Ranch Weekend Review

As the alarm clock rang Friday morning, I rolled out of bed, packed my things, and headed West for a weekend at the W.  Now the W I refer to here isn't the one with fancy room service and a concierge, but it does have comfy beds, good food, a swimming pool, and plenty to do.  The W is my nickname for our family ranch just outside Uvalde, Texas and this past weekend, we hosted a couple groups of turkey hunters.  Each year, we donate several turkey hunts to our industry organization to benefit the scholarship program.  It's a great way to give back and we enjoy hosting these folks.  

In a few words and lots of pictures, here's how my weekend went...

Friday

A South Texas sunset, Crawfish boil and a little late night music...

Saturday 

Wildflower and wildlife tour, relaxation, beautiful Texas sunset, and a killer meal of crawfish stuffed pork chops and grilled quail...

As the alarm clock rang on Sunday morning, I rolled out of bed, packed my bags and headed back East. Back to the hustle and bustle of the city.  Back to an insanely busy week.  Back with a renewed energy. Ready for the next adventure. 

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...

March Madness!

First of all, let me apologize if you came to this post expecting to read about basketball.  There will be no Final Four talk, no opinions about who's the better team, etc.  So if you want to read about that, check out ESPN.com or something.  Go ahead, I won't be mad if you leave. Really.  :)

Now those that are still with me, this entry is about my crazy month of March.  Please don't take any of this as bragging or being boastful...as you will remember, I started this blog as a way to catalog my adventures and what not. 

First up, Comal County Junior Livestock Sale in New Braunfels.  Every year, our company purchases kids livestock projects...part of our way to give back to our community.  The sale is something I look forward to each year and during that 12 hour endurance test, I visit with lots of old friends and see their children.  It's so fun to see the kids grow into young adults, learning responsibility from raising their animals and earning money for college. 

Now why a livestock sale?  Well, for those of you who don't know, I showed steers from middle school until graduation.  The time I spent showing provided me many memories and created great friendships.  Now I may have caused some trouble here and there, showing steers helped me learn responsibility, time management and created a network of life long friends. 

Next up, the Rodeo Austin!   

Miss Rodeo Austin Scholarship Pageant: Bring on the big hair, sparkly clothes and plenty of leather!  The 3 day contest puts the girls through the ringer to earn the title of Miss Rodeo Austin and a $16,000 scholarship.  I admire each of the contestants for their hard work and courage to compete in front of many people.  I love working on this committee and have a true admiration for these girls.

Rodeo Austin BBQ Cook-Off: This year our BBQ cook-off team celebrated its10th Anniversary!  If you haven't been to cook-off, it's a 2 day event where the teams not only compete on the BBQ-ing skills, but provide food and drinks to the public in exchange for donations to the team tip jars, which goes to the Rodeo Austin scholarship fund. In the past, we have placed in all food categories, swept the Bloody Mary contest in various years, and even won brisket in 2010.  With our 10th year celebration, we wanted to make it our best year yet and we did!!!!  1st place Brisket!! Top Hospitality!  And.........drum roll please....1st place Fundraising!!!!!  We raised $77,520 for the scholarship fund!!!!  We broke the record for most raised and took out the team that's claimed 1st place for more than the past 10 years.  Awesome!!!! 

Rodeo: Buckin' broncs, crazy bulls, gypsy cowboys, quick tie times...it's all apart of rodeo.  What a great sport!  Our seats in Austin are awesome and I hit as many nights of rodeo as possible.  I love going with my friends and family even it makes for late nights and tough mornings at work.  I figure it's only 2 weeks of every year and I can always sleep when I'm dead!

Finally, a quick trip to Port Aransas for a friend's bachelorette party!  My long time friend gets married in a few weeks and I road tripped it this past Saturday to the beach for the pre-wedding celebration.  Now it was a little tough getting up Saturday morning after a late night at the Rodeo including the Bret Michaels concert and fun times at the 100X club.  I arrived at the beach around 2 pm and the fun was already started.  We headed to the beach for a while before coming back to the house for dinner and the lingerie shower.  I wouldn't say it went down hill from there, but we did head to Sharkey's!  The music was loud, the drinks were cold and we all had an amazing time.  It's been a while since I've been to bed at 3 am, but it was definitely worth it!  A great group of girls spent a great day celebrating a great bride-to-be!


All of this on top of my regular work schedule, volunteer commitments, and life, made for a hectic, tiring, crazy, but fun, exciting, wouldn't-change-a-thing, March!  I relish the slow days I've enjoyed so far this week and look forward to a restful weekend at the ranch.  For now, I will not think about the craziness that lies before me, as it will be here soon enough. 

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...

Springtime in Texas!

While there are many things I am thankful for, today this blog expresses my thankfulness for Texas wildflowers. 

Have you seen them popping up along the highways?  

Do you have some in your yard?  

Do they make you happy?  

I absolutely love Texas wildflowers...bluebonnets, verbenas, butter cups, Indian paintbrush, and wine cups to name a few.  The sight of the assorted colors brings happiness to my heart and a smile to my face.  I give a big shout out to the big man upstairs for the amazing rains to our parched land at the perfect time for the wildflowers and for creating so many beautiful things.  Have you looked at the detail in a bluebonnet?  The blue, the white, the little bit of red in each bloom...the perfection in each petal.  Isn't it amazing that with all the things God created, He paid attention to every detail from the hint of red in the Bluebonnet to the hairs on my head!  He truly is amazing!    

Yesterday, when Dad asked if I wanted to go to the ranch to check on a few things, I almost said no.  I thought of things I needed to do at the office and the plan I had lined out in my head for the day.  But then I chucked those thoughts and hopped in the truck.  Why not?  I am so glad I changed my mind because not only did I have a great time with my folks but the wildflowers were out in full force!  So instead of hearing about the flowers and seeing the pictures from my folks, I witnessed the beauty first hand.  In person.  Thank you Lord!  With all the hustle and bustle in my life, yesterday was just what I needed.  A day to slow down, take in the beauty God created, and enjoy time with some of my favorite people.  By the time I got back to the office, it was amazing how much better I felt.  Renewed.  Recharged. 

I hope each of you enjoy the Spring weather, the beautiful flowers, and give a little praise to God for all His many beautiful creations.  

Until next time, happy travels and many laughs...

Back in the Saddle!

Can you believe we're already in the middle of the 3rd month of 2012??? 

My mom always said the older you get the faster time goes.  

She wasn't kidding about that! 

So, life got in the way.  

I haven't blogged.  

No excuses.  

Just a fresh start.  

Since my last entry, I took a few trips...

1.     The folks and I ventured North just before Turkey Day to Cleveland, Ohio for a Browns football game. Now before you shake your head and ask why, I have a good reason.  That blog entry I've actually started and hope to finish soon.  Stay tuned for a fun little entry about football, food, and rock n' roll.

2.     In January, Mom and I headed to the Keys for a few days before setting sail on a Girls Get Away Cruise hosted by Premiere Christian Cruises.  It was a fun week with my momma and time reflecting and worshiping God.  I plan on a short blog entry on this trip too in the future.

Now, there are lots of fun adventures happening in the coming months, so stay tuned for lots of good things happening around here.  A bit of a teaser to keep you intrigued...

Upcoming trips planned thus far this year...

• Bahamas for a little fly fishing with the bestie
• Ranch trip for a good ol' fashioned Cajun crawfish boil
• "Work" trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Fishing the great northwest in Canada
• First visit to South America and bird hunting in Argentina

Along the way I'll have laughs and other adventures to throw in too...so stay tuned!!

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...

Komen Austin Race for the Cure

For several weeks, I've debated on writing this blog entry about my participation in the upcoming Komen Austin race.

Why?

Well, there are several reasons to cause me hesitation...

1.  From the beginning, I wanted this blog to be semi-anonymous...nicknames for friends and family, no pictures of said friends and family, and more focus on the places and events in each entry.  I do it because I respect the privacy of my friends and family and know if I were in their place, I might not want my friend writing about and posting pictures of me.

2.  I started writing this blog mainly to catalog all the many adventures and travels I am blessed with and when I'm old and grey, I'll have a record of the places I went, the food I ate, and the many memories I made.  Subsequently, I thought it would be a good way to offer my opinion and advice to others about the various locations I've visited.  Believe me, I HAVE an opinion.  Ha!

With that said, I haven't delved into anything too personal, too political, too serious.  So writing an entry on a topic as serious as cancer made me a little nervous. However, I feel compelled to write this entry. I promise it won't be too heavy but it probably will be a little serious at times.

You still with me?

Great!  I'll start...

A little over a year ago Bitch C experienced tremendous pain on her right side one night which sent her to the ER.  A few million tests later, a doctors appointment or three, she received the news none of us want to hear "You have breast cancer."  At 32, Stage IV Breast cancer was NOT in her 5-year plan. It wasn't in her 10-year plan. It wasn't in her 20-year plan. Frankly it wasn't in my plan to have one of my best friends have cancer.  Now, I can only imagine the range of emotions C felt with this news, but she is an amazing, strong woman who took the diagnosis head on.  Her mantra of "Kickin' Cancer's Ass" became our mantra and for the past year, she has battled this terrible disease and showed it who's boss.  It hasn't all been roses, she's been sick, tired, sometimes sad, but overall she has truly kicked cancer's ass.

Needless to say, C's diagnosis shook our close group of friends.  So many questions filled my head and a range of emotions filled me.  What was going to happen?  Was she going to be ok? What can I do to help her?  Why did this have to happen to her?  What can I do to help?

When someone gets sick, we want to help.  We want to do what we can to make things better.  C was bombarded with offers to bring meals, give her rides, do various odds and ends.  She was overwhelmed with support and so thankful for all her loving friends and family.  The funny thing was that while she's battling cancer, she hasn't been so sick as to need meals and extra support.  Praise God!  (And believe me, I pray, a lot, every day, for her.  Others too, but she's at the top of the list.)

So when the Komen Austin Race for the Cure date was announced in early July, I saw it as a way to help.  What better way to show her support than by doing the race, raising money not only for the cure, but for funding for the services C participates in with local cancer organizations! So we created a name, made a logo and formed a team for the race with me as team captain!  (If you know me very well, you're not surprised by this at all. Ha Ha!)

When we started fundraising I set the team goal at $10,000 and I wanted us to be Top Rookie Fundraising Team for 2011.  I know some of the team thought I was crazy.  However, I KNEW we could do it. We DID! Fundraising, especially for a cause you believe in, is easy.  Some people are intimidated by asking for money.  Here's how I see it...if you don't ask, the answer is no.  If you do ask, no is just one answer and usually, you'll get more yes's than no's.  

As of today, our team is over 60 members strong and already raised $13,000!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it?  I CAN!!!

Those numbers both in people and money show our support for C and our determination to help those fight in the battle against breast cancer.

I am SO proud of our team.  Each. And. Every. One.

Unfortunately, we all know someone who has cancer, fought cancer, or lost the battle with cancer. I know many women who have been in at least one of those categories.  My grandmother lost her battle to breast cancer when I was six.  A sweet, loving, kind woman who still brings tears to my eyes when I think about her.  Then there are the family friends who have fought and won and a few who are currently fighting and winning.  These women are amazing.  They are strong even in their weakest moments.  Even without hair, they are beautiful.  One woman in particular has the most awesome presence.  She has a different perspective on life and I appreciate her views.  I suppose fighting a life threatening disease will do that to you.  All of these women are special.  I cry for those I have lost.  I celebrate those who are in remission. I pray for all of them. But most of all, C's diagnosis has brought home how truly precious life is and that's it meant to be lived fully.  I work every day to appreciate all the many blessings in life...from the flowers blooming after the recent rains to the dogs playing in the backyard to truly cherishing conversations with my closest friends on the back porch at the ranch. 

In 2 Sundays, we will all gather in downtown Austin in our team shirts and silly flair for the 2011 Komen Austin Race for the Cure.  Some will walk, some will run, but we will all do it to support C, to celebrate those loved ones who have won the battle, and to honor those who cancer has defeated.  

If you want to make a donation to this awesome cause, http://www.komenaustin.org/ is the place to do it. 

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...

Getting our Culture In...Neushweinschtein "Castle"

While on our European adventure, we figured we'd throw in some history/culture along the way to even out the beer drinking and revelry.  Not that you can't be cultured and drink beer, but by the middle of the week, our livers needed a little break.  Plus my cousin had "See a Castle" on her Must Do list for the trip.

So, I found a tour on Viator.com which hooked us up with a day long trip to Schloss Neushweinschtein that included train travel to and from the castle (2 hours each way), an English speaking guide, and tickets to the castle tour.  If you are interested in making this trek, I highly recommend booking a tour to take care of all the parts...these guys did a great job and made our trip easy.  However, if you have more time to stay in the area, it looked like a great place for day trips, hiking, and the sorts.

One quick note, the castle sits perched above the cute little town where the bus from the train station drops you.  So you have 2 options, start hiking up the hill (45 minutes, decently steep) or pay $1.25 Euro for the bus ride to the top.  I took the bus and on this kinda warm September day, worth every penny. Oh, and don't forget to wear good walking shoes, I promise you'll be glad you did.

Now the castle is not really a castle, as it was never fortified and was not ever prepared for battle.  So...technically, it's a palace and in castle world, a mere infant at 125 years old.  Now I'm not going to go through all the history (just check the Google), but if you're close, this is worth seeing.  The palace was occupied less than one year in total and opened as a tourist spot 6 weeks after King Ludwig the Second's death. (This was HIS castle.) With the limited habitation, the place is in perfect condition.  No wear and tear, no nicks or scratches on the wall, no dust even...pretty sure it'd pass the white glove test.  One down side of the inside tour is no pictures of any kind are allowed.  So until you make the trip, you'll just have to trust me when I say it's beautiful. 

After the 45 minute inside tour was over, we trekked back downstairs and through two gift shops before being deposited on the side of the large building.  Now there are several ways down the hill...the bus (quickest way), a wide walking path (easiest, shortest walk down) or the scenic, longer way down (45 minutes). A, B & I took the long way down...past beautiful tall trees, mossy rocks, a roaring stream cascading over rocks.  The shaded walk provided a serene break from the hustle and bustle of people and city we'd been immersed in for almost a week.

Here are a few pictures from our visit...

Exterior Door...I loved the Cross

Door Decorations

Side Tower of the Castle

View of Neushweinschtein from the Bridge

View from Inside the Castle...yes, you can take pictures out the window, just not of the windows.

Part of the walk down the hill

The water was beautiful

Little lens action added color to this shot, but still beautiful.

A beautiful, relaxing walk down to the village.

So with an item marked off the To Do list, we headed back to Munich.  In a couple of hours, we were back to the station, back to the hotel, and headed to the Hofbrauhaus to get back to beer drinking.

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...

Dressing the Part...Dirndl Shopping in Munich

Now in my mind, no trip to Oktoberfest would be complete without having a dirndl to wear to the festivities.  The Broads were on board with getting one too, so before we could go to Oktoberfest, we first had to go dirndl shopping! 

What's a dirndl you ask? 

In the 19th century, dirndls were worn by Austrian or Bavarian servants and the working women of the region.  In the 1870's, the upper classes adopted the dirndl as high fashion and today's styles vary from simple to exquisitely crafted dresses made of expensive materials.  The dirndl is mostly worn in Austria and Bavaria (Southern Germany) and is used as an everyday dress primarily by older women in rural areas.  Other women wear it at formal occasions and during traditional events. The dirndl consists of a bodice, blouse, full skirt and apron.  In Southern German dialects, Dirndl originally referred to a young woman or girl and Dirndlgewand to the dress.  However, today, Dirndl may refer either to a young woman or the dress.

On our second day in Munich, the broads and my cousin headed out to find the perfect dirndl!  My first impression of dirndl shopping was a quaint little shop with Bavarian decor and old German ladies as the shopkeeper.  While there were a few shops a little more "German" than others, we found most of the dirndls in German department stores.  So we headed up the escalator at the Galleria department store to see what options were available.  It took a little work to figure out what sizes we needed as German sizes are numbered differently, but once we solved that, we were good to go.  Many stores later, we all found great dirndls!  

The shopping was not without folly!  Dirndl blouses are half shirts which make it a challenge to get on and off.  Many of the dresses have side zippers and B found out first hand that there are dangers in side zippers.  My cousin was helping B into her dirndl and zipped her side up...ouch!! While it wasn't funny, especially in that hot dressing room, we couldn't help but laugh.  Sorry B!  

After many hours of shopping, looking, trying on, we made our purchases and were ready to hit Oktoberfest in style!  I was also excited to have my very own German dirndl to wear not only in Munich but in the coming months at Wurstfest in New Braunfels. 

Until then, happy travels and many laughs...