MARKETING BUDGET? HA!

Where did the week go? Seems like I just got back from Dallas, and already it's time to pack up for Houston. I suppose it's true - time flies when you're having fun!

Take Wednesday, for instance. First there was the rain dance, then one of the Muses and I adjourned to Mima's for a breakfast taco pick-me-up (much needed after all that cavorting). From there I ran home, and had just enough time to download my pictures and do a blog-posting about the event, then it was time to head over to The Bountiful Sprout to help divy up the goods for pick up day - which was very cool, because usually the producers have all come and gone long before I arrive to pick up my basket. Since I was helping our manager Cindy sort this time, I got to meet and visit with quite a few.

I was most excited to meet young Katherine Austin, of Healthy Culinary, who keeps me supplied with mouthwatering almond butter, humus, sun-dried tomatoes with garlic, and much more. Turns out Healthy Culinary is just one of her sidelines, and her primary focus is keeping Willie Nelson and clan well-fed (using some of the things she orders from us, of course!) I hear Willie is a huge fan of one of our coffees from Barrett's Micro-Roast.

Anyway, yesterday Katherine had a friend in tow - a young filmmaker who came here to work on a project for Willie. Guess he likes it here, because he's looking for other projects to work on, after he finishes up this one. They thought maybe we'd like to have him do a promotional video about TBS. Bwa-ha-ha! I'm thinking they must not realize that we are all doing this strictly as a service to the community, because it is something we are passionate about, and that there is no money for marketing and promotion! Heck, we're happy to be able to pay the electrical bill and our one part-time employee, which might not be the case if it weren't for the kind couple who are donating a free space from which we can operate temporarily.

Now, if he wished to donate his services...

SO FEW WORDS SAY SO MUCH

One often sees barbacoa tacos on menus around here, and I've always wondered exactly what that was. I figured it was the Spanish word for barbecue, and was about ready to try one, when I came across this recipe from Homesick Texan. I couldn't resist forwarding it to hubby and kiddos just before I left the house this morning, and when I returned, I had three replies waiting for me:

John - YUCK!
Alexis - That's just effing NASTY!
Austin - I'd eat it!

That right there tells you everything you need to know about my family's food personalities, and explains why I learned long ago not to ever try and sneak something like eggplant past my hubby (he's been known to barf it up in the kitchen trash can). Austin, on the other hand, has great prospects. If ever this computer engineering thing doesn't work out for him, I think he has just what it takes to become a great food critic, 'cause he'll try anything!

P.S. Many thanks to blogs.houstonpress.com for the above image.

BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY

You'll never guess who moonwalked his way into our community-wide Rain Dance this morning, wearing white glove and black glitter pants! When I tried to picture what this event would be like, this is not at all the group I imagined, nor did I expect us to be beating our drums and dancing 'round the square in time to "Billie Jean's, unh, not my child!" But hey, different strokes for different folks... As for the secret identity of Mr. Bunny, organizer of this event? Well, rumor has it that local restaurateur Dave Lewis (Juan Henry's - home of delicious mushroom quesadillas) happens to own a bunny costume, and he's not afraid to use it! He pulled out the costume once 25 years ago, for another Rain Dance, and within 24 hours it was raining cats and dogs - over in Dripping Springs.

BLOG HUBBIES UNITE!

You know how they have support groups for the families of addicts and alcoholics? Well, there probably oughtta be something like that for the families of bloggers. I hate to admit it, but theirs is not an easy row to hoe. My kids are probably thankful that they had already left home before this addiction consumed our household. Alas, that left poor hubby to deal with it on his own.

Imagine what it must be like, for a hubby who is prone to leap before he looks. It was bad enough in the olden days, knowing that every time he got a wild hair, and things got out of hand, he was sure to look up and find wifey standing there, hands on hips, giving him "The Look"- the one he hates above all others. The one that screams "I told you so!" without her ever having to move her lips. But I guess that wasn't enough of a cross to bear, so God led the wifey to blogging. Now each time hubby screws up, he looks up to find that her hands are no longer clenched on her hips, they are clutching a camera, and her face is no longer scowling, it is lit up with glee, which is worse. So much worse. Why? Because it means that Dear Hubby is about to star in yet another blog posting.

And so, Dear Hubby has suffered in silence for nigh on two years now, thinking he alone was burdened thusly. It wasn't until I came across this post on Farm Natters yesterday, and was silly enough to forward it to him, that he realized he was not alone. He had brothers in misery, who were suffering just as he was! He knew exactly what that guy meant when he said his wife "tricked him" into screwing up, for hadn't I often pulled the same trick on him? Wasn't it obvious that we wives were to blame, if we were silly enough to give our hubbies a choice between a dull, boring common sense solution, and one that allows them to hot-dog it?

Uh-oh. Here's a scary thought. I just remembered that DA at Farm Natters lives right here in Wimberley. What if our two hubbies were to stumble across one another some day, and get to talking? Maybe compare notes? What if they were to organize against us? Oh no! What have I done?

P.S. Many thanks to freepages.geneology.rootsweb.ancestry.com for the above image.

LIVE TO SHOP, OR SHOP TO LIVE?

I would imagine that Dear Hubby is getting a bit tired of everyone asking him "When are you going to retire?" The frequency with which he hears that question has really stepped up since his bypass surgery. At first it was wanting to get the kids out of school and established, able to stand on their own two feet, and getting his company and his two partners to the point where they can also function without him, that kept him working. Now, I think it all boils down to money. I think he just can't imagine how he will ever be able to get by on a combination of social security and what we can safely draw from our investments. I mean, that man is a shopper, and hardly a day goes by that he doesn't find something in the stores he just has to have, some new gizmo on-line that he just has to order, some gift he wants to buy for me or the kids, or something he thinks we need for the house or garden.

We were discussing it this weekend, and I tried to explain to him how that will change over time, once he joins me up here. That, once you start living the good life, you actually start living - you have time to learn new things, to join in on community activities, to volunteer, to meet and really connect with people who care about the same things as you - and the more you do all of that, the less you need shopping just to make you feel alive.

I never thought in a million years that I would now be living off of what was formerly just my food and entertainment budget, making it stretch to cover fitness classes and continuing ed., a vacation fund, books and magazines, gifts and donations, clothes, a Christmas fund, home and garden purchases, hair cuts and more. And not just getting by, but feeling more satisfied than I ever did when I had twice that amount to spend!

Unfortunately, I'm lousy at trying to explain things off the cuff and face to face, and I don't think I managed to convince him in the least. Luckily, however, I just came across a posting over at the Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op, written by From the Frugal Trenches, and titled Creating A New Normality. She summed up precisely what I was trying to say, but failed so miserably at. I hope my Little Squeedunk, and all of you, will give it a read, and let me know what you think .

P.S. Many thanks to pro.corbis.com for the above image.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE LITTLE TOWN

Here are only two, of the many, many reasons why I'm so crazy about this little town.

1. The following notice has been posted recently not only in the local newspaper, but also on the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center website:

Come to the Wimberley Town Square for a Rain Dance. Mr. Bunny will dance at 9:00 am on July 22. Come and help make it rain! Details Date From 7/22/2009 To 7/22/2009 Time From 9:00 AM Frequency Frequency - One Time Cost Free Location Wimberley Square Wimberley TX 78676

2. I was sitting in Juan Henry's tonight, enjoying a mushroom quesadilla and the Sunday paper, when I thought I heard some thunder. A few minutes later, I thought I heard it again, and I noticed mine weren't the only eyes that kept straying to the windows, looking hopefully for dark clouds. After a while I went back to my dinner and paper. I was totally absorbed in a story, when a flash of lightning and a huge clap of thunder caused me to jump in my seat, and the next thing I knew, the entire restaurant had erupted into spontaneous applause and whoops of joy!

We had three quarters of an inch in our rain gauge by the the time I got home, and a beautiful rainbow arching directly over my house! But I'm still going to that Rain Dance, just to be on the safe side.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE FILLING STATION... PART TWO

NOT YOUR AVERAGE FILLIN' STATION... PART ONE

Finally got around to stopping by Willie's Place, on my way back from Dallas today. Thought you might enjoy taking a look around.