Texans, more so than folks in any other state we have traveled, regard the posted limit as a “suggested” speed rather than anything absolute.  Having a semi-tractor pulling 3 trailers pass you at something around 100mph is not an unusual occurrence, and there is usually some cowboy in a 1950’s vintage pickup truck, complete with a set of steer horns bolted to the grill, right on his tail honking for him to move out of the way!  The Indy 500-style highway speeds are one reason to spend a little time in Texas but the speed supportive fuel prices are an even better one…​

We also set a new personal record for miles traveled in a day when we left Seguin one morning and arrived in El Paso at dusk on the same day…576 miles!!!  The fact that there is NOTHING in between was a great incentive to keep moving and the posted speed limit didn’t slow us down a bit…​

He hasn’t yet learned that hats go on heads.  My traveling companion is once more engaged in her annual battle with Father Christmas and is currently in week 6 of Christmas card writing.  Why she goes through this exercise every year is beyond all human comprehension as the experience quickly transforms her from the cheerful and pleasant woman I married into “The Grouch from Christmas Past.”  And, as if living with one old grump isn’t bad enough, we were also paid a visit from my brother-in-law, aka; The Nordic Nightmare, en-route to his winter hovel in Mexico.  He dropped off several cases of the Zimmerman winery’s finest wines for us to smuggle into the country for him and, as payment for this bit of piracy, he left us a case of his late harvest zinfandel…now THIS truly is his finest wine!!  The occasion prompted a visit to The Baklava Factory.  Here we accumulated an assortment of tasty treats, which are excellent with Zim’s Zany Zin…

Lagniappe: Today, December 13th, I have achieved the ripe old age of 62 years!  The best part about being this old is that I am now on the government handout list and will be receiving my long awaited social security checks beginning February 20th!!  YIPPEEE!!  The down side about arriving at this terminal are the legion of maladies which manifest themselves as the body deteriorates. Yesterday, my dentist discovered that I have a cavity.  At MY age???!!   He has to be kidding!!  And this morning our family doctor, affectionately known as the "Angel of Death," called to inform me that I am overweight, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and am "inching" toward diabetes. Happy f**king birthday!!!  Pizza, beer, chocolate and baklava are now no more than fond memories... 

I was actually moved by my brother-in-law’s uncharacteristic act of generosity until I discovered the “taster’s note” on the back of the bottles…

We’ll be hanging out here in “Shakeytown” until some time after the first of the year and then return to our winter home in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, on January 15th…

especially when compared to those currently available in California…

After brief stops in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Tempe, Arizona, we are once again “camped out” at the Canoga Park Elks Lodge making the usual round of doctor and dentist visits between trips to visit our newest grandchild, Melvin Sugar Bear…

VIVA MEXICO!!!  My Bride is already well into a scheme to snatch Melvin Sugar Bear, glue antlers to his head and smuggle him into Mexico as one of Santa’s reindeer.  Don’t worry, MSB, Grandpa has your back!!  We wish you all a Christmas season that’s bright with joy and a new year brimming with health, happiness and success.  See y’all next year!!  Hugs, Chuck and Kalyn

   Texas Two Step                                                   December 13, 2006

“I’ll waltz across Texas with you in my arms…” That is not the exact method we used to traverse the Lone Star State but we did manage to two step, ten step and even line dance across some parts…

Okay, his Mom and Dad named him Devin Alexander Carey but we figure that being THE Grandparents gives us a certain latitude in the naming procedure…and so, we have agreed to disagree!!  Melvin Sugar Bear he is!  He came into this world on Monday, December 4th at 2:12 pm and hails from the fighting city of Los Angeles, California, at 7 pounds and 9 ounces… ”Melvin the Mauler” is thus far undefeated!  Shortly after this picture was taken, my Bride noticed a large wet area on the front of her shirt.  Without any proof whatsoever, she immediately accused MY grandson of peeing on her!!  HAH!!  I have since proven, through a series of charts, graphs and other visual aids, that her rendition of the tale is physically and geometrically impossible and that it was SHE who actually peed on him and she is simply taking advantage of his limited vocabulary and inability to yet make a decent fist to lay the blame at his doorstep.  Thank goodness that he has an ever-vigilant grandfather defending his honor.  In spite of what we now refer to as “the wet granny enigma” she refuses to allow the rest of the family an opportunity to hold the kid unless we pay her off in chocolate for 3 minutes of strictly supervised child cuddling.  I did manage to get one picture with the kid before my chocolate supply was exhausted…