Slow Showing....

When you begin the process of downsizing, and put your house on the market, you are suppose to be excited about showing the house and anxiously awaiting the first offer. I haven't been excited one bit since the sign went in the ground. I am by nature a very loving and thankful person, but I hate this whole process. I don't want to live in this big house anymore and I don't want to move to a smaller one. I just want to be left the heck alone. Preacher's Wife got the house ready to show almost immediately. What I didn't realize was that every hour of the day you have to keep the house ready to show. I feel like the KGB moved in. Everywhere I turn, or sit, or stand I feel there are hundreds of eyes on me. She is not the vocal kind of gal who says a lot, she just shakes her head meaning I am to remain seated or keep moving. It seems to be about sitting and waiting and not touching anything. This past week has been slow going or shall I say slow showing. It has been rainy and cold and no one seems interested in a house. But none the less the house has had to remain ready to show. If I had hair, I would pull it out.

What Can We Live Without?

In 1968 Preachers Wife and I were perfectly happy to live in a one room apartment. We had just returned from our honeymoon in Dallas to settle down in our first little humble abode. The place was called Davenport Courts. It basically was a hotel room with a small kitchen that could be rented by the day, the week or the month. The cash wedding presents had allowed us to rent it for a whole month. We were so excited. We didn't have many earthly belongings and we really didn't see a need for them, because we were in love. We were just two young kids happy to be building a life together. That was 41 years ago. Since then we've received an education, picked up 3 children, 6 wonderful grandchildren and acquired many friends. We also have accumulated a lot of "stuff" and most of "my stuff" is referred to by her as "junk." So what does one do when you go from having nothing to almost everything and you decide to downsize and simplify your life. In the days, weeks and months ahead I am going to take you on a journey with us as we downsize to a smaller home and a more simple lifestyle. This should be very interesting especially if I choose to give detailed conversations of Preachers Wife and me.

We love our house but we are moving...

Preacher's Wife and I moved to San Antonio in 2002. We have lived in the same house we bought when we first moved to town. We loved it then and we still do, but we have decided to move. We have just about totally remodeled it little by little. We put tile and hardwood floors throughout the house. We added a 1000 square feet self-contain, private entrance apartment. I could go on and on about all we have done to the inside. I also took great pride with my green thumb making the back yard a paradise. Did I say we were moving? Yes! Why? Because we want to downsize and simplify our life. Therefore, we are moving to the Del Webb Hill Country Retreat in west San Antonio. Some people call it a retirement village but I call it having less work to do around the house. We have signed the papers for them to begin our new home and the realtor puts a sign in the front yard on Monday. We are praying and believing for a quick sale.

Fun In Denver...

Since our Denver children and grandchildren were unable to make it home this Christmas, Anne and I flew to Denver this past weekend. We had not seen them since last January and my had they grown. They met us at the hotel after school and did one of their favorite things when we visit, swim in the heated pool. We shopped, ate, did some sight seeing and then ate some more. Today is our last day with them so we are going to Mr. Biggs family fun center. We are sure going to miss them but are looking forward to getting back to sea level so we can breath again . I thought I would post pictures of three more of our beautiful grandchildren.

Two up and coming musicians...

I just got around to transferring some of the pictures we took in McAllen while spending Christmas with our son and his family. Our granddaughters Lauren and Lenzy are into music big time and each one has their own particular instrument of choice. They performed for us on Christmas morning and I must say I was quite impressed. Lauren sings and plays the guitar and Lenzy loves playing the bass.

Seeing in the New Year...

We just got home from spending New Year's weekend with our friends the Magees. We decided back in the early fall that we would camp together in some state park over the new year holidays. We agreed this year it would be Choke Canyon State Park at Three Rivers, Texas. Having read, reviewed and visited several state parks in Texas we really enjoyed Choke Canyon. If one likes large spacious sites, covered gazebo, picnic table, fire pit and cooking grill and alot of wildlife you would enjoy camping at Choke Canyon. We arrived on Wednesday and stayed through Sunday. It was a very enjoyable and relaxing time. While there we did some walking and birding as well as cooking out and watching College Bowl games. I could recommend Choke Canyon to all our camping friends.

An Airstream Christmas

We arrived today in the Rio Grande Valley. We are spending Christmas with our son and his family. When we arrived it was 82 degrees and the sun was beaming down. Having lived here for 25 years and raising our family here I had forgotten that they very rarely get a white Christmas. We hung the wreath on the Airstream and are ready for an enjoyable visit with our children and grandchildren.

A little boys letter to Santa and Jesus...

The story is told of a little boy who wanted a big red bike for Christmas, so he wrote Santa a letter:

Dear Santa: I have been a good boy. I have done my chores and homework. I have obeyed my mom and dad. Please leave me a big red bike. Well, he got to thinking about it and decided that wasn’t enough, so he wrote a letter to Jesus:

Dear Jesus: I really want a big red bike for Christmas. I have attended church, learned my lessons, and obeyed the commandments. Then he got to thinking that might not be enough. So he crept downstairs, went over to the family manger scene and very carefully lifted the Mary out of the scene, and crept back up the stairs. He wrapped the figure of Mary in Kleenex and tucked her away in the back of the closet. Then he continued his letter to Jesus. “And if you ever want to see your mother again….”

Wonderful Christmas Memories...

Several years ago a university professor from Salt Lake City conducted an experiment at Christmas time. He randomly selected six hundred names from telephone directories from several major cities and sent Christmas cards to each of them. His return address was included on the card, and he received an amazing one hundred and seventeen responses from the 600 cards sent to perfect strangers.

One replied, “I just got out of the hospital, and how good it was to hear from a longtime wonderful friend!” (Must have had amnesia!)

Another said, “We had difficulty at first remembering who you were, but after some thought, we remembered. Please give our love to your father. He is a wonderful man.” (What creative memories!)

One reply was unexpected, “It was really great to hear from you again. We will be in Salt Lake City this summer, and if you have a spare room, we would like to stay with you two or three days!” (Hey, that’s what friends are for!)

Corzine's Movie Reviews...

I was just commenting to Preacher's Wife last week that I hadn't seen any real good movies in quite some time. So I decided on two new movies that looked real interesting to me. Whatever you do don't turn a blind eye to "The Blind Side" as it's one of the best films I have seen in quite a while. I loved the fact that it was very positive, upbeat and also because it's about good deeds and their ability to change people's lives. So if you're in the mood for a feel-good flick, this is an excellent choice. My girlfriend Sandra Bullock stars in the movie.

Rotten Tomatoes reviews gives INVICTUS 77%. I whole-heartedly agree and might even give it more. This film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match. I was challenged, motivated and inspired, and found myself in tears from time to time. Whatever you do don't miss this film.

The Corzine Coffee Bar

For those who follow me on Twitter or maybe have become a facebook friend, you know by now that I love BLACK COFFEE. It is no secret as to this vice. Some of my friends have become worried that I drink to much coffee, but the truth is, I just enjoy a couple of cups a day. BUT when I drink coffee/expresso I want it to be GOOD. I want it to be freshly ground and have a nice layer or cap of Crèma.

This is the kind of stuff that real coffee snobs care about: It is all about the Crèma. Some of you at this moment are turning your noise up while others like myself are moving toward the kitchen or a good coffee bar.

Since you ask, I will tell you. Crèma is the lovely, golden foam of coffee oils that covers a straight shot of espresso. Thick with aroma and flavor, it is the sign of proper coffee extraction.

The crèma forms a "layer" or a "cap" which helps the cup retain the aroma and flavor of the espresso. A good crèma will last a couple of minutes before settling. In most espresso-making courses, students learn to test the extraction by placing a sugar-cube (or teaspoon of sugar) on top of the crèma. The sugar should rest for a good few seconds before sinking through the crèma into the espresso. Extraction is poor when the sugar sinks to quickly.

The freshness and quality of the coffee grind has a direct result on the extraction and crèma. It should be noted that freshly ground whole-beans produce the best crèma. Cheers, here's to you!

Thanks for the blessings....

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the decorations, the lights, the smells and the sounds. It's 35 degrees in San Antonio and I'm sitting by the fireplace this morning drinking a nice hot cup of coffee listening to my favorite Christmas albums. Preacher's Wife is in the kitchen cooking sausage and biscuits. I know! I know! Life is good! So if you like good harmony and a little country sound you just might enjoy hearing Alabama sing: The Blessings

As I sit here, I realize that others in the world around me are at different places in their lives and for those who may be hurting or struggling today, my prayer for them is that they will experience God's grace, God's love, God's forgiveness and acceptance. These are the real gifts that show us how blessed we really are.

Alabama: The Blessings