February

This month just flew by. John and I both celebrated birthdays, as did my sister, Monica, Bruce, and Taylor.

I still love my job and I have made it back-and-forth every day without a single speeding ticket (just one warning so far). Sean may come to visit over his spring break in March. He still enjoys Drake and the fraternity and he still isn't wild about Iowa. He will stay in Des Moines this summer and is on track to graduate next spring. My Monica had the flu last week. At times like that, I really do miss being close. I hope that she and Caleb can come visit again soon.

We are seeing new businesses open and fewer close in Marble Falls as time goes by. Austin and Georgetown seem unaffected by the economic doom and gloom. Strange times.....

It is really fun having Joe and Donna in Texas for the winter

It was 85 degrees here today - amazing to this Minnesotan. We celebrated John's birthday yesterday with a Papa Murphy's Chicago-style pizza and a 2 hour episode of American Idol. We are hooked on that show!

As you may remember, the "F" was removed from Fuzzy's about the same time the bar was shut down for serving underage drinkers last year. Fuzzy's is probably better known as a directional landmark - everyone refers to the intersection of 1431 and 29 as "Fuzzy's Corner". Well, a new "F" has been posted, so we don't have to call it Uzzy's anymore!

Brother Chuck

Chuck (Stange of Atlanta) was in San Antonio last week on FAA business. He was able to spend a little bit of time with John on Wednesday, but airplane business got in the way of our plans to meet for dinner on Thursday night at Tamale King. Unfortunately, that meant that Michelle did not get tamales on Friday. Sorry Michelle! Michelle is expecting another little Stange at the end of April. Since I missed dinner with Chuck, I didn't get to ask a million baby questions....sex of baby, baby names, potential godparents :), etc. Although John did relay Chuck's proud updates on Anthony, Sarah, Matt and Gigi which was fun to hear. We had the best time with that brood 2 years ago in Birchwood. Hopefully, they will come visit here - the swimming is better in Texas (no weeds and the water is warm).

A sighting at last!

When we moved to Texas, I was on the look-out for the "Texas speed bump" (aka the armadillo). Everyone said that the reason armadillos get hit by cars so often is because they jump up and form a ball when startled (visualize an armadillo noticing a car barreling down on him). A popular postcard here shows a smashed armadillo in the middle of the road and the paint stripe going across the body.

Well, after more than a year, I finally spotted an armadillo. This one was alive and apparently camera shy.

Love is in the air

Yes, it's that time again in Tow, Texas - skunk mating season! It seems that whenever Pepe LePieu is out running around in search of love, he is more likely to be hit by a car. The sad and stinky little buggers are everywhere.

John tells me that he had a pet skunk named Leroy at one time in his life. Apparently, Leroy had his stinker removed before he came to live at the Stange household. Even so, Leroy wore out his welcome and went to live with another family.
There is a lesson in there somewhere.......

The eagles have landed again

Two adult eagles have come back to the nest by our house. Two babies pop their heads up every so often and screech for food. Ah....... the memories that image brings to this empty-nester!