The "Vine Lady" strikes Again!

July 31, 2008



We're in Nashville again for the Brownwood Area Live On Stage National Conference and Preview.
The first "attraction" I saw on our first looking around tour of the enormous Gaylord Opryland Hotel was DEVINE, the vine lady. I was so enthralled with her last year, that I included several pictures. (July '07) I got more pics this afternoon.


So...I may put them side by side to see if the same person is portraying DEVINE this year. Cool! This year she had a guard or escort, that I don't remember from last July. Perhaps I was just oblivious to all but her, or perhaps something happened, so she needs an escort. No matter, she is unusual.

I know most of you have read about American Airlines charging for checking baggage. And I understand that they need to pay for the high price of fuel some way. N phoned AA on Tues night to check to see what and if the charges would be. We made our reservations in March for this trip and are therefore exempt from the additional charges. Anyone making reservations after the middle of May 08 will be assessed a $15 charge (each way) for the first bag checked and a $25 charge (each way) for each additional piece of luggage. Passengers are supposed to be limited to one carry-on per person of a particular size. As we were watching other passengers stowing their "carry-on bags", we commented that their carry-ons were larger than the one bag we checked. And as we were leaving the plane, the two folks just ahead of us were each pulling a large wheeled bag with a duffle bag of equal size attached to it. It seems to me that the same amount of weight is now in the cabin rather than in the luggage compartment. Maybe AA will see that their extra fees are not making planes much lighter. Oh, Well! Not my problem.

We registered for the conference and received a really nice tote bag---like I don't have enough bags. But this one has a nice pen,a calculator in a pocket, another pocket for a bottle of water and a third pocket with a book light in it. A really well equipped tote. But not a pad of paper anywhere to take notes. Last year, our gifty was an elegant leather portfolio with a yellow pad. I almost brought one of those this year, but thought why haul it if we're getting another one.

We ate a sandwich--I didn't but N did--at STAX and the hamburger w/ fries was $7.50. Expected--everything here is really expensive.

After supper tonite, we went to the opening reception and as we walked in Pianafiddle--our last concert for next year's season was performing. To let you know how exciting this duo is, the room full of conventioneers (who are not pushovers for just any ole music) gave them a standing ovation. I was so thrilled that we chose them to entertain Bwd this coming year. Sometime in the spring of 09- don't remember just when. But they are GOOOOOD!

Guess I'll sign off---more tomorrow

The New with the Old

This weekend (Fri and Sat) I drove to Lubbock for a reunion gathering. Driving through one of the largest "wind farms" in the country is a sobering experience. While some folks find the giant "windmills" ugly and a blot on the countryside, to me they seem majestic and serene (and such a good idea). Seeing the numbers of them in the area around Sweetwater is an awesome sight. I noticed on the way north that one field shared the giant turbines, a working oil pump jack and surrounding these power producers was a herd of black cattle. The land is truly being used.

The reunion was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lubbock-- a really big church with a wonderful gathering room. The second level of the room has around the edge -- a running track--what a great use of space. I arrived in time to be of some help in setting up the space for our meeting.




Ninety plus Presbyterians met together for a 10 year reunion of Palo Duro Presbyterian Cursillo, a 3 day weekend retreat for spiritual renewal, but it wasn't limited to folks from the PDPC as we call ourselves. We had visitors from Oklahoma and from the Metroplex. We also have regular members from another Presbytery (Tres Rios) who are not visitors, but an integral part of our group.



We sang and danced



We visited, and ate, and appreciated those who helped the organization begin, and we mourned those who have passed on. We enjoyed each other's company. We missed seeing those who have moved away and could not return for the celebration.



The music group was the largest gathered for any of our Cursillo events. At last count there were 15- which included guitarists, singers, a bass player, a drummer, and my favorite, the harmonica player Altho' the picture doesn't do them justice, this is how they looked.




Unique Photo by James King



I can't end this story without mentioning the young woman who organized and planned this gathering (all this while her mother is suffering a serious illness) Stacy (from Tres Rios) did an outstanding job, --doing much of the phone and legwork to see that this event happened. She also organized the committee who helped pull details together. (Presbyterians BELIEVE in committees) The even went off smoothly and was enjoyed by all. THANKS STACY from all of us. GET SOME REST!

The drive home (in the blue smart car) was a little eventful. Those who know me, know that at times I can be directionally challenged. I got off on a wrong road and added several miles to my already 4 hour trip, but I whipped out the old map and figured where I made a wrong turn and got home safely, if a little later than planned.

Fireworks

Living where we do, there were many opportunities to view Fourth of July fireworks displays this year (08). The weekend before the Fourth (it was still June), we took the convertible SmartCar to Bangs , sat in the car and just looked up for a rousing exhibition of color. It was fun to just sit back and enjoy from the comfort of our own vehicle--no hard bleacher seats, no trek w/ lawn chairs, just recline and enjoy. It was a good show.



The actual weekend of the 4th, we were invited to stay w/ relatives in Granbury to experience their celebration. We looked forward to a "fair around the square" in downtown, a carnival, fireworks on Friday over the lake, and a parade on Saturday. We loaded up veggies fresh from the garden, and stopped to get barbecue in Bwd and headed out. After arriving and appreciating the improvements to the "new" house in the outskirts of Granbury (I love the new sink and faucet in the kitchen) we had lunch. Naps enjoyed, we headed out to see what needed buying at the fair. Lots of folks beat us there and parking was at a minimum. It was a typical booths around the square sort of fair, with paintings, t shirts, hats, air gun toys that made an annoying noise (over and over and over), the newest cooking gadgets, and just generally sparkly stuff. After indulging in a banana slushy thing with accompanying brain freeze and some curly fries, we headed to the carnival to watch the relatives and grandchild ride the ferris wheel, and the Tilt-a-Whirl.



Went back home to get folding chairs and then drove to the Methodist Church parking lot to wait for the fireworks at "dark-30". We waited and waited, saw some low but impressive explosions in various directions and about the time we were getting antsy to go somewhere else--it began. Really nice! about 18 or so minutes of color and design. And it was over. When we go back, that is the perfect place to watch them. Far enough away that the initial sounds fade away and close enough to see perfectly. And we were the only ones in the huge parking lot.

I am not great taking fireworks pictures.


N and his sister stayed up late doing computer stuff and talking, but I crashed the minute we returned. Sat morning we were a little rushed getting everyone ready to go to the parade at 10. A sad note, during the night with all the extraneous neighborhood fireworks (noisy) one of the pet bulldogs ran away. Folks went out looking for him but he wasn't found while we were there. Hope he has been by now. Grandchild's parents met us at the parade and it was LONG, and REALLY HOT (and of course I hadn't thought to bring a hat). A highlight of the parade (for me) was a group of about 16 marching folks each carrying an aluminum folding lawn chair which they lifted to one side and then to the other side and generally used the chair as a dance prop. Not a great deal of talent was needed, but the precision shown was almost as good as a display of precision rifles or flags. Oh, Yeah I didn't mention each chair's back had a paper flag taped on it. CLEVER!
After leaving the parade when it wasn't quite over (did I mention it was LONG?) we snaked our way around downtown Granbury avoiding the traffic blockages to get to a favorite restaurant. Good food , good friendly atmosphere. We got back to the house, loaded Smartie up and headed back to Bwd. IT WAS A FUN BREAK!