Chili Judging/Old Friends/ Wind Storm

The Chili competition takes place on Saturday.  Many of my friends serve as judges but since I do not like commitments of any type, I passed.  At noon after the winner has been chosen they have booths in the staging area with different kinds of entertainment and if you participate you are given all kinds of trinkets, from beads to hats, bags, key chains, bra tops made of paper seashells, etc.  For a donation you can also sample the different types of chili.

I was looking at the different booths when I heard someone say "lady in purple" several times. It did not dawn on me that I was wearing purple or that they were even speaking to me until someone tapped me in the back.  It was Dave an old Terlingua acquaintance that I had not seen since 1999!!  Wow, I am glad  he remembered me because I don't think I could have recognized him.  Took a picture of him and his new wife.

Later on that afternoon Denese came by to say hi, but did a doctor's visit on me and left just as fast.  A little  later Sandy and her husband Charlie dropped by. I had not seen them since 2008, they used to camp next to me.  It was great to see all these old as well as new acquaintances and honored that they took the time to look me up.  Love you guys :-)

Ever wonder why there are so many MEN at the Chili Cook-Off?  Well you wont find that in the CASI or the Krazy Flats official web page and don't worry guys I don't plan to reveal it in this blog either...the rest of you will have to attend and find out on your own :D

The afternoon brought several dark clouds and you could see some lighting in the distance.  My friend decided to pack up some items in case it rained.  Before we knew it, the wind picked up and a wind storm swept the area.  We barely had time to react and everyone was caught off guard.  People were holding on to their shade structures and gathering their stuff, so no one could really help others out.

Us three girls held on to the screen room for dear life but were not able to save it...kind of a repeat of last year but to a lesser degree.  I am so glad I bought my Kodiak canvas tent, it is Burningman tested and it held up to last year's storm beautifully.

This is what was left of the screen room

The skies were menacing so my camp mates decided to pack up and seek shelter in our friends RV.  The temperature dropped and everyone kind of hunkered down.  We had not gone to the dance Thursday or Friday so were planning on attending tonight but with the storm and helping my friends take down their camp, it pretty much did us in.

I have never seen it so quiet on a Saturday night in the 17 years I have been attending this event.  Saturday night is the wildest, there are parties everywhere...not so this year or at least not from my vantage point.

A friend came by my camp and invited me to her RV but it wasn't the same as being outdoors in the cold wind around a campfire.  Guess mother nature had the last laugh.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Marriage Proposal

We were up early and at the local hospital by 8:00 a.m.  Usually the X-ray department is buzzying with activity but there were only four people in the waiting room, thought that was rather odd.  Soon learned that their computer system was down and they could not process the people that had not pre-registered.

I have learned from previous experience to pre-register if at all possible and I must say it paid off this time.  Mother had her CT done and when we left, the waiting area was full of patients and some did not look so happy.

Went to have breakfast at the local McDonald’s.  Sat my mom down and went to get the order.  She was freezing to death so was preparing her coffee when this elder gentlemen came up to us.  He wanted to thank my mother and I for having wished him a good morning and done so with a smile.

We told him he had nothing to thank, that we were just friendly people.  My poor mother was hungry as she had to be fasting for her tests and this gentlemen would not leave us alone.  He talked to us for a good 10 minutes and finally asked me if I was “single”…told him I was and he asked me if “I would like a husband” jajajajajaja…thought I was going to die laughing but manage to keep my composure.

He told me his name but I don’t recall if it was Charlie, Jack or Fred …you know me and my CRS syndrome!  Thinking it was Charlie though.  Said his first wife was Anglo but his second and third wives were Hispanic and he tended to “gravitate” toward Hispanic women.  Oh Lord, you should of seen my mother’s face by then…if looks could kill, I believe that poor man would have been dead!

Charlie said he was a retired State Trooper and owned a ranch in Kerrville and would like to get married once more.  I thanked him kindly but told him that marriage was not in my plans at this particular time.  I am not a good judge of age but I think Charlie was in his mid to late 70’s.

Moral of the story:  If you smile and say good morning to a guy, you might get a marriage proposal out of it. 

Want to welcome Chris Miller to the blog roll.  Thank you for reading me.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Easter Saturday – Governors Landing

This is my favorite campground.  All the spots were taken except for one.  Wanted to take pictures but when you drive by the people are right in your face and I did not want to invade their privacy or take their picture without their consent.

So I took pictures of the picnic area that is open to the public and is frequented by the locals. Once again the low lake levels can’t help but jump at you.

On the way to this campground you pass a favorite watering hole of some of the nice folks I met at the chili cook-off when they happen to come into town.  Can’t help but wonder what happened to them?  They have not been back since 2008…Jeelbare are you around?  Sandy?  Charlie?