The Porch

Tuesday 7 p.m.

Today was “laid back” day. I took a nap after breakfast. Called a local friend and arranged to go out to her place on Terlingua Creek. She and I had a good visit which continued over lunch with Johnny at the Chilli [sic] Pepper Cafe. Of course I had the chalupas. I DID try the taco salad there on Saturday night and while it was extremely good, the chalupas are still my fav. I think it's the grease, or maybe the guacamole.

After we parted company, Johnny and I moseyed over to the Ghost Town Trading Post. I got a cutey shot glass with a saguaro cactus inside, a box of cards, three stunning area photo cards and 4 postcards. I also bought a book on xeriscaping. I'm hoping I can actually USE the plans. I have a tendency to buy gardening books and cookbooks and then never use the info inside. Johnny got the second book by Joaquin Jackson. It's about being a Texas Range in West Texas.

Then we bought a couple of beers and went out on the porch. [If I can get my stoopid camera to download, I'll post the pics of the porch.] It rained this afternoon, but the porch roof is so deep, we didn't get wet. Well, at least not until I went over to the edge and stuck first one foot and then the other out into the rain stream.

This was my first experience actually seein' rain in the desert. The sun kept shining most of the time it was falling. Johnny said it looked like diamonds falling from the sky.

We stayed on the porch a few hours, visitin' and readin'. I wrote some cards. Mostly I was describing how magnificent it is out here in an attempt to cajole the recipients into comin' along on our next trip.

I have to get packed up tonight because we're leavin' early in the mornin' to go home. I always wish I could have just one more day. Maybe next trip.

I'm HOME!!!

And some of the best things about coming home after a several-day trip are [in no particular order]:

The Doggies uber-enthusiatic welcome;

the plethora of LOL Dogs emails;

catching up on blogs;

crossing the State line and knowing I'm HOME, back in the Lone Star State, where I belong;

seeing how much my 'mater plants have grown;

getting to sleep in my own bed, with my own pillow and sit in my own recliner...no matter how comfortable the accomodations, it's just more familiar at home;

the pics and memories of the trip.

Tomorrow, I'll tell y'all all about my adventures.

What I've Been Up To

Warm Summer night; four gorgeous women; hair swirling wildly as we drive my topless car down the curvy, Hill Country Farm-to-Market road we laugh madly with the joy of being away from our responsibilities. Folks it just don't get much better than this!

We arrived Saturday. Haven't stopped gigglin' since. I wake UP grinnin'. The ONLY reason you're getting this blog post is b/c I was the 1st one up this mornin'. I can sit here and write at the table looking out the window over the trees, at the the lake through the Hill Country Rain [h/t JJWalker]

Sunday. We hung around the condo, 'til I had to go listen to my obligatory sales talk. Said “NO”, got my prize. Then we went into New Braunsfels and got provisions. When we got ready to make supper, we realized, none of us had thrown a package of pepperoni in the basket, so we went to Plooky's Cajun Boiling Pot. It's just down the road from us, and Saturday night [on our way to [Ed's All-you-can-eat-catfish-buffet] we'd seen three S.O. Patrol Units parked there havin' THEIR evening meal. So we knew it MUST be pretty good.

Children, it was FANfreakinTASTIC! If you ever come to the Canyon Lake area.., and you like crawfish, shrimp, or...especially BOUDIN....go to Plooky's! You will NOT be disappointed! I promise. Unless you are expectin' a tablecloth and metal eating utensils and plates. When you sit at your table Jodi, the owner, comes over with two sheet of white butcher paper and lays that on your table top. She explains the menu, which sits in a plexiglass stand on the table. You can get a pound of shrimp or 2 pounds of crawfish for the same price. With the sides that come with...this will feed two people. So we ordered a pound and a half of shrimp for the 4 of us, PLUS some boudin...cause the Floozie from Mizzouzie and our Gina, our Gal from the PAC NW had never had Boudin! Our shrimp came with redskin new potatoes, corn on the cob, and smoked sausage. Oh, and a basket of sourdough rolls...warm sourdough rolls.
Jodi was pretty busy, so she just left the pitcher of tea on the table so we could refill our own glasses. When she DID have time to come over and visit, she was CHARMING. Not high society, cultured charming, but salt-of-the-earth, funny, honest charming.
I couldn't bring myself to leave after we had paid our check. I stopped by Jodi's table just to tell her what a good time we'd had, wound up sittin' down, tradin' stories and jokes for close to an hour. We will be goin' back there for dinner later this week.

We went Greune on Monday. Had lunch at the Gristmill, lookin' over the Guadalupe. Dian was in the area visiting her Sis, and I called her. She came over and had a glass of tea with us. Then her sister and cousin joined us. I enjoyed seeing Mary for the first time in 4 yrs. We did a fast catch-up and then they were off for some antique shopping.

After we finished our delicious lunches and fabulous desserts...WE went shopping. Don't worry, Dearly Beloved, I didn't spend too much money. But I DID pick up a Christmas present and something to put away for the Angel Baby Girl and the Grands to use as their something old and/or something borrowed at the Gruene Antique Company. More Christmas Presents and something for me at Lonestar for me. Stocking stuffer and fridge magnet “Whoever said 'Life is Good' Must've been in Texas” at The Gruene General Store. Next Door at Cotton Eyed Joe's I got two tees: A map of the US, painted with the TX flag and the motto below “Y'all Wish” ; and the second one is MY “Home” tee just like the Dearly Beloved's. I also got a bookmark there that says, “Fixin' to Read” and it's bordered with bluebonnets and cowboy boots and cacti and all sorts of things.

The last store we visited in Greune was “Natural Selections”. Floozie got a Horse, from the Trail of Painted Horses collection. Now I know what to get her for Christmas and b'days from now on...I can just add to her collection. LaP go some FAB earrings made of beetle wings. And the Dearly Beloved bought me a Christmas pendant. Honest. I'm gonna give it to him when I get home and he can put it somewhere and keep it 'til December. Just have to get my sterling chain back from the ABG to hang it on.

Today, we're gonna relax and watch the rain. And play it by ear. But, that's pretty much what vacation's are all about, right?

Too Busy to Post

OK, I know I said I'd post something from Flo's on Thursday...but obviously I didn't know before hand just HOW much fun I was gonna be having up here. I have managed to pull my head out of the bottomless Margarita bucket long enough to report in briefly.

When I get home I'll tell y'all about the all night family diner/gambling den Dearly Beloved and I discovered in Wichita. I'll also let you know how Oklahomans treat Red River Wetbacks. But for now, I just want y'all to know what it was like for me to meet my B'day Twin, Lainy.

She is a frequent commenter here, so some of you may feel like you know her already. Don't. The Woman is "Crazy, Baby". and I mean that in the way...The Killer, Jerry Lee meant it. She is a wild woman to equal yours truly! Funny, Smart, Gorgeous, wicked, but not in a BAD way. I just wish she could have spent more time here before going off to visit her sons. I told Flo y'day and today, "I MISS Lainy." Today she was ready to slap me for bein' so whiney. BUt I swan y'all, I woke up Friday with sore cheek muscles from stayin' up 'til Midnight laughin' and foolin' around with Flo and Lainy.

Flo has been slavin' over a hot stove practically the entire time we've been here. Well, when she's not out on the back porch, sipping on a frozen 'Rita with the rest of us. Or out shoppin' with Lainy and me. Or just me. Or going to breakfast with me and the usual Friday morning group of Girlfriends. I think I'm probably gonna weigh about 10 lbs. more when I leave Monday than when I got here last Wednesday.

Anyway for more news about what we've been up to...go over to Flo's blog later today or tomorrow.

Vacation, Part Two

I guess I've stalled long enough on writing the second installment on my vacation report. We didn't do anything very exciting. Which is not to say there wasn't any excitement. But first, let me tell you about my peaceful and prosaic mornings out on the patio.
I'd generally get up somewhere between 7:30 and 8; make myself a Coke Zero; and go out onto the patio with my Coke, cigarettes and a book. There I'd read and wait for the dog owners to bring their babies out for a morning walk; watch for the deer to coming out of the treeline to start their morning graze; and await my "neighbor's" arrival on the giant patio. He was the first one up in his fam and he'd come out with his coffee and we'd chat.
Peter was there from New Iberia, LA with his wife, two daughters and a granddtr. Both daughters were teachers and one of them was the owner at the Resort. They were BUSY. They went someplace every day. I was tired out just listenin' to their itinerary. They went to the Safari Ranch, SeaWorld, the Riverwalk, man were they tired when they came in at night. We traded shoppin' tips for the outlet mall in San Marcos, cause that is the one place that Mom and I did go.
This time I made it to Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware Outlets. I picked up presents for Flo, and MattG, and his lovely Bride at Pottery Barn. Dearly Beloved got a present from Williams Sonoma. Angel Baby Girl and LaPhlegm got presents from Crate & Barrel. I was just a present buyin' fool.
I did buy a present for little ole me. I got this grey Tee. There's a map, sorta, of the United States. But Texas is drawn VERY clearly. And it's colored like the state flag. To the lower left is the word "TEXAS" and an arrow pointing to TX. Above the whole nation map is a word and an arrow pointing to the rest of the country. that word is...."whatever". Doncha' LOVE it?

Now for the drama of my trip.
As I was comin' up in the elevator while unloadin' the car, I shared a ride with a woman who had three young girls with her. When the woman saw where I was heading as I got off the elevator, she remarked, "OH, we're right above you!" I teasingly said to the girl who looked about 12 or 13, "You better not be stomping around up there. I'd hate to have to come up and kick your [and here I stage whispered] butt." I laughed and the woman laughed, so I figured she knew I was teasin'. Little did i know that a couple of nights later, I'd want to do EXACTLY that!

The mornings were Great! The patio, talking to my neighbor, watching Jinga [the black Lab] go through her morning fetch and sit and stay exercises; then watching for Mojo [a Yellow Lab] and Rose [a Red Dobie bitch] come out and play.
But then, the little girls upstairs would awaken from their slumbers around noon. It's been a long time since I lived in an apartment, and I guess I've lost my patience with upstairs neighbors. How in the world can 70 lb. girls sound like a herd of Charging Rhinos? And is their Mother on Downers or Booze? and illiterate to boot? She got the SAME welcome packet we did, the one that cautions you that "Quiet Time" starts at 10pm and asks that you be considerate of your neighbors. So why in blue blazes was she lettin' those girls run the friggin' whirlpool tub at 11:30pm? I thought I was more than restrained when I called and left a very polite message, stating the TIME on their phone asking that they cease running the whirlpool at that hour. I ended it with 'Thank You' even. I even kept my voice even and modulated, no profanity or screamin'. When the girls were running back and forth on the balcony above my bedroom at midnight, I stayed in bed and held my tongue, the first two nights. However, when I got up the next morning and found that they had kept MOM awake with their shenanigans....I was ready for them the next night.
When it got to be 10pm and they were out on the patio, stompin' and laughin' and carryin' on, I went upstairs. Just as I rounded the corner to their patio, I saw things go sailing over the railing and heard something go "splat". One girl was one who was staying there, and another was a much younger girl who was staying in the unit below where Mom and I were. She was just up there "visiting". I told them I was tired of the noise and it better quiet down. That if I heard another "peep" I was comin' back up and talkin' to the ADULT! "Do I make myself crystal clear, girls?" "Yes, Ma'am" they nodded.

While I didn't hear another sound from up there that night...when I went out on the patio the next morning, I saw what had made the 'splat' noise. There was a Ho-Ho on the hood of a Nissan SUV. There were also several Ho-Hos on the grass and sidewalk. I scribbled a note on a piece of paper and had just reached the car when the owner came down. I told her I knew who had "splatted" her car. Since it was a brand new paint job, she thanked me profusely. Her husband went to roust the little Bi+c# vandals out of bed, tell their Mama what they had done so that she could have them clean the car. Of course, now we see why these girls act the way they do. Mama denies all knowledge of what her Angels have been up to, then wants to know just how they are supposed to clean the car? Now I described in an earlier post how these units are fully stocked with towels, washcloths, even PAPER towels, for goodness sake. There were PLENTY of items for those girls to use as cleaning tools! Mama just wanted an out for her Sweet Preciouses. But the Lady stuck to her guns, and gave the girls a piece of her mind while they were cleanin' up their mess, too. The Nissan Lady was actually quite nice about it. She COULD have called Security and had them thrown out for the rest of the week! I think they got of easy, just having to clean up their mess.
At any rate, WE didn't have any more noise from upstairs.

Found out Mojo and Rose's parents had been stayin' there while they closed on a new house. So, I talked to their Mom, a Baylor grad, on their last morning there. She and I talked about how some men are just absolutely Hopeless when it comes to packin' and others are geniuses. Guess which kind she got Stuck with? However, when her husband opened the gate to his truck and motioned for Mojo and Rose to get in their kennels for the trip to their new home, they jumped in the same kennel, snuggled down and were good to go.

Jinga, the black Lab, got so close to a deer one morning she got hissed at! Can you imagine deer so tame and used to humans and dogs they'd keep grazing when a dog is runnin' towards them?!?! BTW, Jinga got here name b/c she was adopted from a shelter around Christmas time, and it's short for Jingle as in Jingle Bells.

So, tell me...why couldn't we have had Jinga's parents, or Mojo and Rose's parents above us? Why did we have to get the 3 Junior High Chargin' Rhino Ho-Ho Hos?

My Surgery Vacation, Part One

Mom got a call on Friday from Silverleaf, the mgmt company for the Condos. "Mrs. B, we're awfully crowded this weekend, we've invited a lot of prospective buyers to spend a 3-day weekend with us at Hill Country Resort. Would you mind if we upgraded you to a Presidential Suite for your week?" Mom told me, as we're driving down there, that she sighed mightily and allowed as to how we could muddle through with the upgrade, THIS time.

Now Mom and Daddy bought their first Condo @ Hill Country back in the 80's and this wasn't her first upgrade. But it was MY first time to stay in a Presidential Suite. I like 'em. I knew the Presidentials were bigger, I've toured a model during a sales presentation, but stayin' in one for a week is a whole 'nother kettle of fish!
First thing I noticed was the WBFP. I was tempted to crank the A/C down to 60 and go buy some firewood and marshmallows. But on second reflection, Mom would have never let my Hedonistic little self get away with THAT stunt.
Every room is bigger than the rooms in a "Lodge" unit. And the furnishings are proportionally larger as well. For instance, there is a couch instead of a love seat in the LR. The dining table seats 6 instead of 4. There are oodles of counter space in the kitchen so you've got plenty of prep space. Each of the 2 BR has a King size bed. In a Lodge unit, the Master BR has a king and the 2nd BR has a double. The beds have a built in shelf type headboard, with an electrical outlet on each side, and baby spotlights above. Each BR has 2 closets. And of course there's a TV in each BR, the Master BR and the TV in the LR have VCRs built in to the TV. The TVs sit in an Armoire with two drawers to hold whatever.
Let's move on to my FAVORITE room. The bathroom. Double lavatories, with full vanities and a mirror wall. Full cabinets beneath provide lots of toiletry storage. A linen closet holds 8 huge bath towels, 8 hand towels, 8 wash cloths, and 2 bath mats. If you should run short on clean linens, though, you are allowed to trade your dirty ones for clean ones on Tuesdays. Just set them outside your door and Housekeeping will deliver the clean ones sometime in the afternoon. But that service is for everyone, not just the owners in the Presidential Suites.
But for my money the crown jewel in the bathroom is the two-person whirlpool tub, with hand sprayer. Now when I say two-person, that's two, stretched out TALL people. With ledges all around for setting your beverages of choice. And mirrors on two and a half of the walls. The other 1.5 walls is a 'glass' wall and door. Yeah, I took at LEAST one bath every day.

Oh, I almost forgot. The 2nd bedroom can be closed off and locked from the rest of the unit. This is so that the owner of the week can rent that BR as a separate unit to someone, if they desire. See, in addition to having it's own bed, closets, bathroom, it also has a 2 burner range, a microwave, a mini fridge, a sink and cabinets to hold part of the dishes from the kitchen. Did I mention the table and two chairs in the room? And it wasn't crowded!

The back patio had a table, four chairs and a view of the Lake. If I got out there before 8 in the morning could watch the deer come out of a stand of trees and start to graze in the clearing between us and the lake. I could also watch the other guests walk their dawgs.

to be continued...

Why I Love the Hill Country

I decided to take Mom's suggestion and go the scenic route to Canyon Lake on Monday rather than the straight shot down I-35. We left Killeen on Hwy 190 and headed West towards Lampasas. Now, TPTB have renamed that highway the "Central Texas Expressway". Yeah, right. For someone who thinks of herself as an iconoclast, I can certainly be a stickler for tradition, sometimes. That stretch of road has always been and will always be, 190.
We had some sprinkles of rain, but nothing heavy enough to turn the wipers past the intermittent speeds while we were going through Copperas Cove and Kempner. When we turned onto 281 in Lampasas, though, the rain got a little heavier. I had to turn the wipers on and keep them on. But it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. It was nice to see Lampasas again. I hadn't been through there in years.
The last time I had passed through, the Dearly Beloved and I were dating. We were on our way to Ozona to visit an old friend of his who happened to be the High Sheriff of Crockett County at the time. But, that a story for another blog. We stopped at that wonderful park there at the junction of 190 and 281 and had a lunch of Pasta Salad I had made the night before.
It seemed like every little town we passed through brought back another memory from my past. When I was growing up in Killeen, my family spent a lot of leisure time in Oakalla, Burnet, Marble Falls, Johnson City and the other towns in that area. My Aunt FayeBelle and Uncle Spencer had a Lake house at Lake Buchanan, my Daddy's parents had friends with a place on Lake Inks, one of my Nanny's brother's lived in Marble Falls. My GrandDad's baby Brother owned a Restaurant in Marble Falls for a time. Seems like Daddy really liked Oakalla for some reason, was there a deer camp close to there, or did he know the Postmaster there?
There's still a little Drive-in restaurant on the east side of Burnet. I remember Nanny always wanted to stop there on the way to wherever we were going. She had a jones for soft-serve ice cream. Don't ask me why. She made some of the most divine home-made ice cream you've ever tasted, but she LOVED commercial, soft-serve. And of course, if us kids were in the car, she could always tell Grandad, "Stop the car here Roy, the kids need to go to the restroom, I'll bet." And as long as we were stopped...well, why not get a small cone? I never noticed that devious streak in her when she was alive, it's only in retrospect that I see it. Now I know where I learned it. *g*
I did notice something new in Burnet. They have an Air/Plane museum. I didn't stop because Mom isn't interested in things like that. And it was raining on the trip down on Monday and again on the trip home on Thursday. But I did notice several WWII era planes. Don't ask me what type, I couldn't tell you. We were going 55. But all I had to do was mention it's existence to pique the Dearly Beloved's interest. Maybe in the Fall, we can go together. I'd love to take a slow trip. Share with him all these places that touch off synaptic fires in my brain.
And the scenery itself was a balm to my spirit. A deep and abiding love of Texas is coded into my DNA. But an appreciation for the beauty of the Hill Country grew in my childhood. All those road trips cutting through the hills, literally. The roads had been cut through the massive rolling hills. Crossing a multitude of tiny creeks with a flow so small you could barely see it unless there had just been a "gully-washer" of a rain storm and rivers so wide they were practically lakes. Not everyone thinks the combination of Cedar, Native Oak, Prickly Pear and prairie grass is pretty. But that's the vegetation I find glorious. It speaks of HOME. And for for 4 relaxing days, I was right smack dab in the middle of memory lane.
I enjoy the High Desert of West Texas. I adore being in Terlingua. There are times I wish I could live on the Gulf Coast of Texas 4 months out of the year. But this past week made me realise just how much of my soul is tied up in the Hill Country. If, for some unlikely reason, I could never go back to the desert or the Gulf, I would miss it.
But if I could never go back to the hills and rivers and lakes of the Hill Country, part of my spirit would die. Truly.

I'm Baaaack

Yes, Boys and Grrrls, I'm Home!
I got a very warm hug and a big grin from the Dearly Beloved at Love Field. Then when we got home, there was a veritable frenzy of tail wagging from my Sweet Boo Girl. She even rolled over and let me scratch her belly! Very rare behavior for her. That nasty Ben acted like I'd been gone about 4 minutes instead of 4 days. Harumph! Just like a guy!

I had such a delightful time with the Floozie! My cheeks are still sore from all the laughin'! She has FIREFLIES! Real, honest-to-goodness, blinkin' in the dark fireflies. They were charming. And it was so cool after dark, we huddled around the tiki torch to avoid the skeeters and to stay warm while we drank frozen 'ritas and watched the fireflies and talked and laughed.
And I took, well, Floozie drove, but I looked up the shop on the 'puter. And we went to a Bath Junkie in Independence. She now loves it as much as I do.
She also now knows about the "as is" rack at Bed,Bath, and Beyond." You can thank me later, Mike.
I also discovered that in MO you can buy booze in the grocery store. What a mind blower THAT was! Texas is my home, and I love it with all my heart, but we gotta make a few changes, and that is one.
Floozie and Mike are also building a mansion next door to the hovel they are currently residing in. Their hovel has 3 br, a computer room and big open area upstairs, and a kitchen, living area, 2 car garage, utility area downstairs. I don't know how they muddle through.
The mansion, on the other hand, will be 2/3 earth sheltered on the ground floor, have tons of windows on both floors, two offices, I lost count of the bedrooms and fireplaces/wood-burning stoves. The great room looks to be bigger than my whole house! I can't wait to drag the Dearly Beloved up there for a visit.
I was full of ideas for landscaping. Gave her a couple of web addresses for ideas and will send her some more.
Anyway. I wish all of you had a friend as wonderful and as gracious and welcoming as my Quad Flo. She's a gem.

HollyB

I'm Goin' to Kansas City,

Kansas City, here I come! I LOVE sayin' that! I'm not sure if the song refers to KS or MO but I'm headed to MO @ 8:25 in the AM from Love Field. I have 35 minute to transfer planes in Tulsa, but everybody tells me it's not that big an airport, so it shouldn't be a big deal. And I get to KC at 11 I think. My boarding pass doesn't say and my itinerary {sp?} is in the bedroom and I'm too lazy to get up and go look.
SO I'll be too busy having fun and drinkin' frozen 'ritas with my Sister Floozie to write any blogs for the next few daze, er, ah, days.

But before I go, I need a show of hands. How many of you women who are supposed to be my friends, who are supposed to have my back knew about Bare Escentuals Make Up Mineral Powders? And why in blue blazes haven't you bothered to tell me?
Doris was raving about this newe makeup she'd found and so on the 2nd when we were out looking at patterns and fabric she was wearin' some and her complexion was incredibly gorgeous.

So I signed on to eBay and ordered myownself a sample set.
And now I look about 5 years younger when I wear it. I'm tellin y'all, this stuff is amazing. It takes a little practice to apply, but you can hardly tell you're wearing it. And your pores disappear! I'm serious as a Judge. No circles or shadows under the eyes. It's darn near a miracle.
Git Some!

HollyB

My Week on the Island

One of my Sistahs chided me in a comment about not giving y'all a travelogue of my recent trip to Galveston Island with the Dearly Beloved.

I called her from the Strand, while recovering from shopping therapy. I had just purchased some witty stickers to divide amongst us 4 Sistahs and my XX offspring. They were so delicious I just had to immediately share them with someone who would truely appreciate the twisted humor. Since Sistahs #2 and 4 are working for a living in the middle of the afternoon, Sistah # 3 {I'm Sistah #1, the Eldest and Wisest} got the call. She thinks I love her best, but I love them all equally.

Anywhos... I will now share some of this humor with y'all. First, the ones Flo got, since she got to preview them, she got her dibs in for the ones she wanted. All of these were illustrated in 1950's pulp ad art style. "I Married Mr.Right...I just Didn't know his first name was ALWAYS." And "I Haven't Had My Coffee Yet, Don't Make Me Kill You".
Sistah #2, Cait, got "Give the }itchy Nicotine Queen Her Cigarettes"
Sistah #4, Az, got "I childproof my house, but they STILL keep getting in"
I gave the Barbarian Princess, my XX offspring, one that said "When I grow up, I want to be a Total }itch, Just like you, Mommy" and another that said, "You Go Girl and Take Those Tacky Shoes with You".
I kept one for myself that says, "Being Unstable and }itchy Is All Part of My Mystique".

Other shopping finds on the Strand were some incredible potions at a shop named "Bath Junkie". I got tapioca lotion powder and sparkly {not being cute, that's what it's called} lotion and some after shave lotion for the Dearly Beloved. Mine I had scented with Summer Rain. His is scented with a very manly, crisp, outdoorsy, scent. The sparly lotion glows in the sun- or moonlight due to the little-bitty flecks of mica. Very kewl.
I also got a 1950's vintage Sak Fifth Ave. cocktail hat in black velvet with black braid and black jet beads and black net that comes down to about mid-forehead. And it came in it's original Sak's hatbox. How do I know it's a Sax hat? It still has the label in the band. I'm not gonna tell you what I paid, that would be bragging, and you'd just start crying, if you're into vintage accessories.

Now, that I'm through with the important stuff, like shopping, I'll tell y'all where we went, what we saw, and where we ate.
We ate at Gaido's one night. It has been one of my favorite places since I was old enough to appreciate truly excellent food, prepared well and served in an elegant {they still have finger bowls at the end of the meal for Gawd's sake} setting, by suberb waitstaff. The Dearly beloved had angel hair pasta, a huge pasta bowl of it, with lump crab meat in an Asiago cheese sauce. I, on the other hand, had one of their "complete dinners". I started with shrimp bisque, then a salad, then grilled catfish, sea scallops, and shrimp on a bed of wild rice with grilled yellow squash, zucchini, and red bell pepper. And fried onion rings. Then they brought the dessert tray. Oh Lawdy, Lawdy, Miss Claudie, I thought I'd died and gone straight to Heaven! there were at least 13 desserts on that tray. No tiramisu, and no plain cheesecake, so I settled for warm pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla Blue Bell. The Dearly Beloved had a cake slice size warm brownie iced with chocolate and topped with vanill Blue Bell. Oh, I almost forgot, the Waitperson, cleaned the crumbs from my deliciously crusty French bread and the Dearly Beloved's garlic cheese pepper bread with her crumb try and brush between the entrees and dessert. So classy. And the view? Through the window wall. We watched the gulf all through dinner. Then as we waddled our way out of the restaurant, we decided to go walk on the beach for a while to let the meal settle.

Some friends took us to a place called "Sonny's" on 19th St. for lunch one day. Sonny's will now be a regular stop on future trips. Muffalettas to die for, cold Shiner Boch on tap, and a bullet hole in the bar with a really cool story behind it. You can read the brass plaque on the bar and then the newspaper clipping and then either Sonny or Larry will fill in the setails for you if businnes is slow. It is a family owned business since 1945, and is worth a stroll around the place to check out the news stories, pix, and brass plates denoting continous days patronage by UTMB residents.
Sorry, DossieRe, we never made it to La Estacion, next time, I promise.
Now, for the places of historical interest. On 25th {aka Ball} and Broadway, there is a stunning Memorial to the Heroes of the Texas Revolution. If you are brave enough to risk being run down by the traffic, and scratched deeply by the boxwoods, you can get close enough to see the details, and they are worth the risks. The Italian artist hired to do the restoration was mighty talented. The original memorial was damaged in the Great Storm of 1900.
Which brings me to my next, subject. We went to Pier 21 and watch a presentation on the Great Storm of 1900. If you've watch Isaac's Storm on the History Channel you're already familiar with it. But it was still informative. There was a group of 4th graders from Kilgore in the theater when we were there and their reaction actually added to the experience for me. All those "oohs" and "ahhs" and squeals. After the theater cleared out, a pair of ladies our age stayed for the next show and so did we. It was about the pirate Jean LaFitte and his life on the island until the US Navy forced him to leave.
We went to the Railroad museum. That was a trip back in time. The waiting room is filled with mannequins dressed in 1930's garb that has been covered in plaster of paris. Men, women, and children engaged in all the activities you would expect to see in a Railroad Waiting room. Against onme wall is a short line of phone booths. On the wall of each is a short bio of BOI notables {Born on Island}. Outside in the "Yard" are restored RR cars. Pullman, dining, club, mail, and box cars are there for a walk through. Another building houses several model trains moving through differing dioramas. A separate part of that same building houses a vast collection of china, flatware, and serving pieces from the old dining cars.
It certainly took me on my own trip down memory lane. From 1965 until 1972 I would ride a train between Houston and Killeen and later Houston and Temple to make my e/o weekend visits to my Daddy. The first year my older bro would go with me, but after that I was on my own, woo-hoo!

We also went out to Sea Wolf Park. The Dearly Beloved had never been aboard a submarine or a destroyer escort. I had taken the offspring there when they were kids. When I was trying to get my old, stiff bones through those sub hatches, I thought balefully of how the kids would swing through them like monkeys through the trees. But it was fun to see it all again. Did you know you can rent the sub for "educational" slumber parties"? Can you imagine how much fun that would be for a group of kids?

Of course we rode the Boliver Ferry, and went over to the Peninsula for an afternoon. We tried to get close to the old lighthouse, but it's on private property now, so no luck with that venture. But we did go out to the old Fort Travis. It is now a State Park, for Day Use only. But they have it all mapped out so that you can tell which ruins used to be barracks, the PX, the fuel dump, etc. The gun emplacements are still there, so the Dearly Beloved was enthralled with that.

Speaking of gun emplacements. Part of the landscaping at the San Luis Hotel is an old shore defense gun emplacement.

The Dearly Beloved went a couple of places by hisownself. He went to a huge military surplus store in the Strand district called "Uncle Bubbie's" and to "The Lone Star Flight Museum". He was able to purchase some items he's been looking for and to see some great old planes. He seemed to have a great time.

But, But, But, Holly, what about Moody Gardens, and the Moody Mansion, and the Bishop's Palace and Ashton Villa? Well, my Darlin's, we ARE gonna go back. This way we'll have those things to see next trip. And I'll probably go on the Dolphin boat trip while the Dearly Beloved goes back to the Flight Museum.

Well, now that I've told you all that's fit to print about the trip...

HollyB.

Going away, Again.

I'm writing in green b/c I'm feeling particularly Irish today, don't ask me why, I just am.

I'm also leaving town 'til Thursday. Gonna go visit some fam down South.
My Mom and I talked it over in April and she decided she wanted fried pies for Mother's Day. I'm takin' the Calphalon skillet my fav Bro gave me for Christmas, some peanut oil, and some apricot preserves {Mom's fav} and I'm gonna cook her a batch of pies hopefully almost as good as the ones my Nanny {paternal Grandmother} made. And since she died in 1985, maybe everybody's memory will be forgiving enough to give me the edge in the judging.

Want to leave you with a joke before I go:
A blonde gets on a flight to Houston.
She starts out in the Economy section.
After the plane takes off, she sashays herself up to 1st class and plops down in a seat there.
A flight attendant comes over and asks to see her ticket. Noting it's for economy, she informs the young lady she will have to return to the economy section.
The blonde replies, "You don't understand. I'm young, I'm blonde, I'm attractive, and I'm staying in 1st Class all the way to Houston."
The flight attendant heaves a big sigh, goes to the cockpit, and says, "Guys, we have a problem in 1st class." And she explains the situation with the blonde.
The Co-pilot says, "I'll handle it."
And he unstraps and goes back to talk with the young lady and explain the rules to her.
She looks up at him and says, "You don't understand, I'm young, I'm blonde, I'm attractive and I'm staying in 1st Class all the way to Houston."
The Co-Pilot shakes his head and returns to the cockpit and reports his failure to communicate to the Pilot.
The Pilot says, " You take the controls. I'm married to a blonde. I speak blonde. I'll handle this."
So the Pilot approaches the blonde, leans over and whispers in her ear.
As he straightens up, she looks up at him and says, "Oh, thank you so much!"
And she gathers her belongings and returns to her seat in economy.
The Pilot watches her and when she is reseated, he returns to the cockpit.
The Copilot and flight attendant both want to know what he said to get the blonde to move.
"Easy," was his reply, "I told her 1st class wasn't going to Houston."

Miss me.

Vacation and Road Trip Music

Eat your Hearts out! I had the extreme pleasure last night of hearing Mr. Max Stalling play at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton. He did all his old standards of "I-35" {better known as Comfort in the Curves}; "Dimebox, Texas"; "Runnin Buddy"; "Bass Run"; "Tadpoles & Eagles"; "Fermented Evenings"; "Pila Song"; "Ain't Fallin' in Love" and "6x9 Speakers". And he did some new songs coming out on a studio CD soon. Thiss guy is a true Tx boy, an A&M grad. Crystal City native, writes a good song, does some acoustic numbers but more boot scootin music w/ his band, which includes a stand-up bass instead of a sucky electric bass.
Check out his web site : www.maxstalling.com and go see him when he's in your area. Or buy a CD, I promise you won't be disappointed in SellOut.
OK, now that I've given Max a plug, how about we get on with today's real business?
But first I must digress...
Dangit! I was so tempted to get up a tell the folks around me to take their conversations outfrickinside. As loud as the music was, they were talking so loud to be heard over it... ARGHHHHHH.

Anyway, I'm draggin the Dearly Beloved off this afternoon for a week on Galveston Island. He's been wanting to go for a while, so I arranged the trip for an early b'day trip. As many years as I lived in Houston, and went to Galveston regularly, I always went to the beach and never really went into town and did the touristy thing. This time I want to go to Moody Gardens, and the Strand, and inside Bishop's Palace and all that stuff.

And that brings me to the second half of today's title. ROAD TRIP MUSIC
Don't you think a trip goes faster if you've got good music playing? I try to rotate the CDs so we don't get burned out listening to the same ones all the time. This trip it'll be Max, Tim Henderson, Warren Zevon, Bruce Hornsby, Natalie Merchant, Sarah Maclachan, a Celtic Women compilation with NO Enya, George Strait, Charlie Robison, and yet to be determined.

So, I guess this is all for a week. Y'all try to get by without my hystrionics for a week, and I'll make up for it when I return, I promise!.

H