Rowdy's Week in Review

Extremely eventful week, so here goes:

ITEM!

Wednesday morning Mrs. T and I drove the Acolyte down to Ochopee, Florida for his first airboat ride in the Everglades.  He dug it very much.

After boarding the boat, we floated slowly away from the dock.  The Acolyte was curious and pointed at whatever wildlife he'd see on the bank.  Then the boat took off.  As we got up to speed the kid burst into laughter.  The kid next to us burst into tears.

We used a company called Wooten's.  They've been in business forever and run a great outfit.  In fact, I took Mrs. T down there on her first trip to the States back in '98 when we were just engaged.  In addition to the airboat, they've got a nifty animal sanctuary that the kid just loved:

ITEM!

We were in Florida to visit my paternal grandma.  She had five kids, 12 grandkids and the Acolyte is her 13th great-grandkid.  Seven of the 12 grandkids were in town along with 12 of the 13 great grandkids.  It was chaos.  By chaos I mean a dozen kids piled onto one golf cart driven by an eight-year-old zooming around the house and nearly toppling over into an alligator infested pond.  The Acolyte has a few years yet before he can join such revelry, he stuck to the indoors and played with my Aunt's dog, Jimmy.

ITEM!

For some reason Waffle House isn't big in San Antonio.  That is to say, we don't have any!  The closest one to my house is in Austin.  So while in Florida I took the kid on his first trip to the legendary Greasy Spoon.

Several years ago Florida passed a law that prohibits smoking in restaurants.  Now I quit smoking a while back, so I wasn't upset that I couldn't smoke.  But I have to say there ought to be an exemption for Waffle Houses.  Cigarette smoke is at least a recognizable odor.  And for years it masked copious other odors a Waffle House and its clientele emit.  By the end of breakfast I was praying that someone would blow a big puff from a Marlboro red right in my face.

While I'm on the subject of short order diners, I'd like to plug my all-time favorite-- Huddle House.  They're big in Georgia and other southeastern states.  But they're slowly creeping westward (3 locations in east Texas now!)  Westward Ho Huddle House, Papa's hungry!

ITEM!

The weekend before leaving for Florida I threw a party at my place for a bunch of high school friends I recently reunited with over Facebook.  I'm happy to report that property damage was kept to a minimum.  The only loss was a 10-cent sake cup.  Knowing this crowd I was prepared for much worse.

ITEM!

We got to the airport a bit early for our return home.  Once in the terminal we grabbed dinner at the Jose Cuervo Tequileria.  Our waiter was very bald.  When the Acolyte first saw him his eyes lit up with a smile, he quickly stood up in his chair, pointed at the guy and excitedly shouted, "Anpanman!"

ITEM!

We arrived home late last night.  Now it's time to prepare for the big move in earnest.  The lease to the new place starts January 1 and we have to be cleared out of this place by January 31.  So if I'm a little light in my posts these next few weeks, that's why.

Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays!

Comments

[S. Reed]

That's so funny that he shouted that character's name.

Thanks so much for the letter and pictures, and good luck with the move!

Happy New Year!

[altgelt]

just recently, for the first time, reviewed your website from head to toe... loved it. dont quite know what to make of those period pills, but enjoyed the vignette about the drunk republican aunt (FYI i dont think r.reagan is in heaven, try looking further south).

being a fellow dad, i especially enjoyed the updates on the acolyte.

obviously the beard is in full bloom, i have always loved spring more than any of the other seasons. i couldn't stop starring, and secretly i am jealous, if only i had one of those... i could like smuggle stuff.

any who, hope to have you, the acolyte, and mrs. t down for easter on the rio grande, kudos on the calendar, it has been on our fridge since the day we got it, a stroke of pure genius by the way, loved the batman and robin shot, the photo just smacked of crime fightin' dynamical duo - to the bat mobile - "Lets kick some ass son" - "ok dad".

all of our best to mrs. t, hope she's feeling better. oh by the way, forrest is bathing on a regular basis now so when you come down it will be ok to let the acolyte, and other people you care about, to interact with him. i however have given up hygiene for lent, but hopefully by easter when you guys come down that will all be resolved.

un abrazo