KITTY ASHBY

This is Kitty Ashby. She is probably the smartest cat I ever had. I have had a bunch of cats in my life. Black ones, white, Orange, yellow, grey tabbies, more black, siamese, part siamese and one CALICO.

Of course, the calico is Kitty Ashby.

First of all, her name. I grew up in Midland, and my neighbors were the Ashby's. Mrs. Ashby is named Kitty. Now, believe it or not, she will be 100 this year. No, not the calico, the real Kitty Ashby. She is amazing. She is witty and smart...forgetful at times, as we all are. She has long since sold her family home, and is living in a retirement home in Midland today. Her daughter Ann keeps her eye on her, and how lucky is Mrs. Kitty Ashby to have her? Our mother's sometime act like they don't care about us, but they really do depend on us. God Bless you, Ann, for doing such a great job with your mom. Ann has a brother living in another state, now, so it is all up to Ann.

I told Mrs. Ashby I named my cat after her. I also told her I had always wanted to name a cat, Kitty Ashby. I just had boy cats for ever...or cats already named, or..well, it never happened! Mrs. Ashby smiled, but I really wasn't sure she thought it was the compliment I meant by naming KAt after her!

Now, for the cat. She plays hide and seek. She is learning to catch the ... what ever I throw. She talks to me. She is always beside me. That is a dog, isn't it? Maybe she has some doggie genes in her! My vet sure was "happy" when I first brought her in. He had treated Kitty Wilson before he died, and was waiting for me to get a new pet. "What's wrong with Calicos?" I asked. He said "EVERYTHING". We are working on being a good kitty when we visit his office. I will be able to teach her to speak English quicker. I will work on that!

When you lose a pet, your heart breaks. It is probably the worst thing to happen other than a human life... You think you can never love another as much. Well, I still think of Kitty Wilson, but I have gotten the perfect cat for me. Actually, my son John picked her out. I wanted another orange tabby, but..luckily we brought her home.

I may write again when she learns to catch her bear, and mouse. She is trying. We are working..What fun to have a really nice pal. Thanks Kitty Ashby for being in my life..both of you!

 

Things

Since I last wrote on this blog, a lot has happened.  Bob died and the party at his favorite restaurant, in Houston, was very nice, I was told.  RIP Bob, and since you cleaned my Beach Cabin and straightened my large storage area, we have put a sign up…BOB’S ROOM  his birth and death date.  Thanks Bob for being the kind of man you were.

Other things have been going on as well…Texas played three baseball games this past weekend with OSU and won all three.  Oklahoma State has a scrappy team, full of good hitters, so I bet they win a lot of games in the Big XII.  I hope we play more consistently and win a bunch so we can go to Omaha again.

Our Basketball team went to the Elite 8.  Not bad !!!  We were hoping we would win, somehow, the whole tournament, and have 3 National Champion Teams here at Texas.  It wasn’t to be, but being the first to have the 3 at the same time, would have been a really fun thing!!!!

HSY is going to be operated on tomorrow in Tampa.  Everyone is hoping everything will get better for her after this is done.  As previously stated, we are sending lots of prayers and good wishes to them.  We will be keeping in touch.

Now, I ask you…what is prettier than a sunny morning in early Spring, when the leaves are beginning to show, and the weather is wonderful?  We certainly had one of the best winters I can remember.  Maybe global warming is good!!!!  Today is cloudy and dark, it is about to rain.  We are suffering from  lack of moisture in the Lone Star State, so maybe this will help.  Forcasters say rain all week. OK..I can live with that, as long as next week is sunny!!!!

We go out to Midland on the 10th of April for a dedication of the President GHW Bush home as a museum.  He bought that house from a friend’s parents, and we will all be out there having a wonderful reunion, I am sure.  We are staying with my good pal out there, so I know we will have a great time!  When that is over, we will return to Austin, and begin our trips to the beach, now that the weather has gotten so much warmer.

Now, on a serious note, I will close this little entry.  Please find a way to say something positive about your country and your President.  Our troops are doing a great job, and you might even think about them, also.  God Bless America!  

BEACH HOUSE AND SLOT MACHINES

Just returned from the Beach House, and Louisiana.  We went down Wednesday, to miss the thunderstorms, and had a wonderful 2 days in the sun.  Lovely weather for March.  We couldn’t sit out on Saturday, as it was very windy, and cool.  It rained a bit, and we just stayed in the cabin.  Of course, I wanted to be rested for the trip to the Casino..well, I did!!!

We went into Beaumont on Sunday morning, and left the husbands to try our luck on the slots at Delta Downs.  We should have stayed at the beach.  Somehow, those machines usually win, and as my sister-in-law says “We may as well mail them our money!!!”  hahah  There is still a lot of work going on there, as during the hurricane the roof had a lot of damage, and the place where we ate, was eradicated!!!   But, slowly, I think they are getting it done.  Actually, the food is so horrible down in the lobby, that I think I might have lost a pound.  (I have to remember that, when I gain it back..I will just tell everyone I need to go on a diet..in Louisiana!!!)


We had fun, and returned to the Beach yesterday afternoon.  The trip home today was awful.  Nearly 5 ½ hours.  Does everyone drive their cars on Tuesdays, in Houston???  We had traffic, and a wreck..missed the ferry by 3 minutes going to Galveston, and 30 minutes later we were on 45 heading West.  It was a zoo.  I am glad we are here..and I can tell you, Kitty Ashby is so happy to see me, she has helped me type on the computer all afternoon!

Well, visits are great, but there really isn’t anywhere like home.  I love the beach, but am always glad to get back to Austin.  

We watched the Horns play basketball…we listened to the Horns play Tech 2 games in Lubbock, and tomorrow night, we will go watch Rice try to beat Texas.  We have played them well the past few games..and I hope tomorrow is no different.  Hook ‘em Horns, and Good Luck to YOU, if you are going SLOTTING!!!!

A BIT OF THIS, A BIT OF THAT

What makes me love Texas?  Possibly everything….but this year it has to be the beautiful winter weather we have had.  I think those who planned trips to Florida, or the Bahamas probably wasted their money!  At least, in Austin, it was more than Florida weather!

Luckily with the nice days, we could play some golf.  My golf is beyond repair, but I still enjoy getting out and swinging it when the calendar says January, February and the temperature says April, May.  It was 90 ˚ yesterday!  We watched Texas play baseball for 3 days, and listened to the Big XII basketball tournament in Dallas.  Baseball has been a thrill this year. Basketball has been an interesting season, also.  We beat (during the season) Villanova, Kansas,  Memphis…lost to A&M and got killed by Duke.  Well, it is March Madness time, and I hope we can do well.  Keeping fingers Crossed.

My daughter and granddaughter were in town this last weekend..we always have so much fun … wish they lived a bit closer.  (ok, 3 hours isn’t too far to visit, I know)  I was lucky enough to have my children together with me, at lunch Saturday.  That is always fun, as they grow older, and get separate lives, and activities.

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to live every day, and try enjoying most of the moments!  

We have several things that are going to happen in our family, very soon, and I know we are strong enough to make it through.  We pray for HSY and GWY and hope everything is going to turn out well for them.  How many times do we actually think about our good health and our really good lives?  We are thinking of Bob right now, also.

OK, I haven’t written on this blog for so long…really don’t get that many readers, so it doesn’t matter.

Starting a wonderful week..by Sunday, I am going to be in Louisiana pulling the slot machine lever!  I haven’t ever been to Las Vegas, but if it is more fun than Delta or Lake Charles, I wouldn’t be able to contain myself!  We have a saying, though, that probably applies to most “gambling fools”…. We may as well air mail our money to them..a lot quicker, and it happens anyway!!!!!  My sister-in-law is my partner in crime.  Actually, she started me on this crusade…I only get about 4 trips a year, but oh what fun!

Here’s hoping all 7’s or a Wheel of Fortune Jackpot.   I wouldn’t tell anyone if I did win it, so just act like I didn’t..

I have started on a new project.  Besides my framing and selling the University of Texas tower pictures,  I am making Italian Charm bracelets.  What fun!  They are nice to wear, as they are small!!!!!  Holly is getting my next one..Love you Holly…