Every Trip To Texas ALWAYS Includes Galveston

 The wildflowers are in abundance.  Many of the residents of the island let their yards go uncut until the wildflowers die out.  Here are just a few.

Galveston is always such fun and a unique experience.  My friends I stay with have a myriad of interests such as the Seafarer's Gala.  Therefore I am included in things that I would never think to do.   This trip was no exception.  Great meals, fun people, a weekend with my grandchildren and time at the beach.  What's not to love?

The water this trip has looked somewhat angry and not as blue or green as usual.  Prior to the tornado in Oklahoma this week, when there was the big low pressure system, the tide was really, really in and the waves were really high.  Red flags were posted for people to stay out of the water.  Some didn't of course.

In addition to all the fun and frivolity with Sue and Vandy, we closed a chapter on putting the finishing touches on their home since Hurricane Ike.  I hung art for them in several rooms.  And they finished redecking the patio.  The place looks great.  It has been a long, exhausting and arduous journey for them.

It was interesting as I was measuring and grouping and hanging art how many old memories came flooding back from my design days. I admit that in the last ten years of the business I had installation crews to hang the art, but I always did a schedule and diagram of how to hang the pieces.  To physically do it last week reminded me of when I first started.  My oh my, those were the days - of course I was stronger thirty years ago and could lug that art up on a ladder, position it, and hang it with no thought of falling off the ladder or anything lie that.  NOW I'm darn careful.

I left Galveston on Wednesday and am now firmly ensconced at my brother's house in Houston.  Next stop, who knows!  I haven't cooked since I got to Texas two and a half weeks ago.  I'm cooking for six for a Memorial Day Barbeque.  One of the guests is a chef.  Uh oh, the pressure is on!  I got all the ingredients today, will cook some tomorrow and finish up on Monday.  It will be a poolside party.  It should be fun. I love to cook when I have someone to cook for...........

Stay tuned.

Casita Tranquilo - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Available for Rent

It's been six months since the guest house has been available for rent!  It is NOW available for short-term or long-term effective June 15th, 2013.  Just in time for summer travel.

Now that the humidity, heat and hurricanes are heading your way - come enjoy the fabulous weather of San Miguel de Allende.  Temps in the summer are in the low 80's with humidity BELOW 20%.  It is heavenly.

Typically the house is not offered short-term, but rather a minimum of a one year lease.  However, several people have expressed interest in being here this summer, so, in answer to those inquiries and in response to the previous tenants moving out early - THIS is your lucky break~

The first photo is the gardens.  The second photo is the guest house.  To see complete photos of the interior please go to the sidebar of the blog and click on October  14, 2012 post.  Guest house interiors.

Monthly rent short term is $800USD with a $300 security deposit that is refunded within 45 days.after departure. Weekly rental is $560 per week with the same security deposit and long term with a year's lease would be $750, first and last months rent plus $300 security deposit.

If you're not looking for a place but know someone who is wanting to come to a peaceful, serene and tranquil place, I would so appreciate your passing this info on.

As you will see in the description in 2012, the house if fully furnished with maid service, internet and satellite TV.  All you need to bring are your clothes.

If interested, please leave a comment and I will contact you.

Losing Landmarks

I lived in Houston for 34 years.  I've been gone 12 years.  You would think that I should be able to find my way around the city.  Alas, many of the landemarks are gone and I miss my turn often, have to make a U-turn and work my way back to where I intended to go down a certain street.

Yesterday I was driving to my next Port of Call, my brother and sister-in-law's house.  For something different I decided to drive the 610 Loop, south of the city.  Something I had not done in years and years.

New elaborate signage near the Meyerland Mall area confused me and the next thing I knew, I wasn't on the freeway anymore but on South Braeswood Blvd!  What?  I remained calm as I knew that there were familiar streets that would cross this one and I could eventually reach my destination without getting back up on the freeway.

I drove and drove.  Eventually I came to Hillcroft which used to be a street I used a lot as my dad lived off that street back in the 70's.  There was very little trace of anything familiar.  For one thing, neighborhoods have become very ethnic with  restaurants of all persuasions in some areas. 

It WAS interesting to travel and see the new sites, sorta.  Then I turned on Bellfort and could have been in the Bronx.  Lots of dilapidated apartments with tin foil on the windows to keep out the sun.  Cars parked willy nilly.  Strange signage that made no sense to me.  Many stores to cash checks and use Western Union. This used to be white suburbs.  No longer.

There is a beautiful Turkish Temple with a park of peace on one side of the entrance to Glenshire.  On the other side is a mosque.  An indication of the diversity of this city.

Houston is known to have ninety cultures within its boundaries.  I traveled through many of them in about a 10 mile span yesterday!

National Maritime Day - May 22nd

How many of you knew that today is National Maritime Day in the USA?  That many of you?  Wow!

I wouldn't have known except last Friday in Galveston they observed the day with a ceremony next to the Tall Ship Elissa as part of the Seafarers Center's Gala event being held that evening, which I attended.

Unknown to me, I was shepherded to this event on the pier.  Had I been on my own, I would not have probably ended up there.  I'm so darn glad my friends Sue and Vandy made sure I was there.

It was very ceremonial, which I'm not.  At least not very often.  However, it seemed appropriate once I heard the statistics about merchant marines and the role they have played in defending the USA and the role they play in industry and activities at the Port of Galveston. And all ports.

Members of the Coast Guard presented the Colors.  They had the Pledge of Allegiance along with recognition of dignitaries and veterans.  In addition there was recognition of maritime industry workers.

In Galveston  there is the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston.  The Director spoke of the current and future plans of the school, the amount of students and the renewed interest in this field of study.

The absolute most interesting part of the entire afternoon was the introduction of Merchant Marines who served in World War II.  Among them was a woman, whose name I can't remember, who joined the Merchant Marines because originally she wanted to get to Australia.  She never got there..She told the most amazing stories about being a radio operator and at one point being on a boat in the bay near Iwo Jima. along with 100's of other ships.  She told me also that originally the radio operators were below deck.  It worked better to have them on the main deck so they could see better so they built a wooden shack for them up there.  Hence the name Radio Shack - I'm NOT making this up!

This woman is 92 years old and remembered specific and intricate details of much of her eight years as a Merchant Marine.  She is a tiny woman but she was a spitfire, to put it mildly.  When I found out that night from her that she is 92, I could hardly believe it.  What tales she had to tell!

Shortly thereafter during the ceremony, a firefighting tug pulled up and presented a water cannon salute.  Quite impressive.  Of course I have photos of ALL of this, but can't share with you til I return to San Miguel.

So today, when you have nothing to do or think about, remember that they say if it hadn't been for the Merchant Marines, it is questionable if we would have won World War II.  The number of casualties was astounding and their presence was  huge.

For more information,  do your own sleuthing.  It's fun to learn something new about a subject
 that you've never thought about before..........

Happy National Maritime Day!

Siege of Scorpions

As I was getting ready to leave San Miguel de Allende in the dusty, hot weather, I KNEW to be watching for scorpions, squirrels and other assorted creatures - none bother me though like SCORPIONS!

I wrote previously in a blog called "Animal House" about a wily scorpion.  I can call him wily now.  At the time I thought he was just sinister.

So, I've been watching.  Especially at night when you flip on the light.  My eyes scour the ceiling and walls.
If I see one my heart races and I grab something and smash it to bits.  Or use spray starch to freeze it in place while I find something to kill it, for sure.

One appeared a couple of weeks ago.  He's gone to where dead scorpions go.  THEN the day before I left I noticed a shadow in the drapes in the bedroom.  What the heck?  It didn't move so I figured it was dead....
NOT!  I grabbed something and squished it between the drapery lining and the drapes.  Heck, this is NOT rocket science.

I left a post-in-note on the drapes that morning as I left for the airport,   saying "Muertos"...........hopefully Josefina, the maid or my son John will get rid of it.........or if not, I'll be faced with a dried, dead scorpion.

I'll face that when I have to..........hopefully the rains will have come and the scorpions will stop looking for a cool place to go (inside my house).  I have no idea where they go or stay when the rains come.  Hopefully far, far away.

Hanging in Houston

Hanging in Houston is a fun time! 

I arrived last Thursday afternoon by air, an unusual thing for me.  Usually I make the trek by car.  This time however, I decided to use some of those miles I have saved.  I must admit, a two hour flight, was delightful versus a fourteen hour drive.  Of course, the time from when I left the house until I arrived at my friend's house was 7 hours...........but, since I wasn't driving, it was a delight.

I might even decide to do this kind of travel again sometime.  I've been saving those miles forever for a BIG trip, but, this has opened my eyes to an EASY trip.  Nope, I didn't have to take my shoes off and nope I didn't have to pay for my checked bag.  Smooth sailing.

I no sooner arrived here then I swiftly changed clothes, freshened up and was out the door to hear music and prose from Ramblin' Jack, a cowboy blues singer.  He is a contemporary of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and a few others he has entertained with.  He, and his sidekick, John Bonet, a  Cowboy poet, were driving cross country for gigs.  Next stop was Baton Rouge.  I just shook my head that two 80 something year old guys had that much energy and were having that much fun!  A delightful evening.

It's been a series of lunches and dinners with friends, including one early morning (8:30AM!) meeting with another..........It warms my heart that I still have so many friends here even though I've been gone for 12 years.

The piece de resistance was Sunday for Mother's Day.  I spent it at my daughter and son-in-law's house with four of the seven grandchildren.  They didn't let me do a thing and had roses for me.  This getting older stuff works out pretty good sometimes.  Sure seems strange to just sit back and have someone do things for me!

I'm heading off to Galveston tomorrow to spend a little time enjoying friends, staring at the Gulf and eating seafood.  Gotta have my Galveston fix!

Since I flew up, my dear friends Sue and Vandy lent me Sue's Cadillac to drive.  It's big and long.  I feel more like a ship's pilot then a driver.  Sure rides smooth after an SUV.  I'm looking both ways multiple times before pulling out anywhere as I'm paranoid driving someone elses car..........They drive FAST in this town.
Everyone everywhere is in a hurry!  Not me.

Looking forward to the slower pace in Galveston for a while - kinda like San Miguel.

See you on down the road with more adventures...........

Outtahere for a While!

I'm heading NOB to see family and friends.  It's THAT time of the year when its dusty and hot!
Kinda like living in a semi-arid place, which I do.  At least til mid-June.

I'll keep you informed of shenanigans as they occur and evolve.  The next five days will be chock-a-block full of all kinds of unique and different fun.

Tonight, the Mucky Duck for live music.  Tomorrow to Galveston for the day. Saturday is the Art Car Parade.  Sunday is Mother's Day and.....ta ta, Monday is Martha's "mumblesomething" birthday and a Greek outdoor party that night!

Whew.

I'm outtahere - more from the other side.