Last Day of the TMN Annual Meeting
Sunday, October 15th, 2023
(10:15 PM))
—---I’m writing this to distract myself from the itchiness of the many mosquito bites I got yesterday at the ranch. I got more than I thought. Tonight, they are like little knots all over me, and they are very itchy.
—---I woke up this morning at 4:45 AM and could not get back to sleep. I wasn’t tired at all. I laid in bed for about 30 minutes just feeling relaxed. Then, I went ahead and made my coffee and gradually got ready to face the final day of the conference. I realized that I hadn’t used my portable razor to shave last night, so I put a washcloth in the microwave and used it to soften my beard enough to run a a razor over my face without using any cream and getting messy.
—---When I took my coffee outside with me to turn off the water, I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise. It wasn’t humid for the first time in since I’ve been here. I stood outside and finished my coffee before taking off for the Convention Center.
—---The breakfast turned out to be nothing but fruit. There were strawberries, black berries, blue berries, and crunchy pieces of honey dew and cantaloupe. I was not impressed. I got a small plate and a cup of coffee and went to sit in the ballroom at a table way in the back.
—---A few others joined me at the table and we chatted until the start of the awards ceremony. All of us moved up closer to the stage, since only about a fourth of the attendees were there today. They gave several awards before getting to the photo categories. I sat and watched my hopes for a prize dwindling as they announced the photo entry winners. I was happy with the winners and had even voted for some of them. When they announced the winner for the scenic photos, we were thrilled that our new Class 49 trainee, Laura, had won first placed. She was really surprised to win, but her photo "Garner Fall" was not only really nice, but the one I had voted for. I had no idea it was hers. Another of our members, Josie, won for her dragon fly hooked rug in the sewing category.
—---Finally, they ended the conference by announcing the 2024 service pin. It will be the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. The design is gorgeous, and I can’t wait to earn it next year.
—---I went straight to the camper to get my hat and use the bathroom. John and Pam were outside, so we chatted a few minutes. John told me that the resort owner had told him about an orchid tree over by the wood shop. I drove over to see it on my way out to go to the National Butterfly Center. It was a beautiful tree, but was definitely not an orchid tree. John put it in iNaturalist and said it was a silk floss tree. You can see photos on my It’s Alive blog in a few days.
—--They National Butterfly Center was a lot of fun. I hiked the trails and walked through the gardens. I got some nice pictures. It was pretty windy, so it was hard to focus on some things that were moving around. Still, I was happy.
—---I tried to go to the river and see some stuff at the recommendation of the lady at the ticket counter. I took a picture of the map, but it just didn’t lead me anywhere. A border patrol officer told me I was in a place I shouldn’t be, and that he did not know of the place the lady had mentioned. I think it was a place where we had special permission to go with a field trip for the conference. The owner had allowed access through her property, but had closed the gate again.
—---I traveled on the the Bentsen Rio Grande State Park. I bought myself a plate for my walking stick, a 100 year State Park mug, and a Klondike bar. I walked around a bit before heading back to the truck and driving out to the Howling Rabbit Beerworks for a flight. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there, and they weren’t. Most of my folks headed back to San Antonio right after the conference ended.
—---From there, I went to the 5 X 5 brewery and had a flight of their beers. I sat outside in this absolutely unbelievably cool weather. It was wonderful.
—---I took advantage of being down here to go back for some more Korean food at Nak Won Jung. This time, I had pork belly and squid bulgogi. It was fantastic. I ordered kim-bab to go. That will be my dinner in Falfurrias tomorrow night.
—----When I got back to the camper I learned that the water was shut off. I don’t know why, but John’s son in law was hear trying to fix it. I still don’t have water, so I guess he couldn’t do it.
—---I processed today’s pictures, took a short nap, watched some Korean TV, then decided to write this. I’m going to finish one more episode now, then go to bed right after I do Wordle and Connect.
—---Tomorrow, I head back to Falfurrias. I don’t have a lot to do to prep the camper for the trip. Unfortunately, I have to go get gas, though. I forgot to do it today when I was out. Idiot.
Happy Trails!
