A belated Happy 2008 to all of you, and I apologize for not having updated this site earlier. As you all noted previously, I did not get cards sent out this year for Christmas, what with the move, getting settled in here, helping Mother get ready for Christmas, etc. However, I do hope all of you had a very good Christmas.

I arrived back in Texas on November 15, 2007 and was met by friends, Dale and Jim Brannon. We loaded all my bags in the car and headed to my mother’s place. She had dinner prepared, and afterwards, Dale and Jim left, and I made for a shower and bed! It took me several days to recover from that trip. However, once I did, I had to deal with the prospect that now being 65, I must sort out my healthcare, etc. I’d already signed up for Social Security and for Medicare Part A while in the UK. There was no need for me to sign up for Part B while there, as the person helping me pointed out; so I did that upon return here. I went to Medicare meetings, talked to people, and eventually worked my way through the maze of options. Hopefully, I have a good plan. I am not sure. The plan started on January 1, 2008, and I met with my new doctor, and he seems very nice, as does the office staff. It is a change, though, to be paying for doctor visits, medicines, etc., when I didn’t have to pay more than what was taken out of my salary in the UK.

I also spent Thanksgiving with the Brannons. Mother had been invited, of course, but she wasn’t feeling well. There were a number of others there, and we had a very enjoyable time. In December, Dale and Jim invited me to join them on their boat to watch the annual Clear Lake Boat Parade. We just motored to the end of their canal, and sat there and enjoyed the show. It was so warm, we were in shorts and t-shirts, and that was mid-December!

I was able to meet up with John Maio, Erik Osterrieder and James Hazen before the craziness of Christmas got into full swing, and we had a very enjoyable meal at Catalan. It is always enjoyable to be around these guys. Tommy Barker and I met up at Sudie's Catfish House a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed their catfish, shrimp, coleslaw, and baked potatoes.

As Mother and I worked feverishly to get ready for Christmas, I realized that I needed to order homemade tamales for Christmas eve. It’s a tradition with us, as with a number of families here in Texas, to have chili, tortillas and tamales on Christmas eve. Not knowing where to go, I called upon my good friend, Barbara Dominy, who told me. Boy, were they good! I’d made a large pot of chili, and my sister Nita and her husband, Larry, my nephew David and his wife, Sherry, Mother and I enjoyed them.

Christmas Day was busy as usual, what with my stepmother Laura coming to join us, along with a neighbor of hers, Craig, as well as my friend, the above-mentioned Barbara. We drank eggnog, opened presents and had an enjoyable time. We had a table laden with good food, and once we had destroyed that, we had to take time to relax before serious desserts. My aunt and uncle, Curt and Marty Ball, came to visit, as well as my cousin and Laurie, and her husband Chris who were visiting from North Carolina. A very nice day.

During the time between New Year and Christmas, I was able to hook up with James Hazen again for a meal at Sorrento Ristorante Italiano. We had a nice time, and lo and behold, who should be beside us but a table of people from Venezuela. I had a nice visit with them. They were surprised to hear this gringo speaking Spanish, and knowing about their country.

After the hectic times of the holiday season, I purchased a silver 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. I hope it will serve my purpose. It belonged to a neighbor of my aunt and uncle, and they knew all about it, and we were able to obtain a good deal on it. Fingers crossed!

On New Year’s Eve I met up with Tommy Barker, John Petersen and Robin Hough at a Chili's restaurant. We had a good visit, and then we all wished each other a Happy New Year and headed home. A very quiet New Year for me.
 
After the New Year, Dale and Jim Brannon, Herman and Yvonne Gadeke, Barbara Dominy and I got together to go to the movie to see Charlie Wilson's War (we LOVED it!) and to dinner at Danivens. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day!

My former neighbor, Gayle Athy and I went to a Venezuelan restaurant in Houston called Miguelitos. Oh my! First came a plate with small arepas and nata cheese. We ordered tequeños, shared a large empanada and then followed that with a pabellón criollo! I was in HEAVEN! Granted, not the kind of thing you can go eat daily, but how nice to find a restaurant close by.

James Hazen and I also partook of Greek food at Niko Niko's, and of course I have had Mexican fixes at Hector's here in Crosby, and at La Villa in Atascosita. I’ve also been to the Ragin Cajun for some delicious po' boy sandwiches, oysters on the half shell, and some wonderful boiled crawfish.

Our weather here has been typical Texas Gulf Coast weather. As I mentioned, it was shorts and t-shirt weather for weeks after I arrived, well into December. Then we had a short cold snap, followed by a bit of warm weather again, and now it’s close to freezing at night and in the 50s during the day. We had torrential rains on Friday, and there are more expected this week. So goes it.

I will attempt to do better in updating you all on the goings on here. Do let me hear from you, and I hope all is well with each of you.

Love,

Denny