Humphrey Pete's

Sunday night, not many offerings in the dinner line other than fast food chains. However, in the B&B's information book they recommended Humphrey Pete's and it's open Sunday nights. Guess where we headed?

Question....what the heck does "it's pig lickin' good" mean?  It's on that sign and was on the back of their tshirts. 

I got the 8 oz ribeye with a loaded baked potato and a Caesar salad. Poor Stacy had to listen to me moan in tastebud ecstasy for each bite. Truly one of the best meals I've had out in ages. Stacy had the salmon which he said was great as well. Smelled divine!  High recommendations on this one!

Star of Texas B&B

Love this place. The ambiance is right up my alley and exactly as portrayed by the website. 

Pretty cool welcome!  

Stacy at the door....

My kind of place!

Charming....

Our view from the porch. 

Front porch. Going to enjoy this tomorrow. 

And now, off to dinner...

A new adventure

Two years ago I met Stacy, sure never know what life holds. This morning we are setting out on a new adventure and I'm going to attemp to document along the way. 

We are headed to the little town of Brownwood, Texas. Just about three hours from out San Antonio home. Our first stop was at the Flagstop Cafe, a burger and way too many fries for me, breakfast for Stacy. Decent burger, surprisingly for a gas station restaurant. 

Back on the road to our destination, the Star of Texas B&B. 

Worth noting...when we filled up with gas today it was $1.76/gallon which is amazingly low. 

One last going to share that I don't think I have, my ring finger tattoo that I had done in September. Cute, huh?

Tycoon Flats

Tycoon Flats has turned into a staple for me.  At this writing (9.17.14) it has the best burger in San Antonio, in my opinion.  I'm on an informal quest to find the best burger in town and so far, they are leading the pack. 

First, let's talk atmosphere.  The first time we went to Tycoon Flats, I wasn't sure we were entering correctly and felt like we were sneaking in the back door.  Nope, we did it perfect.  As we entered the property, there was some type of art class going on at the tables outside that lined the parking lot. I liked this and what it said about the place.  Entering what I still thought was the back way, encased by fencing, to my left was a long bar while above, a mist system kept the outdoor patrons cool.  At the far corner was a stage, unoccupied at this time.  Beyond the building and a shade to the right was a kids play area.  Nifty....kids play while adults can sit and imbibe and listen to tunes.  I like it already.  Wait....the wait staff has to come outside to get drinks for the restaurant we haven't even entered?  You betcha!  The swinging door left no guess where we entered the restaurant, although I STILL felt I was entering the back door....

Okay, have to admit this post is done in two sittings.  I started blogging and got so hungry for the amazing burgers at Tycoon Flats that we had to go again last night.  The weather was beautiful and we sat in the outdoor area, listening to wonderful music from three men that were just plain smooth and played great music, making me move in my seat. 

And we're off!

Vacation. Mini-vacation. I'm off Friday and Saturday as well as my normal Sunday and Monday.  First days off from work in the nine months I've been there.  Stacy is from a small town called Petersburg, Texas.  This weekend is their "homecoming" or Petersburg Days.  Stacy's going to be able to show me where he grew up and I'll meet more of his friends.

The PLAN.  Travel Friday, find a hotel to stay overnight, check out area some.  Saturday is the "event" then we will cruise Petersburg.  Evening at his brothers.  Sunday travel home.  Monday is groceries, laundry, relax from trip. Oh and lots of swimming.

Amazingly, we were on the road by 9 am.  We stopped lots on the way.  Best stop was the 10:30 am stop at Dairy Queen for ice cream.  What better way to start vacation!

During one pitstop we found the cokes with names and this one came with me and will go to Becca.

Paint Rock is home to Native American pictographs.  We drove the drive in but it honestly leads to somoene's home and the access to the pictographs is down and around.  So we chose to turn around.  As we were, here's what we found in front of us.  Buffalo.  Stacy moved closer and closer to get pictures and pretty soon the buffalo is getting up.  Soundtrack at this point includes Sandy screaming hysterically at Stacy to stop and get in the car right now, all the while clapping my hands like that would make him move faster...

Dinner at Gardski's in Lubbock.  

To sleep by a decent hour so we are at the "event" by 10 am tomorrow.  

Back to his stomping grounds....

Stacy is from a small Texas town, Petersburg, in the panhandle somewhat near Lubbock.  Annually, they hold Petersburg Days which is a homecoming of sorts. This year, 2014, it was a great opportunity to show me where he grew up, his old haunts, and to meet people.  Tonight we are packing and did our car prep of gassing up and washing.  Our plan is to hit the road around 9 am and head toward Lubbock.  Tomorrow we will find somewhere to stay and enjoy, hopefully explore some of Texas.  Saturday is the "event" then look around town and on to Lubbock to his brothers.  Sunday will be leisurely rolling home and possibly stopping for some more sights.  Stay tuned!

Nights in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) FIESTA!

This was my first year to be in San Antonio over Fiesta.  My boss purchases annual tickets to NIOSA and gives them away, this year to me to take the family.  So.....Stacy, John, Kira and I head toward the chaos of downtown San Antonio to experience what I hear is wall-to-wall people.  Although....going on a Tuesday night versus a weekend, we are assured it won't be so busy.

HA!!!  It was wall to wall people.  Kira is 3.5 and a small little thing.  I'm sure all she saw of people was their butts when she wasn't being carried.  We got to the kids area eventually and found a curb to sit on and people watch.

While I'm happy I experienced it, I have to admit I have no desire to do it again.  WAY too many drunk people to enjoy anything.  Way too many people period!  But here's our take on it....

Tickets to NIOSA

Cotton candy!

 How Kira eats cotton candy....

 3 generations...daughter, dad, grandpa

 Say CHEESE!

Martin Luther King March San Antonio 2014

Stacy and I have made a sort of bucket list.  Suppose we actually should put the list on paper, but essentially what we have is a commitment to do "something" every weekend.  That something can be as simple as going to a new coffee shop and taking a break during a busy working-on-the-house weekend.  Or it could be going to another town, participating in an event, or going to the one place in SA he hasn't gone (and he's lived here over 30 years).....the Alamo.....gasp!!!

So, this weekend, our venture was the Martin Luther King March that is held in San Antonio Annually.  To me this walk was very important because of diversity.  In MLK's famous speech he says "Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."  That speech was made 51 years ago and it is still relevant today.  I want justice for not only all races, but all sexual orientations, women (STILL) ..... EVERYONE as the "all of" in THE speech indicates.  That is what today was about for me.  I happen to not see skin color.  Is a person with brown hair smarter than one with a different shade of brown or blonde?  Why is skin color different? It's not.  I want to research about prejudice and bigotry and see where the world is at today.  I know that sexual orientation is a hot topic for some people and there is a lot of inequality in that realm.  Health care, ability to marry and have a family, benefits, simply being treated fairly.  Sad.  People, all of us.  None of us deserve to be treated unjustly, period. I know, one voice, but it's mine and all I can do is make some noise in my little world. Hopefully someone will hear/be influenced/THINK.

Today was a march for diversity, tolerance, peace, ONE WORLD.  So what do we hit as we round one corner?  Signs reading "One Man + One Woman = Marriage".  Luckily this was a peaceful, love filled march.  People just went on by the signs, but I can tell you that within the ranks there were comments of surprise that they'd choose this venue, this time of love, to be so ugly.  I guess that's what demonstrating is all about but c'mon, we were marching for tolerance and ONE WORLD.  LOVE.  Be a hater....geez, sad world.  But you know what?  They won't tolerate love, but we have to tolerate their in-your-face signs at a peaceful, love filled march?  Guess that says something.....hmmmm, bet my kids will remember me saying "kill them with kindness" on a number of occasions.  Case in point.

There were MANY mixed race couples/families at the march.  Has it taken the beauty of love and creation of a family to make some people get past the ugly segregational thinking?  Possibly.  Think about your family.  Mine is all over the board. Once upon a time I suppose it was what is called "white bread".  But I have great nieces and nephews that have multiple races in their background.  Stacy's grand daughter has mixed heritage.  Mixed what?  Doesn't matter does it?  Yea, we have Caucasian, African American, Hispanic....and more in there, and you know what?  Doesn't matter.  We are all people and everyone is loved just as deeply in the family.  Is this what it takes for some people to get it?  Really?  Very possibly and if so, I'm glad it's happening.

Random thought....people always comment on our "first black President".  WHY???   He's just as white as he is African American.  Why don't we say Obama is our 44th white President???  And what the heck does it matter what his race is anyway?  Why is that cause for celebration?  Perhaps he was elected because at the time he was the most qualified?  Like him or not (I kind of have a thing for him as I used to watch him play basketball when we were in high school) he's our freaking President.  He's pretty brilliant.  Criticize all you want, but you aren't in line for the job.  The most thankless job in the world.  OK....off that soapbox.

So anyway.....pictures from our first MLK March in San Antonio....

Busses as far as you can see....they did a great job of planning and being prepared for this event.

Stacy under the bus stop sign where we hopped the bus to/from the event site.

Notice the cops in yellow vests on top of the bridge.  In center is a photographer.

Crowds up ahead....

And crowds behind.

This one was the start....as we went across the Freedom Bridge.

With a cutie holding a "free hugs" sign.  AWESOME!

At the finish was a huge festival and what do you know!  Yes, a squeal of delight and I probably WAS one of few adults having a pic taken with Mickey and Minnie.

Stacy with his hugger....good stuff.