The Capitol 10,000

I'm way behind on my blogging and trying to catch up. In late March, we took part in the Capitol 10,000 and enjoyed a nice, long weekend in Austin. Saturday morning, we drove out to RiverPlace so Jerry could hit on the driving range. It was damp and foggy, it it's really a beautiful setting.



The weather was hot and muggy for the race on Sunday, but Jerry was all smiles waiting for the starting gun.



Here we all are ... 23,000 of us!



Some of you have been to Austin since the fires, but I snapped a few photos from the car (while moving) on the way home to show the miles and miles of burned trees. It's a sad sight, but there are signs that new growth is springing up.

I Love You, Steve Jobs ... Wherever You Are!

Sony moved us from 8-Track tapes to cassettes and the Walkman, Palm Pilot moved us from Franklin Day Planners to into the digital age, but nothing compares to how far Steve Jobs moved us.

From the Walkman to the iPod, from the DOS operating system to user friendly iOS and Safari - which actually inspired Windows (sorry, Bill Gates!) - from big bulky computers to the Macbook Air and eventually to the iPad, from smart phones to iPhones - which incorporated the iPod and allowed us to carry our music, photos, fun applications and cell phone in one device. The man was a genius.

In 1999, I jumped into the digital age with one of the first wireless Palms that kept me on track and served as my entertainment while traveling alone. I stayed with the Palm platform until the iPhone 3GS lured me away and I have never looked back. Migrating years of data into the iOS took some planning, but worked without a hitch.

With the launch of MobileMe, a paid service allowing you to automatically sync data between multiple "iProducts", I took the plunge and placed my precious data under the management of Jobs' newest software. It is said that Steve Jobs was never happy with the MobileMe experience, but I loved it. Which brings me to today.

Last fall, when I upgraded my trusty, but well-worn BrewerETC iPhone 3GS and my personal cell phone, a 4-year old Motorola Razr flip phone, I moved my data to the new iOS5 operating platform but with so many new iPhone 4S users signing up for iCloud I was hesitant to leave MobileMe for the new, supposedly better, iCloud program. With everything working great, it wasn't a top priority to risk an error in another conversion.

Days, weeks and months go by and recently, both Jerry and I have been getting reminders about the end of MobileMe and how we need to migrate to iCloud. So last night I moved Jerry's data and it was a snap. Tonight, I decided to kiss MobileMe good-bye and once again trust "the cloud" with my digital history.

I am happy to report that MobileMe just migrated SIX THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED and TWO calendar entries and SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX contacts to iCloud without even a moments hesitation. In a fairly short time, my iPad is back communicating with my business phone and they are both communicating with my personal phone and all three of them are now automatically communicating with my laptop - a new benefit with iCloud. I'm telling you, Steve Jobs was a genius!

Now, we'll see if it's all still there tomorrow morning, but tonight I LOVE YOU STEVE JOBS!

The Service in Rockdale

On Saturday, March 17th - St. Patrick's Day and my Denny's 8th birthday - we held a service for Mom & Dad at the Harmony Cemetery in Rockdale.



What began as a simple, family grave-side service grew into a very nice funeral out in the country. Pastor Rita Sims offered the blessings and Mom's cousin, Sonny Gee, played guitar while Aunt Margie sang. There was also a military flag tribute for Dad and the releasing of doves for Mom.



The kids getting a quick lesson in "dove handling"



There they go ...



After the service we took a few group photos and you know how that goes ... someone has to shoot the photo, so we're not all in here!



Kent and Britt with her children, Zach & Hannah



Aunt Margie, Suzanne & Uncle Bo



Bonura siblings - Nan, Ed, Suzanne & Mary



Sonny & Linda Gee with Uncle Bo



Cousin Walter Skinner, with his wife Joan and son Alex



After the service, we retired to the Rainbow Courts to relax and reminisce



Although we never stayed at Rainbow Courts as kids, it's one of the oldest, continuously operating hotels/motels in the State.



The special rooms are very nice ...



and the grounds are beautiful



We pulled a few chairs under a shade tree and talked about the past. Aunt Margie ...



Uncle Bozo



Uncle B & Walter, who lives in California and doesn't get to Texas very often



Ms. Martha ...



While the adults visited, the kids played Frisbee on the lawn. Alex Skinner ...



Daniel & Memphis with Toni



You know if there are cats in the area, we're going to interact with them! This is a Morris-look-alike who had six toes - like the Hemingway cats on Key West.



Although they look well fed, they were "working it" on our porch early Sunday morning (not the porch pictured), so we went to the Brookshire Bros and bought them some snacks.



VERY friendly, black kitty!



Around the corner from the Rainbow Courts, we found this run-down church. Although past its prime, it made a great photo subject



Another shot



On the way home we saw a number of bluebonnet patches blooming out - they should be in great form by next weekend.

Bank of River Oaks - 5 Riverway

It's OPEN!



In the midst of everything else that has gone on, Jerry opened "his bank" on March 12th. The new location is in 5 Riverway, off Woodway just outside Loop 610 near the Omni Hotel.

Sun Bathing!

Denny is not one to waste a beautiful day ...



"sun bathing" and soaking up the rays!



Elvis getting in on the action



... but he gets too hot to stay in the sun very long



And Denny's "mini-me", Ike, likes to hang out on the patio and catch a few rays too

Seabrook Shipyard

When we left the party, Jerry saw a sign for Sylvan Beach and since it's just about a block off Broadway we went by for a quick look. I had been working day and night on a tribute video for Mom & Dad's funeral and wanted to make a run down to Seabrook to take a few photos, where I spent so much time with Dad on his first sailboat.

These shots of boats returning through the channel were taken at Outriggers, where we had delicious shrimp tacos!



These folks were sailing in - something we rarely did because Dad was always worried he wouldn't have enough control in such a tight area. We only "sailed in" when Ed was on board.



A view that I don't see very often, but is so familiar. I can still hear the lines clanking against the masts in the wind.



This is the "new bridge", but I still remember having to check the tide line and blow the air horn so they could raise the old draw-bridge if the tide was in and we were on a boat with a tall mast.



The shipyard office, where Dad "worked" many years to cover his slip rental fees.

Memphis' 3rd Birthday

On March 3rd, Memphis turned 3 and Jerry and I attended the party, which was held at a "bouncy house" entertainment center in La Porte.



Ray, Toni & Memphis



Kent having fun in one of the bouncy houses