Yellow Rose of Texas

Roses on the Pfluger walking bridge with 360 Condos

in the background on the left.

All Texans wear this color

Spring is in the air in Austin with flowering trees and and plants beginning to show their

color. It's going to be difficult getting back to Sandia Park where Roy tells us that there

are two feet of snow on our driveway at home. Despite the great time we've had in Texas

this winter, it's time to head for New Mexico. Our return date is on March 15, next week.

It rained today (March 9) but we went to Barton Creek Mall where Annabelle had her hair

cut while I shopped at Penny's. Bought a windbreaker for the upcoming trip to England

and the Baltic. The jacket has the UT color with the Longhorn symbol.(above right)

When we returned from the Mall, during rest time at the condo, I turned on the iPad

and we listened to Sinatra belting out some of his old tunes. Somehow, I always get

to thinking of the ole days when Frankie does his thing. He's gone now but he generates

so many memories of our past experiences. This time it was our adventures in sailing

on the Annabelle 1, 2 and the Amber on the Sea of Cortes. Those ten years of sailing

near our casa on the Caracol Peninsula were great. The time that a pod of Humpback

Whales surfaced near the Amber, no more than 20 feet away on all sides or the large

shark circling our boat several times checking us out. Great adventures in our younger

years. Of course, the bare boat chartering around the Virgin Islands and off the coast

of Vancouver when we were followed by a large group of Orcas and the time we were

sailing with our friends the Rices' off the San Diego Coast when a Nuclear Sub surfaced

off our bow on its return to its base in the San Diego Naval Base.

The South by Southwest Festival began friday and Austin is alive with people and music.

This event will last until next week but we plan to sneak out of town on Thursday morn.

So far I've managed to pack most of the essentials for the 2 day journey under the stare

of Annabelle who thinks my early planning efforts are off the wall. Maybe she is right,

however, despite her cold stare as I move things down to the car, I rarely leave things

behind or miss an appointment. I guess this is part of my concern about getting things

right and on time.

Just discovered a new ap for my Ipad, No Fear Shakespeare, which allows you to follow

a play in today's English on one page while reading the old English script on the other.

This will be a great help when we watch Richard 3rd on our trip to the Globe in July.