Random Stuff

At 4am I stepped outside to water a small patch of burnt grass.
For the first time in a long time, our patio thermometer delivered good news:
Since it's impossible for air conditioners to fight 100+ degree weather to much better than a mid-70s stalemate, tonight is the coldest my body has been since early March.
Goosebumps.

(At 6:30am the temp is down to 60f, which is even better).

Today was the very first sign that there might be a change in the hot and dry suffering we've endured, and for that I'm grateful.

A little taste of hope goes a long way towards improving one's mood.



In totally unrelated business, I saw this:
I'm interested because bacon rules, but haven't tasted it yet.
Several vegetarians of my aquaintance have a bacon exception, which proves that they aren't completely insane.

Got A SPURS Fix Today

For the second time in recent memory, server error caused me to get a LOT more bacon with my breakfast than I ordered. Oh darn.

Fortified by my extra pig meat, I braved the crowds on too-little sleep to see the SPURS practice at the ATT Center.
Free parking, free admission, this little gift to the fans is a yearly ritual for us.
$1 hotdogs and sodas.
With training camp only just begun it's a very early look at all the new faces, many of whom will likely be gone before the season starts.

And it's nice to see the vets out having fun.



I was bummed when Tiago Splitter hurt an obsolete tendon and had to sit out. The best player in the Spanish league last season, we've been waiting for him for years.

I didn't know what the Coyote was doing until reviewing pix in the car. Just...wow!

Did I mention that the place was infested with little kids?
Most were of an age where they won't rate a paid ticket during the regular season, so it was nice that families can give 'em a taste of the excitement.








More than once I just closed my eyes and reveled in the sounds and smells of a game.
Almost brought a tear to my eye--I love my team and city so much.

If anyone cares, the Blacks beat the Silvers with George Hill and DeJuan Blair putting up the most points out of all the SPURS.
James Gist, Alonzo Gee, and Garrett Temple showed a lot of hustle.
McDyess and Jefferson looked more comfortable than last year.
Coach Popovich was funny as usual, and it was great to see the return of Jacque Vaughn on the coaching staff. He's a school for our young guards, and will be a big help (for less money than Avery Johnson).


Afterwards, we went to DQ for mini-Blizzards and onion rings.

2010 Is Here--Nothing Changes

Just like 2009 we went to JIM'S for our 1st breakfast of the year.
I ordered the same exact thing.
It was good, of course.



On the 2nd I went downtown just before sunset to try for the next card picture.
Was hoping the new Museum Reach section would have decorations on par with the old part of the river, but aside from a subtle (to be kind) string of LED lights and a bow on random light poles, it was no different from September.
See if you can spot the Christmas decorations in the pic of SAMA above and the art fish below.

FISH! Since it was too late to abort Plan A, I decided to ride it out and try to have some fun.

This shot was only made because a large group of people had interfered with a previous one by walking into the frame and then milling around (moo-ing, actually) even after noticing that I was waiting on them to move. (Moooove?)
This time they came up the Riverwalk from behind me, so I held out my arm and said "A moment, please".
After chimping, instead of letting them pass I pretended to make adjustments and took this identical one just to have them wait 15 seconds more.
Christmas is over, so I'm back to only being nice to people who aren't rude or stupid.

Reaching the museum again at the end of my trip I found these trees lit with many green floodlights that I had never seen before. I don't know if this is Christmas-related or permanent, but I know it's pretty.
There's the edge of an observation area complete with benches visible on the left.
A nice place for kissing.

I had walked all the way to the Pearl Brewery complex, as you'll see next.

I Was Speechless...

...but I got over it.
Let me tell you, it's one thing to be told that your photo is going to hang in an art museum--sure you get excited and can appreciate how cool it is--but it's a whole other animal to walk into the gallery and actually see it.
An incredible feeling washed over me, and it lasted for the whole reception.
People immediately started talking to me but I don't remember what was said.

Turned out to be wine and snacks instead of champagne and caviar--the bacon jalapeno things were good and I also liked the pigs in a blanket.

This is my friend Jim getting his picture taken by our museum contact, Cassandra.
Jim is a funny guy, and Cassandra couldn't have been sweeter. When I helped her fix a camera problem she called me a genius, so she must be very perceptive, too.

Proof that I'm an artist.
If an art museum says so, it must be true!

It was great seeing my other camera club friends Susan, Mark and Ken.
We were among the first members after Jim started the group, and I got lucky that they are all kind, sweet, and hilarious. I've been so busy with my bands that well over a year has gone by since I've seen them yet we fell right back into cracking each other up.
Didn't realize how much I missed them.

Our photos were printed beautifully, and the framing was superb.
Of course, it was done by serious professionals.

It won't be the last time.
I want more of this.
The people at the San Antonio Museum of Art had better get used to seeing me.

The Rodeo Again

We hit the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo every year.
In 2007 we even watched the actual rodeo part of things, then a concert by Staind.
Last year I worked at it, taking pictures for a band performing there.
This year we went on the cheap--Monday was "Dollar Day".
The weather was gloomy, but photographically speaking I did okay.


I wonder why there's a painting of Ernest Borgnine behind this singing cowboy?


The Vlasic Pickle Stork's picture was better than the Pillsbury Doughboy's.


When you shear a sheep it's cruel to parade them around in the cold all naked, so they wear little coats.

We ate free ice cream cones, a funnel cake, and chicken fried bacon.
Yes, fried bacon! Pretty good stuff.

Looked at all the merchandise but didn't buy anything.
Strolled through the livestock barns and educational displays.
Avoided the petting zoo because of a tragic incident in 2006 involving sweater-eating goats.
Rides? Nahh.
Games of chance? Hell no.

From the Archives:
2006
2007 Miscellaneous
2007 Carnival Rides

All Is Quiet On New Year's Day

Step 1: Wake up
Step 2: No really--wake up!
Step 3: Never leave the house before a nice hot shower
Step 4: Something good to eat

This was Step 4.
Thanks to Dave for reminding us that Jim's is better than Denny's in every way, we returned to the relatively new Loop 410 and Blanco location for some breakfast.
I got 2 eggs scrambled, sausage, hash brown's and toast, plus a side of bacon. You can never have too much pig.
Also a Dr. Pepper.
Sylvia ordered huevos rancheros (over easy, and sauce on the side, please) and a water.
Can't say much more than YUM!
JUST what we needed.
A real Tasty Treat™.
Syl had a burger last time and swears it was one of the best ever, especially at such a low price.

Brandi, our server, was quick and efficient considering how packed the place was.
She had a little drama the night before. As designated driver for her friends on New Year's Eve (how sweet!) she was taking them home when one girl started feeling a little poorly. "Are you going to be sick? I can pull over". "No, I'm Fine. Raaalllfff!!!".
She pulled into a gas station and made the "friend" clean up as best she could, then had her take the car to be professionally cleaned and detailed the next day.

The guy that looked like Dave Matthew's younger and gayer brother at the table next to us was a non-stop source of entertainment.
BlahBlahLispBlahBlahBlah was all I heard because I was concentrating on my food, but Sylvia was cracking up.

While waiting to pay Syl noticed that their Christmas tree's lights were footswitch activated, so of course the tree blinked off a couple of times.

We did some shopping at Target, then some serious napping.
(Please refer to Zzakk's Garage for details on the shopping).


That night we sat on the patio and enjoyed our new chiminea.

I think that instead of covering our little valley lemon tree whenever it drops below freezing, I'll just put this thing next to it and dash out into the cold every hour or so to drop in another piece of firewood.
I stay up until dawn most nights anyway.
Most times it gets back up into the 40s once the sun comes up.

What did YOU do on the first day of 2009?