So I had a birthday this weekend. It was a great weekend but it was kind of funny because the greatness was only incidentally related to the birthday-ness.
Friday night - worked late and then had drinks with a friend. Got to chat about books, True Blood, and other random girl stuff. It was nice and relaxing. Ended up home watching Zach and Mira Make a Porno... that movie is kind of terrible, so consider yourself warned.
Saturday - my mom and dad came to visit us. We had lunch at Babe's Chicken Dinner House (SUPER yummy), played Wii and then went to a Rough Riders baseball game. RRs won and everything! Yippee! Watched Gran Turino with the 'rents when we got home - good flick.
Sunday (birthday) - brunch at Mattidos (even better than Babe's), a 3 hour nap, and then read most of a great book. My sweetie got me a super pretty bracelet and mom and dad got me a care package of stuff like booze/jammies/chocolate.
I think it's funny because 2 years ago I had an 80s themed roller skating party for my birthday. It was awesome and exciting and I figured I'd want all birthdays to be like that. This year - I am all about "mellow" for my bday instead of "awesome". I think I'll blame it on the fact that it was a Sunday instead of the fact that I'm older. Sunday's are supposed to be laid back - so that's probably it.. yeah... We'll go with that.
BTW - Denise, glad you made it to Canada!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
And We're Back! (from Lufkin)
So - if you didn't read the previous blog.. do that first. Otherwise - you're just going to get all confused and stuff and we don't what that to happen (ick!).
To start with the big news first - we didn't make it to the zoo.. no otter update. We ended up leaving early on Sunday (2ish) and that's typically "zoo day" if you will. Hence - no update. We did get home about 5pm, so that part was nice though. If you go to the Lukfin zoo page (click the blog title) - they claim they have a river otter, but they've claimed that a while now. So... who the heck knows for real.
We did manage to visit with Grannie. She's doing well and has a "gentleman caller" at the assisted living place that makes her feel special. She was yelled at playing her radio too loud (she was jamming to some Randy Travis). They don't currently have an "arts & crafts" lady so they do a lot of walking. Pretty sure there are other highlights that I'm forgetting - but her "man friend" Bob is the biggest of the news.
We hit Cafe Del Rio and had beverages and Nachos Del Rancho on Saturday. Picture a huge pile of tortilla chips with ranch dressing, grilled chicken, and monteray jack. Melt the hell out of that picture. The resulting super tasty outcome is the Nachos Del Rancho. Umm.. yummy. The concept of hot ranch dressing is disgusting (admittedly) but it's super tasty.
Hanging out at Cafe Del Rio
Late Saturday night was the cowboy bar (Electric Cowboy.. but really called Wild Horse Saloon techncially but not really). I was able to dance with Gary Don Wallace (concrete man extraordinairre) who is a super smooth dancer (I was either drunk or dancing better than average - didn't step on him that I remember). He's a character that would almost be worth devoting a whole book to in order to properly explain his complexity.. but basically imagine a small town man with a big ego and you get the picture. I also (yippee!) got to dance with my sweetie (Stevie). We aren't the best dancers together (or I was drunker) but we have a lot of fun and I like being held by him.. so that all counts. Oddly enough - we ran into our bartender from Friday night (Logan's very own Lydia) and got to hang out with her for a while. She's an exception to the Blondie v. Fattie rule and is kind of awesome.
Apparently - we might've imbibbed a little too much because I was the only one of the kids that got up for breakfast at 9am on Sunday AM. Had a pancake because my body wasn't too cool on the whole food concept. It was a good time hanging out with Steve, Betty, and their friends. We talked about who died recently (one works at a funeral home.. but it might be the age more than the occupation) and where all Jimmy went on his trip to New Mexico. Apparently - he went to Phoenix just because he thought it would be a neat drive... didn't have any plans once he actually made it there.. just a neat drive. I think I might've beat him within an inch of his life based on driving me > 1000 miles each way just to "get there". I think his wife might've agreed with me.. :)
Anyways.. it was a good trip. Would've been even better if our XM radio was working. Note to self: Gotta get that fixed before our 14 hour road trip to Colorado in July. Otherwise - ouch!
I'll post pics in the next day or so... Not that there were a lot.. but they didn't suck entirely.
To start with the big news first - we didn't make it to the zoo.. no otter update. We ended up leaving early on Sunday (2ish) and that's typically "zoo day" if you will. Hence - no update. We did get home about 5pm, so that part was nice though. If you go to the Lukfin zoo page (click the blog title) - they claim they have a river otter, but they've claimed that a while now. So... who the heck knows for real.
We did manage to visit with Grannie. She's doing well and has a "gentleman caller" at the assisted living place that makes her feel special. She was yelled at playing her radio too loud (she was jamming to some Randy Travis). They don't currently have an "arts & crafts" lady so they do a lot of walking. Pretty sure there are other highlights that I'm forgetting - but her "man friend" Bob is the biggest of the news.
We hit Cafe Del Rio and had beverages and Nachos Del Rancho on Saturday. Picture a huge pile of tortilla chips with ranch dressing, grilled chicken, and monteray jack. Melt the hell out of that picture. The resulting super tasty outcome is the Nachos Del Rancho. Umm.. yummy. The concept of hot ranch dressing is disgusting (admittedly) but it's super tasty.
Hanging out at Cafe Del RioLate Saturday night was the cowboy bar (Electric Cowboy.. but really called Wild Horse Saloon techncially but not really). I was able to dance with Gary Don Wallace (concrete man extraordinairre) who is a super smooth dancer (I was either drunk or dancing better than average - didn't step on him that I remember). He's a character that would almost be worth devoting a whole book to in order to properly explain his complexity.. but basically imagine a small town man with a big ego and you get the picture. I also (yippee!) got to dance with my sweetie (Stevie). We aren't the best dancers together (or I was drunker) but we have a lot of fun and I like being held by him.. so that all counts. Oddly enough - we ran into our bartender from Friday night (Logan's very own Lydia) and got to hang out with her for a while. She's an exception to the Blondie v. Fattie rule and is kind of awesome.
At Wild Horse Saloon
Apparently - we might've imbibbed a little too much because I was the only one of the kids that got up for breakfast at 9am on Sunday AM. Had a pancake because my body wasn't too cool on the whole food concept. It was a good time hanging out with Steve, Betty, and their friends. We talked about who died recently (one works at a funeral home.. but it might be the age more than the occupation) and where all Jimmy went on his trip to New Mexico. Apparently - he went to Phoenix just because he thought it would be a neat drive... didn't have any plans once he actually made it there.. just a neat drive. I think I might've beat him within an inch of his life based on driving me > 1000 miles each way just to "get there". I think his wife might've agreed with me.. :)
Anyways.. it was a good trip. Would've been even better if our XM radio was working. Note to self: Gotta get that fixed before our 14 hour road trip to Colorado in July. Otherwise - ouch!
I'll post pics in the next day or so... Not that there were a lot.. but they didn't suck entirely.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Heading to the Big L (as in Lufkin)
This weekend the family is heading to Lufkin. Pack up your pups, your shades, and your road trip tunes because AWAY WE GO.
I think it's almost been since Christmas since we went and saw Steve and Betty in Lufkin. I mean, we've seen them since then.. we aren't that crappy.. but it's always been in DFW. We can't help it - there's just too many cool things to do here :) All that being said - it's time for us to make a trip. We need to go to Logan's Roadhouse (or the bartenders would be upset for missing the boys), go see Grannie (or Betty will get a guilt trip later), and hopefully make it out to the zoo.
It's insane, but Lufkin, Texas has one of my all-time favorite zoos. Odd because it's a small town... They have all the animals you'd ever want to see and it's small enough that you an knock it out in about an hour and still have a ton of day left for good times elsewhere. So - my favorite animal at a typical zoo is the giraffe (or high-raffe if you prefer). Lufkin has some of those and they are super well taken care of and pretty. That being said... My favorite animal at the Lufkin zoo is the otter. The last few times we've been, there wasn't an otter on display because one of the hurricane's this year killed it. Hopefully - they've remedied that situation. I mean - it's an offer for goodness sake. How rare could they possibly be - so how hard could they be to get? Also thinking.. could probably buy one based on the spare change in the bottom of my purse (I exaggerate of course.. some). The reason the otter exhibit is so cool is that they are SOOOO monumentally lazy. They lay on their backs with their heads lolled to the side and their tongues hanging out (I swear - they aren't dead.. just lazy). The only time they ever move is when they are fed and then they are super graceful creatures chasing small fish in their little pond. I "heart" the otter. I suspect that my love of laziness and sleep-ocity is directly related to my attraction to Stevie - but that's another story.
The next most interesting place in Lufkin is the cowboy bar. It used to be called the Electric Cowboy - but it's something else now. Since it's really the only "club" in Lufkin, you'll see gangsters and cowboys hanging side-by-side. They are also typically lusting after the same chick. It's just odd - not bad - just odd. Lufkin has 2 broad categories of women (there are exceptions.. but this catches 80% of them): fatties and blondies. The blondies are the ex-cheer leader type (can be of any age) and all the men find them adorable, desirable, and downright yummy. Then there are the fatties (not - they aren't all actually large.. but they do trend that way). The ones of these at the cowboy bar tend towards the "I'm so hot that you should feel honored I'm speaking to you" and the "this outfit fits and doesn't make me look fat" side. It's some prime-time entertainment. I would have to recommend you go there at least once if you ever make it to Lufkin.
Well.. I better stop for now. I need to finish up on my packing so that we can beat Friday Dallas traffic (yikes). Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I'll let you know if the zoo trip works happens and what the latest status is on the otters.
I think it's almost been since Christmas since we went and saw Steve and Betty in Lufkin. I mean, we've seen them since then.. we aren't that crappy.. but it's always been in DFW. We can't help it - there's just too many cool things to do here :) All that being said - it's time for us to make a trip. We need to go to Logan's Roadhouse (or the bartenders would be upset for missing the boys), go see Grannie (or Betty will get a guilt trip later), and hopefully make it out to the zoo.
It's insane, but Lufkin, Texas has one of my all-time favorite zoos. Odd because it's a small town... They have all the animals you'd ever want to see and it's small enough that you an knock it out in about an hour and still have a ton of day left for good times elsewhere. So - my favorite animal at a typical zoo is the giraffe (or high-raffe if you prefer). Lufkin has some of those and they are super well taken care of and pretty. That being said... My favorite animal at the Lufkin zoo is the otter. The last few times we've been, there wasn't an otter on display because one of the hurricane's this year killed it. Hopefully - they've remedied that situation. I mean - it's an offer for goodness sake. How rare could they possibly be - so how hard could they be to get? Also thinking.. could probably buy one based on the spare change in the bottom of my purse (I exaggerate of course.. some). The reason the otter exhibit is so cool is that they are SOOOO monumentally lazy. They lay on their backs with their heads lolled to the side and their tongues hanging out (I swear - they aren't dead.. just lazy). The only time they ever move is when they are fed and then they are super graceful creatures chasing small fish in their little pond. I "heart" the otter. I suspect that my love of laziness and sleep-ocity is directly related to my attraction to Stevie - but that's another story.
The next most interesting place in Lufkin is the cowboy bar. It used to be called the Electric Cowboy - but it's something else now. Since it's really the only "club" in Lufkin, you'll see gangsters and cowboys hanging side-by-side. They are also typically lusting after the same chick. It's just odd - not bad - just odd. Lufkin has 2 broad categories of women (there are exceptions.. but this catches 80% of them): fatties and blondies. The blondies are the ex-cheer leader type (can be of any age) and all the men find them adorable, desirable, and downright yummy. Then there are the fatties (not - they aren't all actually large.. but they do trend that way). The ones of these at the cowboy bar tend towards the "I'm so hot that you should feel honored I'm speaking to you" and the "this outfit fits and doesn't make me look fat" side. It's some prime-time entertainment. I would have to recommend you go there at least once if you ever make it to Lufkin.
Well.. I better stop for now. I need to finish up on my packing so that we can beat Friday Dallas traffic (yikes). Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I'll let you know if the zoo trip works happens and what the latest status is on the otters.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I'm obsessed...
When you barely leave the house for an entire weekend (and then do so reluctantly) in order to read 3 monster books about vampires... I think it's safe to say that you're obsessed. So - since admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery (so I'm told) - "My name is Janell and I'm obsessed with vampires." Let's be clear, I'm not going out in public dressed like a fang banger hoping to get bitten. That's mostly the case because I'm not truly dumb enough to believe in the un-dead. Bite me if I'm wrong...seriously...well, maybe..
There is, however, something super drool-worthy over a book about vamps. This is me showing my age, but I've dug them (no grave references intended) since The Lost Boys (yum - Jason Patric) was at the theaters. They'd just gotten sexier since then... sigh.
Recently it's been all about the Southern Vampire series (Charlaine Harris). The obsession started simply enough - a brief commercial for a new HBO series called True Blood (obviously, I highly recommend you check it out). Thought "hey that sounds neat, I'll Vivo it". Those were some famous last words that committed me to hours of reading/chatting/obsession... worth it, but a major commitment. There's 9 books in the series thus far and I've read them all twice. Hot sex, independent/trouble-magnet main character who happens to read minds, and just plain fascinating stories. It helps tremendously that the actors on the TV show are hot as hell... good images to start with in your head. Lots of lust and torn loyalties involved. If you've read them, I'm curious if you're a Bill or an Eric fan. Me - I'm all about Eric. Even though he's blond (yuck), he's got power, confidence, and a huge.... ego on his side. New season starts this Sunday on HBO.. worth the extra cable bill... trust me.
This weekend, I powered through the first 3 books from the Twilight saga (saga is their word, not mine). Some 1,500 pages later - I can say that their passion and danger are nice in a PG kind of way. If I had a teenage daughter, I'd let her read them.. and then borrow them. Not as steamy but contains some of that guilt ridden teen angst that I can relate to from my high school days. First movie was good and is what encouraged me to go ahead with the books... but as always, the books are better.
Anyways.. after all this vampire submersion..and the fact that I'm about to run out of books again... I need to find a new outlet for my obsessive nature. Maybe I can funnel it into something productive like housework or the gym. More likely... I'll just read the damn books over and over again until there's a new one. Man.. I need a hobby :)
There is, however, something super drool-worthy over a book about vamps. This is me showing my age, but I've dug them (no grave references intended) since The Lost Boys (yum - Jason Patric) was at the theaters. They'd just gotten sexier since then... sigh.
Recently it's been all about the Southern Vampire series (Charlaine Harris). The obsession started simply enough - a brief commercial for a new HBO series called True Blood (obviously, I highly recommend you check it out). Thought "hey that sounds neat, I'll Vivo it". Those were some famous last words that committed me to hours of reading/chatting/obsession... worth it, but a major commitment. There's 9 books in the series thus far and I've read them all twice. Hot sex, independent/trouble-magnet main character who happens to read minds, and just plain fascinating stories. It helps tremendously that the actors on the TV show are hot as hell... good images to start with in your head. Lots of lust and torn loyalties involved. If you've read them, I'm curious if you're a Bill or an Eric fan. Me - I'm all about Eric. Even though he's blond (yuck), he's got power, confidence, and a huge.... ego on his side. New season starts this Sunday on HBO.. worth the extra cable bill... trust me.
This weekend, I powered through the first 3 books from the Twilight saga (saga is their word, not mine). Some 1,500 pages later - I can say that their passion and danger are nice in a PG kind of way. If I had a teenage daughter, I'd let her read them.. and then borrow them. Not as steamy but contains some of that guilt ridden teen angst that I can relate to from my high school days. First movie was good and is what encouraged me to go ahead with the books... but as always, the books are better.
Anyways.. after all this vampire submersion..and the fact that I'm about to run out of books again... I need to find a new outlet for my obsessive nature. Maybe I can funnel it into something productive like housework or the gym. More likely... I'll just read the damn books over and over again until there's a new one. Man.. I need a hobby :)
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