What a week we have had in this part of the world. Although by comparison to other cities in Texas and Oklahoma, we have been very fortunate. There has been a lot of criticism after the tornado that hit Ciudad Acuna this past Monday with regards to the emergency sirens not being activated neither in that city nor in Del Rio.
Thursday night around 11:30 p.m. the alarms went off, first for about 20 seconds and a little while later for about three minutes, which seemed like an eternity. Of course they went off in the middle of a very heavy rain storm. I wondered what it was announcing? Tornado, hail, flooding?
Went online to find that I had no Internet connection. Turned on the TV only to get a Temporary Loss of Signal on the screen...what the heck is one supposed to do in these circumstances? To make matters worst at this late hour saw a bunch of cars, some speeding towards Del Rio (We live in the county). This only added to the uncertainty and my stress level.
It is not like even if I knew the reason for them sounding the alarms that I would get in my car and head to town. The best we could do was take shelter in the bathroom or in my bedroom. Mother said she was sleepy and she did not care what the emergency was...she was going to bed!
I went to my room and got my overnight bag that I keep packed at all times, my purse, flashlight and car keys in case we had to make an emergency exit.
Friday, I had to go to the doctor and the nurse told me that they sounded the alarms due to large hail that was headed our way but the strong winds blew away from Del Rio.
Around noon today, it had already started raining quite hard when the emergency alarms went off again. They sounded differently, so I am not certain since we live so close to Mexico if it was our alarms or theirs going off.
I know where the leaks in the house are located, I therefore have containers and buckets in place. Our neighbor and her daughter were in Del Rio when the storm started. When they got home they opened the door to a flooded house. There was more rain in the forecast for tonight even though it was later revised. Not wanting to take any chances they decided to stay with relatives in town.
During today's storm, again I could not go online! I guess satellite Internet and/or TV is pretty worthless during inclement weather, which is when you rely on it most. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel and we will be drying off soon.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Cyber Journal Note
Message I received while trying to connect to the Internet:
Web acceleration client error (515.2). Upstream TCP Connection Establishment Timeout. The Web Acceleration Client could not create a TCP connection with the web server or proxy server. Retrying the Web page may correct the problem
Terlingua Dreams
Governors Landing Campground - Lake Amistad - Del Rio, Texas
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Back to more mundane things
Last Saturday I was getting ready to watch one of the NBA playoff games when the television went dead. Mom was in the living room fixing to watch Lawrence Welk (her favorite show) and she lost reception as well. Tried everything I knew but both sets said "Complete Signal Loss". Called it in and they said they would be here Monday between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. They lied, got a call at 5:45 p.m. that they were tied up and could not come till Wednesday.
What is it about cable, telephone, satellite and basically all the trades people that they never show up on time? I missed three playoff games and that was the main reason I got Dish...grrrr!!! Yes, I know this is rather mundane. On the bright side I finally got to watch some of the taped episodes of my Brazilian soap opera that ended a month ago :D
Got a call early Tuesday morning that they could be here within the hour...we were asleep! Not wanting to miss another game I told them to come over. The technician was from San Antonio and he and other Dish personnel had come to Del Rio to replace the light bulb looking thingies on the dish ( I forgot the name he used) that the hail storm had knocked out through out the area.
BTW thank you for all the suggestions you have been kind enough to e-mail me about getting rid of mold on my Kodiak Canvas tent. I used the 5 parts water to 1 part vinegar that the manufacturer suggested with no luck, so I will be trying the others as soon as the rains and humidity let up.
I usually place beer cartons or cardboard then the ground tarp to protect the tent flooring from prickly desert plants. I set up the tent back in October when it wasn't raining and besides I needed the beer cartons for the tent I never set up at the Chili Cook-off in Terlingua. Yesterday I put some beer and cereal boxes around the edges to help with the moisture issue. Both Walter (the horse) and Pedrito (the stray) kept on sniffing and moving the cereal boxes.
The strong winds turned off the gas water heater so I am going to have to spend some time looking at YouTube videos before I decide to call the plumber.
The purple sage is finally blooming. I am surprised that it had not bloomed sooner.
NBA Playoff Corner
Stephen Curry's daughter Riley is an adorable two-year-old. With that said I do not think children of players have a place in press conferences. The first time I half way tolerated it but to pull this stunt twice, in particular after winning their conference to advance to the NBA finals shows a total lack of respect for the reporters that are trying to do their job and the fans that tuned in to listen to him speak, not to watch his daughter sing and yawn. End of rant.
What is it about cable, telephone, satellite and basically all the trades people that they never show up on time? I missed three playoff games and that was the main reason I got Dish...grrrr!!! Yes, I know this is rather mundane. On the bright side I finally got to watch some of the taped episodes of my Brazilian soap opera that ended a month ago :D
Got a call early Tuesday morning that they could be here within the hour...we were asleep! Not wanting to miss another game I told them to come over. The technician was from San Antonio and he and other Dish personnel had come to Del Rio to replace the light bulb looking thingies on the dish ( I forgot the name he used) that the hail storm had knocked out through out the area.
BTW thank you for all the suggestions you have been kind enough to e-mail me about getting rid of mold on my Kodiak Canvas tent. I used the 5 parts water to 1 part vinegar that the manufacturer suggested with no luck, so I will be trying the others as soon as the rains and humidity let up.
I usually place beer cartons or cardboard then the ground tarp to protect the tent flooring from prickly desert plants. I set up the tent back in October when it wasn't raining and besides I needed the beer cartons for the tent I never set up at the Chili Cook-off in Terlingua. Yesterday I put some beer and cereal boxes around the edges to help with the moisture issue. Both Walter (the horse) and Pedrito (the stray) kept on sniffing and moving the cereal boxes.
The strong winds turned off the gas water heater so I am going to have to spend some time looking at YouTube videos before I decide to call the plumber.
The purple sage is finally blooming. I am surprised that it had not bloomed sooner.
NBA Playoff Corner
Stephen Curry's daughter Riley is an adorable two-year-old. With that said I do not think children of players have a place in press conferences. The first time I half way tolerated it but to pull this stunt twice, in particular after winning their conference to advance to the NBA finals shows a total lack of respect for the reporters that are trying to do their job and the fans that tuned in to listen to him speak, not to watch his daughter sing and yawn. End of rant.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tornado kills 16 in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila
Story and pictures courtesy of El Zocalo Acuna E-edition
At approximately 6:03 a.m. this morning a category 4 tornado hit Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico border town with Del Rio, Texas. This devastating tornado at last count killed 16 persons and caused damage to at least 300 homes.
http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/10-muertos-y-300-viviendas-danadas-en-tornado-en-acuna-1432567990
A tornado had not been in the forecast and the city emergency alarms were never activated.
Here is a link to more photos but be forewarned that some are graphic. http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/devastacion-del-tornado-en-imagenes-1432562361
At approximately 6:03 a.m. this morning a category 4 tornado hit Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico border town with Del Rio, Texas. This devastating tornado at last count killed 16 persons and caused damage to at least 300 homes.
http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/10-muertos-y-300-viviendas-danadas-en-tornado-en-acuna-1432567990
Here is a link to more photos but be forewarned that some are graphic. http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/devastacion-del-tornado-en-imagenes-1432562361
Monday, May 18, 2015
Earthquake on the Texas/Mexico border
If you are new to my blog...I seldom if ever buy the local newspaper mostly because I like accuracy and though I am a terrible speller...if I am paying to read something, I like for it to be free of typos... unlike my blog :)
When I have the time I go online and read El Zocalo...a great Mexican newspaper with an equally excellent website that has a section devoted exclusively to happenings in the Del Rio area. Was very surprised to read that there was an earthquake on Friday- May 15th along the Texas/Mexico border, it had a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale... http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/articulo/tiembla-en-los-limites-de-texas-y-ciudad-acuna-1431652884
It took place at 5:41 p.m. on Friday about 84 kilometers (52 miles) south of Sanderson, Texas in the Mexican state of Coahuila. If you look at the map it was closer to Terlingua than to Del Rio and felt along Big Bend National Park and Boquillas del Carmen area.
So glad I did not feel a thing. Did any of my Terlingua readers feel it?
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
NBA Playoff Corner
Sometimes my premonitions even scare me!
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Seeking camping gear advice...
I know there are a lot of readers out in the blogsphere that enjoy camping. I am fortunate to own, in my opinion, the best tent in the world...a Kodiak Canvas tent.
Due to my procrastination it has been pitched in the back yard since October 2014. With all the rain we have been having these past couple of months it has fallen victim to a little bit of mold. Have been researching solutions and so far have found that I can treat it with bleach, peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
I am pretty sure I do not want to use bleach. Has anyone had this problem with their canvas tent and if so what method did you use?
My next question is where do you keep your green propane canisters and how long do they last? I bought two canisters back in 2010 but only used one. I bought it for my Zodi hot water heater in case it got cold and cloudy while at the cook-off and I needed to heat some water for my shower.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
NBA Playoff Corner
I am loving these NBA playoffs, so far they have lived up to the hype of being different and unexpected.
Could not believe the last Clippers vs Rockets game...how could they blow a 20 point lead? They lost a great opportunity to have won at home. Game 7's are never easy and now the momentum goes to the Rockets....shades of the Spurs :(
Due to my procrastination it has been pitched in the back yard since October 2014. With all the rain we have been having these past couple of months it has fallen victim to a little bit of mold. Have been researching solutions and so far have found that I can treat it with bleach, peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
I am pretty sure I do not want to use bleach. Has anyone had this problem with their canvas tent and if so what method did you use?
My next question is where do you keep your green propane canisters and how long do they last? I bought two canisters back in 2010 but only used one. I bought it for my Zodi hot water heater in case it got cold and cloudy while at the cook-off and I needed to heat some water for my shower.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
NBA Playoff Corner
I am loving these NBA playoffs, so far they have lived up to the hype of being different and unexpected.
Could not believe the last Clippers vs Rockets game...how could they blow a 20 point lead? They lost a great opportunity to have won at home. Game 7's are never easy and now the momentum goes to the Rockets....shades of the Spurs :(
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Plagued by the three C's
You may be saying to yourself...what kind of a title is that? What are the three C's? That would be Clutter, Computers and CRS...:-(
While I am loving my new DISH satellite TV and Internet, it didn't come without a price. I had to clear out half of my already small bedroom to make room for the technician to install the cables and hardware.
So what is the big deal? In order to do that I had to resort to temporarily packing more stuff into my already large collection of boxes. Since I was doing it in a hurry, I did not label anything trying to fool myself into thinking that I could somehow remember its content.
I needed a document that I vividly recall placing in my briefcase within the last two months...it wasn't there. Lets just say I had a heck of a time locating it. I used to be so organized...what the heck happened?
For a change I had more computer issues. My main laptop is freezing up on me. It takes me a long time to be able to respond to comments or it outright loses my reply and I have to start over. On a positive note the old laptop that the worthless Time Warner Cable installer ruined two and a half years ago is working again...the downside to that is that most sites are no longer compatible with Windows XP and it has very little memory left.
Went to our local library to answer comments and do a post and for the life of me I could not remember my Google password....grrrrr!!!!!
When is it CRS and when is it early Alzheimer's? Is it just me or do other people have trouble remembering things? I write a ton of notes but then they go into boxes that I never open up again unless I am looking for something like I was last week.
I am definitively plagued by clutter, computers and CRS...:(
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
While I am loving my new DISH satellite TV and Internet, it didn't come without a price. I had to clear out half of my already small bedroom to make room for the technician to install the cables and hardware.
So what is the big deal? In order to do that I had to resort to temporarily packing more stuff into my already large collection of boxes. Since I was doing it in a hurry, I did not label anything trying to fool myself into thinking that I could somehow remember its content.
I needed a document that I vividly recall placing in my briefcase within the last two months...it wasn't there. Lets just say I had a heck of a time locating it. I used to be so organized...what the heck happened?
For a change I had more computer issues. My main laptop is freezing up on me. It takes me a long time to be able to respond to comments or it outright loses my reply and I have to start over. On a positive note the old laptop that the worthless Time Warner Cable installer ruined two and a half years ago is working again...the downside to that is that most sites are no longer compatible with Windows XP and it has very little memory left.
Went to our local library to answer comments and do a post and for the life of me I could not remember my Google password....grrrrr!!!!!
When is it CRS and when is it early Alzheimer's? Is it just me or do other people have trouble remembering things? I write a ton of notes but then they go into boxes that I never open up again unless I am looking for something like I was last week.
I am definitively plagued by clutter, computers and CRS...:(
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Things could always be worst
The last week of April was pretty busy with appointments and our monthly trip to Uvalde. This time we only had a 3 hour 55 minute wait. Heard the receptionist call a patient to tell her to come down as the doctor would see her next. Of course, that only works if you live in town.
Sitting there for long stretches of time you can not help but listen to the conversations around you. Folks, believe it or not I always come out of it feeling better because there is always someone worst off than you or your loved one.
There was this tall, nice looking gentlemen probably in his early 60's, he had this gray hair long pony tail look going for him and filled out his jeans very well :) You would have never guessed he was sick by looking at him. He had to take care of both his parents because his two siblings were too busy to help out yet they were not too busy to go on vacations overseas.
His parents passed away within two months of each other so he was finally able to look after his own health issues. He had a kidney removed in the past only to find out he now has cancer in the other one, he needs hip replacement on both hips and other stuff that I don't even recall...yep, things could always be worst :(
Was finally able to stop at the Derksen building lot. Noticed that prices have taken a considerable hike. It is a good thing I always take a picture of the building and the price. At this rate I am probably better off giving everything away...easier said than done!
There is a new Derksen building lot in Del Rio. Noticed it back in March, it is in the east part of town next to some storage units. Was going to stop for a quick look but the grass was too high and you know what lurks in high grass!
Anyone watch the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight? What a rip off! I am so glad I watched it for free...definitively not worth the $100.00 price tag.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Spurs Corner
Even though we are no longer in the playoffs, I am very proud of OUR Spurs and all the thrilling as well as nail biting moments they gave their fans up to the last second of this season...literally...the last second!
On one of the local San Antonio stations Ursula Perry turns to the other anchor person and says "I do not know who am suppose to root for now...do I root for the Rockets?" The anchorman (I think his name is Steve) calmly looks at her and says "No"....jajajajajaja, that was priceless!
OK, Rocket fans don't get all out of sorts now :D
While the Spurs are no longer in contention, I still love the game of basketball. I will continue to watch the playoffs as I root for the underdog and/or for the opponents of those teams that I dislike.
Sitting there for long stretches of time you can not help but listen to the conversations around you. Folks, believe it or not I always come out of it feeling better because there is always someone worst off than you or your loved one.
There was this tall, nice looking gentlemen probably in his early 60's, he had this gray hair long pony tail look going for him and filled out his jeans very well :) You would have never guessed he was sick by looking at him. He had to take care of both his parents because his two siblings were too busy to help out yet they were not too busy to go on vacations overseas.
His parents passed away within two months of each other so he was finally able to look after his own health issues. He had a kidney removed in the past only to find out he now has cancer in the other one, he needs hip replacement on both hips and other stuff that I don't even recall...yep, things could always be worst :(
Was finally able to stop at the Derksen building lot. Noticed that prices have taken a considerable hike. It is a good thing I always take a picture of the building and the price. At this rate I am probably better off giving everything away...easier said than done!
There is a new Derksen building lot in Del Rio. Noticed it back in March, it is in the east part of town next to some storage units. Was going to stop for a quick look but the grass was too high and you know what lurks in high grass!
Anyone watch the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight? What a rip off! I am so glad I watched it for free...definitively not worth the $100.00 price tag.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Spurs Corner
Even though we are no longer in the playoffs, I am very proud of OUR Spurs and all the thrilling as well as nail biting moments they gave their fans up to the last second of this season...literally...the last second!
On one of the local San Antonio stations Ursula Perry turns to the other anchor person and says "I do not know who am suppose to root for now...do I root for the Rockets?" The anchorman (I think his name is Steve) calmly looks at her and says "No"....jajajajajaja, that was priceless!
OK, Rocket fans don't get all out of sorts now :D
While the Spurs are no longer in contention, I still love the game of basketball. I will continue to watch the playoffs as I root for the underdog and/or for the opponents of those teams that I dislike.
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