Sunday, May 31, 2015

Day#189

Yesterday's post was messed up by me accidentally hitting send on it while I was still editing the text (I'm sure Gary's class will be great but don't know I'd exactly call it a "stunner class"), plus, no pictures attached. So now I've learned not to put the sending address in until I'm totally ready, but I'm fairly confident I will find ways to still goof up posts.

Vacation Day 2

After an actually good breakfast at our pretty cheap motel, we were on the road by 8:30am and headed toward Texas. The temp has been really comfortable and mild. I had told the kids not to bring any jeans because I expected Texas to be blazing hot but so far it's definitely not.  I've noticed the natives are not wearing shorts even though it's in the 60s and 70s and I wonder if it's because that is cool weather for them or if maybe they try to limit the skin exposure or they just like their jeans. 

So I started the day's drive and I'd been driving maybe three hours and thought I was feeling fine until we hit the Dallas metro area which seems to go on and on.  Tie in that it was raining some, along with being amongst high speed traffic through a constant construction zone of two narrow lanes bounded by concrete barriers and some very elevated roadways.  Halfway through, I took an exit to pull over and let Gary take his turn;  I was so mentally worn out from the drive. The highway interchanges in Dallas seemed to be stacked; it was wild.  I counted five levels of roadway on top of one another in just one view. It was a cross between feeling like we were on a kid's ramped up matchbox car track placed a scene from the Jetson"s intro. I took some pictures then while we continued on through Dallas but they are on the real camera, not phone, and there's no way to download those until home. I did not get a picture of the water tower at McKinney, my mom's maiden name, since I was busy gripping the wheel at that time. Ha

Gotta say the kids have traveled really well, at least through Day 2 and 900 miles. They sit pretty quietly and keep self-entertained in their own ways with no whines/requests for bathroom or drinks, etc. That may be attributed to us having developed a pretty predictable pattern over the years of alternating stops for gas and food that don't push the time between stops too far. Anyway, we are finding it works, plus it probably helps they're all practically grown adults these days, dang it.  Waaaah.

We stopped for lunch in West, Texas and that was different. Apparently West was settled by Czechs as that was the restaurant choices popping up. We had the Czech Stop, the Czech-American, Pichas Czech-American Cafe, Gerik's Ole Czech Smokehouse, and Sloveceks to choose from.  Sloveceks was a cool place, kind of an expanded style Cracker Barrel just with fewer sit down tables.  The family all had kolaches for the first time, well, a first except for Gary. He'd recently tried kolaches at a breakfast at work and he knew we'd all like them.  They are basically a dough baked with a filling of meat or cheese or fruit in them.  For example, I had a pulled pork one followed by a coconut cream one. Very yum and I think we ordered a total of ten before it was over, plus six dessert ones to go.  And then Grant also needed a platter of ribs.  One of Gary's kolaches had sausage, rice and jalapenos in it and Caroline didn't exactly appreciate his breath after that.

The sun had been in and out of a bright blue sky with some fluff clouds, but once we came out from eating, it was pretty much cloudy. Did not rain, though. We saw two highway signs that were twisted, assumingly by wind, but so far that has been the extent of weather damage seen other than rivers out their banks.

We passed through Waco and down the line a little further, stopped for gasoline at a small place that I don't think I noticed the name. Gas costs less everywhere so far compared to back home, $2.30 ish.

Not long after that we entered Austin. From the highway, it looks like any other place with malls and chain restaurants and an Ikea but we are excited to see the rest.  We arrived a bit before our check-in time so of course Gary found us a few yardsales.  No big finds, but one was a very interesting estate sale with nice antique furniture and artwork. Everything was half price at the time we walked in as they were ready to clear out at 4 pm. I would have probably came home with a tri-fold antique wooden room divider if we had a way of getting it home. It would have been perfect for the dining room.

We found our rent house easily and took a little time working out room assignments since it was complicated by six beds in four rooms and these kids are spoiled I mean used to a room of their own. Jack was the man and took the hideaway bed as his space so everyone else ended up happy. He will be rewarded with first choice of bed at the next house.

Gary and I went to a truly Texas-sized grocery store to stock our kitchen and we grabbed a Redbox movie too. Cooking supper went off without a hitch, but they never could get the BluRay player to work so we watched a show about a NYC cupcake store renovation. I think we were so tired we didn't really care.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Day#188

Vacation Day 1

We left a half hour after the time projected, but we were on the road to Texas in the mini van!  We had breakfast in Rolla, Missouri where Gary picked up his textbook for next week's summer class and Jack got to visit a prospective college.

Lunch was a picnic in a park in a little ol river town, Pineville Missouri, where we shoulda taken a picture.

We also stopped to visit old friends in Arkansas and I got to see my kindergarten and 6th-8th English teacher. Mrs. Stanley was my favorite and I found out out I was hers. We met about 45 years ago and we both thought the other looked just as we remembered. So cool!

We had some rain off and on through the day but a great drive. We loved seeing the hills in AR, or are they considered mountains? I'd say mountains. See the low low clouds hanging? The kids thought that was cool.

We got there too late to do any sights, but we had an excellent supper at a place called Larry's Pizza in Ft. Smith and decided we would love to take the concept back home and open up our own Gary's Pizza. It was what you might call a lazy buffet.  A wild assortment of pizzas were carried around table to table in this place that seats 900, I'm not kidding!, and you were served whatever it was you wanted. Jack and I fell for the Bavarian, Gary liked the Honey Mustard Chicken, Caroline the BBQ Chicken, and Grant couldn't decide on just one out of his 20 pieces.  Sam chose the cheese pizza, the other cheese pizza, or maybe it was the cheese pizza.

We ended the day driving through the beautifully lush green cattle country of Oklahoma and settled for the night in McAlester.

Day#188

Vacation Day 1

We left a half hour after the time projected, but we are on the road to Texas in the mini van!  We had breakfast in Rolla, Missouri where Gary picked up his textbook for next week's stunner class and Jack got to visit a prospective college.

Lunch was a picnic in a park in a little ol river town, Pineville Missouri, where we shoulda taken a picture.

We also stopped to visit old friends in Arkansas and I got to see my kindergarten and 6th-8th English teacher. Mrs. Stanley was my favorite and I found out out I was hers. We met about 45 years ago and we both thought the other looked just as we remembered. So cool!

We had some rain off and on through the day but a great drive. We loved seeing the hills in AR, or are they considered mountains? I'd say mountains. See the low low clouds hanging? The kids thought that was cool.

We got there too late to do any sights, but we had an excellent supper at a place called Larry's Pizza in Ft. Smith and decided we would love to take the concept back home and open up our own Gary's Pizza. It was what you might call a lazy buffet.  A wild assortment of pizzas were carried around table to table in this place that seats 900, I'm not kidding!, and you were served whatever it was you wanted. Jack and I fell for the Bavarian, Gary liked the Honey Mustard Chicken, Caroline the BBQ chicken, and Grant couldn't decide on just one out of his 20 pieces.  Sam chose the cheese pizza, the other cheese pizza, or maybe it was the cheese pizza.

We ended the day driving through the beautifully lush green cattle country of Oklahoma and settled for the night in McAlester.

Day#187

This is the faces of frustration, poor guys. Grant got a memory card for his phone in hopes of storing music to listen to on our long drive but after hours and hours of him and Ross messing with it, still no songs. Well, none besides Blister in the Sun and Seven Nation Army.  And then eventually those were even lost.

Day#186

Weather is looking very rough where we are headed for our vacation later this week. What's the odds of the one place out of the whole United States that we randomly chose to go to would have historical, devastating and deadly rainfall and flooding?  And after how many years of drought?  If we *ever* had a vacation go off without a major hitch, I think we'd pass out.

The house we've rented is high on a hill and a mile from the Blanco River so we're still going.

Day#185

Temporary flag pole made from broken patio umbrella.  Leave it to Gary : )

Monday, May 25, 2015

Day#184

Our cul-de-sac on Memorial Day.  Last weekend our Boy Scouts put flags out on veterans graves as they do every year, but I forgot to take a picture of that.

Day#183

Look who is working on another scout service project!  This time it was building four retaining walls out of black locust logs at a bridge at Siu·e. Jack was there too.

Day#182

Look who got together with the cousins for another 50th birthday celebration and guess who's next! : /

Day#181

Look who grew yet another moustache and carried his trombone off the bus for the last time as a 4th grader!

Day#180

Look who won on belt buckle day at work!

Day#179

Look who knows all his capitals and states!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Day#178

This does not feel like mid-May! Brrrr

Day#177

When visitors to Cuba come home bearing gifts. Thanks Ross!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Day#176

Sunday night sunset and the last minute pursuit of a pond water sample for the girlie to take to school in the morning

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Day#173

Last Friday Gary celebrated his 20th year anniversary at work. 

An iguana on the cake, you ask?   Two reasons.  One, when the office lady was asking him question after question of "what type of cake,  what type of icing, do you want a filling, what kind of filling, would you rather have a different snack other than cake, what size of cake, what color of cake, what kind of drink do you want to have with the cake.....", he impulsively said, "I don't care, how about you just make it an iguana cake."  Two, because that was his favorite, most special, most memorable birthday cake ever, the one his mom made/created homemade to fulfill his wish for a cake with an iguana on it when he was just a little boy more than forty years ago.

Day#175

Regular Jack and employee Jack

Day#174

Saw that someone posted this on Instagram and I loved it!
I think Tuba Dude has gone on to become Tuba Man.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Day#172

Today is Western Day for 4th graders. Grant's second grade Halloween costume to the rescue. And thank you to the original seamstress, Grandma Barbara!

Day#171

Now the roses are in bloom

Day#170

Goofy and Goofier?

Day#169

My snap from the bowling night

Day#168

Here's a yahoo or two from last Saturday night when we went bowling.

Gary and Jack didn't go but the rest of us had a pretty good time.  My shoe broke right after we walked in and I asked Grant, aka Mr. Strike, if he'd carry me out to the van at the end of the night. He said, in the Grant monotone voice, "I could....but I don't really want to."

Day#167

Yikes, time to catch up!  I was waiting for a picture of Grant with his award from the band banquet last Friday, but will go ahead and I'll get that posted eventually.

Here's Jack with his friend, a senior who is soon graduating. They have several things in common besides band. Belt buckles, pickup trucks, and a fondness for cb's, to name a few. Plus, they're really nice boys that are good to their mamas.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Day#166

We had another band event this week, a recognition banquet. Jack was noted for 'most Western shirt'. 
Just kidding!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Day#165

Two of Sam's favorite things:  grilled cheese sandwiches and paper folding

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Day#164

We have two lilac bushes that have bloomed at different times so I have been able to have beautiful smelling bouquets in the house for a couple of weeks straight. It'll be sad when this last bush is finished.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Day#163

Tonight Jack was inducted into the National Honor Society, one of 167 students chosen. Criteria for selection includes academic achievement, character, leadership, and service. We were really proud of him, but I didn't do so well with the picture taking. Timing is not my area of high achievement.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Day#162

Our friends are moving soon so we went over to their house for a bit this weekend. They wanted to give us an old trunk that they aren't able to take to their new house in Oklahoma. While in their basement, I noticed Gary standing right beneath this sign which made me crack up and I had to take a picture. This sign is actually from the train depot of Unadilla, New York, the hometown of our friend, while our funny memory involves Unadilla, Georgia. Just the name Unadilla itself is pretty funny, right?

Once on a drive to Florida on a really hot summer day, I think we just had Jack and Grant at that time, we stopped at the Unadilla combination gas station/Dairy Queen and noticed some local fellas ahead of us getting some ice cream, too. They looked a little greasy and definitely hairy. They had on sleeveless t-shirts and big bellies that just completed the image. And they were into their ice cream.  Not to sound judge-y, however, because I know several people, self included, that gets into their ice cream.  Ever see George Costanza eat a sundae?! (If not, google 'YouTube Seinfeld George eating ice cream') One of my favorites because somehow sadly, I can totally relate.

Anyway, I musta been well satisfied after the DQ because Gary had to wake me up just a few miles down the road to see this sight, the same three guys sitting along the road broke down, that part not funny I know, but they were sitting in a line on their truck tailgate with their too small redneck shirts pulled up above their bellies and still getting all into their big DQ blizzards. So, that's the mental image I associate with when hearing the name Unadilla.

Day#161

Taken outside a church in town. I love ferns!

Day#160

Friday night fun. Water is still pretty cold but when you're ten, you just don't care.