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Success! Everyone was still vertical, but we all seemed older (we are), heavier (we are, except my brother's wife) and dealing with various health issues (some actually dealing with them, some not; some trying to ignore them for no good reason).

My brother, his wife, and I stayed at the same hotel to make things easier for my sister, the host and chauffeur. We sorted through two giant totes of photos and memorabilia. We had photos that were completely unidentifiable (couldn't tell who was in the picture but thought we'd narrowed it down; bad photography, nicknames instead of real names, etc.) and learned valuable and frightening lessons about our media. We need to label stuff because what is clear and memorable now will be completely unidentifiable or too similar to matter in the future and will mean less than nothing to our kids when they inherit our own totes of stuff. We tried to figure out why a yellowed newspaper clipping was saved, especially obituary pages from back when cause of death was listed (before AIDS). We guessed our mother was the saver, but that was all we could guess for some and some required some detective work. I left some photos to pass along (I'd volunteered to do that.), some detective work on photos with names (I tend to check the website "findagrave.com" to get some basic background on people or at least verify that they're dead, so don't check Facebook.) and hope to get some information to some people.

We went to the Texas Ranger Museum in Temple. Short movie and memorabilia. Okay, but I wouldn't go to Temple. TX just to see it. Lots of thrift store stops. My brother and sister like to look at thrift store, so we stopped by several of them. I bought a notebook for $2 and a Foodsaver that I hadn't tested but brought back home with me. Only $12.99 (minus a vet discount!, so only $10.39) while the regular price is about $200. Hoping it works.

I drove from my home in Arizona to Temple, stopping overnight in Fort Stockton; but drove straight home after the visit. On the way there, ten hours on the road was about six hours from Temple and in a major city with lots of options. On the way back, there were tiny towns, open fields, and a possible better town a few hours later. A few hours later, then a few hours later, then I was on the other side of Texas, less than 150 miles from the Arizona border, then only about fifty miles from my exit which was about 30 minutes from my house. Why stop?

I started to feel like I'd gotten a sinus infection about six hours into the return trip, but I made it home then went to a clinic to verify and start meds before it got worse. On Prednisone for the next few days. Hoping to feel better soon.

Great to be home, except for the the webbing I'd put up to keep the dogs out of the new sod sagging on the ground. I tried to fix it today, but it didn't agree to cooperate. I'll probably get some paracord tomorrow to try to fix it. Saturday I bought some small dowels hoping that would fix the problem...not really. I was trying to coax the older dog out of the house because she had been outside for a while and there was the younger dog standing on the other side of the webbing in the sod. Really? Hoping things get better with paracord.

Tomorrow my hurricane screen guys are coming to measure the windows and doors that were added recently to the house. I may also add a screen door between the kitchen and the garage. If I get that door added, I'll be able to close and lock all the screens and completely encapsulate the house. I'll have to leave the screen door for the dog door in the new room open all the time so the dogs can use their door. Totally doable.

Catching up after the week away. The dogs are okay and adjusting. My daughter hated having the take care of the dogs. She struggled with the dishwasher because some of the detergent didn't fall out of the dispenser and she had to run the dishwasher again. We've been invaded by gnats. Trying to find the attraction.

Resting, recovering, then getting back to routine stuff and more.

Tomorrow the screens, Tuesday the reverse osmosis system in the new sink, Thursday Azure Standard pick up. A few gap days to shuffle stuff. Great ideas about some changes and shifts after the visit. Go away clears your head.

Great to be home. Good to see people. Looking forward to the next reunion in two years with my brother.