May 26 2011
Discovered yet another bird’s nest outside our house. This time it’s a Phoebe nest under the roof eave on the exact opposite side of where our Mourning Doves are nesting. Can’t see inside but I can hear at least two chicks chirping away whenever mom comes near.
May 25 2011
The worst part of any trip is the financial reconciling that follows. Good thing I’m anal. About keeping things, that is.
May 24 2011
After driving for about nine hours and almost 700 miles, I decided to meet Sylvia, Rodrigo and the doggies for a greatly refreshing 3-mile walk at Mission Bay, just east of SeaWorld. Yeah, it’s good to be back.
May 24 2011
Finally ended my two and a half week, 3,253 mile excursion across four states, coming and going, with an evening arrival back home in a cooler-than-Texas-New Mexico-or-Arizona San Diego. A little strange to be back. How do I do everyday stuff again?
May 24 2011
Was having a really good French Toast breakfast at the Lazy Lizard Lounge restaurant at the hotel when 20 worn and dirty Carson National Forest “Hotshot” firefighters came in from an overnight battle with a wildfire outside Silver City. They were enjoying a well-deserved and government-paid buffet before heading back to their home station in Taos, NM. Just thought that was interesting.
May 24 2011
For the final leg of my two+ week adventure in New Mexico and Texas I will be leaving Deming, NM after breakfast and should arrive in San Diego sometime in the late afternoon/early evening. Google Maps says 630 miles and 10 hours.
May 23 2011
After arriving at my hotel in Deming, I ventured out to discover something about this small town that might be worth writing home about. Turns out that in 1881 Deming was the location for laying of the Silver Spike connecting the country’s second transcontinental railroad. Too bad that the woman at the visitor’s center was ironically visitor un-friendly and that the old steam locomotive they have on display was hidden behind very non-photogenic chicken wire fencing. Still, a reason to visit Deming.
May 23 2011
For my first day of driving back home to San Diego, I will be heading out from Cedar Park, TX and should be arriving in Deming, NM in the late evening. 677 miles and 11 hours according to Google Maps. Sad to be driving away, but glad to be heading home.
May 22 2011
For my last night in Texas, I went to dinner with Brenda and Tom at a nearby Z’Texas here in Austin. Had one last really good steak before I leave.
May 22 2011
Went to the Apple Store at The Domain in Austin with Brenda to check out the new store layout. Every display item now has a fastened-down iPad next to it for customers to access information, call for assistance or actually make purchases.
May 21 2011
Spent the late afternoon, evening and into the night in downtown Austin with Brenda, her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Walked around downtown and watched the bats fly from the Congress Avenue Bridge after sundown before having a late appetizer dinner at the Intercontinental’s Stephen F’s Bar and Terrace with Brenda just down the street form the capitol building.
May 20 2011
Spent the evening with Brenda out at the Biergarten in Walburg, TX. It was mariachi night, but they still had the German oompa house band play a few sets as well. Had me a tasty wienerschnitzel plate with a good old König Pilsner beer.
May 20 2011
Went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on opening day with Brenda. Fun movie, glad to see Captain Jack, Barbosa and Mr. Gibbs again, but just didn’t like it as much as I enjoyed first three. Wonderful scenery, special effects and piratey stuff, but it felt very disjointed in the beginning and it didn’t seem to have the heart that the others did. Also missed some of the secondary characters from the first three like Pintel and Rigetti. Still, am glad I went to see it. Love pirate movies, especially of the Caribbean type.
May 19 2011
Got to see my first Texas bullfrog tonight when moving my car. Didn’t seem to mind me much sneaking up on it from behind to take its picture. Even the frogs are neighborly.
May 19 2011
On a drizzly afternoon, Brenda and I drove over to a nearby Cheddar’s in Austin to have lunch. We split a really good Monte Christo sandwich and she added a salad while I had a cup of very good potato soup with cheese and bacon bits. My lemonade was healthy.
