Yes, it's still HOT down here......

Paul is back from his trip to the Big Apple. Well, it wasn't like he was strolling the streets of Manhattan but more like he was sitting in a classroom at JFK for recurrent training. But at least he got a taste of fall weather and wearing of the jeans again.
Meanwhile, I was putting on a birthday celebration for Aunt Romayne's 97th. She is quite remarkable.

This was a flower "cake" that I found, complete with candles. It is really cute and will last a long time. She refrigerates it each night and so far it shows no signs of deterioration. Watching her and my mother, I've figured out the secret to longevity. One is obviously genes....my uncle is well into his 90's, my grandmother lived into her 90's. Romayne's dad lived into his 90's ( they made a pact to live to be 100 and I think she'll make it) and most of her siblings lived to the late 80's and early 90's. Both women have made exercise a big part of their lives. Neither takes any medication. They are both small. They eat very healthy, enjoying vegetables and fruits and small portions but liking ice cream. They have great personalities and are well liked. They had long marriages. Interestingly, my mother is surrounded by family and is outgoing. Romayne had no children and describes herself as a 'hermit'.
Their quality of life remains high and that is at least as important as a long life.

Meanwhile, I have been frustrated and trying to figure out why I can't get pictures from my phone to the picture gallery on the computer. I manage to capture life thru my phone vs. a camera for obvious reasons. And I often upload the pictures that I get from texting to post on the blog. (yes, with the iPHONE, we can now send pictures in a text....it is way cool and fortunately, Jenna and Marybeth share their life instantly....because, if I can't be there, I still need to be a part of it.) So last week, when that ability to upload those pictures just quit working, I began to whine and Paul (who can fix anything), spent hours searching the innards and brain of this Sony and then sent an SOS to our sons. Mike is on the road and didn't answer, Jon tried to come to some conclusions and Jeff said, " Sorry, I'm a MAC". So, I couldn't blog. I knew I had some good stuff just waiting to be posted but not without pictures ...... I knew my audience would leave if they had another barren picture-less post.
So, I will stumble on, try to carry my camera with me and hope the problem fixes itself, just like it broke itself.

Some of the views I was going to share were from Jenna's texts....they are currently on their way home from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. They crew for a balloon team and send amazing pictures. One of them sort of looked like this with a note that said Alex was in a balloon in the middle. Yes, they get to go up in those balloons also.

It is all so spectacular, especially at night.

When we moved into this neighborhood, it was new construction and not much wildlife had come back. Slowly, we are seeing more and more geckos, birds and I suspect, more creepy things. But this morning, just at sunrise, I was greeted with such exuberance and spirit. A mockingbird (I think) was sitting in a nearby palm and just singing his heart out. I have seen and heard them on the golf course and they have mighty voices. I hope he decides to set up housekeeping out back.