Two Ways to Travel by Car

The Jeff Way

500 mile trip

Gas up the night before, hit the highway at 7:30 a.m. to beat morning traffic, average 80 mph, 1 quick stop for gas ¾ of the way there, texting and emailing and calling while driving.  Arrive at 4:00 p.m.

The Greg Way

500 mile trip from Plano to McAllen

Go to QT in Plano for gas, coffee and a blueberry muffin that morning

Stop in Waxahachie for a bathroom break (1 hour in).  Note that it is a Greyhound bus stop and notice the  interesting travelling people waiting at some tables out from for the bus.  Wonder where they are going.

1.5 hours later – Stop at Bell County Rest Area

1 hour later – stop in New Braunfels for lunch at Mama Fu’s Asian House.  Get the lunch special chicken bowl with the edamame side.  45 min stop.

1 hour later – after going the long way through San Antonio.  Stop for gas and then for  an iced café mocha at Starbucks.  Check email and return calls.  1 hour layover.

1 hour later – stop at Live Oak County Rest Area

1.5 hours later – stop at Falfurrias Dairy Queen for an ice cream break.  15 minute stop.  Check Twitter feed.

Home 6:30 p.m.

 http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6033057

Last night on Avenue I

When Susan and I were dating, I remember the first time we came down to Kingsville to visit her parents.  It was in August 1989 as I recall.  I had met them in July in Houston briefly so this was the first time to their home.  I recall seeing the house for the first time and of course struck that is was a small home.  At that time there were 3 people living there because David's mother Lois was in the front bedroom.

I can't say I remember a lot of that weekend.  I have a picture of us from then, and it looks like we probably drove over to Corpus Christi to meet some of her friends ( maybe that was the incentive to come visit).

Over the years, there have been a lot of memories at this house.  Many meals there, stops made on drives after we moved to McAllen in 2002.  In fact, one memory stands out:  I was vistiting there before we moved and was worried that I had not found an office in McAllen.  That Sunday night, I decided I would drive to McAllen that night instead of to Houston and then look for an office.  I was in McAllen all day Monday and had a productive visit.

I'll remember mostly the restfullness from here.  Never with much to do in the evenings, we usually always stayed home:  to eat, to watch TV, to visit, to sleep.  A trip to Kingsville always felt like a vacation.

Now of course, Lois and David are both gone and JoAnn is moving to McAllen too.  As the old Peanuts cartoon said while Snoopy was hugging his doghouse, "You've been a good house!"

Summer work

For what is supposed to be an easy month, I've been putting in some holiday hours.  Here at work on Saturday.  Worked on Thursday July 4.  But its been a good productive month so far - figures

Scattering of the Ashes

Saturday we went to the Kaufer-Hebert Memorial Park in Loyola Beach, TX to scatter the ashes of David Sales (Susan's Dad or Dad to me).  I had not done that for anyone before.  It was a nice gathering of the 8 of us.  Janet took the lead with a poem and a prayer, and then we took turns scattering the ashes into the Baffin Bay, a place Dad enjoyed a lot.  It was a nice way to do it.

Astros game

One of the summer joys is a good baseball game.  Last year, I didn't get to see a MLB game so I have remedied that this year.  Last night I saw the Astros v. Chi White Sox.  CWS won 4-2.   There were not too many people there for a  Monday night but it was a good game with hard hitting.  Lots of deep drives including a triple that scored two of the Astro's runs.  Alas, those were the only 2 there were.

This year you can bring in food so John brought some Lenny's subs.  We had plenty to eat, that's for sure.   This morning we ran off some of the calories before starting the day.

Happy Father's Day

Today was an extra good Father's Day.  I felt very blessed to be a father and thankful for my wife and daughter who made that happen for me.  It was great to all be together.  Very memorable all day long.

Back in Kingsville

After Mom was in McAllen looking at apartments this weekend, I brought her back home this afternoon.  After dinner we watched the NBA Finals, Spurs v. Heat.  Heat won Game 2 on a big performance by LeBron James.  This block will probably be on the highlights for a long time...



Tomorrow we are set to get an IRA form in the mail after it is notarized and then also we have to go by the credit union.  Should be a profitable day.