Day 84: Digital Tech Hell......but, a wonderful day in San Antonio!

WHAT a cloudy morning I awakend to this morning!!!! I thought it was very early in the morning.....but, I pulled my horizontal sagging hulk of Me into a somewhat walking position...and slipped downstairs, closing the sliding door to the bedroom as I did so. Well, after opening the blinds in the kitchen, I realized that it WAS morning and was just really dark and cloudy. After the morning rituals were completed later.....the 1st Lady wanted to "sleep in" for a bit.......I was having my second cup of Fr. Roast when I realized that it was beginning to mist....and then mist began to sound on the roof, so it was becoming raindrops......ugh!!!! Sooooo.........we delayed making any plans for the day, but not only because of the rain......

The 1st Lady was not feeling herself this morning......she got up, acted a bit tired, but then complained that she felt as if the symptoms of a migraine were there.....and so, I urged her to take one of her precious little pills which usually prevents one of those terrible headaches from going full blast. She laid down for an hour or so......the rains were just dribbling around......and then she said that some numbness was setting in......not a good sign for her. However.......by noon, she was feeling better and insisted that we just take it easy today....just the two of us without others, since she might want to come back to TheHowserHouse at any moment. Soooo, she suggested that.........

We should try to do a couple of the missions here in San Antonio. That way....we could go at a quiet, leisurely pace on our own...... Sooooo, even though I had wanted to contact a couple of our friends from the Cedar Creek Club who now live here, having previously lived in STL, she thought it best to hold off for awhile...as she might get to feeling better. Before long, dashed to the truck.....and with wiper blades going madly, we drove up I-37 for a few miles before we exited, thanks to Garmin, and arrived at the Visitor Center for the San Antonio Missions National Park.

We were there for about 45 minutes......browsing and then viewing a movie which was absolutely wonderful....about the history of the missions here in Texas, as well as some early history of Texas. It was sooooo well done.....so, please do not miss it if you are going to visit the Missions here in S.A.!!!! Mission San Jose is located here at the Visitor Center.....and we spent a long time visiting this mission. Amazing how this became a community, a learning center, and also a way of converting the Indians to the Catholic religion. I really didn't know too much about the Missions until today........and I certainly want to read more about the Spaniards and the establishment of these missions.

From there, she was still feeling ok....so we followed the Mission Road up to Mission Concepcion. Here we took a guided tour which lasted about an hour.....and even though the National Park Ranger gave the tour, it was a bit on the slow and boring side.......not well done, even though he knew his material.....he just had no personality with which to make the entire tour interesting and thought-provoking. Here in this Mission, they have discovered many small pieces of painted frescoes under the current plaster that covers the walls and ceilings.....and so work is under way to remove the plaster and expose what frescoes remain there. I always find this type of art work really interesting by the technique of the fresco work.......just as Michelangelo did in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome. I have viewed this Sistine Chapel many times...and each time I have been there I just walk away in awe of this man's incredible talent!!! But......after digressing.......what has been exposed today is quite elementary in comparison....quite obvious even to the untrained eyes of even me!!!!!

From there, with her still feeling ok......it was appearing the little pill was working and doing it's job......we decided to visit the El Mercado a bit west of the Riverwalk area. We spent a couple of slow hours just ambling through these shops, purchasing nothing except some water, as these prices were waaaaayyyyy higher than prices for the same items which we saw/purchased in Mexico, just across the border. By 5pm.....we decided to stop for some appetizers......and something to drink....and just rest a bit.

We found ourselves at La Margarita......and enjoyed a great plate of many appetizers, including grilled shrimp, oysters on the half-shell covered in melted cheese, sausage which had been grilled, tortillas with chicken breast and cilantro in a wrap, quesadillos(sp?) with melted cheeses inside, and many other different Mexican appetizers.......a GREAT, GREAT buy for $15.00!!!!! I had a Margarita....and it was great....AND strong!!!! We ate outside on the covered patio, enjoying watching the people slowly walk by......looking back at us.....haha!! I LOVE to sit and watch people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We then slowly ambled to the Riverwalk where we stood on a bridge and watched the boats float under us on the river/canal.....some with everyone sitting at a long table running down the middle of the boat where the passengers were eating and drinking as they floated down the river. This is such an incredible place.........I just LOVE the Riverwalk!!!!!!!! While it cannot compare to the canals of Venice as you float through them in a Gondola with an Venician singing as you go through the canals during the evenings........the Riverwalk has an ambience all it's own.....and it is a place that everyone should take their time and experience....often!!!!!!!!!

Returning to TheHowserHouse, the 1st Lady laid down for awhile.........as I attempted to download my pictures which I took today, onto her computer(mine is still dead for all practical purposes). Well, it showed about three pictures had downloaded and then it just stopped!! I stopped the transfer.......and then attempted to look at the pictures just on my camera.....and it is the camera that is the problem!!!!!! It is taking the pics and storing them, but to retrieve them is the problem. Soooooooo, I will continue to take them, but cannot get them loaded onto a pc....and so cannot put them on the blog......DAMN IT!!!!! Time to get a new camera....AND...computer??????? Hmmmmm..............(should I get a job??).

The migraine never materialized......that is something to be thankful for...eh??? But......she is a bit worn out, which is never the case normally, so I am glad we took it easy and at our own slow pace today, for her sake!! Tomorrow????? Well, the weather is to become severe by afternoon, so not sure what our plans are as of now.......we'll wait until the morning to decide. And.....suppose I should check at the office for any recommended shelter around here.....just in case.......an RV is NOT the place to try to ride out a severe storm with high winds, etc., etc.

And so.......a wonderful, but slow-paced day....minus the camera problems! However, there could be soooo many worse things that could have occurred, so.....as always......

LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!