This Smells Beautiful!

Friday I woke up at Clint and Anne's house to find that my lower back had gone out. It was pretty painful and quite upsetting. Hula-hooping had kept my lower back in good shape for over a year. I had put the hoops down for a few weeks (at least) and my back simply reverted back to it's old ways. I am still recuperating from the ordeal.
Any-hoo, I managed to make my appointment with the trigger point specialist. Basically, it’s a form of massage that focuses on the trigger points (injury sights) in your muscles. The lady was very knowledgeable and I would like to see her again. The good thing about her is that she focuses on teaching self-treatment. This is stuff I can do at home.

After the therapy, our little family went to see my little sister and her family. We sat out on her back porch and watched the kids play as we talked. I was sad because I could not play with them like I usually do. I was just in too much pain. Dale played catch with the girls and we took turns taking pictures.
Here they are playing catch:






I could only take pictures from my position on the couch. Lily came over for her close up.


She has a little burrito on the corner of her mouth. She calls it “bito.” Mmm….Taco Villa.

This is Zoe:

I wonder where she got her curly hair?

An ant (not aunt) bit Lily and she came over to her mother and I with tears in her eyes. Her momma kissed it and I told Lily that I had some ant bite medicine in my purse that would make the sting go away. Ok, so it was scented hand sanitizer from bath and body works. She did not need to know that. I gave her some and her tears dried up. Zoe wanted some so I put a drop of it in her hand. She rubbed it in, smelled her hand, and declared “this smells beautiful!”

I am so going to use that phrase.

Sisters




I already miss them.

Brown Sky

On Thursday, Clint and Anne invited us over for some yummy food, good conversation, and a dip in the pool. They served up gravlocks (a delicious salmon appetizer served with onion, capers,(sour cream?) and horseradish on a crostini), Caprese salad, and something else.....I forgot. Dale contributed 2 Calzones from One Guy's (the best calzones I have ever had are from One Guy From Italy in Lubbock) that we cut into fourths. Later, Clint busted out the weisswurst and asparagus . Weisswurst is Bavarian sausage made from very finely minced veal and fresh pork bacon. They can't get it in Lubbock so they have a friend bring it in from Dallas whenever it is convenient. I had never had weisswurst before and let me tell you, that stuff was gooooooood!
This is what it looks like:

I know it does not look very yummy but It sooooo is.

As the day was ending, a storm was brewing. Anyone who has spent time in Lubbock during storm season knows about the brown sky storms. They usually precede a thunderstorm. All of Lubbock does not get hit by the thunderstorm but most of Lubbock will get the preceding dust storm. We were all enjoying the weather,as the temperature had dropped about ten degrees, and then the winds started to change. It felt like they changed direction completely. Somehow, it felt like the wind was blowing upwards instead of sideways. There was electricity in the air and you could smell the earth. Mmmmmmmm......soil smell. Then, the sky started to change color from blue to brown.

See:
Clint brings the storm in-

This was at the beginning of the storm.


This was taken a few minutes later:


A little later:



We went inside after that last one was taken.
Though I don't miss the dusty sky and the inevitable layer of dirt that covers you from head to toe (including your teeth even though you keep your mouth shut), it was cool to see it again.

Hub City

This past Wednesday, our little family made it's way to Lubbock. This was the first time we have taken the dogs on a road trip. They were perfect!!!! You could not ask for better traveling companions.

They liked to spend most of their time in the front, with us, but would take turns chillin' in the back seat.

Charlie cracks me up.

They did not get car sick, did not fight, and always used the bathrooms when we made pit stops.


Cooper enjoyed taking in the West Texas scenery.



We arrived at the La Quinta some time that afternoon. We made a few phone calls, had a few beers, said bye to the pups, and made our way to Crickets to see Plain Brown Wrapper. Dale did not get to stay to see the band as the hotel called us and told us that our dogs were going crazy without us. BARK BARK BARK BARK! Dale is super sweet and told me to stay at the bar with our good buddy Danny. He knew that I really wanted to see PBW. What a guy.

We really enjoyed seeing these guys back when we lived in Lubbock. They are great musicians and they always had a Led Zeppelin song on their playlist.


They are still great musicians, but we did not hear a single Zeppelin tune. No sir. These guys play cover songs, as most bands in Lubbock are known to do, and they were catering to the crowd of young 20-somethings that had ventured out to see them. Therefore, they played some songs that I did not know but the crowd did. They also played Seal. SEAL!!!! Ugh. I think they also played Drops of Jupiter by Train. Don't get me wrong....I don't think anything is wrong with Seal or Train. It's just that back in the day, these fellas stuck to the blues, blues infused rock, and rock with balls. I guess I expected them to stay the exact same while everything else changed. I don't blame them for changing......they have to pay their rent and all.

The crowd was really annoying. Bunch of frat guys and sorority gals. I ended up elbowing a chick in her rib cage when she tried to cut me off on my way to my table. The bar area was really congested and I was making my way through all of the Hoits and Muffys. This little bitch tried to push me aside so that she could get to wherever she was going a little quicker. No ma'am. WHAM-O! Elbow to the rib cage. She stared at me after I delivered the blow and I stared back. I was already in a bad mood and she elevated it to Kill status. She recognized the crazy in my eyes and made the smart decision to back away without saying a word.
I was surprised I did that. I mean, I am 32 years old. I don't need to be hitting strangers in bars. It was like I lost control. It was like a reflexive action or something...something I would have done in my early 20s. I guess Lubbock brought the fever out of hibernation. I realize this is part of the reason why I left that place around 9 years ago.

More on the Lubbock Trip soon. Come on back.

Water Weeds

The water weeds were constantly brushing up against your body. It was creepy and me no likey.


You had to make a decision. You had to choose to become friends with the water weeds. Love the water weeds......caress the water weeds.....wear the water weeds as decoration like you are a mermaid....


If you do all of the above, your water experience will be much more pleasant and you will soon find your smile.


In Other News:
Dale and I will be traveling to Lubbock soon. We are bringing the dogs with us which should make for an interesting road trip. There is a massage therapist in Lubbock that specializes "trigger point" therapy. I'll give it a shot.

I got the tin rooster for my back yard. Pics will be up soon.

This city sound ordinance thing is ridiculous. Shady Grove Unplugged was shut down by the cops thanks to a phone call from a stupid man that lives near the venue. You live in Austin, bub. We have music. Maybe you should move to Houston. Shady Grove has been doing the Unplugged thing weekly for 16 years and pathetic ass brings it down for everyone else. I can't believe it. The owner of Shady Grove said he will still have bands and will pay them even if they get shut down within the first five minutes. Good for him.
Sign a petition to save Austin Music.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/austinmusic/?e

Hula Hoop party set for July 18th. Yes.....it will be hot.

River Litter

While trying to enjoy the river, we noticed there was a steady stream of garbage floating all around us. A bottle here, a chunk of Styrofoam there.....

Amy spent some time trying to clean up the river.

She removed a cigarette box-


and a shoe.

Dale was simply disgusted by the river litter.


Here he is removing a water bottle:




We actually witnessed one person blatantly toss a water bottle into the river (not the water bottle pictured above). It was ridiculous. People are morons.

That is all.

San Marcos

When I was out in San Marcos a year ago today
They probably would've put me in a home
But I threw all my belongings into a garbage bag
And out into the worldness I did roam
- I Live My Broken Dreams by Daniel Johnston

We were in San Marcos last Sunday. Amy and Michael invited us for a day of swimming, food, and music. Michael plays with Carolyn Wonderland and they were set to play at this little venue that sat right on the river. You will have to forgive me but I forgot the name of the joint.


Here you see Amy, amidst all the people and floating devices. (She swam out away from our post just a bit)

As you can see, the place was packed. We walked around several locations before we all decided on a spot. Sure we were sitting on a dirt hill, but it was a little less congested that the grassy area.


I am totally going to post pictures of everybody in their swim attire. Don't worry, you are all super models and you looked great. If you want me to remove the pics, just let me know and I will tell you how much that will cost you.


See, I am a good sport.


Amy


Duke


Josh


Tirzah and Josh


Michael, Dale and Josh (look- Dale is even wearing his Daniel Johnston t-shirt)

See that kid fishing over by Dale?



He ended up catching a big ol' catfish


The girls were worried about him removing the hook from the fish. We did not want him to be harmed by the venomous spines. After watching for a moment, we realized he was doing just fine.


Holy Saturation!

Try as he might, that hook was stuck and he could not get it out.

He announced that he would bring the fish to his father so that the hook could be removed. Tirzah helped him pack up his bologna bait and he was on his way.

More to come soon.

For now, here is the rest of that Daniel Johnston song:

My hopes lay shattered like a mirror on the floor
I see myself and I look really scattered
But I lived my broken dreams

The wildest summer that I ever knew
I had a flat tire down memory lane
But I came back after 5 months and a half
And now I'm just trying to explain

And now I'm here
And here I stand
With a sweet angel holding my hand
I lived my broken dreams...

How About Them Hacienda Boys?

Antone's 6-5-2009

We saw Hacienda, again, and this time we brought friends. Juan, Tirzah, and Josh all said they had a great time at the show and that they loved the band.

Tirzah and I both took some photos. She showed me a few new things I could do with my camera. I was trying to use the available light and no flash. Because of this, some of the photos came out fuzzy. It was very fun taking them, nonetheless.


I was impressed the first time I saw them but this time they blew me away. I don't know how they did it (because I would not have said they had anything to improve upon) but they seemed to have gotten better.


This picture freaks me out.

Rene Villuanueva was playing on a fretless bass and he took that puppy to school!



My favorite tune of the night had to be Where The Waters Roam. The mix of the harmonies and the instruments was absolutely beautiful. Two voices from opposite sides of the stage (belonging to Jaime and Abraham) begin the song which bring forth a stereo effect that you usually get when you are listening to an album through headphones. Then, the other voices (Dante and Rene) join in all together for a full sound. At the end of the song, the voices layer over each other for a while and you can do nothing but yield to the groove.
Yield, I say!

For those of you going to ACL, you can see Hacienda play with Dan Auerbach on Sunday.

I strongly suggest that you do so.

The Pictures Get Trippy

Here is the last one I am in:

and I am barely in it.

I now bring you to the point at which someone handed me the camera. What follows are the most interesting pictures I have ever taken.....that I don't remember taking:

Miss Tirzah









That lady in the background is the one that was dancing by herself.....




Juan Angy!


Lonestar should pay me for the advertisment...


Love that Dale!




Josh really likes the number 3



Tirzah Says, "I love you!"
I should mention that it was Tirzah that changed my camera settings to make the pictures as cool as they are. Good job, Miss Rose.

In other news:
Today marks the first day of my summer vacation. I ate ice cream for breakfast and have spent most of my morning out on the back porch. Life is good.

Yesterday we went to San Marcos to swim and enjoy live music. I'll tell you all about that in a future post. Did I end up spraying my beer all over strangers like I was in a rap video? Yes I did.

I need more coffee. Good day.