Janet and I thoroughly enjoy the musical 9 to 5, so we both went - on different nights - to see our band leader's drama department's production. we both also saw Queen of the Mist about the first woman who successfully went over Niagara Falls. the Broadway touring company of Aladdin was in town so I definitely had to go see the bigger version of the last show I was in. :-)
the town where our dad lived has named their annual Easter activities in honor of him. For the inaugural parade and egg hunt, I wanted to be there to thank the community in person. I took off two days from work and flew to Texas for the long weekend. I made it to the Blue Duck before they closed, and had their Cajun chicken and pasta, and washed it all down with rum punch ... mmmm! the next morning I was at the firehouse where the parade starts, and met the town's mayor to ride in the first golf cart behind the police chief. I got to throw candy to the young people who lined the roadways along the route. the parade ended at a ballpark where the egg hunt was all set up. the mayor mentioned that this was the largest parade in its 36 year history, a fitting tribute to our dad. I spoke a few words of gratitude to the crowd to kick off the search for plastic eggs filled with candy and treats.
I had lunch at one of the restaurants I had visited with Daddy last June, the Farmhouse on the Lake, where I dined on alligator with remoulade, and sweet tea. I did some site-seeing and then went back to the hotel for a rest. check out these metal sculptures at the local nursery!
For dinner I tried a new - for me - restaurant, Pontoons, where I had steak, fried okra, and washed it down with cherry vanilla crown&coke, so delish! I was SO full I went back to the hotel, with a short detour by the local Boot Barn for some shopping. I found a western belt - black with rhinestones - that will go perfectly with my dress tomorrow. I also bought Janet a boot jack, since hers was "misappropriated" years back - this one has the store's logo emblazoned on it so she will always have it as a memento of this time and place. then it was off to bed early since I wanted to attend the sunrise service at Daddy's church.
I woke up early enough to make it to the 8am (6am in Cali) Sunrise Service, and then hung around for the second regular service. it was glorious sitting outside with a view of the lake before us; and Pastor Jimmy shared an inspiring sermon. after that it was off to Jerry's - another new for me - Restaurant, where I enjoyed their ham dinner, with fried green tomatoes and candied sweet potatoes, and had their famous Bourbon Street Pecan Pie! I needed some supplies at the local wally-market, and I found an excellent hawaiian shirt with flamingos on it! couldn't pass that up. back to the hotel for a nap after my long busy day, and for dinner I walked across the parking lot to the Chinese restaurant next door.
my final day in Texas started early when I picked up flowers at the town flower shop (where everyone knows Daddy) and drove out to the cemetery. after spending some time there, I then drove to the newspaper where he worked and met his boss Valerie! we had a very enjoyable chat, and reminisced about so many things. I was so glad I made time to meet her, and she made time to meet me! All too soon it was time to head south. traffic wasn't bad, so I passed Houston and went on to Kemah, which I'd heard about from HP co-workers.
I woke up early enough to make it to the 8am (6am in Cali) Sunrise Service, and then hung around for the second regular service. it was glorious sitting outside with a view of the lake before us; and Pastor Jimmy shared an inspiring sermon. after that it was off to Jerry's - another new for me - Restaurant, where I enjoyed their ham dinner, with fried green tomatoes and candied sweet potatoes, and had their famous Bourbon Street Pecan Pie! I needed some supplies at the local wally-market, and I found an excellent hawaiian shirt with flamingos on it! couldn't pass that up. back to the hotel for a nap after my long busy day, and for dinner I walked across the parking lot to the Chinese restaurant next door.
my final day in Texas started early when I picked up flowers at the town flower shop (where everyone knows Daddy) and drove out to the cemetery. after spending some time there, I then drove to the newspaper where he worked and met his boss Valerie! we had a very enjoyable chat, and reminisced about so many things. I was so glad I made time to meet her, and she made time to meet me! All too soon it was time to head south. traffic wasn't bad, so I passed Houston and went on to Kemah, which I'd heard about from HP co-workers.
I spent some time roaming the Boardwalk there, taking pictures, and had lunch at the Bubba Gumps on the pier. then it really was time to head home, by way of Love Field, and finally got home at nightfall.
work came much too early the next morning, but we had our Admin Appreciation Lunch and I couldn't miss that! we were treated to a red carpet walk and photo op - I'm a star! - and received STARS awards that say "You are one of the Amazing STARS that work here!" lunch was good too, but they ran out of food.
after work I raced over to the theater where it was tech week for The Wiz and I needed to be backstage as a dresser and to do costume finishing and repairs. that activity would consume my evenings for the next four weekends! but it was such an amazing production with so many talented performers - lovely people too! - that I wouldn't have traded it for anything. and it turned out to be a record breaking production in our 50 year history!!
I wasn't able to help backstage every night because I'd made reservations for other activities. when I was a kid I first watched Tom Jones on the telly. fifty years later I finally got to see and hear him sing in concert right here in my home town!
I spent a day in The City and got to see one of my fave artist's paintings up close and personal at the Monet exhibit.
there was also an exquisite fan collection, and a Gaugin exhibit too.
after I got my fill of the museum, I went to the Japanese Tea Garden - I haven't been here since I was ten years old - and wandered through the beautiful landscape.
work came much too early the next morning, but we had our Admin Appreciation Lunch and I couldn't miss that! we were treated to a red carpet walk and photo op - I'm a star! - and received STARS awards that say "You are one of the Amazing STARS that work here!" lunch was good too, but they ran out of food.
after work I raced over to the theater where it was tech week for The Wiz and I needed to be backstage as a dresser and to do costume finishing and repairs. that activity would consume my evenings for the next four weekends! but it was such an amazing production with so many talented performers - lovely people too! - that I wouldn't have traded it for anything. and it turned out to be a record breaking production in our 50 year history!!
I wasn't able to help backstage every night because I'd made reservations for other activities. when I was a kid I first watched Tom Jones on the telly. fifty years later I finally got to see and hear him sing in concert right here in my home town!
I spent a day in The City and got to see one of my fave artist's paintings up close and personal at the Monet exhibit.
there was also an exquisite fan collection, and a Gaugin exhibit too.
after I got my fill of the museum, I went to the Japanese Tea Garden - I haven't been here since I was ten years old - and wandered through the beautiful landscape.
