Austin and Fredericksburg

Well, Liz and I went to Austin week before last and I goofed off whist she was in school meetings. I went to the history on Texas Military Museum on the west side, and took a walk down the town lake walkway and across the pedestrian bridge. Austin is now called "Silicone Hills" in that there is so much computer stuff going on there with it being the home of Dell Computer. I had not toured Austin for at least 35 years. I worked a burned-out auto parts store there for the salvage company in the January of 1972. I went driving around then and discovered the "Treaty Oak" by chance. This time, it was posted on a map and I drove right to it. The placard says it was about 100 years old when Columbus set sale for "The Americas". It is quite impressive and the pictures can't do it justice. When I saw it the first time, 35 years ago, it had just had a huge limb sawed off that left a six foot scar on the trunk. I guess the parks department didn't want the wound getting infected so they tiled over the wound with ceramic bathroom tile. The wound is still there bu the tree had scarred over a lot of it. So much for the tree. Right next to it, across the street was a "Whole Foods Market" which started in Austin. Liz and I had gone to one in Ca. but this was my first time to see one here in Tejas. There is no comparison to it with other grocery stores. They have unbeliveable depth in there inventories of international foods, wines, produce etc. They have in-store delis set up with all kinds of prepared foods, with tables so you can eat in the store and drink your bottle of wine. Un-believable! We went and spent about an hour in the pretty new "Texas Museum of History" and it is world-class, three story, open atrium. The statue picture is the original "Goddess of Liberty" that adorned the top of the state capital for about 100 years. Because of deterioration, it was replaced in 1986 with an aluminum casting. On that Friday we left for Fredericksburg around 1pm, spent the night, got up Saturday bought wine at the Fredericksburg Winery, and then proceeded to the annual food and wine festival. It was beutiful weather for us the whole trip. Sat. afternoon we headed home with a stop at on of Texas' newest wineries in the town of Commanche. They converted and old Hill Country limestone house into their gift shop and tasting room. I love this style of architecture with the stone and tin roofs. I only wish that I'd had the time and resources to have built my house in this style. My lot would have been perfect for it. Oh, Well, maybe in someone else's dreams. The weather is finally nice down here except for yesterday and it got up to 84 and we had to turn the AC back on. Sposed to get a front tonight however with 60s tomorrow and 70s for the next week or so. I'm lovin' it. Congratulations to Jason and spouse on the new floor endeavors. Oh to be young enough to tackle that. I just paid 6 grand for a team of Mexicans to install mine and it took them two solid weeks. I felt like I got a bargain after watching them. Three years ago Sarah and Justin had one of their very close friends overdose on heroin and about two weeks ago another shot himself. I went over to Lewisville yesterday for the memorial service. Such a waste of young lives. Both my kids are really freaked out by this and I have few words that will comfort them. Anyway it is over and they can get on with the healing process. Life and Shit Happen. Sometimes you pitch, sometimes you catch! Congratulations to Jessica for getting in on the surgeries. Sorry bout your squirrel problem. Just think how boring your life would be without your four-legged Nemisis. It is Monday morning, 11/5 and business is dead slow in the water so I had better get off this and start earning my keep. Hope the pictures upload ok. Older Whiskey...