A bush has just spoken to me!

Now those of you familiar with the strange things that happen while I am out walking on the hike and bike trail will think ‘so what’. Lonely lost pelicans, cyclists taking selfies while actually in motion, and frolicking bank managers are, after all, to be expected.

Others will be thinking that perhaps it was George Sen., or George W. or even Jeb, bless his heart, who reached out to me while I was out, minding my own business. It is Rodeo season now and we did see the Bush family last year when we were there so chances are they will be in town at some point soon.

But no, this was an actual bush, of the green and densely leafed variety.

“Hello there” it said in a distinct Texan drawl and I just about jumped out of my skin. I remarked somewhat obviously to the woman approaching “That bush just spoke” and she gave me a look that said “Oh really? not again!”

Then the bush chuckled “It’s ok, I’m a veteran”, though quite why that should reassure me when I could not see anything other than a green bush beside me, I’m not sure.

Just another normal day in the Lone Star State.

A year and two months on and we’re still calling Houston home.

2016 has started and Spring has officially sprung. March has continued where February left off and we’ve enjoyed the most gorgeous ‘Spring’ weather and continue to bask in warm temperatures and gaze up at cloudless skies.

Some are remarking that March has “come in like a lamb” and are fearful of what the end of the month might bring, going out, as it must, like a lion. And they are also fearful of what the coming months might bring by way of hurricane season. And the Presidential Election. But you can read more about that in my other posts.

First gig of 2016, for me anyway, was Madonna who treated her audience to a two hour wait before gracing us with her presence. Not funny on a school night. A lot of alcohol was consumed while waiting for her (by others, not me!) so there would have been a few sore heads at work the next day. I enjoyed the gig, although she took some time to warm up. The audience also entertained with their outrageous costumes.  A good spectacle.

Second gig of the year was AC/DC – more of that later.

We’ve said goodbye to Ann-Marie and Steve who have headed to Aberdeen (of all places) for a new chapter in their lives and we’ve said hello to some (really) old pals.

Our visitor tally has increased by another four, with the theme of ‘old school friends’ in evidence. Or sorry, less of the ‘old’ and perhaps more of the long lasting and enduring, and young-at-heart.

They certainly struck lucky with the weather and experienced Houston at its very best.

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First up were Jill and Nick who popped in for the last weekend in January. Unfortunately Maurice had suffered with a very sore back resulting in a nasty attack of sciatica (see my previous post on health care) so he was a bit limited. But we managed a visit to the Galveston celebrations for Mardi Gras, which included the unlikely fancy dress golf cart parade and over a hundred strings of beads collected. And we hit the beach late in the afternoon so that Jill could dip her toes in the Gulf of Mexico. We also nipped down to Brazos to see the wildlife and Jill and I did the tourist trail in Old Town Spring too. It was a lovely visit.

A month later and it’s Maurice’s turn for the reminiscences with his old friends Paul and Simon. They were over for the AC/DC bash on 26 February
which did not disappoint.

They struck lucky with the Rodeo Parade too, stunning clear skies and an obligatory trip back to Brazos to see the ‘gators. They put on a good show and were very obligingly posing for pics (the ‘gators, not Paul and Simon!)  We managed to fit in a visit to NASA in a packed weekend which really showcased the best of Houston. Simon and Maurice also found some time to jam together, resulting in a rather good rendition of Hotel California.

So we’re now home alone again – just the two of us.

Maurice has been away already for a couple of work trips and I’m heading home soon for a wee break in Aberdeen.

Without meaningful paid employment, I’ve taken up volunteering at the Houston SPCA. Unsurprisingly I’ve chosen the cattery so that I might vent my lack-of-pets frustrations with cuddles from the huge number of strays that call this home for varying periods of time. It’s a lovely centre where Houstonians can adopt any manner of furry animals, large and small.

Next door is the Wildlife Refuge and I’ve also volunteered here. Most of the duties revolve around feeding abandoned baby animals – squirrels, opossums, birds and reptiles being the most common. They are released to the wild when they are able to survive.

Maurice has found a band of musicians to play with and they have their first gig in a couple of weeks time. I’ll post footage of that if I can and bore you all senseless showing off my talented husband.

As I write this, today is ‘Super Tuesday’ when more bonkers US politics will be in evidence. Will anything stop the Trump train?

Please, please, please, US citizens, have some sense!

Even a talking bush is better than a Trump…