Winter weather hits Dallas

It was cooler over the weekend at the beach, but we still could walk around with our jeans rolled up, barefoot, with just a hooded sweatshirt and feel just fine. The weather in Dallas is much more like late November and the beginning of December.

It's cold -- high of just 48, and tonight it's going to freeze. Glad I remembered to bring my black leather jacket.

It's been wet, too -- which just adds to the sense of overcast gloom that passes for winter stormy weather in Texas. We don't get much of it in Houston, but Dallas is far enough north that I think it's more normal. Seemed like a good night for BBQ, so that's what I did.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving this year found us again down at the beach for a long weekend of food, fun and family -- just Katie, the boys and I. We got there on Wednesday morning around 10 and Katie unloaded, as usual, while I kept the boys busy around the house and on the beach. We headed out to look for some nice finds along the beach and in the dunes to make a centerpiece for Thursday's table, but didn't find much other than a nice load of shells.

With the coming of fall and cooler weather, the beach has been less trafficked lately, so it was nice and clean, with lots of shells that hadn't been crushed by cars or scooped up by the crowds. We walked down the beach about a half mile to where a favorite downed tree lay partially buried in the sand, and the boys climbed / balanced on it just like they were there only the day before. We call it the Baseball Tree, since when we first found it, there was a baseball with the cover ripped off of it, unraveling and tangled in one of the stumps. The baseball is long gone, but you can still clearly see the twine wrapped around the stump.

I told the boys we needed to take a good nap, or at least have a good rest in the afternoon so that we could have a fire that evening -- but they didn't rest. I'm glad they forgot about the fire, too -- by early evening, they were toast.

Thursday, Katie made the turkey and dressing, plus mashed potatoes for Jackson, but Porter ended up eating them all. Jackson didn't like them, because they were yellow (Katie mixed in melted butter, half-n-half, a really good recipe) -- Jackson said mashed potatoes were supposed to be white.

I made broccoli / rice casserole and the cranberry-orange salsa, plus pulled together a gravy from the wonderful turkey drippings. Dinner was great, and we all made sure to remember what we are thankful for.

In the afternoon before dinner we went down to the fishing pier / bridge area and scouted sand dollars -- I found 2 whole ones that I proudly gave to Katie. That's a first for me -- I've never found one that wasn't broken.

Friday we went into Galveston and played around -- we visited the Railroad Museum down on the Strand, which was really cool. They have about 30 full size railroad cars, many of which you can go in and explore. They have everything from historic locomotives, to Pullman cars, to boxcars and the electric/diesel engines that are common now. The boys loved it! Later that afternoon we hit the beach and did a little fishing in the bay -- but didn't catch anything, of course.

Saturday we hung out on the beach most of the morning -- flew the kite in the strong wind, walked a lot up and down the beach, and played with sticks. By mid-day we were packed and ready to head back home to the cats.

I headed back to Dallas on Monday morning, but my mind is still at the beach with my wife and kids. I'm thankful for that --

Long rainy day

The rain started this weekend, and it's still going strong -- even in Dallas. This morning I got up about 5 to start the routine of getting out of town. The fog was incredibly thick, and bits of misty rain rounded out the overall nasty weather. While I sat on the plane at the gate, I really began to wonder if we would be able to take off at all, since visibility was so bad.

After a few minutes, though, sleep got the better of me -- as usual on the morning flights -- and I ended up napping until just before touch-down. When I looked out the window, it was clear that the day in Dallas would be much the same as in Houston. It ended up raining pretty steady all day.

I ended up having a bit of work to do later in the afternoon that kept me at the office until around 6, and around 7 Ian and I headed out for a quick bit to eat at Pei Wei. Long day, but nice to have a bit of rest this evening. I think the rain will clear out over the next day or so and make for a nice holiday at the coast.

On a side note, I heard this morning about a small plane that crashed on Beltway 8 this morning killing all 3 passengers on board. They reported tonight on the news that former President George Bush (41) was supposed to get on that plane for a trip to Equador for a meeting or something. Eerie...

Also thankful that our flight was safe -- add that one to the list for Thursday's feast...

Thanks, Pal...

While we were at the MFAH party tonight, we made sure to take the boys around to all the art, like we always do when we go to the museum... As usual, I pointed out things like color, or shapes, and common items; I asked the boys to compare one painting to another. Tonight we say Kenneth Noland's color work -- which has lots of geometric forms in them -- and George Catlin's Indian work, which has lots of native American themes.

While we were looking at the Catlin work, I was asking the boys to look at a painting of one indian, and one of another and tell me what was the same, and what was different. One had a wolf skin, one had turkey feathers; one had red shoes, one had slippers (moccosans); one had a spear, one didn't... you get the point.

We were in a galary with the usual museum gaurd and about six or seven other people, mostly older couples enjoying the exhibits in relative peace -- except for our very vocal boys, of course. One man, about 45 -- perhaps Me in ten years or so -- gave me the Thumbs-Up from across the room while we were talking and looking. I smiled at the fact that at least someone knew that art is a lifelong love -- and the boys, loud as they are, are just beginning. Later at another series of paintings, he tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Good job, Dad." Man to man, Dad to Dad -- good job.

That tap meant a lot -- Most of the time, I'm just trying to have fun with my boys. Tonight was certainly one of those times. Sometimes I forget that the things I do really matter.

Someone showed me how to love art. For me, it was when I had grown up -- too late to see it from the eyes of a child, then learn to love the same things while 'growig up'. I want Jackson and Porter to be there from the beginning; and that's all I'm trying to do with my boys -- no one learns it on their own -- they get it from being around those that love it, too.

It makes sense in hindsight why Katie and I had our wedding reception at the Museum -- it's for our family.

Finally Friday!!

This week was a good one, but a long one -- And today was all about catching up with what I needed to do after having been out. I spent the middle of the week in Phoenix at a conference, which was really good. In fact, it was one of the more productive, and nicer ones I've been at. I gave a presentation on the current project I'm working on with our client and one of the guys that is working with me. It went really well, despite the fact that not many people were there -- seems that we had the 4:45 time slot on Wednesday, same time as Happy Hour!

Anyway, got home late last night to Pei Wei that Katie had brought home for me -- very nice of her, and delicious.

This morning the boys found the goodies I brought home for them -- lots of schwag from the vendors, and a new lovie for their crew: an Arizona Coyote! Jackson immediately adopted his into the family. Porter even sat with his in the Big Red Chair this afternoon watching a bit of a show.

This morning I went to have lunch w/ Jackson and his class after running some errands around the neighborhood. I spent some time on project stuff during the day, but after just a few hours, I was caught up and really had put in my hours for the week, so the rest of the day, I spent with Porter / Katie, getting my toes done, playing guitar, and relaxing.

Tonight is a birthday party for one of the boys' friends in the neighborhood --Catherine -- and the kids are at the party at the Children's Museum. After that we're all going to meet at the Museum of Fine Arts for an opening (Kenneth Noland: the nature of color) and probably have a bite to eat -- if the kids can make it!

Hello from the Phoenix Desert

[Email sent to Katie from out of town ...]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and the boys, and that I love you and them. My presentation was good, although lightly attended, since Happy Hour started around the same time! Time got away from me and by the time I realized I hadn't called, it was too late.
 
Hope you had a great day and that your cough / cold is getting better --
 
I'm looking forward to being home tomorrow -- tell the boys to be sure to come hop in bed with me when they get up on Friday, and that I'll look in on them and tuck them in when I get home from the airport -- You can also tell them that I have found two new lovies for their group -- some friends from the Arizona desert!
 
Have a great day tomorrow, and I can't wait to kiss you when I get home --
 
Love you --
 
E

7 year old beer

Twenty-two ounces is quite a weight to carry -- Especially when it is the last beer from Brew U, my old brewpub. It was fun while it lasted, and tonight I toasted the closure of a long, rough period.

We finally put to rest the past today -- and tonight I was finally able to break out that beer that I was saving for a Special Occasion. I had saved one bottle of our Barley Wine and stashed it in the back of the refrigerator for the past 7 years or so. I didn't know when I'd open it, but knew that I should save it for something special.

When I popped the cap tonight, it let off a tell-tale 'psssittt' that told me it was still sealed right... but what about the flavor after so long? Well, true to Barley Wine nature, the beer mellowed with age, and kept it's character. The beer had a beautiful chestnut color, capped by a creamy white head. The aroma was mellow and spiced together, while the taset went down like a carmel delight -- sweet, with the hits of hop and alcohol.

Like the business that it represents, it was fantastic, and something to be enjoyed -- but short lived. I'm glad to have saved it, and glad to be able to use it to toast better times, and a bright future.

Bit of a cold

I just got back from running to Albertson's down the road in Euless to get some Dayquil tabs. I got a bit of a cold over the weekend -- Jackson had a cough, and he decided to sleep with Katie and I on Friday night. So now both of us are a bit under the weather. I drove up here to Dallas yesterday and plan to head back home tonight -- and when I called Katie last night, she sounded bad. I think it's just her voice, though. She started losing it at the PTO Auction on Saturday night, and by Sunday, she was wispering to keep it from getting worse.

As for me, I think I was fine -- as fine as I could be -- until this morning. I woke up feeling really bad, but came to work anyway, since I drove all the way up here... When I got to the office, I started having coughing fits eal bad, and heavy congestion. Hence the trip to the store...

I'll be glad to be home tonight. Hopefully the cold will be gone by the weekend... seems like I heard somewhere that they last 7-10 days, but when you have one, you forget how long, or when it's over.

Ribeye hits the spot

Travis and I headed out to dinner tonight in Dallas for a nice meal after a long day. We headed over to Texas Land and Cattle Co and had a couple of steaks -- nice treat. Generally I grab a quick bite, but it's not often Travis and I get to hang out, so it was worth it to get out for a while.

I'm normally easing back into home life this time of the week, but this week I've got to stay in Dallas for an extra day. I've got a meeting at the office tomorrow on some internal SBTI business (career path modeling for consultants), and then a meeting with a prospect concerning some compliance work.

I'll head to Houston tomorrow night after work, but a bit later than normal (6:30). I'll get home after dinner time, but it's still before the kids get to bed, so it's worth it!