Waxahatchie, Texas: Three days exploring

Marty Note - It's almost Thanksgiving and I didn't realize I had not published this posting! Old age is creeping in. Apologies.
Marty Note 2 - It's now January 2020 - WHERE did the last couple months go????  At least post-dating allows to to time travel backwards, sort of!

Continuing my Texas adventure from September.

Still here in the Lone Star State. Now to catch you up on the happenings in Marty-Land.

Monday, September 9 - I spent the morning at Cee's working on her website as she is not a pro at that. I made labels for her that she's been wanting for quite some time. It felt good to be useful and doing something. Had lunch at her cafe. Excellent chicken teriyaki with spice sauce. I would gain 50 pounds if I stayed here and ate here all the time.

Saw Don Meredith's museum, as this was his hometown. Cee is right, there's a lot of potential here if only the town's movers and shakers would move and shake!!!

Tuesday, September 10 - Saying good bye was harder than I anticipated. We stalled so long that she was almost late to an insurance meeting. I stopped long enough to have a codfish taco, another hug, then on the road to retrieve Mary Todd and her new fuel pump. I stopped in Mineola, TX at a wonderful quilt shop (Stitchin' Heaven) that was having a moving sale. I spent way too much money but the fabric was irresistable. Rhoda and Jean and Letreze will laugh at me, I don't care. in my secret heart, I know they'll be envious!

When I got settled in the hotel, I called Stan and discovered that my gut feeling this morning had been correct - I shoudl have called before I left Cee's to verify Mary Todd's condition. It seems when the pump was installed and the requisite diagnostic run, the numbers wouldn't match. When the pump was re-installed and garnered the same test results, the service guys worked on her for a while, then, stymied, opened a hot-line account to Ford sending all the accumulated data. No we're waiting on their report. And I have at least one more day in Waxahatchie.

Wednesday, September 11 - Findings - the computer needed to be replaced. AND, they needed my spare key. Bless Letreze, she overnighted it to me, due by 3 tomorrow afternoon.  Soo, another night in the hotel for me. The difference - this time I have a car.

I scouted out events in the area and after talking with FB - off I went to Ft, Worth, a city about which I knew nothing except that Errol Flynn made a movie here back in the day.

I had a blast! I went to two Aviation museums and got to explore inside a working B-17 Flying Fortress that was in town for three days. I did decline to spend nearly $500 to go for a ride in her, but only because my discretionary income is being sucked up in hotel costs! Stupid, I know but I just couldn't get myself to do it. Plus, those seats were NOT made for someone my size.

Gary, my tour guide at Antique Aviation showed off the 25 planes they have on display, inlcuding the three he actualy piloted uring his career.  I don't think I've ever spent time with a Vietnam vet pilot who flew just-above-the-ground sorties dropping off or gathering in Special Forces teams. He let me into the cockpit and "haulage" area of the modified plane. We had a good time chatting. I shared Solent Sky with him and the PBY stories I learned there. He even replied to the email I shared containing that museum's information. The museum has the plane Tom Cruise "flew" in Top Gun, which didn't really appeal to me as much as the Special Forces plane.  

My next stop was to see the Flying Fortress. The B-17 was on the runway at the Vintage Flying Museum, just down the road from the other museum. The difference is these planes actually fly,  they're not just for looking at and ogling. If I lived here, I swear I'd be poor!! Again, I spent nearly an hour poking around and in this awesome plane. Part of that time was with Dan who actually was on this plane's crew back in war and he told me stories about bombing runs. Amazing!

I am astounded that a 6 foot tall airman could wrap himself into the belly gun! My immediate reaction was recite part of the "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" by Randall Jarrell, which Dan recognized!!! (That's not Dan in this picture.)

Then I stuck my head and shoulders up into the belly of the plane to see where the bombs would have been.

Saying goodbye to this day was tough, but my time was exhilarating! I was devastated to read a few weeks after I left Ft. Worth that one of the other 8 remaining functioning Flying Fortresses had crashed during a living history flight. yet another reminder that despite their size, they are delicate machines. Now I wish I just spend the dang money!!!

I stopped by the Stockyards, but after driving around the parking lots for 20 minutes and finding never an opening, I decided it was not in the cards and drove back to my hotel.

Still In Texas - But now west of Dallas

Saturday, September 7 - I read and walked a bit this morning. Still not feeling antsy about anything. After lunch I called Stanley at Autoplex asking for an update on Mary Todd. Turns out she needs a new high pressure fuel pump which would not be in until Tuesday. (I did not groan!) The good news  - my extended warranty covered everything but a smallish deductible! I asked if he could recommend a rental car facility and he asked me to give him a bit to see what he could do.

While I waited, Emily (Hampton Inn Desk clerk) rearranged my stay so have me back here Tuesday for the night at same price and cancelled tomorrow night's stay. Cee was okay with me coming for tomorrow and leaving Tuesday morning. Stan called back -  the dealership would handle car rental and he'd send a guy to pick me up.

I was pleased to see Jacob again when his Jeep pulled up in front of the hotel. He'd dropped by work to see how my car was coming along. We chatted about golf and his son until we arrived at the Autoplex, where he sat me in the office and proceeded to give me a 2019 Fiesta to drive until Tuesday. I wasn't certain I'd fit in this teeny car, but it's actually rather comfortable. When I asked didn't I owe him money, he said it all gone on the warranty bill. We'll see. I 'm writing a great letter about him when this is all finished!

Sunday, September 8 - I spent the night at Hampton rather than arrive at Cee's late. Woke up at 6, packed up and left at 7 to arrive for breakfast at her home about 9. Traffic was not awful but driving this tiny car was a very different experience from Mary Todd. I was so much more aware of trucks than I normally am, my eye-line was about level with the tops of their tires!!

Cee was waiting at her front door when I drove up. She looks great! Her girls are good, but I'm kind of ashamed to admit it - we spent the afternoon just the two of us driving around her area and talking non-stop. We hardly took breaths as we caught each other up on all that's happened since we were last face-to-face, nearly a decade! It's like being with Barbara - we know each other so well, we pick up where ever we were when last we talked with no hesitation and no wondering. She remains as passionate, as opinionated, as determined as she has always been and I am still thankful she includes me in that small cadre of people she trusts.

Her cafe is small but comfortable and and her food is delicious!

Still talking, we watched THE LAST JEDI (I'm not sure how Joe and I missed that one in 2017.) while still talking! Yawning we hit the hay and she refused to allow me any guilt about sleeping in her bed while she was on the couch! A woman even more stubborn than I am!

Note: Today I kept looking at her thinking, "I can't believe we FINALLY made it to see each other!!" and,then, she pops out with the same sentiment!!

My Dorian Avoiding Adventure Continues

I left San Antonio yesterday with mixed thoughts. I thought Publix was a great grocery store but it pales compared to HEB.
  
I was glad to be driving again, I forget how I feel not-in-control when being a passenger, not bad but just a bit uncomfortable. Obviously, I am way too independent and self-reliant for my own good, sometimes. I had a wonderful time with Barbara; for more than 40 years (Damn!!!), we have been able to visit like we see each other every day regardless of how long our separations have been. I will own that FaceTime has made those times less frequent.

Her new house has become a home. It wraps you in her warmth and conviviality as you walk in the door, despite Oliver barking up a storm in his need to protect her. What a simple joy when he accepted me and licked my fingers as I sat on the couch.

Anyway, back to the adventure. I drove out of S.A. with the intent of visiting the yarn shop that had been closed Wednesday when we visited New Braunfels. It’s called Lucky Ewe and is delightful. Spent upwards of an hour there.

Driving on I-35 is not for the faint of heart: it reminds me of the beltway around DC or I-4 through Orlando - bumper to bumper at speed, unless there’s a crawling, exhaust breathing slow down. Both experiences are to be had going from San Antonio to Dallas. The only plus was I caught several great glimpses of the majesty of the Texas Capitol Building.

When I realized I had missed the turn off to head cross country through the back roads (construction and trying to avoid huge semis), I just sighed and waited for I-20 to appear. Just before the turn off, Mary Todd had trouble accelerating and her little engine warning symbol appeared. I pulled off at the first exit with multiple hotels and gas stations, figuring I would need both.

While registering at the Hampton Inn, I asked about garages. The man also registering, directed me to the Autoplex across the highway. I listened to him talking with the clerk and he was saying he and his wife and sons were here because their home had burned down the night before. (OMG!) He and his wife were at church preparing for an event, the sons were in the house sleeping. A guy driving by seeing the flames and the car parked in front, pounded on the door til the boys came out. All safe. He told me was glad to help me, I felt silly being even a little bit upset with Mary Todd. Moments like that remind me to be thankful.

At the Autoplex, I talked with Jacob, the Service Manager, who had stopped on his way home to ask what my car was parked in front of the bay doors. He took over my case, drove me to the hotel and assured me his people would get with me today. Gave me the contact info for his guy.

I am unhurt, in a great hotel, with a credit card, books and yarn. And a bathroom.

The adventure continues!

Giving in to Dorian and Not Regretting It

Friday, August 30 -  I decided to admit being afraid of a Category 3 hurricane and buttoned up my home as best I could, brought my three unplanted plants to Kitty to watch over and let Sonny and Letreze and Jean know I was bugging out in the morning. Still concerned that the windows might blow in, I dragged Barbara's rug up off the floor in the Florida room to my bedroom and removed everything from the freezer and refrigerator except for a package of chicken.

Saturday, August 31 - I did one last scan of the yard and drove out

to begin my journey to visit Barbara in Texas and to run away from Dorian. I-10 was actually barren going west; going east was another story as convoy after convoy after convoy of power company trucks, water tankers and National Guard caravans headed toward Florida's Atlantic coast and the hurricane. Rhoda and I talked and congratulated ourselves on heading out before the rush. The hurricane was moving slowly and not expected to reach the state until Tuesday. I spent the night in Pascagoula, Mississippi as I intended to top at a local quilt shop, but it closed early for Labor Day weekend. DURN!! Very, very nice Hampton Inn!!!

 Sunday, September 1 - Another easy drive day. Mary Todd and I breezed through the Mobile tunnel with ease. Again power company trucks headed west. I called FB to have lunch while I was gassing up just outside Baton Rouge, but he was busy. Talked with him later and explained I was doing trip in reverse. Tonight I stayed in Beaumont, Texas. Stopped at the Welcome Station to snap a picture - I am an unabashed tourist! Again my post hotel check-in plans were thwarted - the traffic on I-10 was not hard but was slowed repeatedly due to construction, thus I arrived too late to tour Spindletop or the Botanical Gardens. Another sigh.

Monday, September 2 - Diving through Winnie, Texas, I thought "and people think Florida is flat!" Arrived in San Antonio. Barbara's house is awesome. We downloaded a map of San Antonio and The Alamo so we could navigate tomorrow. Julie and Andre stopped by with dinner so I could meet Izzy. They are charming and she is delightful.


Tuesday, September 3 - The Alamo - great chats with Frederick about the Alamo Oak. (Why hasn't Stephen Malkoff drawn it?), with one of the Living History re-enactors about the 18 pound cannon used in the battle and with Robert about the history of the 16 pound cannon in front of the mission (which was actually a Mexican one buried by Santa Anna's men when it wasn't possible to blow it up as was done with others).  Toured the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum and gawked over Bonnie and Clyde's actual car and the fabulous letter from Clyde to Henry Ford, enjoyed great tacos, snapped a selfie of me and an elephant skull, Barbara checked out a Long Horn, saw the bow a Texas hunter used to kill all five major beasts in Africa. John Dixon would love this place - taxidermist's heaven!! Afterward, we had an ice cream while walking around first The River Walk, then the Japanese Tea Garden created out of an abandoned quarry and winner of multiple awards.Absolutely fabulous day!

Wednesday, September 4 - I am no longer an IKEA virgin. Barbara took me there and I spent less than $50 - a victory, she assures me. Then off to New Braunfils and two of Jean and Sherry's recommendations. Quilt Haus was excellent, but I couldn't find the backing for my long term quilt project. Naegelin's Bakery (the oldest in Texas celebrating its 150th birthday) was amazing and a deal breaker in my sticking to Weight Watchers as I lunched on a kolache and a molasses cookie. The white chocolate fudge will be a gift as it was loaded with nuts. Driving home I realized Texas has no dirt, just ground up rock! Becky, Barbara and i headed over to the Vargas domicile for a brief visit - I was insanely complimented when Julie told me I was family so I could see her house in imperfect condition. A true warm fuzzy! Izzy sat with me on the patio while I snapped a gorgeous sunset. Barbara is going to partner with me in Fantasy Football next year!!!

 Thursday, September 5 - Headed to Fredericksburg, Texas Wine Country via Blanco and the picturesque Blanco River. At One Quilt Place, I found my backing. Well, Barbara found it. I am so excited - I can now hand the quilt to Jean and use it this winter!!!  Lunch at Emma and Ollie was succulent - Barbara's shrimp Poor Boy rivaled my Salmon Cobb Salad. Neither of us was remotely peckish afterward. Inwood Winery was first on our list. Good stuff. great chat with vintner. Then across the street to 4.0 Winery where we ran into the same folks from Inwood and chatted as a previous customer had dropped her bag of bottles just as they were handed to her. We didn't taste, but purchased the McPherson's Sparkling Wine everyone raved about. Last stop Heath Sparkling Wines, an adjunct of Grape Creek Winery and the first sparkling wine only winery in the state! Just fabulous!! I splurged. I'll be well lubricated after I return to Florida.

 



T