Asleep at the Wheel

OK, I don't usually give it up when I find a new spot that has it going on, but in this case, consider yourself notified: Nico's is where its at!

And speaking of "where its at"- let me clue you to the location before we get started.  Nico's is in a nice new strip center on Renner Road, just east of 190 George Bush Tollway. I am guessing five minutes east on 190 from 75 Central Expressway, so it is easy to get to. there are map links on Nico's website.

My dining experience last night was a breath of fresh air for this native Dallasite, who pretty much has his regular Mexican joints lined up and figured out.  Granted there are a lot of great Mexican joints in this town, and I like MANY of them, but Nico's raised the bar in a way I had not imagined- the food was EXCELLENT, service was EXCELLENT, atmosphere was clean, modern, comfortable and casual, and the prices were MODERATE!

Looking over my take-out menu it seems dinner runs from $7.99 to $13.49, with most Tex-Mex dishes $7.99 to $9.99.  Lunches are from $5.99 to $6.49.  Monday's are Enchilada Dinner special at $4.75 ALL DAY and Wednesday is $1.99 Margaritas all day long. they have a Sunday buffet brunch for $12.99 and it looks extensive- see the website.

Four of us dined, and found the menu to be a pleasant change.  I and my best friend opted for the Nico's Specail for $9.99.  It consisted of a sour creme chicken enchilada, a pork tamale, a cheese chili relleno and a crispy beef taco.   the tack was soo full of meat I could not get the salad in it- but ate it with a fork instead.  the chicken enchilada had wonderful shredded (or pulled) chicken that had been properly prepared using red chili, and the sour creme sauce was the best I can remember in years.  the chili relleno was absolutely the best I have ever had- reminiscent of Matt's El Rancho or Mattito's, with pecans and raisins- only BETTER!

My son had an Enchilada Dinner (chicken, cheese or beef offered), which I assume were good as the plate was clean in less time than it took to plate the dish, I am sure.  Sided with rice and beans it was $7.99.

My beautiful wife went with the Tacos de Brisket-three  soft flour tortillas with brisket inside and cotija cheese, served with a tortilla bowl of black beans (refried?), a pile of cilantro, and rice.  $7.99  Honestly, this was our least favorite dish, and I would probably skip it.  These are what I call Mexican street tacos, and somebody in Dallas does them much better. As a matter of fact, the bast I have had were served out of the back of an 80's Nissa Maxima trunk just outside the entrance to Atomic Auto wrecking yard.  To be "authentic" they are usually very greasy, the meat having been simmering in a cast iron skillet just before serving.  Well, enough about what they are not.  We just didn't think they were flavorful enough, and compared to our other dishes, they were pretty weak.

Still, quick service, great chips, great salsa, wonderful food, friendly staff, super clan and comfy, but very casual too.  I really enjoyed the palce and want to see it be successful.  So much so, I am personally asking YOU to go try it.  Like all restaurants, I can see they are hurting for business when they were probably at 30% of capacity last night, yet this place deserves to live.

www.nicoscantina.com  Texasguydfw sez: Check it out!

Some may remember I reviewed Cooppies a while back.  I seem to recall I thought a lot of it was Good to just OK as far as the food goes, but management simply has no clue, as well as the wait staff were poorly trained.

Well, today I found myself in the area after stopping off at Petco to pic up some meds for my dog, and decided breakfast a Cooppies sounded pretty good. Walked in around 11:15 and after being seated was told, without any promting on my part: "We dont serve breakfast after 11:00am".  Hum. Well. Obviously this hostess has seen this problem before.  I replied: OK, well, we came for breakfast..." and was cut off at the pass with "we do serve chicken and waffles all day though" to which I decided to ponder this thought, as having sampled my son's chicken and waffles on another vist prooved it was a fairly good choice.

Now it gets more interesting, as the waitress flipped my menu over staing "we dont serve the lunch plates on the weekend." 
Me: "Well, I wanted the chicken and waffles..."
Her:: "You can still get it, it is just a larger porton."
Me: "I see... let me look this over then"

As I looked it over, I found the chicken and waffles were on the dinner menu- but now it has three sides (not veggies, as it is practically all starches save the steamed broccli and the glazed carrots), starts with salad and a roll and rings up for $10.99!

Well, $11.00 is more than I was wanting to pay for breakfast, but since I was already there... something I am sure the management has keenly calculated by cutting off breakfast at 11:00am!  So, my son and I both ordered the C&W dinner, and me haivng water (no breakfast beverages served after 11:00!) and him a DP, we were off to the races.

The food was basically good.  I would prefer chicken tenders with some crunchy crust instead of the flat beice of lifeless breast meat with soft crust. the cheezy grits are tasty, if not much like the ones in the package you add water to and microwave- but I still love them.  Sweat potato is actually a HALF a sweet potato cut lengthwise- kinda small, but tasty.  Steamed broccli was... well- steamed broccli.  I am suprised they dont offer a melted cheese sauce for this side.  Gravy was good, served in a bowl, which I like, as it saves the crunchy goodness of the chicken fried... oh, thats right- it wasn't crunchy when it arrived.  Well, good try anyway.  then the waffle- cooked to perfection- not too dough, and not hard and crunchy- but just right, with a tasty batter and some hot syrup on the side.

Now the crux of this review is wrapped around the idea of eating breakfast after 11:00am on a Saturday (or Sunday, I presume).  this meal was not really what I had in mind, as I wanted some eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy....  and would have taken a waffle too if I could get it with the other stuff, BUT- NO BREAKFAST AFTER 11:00AM ON WEEKENDS.  So instead, we had the C&W, and the drive out with tip was a few pennies under $30.00.

THIRTY DOLLARS for two people to eat "breakfast".  Insane.

I have this old saying: "You can sheer a sheep many times, but you can only skin him once"

Well, Cooppies has skinned me, and unless they start offering breakfast all day, or at least until 1pm on weekends, and lunch plates every day of the week, I wont be back.  And since I ahve no way of knowing if they will ever do this save them sending me some mail stating this change in policy, then I guess I will never be back.  And that is a shame, as the place has some promise.

Note to management: When we arrived at 11:15ish, there was exactly TWO other tables seated. Other than that, your restaurant was EMPTY.  While we were there, I saw several parties come in and leave after being told "no breakfast".  Wish I had done the same.  I can promise you if you will visit Hubbards at 11:15am any day of the week you can get breakfast, and the place will be FULL, with folks waiting for a table.  If you cant figure out why, you need to find a new line of work.

We went to Coopies in Firewheel Town Center (190 & 78 in Garland) for dinner last night. This is sort of a spruced up version of Babes (the chicken dinner place) with a few variations. It was just OK, but I offer we were late- about 8:30 when we arrived, and that probably has a lot to do with our experience.

This place starts with a family style bowl of green salad with "southern made dressing" (oil and vinegar?) like Babes, but much better- they have added shredded cheddar and croûtons! Yum!

The generous portions of Chicken Fried Steak ("CFS" for short) and chicken tenders were very good, but had a lot of black pepper. Wife loves black pepper so she loved them. The CFS came with a tiny cup of creme gravy on the side- which I love it on the side- the crunchy goodness (texture!) isn't lost by the soaking up of the gravy. I often wish I could get orange chicken at the Chinese joint served that way. Well, maybe I should try asking. Anyway, bless them for thinking outside the box. However, the chicken tenders were served WITHOUT gravy. Hummm, whats up with that? Well, we coulda asked!

The King Ranch Casserole too soupy to be a true casserole (in our collective opinion), no cheese to be found to hold it together- my kid threw it back cause it was "not like moms". I ate it and it was tasty- with lots of peppers- but I can accept people make thing differently.

As for sides- tiny portions were served- mostly in tiny cups like Bone Daddy's used to do. But you do get three. Sort of a “sampler”. I suppose you could just order three of the same if it was one you really liked. I liked the mashed potatoes. I thought I found a dumpling in them. Odd, but actually kinda good. Anyway, they could use some sour cream. The English peas (called green beans here) had fresh chopped onions- the chili-lime bean salad had lots of fresh chopped onion. I am simply not a fan of raw onion. Both could be fine without it. I never tried the mac and cheese, but others said it was good (tiny, but good). the yams were simply half a small yam dropped on the plate. Oh, and the waiter made a point to inform us the potato salad was mayonnaise based- isn't that Yankee style potato salad? Well, they do advertise themselves as "home cooking", they just didn't say where that home was located! LOL

Wait staff was slow- in the beginning, it seemed as if none of them wanted to wait our table. I actually saw three of them debating it. We did come in at 8:30, so maybe they thought they would have to stay late if they took us? You know teenagers, they have things to do! Well, the industrious (and likely profit motivated!) guy who took our table seemed to end up with too many tables to serve, while the cute chicks sort of flittered about looking busy. Anyway, I always had an empty tea glass, we never got the home made cheezy biscuits we were promised twice (“they are making a fresh batch”), and nobody had any idea if the coconut cream pie had coconut IN it. Our waiter did volunteer to go ask. Manager said “just on top”. I skipped it as I don’t like pie that is just coconut flavored pudding- and the wife ordered it. It was LOADED with coconut IN it- and whipped cream on top instead of meringue- just the way I like it! Go figure.

Wife and I decided it was good enough to go back, but we would carefully pick our battles- go for the fried stuff- ask for more gravy- get there early enough to have someone actually WANT to wait on us-carefully pick our sides- or pick out the onions. Anyway, I say check it out if your in the neighborhood. I think this place has promise.

More in-box silliness-

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?
(I dont get this one)

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? ( I have been saying this for years)

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?'
Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?'

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE......
The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends --
if they're okay, then it's you.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)
 
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. < BR>-- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty -three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE   THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the # 1 Favorite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10
 

Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things.  
During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but
they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair 
"Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks.
"Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"
"Sure."
"Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks.
"No, I can remember it."
"Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too.  Maybe you should write it down,
so's not to forget it?"
He says, "I can remember that.  You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."
"I'd also like whipped cream.  I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she asks.
Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with
strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!"
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes,
The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. 
She stares at the plate for a moment. "Where's my toast ?"

Do this test and report your results back here.

Watch this!

Big Box Mart | Funny Jokes at JibJab

Got this in my email today...

  IDIOT SIGHTING:
We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a "large" enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, "Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower." I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, "NO, it's not." Four is larger than two.."       

  We haven't used Sears repair since.

 

IDIOT SIGHTING
  My daughter and I went through the McDonald's take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, "you gave me too much money." I said, "Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a dollar bill back."  She sighed and went to get the manager who asked me to repeat my request. I did so, and he handed me back the quarter, and said "We're sorry but they could not do that kind of thing." The clerk then proceeded to give me back $1 and 75 cents in change. 
  
  Do not confuse the clerks at McD's.
   
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I live in a semi rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSING sign on our road. The reason: "Too many deer are being hit by cars out here!   I don't think this is a good place for  them to be crossing anymore."

>From Kingman , KS .


  
IDIOT SIGHTING IN FOOD SERVICE:
My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce." He said he was sorry, but they only had iceburg lettuce.
  From Kansas City


 
IDIOT SIGHTING:
I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when an airport employee asked, "Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?" To which I replied, "If it was without my knowledge, how would I know?" He smiled knowingly and nodded,
 "That's why we ask."

Happened in Birmingham , Ala.


   
IDIOT SIGHTING:
The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker of mine. She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, "What on earth are blind people doing driving?!"

She was a probation officer in Wichita , KS 


   
IDIOT SIGHTING :
At a good-bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker. She was leaving the company due to "downsizing." Our manager commented cheerfully, "This is fun. We should do this more often." Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.

This was a lunch at Texas Instruments. 

      
IDIOT SIGHTING :
I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.

A deputy with the Dallas County Sheriffs office, no less.


  
IDIOT SIGHTING :
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I announced to the technician, "its open!" His reply, "I know. I already got that side."

This was at the Ford dealership in Canton , Mississippi


STAY ALERT!

They walk among us... and the scary part is that they VOTE and they REPRODUCE !

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY

1. DON'T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON'T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.....

3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?

5. THE MAIN REASON SANTA IS SO JOLLY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BAD GIRLS LIVE. Yeah!

6. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, "WHERE'S THE SELF-HELP SECTION?" SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

7. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

8. IF A DEAF PERSON SWEARS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

9. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

10. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

11. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?"

12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

13. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

14. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

15 WHY DO THEY LOCK GAS STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

16. IF A TURTLE DOESN'T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

17. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

18. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

19. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

20. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

21. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

23. DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?

24. DO INFANTS ENJOY INFANCY AS MUCH AS ADULTS ENJOY ADULTERY?

25. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

26. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

27. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

28. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

29. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD "LISP" TO HAVE "S" IN IT?

30. WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED "HEMORRHOIDS" INSTEAD OF "A$$TEROIDS"?

31. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN'T SHOOT AT THEM?

32. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

33. IF YOU SPIN AN ORIENTAL MAN IN A CIRCLE THREE TIMES DOES HE BECOME DISORIENTED?

34. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?

OK, I almost finished this really great, witty review of Ozona Bar and Grill on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, and I accidently hit a key that took me back two browser pages.  when I got back the copy was lost.  So here I am, not taking a chance as I re-write some of it in a word processor.  Sad to say, I have lost my enthusiasm now, and will just give you the facts without all the charm and wit you have come to expect.

The Dallas location is on Greenville at Dyer, just north of Mockingbird Lane.

Ozona Bar and Grill
 4615 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
214-265-9105
<http://www.ozonagrill.com/>

We went for the Margaritas and burgers, and the great patio.  Unlike most dallas restaurants with a patio, Ozona has figured out that having a wall between the patio and the parking lot and adjacent roadways makes for a more inviting dining experience.  I cant believe the number of restaurants that have patios next to Central Expressway!

Hostess' are cute, but they seemed confused. We overheard wait staff is asking them to not seat all their tables because they cant handle them.  Yet the wait is 45 minutes, and there are open, clean tables all over the patio.  Of course, there are lots of open tables INSIDE, but for my money, I come to sit on the patio like everyone else.  I suspect the solution is to hire more wait staff.

Lots of confusion in the staff.  Our drinks took half an hour, yet I walked by an empty bar inside, bartender and waitresses chatting.  No paper towels in the mens room.   got napkins from the bartender. Had to interrupt his chatting to ask where to dispose of spent napkins.  

My and my wife's $8 Margaritas ($6 +$2)were sadly very weak.  When I order call brands (Herradura Silver and Gran Marnier) in the signature Mexican Martini, I would like to know I am drinking something other than a Limeade.  I want the Herradura not only for the alcohol content, but because it is a "dry" tequila.  I like my drinks dry.  Not sweet.  Dry.  Not semi-sweet.  If it is not dry, then you need to pour more Herradura until it is.

Food was great! Cooked right, hot and tasty!  I love the Cheeseburger with Bleu Cheese!  They also have American, Monterey Jack, Swill, Cheddar, and Jalapeno Jack cheeses. Fries seem homemade, and are great too!  Add $1 for great onion rings.

Did I mention the patio is awesome!  Lots of trees, some rooftops, decks, greenery, fountains, planters... very rambling and comfy.

They do lots of Texas and Tex-Mex favorites. The full menu is online, so I wont bother with details.

I wish they would build one somewhere off 190 between Central and Highway 78 (Firewheel mall).  We can seriously use some good restaurants in this vicinity. And I hope they get the staff problems worked out.  And to be sure, it was not a problem with the people working...  Heaven help them!  It was they were being overworked.  I want to see management present and highly visible, and helping out when they short staff like this.

Hello?

After church on Easter, the weather was so nice we decided to take a quick road trip. Of course it helped that Mom and the boy both had Monday off.

We packed up a few things, loaded the new dog, and we were off to Austin for the evening, and wherever after that. We took I-35 to the new toll road that starts around Georgetown. The toll road took us to the north east side of Austin, where we took a short ride on a crosstown expressway to our lodging. that toll road is nice, and avoids all the congestion of Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville and north Austin on I-35. It also swings dangerously close to Taylor, which host one of my favorite BBQ joints.

Somewhere along this route, I saw a small building or house with a metal roof that had snow piled up on the lower half. I kept thinking "snow? No way, not this late, and not this far south." Yet I could not think what else this might be?

That evening, we were up for some Conans whole wheat crust pizza, but found they would not deliver to our humble abode. We selected an alternate source (I forget who), and exactly one hour later, were were up to our eyeballs in fresh, spicy, handmade pie... exactly what you want at 10pm, just before you go to bed!

The next morning, watching the Austin Fox TV channel, they were reporting lots of power outages in Round Rock due to heavy snows! What????? Well, at least I am not going crazy, but the weather sure is. Must be global warming.

Next, its off to the lake front in SW Austin, to Mozart's Coffee Roasters for double cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and pastries. They have a nice tree covered deck where you can sit and watch nature and enjoy your selection of caffeinated beverages. Also free wi-fi, which worked out well with my son.

Afterward, we headed west to Fredricksburg, and stopped just short at a self proclaimed "wildflower farm" of sorts. they had a lot of outdoor stuff for sale, in a nice setting. somebody spent a lot of money anyway. Also a bier garden, (indoor and out) and some food items. Worth a look.

when we arrived in Fredricksburg, it was packed! I have never seen so many cars, busses, and people there before. i got kinda claustrophobic, and was willing to leave as soon as the wife checked out a spot she was interested in. In the past, the bluebonnets ahv been spectacular between Fredricksburg and Llano, so we headed that way. Not so much this year. Maybe we were late, due to global warming?

We hit Llano, and parked at Coopers BBQ for lunch (and dinner). Now Coopers is different. They have about four large outdoor pits, about 12 feet long and 3 feet wide, under a metal awning off to the east side of the building. You walk up to the man at the pit, and he opens it, exposing the coveted carnivores delight inside, and asked you to just tell him what you want. As you point out the ribs, brisket, pork chops, chicken or sirloin you want, he ask "sauce?" and if you nod yes, he spears it and dunks it in a bucket of sauce, and drops it on butcher paper placed on a cafeteria tray. You then go inside, where the meat is separated by type, weighed, wrapped up and the price attached as you move down the line to pay. You can pick up a tub of cole slaw or potato salad, but since we had $40.00 of meat already, I figure we can simply do with the meat, drinks, and all the free beans as offered in a cauldron over by the drink and garnishment table. And those beans are good, too!

it was 12 years ago during the same time of year that me and the wife discovered Coopers quite by accident. It seems we had driven up this same highway, enjoying the bluebonnets, and had pulled off to take a photo of me and the baby in a road cut loaded with bluebonnets. I have that photo here in the house on display now- him sitting on my shoulder, less than a year old- 8 months to be exact. I recall him in the stroller in the outdoor dining area at Coopers, and I was eating these huge beef ribs, and as I was about finished with one, I handed to him. He gnawed on that bone till it was clean and dry, and I knew we had another carnivore in the family!

I had hoped for a similar experience with our new puppy, who is 5 months old, Sadly, the outdoor area had been enclosed and "air conditioned" and the dog was not welcome. He had to sit in the car and wait for us. We did bring him some brisket though. But not much!

As we continued north on the back roads, we found the bluebonnets to be quite glorious, and getting better the farther north we traveled. This photo was not the best of them, but was a nice, accessible hill that showed them off well, just outside of Hillsboro.

Meet our new puppy, Jack. That is short for General Andrew Jackson.

Do you dog lovers know what kind of dog this is?  His name is a clue!

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. 

 

On this day, 25 years ago, we were married in a small chapel downtown at First Baptist Church, Dallas TX.
Being of modest upbringing, we had scrimped and saved for well over a year and a half to pay for everything related, including the rental of the hall and reception areas, lots of flowers (red roses), the string trio that played classical selections, as well as the traditional wedding music, cakes, punch, etc....  It was a beautiful affair, everything we had hoped and dreamed of for the previous 18 months.

My bride-to-be looked stunning as she entered the chapel, her father escorting her down the isle. I, the groom, was nervous, but not for the usual reason... no, I was nervous that everything would come off exactly as we had planned.  We did have a few run-ins with various factions in regard to how the wedding should go- everyone else having their own ideas as to what it should look like. The fact that we had it as First Baptist was the first of many skirmishes.  Neither of us believing our home church to be the sort of backdrop we envisioned, we gladly chose this as the perfect venue. Then there was the resident wedding planner, who tried to choreograph our wedding to the point that I asked her to step aside, and directed everyone as to exactly what we wanted instead. Her choreography reminded me too much of a high school band and drill team, marching this way and that, with a lot of excess movement amounting to nothing.

The wedding proceeded perfectly, every detail falling into place, and finally the two lovers were united as one, presented to the congregation as Mr. and Mrs., and we proceeded down the isle.  I noticed one person in the congregation I did not know.  I leaned into my beautiful bride and inquired, and she did no know him either.  He sat next to a long time friend of mine.  As we got closer, I could see this was no one we knew, and I am sure we were both staring him down as he blurted out "God help you!" The congregation easily hearing him muffled a laugh.

Later, we were to learn this was a street person who inquired of my friend as to what was going on inside.  My friend simply said: "Why don't you come in and see?"  To this day, I can’t help but wonder if it was an angel.  Heaven knows that in 25 years, we have needed the help of God on many occasions, mostly those times when we have somehow forgotten to include Him in our plans.  That said, I know that without God helping us, we would have never lasted these 25 years.

Today is indeed a special day.  I am truly humbled to be the husband of my beautiful wife. I thank God for such a blessing in my life.  I look forward to the next 25 years!

I Love You Punkin!

XOXOXO

I have to admit I never went there.  OK, one time I walked in, but I cant remember for what... matches maybe?

Did you ever go?

I just don't get these people thinking they can have a Hard Rock, or a House of Blues in every city? It just makes it that I cant tell what city I am in anymore.  They all have the same stuff.