BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!

I was a little sad when I heard that the concert, the tickets for which I had given away, was going on into the evening, and I could have gone after dinner.  The Willie Nelson Fourth July Picnic is legendary, and I had wanted to go for years, but the heat put me off, and when I read that it started at midday and went on for two hours, maybe longer, I chose to give the tickets away.  (As I mentioned!) However, when I heard that the man himself would take the stage at 10pm, I decided I had made the right decision.  No doubt I would have enjoyed it, embraced the late night, got up in the morning feeling like I had accomplished another tick on the bucket list, but my loss was another's gain, and I think the 'gainee' would embrace it better!

An email was in my 'inbox' on Sunday evening, not only to me but to the 'board'.  Were we aware that there was a 'camper van' parked behind the condo's opposite the pool, and that there was a tree fallen down behind it?  The tree had been moved, and the 'camper van' had gone, but camping is not permitted on our 'lot'.  I responded by explaining that it was not a camper-van, but a truck with a fancy box on top.  The owner was not sleeping in the truck (van) but in the house, where his girlfriend lives. (Their sleeping arrangements were none of my business, but I knew he was not outside in the truck at night!)  I received a follow up email to thank me for the update.  "Perhaps next time he will camp somewhere else".  I did not respond. I wanted to reiterate that he was not camping, and thought I had made it clear, but perhaps my English was not plain enough!  Just before 'lights out', I received a text from our 'chairman'.  "Has the camper moved on?"  

The 'Forth' was upon us.  I had considered suggesting we go out for breakfast, or coffee, but got up and put the kettle on! Samantha had suggested a 'mother, daughter' day by the pool, and I had agreed. When she arrived, we loaded up with our vegetable platter, dips, and lots of water.  I put a 'hard seltzer' in the bag, wondering if I would drink it. Being that it was so hot, I was a little hesitant about imbibing an alcoholic beverage due to the dehydration aspect!  Of course, if it was cool, I would be a little hesitant about imbibing an alcoholic beverage due to it being alcoholic!  

Armed with our bags, floaties and other 'must have' items, we set up camp!  I headed back for the foot pump to inflate said floaties, and then had to return to get my phone, which I thought I had left at the condo, but which I had actually placed under the bag on the table by the pool, and after those two trips, I jumped into the pool to cool off.  I swam for a while and then received a call from my grandsons.  My son and daughter-in-law had called earlier in the day, separately, to wish me a 'bon anniversaire' and I was enjoying my 'fourth'.

The patio and pool remained 'ours' for most of the day.  A little later in the afternoon some more neighbours arrived, but it was not crowded. One couple were going to 'the' concert later, and were a little concerned about how late it would be before they got home!  I am not the only old fogey!  

Around three, I decided to partake of my hard seltzer.  I was not overly impressed on the first sip.  I am not sure what I had expected, but its main flavour was grapefruit and I think I expected more of the fruit than the wine.  After the fourth sip it was clear I was in no condition to operate a garden chair, let alone heavy machinery. I sat with my lips pursed for fear of insulting someone!  My senses became amazingly acute!  A couple of people moved a table and chairs to a corner, under a tree.  "I hope they put those back" said Samantha, "for their sake".  They did not, but the table was then occupied by the couple who were going to the concert. I knew, from experience, the furniture would remain in place. "I may make a noise when putting them back in the morning!  I might wake you up early!" I said in earnest!  I remember saying it and laughing, imagining scraping the furniture across the patio, on purpose!  Samantha was laughing at me, knowing I could not stop myself!  

The two 'grills' were cooking food, and the smell of hamburgers and other things filled the air.  "I had some gouda to put on the burgers", said one of the grillers.  "I forgot." she continued, waving a block of cheese in the air.  "Shhhh" said my daughter as I commented, in my 'oblivious to sound' state, "Who puts gouda on a burger.  Apart from the Dutch that is.  She isn't Dutch!"  Swiss cheese, American, cheddar, even Stilton, but Dutch?  I was not in any fit state of mind to apply the 'Don't knock it 'till you've tried it' rule!

Roxanne, whom I refer to as one of my 'best friend neighbours', came down to the pool just before we were about to leave and I apologised to her in advance, should I say something I should not.  Samantha laughed and told her that I had swallowed a 'few sips' from the can, and my mouth was not my own!  

"Have a wine cooler!" said another neighbour, as I went to throw away my empty can.  "I'll take it for later!" I said after they insisted I not leave without it.  Obviously, they had not heard my comments about waking them up at the crack of dawn!  The can would probably sit in my cupboard for another year.

By the time we were ready to go out for dinner, I had sobered up.  My brain was functioning in unison with my mouth!  We met the kids at the restaurant, and ordered our dinner.  My daughter came armed with flowers and cards.  It had been a lovely day so far, and now I was going to enjoy a meal with some of my family!  

"This is not medium" said Dana, who is not one to complain.  The waitress was standing behind him and agreed.  Edward's steak was also overcooked.  She apologised, and took Dana's away.  Edward said he would eat his as is, if she would bring some steak sauce.  Samantha cut into her burger.  "This is not well done", she said.  "No it is not", said the waitress as she returned to say Dana's meal would be out shortly.  Mine was perfect!  Two fresh plates of food were brought to the table.  Samantha cut into hers, and it was good.  Dana's on the other hand was not!  A couple of 'clear's' and 'volts' from a defibrillator would have had it mooing again!  The waitress was clearly upset.  Dana assured her that it was 'one of those things' and not to worry.  We frequent the restaurant enough to know that this was an anomaly.  Along came the manager with a third steak.  "Can I get you anything else" asked the waitress. "Steak sauce?" said  Edward. It was probably the straw that broke the camel's back for the poor woman, and she rushed away to find a bottle!  

Finally, all was perfect, and the manager brought out an enormous piece of chocolate cake, with candles ablaze, and a reduced bill!  I assured the manager that we knew it was an anomaly and he was visibly relieved.  He apologised profusely as it was such a shame for this to happen at all, let alone on my 'special' day, but I convinced him that it was all good, and it had made it memorable, and that was a good thing!  

When Grant reported that he had such a wonderful time at the concert, I knew I had made the right decision in giving him and his son the tickets.  He said that Willie was not strong of voice, (not surprising given his age,) but it was good to see him on stage, and the supporting bands were amazing.  I was delighted that they got to partake of an Austin tradition, and enjoyed it so much.  

The comment that the two rooms that I had spent so much time 'clearing' looked 'spectacular' was quite the compliment.  My husband peered into both rooms as I went to get something from one of the new cupboards.  He had asked why I wanted to buy the furniture but had not really been a function of their building or placing.  He knew that I had moved things from one room to another, moved said wardrobes from one place to another, but had no idea of how it was going to look once finished.  It had been a 'work in progress' for so long that he had 'let it go'.  His trust in me is quite amazing!  I had asked Grant for help the previous week, to remove the desk from the bedroom to the carport.  I had purposely not asked my husband as I am a 'do it' sort of person, and if I can see it can be done, I do not need to work out the dynamics.  I apologise if I sound a little judgmental, especially as he has so much faith in me, but I knew we would end up breaking the desk down, and putting it back together (perhaps) once it was placed outside!  By the time I would have convinced him that it was possible to get it out in one piece, I would be quite exasperated!  Of course, he would have suggested that I not be a part of the removal and asked Grant to help him, and if that was the case, Grant would have suffered the exasperation!  Grant had helped him move something the previous week!  We are who we are!

The week continued and Friday sauntered around.  We had been delivering a variety of 'out of the ordinary' papers this week, and I had one to send to a middle-eastern country, by fax, email and mail. The email and mail part were not difficult, but faxing proved to be an impossibility.  After attempting to send it, I realised that I had not used this country's 'exit' code. I am usually quite good at recalling this as I call home frequently.  After remembering to add the 'exit' code, I dialed the number, using both 'exit' and receiving country code.  I checked the 'city' code and the call would still not go through.  I looked 'online' to see if I could find out what I was doing wrong. Then the lightbulb lit above my head, and I called the airline desk.  Of course, it was not possible to get through to a person, so another brainwave developed.  The embassy!  Someone must make calls home from the embassy!  After going through several options I got through to an operator.  "We are closed" he said.  "Call back Monday". I responded that I did not actually want to speak to anyone about a matter, but just wanted to know how to place a call to their country.  "It's a holiday", he said.  "We are closed.  Why do you want to send a fax to us?"  I tried again.  "Do you call home?" I asked.  "I just want to know what code you use".  His response was, "Call Monday.  We are closed."  I tried again.  "Do you mean the embassy is closed, or the country is closed".  His response was, "Yes!"  It appeared that we could not make an international call from our fax machine, nor from the office phone, and so brought the fax machine home, to try it from our home phone.  It would not go through. As we have the ability to call internationally from all lines, perhaps he was right.  Perhaps the country was closed!  Of course, there was the possibility that the number was wrong, but then we would not be complying to the 'court order' that gave us permission to fax, so we were in a 'lose, lose' situation!  Perhaps Monday we will find out!

I had kept a sharp eye on the tennis all week, and was very sad to see the final Brit get bumped!  I believe there was success for one Brit in the mixed doubles!  A cup is a cup!

Saturday saw record heat temperatures once again.  I spent the afternoon in the water, chatting to neighbours.  It was a lovely day.  I read a little but not too much.  Another neighbour offered a 'hard seltzer' to anyone who wanted it, and it was claimed.  "Sorry, do you want it?" he asked me.  "No!  Thank you".   I could not risk it without a chaperone!  Samantha and I had been out earlier and it was tough walking outside, even from the car to the shop! An alcoholic beverage would have been the final straw!

Another week has gone by, and I am continuously hopeful for a break in the weather.  Rain is needed, and a drop in temperature is needed! We are not quite at the 2011 records, but it is not far off!  I have an afternoon ahead of me and I do not feel particularly energetic!  A thunder storm suddenly looks appealing!  Stranger things have happened in an Austin heatwave, but that would be ......... another story!