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.

Peter Frampton at the Majestic Theater

July 24 brought Peter Frampton to the Majestic Theater in San Antonio.  Back in Marcxh or April or so, my favorite man asked me to the concert.  Of course, back then things were still pretty new and I thought he was brave asking me for a date a couple months or more away.  So I felt obligated to date him, til the concert at least......ok that was a JOKE.  I had already fallen in love with the guy and wasn't going to tell him that any time soon, and took comfort in the fact that he felt secure enough to commit to a date that far out.

Back in my senior year in high school, the FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE tour made its way through Honolulu and my bff Sharon and I went.  Who else went, not sure.  Age remember, 52 here and that was waaaay back in 1978 or 1979.  Frampton used to play on my little stereo, on an ALBUM....you know those grooved vinyl things that a needle had to run over.  Double album set.  Sharon and I draped over my bed.  Topic:  boys.  What else?  Specially with Sharon as a bestie!!  :)  

Second time around with Frampton....this time I'm with my new bestie, Stacy, and starting a beautiful new chapter in my life.  I'd never been into the Majestic and yes, it is Majestic.

Glare from the lights is bad, but at least got a bit of the look of the theater, although the website does it justice, not this.  These are just my satisfaction that I really was here.

 Little less glary and looking to side boxes.  What a great setting to watch a show in.  I'd love to come back for more concerts and stage shows.  Think I can pull the man along.

Kenny Wayne Sheppard opened the show for Frampton, a country rock guitar player and his band.  Best song was Black on Blue.  Rest.....ok, not my style and nothing stand out.

But then there was Frampton.  Boy have we all aged.  Bald on top, fringe of white hair.....hated when he looked like a little old man to me cause it reinforced how old I have gotten.  BUT MAN can he plan and perform.  Still sounds like the same young guy that rolled through town 25 years ago.  I'm sure in his head he is am I'm still no older than 29 and Stacy is 31.

Yes, he played the Comes Alive songs.  Tears rolled down my cheeks and I fought to steady my lip.  Memories slammed into me and thoughts of Sharon ran through my head.  Wonder that she is still my friend all these 35 years later.  And yes, now as I sit here typing this....weeks later, tears again.  Ok, ok, it's an old person thing.  Sheesh.  It's valuing people and the precious memories and realizing that is all that counts.

Frampton brought Steve Lukather out on stage, a friend for many many years, the 80s I believe he said. Lukather is formerly of Toto and played some incredible guitar with Peter.

Peter Frampton, of all people, guitar player that he is.....could get away with playing some covers.  He did Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun which he covered on his 2006 instrumental album FINGERPRINTS.  He also slipped a very appropriate While My Guitar Gently Weeps into his ovation songs.  Peter recorded this Beatles song on his 2009 album NOW.

During the ovations, Stacy made the comment that everyone was really dancing.  Then he laughed and said...."they are stretching!!!".  Well yea we were swaying and dancing and stretching or attempting to camouflage the stretches into something else, but yes, he was right on with this crowd!

The Majestic Theater was magical to me.  I'll be back for more.

San Antonio Riverwalk

Took my daughter with me on a whirlwind 24 hour trip to San Antonio to get a "Stacy-fix".  We ended up parking, walking and exploring.  It happened to be the first weekend of FIESTA and we strolled along the Riverwalk  to get to Market Square.   You've got to read the Fiesta website to get an idea what this is, but even then, I think it eludes you.  Probably takes living her and experiencing it a bit to understand.

Anyway as I understand it's hispanic culture, a bit tongue in cheek humor, fun.  Think Mardi Gras hispanic style.  Bright colors everywhere, party city!  There are events for 10 days and MANY all over town.  Parades (plural), music galore.....I've only hit the tip of the iceberg.  Fiesta de los Reyes is what we experienced at Market Square.  CROWDS.  And with Stacy's shoulder/collarbone situation that made me nervous.

10 days of wild celebration.  I missed the river parade but apparently it was televised so I'll be looking for it on the interwebz.  So much to see and do in San Antonio.....much more to come.

San Antonio...take two...

Tunes for the road, fired up and pounding.   Hitting the road on a Friday night heading to San Antonio.  This weekend is more about care taking and being there, but  adventures happen regardless.

Headed to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens on Monday, President's Day.  Absolutely gorgeous weather, although the day started out cloudy.  Parking the car, the very first think I spotted was a bluebonnet.  The first one this season!

 Did you know that a great way to plant bluebonnets is to make a slurry, creating mudballs with the seeds inside, let them dry and then fling them around the yard?  That way the birds don't eat the seeds.

 Entering the gardens, my eyes were dancing with all the colors.  Made me want to play in the dirt and dig.  Pictures of the beautiful flowers....

San Antonio, here I come!

So, I suppose that "seeing" someone in a different city is a valid reason for visiting that city often and exploring?  It was confirmed in visiting with Stacy that when you live in a city, the last thing you do is explore it.  So, I'd say that he and I have some fun times ahead exploring SA.

Sunday, February 3, 2013 found me making the 101 mile, house to house trip for the first time.  Much of my time was NOT exploring, but enjoying the company, often in the beautiful sun by the pool.  I mean, c'mon check this out.  Morning one, out by the pool, catch my breakfast dishes near me.  How can you not enjoy?

We went over to Brackenridge Park and wandered.  I discovered that Tuesday admission at the Witte Museum is free from 3 - 8 pm.  Note made to self to go back and explore.  Also, the San Antonio Zoo is right there....and the park itself has wonderful walking trails.  I tended to want to take the lesser known paths through the woods and was able to, a couple times.  Thank goodness my companion has a better sense of direction than I do.

OK these moss balls intrigued me, made me think of Tribbles from Star Trek.   I know they aren't the easiest to see, I should have picked one up  and taken the pic against a better backdrop, but I loved them.  My imagination began to soar.  Look up with me and see how they look in the trees.  Silly, I know, but I felt like a kid exploring the wonders of the world with a spring in my step.  I wanted to hold hands and skip through the woods, but I restrained myself.  Too new of a relationship to jeopardize it by letting all my inner kid out yet.....gotta save some surprises.

We did come back to Brackenridge with lunch the next day and walked more and I plan to be back to hit the museum and zoo and the park yet again. Oh!  Almost forgot my best San Antonio find (well, other than him), something I've missed from my California days.  TRADER JOE'S!!!  I was so excited to find out they had opened in November of 2012 and that I could hit the Quarry and get my TJ fix.  You can bet I will be back each visit.

OK, humor me with this part, this is pure self indulgence.  So, this guy....yea.  Makes my heart skip.  One of the days it was warm enough (80) to sit by the pool in our swim suits and we had actually planned to swim.  The day got past us and we didn't.  But I did sneak a few pics.  Oh....and check out those banana trees and the awesome trim job....I did the trimming/clean up job when I was there.  Was good to be useful.  Yea and that last pic to the right there does make me melt.  Kinda like that guy.  Putting a keeper stickie note on him.