Those fabulous Texans

It is finally March 1 and I am on my way to the airport to catch my flight to San Antonio. You can't imagine how my heart rate jumps as I finally clear security and me and my darling new black with white polka dot suitcase board the plane and settle in for the first leg of the journey. I love to fly. Our plane lands in Phoenix and I have a 4 hour layover so I have time to shop for some cute earrings to take to the girls -Kathleen and Joyce Keifer who we are visiting and Peg and Peggy who will meet me in San Antonio. Then to find a restaurant for a margarita and some lunch and still have plenty of time to continue reading my book - Water for Elephants - can't wait for the movie!!! I met a really cute couple from Colorado on their way to Cabo, that is one of the definite benefits of travel - the wonderful people you meet.

On to San Antonio. Kathleen met me and drove me to our exquisite hotel the La Cantera -( I think.) Kathleen works for the Sheraton Hotel corporation and she made all our reservations plus she and Joyce paid for all the accommodations which was way above and beyond the call of duty!!! Peg, Peggy and Joyce were already in the cocktail lounge and already way ahead of me in the drinks department. I quickly consumed two gin martinis and Kathleen and I caught right up! We went into the main dining room where every thing was deluxe - white linen cloths and napkins, candlelight, flowers, beautiful chargers at each place, a view overlooking the formal gardens, three tuxedo clad waiters to attend to our slightest wish, does that let you know how special we felt? The entree's all started at $38 and went up from there. They specialized in wild game so I ordered antelope, which was delicious. When it was Joyce's turn - she only ordered French fries. The waiter didn't bat an eye even though they were not on the menu - I thought that was hysterical! I have a lot of guts but no where near enough to order French fries in that setting. Right away you knew for sure that here was a lady that is completely comfortable in her skin. You go, Joyce! Did I mention that she is the cutest thing I have ever seen? She and I share February birthdays - hers was the 11th and she was 76 - mine was the 7th and I was 75. I have noticed through the years that most note worthy and beautiful people were born in February:)

The next day Joyce drove us all around San Antonio and showed us how lovely that city is. Went went to the River Walk and had lunch and then went shopping around.

Back to the hotel to repack our suitcases to take small bags for the three day trip to Austin. While driving around we came to a Krispy Cream Donut Shop where I insisted we stop so I could buy 2 dozen donuts - enough to last for the week. They teased me a lot but I knew what was important! I am starting a special diet when I get home and I really needed my Krispy Cream fix. Son Mike couldn't believe it when I made him stop at a Dunkin Donut Shop in Chicago when we were traveling together. Honestly - can you believe it? Donuts are right at the top of essential food groups.

The weather was perfect - mid 70's and the drive to Austin was full of things to see. We stopped for lunch at a Country inn that I can't remember the name of. They had great food a wonderful gift shop and a wide veranda with rocking chairs to enjoy. We stayed at the Comfort Inn Suites about 5 miles out of Austin as Austin was packed. When we went to tour Texas University and see the LBJ Library we found out why - there were 3000 school buses full of 6 - 7 and 8th grade kids doing the same tour. In addition it was the State Girls Basketball Tournament and you can just imagine how many kids and parents that brought to town. We could not find a parking space to save our lives so we parked in a lot that announced unauthorized cars would be towed. We didn't let that scare us! We then toured the LBJ Library. It is a wonderful facility - full of history and the stories of his presidency and his life up to that time. There was a hysterical display on the Kennedy's that you must remind me to tell you about sometime. We were back in the car and just leaving the lot when the tow truck arrived - God is good!

The next day we drove to Lake Travis which is about 30 miles from Austin. It is a beautiful area - a huge lake surrounded with very expensive subdivisions full of very expensive homes! We toured some of them and if you have some extra money to spend for a vacation home - look them up, actually you get a lot for your money. We ate at the world famous Oasis - a huge complex with restaurants, gift shops and accommodations for visitors. We sat on the patio and could look over the lake and the surrounding hillsides, the butt on the cute waiter definitely added to the enjoyment!

When we returned to Austin we had directions to a real western Honky Tonk! Great barbecue a western band and shit kicken music. It was just like 60 years ago in Palisade where the floor was wooden - the walls were made of various hard to identify materials. Boards were tacked up to take care of the sagging ceiling and the place was packed! There was a $12 cover charge and cheap pitchers of beer. Three different cowboys asked me to dance and I hopped right up and did the Texas Two Step. Thank heaven a 4th didn't ask as three did me in:)

From there we fell into our beds and slept like babies.

Day three of the Austin trip and we all took advantage of the lovely breakfast and special coffee provided by the hotel. Joyce then drove us back to San Antonio. We were treated to a wonderful old hotel right down town, the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, it is one of San Antonio's finest. Since it was early spring and warm the flowers and trees were just beginning to bud and turn green. We walked over the the St. Anthony Hotel which is a national historic landmark. It was amazing but Kathleen told us that through the years different owners have taken some of the exquisite antiques for their own use. Joyce knew of another great honky tonk and we drove 15 miles out into the country side to visit it. Once again - great barbecue - no cover charge and entire families were there. At the two tables next to us was a boy with a dozen friends were celebrating his 16th birthday. There was a darling little girl about 6 years old dressed in designer jeans with a black leather belt studded with rhinestones, a red western shirt and red cowboy boots that danced her legs off hanging onto the back pocket of her dad's jeans. Everyone was there for fun and it was had by all.

The second day back we had breakfast at the hotel they have one of the best breakfast buffets I have ever seen. Since we were right down town, we walked to the Alamo, wow what an experience. I adore visiting monuments and the Alamo is one of our best. You could enter from several different places and there was no admission charge, you could wander at your own pace and see everything. Here we can't even go to Corn Lake without paying. What's wrong with this picture? Having read about the Alamo and seeing countless movies of the heroism preformed by that special band of patriots, it nearly moved me to tears. I bought a refrigerator magnet of Davy Crockett's famous saying " You all can go to hell - I'm going to Texas"!

Next we walked to the famous River Walk, shopped and then took a barge that meanders through downtown San Antonio, beneath ancient cypress trees and beautifully landscaped banks taking us by spectacular old hotels and restaurants. It was easy to see why everyone who knew I was going to San Antonio made sure I was going to take the river walk. Kathleen joined us for supper at one of the oldest Tex-Mex cafes that line the walk. The darling girl brought her car around to a place we could be picked up with all our packages. Thank heaven as I could not have walked another step!

Back to the hotel and our exquisite feather beds for our last night on this truly memorable trip. Up the next morning to shower and have one more trip to the breakfast buffet and repack our suitcases to shove in 10 lbs of new purchases in our 5 lbs of suitcase space. My flight left a couple of hours before Peg and Peggy's so adorable Kathleen took her lunch hour to drive me to the airport. The 4 hour layover in Phoenix was a drag going home as I was tired and ready to be home. My friend Darlene from Nellie's was at the GJ airport to meet me at 10:30 PM - what a service!

How incredibly blessed I am to have wonderful friends to travel with and visit. I shall not let up until Kathleen and Joyce plan a trip to Western Colorado to have me show off all our amazing sights.

The necessity for change

I have been blessed with a super guardian angel whose name is Constance. From the time that God knew I belonged to Him, He made sure I was never without her. So many times in my life I have railed at God for the situation I was finding myself in, only to discover that of course there was a reason and a plan and it would unfold in time. As I continue to write I shall tell you amazing stories about my blessed life and my ever faithful guardian angel. So many people think that good things happening in their lived are just a coincidence, not me.

Being the eternal optimist I felt that when the real estate market took a dive that it would not be a along term thing. 2008 was a bit dismal but 2009 was disaster. My income plummeted and of course the set expenses continued right on. My base housing expense with utilities was a little over $1400 and to operate my real estate business at bare bones was running $1000 a month and I still had to buy food, gas and pay my Visa bill. All this meant that I was dipping into my cash reserves for about $2000 a month and then my investment condo at Northern Way became vacant so my negative cash flow increased to $3000. Wow, I was between a rock and a hard place. At this stage in my life I did not wish to become a bag lady. Fortunately after 6 months I rented the condo and it has rented quickly since.

I met a delightful new friend showing her real estate options in the Grand Valley. She was thinking of buying a small condo for 6 months of the year and then living at Lake Havasu in Arizona for 6 winter months. She has a son and family here and a daughter and family in Arizona. When the market changed, so did her plans as she lost half the value of her Arizona property.

I stopped by the Nellie Bechtel Garden Apartments where she was renting an apartment for the summer to pick her up for a lunch date. I had been looking around for a retirement community that would be less expensive but so far they had been really dismal. She was in a one bedroom apartment that rented for $585 for a ground floor unit including all utilities!!!!! It was adorable! I immediately checked in with George, the owner and put my name on the list for a 2 bedroom ground floor unit which were renting for $745 a month including utilities and this would reduce by half my housing expense. A coincidence - I think not

I then proceeded to put my condo that I was living in on the market. I had purchased it in 2007 for $172,000 and then improved it with carpet and designer light fixtures and ceiling fans for an additional $5000 invested. I just love my condo, it has two bedrooms large kitchen, great utility room and two lovely bathrooms. It is very light and bright. In addition it has an electric Ben Franklin fireplace/stove and a built-in space for the TV. There is also a small covered patio with room for a gas grill and a one car garage. It is located near the Mall - walking distance to Barnes and Noble - my favorite Grand Junction store and minutes from 6 great restaurants and the two movie theaters. I truly enjoyed living there and once I become a world famous author I may move back.

Realizing the market situation I listed it at $169,000 which would mean I took a $7000 loss in addition to the commission. Property was moving very slowly and condos were not any better. Those around me were lowering the price steadily.

After almost 10 months George called that he had a vacancy. I went to look at it and knew it would suit me just fine. I realized that this would be a long term situation so I asked to have the carpet replaced with laminate flooring in the living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway so I could continue having my oriental carpets. I had ceramic tile put in the bath. I paid for most of the improvements as I got to choose the products and colors I wanted. My forever friend Toby, came and installed everything I needed as soon as the products came in. I was paying $3000 as my share and signing a 6 month lease. However, I have the utmost faith in George. Spread out over years, it is a small amount to pay for the comfort and style it has brought.

In the meantime it became evident that I would lose about $30,000 on my condo if I wanted to get it sold. This was completely unacceptable to me - that was money I would need for my old age, although there are those who think I am in that category now just because I am 74. So I prepared to move and rent my condo until the market recovers.

A lady had called me in the Spring and asked if I would come to her house and help her price some Oriental Antiques, she had been directed to me by others in the business since I specialized in Orientalia when I was in the business. She was helping out a mutual friend so I didn't charge her for my time. She in turn gave me the name of a dealer who was looking to buy Flo Blue China. I phoned her up and she came and bought $2500 worth and I still have plenty left to enjoy and use. A coincidence - I think not.

When I began getting ready to move I realized I would have to down size some more. I have been downsizing since moving from Redstone! My new apartment is quite compact and several of my things would not fit. I had decided to sell a lot of really lovely things that I had enjoyed for years and just move the things that had special meaning to me. I gave special things to my children that wouldn't fit in the apartment and prepared to sell the rest. I called the lady I had helped and she told me to set everything out I wanted to sell and she would alert all her dealers.

They all came on a Saturday afternoon and bought $1900 and still there were several things I didn't want to move. One of the dealers was Sue Gomes. She is a completely delightful lady and I made a friend of her right away. Her sister in New York has an antique shop so she bought several things and took pictures and emailed them to her sister, then returned and purchased more. She knows how to sell on EBay and agreed to take all the rest of the things I wanted to sell and put them on EBay and split 50/50 after expenses. Was that a marvelous coincidence - I don't think so.

I had a meeting to attend one afternoon and stopped by United Bank to pay my Visa bill. I had some extra time so I went into a used furniture store that was right next door. It is a fantastic and lovely store. I found a replacement love seat in brown leather - soft as down, a hand painted cabinet to hold my TV that I simply adore, a kitchen cupboard that holds my microwave and all the kitchen appliances and a lateral filing cabinet that my printer can sit on. Everything perfect for the new apartment and it all cost less than a thousand dollars! So from the things I no longer needed and sold, I bought the replacement furniture and had the floors redone. A coincidence - I think not.

I planned my moving day and asked all the kids to come and help and of course they all did and brought the grandsons also. I needed boxes and wardrobe boxes are so expensive - $15 - $18 a piece. Monday morning at my office there was a voice mail from a fellow announcing he had just moved to town and had moving boxes for sale!!! I drove right out to his house and bought 12 wardrobe boxes and several misc. ones for less than $40. A coincidence - I think not.

They moved me on June 5 - 2010. Linda, Lucia and Bonnie packed and unpacked, straightened out and put away everything. It was splendid. The boys handled all the heavy furniture, put the beds together, helped me put up the shower curtain, installed a new mirrored medicine cabinet in the bath and Lucia and Mike bought me a wonderful mahogany bookcase for the end of the closet to put all my sweater in. Mike also installed another hanging rod in the closet. My closet is the best closet I have ever had!!!

As soon as I was settled I finished cleaning my condo and ran an ad to rent it. A lovely lady showed up and leased it. She wanted a 5 year lease! I was elated. Her rent almost covers my costs.

My social security and the rent from Mom's house - Larry gives me his share- cover my living expense. I have to be very careful but I have additional funds if unexpected expenses arrive- I should say when as there always seems to be something.

So there you have it. Just one of the many stories of my guardian angel providing everything I need when I had no idea I was going to need it.

All for now.

Sylvia

Understand the importance of uranium

Residents understand importance of uranium

I was privileged to be with a group of concerned citizens recently. We were discussing our local issues and candidates. The Nucla uranium mill hearing came up. I had just finished reading Fran Didier’s letter to the editor, and wanted to express my position.

I was born and raised in this valley and, being in my 70s, have seen a lot of the uranium and oil shale booms and busts. We have always been a mining and agriculture area. Recently, we have become diversified with tourism and manufacturing, which have helped maintain some stability from the downturn in oil and gas exploration.

Several people in my group traveled to Nucla for the Jan. 21 hearing. They spoke with many of the local people and found them to be very supportive of the mill opening and mining commencing. They would welcome good-paying jobs and a revitalization of their community.

Granted, huge mistakes were made 60 years ago, but today we have the knowledge and the regulations in place to safeguard the miners and the environment.

These same people have lived in Nucla for generations with the uranium all around them. Deer, elk and other wildlife have thrived. Why has it suddenly become deplorable for people in the community to made a decent living?

The United States uses 60 million tons of uranium a year. We produce 5 million tons. This makes us dependent upon foreign countries to make up the shortfall and ensures we continue with trade imbalances. Why can’t we become self-sufficient?

Our dependence on foreign oil and gas should have taught us to look to our own resources. It behooves us to listen to the people in Nucla, who are in place and know first-hand the pros and cons.

SYLVIA MORRISON