NELSON'S NOTES #72: Getting in shape and having fun at Fun N Sun

 

San Benito, Texas, March 10, 2008

 

POPEYE BICEPS

For four months Bruce has been working out with our neighbor Hoagie Vaher on Fun N Sun's weight-lifting machines. At first he was sore but now he feels really strong and says everything is easier to do--riding a bike, walking, and lifting.

Muscle man

 

 

THE ENCORE GAMES

Maybe Bruce's renewed strength is one reason he said "yes" when Jim Cook asked him to be his relay partner in the Encore Games walking race held in February. Each competitor raced with a bike escort to make sure they didn't disqualify by running or by not passing the baton correctly.

Bruce and Jim are all warmed up and ready to race.

 

Bruce takes off.

 

After walking fast for .6 of a mile, he passes the baton to Jim.

Six minutes and 29 seconds later Jim approaches the finish line, making a time of 14.07 minutes. They tied for 3rd place.

 

 

 

GENE AND JANET

Bruce's brother Gene and his wife Janet are staying at Fun N Sun for the third time. They like it so much that they bought a park model on our street.

 

Gene and Janet in front of our place just before we left for the racewalking event.

Later the same day, they looked at this park model and bought it on the spot. The ficus tree in front almost died from the snow and freeze in 2004, but it recovered and now looks lush and healthy.

 

 

 

KFNS TV

This is Bruce's latest Web site. So far he's uploaded four clips: Texas politics, walk aerobics, water volleyball, and the Computer Fix-It skit. The skit was adapted from a scene in the 2006 movie about Fun N Sun: RV Park, the Movie. It stars Ron Maeder as the computer wizard and Dolores Maeder and Shirley Reed as the women who bring in their computers to be fixed. The stars act in pantomime, and Bruce and I provide the voice-overs. Click here to see the KFNS web page.

 

 

NEW VIDEO CAMERA

Last month Bruce bought a new Cannon 1080 HD video camera. It takes much better pictures than a standard definition camera and has won acclaim from advanced amateur moviemakers. A pixel height of 1080 is the highest HD available for videos at this time and is roughly 2 1/4 times better than standard definition, which is only 480 pixels. In January the price on his camera was reduced by 30% because a new model will be coming out soon; however, it won't have many improvements, so it was a good time to buy. As of this writing, the price has gone up because of the demand/availability ratio.

 

WALK AEROBICS CLASS

This year I've gone back to my walk aerobics class after surgery and illness kept me out for two years. Some days up to four men join the many women who like the vigorous exercise as much as I do. Video: This is a short video Bruce took during our three-mile workout with weights on February 29. We exercise mostly to Leslie Sansone's videos, and this one, "The 3-Mile Power Walk," is one of our favorites.

 

 

THE "TEXAS TWO-STEP" PRIMARY AND CAUCUS

Two months ago, I thought that by the time of the Texas primary on March 4 the leading Democratic candidate would be apparent. But, no, in March the race was still tight. Our votes were going to mean something. So we voted in the primary--Bruce voted for Clinton and I voted for Obama.

I felt privileged to vote in a primary as an independent, something I was unable to do in Connecticut. There, one must be registered in a political party and then vote for a candidate in that party. Texas has open primaries. Primary voters do not have to be affiliated with a party and can vote for a candidate in either party. However, in Texas, primary voters can also take part in a caucus, which starts after the polls close. That's where the Texas Two-Step comes in, a process that needs some explaining.

In Texas, 65% of the delegates are chosen by those who vote in the primary. After the polls close, those who go to the caucuses vote for delegates who go to the county convention. Those delegates in turn vote for the remaining 35% of delegates to the state convention in June. It's important to note two things: 1) not all primary voters go to a caucus, which could skew the results and 2) the official results won't be known until after the June convention. In the meantime, political pundits are just guessing about the outcome in Texas.

Bruce's video shows, among other things, what went on at the precinct 91 caucus in Cameron County: we didn't debate over the candidates, as is done in other states, but just signed in and voted for delegates based on the proportion of our primary votes--Clinton vs. Obama. We had four delegates. Based on the way the 28 of us had voted in the primary--23 for Clinton and 5 for Obama--Clinton got three delegates and Obama got one. Although it seems that the process should be simple, it isn't. As the video shows, it was confusing even in our tiny precinct. But it was nothing compared to the confusion at caucuses for large precincts. Some of those voters had to tough it out until 3 a.m

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FUN N SUN THEN N NOW

For almost two years, nine members of the Writers Group at Fun N Sun have been compiling and writing material for a 300+ page book, Fun N Sun Then N Now. The 6" x 9" trade paperback book will trace Fun N Sun's pioneering origins from 1966, when Hank Stanley first proposed the park, to the present. In addition to pictures, the book will feature stories about events, park people, and park activities

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Last year we held contests among park residents for the title of the book and the book cover. The publication date is planned for November or December 2008. To assure the $15 price, order your copy now (contact me for information).

 

The winning cover was designed by the Digital Darkroom Imaging Class at Fun N Sun taught by Sharon Cook.

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Marianna Nelson