We got off the plane in Houston at 7 PM on Friday night. It was forty-seven degrees when we left Calgary that morning. As we exited the plane and started walking down the "sky-way thingy" to the terminal, the first thing we noticed was the heat. "It was hotter than a firecracker lit at both ends!" I was gonna say, "It was hotter than a couple of hamsters having sex in a wool sock!" but I thought better of it. And it just got hotter!
We were there to celebrate Ryan's birthday and enjoy some golf and visiting with friends. We rented our car and met Ryan and Cindy at Canyon Creek Cafe. If you haven't been there, you should try it. Great food! Not sure where they get their furniture, but I could swear I was sitting at my mom's old kitchen table and chairs. The next morning we all (me, Jim, Ryan, and Cindy) headed up to Gloria and Dean Eshelman's house on Lake Livingston. Bev and Steve Fryane drove up too. The plan was to spend the night and play golf with Mary and Bruce Litwin in Huntsville the next day. As usual, Gloria had outdone herself and prepared a wonderful dinner. We all sat around and told lies......I mean caught up on the news and enjoyed each other's company.
Golf the next day was fun but HOT! Did I mention it was HOT in Houston? God, it was HOT! Dean had devised a betting strategy for the golfing couples. Of course, there was a spreadsheet involved! :) I'm not really sure who won. The most you could lose was $4 per person. I figured we could borrow that much from the kids if we ran out of money. :) Afterwards, we had lunch at the famous "El Chico" of Huntsville, owned by the Byrd family (Cindy's folks).
Back to Houston we went. We stayed at Casey and Anthony's house and took care of the dogs until they got back from their pilgrimage to the desert. They were attending the annual "Burning Man" event in the Black Rock desert, 100 miles north of Reno, NV. Wow! The pictures and stories they brought back are amazing! If you don't know what "Burning Man" is, here is a link: http://www.burningman.com/ Ask Casey and Anthony about it next time you see them! Just don't ask them how HOT it was!
We met Janet and Toby at Shepard Park for lunch/brunch on Monday (Labor Day). Cool little place, emphasis on the little, but great food! You will see pictures of me on my throne below. (he he he) We also got to see Amy, Jan, Noe, Casey, Kendra, Dan, and Kimberly! Good to see you mis amigos!
One of the highlights of the trip was brewing Ryan and Cindy's wedding brew at the Frayne's. Ryan and Cindy have named their special brew, "Never a Doubt Stout". Isn't that great?! Steve assures us it will be ready for the engagement party that Cindy's g-ma, Nane, is throwing, but will Nane be ready for the stout? :)
Ryan turned twenty-eight on September sixth. We had dinner at the original "Mama Ninfa's" and went to a Dynamo game in the beautiful new stadium afterwards! And, yes, it was HOT! We had seats in two different sections of the stadium, but we figured we could probably all sit together since the game was only about two-thirds sold out. Well, the usher in the section where the kids were sitting had other ideas. To say that he was the "Ticket Nazi" was putting it mildly. He wouldn't let us sit in his section and wouldn't let the kids move to another section, so at half time, we all migrated to the section below the scoreboard and tried not to look guilty. The Dynamos won in the last few seconds by a penalty kick in the box! Woo-Hoo! Thanks, Casey and Cindy, for planning a great birthday surprise for Ryan!
The rest of the week was spent making trips to Costco (to fill up the extra suitcase) and lounging around. Of course, Jim had to work, so I pretty much lounged around by myself. Okay, now stop it! I know what you're thinking! You think all Candy does is lounge around! Well, it's true, but somebody has to do it! :) Why not me?
What a week! Thanks, kids, for putting up with us! We love ya lots!!!
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| Doesn't this look peaceful? We enjoyed a great weekend at the Eshelman's on Lake Livingston. |
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| Steve, Bev, Ryan, Cindy, Gloria, Dean, me, Jim at the Eshelman's house. |
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| What a motley crew! Bruce, Mary, Bev, Steve, Jim, Candy, Gloria, Dean at the famous El Chico's of Huntsville after the golf outing. |
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| Ryan tending the still.....I mean beer brewing contraption....I mean......whatever.... |
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| Jim, Ryan, Cindy and Steve brewing the Wedding Beer! |
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| Isn't she a cute "almost daughter-in-law"? |
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| Bev was worn out from too much golf and beer brewing......or else too much of whatever is in that glass..... |
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| Ryan and Cindy in front of the Mighty Instrument's office, their new venture. The journey begins! |
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| I told you there would be a picture of me on my throne! Queen for a day! |
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| Cindy, Ryan, Candy, Jim, Janet, and Toby at Shepard Park. |
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| We got our 2nd Tex Mex fix at Ryan's birthday dinner at Mama Ninfa's before the game. Yummy!!! |
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| Casey, Jim, Ryan, Cindy, me and Anthony posing for a photo of the coolest Dynamo fans around!! |
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| Oops! There we are again! Notice all the flip-flops. These are the only shoes that are worn in Houston year 'round! |
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| Sitting in the "Ticket Nazi's" section. See all those empty seats? |
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| Beautiful new stadium! Real grass, no Astro turf here! |
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| Chillin' at Ryan and Cindy's house. |
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| Last shot of the whole famn damily! Back row Jim, Casey, Anthony, Cindy, Ryan and me. Front row...Libbey, Sascha, Rasta, and Sugar...our grand-doggers! |
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