PARADISE PARK FIRST RESPONDERS

Two years ago my husband Dan and Dave Harston, both retired Fire Fighters in our park, convinced the Board of Directors that our Park needed an AED device and some volunteers to learn to use it.  This is, in no way to replace the 911 call, but is for quick response until they get here.  We all know that the faster the response the better the outcome will be. 

The AED (Automated External Defibrillator) arrived last year and a good number of people volunteered to be responders.  We had enough to have 7 - 2 person teams, so each team would only be on call, for a 24 hour shift once a week.  Each team had a team leader with some useful experience,( retired Emergency Personnel, Fire Fighters, Ambulance, Nursing, etc. ) plus an assistant.  It all shaped up very well.  They all took an AED/CPR course at McAllen Medical, to brush up their skills and learn the new equipment.

 

But this year we have lost a few of our volunteers so we are looking for more.  I volunteered to help and I took my AED/CPR course at McAllen Medical one Saturday and have now been put on the schedule with Dan.  So far, none of our responder teams have ever had a call for assistance, but it is nice to know that they are there if you need them.   

I FEEL THIS IS A REAL ASSET TO OUR PARK

MY POINSETTIA IN THE MORNING.

We are living with very changeable weather of late.  

Saturday it got up over 90, and we were all sitting out on the patio most of the day.  It was gorgeous. 

 I  have to spray myself thoroughly with "Off" though.  I really get bitten by Chiggers and boy are those bites ever itchy.  Worse than any mosquito bites I've ever had.

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The only hint that Christmas was coming was a Poinsettia plant that I picked up for the patio.  It's gorgeous and it only cost me $5.00.

 

But boy oh boy that weather sure changed.   All day Sunday we were hunkered down indoors with wind, misty rain off and on and temperatures not even making it up out of the 40s during the day and going down close to freezing over night. 

This morning the moisture on my Poinsettia makes it look like it is covered with glitter.  Pretty, but BRRR, it's cold. 

THE FORECAST SAYS WE ARE IN FOR ABOUT A WEEK OF THIS

 

REPAIRING THE BROKEN WINDOW

When we arrived back in Paradise Park this fall, there was a broken window in Dwight's trailer.  The Maintenance Staff, had put plastic over it to keep the rain out, which was good.  

We think it was caused by extreme heat this summer.  Anyways, once we were settled in, we removed the broken window and covered the opening with a tarp. 

We then took the frame into a Glass place to have it replaced.  It turns out that they had to send away to San Antonio for the template for that particular window.  That was on November 12th. 

They finally called us that the window was ready for pick up yesterday, December 12th.  It's a good thing no one was living in the trailer. 

So, yesterday we picked up the new window and Dan got busy cleaning all the old putty and goo from tape off the trailer and the window, then he re-puttied and re-installed the new window.   

 

So that is a big chore done and the trailer is all sealed up and water tight again.  

SO THAT WAS YESTERDAY'S FUN

NOTHING MUCH NEW

Here we are with the temperatures back up in the 80s.  I cannot believe the swings we are having.  I know we go through this every year, around Christmas and New Years.  From Hot to Cold, then back to Hot again, but for some reason the switch back and forth seems to me, to be very quick and extreme this year.  One night, like last night, the low was down in the high 30s or low 40s F or 4-5 C, today, if you're out in the sun it's 87F  that's 30 C.  Yesterday the high for the day was only 54 F or 12 C.  Oh, well, it sure beats shovelling.   With this heat today though, I think we will go for a swim tonight, before bed.  

We haven't been up to much with the cold weather.  Just sticking close to home and watching a lot of TV.  Puttering with a few repairs and all around just keeping busy.     We really must start putting some things on our calendar and venturing beyond the park gates, for something other than groceries.  

I'M GETTING BORED

 

I THINK I'LL CALL HIM GORDON

Today I was about to do some repairs to an artificial plant I have on my patio.  I have a couple of them, as I thought that they might be a solution to buying plants for the patio every year, just to have to dispose of them when I leave.  But that has not been the case.  Even at $100.00 each they fade and the leaves and fronds fall off.  They just don't last.    So I am slowly going back to real ones.  

 

So, as I was re-gluing the leaves and getting ready to re-spray paint the faded areas, look what I discovered.   look closely dead center in the picture.  It's a little Gecko.  

On an artificial plant no less.  The work on the silly plant stopped immediately as I ran for my camera.  

I know there are Geckos here in the valley as my friend Sharon has taken many pictures of Geckos in her yard, but I have never seen one here.  I was so excited.  They are so cute.  

OF COURSE, I'LL CALL HIM GORDON