Galveston Eats

Besides cool architecture, beautiful mansions, awesome museums, Galveston has many, many great places to eat...the kids came to Galveston today to have lunch with us at Salsas, a Mexican restaurant on the Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. 
Great food, great company! (Nice young man, say Sparky and Eldo..first time we have met him...)

We got a little silly after lunch...and not one of us had a margarita!


We gave the kids a tour of the RV which lasted all of about one minute...Eldy and Bigyan, (Kerry's fiance) took some nice photos of Kerry and I....We sat and chatted about traveling, things about the motor home, the parrots, and then the kids had to get back for the big game!

My favorite photo from today...

After the kids left, I thought I better go for a bike ride to burn off some burritos, chips and dip. I'd have to bike for several days straight to do that, but got in about 4 miles....Something is better than nothing, is my mantra! It sure was a beautiful day with decent temperatures...another cold snap is coming...by next Thursday and Friday, temps will be in the thirties and low forties for just a couple of days, but lows close to freezing again..Here's a shot from my bike ride today....love those ornamental grasses lining the drive coming into the RV park!

Tomorrow looks to be a nice day...Eldo has some ideas for us...we'll see where he goes!

The Strand Scene

Kerry

Although it warmed up today, low fifties, Kerry and I still bundled up to go see the Strand district which is an avenue on Strand Street in Galveston. There are several blocks of stores, museums, shops, restaurants and galleries--the usual tee shirt/beach/shell stores, one really cool store with a lot of nautical themed merchandise, a couple of neat bar and grills, and one old drugstore called Star Drugs, which has a lot of history behind that. There are more antique stores and shopping but that will have to wait for another day. I bought a beautiful sea shell appetizer serving knife. There was a store with a lot of Vera Bradley purses that got my attention. It was close, I almost paid full retail price for a new purse to replace my worn old one, BUT I restrained myself and didn't buy it. I can get a new one on ebay for about half the retail price. I really don't like to shop and hate malls, but give me picturesque historical buildings with unique architecture filled with little boutiques and I'll go, especially if I have my daughter to go exploring with!

Shop on Strand Street

I liked this store because it was filled with colors of the sea--aquamarines and blues of all shades...I really enjoyed walking around with Kerry....we found out a lot about each other that we didn't know ...adult likes, dislikes, personal tastes in things. She used to live in Las Vegas and I didn't get to see her much over the past three years. When I did see her it was always so rushed, so we've been catching up on a lot of things. She got to see me aging gracefully, (HA! I tripped over a step or two and hobbled down some stairs with my bad knee) and she teased me about getting O  ---  ---.  I said, just wait till you hit 60, kiddo!

Strand Street has more interesting places and nooks and crannies that we didn't get to see today. Maybe we'll head back on another day to see more....Saw my friend Zoltar, the fortune telling guy again...(he gets around, doesn't he?) We had lunch at the Fisherman's Wharf. The food was excellent, and the dining room upstairs is right next to Houston's dock for its tall ship, the Elissa. Unfortunately, the Elissa was in dry dock for repairs...but a great view of the harbor in this restaurant. The Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy was docked right next door on the other side.

Tomorrow, Kerry and her fiance are coming over to see the RV and have lunch with us...looking forward to spending time with both of them...until then.....stay warm....

Cookies and Jammies

Eldy's domestic goddess, HA!

I'm gonna have to work into the jammies all day thing...just not quite able to do that yet..my dad used to get us five kids up early every day and get to work doing chores and things on the weekends when we were growing up, especially if we were out on a date or with friends the night before. We would have been considered lazy if we stayed in our p.j.'s. We would have had to have been sick to do that! But I managed till about 11:00, and then got down to business--little bit of a workout, work on taxes, and then take a bike ride. Heavy jacket, thinsulate gloves, headband, I'm all set....Biked for about five miles...blustery cold winds did not keep me down! Then what do I do? Make some ginger molasses cookies and eat probably half the yield! Had a little help from my guy...Eldo likes my ginger molasses cookies! I think that's about all I'm good at making. I was "Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year" when I was in jr. high or high school, but that was because I was the teacher's pet, I think. I really don't enjoy cooking, but I still love to collect recipes and have cupboards full of food thinking that I'm going to get cooking, but it hasn't happened yet. I seem to have lots of company in that regard, according to the women RVers I have met. Guess everybody got tuckered out from cooking dinners while raising families.

Eldy played Solitaire on his ipad to keep busy....he's played 3, 517 games since he got it. I keep telling him he needs to get another game loaded to have some variety in his life! It's hard to talk him into trying something else. We tried Angry Birds...I really enjoyed that and did it for awhile, and he tried it. But after his granddaughter raced through most of the levels in just a few hours, WE lost interest. Nothing like getting beat at your own game by a youngster!....We're open to suggestions for apps for the ipad...tell us your favorites!

Icy fronds

The palms are suffering but with warmer weather coming, I'm sure they will recover...we saw the parrots briefly this morning, but they are laying low as well..haven't seen them since...haven't see much of them for the past two days, actually....Kerry is coming over tomorrow...we're going to the Strand, a great shopping district on Galveston Island, where Eldy and I rode bikes last week and saw the beautiful houses. Guess there are some really great boutiques and it's just a neat part of town. It's down near the docks where the big cruise ships come in.

Speaking of cruises, Galveston is a very attractive port for the cruise ships. They are now having cruises depart from Galveston for the Caribbean. It's a lot more affordable for Texans and neighboring states to come to Houston and then depart on a cruise with the port being as close as a car trip for so many. Just for fun, Eldy looked at cruise prices for a week to the Caribbean and there were some amazing last minute deals for seniors leaving from Galveston--around $400.00+ including taxes for a one week cruise to the Caribbean! Wow!

Voyage of the Seas--Royal Caribbean

I've never been on a cruise, but Eldy used to be an independent travel agent for the cruise lines. He's had LOTS of experience and travel on these...these ships are pretty amazing..he's told me lots of things about them...some day I'd love to go to Alaska on one...(What? Hunh? What did you say? Were you talking to me? says E.) Just kidding...he's a great listener!  He's fussing about the weather this morning...it's 72 degrees in Naples, it's warmer in Rapid City, South Dakota than it is here...etc., etc.....I'm thinking of starting a new blog EXTREME WEATHER...It would be a collective blog and RVers would report in from all over the country. At this point in time, there's really no good place to be except really southern Florida....even Arizona is COLD and they are running out of natural gas for people's homes! Enough about the weather...let's go shopping, Kerry!  (uh, how long are you going to be shopping? says E.)  He's wondering how much damage can I do in four hours....not much, got car insurance due this month! And besides, I'm not into shopping except for crafts. (THAT'S the understatement of the year! She's been to Hobby Lobby three times in three days! says E.)   See you at the Strand....

Bad Hair Day

Everybody has these--bad hair days...women, especially, I guess. With all the extreme icy weather and the TV newscasters warning everyone to stay home, I got bored and thought, I'll give myself a haircut and save some money! Just a trim to get me a few more weeks till I need to get a haircut. Now, when you have really short hair, and you've been getting your haircut pretty much the same way for over 30 years, and you are an astute visual learner (ha ha), you learn to be able to do a passable job trimming your hair in the front and sides, but the back is another story...that's where I hold up a mirror, grab a hank of hair and cut, then look to see what I've done. Usually, I can do a really good job of just using scissors and doing a front and sides trim, holding off on getting a professional haircut for another couple of weeks. I don't know what possessed me, but the last haircut I got in St. Pete's Beach at Christmas time was the best haircut I've ever had and inspired me. She used a barber's electric clippers and just ran it all over my head basically, then went back and shaped and thinned and moussed and it was a great haircut! It even grew out evenly and still looked nice weeks later...here's the decent haircut although a little windblown.....

Hm-m-m-m....We have a barber kit on board. I cut Eldy's hair sometimes...it doesn't look too bad usually. He gets really nervous at first, but after we're all done, it looks fine and he's ok with it. He lets me cut it if he doesn't feel like going to a barber. I use graduated "sleds"...even know how to use the angled sleds to cut around the ears...keeping in mind that Eldy doesn't have much hair so he always looks great afterwards...So-o-o-o, out come the clippers with no Eldy around to caution me against doing my own hair. Zipped up the sides...hmmmmm, doesn't look too bad...think I'll reach around the back...WOW! that's quite a bit of hair coming off....well, I'm into it now, might as well keep going....I've got the 1/2" sled on the clippers...Oh, SH--!  Guess that's really too short, but I've got to keep it even all the way around. Take a deep breath, keep going, keep going... I should have started with the 5/8.  Now, the front----oh, CRAP! I did my bangs and somehow took a big chunk out of the front...ew-w-w-w! Maybe I can mousse it and make it look "piecey" as my daughter, Kelly says...Oh, well! It will grow back...I'm too embarrassed to go see a beautician, it's too short and they won't be able to do anything about it...and I'll have to hear them say, "Hm-m-m-mm...Who did your hair last time?" Which really means,"Oh, my god, lady, who cut your hair? You really got a bad haircut!" That actually was said to me the last time I cut my hair and then went to the beautician a few weeks later...you think I would have learned my lesson, but NO-O-o-o-o, I'm a slow learner, what can I say!?

So, I call my sis to whine...and she says, "Oh, you have such a cute adorable face, it won't matter!"  I love my sis, she's the best...I'm smiling, but inwardly, I'm wincing...I'm gonna have to fix the back tomorrow. (Do you want me to try and fix it, honey? says E.) No thank you, dear, but at this point, zero experience in trimming hair is probably better than a little experience. I think I will enlist my daughter's help on Saturday to try and fix the back, or maybe I'll just head to the bathroom with the scissors.......("What are you doing in the bathroom, honey?" calls out E.) "What do you think!?" I reply, and let him think otherwise....

We rented the movie "Red" and watched it tonight while waiting for the sleet and ice that was supposed to come late this afternoon, but hasn't made it here yet...very entertaining and quite the cast...if you like action movies touched with a bit of humor, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich or Bruce Willis, you might like this one...we thoroughly enjoyed it. As the night went on, we heard the sleet come in and by this morning, the roads were ice covered and the local TV coverage stated that three out of four lanes were shut down on some of the expressways. They closed parts of the beltway (major thoroughfare thru Houston) and the toll road in and around Houston. There are people that are stranded on the beltway in their cars for hours because there's no room for them to turn around or move. They have emergency personnel trying to help..what a mess! Tomorrow looks to be a brighter day as temperatures are going to get to the fifties, if we're lucky!  See you at the Strand, hopefully...

32 Degrees in Galveston

trusty little Honeywell heater

I know, stop whining! That's what Eldy's daughter said to him this morning after he complained about the cold to her. Yesterday, Houston and the whole BIG state of Texas had rolling "whiteouts" or "blackouts" due to some power station generator failures or some other sort of mechanical problem. We did not notice any power outage here at Galveston Bay Campground. Apparently, an ice and sleet combo is coming later today, into the evening...yuck! We have been going through the propane despite running a space heater and keeping the back bedroom thermostat at 64-66 degrees at night and not much more during the day. We keep the living room at 67 degrees with the space heater running.  Our new friends Greg and Jan White said they haven't had to fill propane in two years! They use more than one space heater in their RV home and then use a special light bulb in the water bay compartment. We're not that energy efficient yet so we're going to have to go get some propane today. We tried buying another space heater yesterday, but of course, no luck--sold out everywhere! Southern Texans don't normally get these cold extremes for more than just a day or two is what I understand so there was a run on heaters.

First, we have to make sure the diesel engine block heater has been going for a couple of hours before starting the coach. Next, we have to check the awning toppers for ice, since we had a torrential downpour a couple of days ago, there's a good chance we're going to have to knock off the ice before trying to pull the slides in. Then we are going to unhook the sewer, (the water was disconnected yesterday to avoid freezing the hose and faucet) pull in the slides and drive out to a location down the street for propane.  It's a pain to have to unhook and pull in, but you gotta do what you gotta do to stay warm. We could have a power outage and need to run the generator, so we're going to fill our diesel fuel as well. Just like preparing for winter driving in a car, we're going to make sure we are prepared for the ice and sleet storm that is certainly heading our way, according to the weatherman.

Had to postpone seeing my daughter today for the Strand, didn't want her to be driving Houston interstate with freezing sleet heading back to her home. We'll get together Saturday, the one nice day to look forward to. Nice, as in 53 degrees for the high and sunny...hey, I'll take that!  My hometown school has had four snow days already this year...wouldn't you know, they get all the snow AFTER I leave!

Azaleas?

Well, we got underway this morning with no problems to speak of..got propane, diesel fuel, we're good to go for anything that comes our way....we even got a movie in case we're stuck at home tomorrow...got popcorn, gonna make some molasses cookies and HUNKER DOWN! Might even stay in my jammies for a good part of the day!  (Oh, boy! says E. Do I get to take a photo of that?) No way, Jose! Since it's so crappy everywhere, I'll leave you with a beautiful photo from sunnier days just two weeks ago..This was from the Naples Botanical Garden where it was 83 degrees yesterday! (That's too hot! says Sparky...SH-H-H-H-H-H, says E. We don't want to tick off our blog readers!) We should have stayed in Naples, me thinks!  Be safe everyone.....

It's Not Rocket Science

Wait a minute, yes it is! Everything you ever wanted to know about our space program and more is at Johnson Space Center. This huge center takes up more than 1600 acres and employs more than 14,000 people. The space program is managed here but there are no launches or landings. Space shuttle missions are monitored here and astronauts are trained here. Scientists and engineers study human adaptation to space, and develop technologies that will allow us to explore more of the universe. Some people think it's a terrible waste of money, but look at all the technology we have benefitted from as a result of the space program! Here is a just a sample list for starters:
      
cell phones, laser surveying, semiconductor chips, virtual reality, enriched baby food, water purification systems, scratch resistant lenses, digital imaging in breast biopsies, ear thermometers, automatic insulin pumps, joystick controllers (invented for the Mars Landing Rover), cordless tools, thermal gloves and boots, cataract surgery tools, microlasers, engine lubricants, invisible braces, emergency response robots, personal alarm systems, emergency rescue cutters, Doppler radar, lead poison detectors, robotic hands, studless winter tires, better brakes, MRI, TV satellite dishes, (Oh, YEAH! says E.) radiation insulation, pollution measurement devices, laser angioplasty, ultrasound skin damage assessment, ocular screening for children, programmable pacemaker, automated urinalysis, medical gas analyzers for operating rooms, athletic shoes (from moon boot technology) shock absorbing helmets, flat panel TV screens, "cool" weave sportswear for athletes and wannabee athletes like me, golf ball aerodynamics, portable coolers and warmers, and quartz crystal time technology and there's lots, lots more...Whew! Pretty amazing, hunh? And just think of all the people employed in different parts of the country that are connected to the space program and its subsidiaries! Did you know that in all of our 2.4 trillion dollar government budget, only .8% is devoted to the entire space program? Pretty good return of our investment, I'd say!

Blast off!

Mercury 7

Ok, the tour---The Houston Space Center is FULL of all kind of hands on, cool galleries, tram rides, movies and interesting exhibits. We spent most of yesterday, about five hours browsing the galleries, checking out the rockets, the simulators, playing in the children's section and taking a frigid tram tour that was half indoors and half outdoors. Here's a photo of Eldy bundled up in his sweatshirt. He looks like a hood from the hood! I had to resist pulling off his hood like I used to do with my middle school boys when they came to class looking like that. The wind on the tram ride was bone-chilling cold!

Mission Control Center

Eldy touching a moon rock! 

one stage of the Saturn V

We sat in the Mission Control room for the Apollo missions, where the wives and families sat watching the launches and communicating with their husbands in tiny private phone booths. We went to the hangar to see a real Saturn V rocket. We toured the Starship gallery and saw the original Mercury 7 capsule and the Sky Lab simulator. We touched a moon rock!  On the tram ride we went to different buildings at the Johnson Space Center. One of the buildings beside the Saturn rocket and the Mission Control Center was the lab where all the current simulators were. These are used to train the astronauts. The shuttle program is winding down, so we didn't see much activity as far as people in the lab using the facility, but it was still interesting to see what equipment and the actual mockups that are used to train the astronauts. They also had a swimming pool, the largest in the world where astronauts train in for the weightlessness of space. I thought it was interesting and worrisome for the astronauts that the they lose 1.5% of their bone mass for every 28 days out in space. There were several TV monitors running documentary loops with former astronauts talking about their experiences. I think it was Gene Cernan who said he didn't want to waste precious time sleeping because the experience of being on the moon was so amazing! The enthusiasm they had recounting their past experiences was cool! It made me want to get some books for the ipad to read and we are definitely going to rewatch the Apollo 13 movie with Tom Hanks.

Speaking of movies that we saw yesterday, we saw a couple of great video clips...one was all about the international space station. I believe I heard 14 countries are involved with building and expanding it, providing supplies and scientists to perform experiments and man it. I know that many people think this is a HUGE waste of money, but after seeing and hearing about all the inventions that have come out of this project and the robotics that are evolving from it as well, I felt differently having explored this facility yesterday. We really enjoyed our experience. For 14.95 a person (coupon found online) plus 6.00 for parking, we felt this was well worth it.

main shuttle engine

I didn't realize yesterday that our visit to the Space Center coincided with the anniversary date of the Columbia disaster, February 1, 2003, which had a huge effect on Texas, as much of it disintegrated over this state and into Louisiana. As the information lady stated at one of our tour stops, the astronauts live, eat, and work here in Houston. They are neighbors, churchgoers, and friends of the 14,000 people who work at the center. When something negative happens, it affects this town deeply.

This morning, I happened to talk to a lady who is staying at our RV park, and she recounted the day the  Columbia passed over her yard, the debris that rained down on Texas, and the gruesome details of finding the bits and pieces that so many Texans experienced for weeks after. That would be a difficult memory for anyone..I guess the job futures of so many of these people at the space center are in limbo. Are they going to get funding? Are the projects going to move forward? What's next for our space program? Is there going to be one? After touring this facility and seeing all the movies, video clips, actual rocket engines, rockets, wiring, robotics and training labs, I really hope that we will continue to explore and expand our knowledge through the space program. It really made me proud to be an American-- to see the program our country developed, to see the amazing things we did in space, and to see the amazing technology that came out of this program. And I just hope our school systems will continue to foster the creativity and intelligence it takes to become a scientist, an explorer and a dreamer to go beyond our capabilities, to stretch our minds to improve our existence here on planet Earth. And with that, 'nuff said!  I'll get off my soapbox now. Time to retire for bed!
          

The Art of Blogging

This is a different kind of post today as you'll see...it's been extremely windy all day and really cold as it is in most of the United States at this time. I was going to do my laundry, thinking we'll spend the day at home today, but then Eldy decided we'd head out to the Houston Space Center...woo-hoo! Laundry will just have to wait till tomorrow--darn! We spent most of the day there..I'm having to wade through all the photos and experiences of today to filter out the best parts to share...so going to wait till tomorrow to tell about the Space Center...just know it was very very cool!

I've been knitting up a storm lately, and my egg collection is growing..not sure what I'm going to do with these. I'd like to sell them. I was thinking about putting each egg in a handmade origami type Chinese take out basket with some Easter grass in them and offering them as singles. They are about three inches long and are made from sock yarn. Or, another thought is I would put them in a little basket and sell several of them as an Easter basket. Need to get anybody's opinion on whether these are interesting enough that someone might want to buy them. What do you think? Honesty is what I'm looking for here....

I started thinking about how to make a blog more interesting to myself and more expressive of my inner creative side, and I came across a magazine, Artful Blogging. It's by Somerset Studio and it has some of the most beautiful photography and personal blogs in it I have ever seen. It's very inspirational, but somewhat intimidating as well, because it's definitely more on the artistic side--the photography skill level is way up there. But hey, motivation is a great thing so I'm going to try and "change up" my blog now and then to just express some inner creativity and we'll see what happens! (Uh-oh! says E. Does this mean more craft supplies in our home in which Sparky's craft supplies are already busting out of the cupboards and the bays?) 


Just to give you an idea of what these blogs look like, here are a couple of links to unique blogs that the magazine featured a while back. I hope you will check them out just because they are unusual, very artsy and beautiful. Some times with all the ugliness in the world, I just like to look at beautiful photos. So if artsy blogs do not interest you, you can skip this part.  We'll be back to our usual stuff tomorrow...


Kind Over Matter  This is a blog that shares "feel good" things...
Ilka's Attic...a photography blog that hooks up to another blog called alwayschrysti.com and together they do bi-weekly photography challenges that are one word prompts using the camera lens to interpret the prompt....
Lobster and Swan--cool photos...
Blue Bird Notes--beautiful photos...

Hope the weather is not too bad wherever you are and you are safe and sound at home.....see you tomorrow!