Yesterday we left the beautiful city of San Antonio. I will be back - it was amazing! We flew Mexicana airlines to Mexico City and then to Cancun. Being that I don't enjoy flying anyway I had my reservations about the whole thing. In fact, it turned out to be a surprisingly good experience. Mexicana may be the last airline to serve food and free drinks, even alcohol. We were served food and beverages on both flights even though they were both less than two hours each. The planes were very nice and quite spacious. The downside after a long day of travel was that my bag was one of three that didn't make it. It arrived in our room at the hotel this morning - 7:30 am. Everything seems to be there except a nice jean dress I was really looking forward to wearing. I'm guessing that it is still back at the Hyatt in San Antonio. This is the first time I've used Facebook for a customer inquiry with a company. Hopefully it works wonders and the dress finds me again.
Our resort here in Mexico is beautiful. The food has been amazing, the bed is super comfy and we've even got football on TV - which is good, we'll be in the room most of today. By all accounts hurricane Ida will miss Cancun directly but the outside of the storm seems to be enough to throw a wrench in our sunny vacation. It's raining here now and apparently has been for some time. But we Northwesterners are a-ok with that. At least it is a hot rain. The rest of the guests are lugging huge umbrellas around. Why bother. We tried to go to the beach this morning just to see what's going on. The've got every access roped off with caution tape (which we ignored) and if you make it past the tape they have hotel staff stationed on the beach access to turn you around. They don't want tourists getting washed away in the Ocean. I use the term beach loosely. The waves are already so violent and voluminous that they've swollowed up the entire beach front of the restort. But it was pretty amazing to watch. Apparently we're set to get 30-40 MPH winds today and more rain. Should be pretty incredible to watch. The fishing tour guy said all water activities have been closed until Thursday but that because of the storm the fishing should be amazing by then.
So we're left to eat, drink, lounge around and watch football. Not a bad deal in my book. Eating around here has been entertaining. This morning at breakfast we watched birds swoop in to the patio tables and steal sugar packets off the table, one at a time. Picked 'em, right out of the holders. It didn't matter what type - Splenda, sugar, Sugar in the Raw - they took whatever they could make off with. We haven't quite figured out what they do with them but it make be the equivalent of avian crack.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Generations
Generation gaps are evident everywhere. For example, social media – it’s either your lifeline or you can’t figure it out for the life of you. In my marriage generation gaps come in the form of a Doobie Brothers concert where my husband is singing along and I barely know a couple songs. But I feel like now that we’ve been there my karma is aligned with the world again. See, at my wedding shower my loving maid of honor had this fun game for everyone to play. She had asked Pat a series of questions, gathered his responses and then asked me the same questions in front of all the important women in my life. For most of the game I was doing pretty well. Then it came to Pat’s favorite band. I quickly replied Metallica, quite proud of myself. By this time the guy had seen them at least four or five times. “Eh - the Doobie Brothers” she replied and then all of us youngsters looked at each other in question. Who the heck are the Doobie Brothers? I’ve felt like just a minor bit of a failure as a wife since then. So imagine my surprise when purchasing tickets to Larry the Cable Guy I learn the Doobie Brothers will be in San Antonio the first night of my conference. Brilliant! I have to fess up that I knew more than a couple songs, although none well enough to sing along. The rest of the crowd, however, were diehard fans. This was a good show – the band loves to rock and the fans follow suit. Anyone can appreciate that. For a Wednesday night the people of San Antonio were out to party and the people watching was great. I feel like there was an extra energy in the air watching the show in the Lone Star state since they reference Texas and San Antonio several times in their songs. A lady right in front of us was so moved by the music she got up to sing and dance like a member of a southern Baptist gospel choir. I love passion like that. There was a guy five rows in front of us who had to be pushing 80 but he was up dancing and singing, waving his hands in the air. The demographics of the crowd varied greatly. I wasn’t the youngest but I’d bet I was in the bottom 10 percent. The crowd even tried to be young and hip by waving their cell phones in the air instead of a lighter – although some obviously failed to recognize the point that the screen must be lit up. The show was more fun than I expected and I gotta love a band with two drummers, two full drum sets and a bass player named Skylark who wears a sleeveless shirt and plays a lit up bass. I left with a happy, singing husband and a fully restored karma.
Today was the first day of my Boston College Corporate Social Responsibility class. These things always start out the same – a morning of relief, bonding and commiserating. Engineers, accountants and marketing types typically have the luxury of working with a group of people with whom they can brainstorm, commiserate and work side by side. In the CSR world we more typically work alone in a company. If you’re lucky you’ve got a team of three to five. So the first parts of each of these conferences are full of “God it’s so nice to talk to someone who gets what I’m dealing with!” And that’s a good feeling.
Yesterday we toured all the Spanish missions around San Antonio. It was a great history lesson and those still intact are quite stunning. If nothing else, I now know where the term “mission style furniture” comes from. We ended with a tour of the Alamo. I liken this experience to visiting Elvis’ Graceland – it’s not exactly as grand as you expect it will be. However, the Texan pride for the Alamo is bigger than life itself, even to this day. Remember the Alamo!
Today was the first day of my Boston College Corporate Social Responsibility class. These things always start out the same – a morning of relief, bonding and commiserating. Engineers, accountants and marketing types typically have the luxury of working with a group of people with whom they can brainstorm, commiserate and work side by side. In the CSR world we more typically work alone in a company. If you’re lucky you’ve got a team of three to five. So the first parts of each of these conferences are full of “God it’s so nice to talk to someone who gets what I’m dealing with!” And that’s a good feeling.
Yesterday we toured all the Spanish missions around San Antonio. It was a great history lesson and those still intact are quite stunning. If nothing else, I now know where the term “mission style furniture” comes from. We ended with a tour of the Alamo. I liken this experience to visiting Elvis’ Graceland – it’s not exactly as grand as you expect it will be. However, the Texan pride for the Alamo is bigger than life itself, even to this day. Remember the Alamo!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Genetics
It's a good thing I went with the dressy boots. I went to the historic Majestic theatre Sunday night with every best dressed cowboys and cowgirls in town. Now, when I say best dressed there are two distinct categories. There's the dressy cowboy hat, dressy blazer, best pair of jeans and dressy boots kind of cowboy (typically older) and the OK boots, OK jeans, OK baseball hat (usually white or cammo) and t-shirt with the arms cut off. I fell nicely in the middle with my new (dressy) cowboy boots, jean skirt and Seahawks t-shirt. For such a beautiful theater it was a shock to find out a person could take snacks and drinks to the seat. So, even though I wasn't really in the mood for it, I ordered a Miller Lite and carefully carried my plastic cup of beer to my seat. Let's be honest, the real reason I was hesitant was because I could picture myself taking a sip at the wrong moment and spitting beer all over the nicely dressed cowboy in front of me. Larry isn't the laugh till you cry kind of comedian but rather the laugh 'cause you can relate to him kind. I've discovered something most scientists haven't invested much time studying over my two days in the lone star state. Not only are things like eye color, hair color and shape of your nose genetic, but apparently redneck is a very strong gene through the generations. I've never lived anywhere that could remotely be considered country, but every time I get in these situations I just feel like its home.
Yesterday was Pat's day. Having lived in Texas for five years the last couple times we've been here he's always excited to show me his old stomping grounds. For years I've heard him talk about the Green Mansion. If you're like me you're picturing a green colored big house on a hill. Well, I was sort of right. It is a mansion (by late 1800's standards) but it has nothing to do with the color green - it's actually Gruene, the last name of a very smart man who settled this little community along the Guadalupe river. The town of Gruene still exists and is just like stepping through a time warp. It was a day I really regret not having a better camera, but then there's always the debate of having to carry all that gear around. The Gruene dance hall is the oldest dance hall in Texas and possibly the country. It's exactly what you'd see in a romantic Sandra Bullock country movie and was actually used for the dance scene in John Travolta's movie "Michael." It would have been heaven to see a good band play and dance the night away in my new boots. We also spent some time sitting along the Guadalupe river - an absolutely beautiful spot. Of course, Pat has conquered the river many times over the years he lived here. It is Texas tradition in the heat of the summer to gather your friends and a large cooler of drinks and float the river. In fact all the businesses along the ten miles of river cater to tubing (or toobes as most businesses call it). But it's been 16 years since he's been here - much has changed, much has stayed the same.
The last couple of days have been filled with many things I desperately needed: sun, rest, water, beautiful scenery and history. I've spent some serious brain power debating my ability to pack up and move here. Off to the missions today.
Yesterday was Pat's day. Having lived in Texas for five years the last couple times we've been here he's always excited to show me his old stomping grounds. For years I've heard him talk about the Green Mansion. If you're like me you're picturing a green colored big house on a hill. Well, I was sort of right. It is a mansion (by late 1800's standards) but it has nothing to do with the color green - it's actually Gruene, the last name of a very smart man who settled this little community along the Guadalupe river. The town of Gruene still exists and is just like stepping through a time warp. It was a day I really regret not having a better camera, but then there's always the debate of having to carry all that gear around. The Gruene dance hall is the oldest dance hall in Texas and possibly the country. It's exactly what you'd see in a romantic Sandra Bullock country movie and was actually used for the dance scene in John Travolta's movie "Michael." It would have been heaven to see a good band play and dance the night away in my new boots. We also spent some time sitting along the Guadalupe river - an absolutely beautiful spot. Of course, Pat has conquered the river many times over the years he lived here. It is Texas tradition in the heat of the summer to gather your friends and a large cooler of drinks and float the river. In fact all the businesses along the ten miles of river cater to tubing (or toobes as most businesses call it). But it's been 16 years since he's been here - much has changed, much has stayed the same.
The last couple of days have been filled with many things I desperately needed: sun, rest, water, beautiful scenery and history. I've spent some serious brain power debating my ability to pack up and move here. Off to the missions today.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
San Antonio - November 1, 2009
So it's certain - I should have been a travel writer so I'd get paid to travel. I think I'd turn out an interesting product. I've been in San Antonio just 24 short hours but so far, I love it. The travel here wasn't necessarily easy. 3:30 a.m. wake up to get to the airport for 7 hours of travel via two separate flights. There are universal truths of travel and many of them made me laugh. The luggage carousel for example - everyone runs to the luggage carousel just to stand there and wait. And once the thing starts moving - sheer panic. Husbands take one side wives the other, just in case the suitcase gets past the first person. "Dale, check to make sure that's really ours!" The funniest part was that the suitcase was brown with pink polka dots. Really lady, there aren't too many of those running around. Good chance it's yours.
After a longer than intended nap at the hotel I found a sports bar two blocks away with the Oregon/USC game on. I also found two Duck fans in town for a conference. Birds of a feather really do flock together and come to find out we knew some of the same people back home. The sad reality is there are no, I mean no fast food restaurants in San Antonio. This only becomes a concern at midnight when one realizes they haven't eaten anything since noon and is trying to grab a quick bite. Normally I find Dick's Last Resort entertaining (they make a living off insulting their diners-genius), but after calling in an order that I had to scream in to the lobby phone and pushing my way through throngs of really drunk WSU Coug fans I almost decked the waiter when he said "here's your salad - I tossed it for you." Not in the mood mister, and take off that awful Bon Jovi wig!
I can't begin to tell you how wonderful this morning was. Bright sunshine and a seat along the river walk basking in the glory of it all. I should have been a Texas girl. I walked all over town - from the Alamo (really small in person) to the Majestic theatre where I picked up one ticket to see Larry the Cable Guy tonight. What are the odds? I can't wait! My souvenir mission for Texas was a new pair of cowboy boots. You'd be surprised at the response I got at the Visitor's Bureau when I inquired about an authentic place to get boots. Like that was a new question... I walked all over the city trying to find this hole in the wall shop that has been in San Antonio since 1917. It was worth the hunt. The guy running the store looked like he could have been Mafia except he was Hispanic. He was super personable and really funny. Oddly one of the two styles he pulled out for me was made in China. How can an authentic boot shop in Texas sell boots made in China? A sad reality he said - boots only make up 10% of the shoe market these days so most boot makers are out of business. Of course, being the good closet Texas girl I am I bucked up to buy the all leather, made in the USA, non-gringo (his words, not mine) dark brown boots. I'm in heaven. I've got them on right now with my jean skirt and Seahawks t-shirt (even though the Cowboys stomped them today in Dallas) and I'm wearing them to see Larry tonight.
The hotel we're in is the second oldest in Texas, or something like that. It's very pretty and there are historic pictures of famous people visiting the hotel all over the lobby. Downtown San Antonio is pretty dead. Really dead and run down in spots. The river walk is super crowded and really beautiful but it's funny - even restaurants that have a street access and a river walk access let the street access go and spend all their money making the river entrance grand. So the street level of most of San Antonio isn't quite what I'd imagine. There's tons of commercial realestate up for grabs if you're looking to start something new.
These boots are made for walkin' and that's what I'm gonna do. Back outside to take in the Texas culture and figure out how I can bottle it up and bring it home. Don't mess with Texas people - be safe out there.
After a longer than intended nap at the hotel I found a sports bar two blocks away with the Oregon/USC game on. I also found two Duck fans in town for a conference. Birds of a feather really do flock together and come to find out we knew some of the same people back home. The sad reality is there are no, I mean no fast food restaurants in San Antonio. This only becomes a concern at midnight when one realizes they haven't eaten anything since noon and is trying to grab a quick bite. Normally I find Dick's Last Resort entertaining (they make a living off insulting their diners-genius), but after calling in an order that I had to scream in to the lobby phone and pushing my way through throngs of really drunk WSU Coug fans I almost decked the waiter when he said "here's your salad - I tossed it for you." Not in the mood mister, and take off that awful Bon Jovi wig!
I can't begin to tell you how wonderful this morning was. Bright sunshine and a seat along the river walk basking in the glory of it all. I should have been a Texas girl. I walked all over town - from the Alamo (really small in person) to the Majestic theatre where I picked up one ticket to see Larry the Cable Guy tonight. What are the odds? I can't wait! My souvenir mission for Texas was a new pair of cowboy boots. You'd be surprised at the response I got at the Visitor's Bureau when I inquired about an authentic place to get boots. Like that was a new question... I walked all over the city trying to find this hole in the wall shop that has been in San Antonio since 1917. It was worth the hunt. The guy running the store looked like he could have been Mafia except he was Hispanic. He was super personable and really funny. Oddly one of the two styles he pulled out for me was made in China. How can an authentic boot shop in Texas sell boots made in China? A sad reality he said - boots only make up 10% of the shoe market these days so most boot makers are out of business. Of course, being the good closet Texas girl I am I bucked up to buy the all leather, made in the USA, non-gringo (his words, not mine) dark brown boots. I'm in heaven. I've got them on right now with my jean skirt and Seahawks t-shirt (even though the Cowboys stomped them today in Dallas) and I'm wearing them to see Larry tonight.
The hotel we're in is the second oldest in Texas, or something like that. It's very pretty and there are historic pictures of famous people visiting the hotel all over the lobby. Downtown San Antonio is pretty dead. Really dead and run down in spots. The river walk is super crowded and really beautiful but it's funny - even restaurants that have a street access and a river walk access let the street access go and spend all their money making the river entrance grand. So the street level of most of San Antonio isn't quite what I'd imagine. There's tons of commercial realestate up for grabs if you're looking to start something new.
These boots are made for walkin' and that's what I'm gonna do. Back outside to take in the Texas culture and figure out how I can bottle it up and bring it home. Don't mess with Texas people - be safe out there.
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