Ok, just in case anyone actually reads this blog, I am in need of help.  I need family pictures to include in the calendar for Grandma and Grandpa this year.  Please send them to me!  Thanks in advance.

Updates

OK, so I have not posted in a really long time.  Sorry!  I have a good excuse for the last week however, as I have been without Internet due to Hurricane Ike.

I evacuated to San Antonio during the storm along with my sister and Mom.  When I got back the house was fine.  I had some fence damage that will cost be about 3 dollars to repair.  (Just need screws or nails.)  I also developed an electrical short in something in my bedroom.  (either my alarm clock or smoke alarm.)  The breaker kept switching off when I got home last week.

I have not been to work for two weeks.  Rumors are that the building where I work in Galveston near the strand had two feet of water in the lobby.  The lobby is raised off the ground by at least 10 feet I think, so that is significant.  The basement was also flooded of course.  Anyway, again rumors are that it will be 6 to 8 weeks before we will be able to go back to the building.  Our computer data center is located in South Shore Harbour and did not suffer any damage, so they are trying to get work stations set up for everyone who cannot work from home.  I can work from home, so they should have that set up by Monday.  

Sea World Adventures

Ok, well I have been meaning to post for a couple of weeks.  At the beginning of May I went to San Antonio twice.  The first weekend was to babysit for my sister.  I went by myself and watched my nephews Robert and Aaron on Friday.  They were so well behaved, I could not believe it.  On Saturday, I took Robert to Seaworld and we had lot's of fun.  I dragged him to the Rockin' Ski Party show (the only one I haven't seen yet.), and I am not sure he enjoyed it.  Oh well, I wanted to see it at least once.

The next week I went back for Aaron's first birthday.  My nieces Jenna and Kelsey came with us to Seaworld.  Jenna and I rode the Journey to Atlantis, and I got a picture of her just before she was drenched after the ride.

Aaron had a great time at his birthday party.  Kaylynne made him a Winnie the Pooh Cake (see her blog for a picture.)  He looked really cute in his birthday hat.  

Jenna and Kelsey also had recent birthday's so I brought their birthday presents.  I gave them both Hannah Montana dress up kits.   This is Hannah Montana Kelsey.

Any way that was my exciting Sea World adventures.  I hope to go again this summer.

From the Exciting Adventures of the Mundane - Yellowstone

I have been out of town the last couple of weeks, so I have not posted recently.  Sorry.  More on where I was in an upcoming post.  

On May 1st the telephone lines opened for reservations at the Yellowstone lodges Summer 2009.  I wanted to take the day off as I was leaving for San Antonio that day as well, but work prevented me from doing that.  The telephone lines opened at 9am, and I promptly began calling.  After 15 minutes, I finally got through, but I was placed on hold.  While waiting I decided to check online, but they did not have next summer available online yet.  After being online for an hour and a half, I decided to try online again, and was able to make my reservations.  I finally hung up the telephone at 11:15.  

That night while I was sleeping I received two emails confirming two reservations.  But Alas!  I had made THREE reservations.  It was not to be born.  I called the next morning again promptly at 9am, and got through immediately.  However, I was put on HOLD again.  Fortunately this only lasted for 10 minutes.  I was able to talk to a real person and get the third reservation made, again, but the room selection was not exactly what I wanted.  I also made reservations for dinner at two of the lodges.

Again, while asleep that night I received a confirmation email.  This time it had all three of my reservations and included the dinner reservations as well.  Oh, Happy Day.  I thought it was done, I would not have to do anything else for the trip until next spring.  The most difficult part was over.  But then then it came on Sunday.  The missing reservation, it was confirmed four days after I originally placed it.  

Now I was booked for the Old Faithful Inn twice on the same nights.  So again I called.  And again I was placed on HOLD.  I waited only about three minutes this time.  I talked to another very helpful reservation agent.  She was able to combine all of my reservations leaving the original Old Faithful Inn reservation (which had the room category I wanted), and finally I was actually done.  I have the confirmation email and in fourteen months I will be there!  

Next week on the Exciting Adventures of the Mundane - The quest for the reimbursement check from the Home Owner Association that should never have cashed the check in the first place.  Will it be resolved in time for the next episode?  Tune in to find out!

PS.  For anyone interested, Lisa and I are booked at Mammoth Springs Hotel on July 6, 2009; Old Faithful Inn July 7-9, 2009; Lake Yellowstone Hotel July 9-11.   

Brazos Bend Photo Op

Yesterday I went to Brazos Bend State park with my family.  You might notice that this is the second time in a row I am writing about Brazos Bend.  I made plans to go yesterday a few weeks ago, because I wanted to walk around and take pictures.  However, I also enjoy bike riding there, so I went last week with a friend from work.

This is a great time to visit the park because you are guaranteed to see alligators (it's nesting season).  Sure enough we saw a lot of alligators.

I wanted to try out my new camera.  I still need to  figure out how to use it.  I did not have a tripod, but the pictures did not turn out fuzzy.  They were a little over exposed, so I need to determine how to fix it.  

We arrived at the Hale Lake picnic area and walked along the river trail.  Next we drove over to 40 acre lake and walked around it so we could see some alligators.  You have the best chance of seeing alligators at Elm Lake and 40 acre lake, but there are more trees for shade at Hale lake. Steve grilled the hot dogs, and we had a lovely picnic at Hale Lake.   Anyway, here is a picture of our picnic area.  Isn't it pretty!

 Next week, I think we are going to the Mercer Arboretum.  I have never been, so I hope it is fun.  Till next week!

Bike riding at Brazos Bend

I wrote the previous post last week, but I was not happy with it, so I gave up in frustration.  I read it again today and decided it was fine, so I posted it as is.  The hardest thing about blogging is thinking that I have something to say that anyone cares about.  Oh well, if you don't care I guess you will not be reading it.

Anyway this week I went to a gardening class on Thursday at church.  It turns out that one of the sisters studied landscape architecture in college.  I learned that I could plant Mexican heather near the door by the house, and who I can go to for questions.  I also learned that builders in subdivisions will sell the top soil before building your house (what there is of it) and then only put a thin layer of sand down for the grass.  It makes gardening in new subdivisions difficult.

Yesterday I went on a bike ride with a friend from work at Brazos Bend state park.  There are a lot of trails that are good for biking.  However, for anyone who might be tempted to go, stay 

away from the trails the horses are allowed on.  When the ground is soft, the horses leave wholes in the ground that makes the going really rough.  The alligators were out in force.  We had almost gone all the way around 40 acre lake when we found two alligators on the trail.  We waited a few minutes and decided to turn around.  I bought a state park pass, so I can go more often.  I am hoping Lisa will get a bike soon as well.

As for a Yellowstone update, I have decided to stay two nights at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, two at the Old Faithful Inn, and two at Mammoth Springs Lodge.  I was reading a post on the Trip Advisor web site and the last entry said that the reservations opened up at last May for summer 2009.  I began freaking out, but then realized the entry was the last on the page.  On the next page the person apologized thinking that it was June instead of April.  However, she said that she called on May 1st last year for this year and could not get through until 11am.  She had to change her planned schedule because there were all ready days sold out at the Old Faithful Inn.  I don't know if the week we want to go is popular, but I think we can be flexible with dates.  (BTW we want to leave Houston on July 3rd and arrive in Yellowstone on July 6 -12)

On another note, the camera that I have been eyeing was on sale at Frys for $75 less than what I saw on Amazon.  So I know own a new camera.  I am looking forward to trying it out this weekend when I go to Brazos Bend again.  (Without the bikes, so time to take a picture.)

Well that is it for now.  Have a lovely week.  ;)

Why Before How

Well, another week has gone by.  Yesterday I attended a class through the College of the Mainland called Photography it's not in the taking.  It was a cool class.  The instructor was really good at relating the class to the students.  He did not speak to much about the technical aspects, but focused more on seeing the pictures you want to take.   One of the things he said is that reading will help you take better pictures.  For example if you want to take pictures of winter scenes, you should really read the writings of Robert Frost to help you fully appreciate the winter scenes.  One of the other things he said that I really want to try is to change the perspective when you take pictures.  I can't wait to get out and try it somewhere.   Lisa and I are planning to go to Brazos Bend State Park on April 19th.  I have not been there in several years and am looking forward to it.   

It's April now, and you can make reservations at Yellowstone for next summer beginning in May.   I am still trying to decide on the best places to stay.  The park is really big, so a lot of people like to move around from one lodge to another.  This makes it easier to visit different places in the park.