As Happy as I Choose to Be

A hoot and a kick on the road home...

My baby's back home.  OK, so she's not a baby anymore to anyone but me.  Bailee was at Mom's for the last week since I had no "camp" lined up and had tons of work to do (both clean out of house and work on upcoming conference).  She had a good time and sounds like she was pretty good for Mom.  Went to the library, went to church, climbed trees, played with J.J. next door, cooked snickerdoodles, etc. 

Mom and I each drove part way yesterday for the "hand-off" and met in San Angelo.  While we used to drive this way every time, we finally discovered I-10 a few years ago and almost exclusively drive that way now.  So it was good to take the old road again.  Reminds me what a hoot some of the town and road names are:

• Koocksville Lane
• Gooch Cemetary
• Hext (it's a town)
• Crook Road
• Hoot's Pharmacy
• Grit (another town...or used to be...still have Grit School Road)
• Veribest (my grandmother lived there for years and years)
• The Cow Patty Patch where you can make Moo La selling your old things in Llano...
• Eden (no one's ideal of the Garden of Eden, trust me...and the state or federal penitentiary inmates who live there as well)

 

There's a spot about 10 miles out of Mason, on the way to Menard, and I love looking for the entrance to this ranch every time.  They have a ceramic or concrete pig on the side of the road.  I usually forget to take pictures or bring my camera, but would love to capture a year's worth of outfits on this pig.  This pig is dressed for the season whatever that occasion might be, so it's such a kick to see it.  St. Patrick's, Valentine's, New Year's Eve, Halloween and any other holiday.  I'm not sure what this occasion was with the pink feather boas and hat...maybe just festive.

Growing up, our family took the road from Monahans to San Angelo several times a year (family reunion, Christmas, Thanksgiving) because all holidays took place at Nanny's house in Veribest, just outside of San Angelo.  For young kids, it's such a long drive (2.5-3 hours) but I remember that Lisa and I always looked forward to a stop for a treat at Watson's Grocery in Sterling City along the way.  That was OUR stop since it was named Watson's. We would spend more time than was necessary debating about which type of candy to get, walking back and forth in front of the candy aisle that seemed so long at the time. Watson's Grocery burned down about 10 years ago and all you can see is the concrete slab and the sign, a little worse for wear, but still standing.  I look for it every time I pass that way and remember getting a treat for the long drive to Nanny's house.

Mother's Day...at Six Flags? Whose idea was this?

Not mine...that's for sure!  Lisa bought season passes for Katie and Sarah and invited Bailee and I to join them since their season passes included free guests on Mother's Day.  I will admit...the park was relatively quiet so very few lines, the weather was overcast so that impacted attendance I'm sure, and it was in the low 80's.  So...all in all - not bad.  Plus the girls didn't fight.

Bailee hadn't been before and is just now tall enough to ride most things (except the "real' roller coasters).  Problem was...she just wasn't game for much and Katie will ride anything and everything so it was quickly looking like kiddie rides for me and Bailee.

Lisa however; was her usual brilliant self and gave Bailee a "brave pill".  (She scoured the gift shop and stores for candy that Bailee wouldn't recognize and ultimately ended up with a lemon sour...like a cherry sour.)  Bailee eyed Lisa curiously, but then gamely "took her pill".  She then rode on a ride she had previously refused and informed us "the pill must be working".

Painted Churches

I took the day off Friday after returning from my last business trip to take Mom to see The Painted Churches which are several beautifully decorated (i.e. painted on the interior) primarily Catholic churches near Schulenberg.  The tradition apparently stemmed from Czhech and German communities that would paint the interiors of their churches in lieu of lavish carving or marble which they could not afford.  Most of these churches are over 100 years old and indeed, they are beautiful.  I hadn't expected to see such gorgeous stained glass windows or beautiful carvings alongside the detailed decorative painting.

We were fortunate enough to see one church that was being restored.  There were probably 6 workers inside repainting the walls, carved figures and repairing a crack in the ceiling.  From listening to the man in charge of the work, it sounds like it will be a 3 year job.  He had trained the young men working with him, possibly from the local community.  It was fascinating to see this work in progress in what was the most beautiful church we saw that day.

  

The Magical Fruit

Bailee went camping in Big Bend with Jim, Renee, Hallie and Mackenzie recently - a friend of Hallie's for a long weekend.  She absolutely loved it - even though it was much colder than I would have enjoyed.  Jim had made up quite a tale about the Frito Banditos and a map and a treasure before they left (had even created and aged a map for the girls) and Bailee was entranced.  She loved the whole weekend adventure including waving across the Rio Grand and yelling "Hola!" to people on the other side in Mexico.

In addition to tales of prairie dogs, banditos and treasure - she also came back chanting a new chant (like the Bailee and Major sitting in a tree...) "Bailee and Hallie sleeping in a bag.  One went toot and the other went 'Gag'!"  Yes - part of the trip report from Jim included something about "toxic toots". 

Tonight, Bailee and I went to Chuy's and they are now selling a kid's shirt with Uncle Dusty's favorite poem.  "Beans, beans. The magical fruit.  The more you eat, the more you toot."  Of course, Uncle Dusty's family also always called them "fluffs" instead of toots - sounds so much nicer.  Too bad they didn't have his size...I was so going to buy him a t-shirt!

It's a Sign...

Dad loved quirky signs or businesses with unique names and we've got a number of photos from vacations over the years of some of these signs. Over the last few months of vacation and business travel I've noticed some fun signs too.  Primarily bathroom signs that have modified the icon of the boy or girl or man or woman to reflect the actual location or business.  I just thought I'd share a few:

 

 Tomorrowland in Disneyland

   Fantasyland in Disneyland

   Fitting for a children's museum (Indianapolis)

   San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

and of course, my absolute favorite bathroom sign...(so true) from Legoland...

 
 

Your heart will stay with me

I'm in the midst of an awful travel schedule (5 trips in 5 weeks to do site selection for 2 years of a convention + add in jury duty - ugh!).  I was dropping Bailee off at school this morning before I leave for the next city.  Along with her school backpack she also had the house key and her car booster seat and when I was telling Bailee I loved her and would miss her, she just literally stopped me in my tracks when she told me:

"It's ok. Your heart will stay with me."

Wow - isn't that the truth!  But from a 7 year old!  She's brilliant, my little girl.

Disney's Latest Stalker

Just back from vacation and absolutely exhausted!  We left just 1 day after I returned from the e4 conference onsite (enough time to unpack, do laundry and pack).  San Diego AND Disneyland...so will try to catch up with multiple posts, but the first just has to be on "Bailee the Stalker!"  I think she has a future with TMZ as a paparazzi!

We started our Disneyland trip at Disney's California Adventure and I had booked reservations at Ariel's Grotto for dinner with the Princesses. Good call as it turns out!  Bailee's first comment as we got to the park was "I forgot my autograph book" so we bought one at the park (of course) and she proceeded to be on the lookout.  Thank goodness our dinner reservation was just an hour after we got to the park because she was disappointed not to see characters around every corner.  I was a tad nervous because Bailee had informed me for the last few months that "I'm not into Princesses anymore...they're for babies...like 5 year olds!"  Yet, I believed the minute she saw a princess she would change her mind...  I was right.  Just to be sure, during dinner I did say to her "I thought you weren't into Princesses anymore."  Bailee explained "I'm not into princess COSTUMES, Mom."  (I know I heard the "Duh!" she was thinking too.)

           

Well - this was just the beginning. 

Over the next 3 days, Bailee seemed to have radar, plus we specifically sought out at least some of the characters. 

I had been slightly concerned that being 7, Bailee would be past some of the "magic" but I needn't have worried. 

It was wonderful to see her face light up, run to catch a character, and wait patiently in some long, hot lines to get the autograph or picture with some of the characters.  

Maybe we didn't ride Space Mountain or the water rides as Bailee didn't have interest in roller coasters, but we had a blast and the delight she got out of meeting these characters was wonderful to see.  The roller coasters can wait until she's older...believing in these characters wouldn't. 

 

I even got into the act occasionally. 

Where in the World Was I?

This was so cool!  Tripadvisor has a map where you select where you've been, where you're an expert and where you're going...and it plots these cities on a world map.  It lists several hundred options and allows you to input some others as well.  It was cool to visually plot where I've traveled over the years.  These last few years in my job have definitely taken me to a lot more places in the U.S.  I've got a few more continents that I'd like to hit at some point...Australia/New Zealand have been on my wish list since we had a preacher from New Zealand when I was in the 4th grade.  Oh well...some day hopefully.

1. Beijing, China
2. Salzburg, Austria
3. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4. Boston, MA, USA
5. Santa Fe, NM, USA