WE MADE IT!

Greetings from Ohio! Unlike our last several plane trips, the travel gods were smiling upon us this Tuesday. Not only did our alarm clock go off right at 3:00 AM, just as it was supposed to, we also had no deer jumping out in front of our car on our pre-dawn drive to the Austin airport, we both made it through security in a timely manner (John usually gets pulled aside), our flight left right on time, and we actually made it to DFW ahead of schedule -- which was a very good thing, since we only had about 40 minutes between flights. Even better, our next flight left out of the very same terminal, albeit from the opposite end. Oh yeah, and I got aisle seats both times! I NEVER get aisle seats. All in all, that was about as good as it gets, when it comes to air travel these days.

Have had fun every day, but today was the best so far. When I first got interested in art journaling, my sister-in-law said, ooh, I bet you'd like Shelly Massey's blog called A Wee Bit Warped. She's a friend of mine, and her art is right up your alley. She was right. Shelly's work is fun and whimsical and absolutely color-mad, so I've been following her blog and facebook page ever since. Well, guess who I got to meet in person today? What a hoot! We spent several hours with her, and had more fun. I just loved her -- and that had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she brought us each a bag full of art journaling goodies, including a handmade journal!

Tomorrow is a backyard barbecue with the nieces and nephews and 20 or so of my SIL's closest friends. (Unlike me, she is NOT an introvert.) Catcha later!

CONTROL ISSUES

We are heading out in the middle of the night tonight, to visit John's big bro and his family up in Ohio -- our first plane trip in almost two years. I have something of a love/hate relationship with travel. Once I'm up in the air -- where things are completely out of my control, and I know that there's no turning back -- well, then I finally begin to relax a little and start to enjoy myself. But these days right before a big trip? When there's so much to do, and so much that could go wrong? Well, that's when I'm a bit of a wreck, and everything seems to piss me off. Not my hubby, though, who seems just as calm as could be. Even that kinda pisses me off! Why isn't he worried about all the plants that are gonna die, the veggies that won't get picked, the fact that we have to drive all the way to Austin at 3:00 in the morning, the mail that needs to be stopped, or about being so far from all his doctors? Like I said. Control issues. That's why art and cooking are so good for me. They remind me that sometimes, you just gotta let go, and let it flow!

Speaking of art, I was flipping through some of my journals yesterday, looking for a home for those little paint palette flowers I made last week, when I came across this page which I started a long time ago, but never completed:

Bazinga!

As for cooking, well, my mantra at this time of year is always "Keep it fresh, keep it simple!" Which is why we had this for dinner last night -- a fresh tomato pasta sauce.

All you do is chop up some fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes, then toss them into a bowl with some minced garlic, fresh basil, a sprinkle of good sea salt and freshly ground pepper, and then douse it all with some good olive oil. Cover the bowl with a plate and let it sit at room temperature for several hours, before tossing it with the warm pasta of your choice and some freshly grated parmesan.

Notice I said GOOD olive oil. I happen to like this one, made...guess where?

Well, I guess it's time to say TTFN! Not sure if I will be online at all this week, but I'll do my best.

WHY KIDS LOVE TEXAS STATE

Couldn't resist this color combo!

One of the best, and worst, things about attending school at Texas State University in San Marcos is the river, which runs right through the campus. So attractive, yet so distracting! This weekend our daughter decided to share one of her college loves with her hunny Nate, her little bro Austin, and his sweetie Areej. Hubby and I came along just to observe, record, and assist.

We met up here, at the most brilliant fund-generator ever -- the Lion's Club tube rental/retrieval facility, tucked behind Bobcat Stadium.

You launch here, then it's an easy 45-60 minute float down to the play area behind the River Pub Grill, where there are a couple of fun water chutes, and where the busses will pick you up and bring you and your tubes back to your car.

This River Pub pic was taken a few years back, when our son was still working for a conservative Houston company, instead of a hip Austin company (note the change in hairstyles)

Since our plan was to meet them at the River Pub for lunch at the end of their float, we were just there to gather up their dry clothes, and snap a few pictures.

These guys spent at least an hour getting their "flotilla" just right, before finally taking off -- more time than the float itself was going to last, but hey, priorities!

She's Armed and Dangerous!

Getting Launched Isn't Easy!

They're Off!

Once they were on their way, we headed off to kill a little time at nearby craft and book stores, then headed over to the River Pub to meet them. So, imagine our surprise, when we found a chain across the parking lot entrance, and big signs saying "Closed for Remodeling"! What, they couldn't do that during the winter, when the river is deserted and they don't get much business anyway? Ah well, fajitas and margaritas at Los Cucos were not a bad substitute, especially in such good company!