2008 - Year of the Onion

I wish I can say 2008 was awesome for me...well, in a way it was. It's good to look back and see what I've gone through and what prayers been answered. Looking back, I've seen received blessings, missed opportunities, painful lessons (too many of those), and finally doing what the Lord has been telling me to do: resting. It's been the Year of the Onion. I'm the onion, and God has been peeling my layers back. It doesn't tickle. No wonder when you cut through an onion tears are bound that follow. It not only stinks, it also hurts.

2008 has been my transitional year. After traveling for a year and a half, going from to city every 3 months, and then to stop in one place "permanently" has not been an easy task. In November, last year, I took a permanent staff position in Austin, but my mind wanted to gear up for the next city, and had a problem listening to God speaking to my heart to stay in Austin, and it's been a tug-of-war between mind and heart to stay in one place for the Lord. With that, I lost sight of why I was to stop. It wasn't to serve, but to rest. He whispered it to me to rest since I returned to Austin last August ('07), but I didn't really listen very well until in May when I went to my church's Women's Retreat, He made it very clear to me to rest, and how to do that. Since then, I've stepped down from ministries I've been involved with, but still available to volunteer for little things around the church office, when asked. Since then, the Lord has been peeling away LAYERS of barriers, obstacles, and other issues of my life that I've apparently been hiding behind for years, to reveal the real Leona that He sees (work still in progress).

It goes to shows that no matter how "strong" you think you are in Christ, you're not. I'm not perfect. 2008 has been refreshing and revealing that I wouldn't change my experiences if I had a choice to go back. Maybe start resting earlier in the year....like August '07. Can't wait to see what's in stored for in 2009.

The best blessings I received in 2008 are my amazing Austin friends that started popping up in my life since May. Laughter is the best medicine, and they've kept me laughing since I met them. Thank you, ladies (and gentlemen). You know who you are, and I praise God for you in my life.

"I have refined you,
though not as silver;
I have tested you in the
furnace of affliction."
Isaiah 48:10

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith
-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --
may be proved genuine and may result
in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:6-7

All-American Holiday Feasts.

This holiday season has been interesting and revealing for me. Where do I start? I'm a Filipino-American born in the US. I have eaten plenty of American food, and my mom has done a pretty good job learning to cook my dad's favorite American dishes when she married my dad and came to the US. However, after 38 years of my life, this is the first holiday I had a COMPLETE American Holiday spread of food. That's right. FIRST!

Every holiday with my family we would have a turkey, ham, and even hamhocks and beans. Maybe occasional american fixin's like canned cranberry sauce and stuffing. But, the rest of the food on the table was Filipino food. No complaints here. My mom is an excellent cook. Filipinos are biased to their own mom's cooking, but even my friends would say that my mom cooks better their moms (maybe a little pride there ;))

This year is my 3rd year away from that family tradition, but my first year to enjoy a sit down home cook American dinner/lunch for the holidays. My friends Dan and Jess invited me to their place for Thanksgiving, and made a full Thanksgiving spread for 4 people. A lot of food, and awesome to feast on. First time I had REAL cranberry chutney and candied yams (my mom's was canned.) It was amazing altogether.

On Christmas, my friend Kari invited me to celebrate Christmas with her family. They had the usual Ham, but they also had Green Bean Casserole and a Broccoli/Rice Casserole. That's when it dawned on me that I really haven't had an all-american holiday meal until this year. Restaurants don't count. I never had a Green Bean casserole or Broccoli and Rice Casserole until that day at Kari's uncle's house. It was good, and I went back for seconds. There was also a salad with yogurt (?), walnuts, fruit, and mini marshmellows. I don't know what it's called, but that was GOOOD too.

You'd never know what you've been missing unless you go outside your secure little box. This has been an interesting year....more to come on that later.

Wow, 2 years....

It's been 2 years since I first came to Austin, TX (well, 2 years in Jan 5), and so much has happened since then. I came to Austin just for a 3 month travel assignment, and then leave and not return. The Lord's plan is so much more than my own. I thought that after St Louis, I would move on to the new england coast, make my way south to Savannah, GA, then back to St Louis for Summer '08 to watch my niece's graduation, and then make my way back to San Diego. No where in my plan did I consider going back to Austin, TX. That was MY plan.

God's plan: Return to Austin after St Louis, and stay...why? I still don't know, and it's been over a year since I've returned. I've heard Him say "rest" and "learn," but learn what? It only took me 10 months to learn how to rest, and then to actually do it.

I still get antsy staying in one place still, but it hasn't been as bad as last year in Nov. If I continued on as a Travel nurse, I would have left in Nov '07. But, since the Lord wants me to stay in Austin, He didn't give me another city to request for.

A Texas Christmas Carol.

That's right..I went to a play called, "A Texas Christmas Carol." I heard this play being called, "ridiculously hilarious," "awesome,", "priceless," and even "cracked up Christmas Carol." However, this play is not a comical play. One of my friends here in Austin works as a Theater Coordinator for a museum here. (can't give TOO much info..don't want to get her into trouble) The museum was going to produce "The Christmas Carol" story, but in a black version. A lot of things occurred in the background almost the entire cast quitting to unable to find nun costumes. Yes, nun costumes. And some costumes made last minute.

Old mill in Arkansas

I was looking through all my pics and reminicing, and found some that I forgot to post when I got back to Austin. When I was driving down from St Louis, I decided to go through Little Rock, AR. I read about this old mill in Little Rock that looked interesting, so I went to check it out since I had the time. I found out that this whole thing is a "sculpture" replica of Pugh's Mill, an old working mill in the 19th century. To me, it looked like I stepped into a Hobbit book, and felt tall when I walked through the mill. Definitely too small to live in it.

You'll never know what's around you, unless you really look.

random memories....

Have you ever had one of your senses jog your memory? I love it when I smell, hear, or taste something, like pine, fireplaces, or Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte that would remind me of an event or just something in the past. Just one taste, and I'm remembering the places I've been in the past holidays when I last drank it. Aw, memories....

I love the holidays.

I miss road trips...

This is starting to become a "what Leona loves" blog site. My last few blogs began with "I love..." And, to not disappoint:

I forgot how I miss and love road trips, until I had to road trip to San Diego from Austin, TX recently. So many trivial questions came to my mind as I drove, and it was like de ja vu. I remember asking those same questions when I was driving around the country as a travel nurse. Just a glimpse:



What's it like to live in a small town, with population <3000?

Why do small towns all have water towers with the town name on them? Definitely couldn't see a water tower with "San Diego" on it when you drive into San Diego, even if it was on Mount Soledad or Mount Helix.

There are no water towers in towns so small that it's the size of one or two blocks.

This may be the first time I've ever seen (insert city name here), and am amazed, but for everyone around me, it's just another day at home/work.

Never stop at the rest stop in the middle of California's desert dunes. Stinky.

Who can I call while I'm driving through West Texas?


This makes me want to be a travel nurse again, just to experience it again. But, I won't until the Lord says "Go". Lord, I'll wait.

A 4 year old's version of breakdancing.

I went to my niece's wedding this past weekend, and while she and her son were dancing together, he started dancing like this. I didn't catch his head stance, but was able to get the rest. You gotta love him. I didn't know he had it in him.

For Jen (updated)

Um...turtle.


I remembered.

Amazing visual picture

I love mapping out data just to get a visual picture of what I'm reading in the bible. Timelines, geneologies, etc. I like to break things down to get a better picture of what went on. This picture is way more intense than I'd ever do, but AWESOME none the less.

How many of you out there believe that you don't need to believe the whole bible, or that the Old testament is no longer valid after Jesus came down as our Savior? No need to answer. Just nod if you believe that.

One of the Pastors at my church shared this picture with us tonight. It's a picture of how the bible verses from Old Testament and New Testament are so interconnected, from Genesis to Revelations. A couple pastors took the data they collected, and laid out the bible. The white vertical lines below are all the chapters in the bible, and the length of the those lines are how long each chapter are. The arcs above are the number of cross-references in the bible (63,779) and where. For example, the largest arcs you see is Genesis referenced in Revelations. The link below explains the whole picture better than I could.

http://www.chrisharrison.net/projects/bibleviz/index.html

Some would say that the Old Testament is null and void after Jesus came, but Jesus said:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished." Matt 5:17-18


"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the law." Luke 16:17

"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words, or He will rebuke you,
and prove you a liar."
Prov 30:5-6

Am I a Radical?? Wow.

Random Thought (though it's been rolling around in my mind for a while)

One of my friends from San Diego came to visit me about a month ago, and one of the conversations we had was our experiences in the Midwest (east coast for her). We're west coast girls. We haven't heard or experienced anything east of the Colorado Rockies until the Lord moved us out here a couple years back.

One thing that blew us away was how "liberal" we are to the Midwest. In California, we were always tagged as conservative (maybe ultra-conservative) in our Baptist upbringing, but in Missouri I was called a "Radical" in my face. How in the world did that happen?!! That was a year ago that I heard someone call me that, but it still stumps me to this day as to how am I a radical.

Of course, since Austin is the Liberal dot in Texas, I'm conservative to everyone here.

Why I love Texas: Reason #451

September has been a rough month, especially for Louisiana and Texas. The Texas coast is still picking up their lives that's been blown and swept away by Ike, and still waiting for power and water. This has been my first Hurricane season here in Austin. Last Hurricane season wasn't so bad to consider it as my first. This year, though, a lot of my friends at work compared this season to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Same 2 areas threatened, but Houston this time wasn't as lucky as before. My friends were telling me stories of how the hospitals in Austin were affected during Katrina and Rita, even though they didn't experience the Hurricanes directly, but they received a lot of patients from those that did. This year, it's the same.

This is another reason why I'm lovin' Texas. A lot of us stepped up when needed most. A lot of the staff at my hospital worked extra hours, and even called in to be placed On-Call if the hospital needed extra hands. I heard many times on the radio and news Texans saying, "We need to help our fellow Texans." It was more like family than pride. Texas is the second biggest state in the US, but it's the most close knit state I've been in. Like a family bond, and its probably why people that move here from another state don't want to leave. We just want to be part of that "Texan" family.

My prayers are still going out to those still unsure of their lives post-Ike. We still have patients from Houston, Galvaston, and Louisana. Pray for them, and if you hear of any ways to help them, please do.


Reason #452 is the Smokehouse BBQ ;-D

Why am I a nurse? Why do I love my job?

When bad days come around, like this one, saying,"Ilovemyjob Ilovemyjob Ilovemyjob Ilovemyjob Ilovemyjob" is just not going to cut it.

WHY do I love my job?

• Watching patients coming in unsure of the outcome, but relieved, even a little, when I walk in their room to update them on their care, and assuring them.
  

• Watching parents and grandparents cry with joy as they watch their (grand)child walk again for the first time in weeks or months after an accident.

• See patients that were severely injured, and unsure if they'd survive the trauma, return to the unit months later to visit and say "thank you."

• Enjoy using my gift of helps/service daily in a job that its required.

• I was called by God to be a nurse, and here I'll stay until He says I'm done.

There will always be bad days at work, but it's the memories of why I remain a nurse that keeps me going. Good or bad, I love being a nurse. I love being God's hands when caring for His children. This list will probably grow even more if I think harder, but my brain is too tired. This is more as a reminder for me, in case I ask that question again after a bad day. If you hear me say it, remind me of these points.

Thanks.

What's your Viper?

I needed to share this. I went through this study, and it can't stay in my journal for myself.


There are times when I'm reading that I come across a story that I've skimmed by many times, and nothing has jumped out at me before, until this time around. This is one of those times. I've read this story in the bible before, and skimmed passed it. This time, something caught my attention. Paul has gone through a lot before this situation. He's been in jail for years without a plausible cause (more for protection than a crime, and placed on a ship for Rome only to be ship wrecked on an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Paul gathered a pile of sticks and was putting them on the fire when a poisonous snake came out because of the heat and bit him in the hand. The people living on the island saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand and said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer! He did not die in the sea, but Justice does not want him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and was not hurt. The people thought that Paul would swell up or fall down dead. They waited and watched him for a long time, but nothing bad happened to him. So they changed their minds and said, 'He's a god!'" Acts 28:1-6

Everyone saw Paul bitten by a snake. The natives on the island have seen the outcomes of everyone that's been bitten by that type of snake, and probably haven't been good since they're waiting for Paul to "swell up and fall down dead." Instead, he sits by the fire saying to himself, "great, what next," but holding onto God's promise that "do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar." (Acts 26:24)

What's your Viper? What's your poisonous snake? What's our "viper" that might have bitten us that people would look at, and think that we will never recover? Or, that I might think I may never recover from? Was there, or is there, any situation or moment of our lives that would cause others, or even ourselves to think that we won't recover? The damage is done. Nothing can fix it.

"You of little faith. Why do you doubt?" Matt 14:31
"When the Lord All-Powerful makes a plan, no one can stop it." Isaiah 14:27 NCV

Not even me.

"Paul shook the snake off into the fire and was not hurt." Acts 28:5

Whatever whispers or discouraging remarks I may hear from others or from Satan, I need to shake it off, and continue on. The Lord will redeem me. God is faithful, even though my faith falters.

"I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again.
They will rise up as an eagle in the sky;
they will run and not need rest;
they will walk and not become tired." Isaiah 40:31

"That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eteranl glory that is greater than anything we can imagine." 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

The Lord says it a whole lot better than I can.

God of This City

I love this song. What makes this song even more amazing is the story that brought this song about. It was not written by a little blond guy from Texas, but by a group called Bluetree from Belfast. They were invited to do an outreach in Thailand, and found themselves in the darkest city they've ever been to, to sing worship songs, and hope to touch hearts. Below is the link of the story that Bluetree shared. Read it, and then come back to read the lyrics. I hope it breaks your heart not only for the city or the bar they sang this in, but also the city you're in right now.

When I heard the story from my pastor, we sang the song at the end of the service. My heart broke imagining what Bluetree saw while singing this song in that city and in the bar as they sang this song in.

http://octagus.typepad.com/steph/2008/01/god-of-this-cit.html

God of This City

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the Light in the darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all Kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Chorus 2:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

My first Triathlon season

My first Triathlon season is now complete. It's amazing how I even got talked into it, but it has been a great incentive to get back into shape. In April, I was talking to one of my friends about my new bike, and somehow the conversation shifted directions, and I found myself saying "yes" when Anita asked me to do the Danskin Triathlon with her and Jennifer. When I searched the internet about the triathlon, I found out that it was considered a Triathlon SPRINT: 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. I thought that I could probably do that. I may not be a runner, but 3 miles shouldn't be that bad, along with swimming and biking that I love. Yikes! I was in for a surprise.

I had 2 months to train and prepare for the Tri, so I used my gym membership more frequently, and tried to get into jogging (I hate running). I have been a strong swimmer, and I biked long distances a few times in SD (thanks to my brother Wayne..), so I thought I didn't have much training to do, just combine them to increase my endurance. What I neglected to remember at the time was that it's been QUITE a while since I've been on a bike and since I've been in a pool. My endurance did increase, but I later found out it still wasn't enough.

By the time the Triathlon came I already was able to swim 1000 meters (in a pool) and bike the 12 miles (lets not talk about the jogging). This was my first time to swim in open water. A couple things about triathlon swimming is that it's in open water (Decker Lake), and you're trying to swim around a lot of arms and legs of other swimmers. This is the biggest women triathlon sprint that Austin has, so there were A LOT of arms and legs. I started off pretty good, had a good rhythm, but ran into someone's legs and got kicked. When I slowed down to recollect myself, I got slapped by someone's arm that was swimming by. I was told that if I got tired during the swimming to just float on my back to rest before continuing on, but when I did that I got splashed on that there was no rest. What would take 20 minutes for me to swim, it took me nearly 40 minutes. The good thing was that there were plenty of volunteers in Kayaks to rest and wait until there was an open spot in the sea of people to continue on without battling others to swim. When I finally made it to land, I praised God that was over, until someone yelled, "Way to go! One leg of the race down, 2 more to go!" WHAT?! Can I just finish now?

The biking and running were not as bad, since they were both on dry land, and I could rest more often without worrying about drowning. I did pretty good with the biking, except with 2 steep hills that a lot of women actually walked their bikes up. There's one interesting hill that surprised everyone even when we were warned about it at the pre-race meeting. There's one hill that you would go downhill and pick up speed, but as you turn the corner of the trail there's an even steeper hill to bike up. You would have to change your gears to the lowest gear as possible before you get to the bottom just to take the steep hill around the corner. I didn't get to that low gear in time, so I got half way up the hill before I had to walk the rest of the way up.

Of course, its not a complete bike ride for me unless I fall off at some point. While I was biking, my seat somehow became loose. I decided to stop to fix it. [Ok, before going on I need to say this: I don't like clips on my pedals (instead of pedals, bikers clip special bike shoes into specially made pedals for more pedal control). Fearing that my shoes won't unclip off the pedals in time before I stop, I decided to use a cage and strap pedal that you can slip the toes of your shoe into.] When I was slowing down to stop, I slipped my right foot out of the strap and was going to lean to the right as I stopped (you know where this is going, don't ya.) Instead, my bike started leaning to the left, and I couldn't get my left foot out of the strap in time and I fell down on my left side (I'd say "how embarrassing", but that's me --I might as well embrace it), and I almost got ran over by another biker. Needless to say, I got my seat fixed, my abrasions cleaned up, and what pride I had left back on the bike and rode on. By the time I got back for the running portion, I was ready to walk the rest of the way. I did jog every so often, and especially at the last mile. Praise God I made it to the finish line on my feet.

After the Danskin triathlon, I was determined to finish a triathlon sprint, but swim non-stop, bike non-stop, and run non-stop. I signed up for another Tri Sprint with my friends Jocelin and Dana, and trained a lot more. My second and last Tri Sprint of the season was this past weekend. The swim distance was 500 meters (less than Danskin's), but I still remembered my last experience in open water and was getting nervous. I prayed I wouldn't choke like I did at the Danskin, and the Lord reminded me what I've always done whenever I swim: find my swim stroke rhythm and pray while working out. I went into the water with my swim wave group, and prayed how awesome He is. I had friends motivating me, but none did as great a job as the Lord did. Thank you, Jesus. I swam non-stop, and had a few arms and legs, but not as bad as the last time. I got out the water, and ran to the transition area where our bikes were racked at (1/4 mile away from the lake shore). I got my bike equipment on, and off I went. I biked 14 miles, non-stop, and then run/walk non-stop (it was hot (96 degrees)). I ran the last mile in, but felt a whole lot better in my accomplishment (especially the swimming portion). Maybe I'll do another Triathlon season next year, but let's see how in shape I am by then. Hopefully, I might have actually found the love for jogging by then.

Click here to check out my photos on Facebook.

Another Texas experience?..

Ok, about a month or so ago, I met this fabulous lady named Jen. She moved from St Louis about 3-4 months ago,and has been learning about Texas as well. One story she shared with me recently is so funny that I can't even describe it as well as she did, so below is the link to her blog site to read her adventure. Jen, thank you so much.

http://healthydoseofgrace.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-those-of-you-who-may-have-been.html

Enjoy.
Leona

Is Texas a foreign country?

It's incredible to see how much things have changed in my life. When I first moved to Texas, I could only describe it as a another country. I've lived in 3 states so far when I first got here, and I've seen how different it is. When I was first here, I was constantly reminded that I was in Texas by every billboard I drove by on the freeway, and I found myself saying, "wow, I'm in Texas. What am I doing in Texas?" I have to admit, I didn't like it at first. A lot of pride, a lot of country music, and no friends or family. I learned that the kids learn World history, US history, and Texas history. I've heard of different laws here, that I've never heard in other cities, like: if you lend your car to a teenager, and they are at fault of a fatal crash, YOU are charged of the death even if you weren't in the car. There are other things, but I can't remember them now.

But, Texas has grown on me now.

I love living here. Living in Austin, the liberal dot of Texas. I love the live music I hear especially on the weekends as I run passed a little leagues baseball field. I love the green lushest sceneries only the Hill Country of Texas can give you. Not the same as SD. I love the friends I've met here. The hospital I work at. Even the church that I'm going to, Austin Stone Community Church. My heart has changed, and I've been assimilated ..TO A POINT. I still have the salty ocean in my blood, and San Diego is always on my mind and a special part of my heart. I now have 2 homes: San Diego and Texas. (BTW, did you know there's a San Diego, TX here? Nothing like the real thing though) Of course, some things in Texas throw me for a loop, and on occasion its still a foreign country to me.

On the Trails again (to the tune of On the Road again.)

Yes, that's right. I bought myself a new mountain bike. Check it out. I'm back on the trails. Actually, I'm not on the trails yet. I promise I will be careful this time.





For those of you that don't know, I've had a history with mountain biking before I stopped. I gave my mountain bike to my niece when I was getting closer to leaving as a travel nurse, and I couldn't take it with me. (Others would give another reason, but I like mine better.) We don't need to revisit the past. And, like I said, I'll be careful..

Austin is filled with so many trails to ride, and quite a few for novices. However, I haven't taken it on the trails yet. I've been training for a triathlon sprint right now, so I changed my tires out to slicks (road tires) to ride on the roads. I did my first Triathlon sprint in June, and crossed the finish line on my feet!! Big accomplishment there. I have yet to get the pictures for that, but I promise (Wayne) I will share them when I get them from a friend. My next Triathlon Sprint (shorter version of a triathlon) is on Aug 24. I'd say wish me luck, but luck has nothing to do with it. By God's grace, I'll finish, so pray for me that I do better than before.

A "friend"-ly visit

I haven’t written in my blog for a while. (last Thanksgiving) I’ve been trying to think of what to write about, and a few of my friends gave me some ideas: make it a non-travel blog, write a different journey, write about my experiences in Texas/Austin, about life, etc. So, be prepared to see interesting trips, silly and trivial thoughts, and whatever comes to my mind. Since it HAS been a while since I last written, there’s a lot I need to update you on, but I won’t bombard you with it all at once.

Recently, my friend Kerrie made it to Austin, TX, on her way to San Diego, and I’ve been touring Austin with her for the past week or two. I don’t have any pictures to share, since I’ve been to most of these places, and I also forgot my camera. I’ll steal some of her pictures once she downloads them, and share them with you.

We went to Barton Springs Pool which is a natural spring, and as cold as the Pacific Ocean. Well, the temp of the ocean in San Diego (60’s), opposed to in Vancouver area (40’s). It was nice. No waves, we were able to float and chat, and stay cool. The difference was that instead of seaweed floating on the water, it was moss. LOTS of moss. There was a point where there was so much moss floating around us, that we attempted to move to a more clearer area. Still moss, but not as much. Afterwards, I took her to lunch at an awesome place called Austin Java. GOOD food.

One of the things that Austin has besides independent coffee shops/restaurants, live music on every corner, and a health-y atmosphere (almost everyone jogs here), they are famous for their largest urban bat colony. Yes, those rat-looking creatures with wings. The bat colony made a home under one of the bridges in downtown area, and every night at dusk, the bats fly out from the same spot of the bridge in a black/grey ribbon. I took Kerrie to that bridge to watch, and the whole side of the bridge where the bats come out from under it had people lined up at the railing to watch. Austin also has a park at the bottom of the bridge for people to sit and watch from. When it was dusk, the bats were punctual. They dumped before they flew out, and it was “potent”, as Kerrie described it. We watched 3 ribbons of bats coming out from under the bridge, and came together as one big ribbons as they flew higher. They didn’t fly above us, so we were good. The stench was not as bad, and we didn’t get any of the guano (bat poop) on us. Neither did the observers at the bat park.

The next outing we had, we road tripped to San Antonio. This is the second time for me, and the first for Kerrie. We went to the Alamo and The Riverwalk. The Alamo tour had a LONG line, so we just took pictures of the Alamo, and then spent the rest of the day at the Riverwalk. We took a boat ride tour of the Riverwalk, but most of the time just window shopped and caught up on what was going on in our lives since we last saw each other in San Diego.

Right now, we’re just relaxing at a Coffee shop, and enjoying a sunset view over Lake Austin, while playing on our computers. This is a day of rest for both of us. Be ready for more stories. To be continued….

Leona