Now that the cat is out of the proverbial bag, I can say, Crystal got MARRIED to her roomie last week! Whee!
Me: So why did you guys finally decide to make it official?! C: Well, it's a very romantic story involving health insurance.
Bwahaha. Hey, whatever it takes. I like to see people formalize their love with a piece of paper.
She and I went to Blue Genie market on Monday. It's at a new location this year, and the parking sucks, but it's always fun to see all the art and other handmade stuff there. Just plan to park on the street!
1. How do you feel about candy sprinkles (on ice cream, doughnuts, cupcakes, or whatever)?
Ew. No thank you.
2. Where’s a good place to look at Christmas lights? Pedernales Electric Coop in Johnson City. The coolest! (Open through Jan 6!)
3. What’s a good idea for a drive-through service or product that doesn’t yet exist?
Drive-through new tires or tire rotation. They lift your car up a little and do it superfast, like at the race track, and you're on your way. No sitting in a crowded, dumpy waiting area for an hour.
4. How confident a parallel parker are you?
Not at all. Had to parallel park at Blue Genie. Yoiks.
5. How much plaid do you own?
I have two plaid shirts.
So I created an awesome "wrap" for a basic gift card. For Christmas, take one bottle of Shiner Holiday Cheer, their peach-n-pecan-ish (delicious) Christmas brew:
Festive, no?
Then get an Amazon gift card in a gift tag. (Search Amazon for "Amazon.com Gift Card in a Gift Tag".)
(There's a cute snowman one, too! And "Thank you" and "Happy Birthday," etc.)
Tie the tag around the bottle neck and TA DAAAAH! Beats the heck out of a little envelope.
If you're crafty, you could make a little gift tag yourself for any other gift card.
Got a message from Grant the other day, out of the blue. Just two photos of him, posing with a duck on his shoulder. Grant and I are the kind of old friends who send birthday cards to each other and text or email maybe once a year, so to start a text conversation with random photos, instead of "Hey! Check out my new pet!" was a clue that these photos were probably sent to me inadvertently.
Grant and I chatted a bit, and then I told Jeff about it. Jeff said, "Well at least it wasn't an unsolicited d* pic."
No. It was an unsolicited DUCK PIC.
Bwahahaa.
Jeff and I had margs at Curra's with Doug and his mom last weekend. She is still a firecracker, like she always was! It was fun to see them together again.
In other news, we saw A Star is Born, like a million years ago now, and Lady Gaga is SO talented. Holy moly. I mean, we knew it already, but she is amazing in this film. Bradley Cooper, also fabulous. I hope "Shallow" gets an Oscar nom!
We also saw Green Book, which I loved. Such a relevant movie for these times. It is very raw and real. The honesty is refreshing. And you'll be smiling at the end, which is nice.
Finally did our weekend in Waco with Scott-n-Julie. It was fun fun! We made it to the Waco Mammoth National Monument. It was VERY cool. Learned a lot. They may start digging there again soon.
We went to a museum with a John James Audubon exhibit. We've had great luck getting museum curators and directors telling us stories during our trips, and this one was no different. The lady told us how she accidentally ended up with a very rare print. Ask questions at museums! The real stories are behind the scenes.
Sorry to say, I wasn't very impressed with Magnolia Market. It's just a store, and it is packed to the gills with people, making it impossible to see everything. I would have bought a giant clock, but there is no way I could have fit it into the car was going to stand in that line.
We went to the Spice Village, which I liked a lot. There are a lot of neat things for sale there. Many stores in town have "Magnolia-like" merch that you can buy for less money and hassle than at Magnolia. At one of those stores, I wanted to get a retired red wine barrel for my in-laws' back patio (they're wine people), but wasn't sure how to get it home or to Frisco. Cool item though!
So there was a dead lizard just outside our garage last Monday. It was weird, because I don't think I've ever seen a lizard just dead on the ground, like, ever. If something in nature kills a lizard, it usually eats it (I guess?). I pondered that all week long, while I left the lizard on the ground by the garage door. I never had anything handy to push it into the grass, and I was always on my way somewhere when I opened the garage door, so I just kept leaving it there.
Lauren and I went to a doc appointment on Friday. I told her about the lizard when we got into the car. When we got home, we took a look at it.
It was mostly black, having lost all its green by that point. It was dried out, because the sun had come out for the first time in about 16 years three weeks, and it was sort of flat and leathery. We leaned way over, and I said, "I don't know why I've left it here. It's been dead for five days..." Literally, at that exact moment, it...
SLOWLY. RAISED. ITS. HEAD.
And opened its mouth.
I'm not kidding.
Me: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!
Most bizarre thing ever. After I finished freaking out, I was so disappointed that we couldn't do anything for it. Lauren poured some water on the ground and it lay its head down on the water, although I don't know if it actually drank anything. Then it raised its head and arm again. We were probably scaring the crap out of the poor thing.
Jeff had come out by then, and noticed its leg was all messed up. I said I was willing to make it one of those rolling thingers for its back legs, so it could run around with its front legs. Jeff asked if I was going to catch mosquitos and feed him, too.
Well, maybe!
Wah. :(
So, we couldn't have done anything to save it on Monday either, but at least we could have put it out of its misery sooner. Sad day. Poor little guy!
1. What is on your mind right now?
deciding whether or not to plant some plants in the front yard, or to wait until spring
2. Do you know anyone who has attended Harvard University?
Julie has a master's degree from Harvard
3. How many books are in the room you’re in?
in the living room- 9 decorative books on the shelf above the TV
4. Do you save at least 15 percent of your income?
yes
5. When was the last time you had a rainy day spent at home?
last Thursday 6. When was the last time you stayed home from school/work?
I work from home, but I haven't been sick in years. *knock on wood!*
7. Do you write “yes” or “no” answers to surveys or do you explain more?
I try to explain more, usually briefly for a yes/no, unless an explanation would be pointless.
8. Is there any type of medicine you can’t take? For what reason?
Bactrim- I developed a sudden, extremely severe allergy, after taking it with no issues for forever. 9. Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What do they look like?
I hate pajamas. Too much fabric to deal with under the sheets. I almost always wear a short nightgown. I do own one pair of pajamas. They are super-soft navy blue capris with a matching top with a cute, tiny metal anchor in the front of the collar.
10. Would you rather have potato or chicken noodle soup if you had to?
potato- carbs are my weakness
11. Do you believe that when a person appears in your dreams, that person wants to see you?
Um, no, But that would make my dreams more interesting.
12. When’s the last time you saw your mom?
At the nursing center, about 10-15 minutes before she passed away in December 2006.
13. What is one food you could eat for a month, straight, and not get sick of?
hamburgers
14. Have you ever spray painted something about your love somewhere?
hmm, no
15. Do you live in a town where basically everyone knows everyone else?
Nope. Austin metro is over 2 million people now.
The court is going to swing conservative, because the Republicans are appointing a conservative judge, whether it is Kavanaugh or someone else. That is fair, as the court swings back and forth through the decades. It shouldn't always be liberal or conservative. One would ideally hope it was moderate all the time, but it's always going to be leaning one way or the other, at least a bit.
The problem is this particular conservative candidate. Even if you don't believe a word of Dr. Ford's story (or either of the other Kavanaugh accusers)... (for the record, I think you're crazy if you don't, but that's just me), Brett Kavanaugh should never be a Supreme Court justice, based on his behavior in the hearing alone. He was combative, sarcastic and highly partisan. Trump saying that anyone he put up would have these allegations and issues is ridiculous. There are plenty of candidates who don't have any allegations at all, and who also have a temperament suitable for a Supreme Court justice.
By his own admission, Kavanaugh wouldn't even be allowed to teach anymore, after what has happened in the confirmation hearings. But now, it looks like he'll be a Supreme Court justice.
The Kavanaugh/Ford hearing yesterday was difficult to watch. Kavanaugh's belligerence and snarkiness was not a good look for any man in this situation, and absolutely unacceptable for a possible Supreme Court Justice. Disgusting. The guy can't keep his cool in an arena where he should have made a particular effort to make his feelings clear with a calm and professional demeanor.
Two things about which I feel very strongly that he is lying:
1) If someone I honestly did not know at all approached me out of the blue, and said they were at a party in high school, and Cathy, Kimberly, Doug and I were there, I would say it is very likely I was there, because those are my friends and we were together a lot. You cannot categorically deny being at a party where your close high school buddies were! People in your 40s or 50s, just think about your high school days. Could you deny being at a general gathering of your friends? The flat out denial that he was there is highly suspect. All you have to say is that it is likely I was at such a gathering, not sure I was at this particular one, but I don't remember this person and I certainly never committed such a heinous act on her or anyone else. That would have been a reasonable, believable response.
2) He's trying to convince everyone that he is religious, conservative, was a virgin until much later than most people, spent his time studying, playing football, and working out at Tobin's (which oddly always brought him to tears, although I get teary, too, when I think about working out...) . When we talk about his yearbook though, he's suddenly this big beer drinker, sometimes "drinking too much" (have YOU ever been blackout drunk, Senator? Good grief.), and his Catholic high school simply always tried to create these "Animal House"-like yearbooks that weren't really representative of anything that was going on there. Riiiight. Oh, and several boys at an all-boys school have "Renate Alumnus" on their page, I can guarantee that is not a reference to what a great friend she is, and how she is just an honorary member of their school. Does he think we are that stupid? Such a crock. Obviously the guy did the typical high school football player stuff, including drinking and partying a lot. Again, it would have been no biggie, and doesn't at all mean he attacked anyone, other than he tries so LOUD and angrily to tell a completely different story. Ugh. Give me a freakin' break.
Again, people in your 40s and up, think about a party in high school where something happened, not necessarily an attack or even a negative thing- something you have thought of now and again over the years. Maybe you made out with your new boyfriend for the first time, or you got pushed into the pool, or the cops showed up... anything that you still remember well. Like Dr. Ford said, that memory is strong for a reason. It is in long-term storage in your brain because it meant something significant to you. So what details do you remember? Depending on what happened, you probably remember who was involved in the incident/situation itself and the event details at the time it was happening. Do you remember the specific date or even the month or year of the event? How did you get to the party? Do you remember everyone who was at the party or what you did afterwards and how you got home that particular night? Probably not. But that important piece of the story is emblazoned on your memory like it was yesterday. The amount of data in her recollection makes perfect sense.
You would never forget who attacked you if such a thing happened to you. She knew exactly who he was. You would never hear anyone say, "Hmm, it may have been Joe who tried to rape me, but maybe it was Kyle. I dunno. It was so long ago, I forget." It just doesn't make any sense to suggest such a thing. If she wasn't certain, I feel like she would have said she wasn't certain.
These nutballs who are threatening both Kavanaugh and Ford are disgusting as well. Get help if you are threatening people for any reason. Seriously.
I don't like Kavanaugh's bratty behavior with the Democratic senators and especially not answering the questions about the FBI investigation. There has "never NOT been an FBI investigation" about these types of issues, as they said yesterday, so why not now? Are you so special that we don't need an FBI investigation, when it has always been done before? Especially now, in the times in which we find ourselves, with respect to sexual harassment/aggression. Better now than ever.
Senator Flake just demanded an FBI investigation or he will vote No on the Senate floor vote. NICE! Thank goodness for some across-the-aisle work to get people thinking with their brains instead of blind party loyalty. Hopefully the Republican leadership will agree, and the FBI will get the details to allow a more educated vote.
Jeff and I finished the second season of Ozark. Man, that is such a great series. The acting is SO good and the story so dark that I can't even watch more than one episode in a sitting. They'll off anyone on that show! Skeery!
I had lunch with Crystal at EastSide Tavern yesterday. It was really yummy! Try the brisket tater tots appetizer.
We saw A Simple Favor last weekend. It was very entertaining, but I did think there was some weird editing, that didn't ever explain a whole obvious side-plot (the TA relationship- amiright?), and also went wonky at the end, where the film turned from dramedy to slapstick comedy for a few minutes there. Funny (ha ha), but also quite funny (odd). We did have a couple of questions about the story details as well. Maybe we're thinking too much.
And lastly, on the first listen, I really sort of hated this song. (I was like- THIS is David Guetta's latest???) Then Apple Music started playing three songs on repeat for some creepy/weird reason, and this song was one of them (of course). I was driving, so I couldn't fix it. The second time I heard the song, I liked it, and by the third time, I LOVED it! What the heck? Anyhoo...
Julie Chen called Brett "Brent" last night during her Big Brother sign-off, before calling herself Julie Chen Moonves, so I guess she was a little thrown by the whole "statement" she was making. The Talk is one of the shows I record and watch every day, and I really like Julie a lot, but I have mixed feelings about her public reaction to the Les situation. The Talk co-hosts have been supporting the women during the MeToo movement, and I don't think you can give an auto-pass to someone just because he's your husband, and so far, that's Julie's message.
I think that in order to move forward in her career and especially The Talk, she is going to have to explain her support. I personally think it is fine and very personal since it is her husband and father of her child, and people stay in marriages despite similar issues for various reasons we don't need to know... except no one can reconcile this with her previous MeToo commentary without some sort of heart-to-heart with her viewers. She of course has zero fault in the Les accusations, but women are just wanting to know that she isn't completely ignoring or denying the accusations. I assume she isn't, but I'm just saying she should say something more than "I support my husband."
And perhaps, she doesn't believe the accusations one single bit, in which case, I think she would be fooling herself and eventually she would figure out that at least something was happening with so many accusers coming forward.
(I think they should have voted JC out last night! I've grown to like Brett and his sense of humor, after finding him really arrogant and annoying before, and was sad to see him go.)
In football news, the Fightin' Texas Aggies are looking FABULOUS so far! Should have won the Clemson (#2) game (bad call- grr), but we're very happy with the game play!
1) Much of the video for this week's song takes place in a convertible and on the beach. How's the weather where you are? Would you be comfortable riding around with the top down today?
It's rainy and 10000% humidity. Not a great day for a convertible.
2) This video was filmed all around Katy Perry's hometown of Santa Barbara. Amtrak runs through Santa Barbara via The Pacific Surfliner. Tell us about a memorable train trip.
Dad and I took a train from Brighton to London to see Duran Duran during my visit there (I've told this story a million times- best. story. ever.- well, other than my John Bon Jovi story...). The trains stopped running before we could get all the way home, so we ended up taking a few other methods of transportation, which was hilarious and adventurous and expensive as all get-out.
3) Katy sings that her boyfriend thinks she's funny, even when she gets the punchline wrong. Do you think you're a better joke-teller or audience?
Audience. I laugh easily, and will probably very honestly LOL at your joke, no matter how lame.
4) Her "teenage dream" lover is shown working out with a heavy bag. When is the last time you visited a gym?
With Crystal, about 4 years ago. We went to a boxing gym and I got a cramp so bad the trainer had to stretch me. Oy.
5) Katy changes her hair a lot. She's gone from long black hair to cropped blonde hair with stops at red, green and purple. Today, are you having a good hair day?
Yep
6) Katy thinks dimples are "irresistible" and can't help poking a finger when a dimpled friend smiles. Do you have dimples? No
7) Two of Katy's fragrances (Meow and Purr) are sold in cat-shaped bottles. Are you wearing a scent as you answer these questions? Nope.
8) Katy's favorite dessert is ice cream (specifically Cold Stone Creamery's Birthday Cake Remix). What's the last dessert you ate? a Magnum Chocolate Infinity ice cream bar a couple of nights ago
9) Random question: How often do you change your bedsheets?
Yesterday, we finally did the Asian market day we've been planning since H-Mart and 99 Ranch Market opened in Austin earlier this year. Scott-n-Julie and Jeff and I headed to H-Mart first, so we could get lunch at the 8-restaurant food court there. We tried several things from a few of them, and almost everything we tried was a hit! My favorites were the Kimchi Tater Tots and Bulgogi Sandwich from EStreet Tacos, and the garlic-soy Korean Chicken Bites from Donkey Mo's. And omg, EStreet has something called Chicken Skin Chicharrones, also very highly recommended, which I will definitely try next time. Their queso supposedly rocks as well. So, EStreet and Donkey Mo's, y'all. Write. That. Down.
We perused the aisles at H-Mart, which is very large and bright, and looks just like a regular grocery store, other than the products are almost all Asian. Their produce was OUTSTANDING. Just beautiful. I complain all the time about our produce at our grocery stores. Their stuff was exceptional and not expensive.
Next we headed to 99 Ranch Market. It is smaller than H-Mart (still big though!), and less well-lit. Their produce looked just like my HEB, pretty average. Their prices ran quite a bit less than H-Mart. They also have Peking Duck for $20 and live lobster for $8 per pound. I almost bought a vat of Kikkoman soy sauce (the only one I use), 2 quarts worth, for $5 and change. Couldn't figure out where to store it, so I didn't, but just as an example, they do have great prices. Plenty of selection, too. I did get some grapeseed oil (the best for stir fry, according to Jet Tila) and sesame oil there.
We stopped into the Beto campaign office in the 99 Ranch Market shopping center, to buy a bumper sticker. I was going to take a photo of Jeff entering the glass doors with a big sign for the Texas Democratic Party, just to send his parents for funsies, but they are reaching that age where we don't want to shock them too much.
Last night, Jeff and I went to a new-to-us restaurant so I could try Banh Mi for the first time. It was really good. We need to hit one of the more acclaimed banh mi spots to compare though.
Today, Jeff and I saw Crazy Rich Asians, I guess to complete the Far East themed weekend we're having. I liked it, but I will warn you, it is a rom-com with the emphasis on the Rom. You probably think it's a comedy along the lines of The Hangover or Wedding Crashers from some of the trailers, but it is a normal romantic comedy, with a few laughs here and there. Still good! Just don't plan to blow Dr. Pepper out your nose laughing.
We've now completed the two seasons of "Somebody Feed Phil" on Netflix, along with the original PBS version, "I'll Have What Phil's Having," also on Netflix. SO GOOD! Phil's show reminds me of "Better Late Than Never," Henry Winkler's show on network TV, where Henry, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman and William Shatner travel all over the world together. Both shows dive into local traditions, food and attractions in foreign cities.
"Somebody Feed Phil" and "I'll Have What Phil's Having" are hosted by Phil Rosenthal, a very funny comedy writer/producer who has been involved in a ton of successful comedy television shows, including "Everybody Loves Raymond." Each world city he visits is so different, and they do a fantastic job of integrating the foodie aspects with the real flavor of the culture. The food is far more casual than the upper crust, fine dining of "Chef's Table."
Now we're sad we've seen all the episodes so far. Looking for a new show to watch until The Crown is back!
1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan?
Yes!
2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter?
Doesn't every home have an air filter on the AC? Sometimes these questions worry me. Reminds me of when JulieP's AC froze up (literally with a giant sheet of ice) because she didn't know she was supposed to change the air filter... for THREE YEARS. Yes, we have an air filter on our AC. We have a water filter only on the water from the fridge dispenser.
3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come?
I'm a worrier, but not nearly as much as I used to be. I've found that whatever you're worrying about probably won't ever happen, and things you never imagined definitely will. So, what's the point really?
4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes?
Yes, and I loved Robert Downey, Jr. in the film.
5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot?
Nope, but I played and enjoyed very much the original PC video game And Then There Were None. It doesn't include the Poirot character, but... just... saying...
6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques?
I have a trophy from the Foundation, when I was awarded Volunteer of the Year a few years ago.
7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser?
Very.
8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you? When my dad left my mom to marry his childhood girlfriend, I was totally blindsided. I would never have guessed that he was the type of person to leave his family. Never. Later, I would find out that not only had he had done it to a wife and son before us, he would do it again, to the new wife. Disappointing is a nice word for it. To find out it was part of his modus operandi really threw me for a loop. Eventually, he married his last wife and stayed with her. He and I talked a lot about marriage and life, and I was happy that he learned that marriage is a commitment worth honoring, and just packing up and leaving when things go a little wonky isn't appropriate.
9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco?
I don't have anything against Megan Markle. I mean, a former-American princess is always cool in my book, but I feel like people are ignoring a huge point in her family drama- her mom is the only family member who seems to support her. I agree that her dad and his kids appear to be a bit kooky, but everyone has some kooky family members. The kookiness doesn't really explain why they would make up villainous things about her. There aren't any other family members who are the average Joe, who are in her life, who have anything positive to say? Did she distance herself from everyone? If so, why?
And why completely cut off all communication with your father? If she were speaking with him, probably not telling him anything of any real importance he might share with the press, but just keeping cordial lines of communication open, perhaps he wouldn't feel left out. It all seems super weird to me.
Also, the people she invited to her wedding were her mother... and her coworkers from her last job. If my mom and some coworkers were the only friends and family I had at my wedding, everyone would have wondered what was up with me. Yes?
1) This week's song is the theme from a sitcom that originally aired from 1993 to 1999. Were you a fan?
I watched occasionally.
2) The song tells us that Fran once worked in a bridal shop. Have you ever worked in a retail setting?
I worked in a shoe store one summer during college- not the kind where you have to put shoes on people, the kind with shoes on racks, thank goodness. I can't remember the name of it!
3) The kids in the Sheffield household appreciate their nanny's "joie de vivre," which is defined as "exuberant enjoyment of life." Are you feeling joie de vivre this morning?
I'm feeling good. Maybe not "exuberant." Ha!
4) "The Nanny" is the colorful one, the one who wears red when everyone else wears tan. What color do you think you look best in?
Purple. Always good with green eyes.
5) The TV show, The Nanny, was the brainchild of actress Fran Drescher. She got the idea while visiting her an old friend in London. Her friend's pre-teen daughter enjoyed having Fran as a confidante and shopping buddy. Do you enjoy shopping as a leisure activity? Or would you prefer to just dash into a store, grab what you need, and get out and go home?
I do a lot of shopping as a leisure activity. More a shopper than a purchaser.
6) The friend Fran was visiting in London was Twiggy, who was the world's most famous model in the 1960s. Name another famous model.
Christy Brinkley
7) The Nanny: The Complete Series is available on DVD on Amazon. It consists of 19 discs and takes 55 hours to watch, start to finish. What TV show have you recently binge watched?
"Somebody Feed Phil" on Netflix
8) The Nanny theme was sung by Liz Callaway. Her father, the late John Callway, was a long-time Chicago newscaster. Have you, or has a loved one, ever been on TV?
I was on the news once with Gordie Howe at a Houston Aeros game, when I was a kid.
9) Random question -- Which of these adjectives comes closest to describing you: sexy, sophisticated or down-to-earth?
Jeff's brother's wedding was last weekend! They got married in downtown Ft. Worth. Gorgeous city view and lovely, tearful ceremony. Lots of wine at the reception. We are very happy for the two of them, now off on their honeymoon. We also have a new step-nephew and step-niece (18 and 15), which is neat.
I love his new in-laws! They are an outgoing, fun-loving group. They're all from Austin, and some of them still live near here.
Next wedding is Cathy and George in Vegas! Waiting for a date on that. *drums fingers* ;)
But first... I use a small, retractable key reel, attached to my purse handle, for my house key, so I don't have to dig around my purse for keys when I get home. Just pull and unlock. Bam.
There are some really cute ones, about .75 inches diameter, at an Etsy shop called Made On Terra, out of California. I have the dragonfly one, and just ordered the Tree of Life. I've used mine a lot for about a year and it's just now starting to stick a little when retracting. Check 'em out! Search for "lanyard belt" to see the little retractable key rings with clasps to attach to things.
Went on an overnight road trip to Eagle Pass with Scott-n-Julie last weekend! We drove Hwy 165 from Henly to Blanco (one of our old faves) and drove through The Swiss Alps of Texas, a famous loop with amazing hills and valleys. Jeff and I had never been there. It is SO green compared to our area right now. Just breathtaking.
We stopped in Medina at The Apple Store. (Not THE Apple Store. The fruit kind.) We wanted to pick apples at their Love Creek Orchards, but our schedule was tight and I don't think there were any available for picking anyway at the time. (Call ahead to check!) So we had burgers at their cafe, which were recognized as one of The 50 Greatest Burgers in Texas in 2016 in an issue of Texas Monthly. They were REALLY good. The soft bun was my favorite part, but the burger is perfect. They also have soft-serve apple ice cream and apple pie, if you're so inclined. Also excellent.
Went to UT's Briscoe-Garner Museum in Uvalde, at Vice President (during FDR's first two terms) John "Cactus Jack" Garner's home. That's a neat place! Lots of info about Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe (in the 70s) and VP Garner. We love small town museums. You would be amazed what they have at these places. Surprisingly cool. And you can get closer to things than you can in large city museums... even touch some stuff! We liked this museum. Worth the stop.
We made our way to Eagle Pass, checked in to the hotel and then headed to Lucky Eagle Casino. Scott was very lucky that night and only lost $50 out of the $200 he wagered at the slots. Julie, Jeff and I each lost the $20 we wagered at the slots. My twenty bucks was gone in about 3 minutes. Not even kidding. I'm a video poker girl, if I gamble at all, since I feel like it gives the longest play time per dollar. Lucky Eagle only has a few video poker machines, all at the two bars in the middle of the casino.
We had dinner at a casino restaurant, Sage. We tried everything from pasta to short ribs, and it was all great.
The people in Eagle Pass were very friendly, without exception. They couldn't have been nicer. May have been the casino drinks, but definitely happy, talkative folks.
We drove along the Rio Grande on the way out Sunday morning, but you can't see the river from the highway because there is a lot of brush blocking the view. There are dirt roads through the trees, but Scott advised us not to go there, because they are border patrol roads. Okie doke then!
Had Sunday lunch on the way back in Castroville at The Alsatian Restaurant. Delicious! They have German fare, along with French and American food, and artisan pizza. I had a reuben, my favorite sandwich. Their sauerkraut is really yummy. Next time, I'll try the Jägerschnitzel. We talked with the owners, a couple and their brother. The building is from the 1800s, with some courtyard seating outside, perfect for a romantic evening meal.
Saw Mamma Mia! 2: Here We Go Again with the hubby Wednesday night. SUPER FUN! It even includes my favorite ABBA song of all time, "Angel Eyes!" Wheeee!!
It's a cute story. Pierce Brosnan's singing is vastly improved. Cher rocked her part. It is totally worth the stay until the very very end of the movie, to see a funny clip!
My only complaint was that, at least in our theater, the lead vocals on every song were too dang loud. Couldn't hear the music or harmonies much.
Overheard while leaving the theater, from a young man on the row in front of us: "Was ABBA a real band?" Why, yes! Yes, they were.
FYI, 99% of the time I write a political rant on here, I never post it. Ha! You're welcome!! Maybe it's therapeutic for me anyway.
So I started working out 4-5x per week again, about three months ago. When I last stopped working out regularly (several years ago) I had tweaked my knee doing aerobic kickboxing. The best thing about starting again was that it doesn't hurt anymore! Amazing how much more you feel like you accomplish when your knee is functioning properly. Funny I even realized that. I guess that tells me how much it was hurting back then.
I've been doing Jenny Ford's videos on YouTube on AppleTV. I still love good ol' step aerobics, and she has tons of those. She also does other types of aerobic workouts, like marching and dance. So far, it looks like all of her vids are easy to do with minimal space at home, no matter the weather and without equipment. Exactly what I like. No excuses and no need to get all dolled up for the gym.
Just search for her name on YouTube and her vids will come up. If you are a step beginner, the #1 video in her series "Step Across America" is the ultimate beginner video. Her step vids are divided into Beginner/Basic/Intermediate/Advanced. She also provides endless adjustment options in every workout to increase or decrease the intensity, which is so helpful. (You can do step without a step, so no worries there. My step is long gone in the trash heap.)
I like that people check in with me when George Clooney has a scooter accident in Italy, to make sure I know he's okay. (LOL) Actually he does have "trauma to the knee," (awww) but...
...at least it's not his face.
You were all thinking it.
Mostly kidding! Hope he's feeling better soon and stays safe on those bikes.
There are two songs on the Apple Pop Playlist this week where I'm not sure what some of the lyrics mean. Well, probably more than two, but:
"Weekend Luv" by Quinn Lewis: "...Don't give me that weekend love..."
Isn't "weekend love" more uninhibited and carefree and swinging from the chandelier? Weekday love is typically more vanilla. Yes? He doesn't prefer the weekend love?
Ahh. Just read the complete lyrics. He just means he wants love on the weekend and also the weekdays. Got it. It should be "don't give me JUST weekend love" or "give me that weekend love... on a Monday night."
"I'll Be There" by Jess Glynne: "...I swear, I got enough love for two. You'll never be alone, I'll be there for you."
She's got enough love for two? Is that okay with her significant other?
We binge watched the 2018 Carpool Karaoke episodes last weekend. I have to say Jeremy Renner has an AWESOME voice! I mean, seriously. Who. Knew?! Good on ya', sir.
The Linkin Park/Ken Jeong episode was filmed about a week before Chester died. So sad. Still a great episode. Also loved loved loved the Seth McFarlane/Ariana Grande one. (ShOwTuNeS y'all!)
Just an observation... For several years, most of the American television hosts seemed to be Australian or British. Now they're mostly African-American. Through the fading in and out of popular host "types," there remain the constants- Nick Lachey, Joey Fatone and Mario Lopez.
I think I may say this every summer, but why on earth do they call it "America's Got Talent," when 90% of the acts are from other countries? Evidently we actually have no talent at all. I read that Britain's Got Talent is the same way. So weird.
So. We've been watching Chef's Table on Netflix. It is very good! Each episode is about a very celebrated chef somewhere in the world. We're through season 2 and so far, regardless of cuisine, all the food is "French-style" fine dining, with teensy weensy food, artfully stacked and arranged with tweezers (not even kidding) on ginormous plates. I'm not a fan of that stuff as "food," but I do appreciate the art of it. I've learned that these menus can include about 20 courses. Maybe 20 of those plates would make a proper meal. Still, I won't be eating there, but I can see why YOU like it. (*snort* #CJ)
Each hour episode covers the life story of the chef, sourcing of ingredients (farming, fishing, street markets...), and the chef's restaurant, exploring dishes served, showing the chef and staff in the kitchen, giving you a peek at the ambience. The imagery and videography is quite breathtaking, and the locations around the world are diverse and interesting.
During various discussions lately about weddings, people make a point of saying something along the lines of "It's their first wedding." Yikes, is that where we are now? Just expecting people to marry multiple times? Sad! I guess I should be glad people are getting married at all. Ha!
I also have to mention that I watched $100,000 Pyramid last night, and the word the lady was trying to get the celeb to guess was "man boobs." She said, "A woman has these..." and they buzzed her, because the wacky judges there think "woman" is a form of the word "man." WTF? So weird! No one even put up a fuss about it. #thingsthatmakeyougohmm
Saturday 9: (There's) No Gettin' Over Me (1981) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) Ronnie Milsap sings about how worrisome it can be when you realize you forgot to pay a bill. It's happened to all of us, hasn't it? Tell about about a time you accidentally missed a payment.
I don't think I've ever missed a payment!
2) He also references a dream that keeps him awake. Do you have any recurring dreams?
Several. One recurring dream is in a building with lots of floors and windows that face into the center atrium. I'm usually in and out of the elevators and up and down the stairs, trying to get somewhere I can't get to.
3) He sings about the face you see in the crowd. Tell us about someone you see regularly, but don't really know.
There is a family of four in the neighborhood who were out together riding a few years ago on what seemed the first day of getting new bikes. They were in shorts and T-shirts, clumsily working out who was going to ride on the sidewalk and who was going to ride on the street, and in what order, etc. One of the kids fell over. Well, I still see them riding together occasionally, and all four are on the street, in the bike lane, wearing biking outfits. They look like professional cyclists!
4) He mentions the book that you just can't put down. What's the last book that you finished?
I haven't finished one in a long time, but I am currently reading Dan Harris's Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics.
5) Ronnie Milsap is a big fan of new technology, and believes the advancements make both his professional and personal lives easier. What about you? Do you embrace new technology? Or do you long for the good old days, when we weren't so connected to personal devices?
I love new tech, but also long for the days when we connected more personally.
6) As a child, Ronnie used to surreptitiously listen to late night radio, especially gospel broadcasts. When you were a kid, what rule did you break again and again?
I would sneak out of bed and watch The Tonight Show or Saturday Night Live. My parents were facing the TV and I would peek around the corner from the hall behind them. They caught me now and then, but not very often!
7) Country star Blake Shelton says Ronnie Milsap was a big influence on his music. Do you watch Blake on The Voice?
I do!
8) In May, Ronnie appeared at the Choctaw Casino in Grant, OK. Do you enjoy games of chance?
Not really. If money is on the line, I would rather play a game of skill, rather than luck.
9) Random question -- When did you last "do it yourself" and repair something around the house or yard?
Jerry Seinfeld said on the new Letterman bonus episode on Netflix that he loves the show Portlandia, and that Fred Armisen is so talented, and people should look up a video online where he does Texas accents by city. I actually remembered to look it up, and his accents are hilarious. The Texas part of this particular clip starts about 1:30, but the whole thing is awesome.
1) In this song, Mr. Como maintains it's impossible to ask a baby not to cry. When did you most recently hold a baby? Did you ask him or her not to cry?
I think the last baby I held was Jen's little girl. She's 3 now. She didn't cry.
2) Perry Como was known for his casual, easy going style. Therefore people were surprised to learn that he could lose his temper. His long-time musical director reported that bad drivers really got under Perry's skin. What is one of your pet peeves?
Bad drivers, yes!
3) Though Perry Como was born in Pennsylvania, he didn't speak English until he began grade school. His parents were Italian immigrants and the family only spoke Italian at home. Do you know any words/phrases in Italian?
Buona sera!
4) He met Roselle, the girl he would marry, when they were both still in high school. Tell us about a high school classmate you were crazy about back in the day.
My two high school boyfriends were a gregarious, hilarious actor/free spirit... and a sweet, super-chill artist/world traveler.
5) When he was just 14, his father's ill health made it essential that Perry begin working after school to help support his family. He apprenticed to a barber but was so short, he had to stand on a box when he cut hair. Again, going back to school, were you taller than your classmates? Shorter? Or were you the average height for a kid your age?
I was taller than almost everyone until about 7th grade, when everyone caught up, and eventually passed me.
6) While taping his annual holiday special in 1971, he fell from a platform and broke his knee. He had to wear a cast and endure 8 months of rehab. Have you ever broken a bone?
Nope.
7) During the decades when he was a recording and television star, Perry Como was also an avid golfer. He was so popular that many of the best pro golfers of the day -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, etc. -- were happy to play with him. It's estimated that it takes about 4 hours to play 18 holes of golf. What celebrity would you most like to hang around with for four hours?
Michael Symon
8) After he retired, Perry's passion switched from golf to fishing in the waters near Palm Beach, Florida. His catch of the day often ended up as his family's dinner. What's for dinner at your house tonight?
Italian rotisserie chicken, lemon roasted potatoes and a cup of halved strawberries
9) Random question -- They say "birds of a feather, flock together." But that's not always true. Can you think of an area where you are out of step with most of your friends/family?
I'm more silly and lighthearted than most of my friends/family.
Jeff and I spent this weekend in College Station at BCS' newest hotel, The George, for our anniversary. It's a cool hotel! We stayed at The Stella last year and The George is pretty similar in style, with modern Texas decor.
Book flag wall in the lobby
Flag wall close-up
Ha!
The hotel is in a new office/retail/restaurant center called Century Square (where "married students housing" used to be, catty-corner across University from Zach, for those of you who were there in the 80's). There are a bunch of restaurants and shops right there, so you wouldn't have to get in your car through a weekend, if you didn't want to. Nice little hotel pool, live music by the Century Square fountain, breezy seating by the pool.
We just hung out and relaxed, but we did hit some restaurants. Napa Flats is a "California cuisine" chain with an Austin location, but we hadn't ever been, so we went there Friday night. It was great. Both of us had pasta there. FABULOUS calamari, too, with polenta breading.
We had Kolache Rolf's for Saturday breakfast. They still had a pretty good selection late morning. It was delicious.
We hit Grub's Burger Bar for dinner Saturday night. The burgers were a little overcooked, but the food was very good in general. We weren't asked how we prefer our burgers cooked, so I assume they cook them all to well-done.
Royalty Pecan Farms in Caldwell does a tour that is very interesting and informative. It's also a really pretty place to visit! We went on Saturday.
Nutlets! (That's their actual name.)
Just a few of the many things I learned on the tour:
1. Pecan trees produce quality pecans every other year, and every tree in North America is on the same schedule.
2. You can keep pecans fresh in the freezer for up to 5 years, according to the Pecan Council... up to 10 years, according to the tour guide's personal experience. Also, they can be thawed and refrozen over and over!
3. This particular farm has no problem with squirrels, because they are surrounded by a lot of crop land on all sides. Squirrels can't cross that space without being picked off by predators, so they don't really try it. (If only we were surrounded by crop land at home! Gah!)
My favorite Royalty Pecan Farm flavored pecans in the gift shop- cocoa blanca (that's white chocolate y'all) and maple balsamic. They also have wines and a fan-cooled, shaded patio for sittin'.
I've received three jury summonses (yes, that is the plural, I checked) in my life. The first was in Houston, when I was about 19. I showed up to a room with several hundred people. They pulled 60-70 into the voir dire process for one court, then the next 60-70 for another court, etc., until they finally let the remainder of us leave. I never even made it to voir dire.
The next time I received a summons was when the kiddo was a toddler, so I claimed the exemption and wasn't required to show up.
A few weeks ago, I received my third one. Travis County uses an online process and I was assigned to show up for a criminal district court. This time, I went directly to a specific courtroom with 74 others for voir dire.
Sadly, I don't have any secrets for parking at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center. Everyone had woeful stories of parking. Having someone drop you off and pick you up is easiest (thanks Jeff!). There is currently only street parking near the building, but I heard it fills up by about 7:30 am. There aren't any public garages very close, although you can walk a few blocks up/down some steep hills in that area. All the construction downtown has many public parking lots rented/full with construction employees. Cap Metro will get you there, but I didn't talk to or hear anyone say they had taken it. From my part of town, I would have had to leave about an hour earlier to take a bus than I did just being dropped off.
If you are able to get a metered street spot and are not able to keep the meter fed through the day, the court will (currently anyway) dismiss your ticket. You just mail it in and let them know you were in jury duty. Most people found street parking somewhere, but not necessarily close. The bailiff was very clear that if you park in an illegal spot, private parking, or are towed, etc., they do NOT cover those expenses, so be sure you are parked in a legitimate public parking space and are just ticketed for not paying the meter.
I was supposed to be there at 9 am. I arrived at the building at 8:40. The officers at the security checkpoint at the entrance to the building were super-friendly and I was through security in about 30 seconds with a couple of people in front of me. It gets crowded towards 9 am, of course, and people who arrived closer to 9 reported security was pretty fast, but the elevators had an enormous line. People were told to take the stairs, but the bailiff (after a few people arrived very winded) said that wasn't necessary. The lines move quickly and you would be late only by a couple of minutes, which is okay.
On arrival, we checked in with the bailiff in the hallway outside the courtroom. He gave each of us a form to fill out with our preference for jury duty payment (whether you want to take the check, or donate all or part of it). We were also assigned a juror number at check-in. We were supposed to arrive at 9 am, and were in the hallway until about 10 am. The chairs were comfortable and the hall was nice and cool, so it was totally fine. Bring a book or an iPad or laptop to pass the time.
Our jury pool was numbered 1 to 74. I was number 14. I figured I was in the running to get chosen, and sure enough, it was true. The prosecution and defense attorneys remove all the prospective jurors they don't want, then just start at juror number 1 and name jurors in order, skipping the ones they removed. The juror numbers were assigned randomly, so it's fair.
When we went into the courtroom, after the judge, defendant and both sides' attorneys were set up, we were seated in numerical order, starting with number 1 right up front, in chairs with our juror number on a paddle.
The prosecutors spoke first, and talked for about 1.5 hours (although it seems that they were supposed to only have an hour). They went through a lot of general terms and concepts involved in our specific case, and asked questions to the group. We usually answered by raising our numbered paddles. People were sometimes called on to give specific answers or additional details. There was only one question where each one of us was asked to answer individually.
We had a 20 minute recess, during which a few people were dismissed. They were just the people who had very obvious problems with serving on this particular case, like someone who knew the judge, someone who had been a victim of that same type of crime, and stuff like that.
Then the defense spoke for about 30-40 minutes. (There is a lot of information that the defense wants that is answered during the prosecution's presentation, so they get less time.) The defense questions were a bit more specific, having gotten a feel for people during the initial questioning.
We had another recess, during which the people who had any problems with serving that had come up since the original sign-up, like illness, could talk to the judge about being dismissed. Many of those people were dismissed during that recess. That recess was a long one, maybe 30-45 minutes.
The rest of us filed back into the courtroom and the judge called names of selected jurors. At that time, I had about 8 people before me, so I figured I was in, but no! They chose a couple of people before me, then juror #15 and continued on. I had mixed feelings, because I really wanted to be on the jury, but of course it isn't too bad being dismissed either.
They let the jury go to lunch and dismissed the rest of us. It was about 2pm, but seemed to be running much later than it normally does. There is "real food" in a nearby building, but there are also vending machines and a snack bar on the first floor at the back of the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center.
Um, yep. Tequila. Almond. Croissant. Holy moly, that thing is heaven. It is crispy-edged, cloud soft middle, croissanty almond perfection. (You may have seen it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network.)
He told me they are opening a downtown Austin location soon. Woohoo!
The tour also stops at a few San Antonio touristy and not-so-touristy spots along the route, like the Alamo, for photo ops and a little history.
After the tour, we wandered around downtown and had drinks at Haunt and a late dinner at Rebelle, both in the St. Anthony Hotel. Dinner was AMAZING. Rebelle's decor and vibe is so cool, with a lot of glass and shiny materials. (Here are a couple of photos.) Everyone was taking pictures with (and on- there was some drinking) the restaurant's gorgeous glass tile lion. We shared small plates there, which were all very unique and delicious.
Sunday we went to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. I could swear I had been there years ago, but it didn't look at all familiar. It is beautiful, with an astonishing variety of plants. Lots to see. I really loved it. Don't miss it, if you like that sort of thing!
The only thumbs down of the weekend was the downtown bar/street noise Saturday night. If you're not staying up until at least 2:30 am, you'll want to get a hotel room away from downtown. It was crazy loud, even a few blocks from the Riverwalk.
I don't use a lot of brown sugar, so despite my awesome OXO Good Grips vacuum-sealed containers, it still gets clumped and rock solid in there over several months. Well, I bought some sort of "nonclumping" brown sugar a while back. While it is fabulous at not clumping, it is absolutely crappy at being brown sugar. It doesn't dissolve into anything- batters, salad dressings, sauces... Anything. I don't recommend it, other than perhaps for sprinkling over oatmeal (if you eat disgusting oatmeal *shudder*). Just stick with normal brown sugar.
Another tip- I bought a balance ball for my kiddo and hubby to stretch their backs to relieve back pain. I thought they could lean over it on the floor, but it's a little difficult to get down on the floor and back up with advanced age back pain, so just put it on a chair or the sofa and lean over it to stretch. The 55cm ball works well on a chair, but definitely get the 75cm size if you're going to use it on the floor.
Y'all know I hate when people use "cheers" as a verb (referring to toasting with alcoholic beverages). Well, Andy Cohen used it as a verb, in the past tense,the other day! Yep. "You cheersed..." he says. Oy. Vey. I think I'm going to have to accept it, now that it's become overwhelmingly present in conversation. *sigh*
1) In this song, four friends congregate on Main Street to look longingly at pretty girls. In your town, where is the best place for people watching?
SoCo
2) This song was written for the Broadway musical, The Most Happy Fella. Who is the happiest person you know?
Cathy
3) The members of The Four Lads met at Toronto's St. Michael's Choir School. Growing up, did you attend parochial or public school?
public
4) The Four Lads always wore jackets and ties when they performed. Do you enjoying dressing up? Or would you rather keep it casual?
casual
5) While this song was a hit for The Four Lads, they were completely overshadowed in 1956 by Elvis Presley and "Heartbreak Hotel." Who do you think dominates today's music scene?
Bruno Mars
6) The Wizard of Oz aired on TV for the first time in 1956. Sam was never crazy about those flying monkeys. Tell us about something that frightened you when you were a kid.
I went through a phase where I couldn't fall asleep because I could hear the ticking clock down the hall on my mom's desk. I imagined it was creeping down the hallway, getting closer and closer. Yikes.
7) What scares you now?
scorpions
8) Since this week's song is about pretty girls: 1956's Miss America was Sharon Ritchie of Colorado. Today Colorado has the distinction of being the home of more microbreweries than any other state in the union. Which are you most particular about -- your beer, your wine, or your coffee?
Beer. I'll drink just about any wine or coffee, but crappy beer is the worst.
9) Random question: We all have small, irritating habits, like soup slurping or not replacing the cap on the toothpaste. What's your nasty little habit?
Yet another criminal (most recently that sex cult actress from Smallville... umm... what the WHAT) ran off to Mexico to escape prosecution. Remember that whole thing when Trump said Mexico was sending their criminals to the US? Yeah, I think the net crossing of criminals has always gone north to south.
1) Love may not cost a thing, but everyday stuff does. What's the most recent thing you bought? How much did you spend?
I made a Target run that cost about $80 in randomness.
2) This video begins with Jennifer Lopez on the phone, on a veranda with a view of the sea. What's the view from the room you're in right now?
the forest behind our house
3) She sings that she doesn't want her lover's gifts or money, she just wants his attention. Let's change that a bit. Which would you prefer: a gift that was personally chosen but you know you'll never use, or cash? I prefer a gift someone picked out.
4) She met her first husband, dancer Cris Judd, while working on this video. She met Ben Affleck, to whom she was once engaged, while working on a movie. Think of those you're closest to -- where did you meet them?
I met Jeff in a college class. Met Cathy in 7th grade PE. Met Scott-n-Julie when our girls were in preschool. Knew Kathy from high school, but first really interacted with her at the research program we did at UTMB.
5) She and her current boyfriend, former Yankee Alex Rodriguez, are both workout fanatics. How often do you exercise?
Practically never.
6) Her high school nickname was "La Guitarra," because her curvy shape reminded her friends of a guitar. Share a high school memory about you and your friends. I was just thinking the other day about the many times we were up all night outside the record store, waiting in line for concert tickets going on sale at 10am the next morning. It was sometimes boring, sometimes superfun, depending on who was in line. The best times were when someone had a boom box, playing that artist's music, and everyone singing along.
7) JLo just completed filming her third season playing a police detective on NBC's Shades of Blue. Did you see anything memorable on TV this past week?
Maroon 5 singing "Wait" on The Voice
8) Jennifer Lopez posts often on Facebook, and Twitter, and Instagram. Do you feel you spend too much time on social media, do you wish you posted more often, or do you try to avoid it altogether?
I try to avoid it. I only go on Facebook anymore if someone addresses me directly, it's someone's birthday, or I want to check the neighborhood group for the latest news.
9) Random question: You're at a yard sale and come upon an unusual little knick-knack that would make the perfect gift for your best friend. The tag says $7. You think that's rather high for a castoff. Do you pay it? Do you pass on it? Or do you try to get the seller to lower the price?
A perfect gift? Of course, I would pay it! I'm terrible at haggling.
Here's an awesome story about the making of the Apple HomePod commercial. Turns out, there aren't any CGI effects. It's all mechanical. Wow! SO cool! Watch the "making of" video and the complete 4 minute ad through the link below.
I had lunch with Kimberly on Monday! She was in San Antonio for a national school board convention. (She's a school board member where she lives.) We email fairly regularly, but I haven't seen her in a few years, so it was really nice to catch up in person. I reeeeally wanted to take her to Lüke, but I read that it closed last year! Waaah. Omigosh, their onion tart is divine. Now we have to go to New Orleans to have it.
Kimberly told me she has had foot pain ever since she ran her first marathon last year. I think that is a great reason to NEVER RUN A MARATHON. That was her advice as well.
I was just looking at the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Quote of the Week in the blog sidebar (>>). We loved the first season. The second season was sort of hit or miss. Then the third season took a very strange turn into some serious issues. It isn't funny and the songs aren't great. Not sure what happened to the show, but it turns out it was cancelled after the 3rd season, so we probably won't finish the rest of the episodes. Changing the Quote of the Week to Bethenny Frankel. That should provide a wealth of amusement for a while!
I cleaned the thick layer of green powder (oak pollen) off the patio furniture and patio floor yesterday. It takes forever to scrub it all down. I know it's still raining pollen until May, but just looking at it made me cough. Everything's new and shiny now. Ahhhhh...
Is any daytime show NOT nominated for a daytime Emmy? Just wondering.
So, Lauren Shazam'd (Shazammed?) the Bubly jingle I mentioned the other day.
Lauren, her first listen: No. That is not JC.
LOL
It turns out, it isn't a jingle at all. It's a song called "Good Morning," by an Austin musician named Max Frost. Hmm!
Great tune! I still think his voice and this song have a Chasez sound (which is a total compliment). He even rhymes "day" and "me." It's gonna be MAY... hehe
In other music news... I think my favorite contestant on The Voice this season is Bryn. I can't believe she is only 14. Her voice is really different and wonderful. If she can work on being more comfortable on stage, she'll be a force.
Austin's serial bomber is deceased as of this morning, and soon we'll be able to tune down our hyper-vigilance. It's been very surreal seeing something like this in our community.
Brian Manley should definitely become permanent APD chief, as he was the voice of both strength and calm this month, during this ordeal.
I have a few questions still. I'm super curious about the general area of town where the two mailed packages were headed. Don't really know why it matters to me, but it just feels like an unfinished story there. Also, I'm wondering how a guy in a wild blonde wig and wearing gloves didn't strike a Fedex employee as odd, especially when we're all so paranoid about packages right now. Not to place any blame on the employee at all, but it's just strange to me. Jeff said it's Austin and the guy probably sees ten people in weird wigs every day.
True.
Anyhoo... we're all breathing easier now, hopeful that there won't be any more deaths or injuries caused by this person. (That's a nice word for him, but I'll leave it at that.)
This little gem is making the rounds on the interwebs:
A dangling participle walks into a bar. Enjoying a cocktail and chatting with the bartender, the evening passes pleasantly.
A bar was walked into by the passive voice.
An oxymoron walked into a bar, and the silence was deafening.
Two quotation marks walk into a “bar.”
A malapropism walks into a bar, looking for all intensive purposes like a wolf in cheap clothing, muttering epitaphs and casting dispersions on his magnificent other, who takes him for granite.
Hyperbole totally rips into this insane bar and absolutely destroys everything.
A question mark walks into a bar?
A non sequitur walks into a bar. In a strong wind, even turkeys can fly.
Papyrus and Comic Sans walk into a bar. The bartender says, "Get out -- we don't serve your type."
A mixed metaphor walks into a bar, seeing the handwriting on the wall but hoping to nip it in the bud.
A comma splice walks into a bar, it has a drink and then leaves.
Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They converse. They depart.
1) This song describes the plight of "poor ol' Jimmy," who caught his girlfriend kissing someone else. Have you ever spied on a romantic partner?
Nope. 2) In this song, Stephen Bishop sings that he "smiles when he feels like dying." When did you recently put on a happy face, even though you really weren't all that happy?
I have a balance disorder since taking Levaquin for bronchitis about 15 years ago. Whenever I'm feeling dizzy, I'm almost always covering it as best I can.
3) Stephen Bishop always wanted to be a musician, and as a child he began playing the clarinet. Did you take lessons -- dance, art, music -- as a child? If yes, did you take them because you enjoyed them, or because your parents made you take them?
I took dance and piano. Loved dance, suffered through piano. Sorry, Mom!
4) When he was 12, inspired by The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, he switched to the guitar and began writing songs. Tell us about someone or something that influenced your career path.
My high school physics teacher (and JETS sponsor) helped me choose an college major that combined my medical interests with my engineering and technology pursuits. Although I didn't work in that field, I still ended up with a career that combines healthcare and technology.
5) Stephen Bishop attended Will C. Crawford High School in San Diego. This school requires students complete 20 hours of community service every year. Tell us about an organization, cause or campaign you volunteered for, either as a student or an adult.
Laura and I volunteered at Dennis Quaid's Charity Golf Classic at the Avery Ranch Golf Club in 2003, benefiting Austin area children's charities. It was superfun! Lauren met one of her idols at the time- Jake Thomas from Lizzie McGuire. (Her other crush at the time was Ryan Pinkston, the foul-mouthed kid on Punk'd. Incidentally, Ryan is now playing Jack's married boyfriend, Officer Drew, on Will & Grace... Yes, that was quite a tangent, but wasn't it interesting?... )
6) In 1977, when this song was popular, Seattle Slew won racing's Triple Crown. Sam's mother has always been afraid of horses. Is there an animal you're uncomfortable with?
Large dogs have to win me over. I'm usually very uncomfortable around them.
7) Also in 1977, moviegoers waited in line for hours to see Star Wars. What's the longest line you waited in recently?
Probably Chipotle. That place is always packed. 8) The mini-series Roots first aired in 1977. Today Americans are spending more time and money than ever to research ancestry. How far back can you trace your family tree?
I currently have one line traced back to Lord Hansculf De Englefield, from England, born in 1056.
9) Random question: It's often said that nobody's perfect. How about you? What quality keeps you from being perfect?
People always talk about Waco like it's a tiny town, but I think of it as a medium city, so I was quite surprised to find out how very small it actually is! Turns out, Waco has a population of only 135,000. (For comparison, Bryan/College Station has over 255,000.)
Other than my not feeling well most of the weekend, Jeff and I had fun visiting various attractions around town. We went to the Dr. Pepper Museum, which was recently renovated to add another whole building. It's a lot more than just Dr. Pepper.
Toured the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, which is very interesting, and has a LOT of guns. Some of the guns were super-pretty. I was actually quite impressed with the designs. There are 2 female Rangers in the state currently, one of whom is in Austin. Also, I learned that the Lone Ranger character was a former Texas Ranger. (WHAT? I had no clue.) In the early days, rangers had to make their own badges, because the state didn't provide them, so there are a lot of different styles of them on display.
We walked across the Waco Suspension Bridge, which is actually one of the coolest places! It's part of the Chisolm Trail, originally constructed in 1870 as a toll bridge for wagons, pedestrians and cattle to cross the Brazos River.
We also went to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. It's a great place with tons of memorabilia from all sorts of Texas sports. There is an enormous, separate hall exclusively for the former Southwest Conference, where each school has its own exhibit. That was really neat!
We drove around Baylor campus. Their basketball arena with the gold roof is WAY cool!
We stopped at the university's bear habitat, where we (and several children) were very disappointed to discover there were no bears. There was a sign that said the staff take the bears on field trips out in the wild sometimes, so I hope they were having fun somewhere.
We stayed at the Hotel Indigo, which I very highly recommend! The hotel is beautiful and modern. The room was spacious and nice. The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. We had a view of the ALICO Building (where in downtown Waco does one NOT have a view of the ALICO Building- ha!), which we learned is the home of the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company (ALICO).
My favorite dinner was at Twisted Root Burger Co., which is everywhere in Texas EXCEPT Austin. Yummo!
We have a second Waco trip planned with Scott-n-Julie to do the Magnolia Market and Mammoth National Monument. Magnolia Market was close to our hotel, and even on an off-season Saturday, that place is overflowing with visitors. We'll be going during the week, thankyouverymuch!
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This post went random pretty quickly, so I thought I'd come back to the top to warn you. Random Wednesday!
One of the guys on TMZ started a new segment with what I thought was "The Olympics are over and a lot of the athletes wanted to breastfeed dogs from meat farms..."
Turned out he said "rescue" not "breastfeed"... which is still interesting in its own way.
You know those pre-fab, frosted grocery store cookies in the plastic boxes, that people debate about, whether they are the most delicious thing in the bakery or the most disgusting thing on the planet? Well, I have some with pink frosting. (You KNOW you're jealous!) Guess what? They make your poop pink. Just didn't want anyone else to worry that they might have a deadly GI illness.
(Yikes!)
Hey. So, is Chasez singing the Bubly sparkling water jingle on the new commercial? It sounds very Chasez-ish.
If you haven't been watching Blue Planet II, you need to. Every minute of each episode shows you a new and amazing something. They catch things on film that have never been seen. And! I finally understand how the moon creates the tide. I have always thought they were saying that the moon pulled the tide away from the shore with it's gravity, which didn't ever make sense to me, because the moon would have to follow a very specific path parallel to the land to pull the water away from a particular shore, and thus would have an effect on some beaches, but not others.
The more accurate explanation is that the moon is pulling the whole ocean UP with its gravity, which, in turn, pulls the edges away from all the shores. Get it? I had this light bulb moment when Blue Planet II was discussing it very briefly, and the time lapse video just hit me a certain way where it all made sense. Too funny.
And since I did more research on the Google, I will share with you that the reason there are two high tides a day is because the moon pulls the land away from the ocean when it's on the other side of the Earth, resulting in a second bulging of the ocean. (Here's a fancy gif.)
And finally, one of my coworkers sent me this (for those of us who manage data... or don't... still funny!):
I whole-heartedly support better background checks on gun purchases, age limits, no assault weapons, all of that. It's all smart action, and may stop some people from killing themselves or others, but the thing that is at the root of mass violence in America is mental illness. Ignore that, and all this other stuff is just a tiny dent in the problem. There are many ways people inflict mass violence. Most of them don't use guns.
We need to do a better job as a society, and especially in schools, while kids are young and developing, in preschool and grade school and beyond, identifying and helping students who are feeling left out, are being bullied or who display concerning behaviors. (YEESH, can't they finally stop tolerating bullying in schools? How many decades has it gone on now?)
I just wonder how many children who headed down this path to insanity could have been integrated more effectually into their peer group early on. Sure, most kids are uncomfortable engaging with the "different" kiddos one-on-one, but perhaps encouraging kids to welcome those children into their groups is a start. As a group, ask this child to eat lunch with you, or play a game with you, etc. That doesn't place a lot of pressure on a single child. It's the community working together to help someone, which most of us would like to do. I leave it to the professionals to figure it out, but what we're doing isn't working.
There also needs to be a conversation about the fact that there are some kids (and adults) who are a danger to themselves or others, who just unfortunately need to be detained or supervised in a manner that minimizes their threat. If you are a danger to yourself or others, there are rules already in place (I assume in most locales) that allow involuntary commitment to a mental health facility. Maybe we need to have a treatment option that is a step down, where someone is not an immediate threat, but has treatment mandated in an outpatient setting.
Something.
It's just so frustrating that so many people say they knew a particular person would "do something like this one day." A few of them in the Florida shooting even told teachers and other adults prior to this tragedy, but there wasn't anything meaningful done. Many times there are well-deserved punitive consequences, but they also need to address the real issue- a person's mental status. How can we help them heal, or are they are beyond outpatient treatment and need to be in a treatment facility long term?
Bigger picture, there also need to be better mental health treatments and better insurance coverage. Healthcare costs are ridiculous and need to be reigned in. (Ask me about my Not-for-Profit Healthcare Plan for America! Quite unpopular with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and insurance companies! But I digress...)
Just incredibly sad. I can't imagine how the parents of all those kids must feel.
I am absolutely not supportive of kids leaving school to protest anything. If you believe in it, protest after school. And what if someone doesn't want to participate? Too bad, I guess. The education system is already crappier than ever. What kids need is a day off school, because nothing says "I demand that the government protect me from gun violence" than a bunch of giggling middle-schoolers taking selfies during their "protest."
Also worth a mention... that bogus stat about this being the 18th school shooting this year detracted from what is inarguably a devastating trend that needs to be addressed with swift and effective action. The Washington Post outed the group that created this false statistic. Stop detracting from this issue (and the Me Too movement, and racism, and a whole plethora of other very important issues) by overstating your story. The opposition will use it to discredit the whole movement. It makes people wonder what the truth is. Gah!
But first... Do we actually live in a world where the next generation of people to run it think it's cool to eat a detergent pod or see how long they can leave their arm on an electric stovetop?
Mmmmmkaay.
Anyhoo... I went to a show every night this weekend! Haven't done that in forever.
Friday night, Kathy and I went to 10,000 Maniacs at the One World Theater. As the band was being introduced, the host said, "Lead singer Mary Ramsey has been with the group for over 25 years..." and all of us in the crowd were like, "WHAT? WHO?" Ahahaha! Well, much like many groups from the 80's, the original lead singer is gone and a sound-alike singer is in. I should have remembered Natalie Merchant's departure. Oops. Would have loved to see all the original members, but Mary is a wonderful singer and we really enjoyed the show.
I'd always wanted to go to a show at One World Theater. It is a gorgeous place. Great stonework, a beautiful hilly view... The theater seats only 300, so it's really intimate. Evidently there is a documentary about a cult who built the house decades ago. I need to look into that. Sounds interesting.
Saturday night, Jeff and I went to a community theater production of Doublewide, Texas in Lockhart. It was so funny! The theater is on the town square and they do almost exclusively comedy plays. We'll definitely be going back for another show! And we'll get there early enough to have dinner at one of the barbecue meccas.
Sunday night, Jeff, Julie and I went to see Cirque du Soleil Crystal in Cedar Park. This one is a mix of skating and acrobatics. It was breathtaking and ridiculously entertaining, as Cirque du Soleil shows always are. Such talented performers. Beautiful props. Snow and everything!
Got to see KathyG and Crystal today for lunch! Yay!
Jeff took me out for early (yes!) Valentine's Day night, to the Moulin Rouge (yes!) Movie Party at the Alamo Drafthouse. I don't know how many times I've seen that film, but it's amazing. Every. Single. Time.
THIS:
SO good.
I hadn't ever been to the movie party for it. Alamo's movie parties have props and stuff, which adds to the fun. Two missing props last night: Kleenex would have been helpful. Also, too bad we couldn't have sparklers for the "Spectacular Spectacular" finale. Right?! Do they have to be used outside? I dunno. It would have been supercool though. Your sparklers would go out right about the time Satine keels over.
1. Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you?
I have not tried to learn or re-learn a foreign language as an adult. Would love to.
2. Do you donate blood? Do you know your blood type?
I can't donate blood, because I had Hodgkins lymphoma. My blood type is O+. (Most cancer survivors can donate blood safely to others. There are different rules at different donation centers for cancer survivors donating blood, but in general, see these guidelines at the American Cancer Society website.)
3. Have you ever been in a play or musical?
Several in elementary through high school.
4. Do you use certain text or ring tones for specific people? Who gets their own? Or do you just use the default on your phone?
People I talk to regularly and close friends/relatives get a ring tone. It's currently the same one for everyone. All others in my contacts, along with anyone not in my contacts, have a silent tone, so I don't hear it at all. 5. When did you get your first digital camera? Do you still shoot on actual film, or all digital now?
I think I got my first digital camera when Lauren was small, in the mid 90's. I've been all digital since then.
6. What do you think someone else would say the most daring thing you’ve done is?
Someone else would probably say my high school talent show. Ha! I would say riding around Dallas in a teensy, four-seat plane, with Jeff's buddy piloting.
7. Do you talk with your hands?
Not really.
8. Do you have a lucky number? What is it, and what is the story behind it?
Nope. 9. What kind of milk did you drink, growing up? And now?
We got whole milk when I was growing up. I have always bought 2%.
10. What is your favorite kind of pie?
peach
11. Are you a note taker?
Yep!
12. Do you have an eclectic mug collection, or is your stuff all matchy matchy?
Eclectic.
13. Do you have a junk drawer in your house/garage/at work/wherever?
Who doesn't?
14. What is the longest amount of time you’ve worked at one job – and what was/is it?
Volunteer webmsitress for a nonprofit foundation for 15 years. 15. How old were you when you took your first commercial flight? To where did you fly?
I was two or three years old, flying from Frankfurt, Germany to Houston, Texas.
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