They say it’s a lot of fun, to vacation, live or camp in a house like this, on a lake in Texas or not. And you ‘have not lived’ if you haven’t experienced this… I can hardly wait for my turn..!!

Because I think that adventure is something that is really worth living. And you just don’t have it, why live…? As I like to boating, camping, exploring, and getting my ‘dirty boots’, I would surely would enjoy… Perhaps fall in love with it… After all, everyone lives and dies, but not everyone who has died, has experienced this ‘fatal adventure’. The only sad thing is that it has to end.

So, why not…?

The idea of renting a boat (yes because I would want to explore around) and go from lake to lake. Getting this type of housing is something really different and I like the variety – innovator, adventurer, especially near nature and safety. That’s the way I am.

They say It’s not hard to drive these houseboats, if you know how to drive a car.

Well, in America some people live that way too.

And if after trying it out you do not find it ALL to your liking, at least you ‘found’ something totally new.

Life can only be inspired and well-lived if seen as a great adventure in which we all take part, and are, shall we say…. in ‘one of those unknown worlds’. But also, it is nothing outside of ourselves’. It’s inside.

I learned this lesson in 2005 going through my first hurricane named Rita… I had the choice of being scared, stressed out or facing everything as a great adventure! I chose the last option. I had to go through it anyway…

Choosing to look at it this way was more exciting! And I guarantee you it worked!

It was super tiring and exhausting, but I found that I live on this piece of ground, full of beauty (discarding the destruction it left behind and the worst congestion in the history of the country on the way…), charm and adventure, and that there is no end to it, if only we seek and we have our eyes open.

If we can’t survive this fatal adventure, why not make it as free as possible…?

WHAT A SCARE! I unintentionally (almost) permanently deleted this post! But as Mr.Slipper Socks Man and genius that my dear husband is (so she thinks), my savior at such times of computer anguish, here it is. Complete.

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO HIM! :-) (Ok, Ok, Ok… no big deal…)

I couldn’t fail to show you the various options of art there are also around me, culture and fun, totally free!

In fact, I have come to the conclusion that the month is long enough for so many options.

Real close to me, in Kemah, for 12 days, there will be the ”CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE LANE”. I guarantee that you won’t want to miss this Christmas inspired boat parade! We’ll be there! http://www.clearlakearea.com/about/BoatParade.asp

It is a great parade of boats like this that go back and forth charming you! My advice is to go early to get a good seat, be dressed warmly because it’s close to the sea. You can even bring your pets in costume for the season too. I did my pets and they were a success

At the same place, on the 19th there will be the ”PRELUDES“. You will sing and dance to the high energy and entertainment of the ”The Royal Academy of Arts”, at 10 am on the Kemah Boardwalk.

- “SURVIVING THE BODY EVIDENCE” at the Houston Health Museum, until January 3rd. Free up to 19 years of age. http://www.mhms.org/.

They show how our ancestors were successful with the challenges of life and what their adaptation to the world was like. I think it’s very interesting!

“BIKE REPAIR WORK SHOP” – Every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Andrea and Bill White Promenade in DISCOVERY GREEN PARK. Lessons on how to fix your bike by great professionals in the area, such as Nicholas Auger, the artist who created the bike (shown below) after the hurricane, using twigs and small branches for his art. 1500 Mickinney Street -  77010 – 713-400-7336

“THE BEST OF THE NY CHILDREN’S FILM FEST” in SPACETAKER in the Winter Studio at 4 pm. But at 2 pm there will be a children’s art show that is at least 3 hours of pure fun for the little ones and absolutely free! Lindasay Peyton is an artist photo journalist graduate of the Univ. Austin and responsible for the event!

This place is paradise for children of all ages! DO NOT MISS IT! It is located at 2110 Winter Street, Studio B11 - Houston – 77007  http://www.spacetaker.org/content/programs

“LAKESHORE LEARNING STORE” Handicraft for children of all ages every Saturday from 11 am – 3 pm (2405 Poast Oak Boulevard). Check out the localities: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com – 713-355-1893

“NO STRINGS ATTACHED” At Rice University (6100 Main Street-Houston) until the 11th, there will be a special concert almost every day. Today – Chamber Music Recital, at 8pm, on the 11th – Windsync Woodwind Quintet, call 713-348-4933 or 713-348-4933 to confirm time and changes, because their website has some conflicting details.

Unfortunately, we depend on others for advice, companionship, laughs, support etc, but often, if you stand near them long enough, they will pass those MICROSCOPIC bugs when they cough or sneeze in your space. And this is what left me with what I already have: a severe flu!

My choice today was to ’educate’ myself a little more about what has been tormenting me since Sunday.

I have had so many disappointments with doctors! I won’t go to them this time…

The truth is that when I go to them, and listen to what little they have to say to me, I take the ‘dubious’ prescription they give me… almost never follow them, and go to an alternative medicine, which I consider a much deeper medicine.

Although a few drugs may not be so expensive for colds and flu, the side effects are very scary!

For is it not until you get sick that you get a little extra courage to endure what ails you!? That’s the way it is with me. Always.

So that was something I had to do to protect myself in the future: be healthy and happy at the present time without medical expenses.

Have you noticed how they always give you the perscription and say, “let’s try this and that…?’

Of course each human body is different and reacts differently, but what is tremendously frustrating is to hear those words each and every time!

I am terribly disappointed when I leave their office. That’s why I repeat: prescriptions from these ‘men of science’ are to me, ‘dubious’ and I have a useless collection of them here at home.

Why? I don’t know…

I spent hours reading all the books on natural medicine that I have, investigating them, not online, and I want you to know what I learned.

The best one, that teaches you how to improve your immune system and tells you exactly what is necessary for you to TRIUMPH over colds and flus, was:

“NATURAL PRESCRIPTIONS”, Dr. Robert M. Giller, MD, who believes in natural healing. I learned this is the way you do it…

-Vitamin C: 500 mg. every 4 hours for the duration of the flu, not to exceed 2,000 mg per day. If you develop diarrhea, decrease the dose.

-Zinc: 23 mg. of zinc gluconate every 6 hours (after 1 week stop)

-Vitamin A: 25,000 IU until the flu is over, but not longer than 1 week.

-Echinacea: 1 or 2 capsules twice a day for 2 weeks.

If you have an earache: 200 mg. acetylcystine twice a day and acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Take plenty of liquid, but NOT drinks and fruit juices with sugar! He recommends grapefruit juice, in addition to tea with fennel, ginger and cinnamon and if you can take it, throw a little garlic powder on top.

I fixed this and stood there looking at it for some time, half doubtful, but when tasted it I liked it! No garlic yet… and honey.

Don’t drink drink anything alcoholic he says, because the alcohol swells the bronchial tissues.

Rest as much as you can, especially in the first and second days. He says that makes a big difference.

I want to be much better to enjoy the weather that has been forcasted for tomorrow: kisses from Heaven in the form of fallen as snow! In Texas!  

Breaking News: It’s STARTED TO SNOW! Meteorologists say there has never been snow so early in the state!

SENTINEL OF SQUIRRELS

Now is my long-awaited winter in Texas… I open the windows and don’t feel like I’m in a sauna anymore. When I get out of the car I can see everything, because my glasses are not all fogged up. I can walk away from the sea, because the heat isn’t so unbearable away from the ocean breeze…

But in the winter, there also a tendency of us spreading the flu to each other.

And I came down with the virus.

I had completely forgotten what it was like to be ill after two years, then a virus that was spreading like fire, a thing so small but so powerful, put me sprawled out on the bed.

My lungs are congested, my throat hurts, my cough torments my husband’s sleep.

Suddenly I became obsessed with the levels of my nasal mucosa, which seems more like a dripping faucet… and also with the decibels of my cough. My ears make these strange noises and I’m in a cold sweat.

The house is getting messy, the dogs more than bored and I dragged myself to the kitchen to fix myself some ‘Ramen’, because I feel too weak for anything else.

YOU’VE GOT NOTHING TO DO…(notice his look)

I only think about my DECONGESTANTS and my voice disappearing, and that’s a curse to my ego already shaken by the disease.

It’s more than obvious that the voiceless are not noticed… Little did I know therefore that the extent of my power had something to do with the loudness of my voice.

Even the richest of the richest, if they were the way I am, would be frustrated with the impotence of their wealth…

But won’t some people appreciate the fact that they are sick so they don’t have to go work…??

I guess I’ll have to agree with my sister, Eloiza, the enemy of the cold: this is why “Winter is not the best season”… Cold and Flu are the first reasons, Wind and Freezing Rain and other sorrows…

I can only peep outside, and we are expecting snow on Friday… Who said winter is romantic …?

Still… My little fever is really not much when you think about it…

COMFORTER SHILOH

May you live and survive this winter without having to deal with this virus!

It was on a day like this that I was thankful for the squirrels to give the dogs something to do. Run, run, run…

THE BOSS