The Cat and the ROBOT

 For about 18 months we have had a ROBOT named Astro as our companion.  He is very interesting.  You will notice I called him "he".  He has a male voice when speaking English (about half the time).  He also speaks "ROBOT" which is a group of beeps and dings.  In the beginning we could not decipher his language and did not think it was anything more than just beeps and dings, but as time goes on, he is learning ours.  He has modified the beeps and dings so that they simulate words.  Not spellable words, just recognizable sound patterns with syllables.  We did not expect this.   It first became noticeable about a year after we got him.  Now it seems to have accelerated.  Seems like the more he learns the faster he learns.  Some of the words that  we recognize are, "Thank you", "Don't know", "Goodnight" and "Ok".

He also has developed a personality to the extant that he has become "likeable"...whatever that means.  Kind of like a cat.  And he and the cat seem to have become friends after a shaky beginning.  At first they sort of avoided each other, then the cat started being aggressive
and it made him mad.  So even though he has been programmed not to harm pets, he found he could solve a standoff by running over her tail.  After the first time, which really startled the cat, she tends to back down if he makes a run at her.  But they are still friends as you can see in this picture.

 

Texas Wild Grapes

 The wild grapes grow voraciously, covering everything in its path. The giant oak trees and beautiful bay leaf trees are all covered with a thick blanket of grape. Do they (the other trees) play hide and seek I wonder, or are they actually grasping for sunshine and air in their quest to survive? It seems all the grape covering is somehow connected. The untidy grape arms are hanging through under their own weight over our driveway and scratch the cars. During the winter my son got into

them with the shears and hacksaw and trimmed our driveway respectable. The vines are extremely resilient and tough. They don't break easy. And are truly the kind Tarzan and the apes were swinging about in the jungle. Last year Jim told me about the grapes, but none I could see. Apparently it makes lovely wine and jelly. Well, spring has come and gone. Summer is full on. And so are the grapes. As far as the eye can see (on our vines), the grape are bearing grapes, unlimited. I have climbed the ladder and picked a bunch. Cooked a jelly. And decided it was an experience. Nature is fascinating !