I'm Not Trying to Bring This Blog Down with Death AGAIN, but...

I love light rock. I love 70's light rock and folk. So, it is no surprise that I like Dan Fogelberg. I mean, "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne?" Well, people, he died this weekend. And, I just want to say that I'll miss him and his Same Old Lang Syne. This time of year, I just can't get enough.
Now, Charlie, I realize you don't like the Same Old, but can you at least just give it one listen since he DIED? Thank you.

In Loving Memory (2002-2007)

Roxy went to Doggie Heaven on Saturday, November 24th 2007. Although she fought hard, kidney failure could not be overcome. She was a great family pet and will be missed tremendously. She loved to eat, drink, play fetch, and get on the top step of the swimming pool. She enjoyed long walks, car rides and visiting her dog friends like Aggie, Pete and Wendy.

She leaves behind two pug brothers, Emmitt Merle (10) and Pudge Moochie (9); and her humans, Daddy Scott, Mommy Ro, Sister Scout, Grandpa Phil and grandparents G and Rich.

Roxy will always have a special place in our hearts. and I know the neighborhood has just lost one of it best four-legged friends.

A special thank you goes out to Grandpa Phil who loved and cared for Roxy when she was at her sickest.

Our Trip to the Texas Panhandle

Scott and I headed to West Texas this holiday weekend to witness our good friend, Dee Ann, get hitched. She and her new husband decided to get married in McLean, Texas which is essentially in the middle of nada. It was snowing when we rolled into town and checked into the Cactus Inn on Friday afternoon. Now, the photos here on the blog are ones with grass and leaves on trees. Our experience was of barren trees and snow covered ground.

The town is barely existent as there is ONE gas station (which doubles as the only place to get fast food), NO traffic lights, NO coffee shops, NO bars (dry county), and ONE teeny-tiny grocery shop. Scott was pretty shocked at the area. I'd been there before when Dee Ann lived there several years ago out on a ranch, so I knew what to expect. Still, I was pretty amazed at how desolate and depressing a town this was, yet people were living there and friendly. There is a high school (really tiny), three churches and a cemetery. Here are some photos of what we experienced:

Here is a photo of the Cactus Inn's old sign. It was a trip. I've not stayed in a motel such as this Route 66 classic ever in my travels. The people that owned it lived behind the little check in desk. They had a living room back there. I really wanted a tour of their digs, but I didn't ask. Instead, I just took our old school actual key and walked over to room 19 (out of 21). Luckily we got to stay in town close to the wedding location and dinner hall.

While I waited to go to the dinner and wedding, I cruised McLean, and I saw these "buildings" that used to probably be operational at one point.

Another old service station from the glory days of McLean.
This refurbished service station was right across the street from the church where Dee Ann got married. It was actually pretty cool.

I included this picture because Alanreed is actually a town in Texas. Weird name. We drove there on Friday night because the dinner/dance was BYOB, and McLean is dry. So, we had to pack it up and head out on I-40 to Alanreed, TX about 10 miles down the highway. Basically, the whole town is the beer store, which also serves as the post office, snack shop, souvenir shop, and laundry mat. Pretty awesome. It had a tee pee on top of the shop, but I didn't get a picture. Just imagine it by looking at the sign in front of the place.

Anyway, Dee Ann got married and the whole operation was very nice, and I was really happy for her. No, they aren't going to live in McLean; they just got married there. Long story. Anyway, man....there are some crazy old towns in Texas. They are full of history and stories that reel me in, but I wouldn't ever want to live in them.

Because You're Never Too Old to Buy a Jeep

Yes, we bought a Jeep. It is a 4-Door to accomodate the child. She likes being whipped by the wind in the back seat. I like feeling like driving is fun again. Scott likes driving the Tahoe. So, everyone is happy. The weather has been gorgeous lately, so we took advantage of the top down capabilities.
Today begins Thanksgiving Break, so I'm home and blogging. Sorry I've been absent so long, but geesh I've been busy and even sick. But, I'm back. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Higher Education?

I don't know if I told you blog readers, but I'm working on my edubication. Yes, I've got my sights set on a master's degree in admin. I should be finished in 17 more months, if I don't get kicked out. The entire deal is online. I'm loving that. It is sort of like blogging your way to a skin on the wall. Works for me. So, that previous post about moving to California, well that is what I now call my "2 year plan." I wouldn't want to move before I finish this deal here in the great state of Texas. Of course, just because I call it my 2 year plan doesn't mean it is a sure thing. Scott is against the move (which is sort of major), and well, my life's pretty good here, so I may just not be meant to move. We'll see what happens...in two years when my plan tries to go into motion.

California Dreamin' ?

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Since I've returned from my trip to Cali last week, I have been sifting through real estate on the web for evidence that a relocation is possible for me and mine. It is as expensive as shinola out there. I've found a couple of pockets of real estate that would be financially feasible. But, they are not in a city we'll say.

Let me just lay it out for you: to move to the part of California I want, we'd be talking trailer. There I said it. Here is an example: 1500 sq. feet for $250K That trailer is like many others listed for the town of Scott's Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 10 minutes from Santa Cruz which is a place I love. Also, Scott's Valley is only about 30 minutes from my lovely sister and the bustling work mecca of Silicon Valley.

Ok, so we are back to talking about the fact that me living in NorCal means me living in a trailer. Right. Awesome. Spectacular. No?

So, what do you think? Is the California dream of mountains, beaches, year-round cool breezes and sunshine worth trailer shame? I know North Texas is pretty awesome, but I've lived here for now a total of 23 years of my life. Let me know what you guys think.


A sunset picture from Santa Cruz.

real smooth

Tonight i went to take off my eye make up (yes i wear eye make up once a week) and I used rubbing alcohol on the cotton ball instead of make up remover. Yes, it burned severely.

I think I really need more sleep.

Decades of Dream Rides

Automobiles are just to get you from point A to point B. When I start to get greedy, I have to remember that. Because, I'd have 8 different cars/suvs/trucks if I could. I love them so much. You might be wondering why there is a Suzuki Samurai photo below. The reason for that is the Suzuki Samurai was my first dream car.

I think I was about 14 when I began dreaming about me cruising in the Samurai with the top down and my hair blowing in the wind. It was the 80's, and I figured at anytime I'd be moving to Southern California, so it would all be perfect. I actually would have given up a kidney for a Jeep Wrangler, but I knew that funds were tight in my family and know one was offering the kidney trade deal, so I thought the Samurai was a possibility since it was so much cheaper. Thus, I set my sites on the tiny little SUV from about '86-'90.



Of course, I never got the Samurai. And wouldn't you know it, my tastes changed as the end of the 80's rolled around. About 1991 I hit my sports car stage and moved the Nissan 300z and Mitsubishi Eclipse onto my pedestals. Pretty much this stage came about because there were some uber-cool kids at my high school that drove these cars. I supposed I knew cool when I saw it, and it was a two-seater sports car with power under the hood.

I'd hate to tell you the cars I actually drove during these times. Let's just say that they were what we call P.O.S.'s. ok? I went off to college in '92, and had to pretty much just leave my car in a small Arizona town because it was so pathetic. I spent my freshman year car-less. During that year, I revisited the visions of me in a Jeep or even a sports car. No cool car ever arrived in Arizona. Instead, I got a silly little 3-cylinder car that put-putted me through the college years.

I remember my senior year in college when I started thinking about getting a real job and a real paycheck. I was student teaching, and I saw the newest dream car addition. The Toyota 4Runner. I was in fantasyland. I knew that if I could get my poor hands on a magical cool-alert 4Runner that I would finally arrive in this life. But, you guessed it, I never got the cool mid-90's 4Runner.

However, I did get the Jeep. In 1997, after a few "real" paychecks, I went right up to the dealership and bought myself a brand new Wrangler. So, dreams do come true. First you have to dream it, then you have to work your butt off for it. Leave a comment noting your dream car if you care to share.

Another Reason The 80's Were Awesome

I LOVED Garbage Pail Kids! I just wanted to post a few "cards" here for some of you to remember the good times you had with these cards. I've always loved grossness, and these cards were a way to show it. My mom was always so disgusted when I showed her, like they were sacrilegious or something. If you didn't dig the GPKs, that's ok, we can still be friends.

Comfort Food

Yesterday, I decided to slow cook some pork ribs for Scott, since he loves ribs. I never cook them because I feel like good ribs are a lot of work. And, since I don't even like ribs, I don't want to put in all the work. Plus, I want a smoker for such a tast, but we don't have one.

Anywho, so I cooked ribs, taters, corn and even fried chicken. Now, I've never fried chicken before. This has been a sore spot with Scott because he LOVES fried chicken. I've always resisted because 1) didn't know how 2) too much work and 3) unhealthy - won't support that. But, I broke down and busted it out yesterday. And it was actually quite tasty. Plus, it wasn't that much work. Scott was really appreciative and proclaimed, "It took you 15 years to make me fried chicken!"

In summary, I just wanted to tell you people outside of Texas, that we were having some serious southern comfort food this weekend. Miss you all.

Here is a tribute to fried chicken: