the youngest at his table - the other four were 97, 94, 93 and 92.

In the 10 weeks that I have lived here, I have heard NO ONE complain. Not one. You might

be thinking, Well Hell yes, they are happy, everything is provided. I eat breakfast with about

100 seniors each day. Well over 50 are in wheelchairs. Another 30 are on walkers and

quadcanes. And this is all private pay. These are not welfare or Medicaid patients. Alot of them

are retired teachers and everyone is paying his or her way. These were proud, very hard

working citizens who saved for their retirement. They have had to sell their homes and their

cars and live on their pensions and investments. There is a lesson here for our generation, if

we will listen. After supper - 5:30 -6:30, they get together and plays cards, dominoes,

and put together puzzles - those 1,000 piece monsters. They laugh, have fun and know

everybodies name. They work on arts and crafts. They watch very little television and avoid

"bad news". They love working with flowers. If someone is sick, they make homemade cards.

If someone dies, they find a way to go to the funerals. Most of their children are too busy to

come visit, so these friends have become their families. They have never met a stranger and

they took me right in.

I chose to retire here. I could have built a lake home isolated in the middle of nowhere.

I live 400 feet from the Concho River walk. It is 4 miles long and the Parks Dept. maintains

it beautifully. I am 2 blocks from downtown San Angelo and businesses are thriving because

the town supports small businesses. I have been very humbled here. Thought I knew it all.

Boy, have I been taught a thing or two. You might want to revise your retirement plans. You

do not need a 4,000 sq. foot house, my friends. Mine is now 1,400 sq. feet and plenty

satisfactory. Somebody reading this will "get it". He who dies with the most toys, has

missed the boat. I send my love to you all, Bernard

02/03/11 08:37 PM

#936

Bernard,

So glad you are here for me and after reading your very honest email and all the heartening comments you have imparted for us all. Life, sometimes is crazy, but love and encouragement is always here on this path we endure. You have a lot of heart and humor, which I'm attuned to, you make me laugh. My son and his wife are in rehab now, we've had the funeral, trust me we are in a better place than them right now.

Jesus was always humble here on earth doing his father's will, quietly teaching those around him. I like humble, mild and meek. There is a lesson the world could and should learn.

02/04/11 01:47 AM

#937

Hello again-

Especially to Jan and Kay - there is no doubt in my mind that you two "get it". Love you

both. You have found the key and his name is Jesus. My senior friends love Him. He is their

All in All. This is not some religious facility like a Baptist Manor, for example. These folks have

their own little Bible studies twice a week or more. They are grateful for every sunrise. I bet the

retired teachers here even had a morning prayer in their classroms... Seems like all here bow

their head and say a prayer before they eat their meals. The Bible sez "honor your Fathers and

your Mothers and I will give you long life". I am not trying to preach here- just want you to see

how God treats his precious seniors. They make me smile and laugh. I mean laugh so hard my

ribs hurt. They come to breakfast all "gussied up" as they say. Bright pretty clothes with

beautiful scarves. Women outnumber men 8 to 2. Most of the men were ranchers and just wore

out. But they provided for their wives. It cost about $1,400 per person per month for a one

BR apt with all 3 meals a day provided. The food is home cooked by folks that love seniors and

have worked here a long time. The facility was built in the 1980's I would say, but it is

immaculately maintained. Fresh paint everywhere and when one encounters the occasional

gum wrapper, they pick it up and put it in their pocket to throw away later. They save anything

of value for their craft projects. There is a communal garden and they all share. There is no

"every man for himself" mentality like the world serves up. I am so humble and grateful to be

here. If you have such a community in your hometown, go visit these folks. You might just

accidentally run in to God there. It's a trip, my dear old Waltripian friends - Love , BJ Brady

02/04/11 11:54 AM

#938

In the news around here they talk about all the ice around Houston's area. That would be awful no matter what part of the country. I remember those terrible ice storms and how bad it was to get around, the power outages, etc.

For fun, here are some photos of how bad the snow can get in Houston - 20.0 inches on Valentine's Day, 1895:

Galveston, in the same snowstorm - 15.4 inches:

In the same snowstorm, Beaumont & Lake Charles got 30 inches!!

Just imagine folks trying to get around in that mess!!

More at http://www.earlychurchfathers.org/fullcircle/index.php?entry=entry091211-213857 and other websites.

Stay warm!

02/05/11 03:20 PM

#939

Hello Central TX classmates-

Is there going to be a Feb. mtg at the Iguana

Grill in Austin, TX around the 16th? Anyone heard?

I'd love to go. Thanks, BJ

02/05/11 07:38 PM

#940

Robert (Robby) Wallis

Hey BJ!!...if there is, and you are going to be there, I will try my best to be there too..robby

02/06/11 01:15 AM

#941