We have had a mild, polite fall. Then, a few days before leaving it just had to snow.

We took a trip to Palacious, Texas to visit Liam's grandparents, Scott and Rebecca. Much fishing and walking was done.

We went on to Port Aransas and spent a few days exploring that area. We had an interesting campsite where there is an owner who purchased a site, improved it and then rents it. They were really nice sites to just live in. Like you were in an apartment. Like an assisted living for older RVers. Nice but lacking in exploration and adventure.

We rented a golf cart and toured the beach. Like most of the Gulf Coast the sand was solid enough for any sort of vehicle, including forty-foot diesel pusher motorhomes.

Here's Odo's windsock ears. You know the wind is blowing at 12 knots or more if both ears go up.

Here's a direct link to the video.

Brazos has deer!

In the winter, the cardinal provides a sharp contrast to the browned out vegitation.

A cold-weather gator.

The view out my office window in Galveston.

My office.

My birds.

The concrete house as of February 1.

The beach on February 1.

The motel on February 1.

On the playground.

Static Landon.

Walking the paths around Brazos, you don't really have to watch for gators. They stay in the water. Until it gets a little warmer. Here's our first "gator oooppppsie". Where we walk up on a gator at the side of the path. This gator appears much closer in real time.

First time I've seen a gator in the field across from the 40 Acre Lake observation tower.

Walking the lake, with Landon taking his time.

The story of Yellowstone Landing followed by a picture of the landing.

This is an example of a Texas Southern Live Oak. They are everywhere in Brazos Benk State Park and the area.

Butterfly! Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly!

Gator growling! It's mating season. There were five gators in about 200 feet. All were calling.

Here's a direct link to the video.

You don't really see it, but the gator did start directly for us. It was no issue. It was too far away and too slow. But still ....

Here's a direct link to the video.

Had to go back to Cleveland for a court hearing. That also let me take care of many other issues in person. But leaving the dogs was

I write this on February 17, 2026, sitting on United flight 544 bound for Cleveland, Ohio. A particularly messy guardianship matter must be heard in person. So back I go for a five-day trip to deal with messy. I have a number of other cases which also require personal attention so I have, I hope, made my schedule to suit those purposes.

The weather in Cleveland has been awful. While there hasn’t been the blizzards and horrific ice that could have cause disruptions, there has been a consistent supply of ice, snow and yuck that has kept the neighbors indoors. Or out, shoveling snow. This while I stroll the paths of Brazos Bend State Park in seventy or eighty degree weather. Texas is a great place to spend February.

While flying is always a pain, always to be avoided, this flight isn’t so bad. Left Rosenberg at about four am and arrived at the gate by five-thirty. Now having the Texas license, I had lots to keep me busy. Time went by. Oh, one other thing. I’m flying First Class for the first time in my life. Let me tell you, the breakfast was quite good. Very good. Yum.

While in Rosenberg I bought a very-well-endowed new laptop. A Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. I’ve been running the business on it. I thought it might be nice on the airplane. It is. Very. I like it!

This is an odd trip. I am leaving Toodledip and Odo, Liam, Landon, and Lucas, Lesa and Matt to venture off alone. Last time I did this kind of trip was when my Dad died. Neither were pleasant although both turned into an adventure. This trip might be well-placed. The house has been vacant since November. Three month might be a good time to check in and see what is what. I will be returning on Saturday, February 21, 2026, for another two months or so.

Now at home, with no dogs, I find myself still chatting with them. They are not responding, but I am still chatting. I get up and tell them to stay where they are as I will be right back. This is odd. This is very odd.

Four days have passed and so much work was done. The trip was a success. The key to a trip home without the dogs is to keep busy. Don’t stay longer than needed.

Got a good view of a "glory", where the sun being directly behind a person looking at a cloud gives them a circular kind of rainbow.