Visit With Loretta

A highlight of any trip to Austin is visiting with my old friend Loretta. Ken drove me to the Costco parking lot today where I met with her for a leisurely stroll around Arbor Trails walking path. It's a wide, well maintained crushed gravel trail that winds around the large Arbor Trails shopping center. It has shade and scenery and even some interpretive signs showing local trees and such. Loretta and John are about to graduate as Master Naturalists, so they know a great deal about the local geology and flora and fauna, but she says they still have a lot to learn. As usual, we had an enjoyable conversation.

After our walk we headed to Kerbey Lane Cafe nearby. Ken joined us; he had been browsing the electronics department and cruising the samples at Costco.

We have eaten at the Kerbey Lane before, and it's always good. Today we had a rather long wait, even though we had called in early to get on the wait list. We enjoyed our meal and the conversation. I don't see Loretta often enough, but now that we have a guest room, we're hoping she (and maybe John) will come to the valley for a visit.

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Visit with the Allens

We are spending the night tonight in Georgetown, TX, near where Chris and Jessica Allen live in Round Rock. Jessica (nee Toups) is my goddaughter, but we haven't seen each other for nine years. A lot can happen in that time--including a new baby. Byron is nine months old. He's a cute redhead and very outgoing and charming, so of course he makes friends everywhere.

We went to the Fish City Grill in Georgetown for dinner. The food was very good, and the service was outstanding. As first timers, we received samples of all the soups they make on the premises and of their signature oyster nachos (all very good).

Byron hasn't been feeling well, but he was still eager to interact and try new foods. He especially likes vegetables.

We mentioned that we had been in the Seattle airport, and that led to a conversation about how much they love Seattle. They are really into the coffee culture and are thinking about relocating there. We had a really good visit and hope to see them again when we're passing through this area. Read more!

Halloween Preparations

It's almost Halloween, so the kids have been getting ready. An impressive jack o'lantern greets visitors on the front porch.

Scruffie watches intently as Donna wraps Jesse's leg in plastic wrap

Toby looks on too

We won't be in town to see the kids in costume, but we did see Jesse proudly trying on his very authentic looking astronaut suit. Read more!

The Bellagio

Ken and I walked to the Bellagio today. We enjoyed the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens all decked out for fall.

Wee also watched the impressive fountain show a couple of times.

Rainbows in the dancing waters

Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower recreation behind the fountains

We called a Lyft to go back to the hotel. This time I knew right where the shared ride pickup area was. Read more!

More Family in Vegas

Las Vegas is a great place to get together with friends and family. In the past, Ken and I have joined my brother Bob and his wife Kathy and our cousin Jen and her husband George here--some good memories.

We created some new ones today. Chris just happened to be in Las Vegas for work, but his meetings didn't start until 4:00 p.m., so he flew in early for a visit.

He and I walked to the Strip to visit the Bellagio and see the very impressive Fountains of Bellagio. The waters shoot high into the air or wave gently in time with the music. So much water is launches into the air that we saw rainbows. Of course the celebratory mood of Vegas is tempered right now by the memory of the tragedy on October 1. The motto "Vegas Strong" was everywhere.

We took a Lyft to join Ken and Rebecca and Catt at the Naked City Pizza on
Paradise Rd. Rebecca and Catt drove in from Victorville to visit. We were lucky to be here in the two week window between Catt's summer job at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone and her winter job at Mammoth Lakes near Yosemite.

We were very glad to see everyone and catch up on their lives.

After lunch Chris headed to his hotel to get ready to work, and the rest of us headed to M&M World on the Strip. Four floors of M&M's and brand related merchandise dazzle the eyes. The characters, like Yellow and Red, make "live" appearances. We attended a free 3-D movie “I Lost My 'M' in Vegas,” starring Red and Yellow

M&M's sponsors a Nascar racer

Ken as an M&M on the beach between two palm trees.

Rebecca and Catt had to drive back to Victorville. Rebecca dropped us off at our hotel while Catt took the opportunity to visit friends who just happened to be on the Strip today. We wished them safe travels and plopped down on the beds for a rest. Ken's back has been really hurting him lately, and walking around the Strip and around the four floors of M&M's was a bit too much. Read more!

Jeff's Great Retirement Party

Jeff has been counting down the days until he could retire from the Air Force with twenty years of service. This fall the time finally came for him to retire, so of course he threw a great party to celebrate. Family and friends from all over came to cheer him on and thank him for his service, and those who couldn't be there sent well wishes and congratulations. Terri and Blake wished him "Fair winds and following seas from the Navy."

It's a party!

Ken and I helped blow up the helium balloons

After the National Anthem, Jeff said a few words to start the ceremony, with special mention of his mom and grandma who have passed on.

Sabrina getting emotional, Savannah assisting with Jeff's retirement pin

Jeff wearing his retirement pin

Chief Williams and Jeff

Chief Williams provided Jeff with a wonderful send off, complete with stories about Jeff's inspiring dedication to work and study and his many contributions to the safety of his fellow airmen.

Sabrina, Jeff, and Jeff's old friends Todd and Joe with their wives. Joe arrived late, but his rendition of the National Anthem was worth waiting for!

Cake beautifully decorated by Aunt Wanda

Jeff preparing to cut the cake

Jeff cuts the cake assisted by Wanda.

Apologies to the many others in attendance that we didn't get good photos of.


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Spiral Diner for Brunch

Ed and Donna and Ken and I met Molly for brunch at the Spiral Diner in Fort Worth. We've been there before, so we were expecting good things, and we weren't disappointed.

The company was great! And I especially loved the blueberry pancakes with agave syrup. Yummy.

After brunch we walked around the neighborhood, which is the Fairmount National Historic District. This book swap box was designed by a local artist.

Later Molly came over to Ed and Donna's and we all played games. It's been an especially delightful visit with Molly.

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Back to the Levitt

Tonight we went to another free concert under the stars at the Levitt. Molly met us there. The opening act was Becca Mancari. She was good, but the headline act, Humming House, was great. They are a Nashville-based folk-rock-roots band with a very upbeat style and message.

The kids played, Toby made friends, and everyone had a good time. Ed and Donna happened to notice a nearby art walk, so they went to check that out too.

We went to the Bahama Buck's stand and got some strawberry cheesecake shave ice that was even better than what we had in Hawaii.

Humming House did a fine rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's A Hazy Shade of Winter, which Ed remembers from the Bangles cover in the 80s. My favorite was the title track of their new album, Companion. It's an infectious anthem celebrating love.

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Texas State Fair!

Ed and Donna and the kids and Ken and I all piled into Ed's van and headed to the State Fair of Texas this afternoon. We had some unexpected excitement on the freeway on the way: a multi-car accident happened practically right in front of us. Ed steered us to safety and called 911. There were car parts in the roadway, but all the people were apparently okay.

When we got to the Fair we looked over the map and schedule while Sam and Jesse played on an exhibit designed to test coordination. They had fun.

Of course we had to see Big Tex. His mouth moves as he makes announcements in a very deep voice. We all had hats on--it was a hot sunny day. Donna became known as the Blue Hat Lady. Her hat helped us locate her in the crowds.

One of the shows we watched was the Zu Zu African Acrobats. They perform traditional Kenyan acrobatic skills set to high energy beats.

Ed and Cate went out in a Swan paddle boat; Donna and the boys chose the Duck. Ed and Donna agreed it was hard work pedaling! We sat in the shade and watched.

Cate posed as the "I" in BIG Texas, sponsored by Fletcher's Corny Dogs, celebrating 75 years at the Fair. Ken and I had Fletcher's Corny Dogs. The cornmeal crust is definitely crunchy--different from any corn dog I've ever had. They deserve their reputation. We had some other fair food too, like a funnel cake and sausage on a stick and a Texas size smoked turkey leg, but no deep fried Oreos or other outlandish concoctions.

Jesse really enjoyed his "work" at Little Hands on the Farm. He got to pick crops, collect eggs, feed animals, collect wool from sheep, and drive a tractor. (No live animals or crops were harmed in the process.) At the end he earned a State Fair Buck for his work and got to pick a treat.

The boys went on the Bumper Cars. The kids all went in the Monkey Maze, Cate mainly to keep tabs on Jesse. As the evening wound down, we all took the Texas SkyWay aerial tram back to the main entrance, where we watched the Illumination Sensation. It incorporated fountains and lights and fireworks and acrobatic dancers, all to high energy pop music.

By then everyone was tired and glad to head back to the van for the ride home. An unfortunate side note: I managed to leave my stainless steel insulated Contigo water bottle behind somewhere. I mostly keep it clipped to my fanny pack except when I'm drinking, but I must have set it down somewhere. Read more!

Fun at the Levitt

We arrived at Loyd Park yesterday and got settled in to our campsite. It has full hookups, which is very good for a two week stay. We went over to Ed's for dinner. He had grilled chicken, but it was put on hold for a couple of hours because Ken had to go searching for a new 50 amp to 30 amp adapter to replace the one damaged by the defective breaker at Maumelle Park. We had forgotten that Loyd Park has 30 amp sites. The chicken was still delicious, and it was great to see Ed and Donna again.

This morning we went for a bike ride, our first in a couple of weeks, so of course our leg muscles complained.

After school we went over to Ed's. The kids were home from school, and Donna came in shortly.

This evening we all piled in Ed's van, and he drove to the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington for a free concert featuring the Quaker City Night Hawks. UTA was the event sponsor. They were handing out free stuff, so we got glow in the dark wrist straps for the kids and tee shirts for Jesse and Sam. Ken and I got UTA pen and pencil sets and microfiber lens cloths.

Ed was off most of the time playing football with Sam. Jesse was with them part of the time. Cate mainly read. Donna's dog Toby was with us too. It was fun, and we're planning to go back next Friday night.

The Levitt experience is kind of a combination of concert in the park and professional performance venue. It's a great facility, and it offers over 50 free concerts annually.

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The 39 Steps

Carol and Ken and I went to the Lindale Community Theater this afternoon for a performance of The 39 Steps. The blurb for the play was intriguing:

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This 2-time Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance! In The 39 Steps, a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure!

 It turned out to live up to the hype. The four actors were talented, versatile, and great at physical comedy. We laughed a lot.

This evening Debbie joined us for lasagna and Boggle. That's part of our tradition, and as usual, Debbie won several rounds. I am always happy to get a chance to visit with my goddaughter. Read more!