Elizabeth Moon's Blog, page 133

On the Train Again: Del Rio to Alpine

Del Rio is a Border city, on the Rio Grande, about the same elevation as where I live now (968 feet above sea level, on the edge of the Edwards Plateau but more related to the south Texas plains in terms of vegetation.)  It has permanent (so far) springs that supply the water, and a little creek--the only running water we passed by in a long, long stretch before and after.  It has the dusty, pale look of all the Border cities--though I grew up well down the river from Del Rio, it looks fa

On the Train Again: Home to Del Rio

I drove to San Antonio on Wednesday of last week, and--despite having lived there--got myself lost in downtown and ended up at my hotel's sister hotel.  At least from there it was easy.

Note: most of this was written on the train, but has been cleaned up and added to at home.  I've made no attempt to indicate which was written where.

I spent the night at a fancy hotel in San Antonio, going to bed early but sleeping intermittently, as I often do on the first night of a trip.  I kept hearing tr

Home again

Interesting trip back on the train, then the non-finding of the bakery where I wanted to buy goodies to bring home to the family, then a pleasant drive through the hill country and a safe arrival.  Laundry is even now going slush-slush-slush in the washer and soon the second load will go in. 

Almost on the way home...

I'm packed, about to have  breakfast at the hotel, and then head for the train station.  One tired cookie, that's me.

A very full weekend, beautiful weather, etc, etc.  

Going to find scrambled eggs now.  Next post when I get home, sometime Tuesday. 

Writer's Block: Pet Peeve

What is the most annoying sound in the entire world?

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Leaf blowers.

City Zoom

Zipped off to the city (somewhat later than planned, no surprise) but did meet a friend for lunch at Threadgill's on North Lamar, one of our favorite lunch spots.   After a hearty meal (eat *before* clothes shopping--ensures the clothes will be comfortable after other meals), I headed on down Lamar to the Chico's at Lamar & 6th, where I indulged in a new pair of black knit travel pants (my old pair, after some years of heavy service, were looking a bit worn...ok, more than a 'bit") and ended up

How did it get to be now already??

Sure sign of a tangential approach to exhaustion...the days that vanish without notice. 

Well, it's Tuesday, and tomorrow I drive to San Antonio so that at o-god-not-yet in the morning I can climb onto a train (the Sunset Limited, no less) and head for California.  

Why?   Well, California is where the Nebula Weekend is this year, and I'm a (ahem!) officer in SFWA.   OK, you say, but why on a train?  
Because sixty-one years ago, I rode a train from San Antonio to Los Angeles with my grandfather

Internet problems

Our broadband croaked last night, so I'm back on dial-up for the duration.  Since today was already scheduled to the hilt (along with tomorrow, the next day, the next day...) I won't be spending much time online.   Comments won't be dealt with at the usual rate.  

Have a nice day! (week, month...)

Autism: Not the Only "A" Word

For parents,  a child's "pathology"  or diagnosis may sometimes seem to encompass the whole world.   You're in the trenches, dealing with it every day--the child's behaviors, the child's struggles, the reaction of those around you to the child and the child's struggles, and your struggles, the therapy appointments, the judgments so many people make about you as a parent and your child as a child.   Anyone in any of life's "trenches" (whether it's a health or economic or social trench)  begins to

80 Acres: Cactus Flowers and a Surprise

It was a gorgeous afternoon--sunny, cool/warm, breezy--to go for a walk and photograph wildflowers, including a cactus that blooms only once a year, briefly (and not every year.)  

Pictures are up at the 80 Acres blog, along with more abut the surprise.

Not yet up are pictures of the tiny blue butterflies (copper and blue--gorgeous little things, but busy and hard to photograph clearly.)  I'm not sure any of the images will sharpen up enough to post.