When you have something on your mind even subconsciously, it can interfere with getting a good night’s rest. I seem to be doing that a lot lately with little niggly things that keep popping into my head. Eventually, I drop off, but it may take a while and it is very irritating. Last night, I was laying there but just could not fall asleep and one of the thoughts really registered. I got up and made a note of it so that I would remember it in the morning. This thought was quite legitimate and was something I needed to follow up on. 

I finally fell asleep and awoke this morning around 7:30 am unaffected by the sleepless night. I even got up early, well, for me, and opened the blinds to let the new day in. We went through the usual bird feeder ritual and then went walking around the park and onto the outside roads. 

Back in The Caboose, I sat for a bit outside as it was such a beautiful morning and watched the world go by. The birds were remarkably busy working the feeders as we sat and watched. The Grackles, as they are in large numbers, tend to take over but the smaller birds still find ways to get to the seed. The area on the ground below the feeders is always a good spot as much of the seed gets dropped there. Incidentally, the Hummingbirds are back and have found the two feeders filled with their special nectar. They are amazing birds to watch as their wings are buzzing at around 80 times a second, 

Incidentally, the Grackles are also great birds to watch. Usually, they just fight and argue amongst themselves when they are on the ground but if something scares them, they become a thing of beauty. They all take off at once and head in the same direction swooping and changing flight in absolute unison. I have no idea how they communicate the flight path but somehow, they do. Then they all land in the nearest tree and come back in one by one and resume feeding until the next thing scares them flying off in that same large group. 

I decided to drive into Austin to the Jeep dealership located there to pick up the part I had ordered almost a month ago. I had already paid for it to the tune of $460.00 and I wanted to make arrangements to get it installed. It controls the raising and lowering of the Jeep body to give it more tire clearance when travelling on rough ground. 

I chatted to the counter man and made arrangements for this coming Monday to have the unit installed. Now, I need to work out the ride situation. From there, I drove over to Walmart’s and did some shopping to the tune of $220.00. That did include two large bottles of wine and a 12 pack of beer. Oh yes, I bought a couple of Tee shirts and some undershorts, so it was not just all food and drink. 

I drove home and back in Dripping Springs, stopped for a Latte, which incidentally, did not hit the spot. For some reason, coffee just does not taste the same and I never finished this last one.  

As usual, I got a lot of help unloading the groceries as the dogs explored all the different bags with their noses going a mile a minute. Even with the dog’s help, I managed to put everything away and we harnessed up to go out walking again. 

As we usually do, we just wandered aimlessly around the park and on the outside roads before returning to sit outside on the deck. I had bought a couple of different plants that I need to stick in the ground but held off on that for another day. They are currently in their own pots so there is no immediate hurry to get them in the ground.  

Altogether for the day, we covered 3.1 miles but walking around Walmart’s accounts for most of that.  

The rest of the evening was spent a little differently. It started off with us walking around the park and Sandy led us to Larry and Crystal’s RV as she usually does. Crystal likes to give my dogs treats and the dogs know it. Anyway, long story short, both Delores and Malinda were sitting around the fire and must have been there for some time drinking wine as Delores was not feeling any pain. Malinda has this astonishing capacity to drink a lot and it does not have any outward signs that it affects her in any way. 

I sat with my own glass of wine and joined in the conversation, which was both interesting and amusing, A couple of glasses later, Delores was starting to feel the effects of the stuff and was more than a little tiddly. She ended up sitting next to me and after nearly falling into the fire and spilling her glass of wine, announced she was going home. 

About this time, both Crystal and Larry were also not feeling any pain and were having difficulty in talking straight. Delores decided that it was time to go home and as she was already hanging on to me, I walked her back to her RV.  

Through all this Malinda had been keeping a watchful eye on the goins on and had followed Delores and I back to Delores RV where she took over and walked Delores back inside and put her to bed. Thank you, Malinda, as it was not something that I would have wanted to do but would have if I had to and, in my case, Delores would have gone to bed fully clothed.

I returned to Crystal and Larry’s RV to chat and drink some more but it was obvious that both had drunk a little too much and should also go to bed. Neither were making much sense and Malinda and I left to go back to our respective RV’s. 

I was sitting and watching the TV when there was a knock on the door and again it was Malinda with “the girls” in tow. She knocked to inform me that the Jeep was running although I do not know how it started. I located the keys and turned the Jeep off all the while, trying to figure out how it happened.  

Earlier, when I got back from town, I had unloaded the groceries and several times, had walked past the Jeep through the course of the evening and had not noticed the motor was running. Another mystery to work on. 

Back in my RV, I sat in front of the TV to watch a game with a glass of wine. The next thing I knew was waking up with the wine untouched and the TV still going. It was almost 1:00 am and the game was long over and just to make sure; I went back outside to check the Jeep once more. It was switched off, so I assumed it was time and a good thing to go to bed. 

What a strange evening… 

Written March 5, 2024, read my other blog at https://pondblog2011.com