Weekend in review and week ahead

This past Wednesday, we went to our first Whacky Wednesday at the Back Porch.  Connie didn't last too long in the heat, but she hung in there. 

We went to a new bar Thursday night (Lelo's, the former Wild Horse Saloon and Grill) for the Parrotheads of Port Aransas Fourth Thursday Happy Hour and Connie was a trooper.  Liked Lelo's.  The burgers/buns were fantastic.  It was a huge turnout.

Friday was a big test for us.  I went to play golf while Connie stayed home with the girls.  She got along famously.  First time I've done that since June 4th.  Always worried in Amherst since there were so few people there during the week.  That night, I had committed to work on the food committee for the Wings Party of the PHC and I helped at the beach party, while Connie stayed back.






Saturday night, I helped on the food committee at the Gala while keeping tabs on Connie at home.  Again, she did great -- there was even a beer or two missing when I got back.

This week is going to suck for her.  Last treatment, her port couldn't be accessed (as was the case towards the end at the Cleveland Clinic), and she had to go through her arm.  Made the decision to get her port replaced.  This week she's got a treatment on Monday (through her arm again), pre-op appointment at Shoreline Hospital Tuesday, the actual procedure on Wednesday, then a brain CT for the neurosurgeon in Cleveland gets done on Thursday.

July 4th in the Flats

Spent our Independence Day in Cleveland on the East Flats.  When we first came to Cleveland in the mid 90's, the Flats was where it was happening.  New baseball park, boating was great, bars stacked on top of each other.  Boats would raft 6-7 wide into the Cuyahoga.  It was such a fun place to be.

Then, depending on who's story you hear, either the politicians, the mob, the bar owners, or somebody else got greedy and it became a ghost town.

Now, it's starting to come back again.  Today we went down to the soft 2nd day opening of Margaritaville in Cleveland.  They were already out of Landshark and we hadn't even been there.  The rooftop bar was great, and gave you a great view of the railroad bridge that I had forgotten how much I hated.

We actually worked it out where little Miss Firecracker, Baby K and her parents could meet us downtown.

After we split with these guys, we went down to the Collision Bend Brewery to meet our friends Don and April.  Had some good beers, solved a few of the world's problems, and watched the boats and ships (there's a difference) go by.

(Well past) Time for another update ....

No posts since January.  <sigh>  I guess I hate writing just to be writing.  Blame my college professors and Sue Terrell.  (If you know who she is, thanks for your friendship for all these years!)

 The Porters and I walked the Harbor Bridge (on the left) in Corpus Christi the first weekend of February.  Was neat to say that you've done.  As slow as we did things, really wasn't that bad.  All told, I've done it.  Don't need to do it again.

Of course, after we finished, we went to North Beach for a celebratory beer.  Yes, I know it was 10:30 in the morning.  I have a problem.


February and so far in March have been incredibly rainy.  We've had more rain this "season" than the previous two years combined.  Last year was a lot of shut in time for cold.  This year has been warmer, but been shut in for rain.

Did get a visit from Bethany and James for a couple of days in early March.  Connie and Vickie were able to take her shopping for Baby Davis while I took James golfing.  On the right is James retrieving his drive on #18.

We've been able to meet with our Heartland friends about once a week for a meal and some good conversation.

This last week of March is when the Winter Texans will start flowing out of the Coastal Bend.  Always seems to happen around this time.  Then they all get home and whine about how cold it is there.  Duh.

We met with Connie's oncologist last week and started mapping out our exit strategy.  She's going to do on more treatment in March (next Tuesday the 24th), another in April (on the 14th) then a final one in Texas tentatively on the 5th of May.  Between the 14th of April and 5th of May she'll do the scans and tests and we'll have those results read on the 5th of May.  Whether or not those show progression of the disease will determine how we proceed.  From a health standpoint, she's been very tolerant of these treatments.  Lose the night of the treatment, but that's about it.  No nausea, her weight has held pretty steady and other than some balance issues, has been going about life great.

Speaking of going about life, we decided to take a last minute cruise on April 5th.  Life's too short.

After we hear what the oncologist has to say on the 5th of May, we'll start figuring out a run to South Dakota (have to spend at least one night there every five years), then on to Ohio.  Want to be loose and free with our plans, at least to South Dakota, so that we can play the volatile weather in the Plains during May.  Do hope to be back in Ohio by the Monday after Memorial Day.

That's about it for now.  Treasure every day and the people you spend it with.

After a weekend in Schulenburg......

Loved our weekend in Schulenburg, TX at the Schulenburg RV Park.  Not so much the park, but the chance to meet up again with our RV'ing buddies, Fred and Vickie.  Typical evenings of laughing, cooking and conversations each night.

We used Friday as our "tour the area" time.  We went to Shiner, TX to see the Spoetzl Brewery makers of Shiner Beer.  The whole area is influenced by Eastern Europeans who migrated to the area after the Civil War.  A group of them founded together to build a brewery and make beer the way they did in the "old country".

Another part of that culture showed in their painted churches.  We went to the High Hill Church, which was "the one to go to" if you were only going to one.  Fascinating.  In the back of the church was a cemetery with headstones dating back to the 1880's.  The detail of the stained glass, the architecture, the upkeep was outstanding.

We wanted to see the Sengelmann Hall, which was a Dance Hall from the turn of the century.  Didn't open till 5:00p and it was 4:30p.  Right next door was a little bar, we thought we'd go in.  Upstairs was the scurviest, nastiest pool room we've ever seen.  The pool tables were littered with dead bugs.  The shuffleboard table was missing varnish by the points part.  There was a sign in Spanish that we'll let you translate.  It was so nasty, it was hilarious.

When we did get into Sengelmann Hall, it was wonderful.  The upstairs, which was the hall, had that old wood smell that really added to the ambiance.  The bar was a recreation of what the bar would have been like in the 1890's.  The menu didn't quite fit the surroundings.  We learned that for 25 years it was an auto parts store!  Pictures didn't turn out great because of the darkness, but it was a great stop.

Saturday was a hang around day enjoying each other's company.  Sunday was splitsville as we made the 3 hour journey south to our winter home, Sea Breeze RV Park, and Fred and Vickie made their 4 hour journey north back to Dallas.

Our Brew Cruise from Navy Pier with all our mistakes...

Friday, we had decided if the weather was good, we'd go on a Brew Cruise from Navy Pier.

We've sworn off driving into Chicago, when the transit system is so good here.  So, we drove to Elgin for our first METRA train ride from there.  As much research as you do, you just can't find out everything until you've experienced it.  Such was a lot of this trip.

We get to Elgin and pass the National Street station, which was the first mistake.  I knew the price to park would be $1.50; what I didn't know was cash only and exact change.  We had stopped at Jewel Osco on our way and gotten $30 cash (a $20 and two $5's), so off I went to the little market across the street.  I was the only one speaking English.  Next door was a laundromat, so I broke the $5's into quarters.  Then I got the $20 broken into a $10 and two $5's, but not without some language barrier problems.

So I pay the $1.50 for the parking in quarters, leaving our $6.50pp for the train ride into town.  We knew we were returning from Union Station, so we'd just get tickets there.  (This is a key point to remember).

Train right on time, beautiful club cars, plenty of space, upper and lower berths.  Knew from my reading that we would just pay the conductor, who we saw several times.  Never asked us.

We get off at Grand/Cicero and we're feeling pretty good about the freebie.  Watched others, same thing.  Walked across the street to our bus stop and realized we were really, really overdressed.  Then the bus was 15 minutes late, and we really, really wanted to get going.  Another live and learn mistake.  Take the train to Union Station, not Grand/Cicero and get a bus.  I have since scrapped the website I was using that gave me that terrific time saving advice.

The sites along the bus ride were tough.  Lots of poverty.  As we were getting closer to town, there was just a definite change of property, rebuilding, and the clientele -- they became mostly tourists like us.

Navy Pier was great.  Had a quick dinner at McDonald's then off in search of our Brew Cruise.  Thought we'd get a quick beer before we went, then realized we couldn't walk with it.  Time to chug.  As we got to the pier for our cruise, we realized they had let people preboard and the kegs were open.  Didn't have to chug that $5.50 beer after all, should have skipped it.

The cruise was 90 minutes, with free beer from Rock Bottom Brewing Company.  They featured a white belgian ale, a red ale and an IPA.  Preferred the white to all of them.  Had some munchies and it was a nice spread.

We set sail promptly at 8:15p.  You could tell how many people had never been on a boat before.  And those that had.  Was really surprised that there's a lock at the mouth of the Chicago River/Harbor.  Only about a foot each way, but was surprised by that.

Captain took us around to the East side of Navy Pier, got us in very nicely for pictures.  The skyline was beautiful.  It really made me wish for a great camera and tripod.  Everyone on board was just snapping pics like crazy.  It was sensational.  We went to the West side of Navy Pier and still again, breath taking.  After returning through the locks, we went into the River a couple of bridges before turning around to the dock.  A tremendous experience.

We headed back to the Navy Pier bus terminal and got bus #124.  My phone had died on the boat, so I was going from memory.  Knew if we got on the #124 and headed to Union Station, no problem.

Union Station is beautiful inside.  The Great Hall is fabulous.  However, what we didn't know is that our train was supposed to leave at 10:40p and we were just walking around taking in the sights and probably only had 5 minutes.  The vending machines (where we were going to get the tickets, remember?) were sold out of one way tickets.  We had to stand in line for tickets and Bob could swear the board said "Now Boarding".  We get to our track at 10:44p.  Oh well, have to wait an hour.  Wait.  What?  Next train isn't until 12:40a???  Ugh.

Walked around Union Station, tried to reconstruct where we made our mistakes, if we got off at the right bus stop, etc.  Then we just started looking for what to do for the next 90 minutes or so.

Happened on to the Beggar's Pizza place who had a huge neon Coors Light sign on the outside.  This will work.  Had a couple of beers, talked some Big Ten and golf then headed back for the station.  Train was already there and boarding 20 minutes before departure.

This time, our conductor was serious old school.  Really wanted him to yell "All Aboard!".  And no nonsense, since this was about the derilict time of night.  Feet off the seats, making sure everyone was awake for each stop, etc.  And, he took our tickets.

It was a great night, even with all the miscues.  We were serious rookies and learned a ton for the next mission into town.

Trip to the Beach

Finally!  We made it to Port Aransas Beach on the Gulf of Mexico.  We drove to the ferry (free, can't believe it!) and quickly were taken across to this great little beach town.

We went to I.B. Magee Park, which allows leashed dogs on the beach and you can drive on the sand.  (Very cool, but we got stuck in New Smyrna Beach on the sand, so we're hesitant.)

It was Carmen's first trip to the beach and she was curious, but frightened, of the surf as the video below will show.  Walked for a good half hour from the inlet to the fishing pier and back.  Had to be careful of Jelly Fish occasionally, but a great walk.

We were still in search of our "Toni and Joe's" from New Smyrna Beach, but no luck.  We did, however, find the Port Aransas Brewing Company, which had a great blonde ale on the menu and allowed us to sit outside on their patio with the pups.

Hockey Night in Smashville!

We did our first NHL game here in Nashville as the Nashville Predators took on the San Jose Sharks.

Again, free parking is located next to LP Field (where the Titans play) and it was a short, scenic walk across the pedestrian bridge and the Cumberland River of about 15 minutes.  There was a $3pp shuttle that we chose not to do.

Bridgestone Arena is located right in the heart of the Broadway District, which means you get the chance to have a dinner and a few adult beverages before the game -- which we did.  Had a great lager brewed here in Nashville, Hap and Harry's at the Broadway Brewhouse.



It was chilly in the arena, and had a great minor league baseball feel with the entertainment for the fans during breaks, and during the period intermissions.  The sound of the puck hitting the stick in the arena is terrific, plus you can just see the entire game instead of just the small box on TV.

Great times here in Nashville.

Winding Down in Nashville

They closed the pool this morning at the Two Rivers Campground, a sure sign of things cooling down.  Evenings have been getting cool, now they're predicted to get down right cold.

We took time out the other day to visit the complex at Gaylord Opryland.  Wow, what a facility.  Divided into a few different sections, most all covered with an atrium roof, balconies that looked into garden spots -- tremendous place.  If you're going to go, you might want to have a beer at the Scoreboard Bar & Grill, then take the 10 minute walk over to Opryland -- at $2.75/beer, it sure beats the $18 to park your car.

Warm Beer!

This is the second state we've been in where you buy your beer warm and it's testing my planning patience.  Especially now, it's 4:30p, I've worked all day, and now I have to go buy ice (I call it an ice tax) to chill our beer.