VIP Visitors Via Vegas - Fri., May 9

On Thursday Bob picked up his mom, Louise, and sister, Laura, from San Antonio International Airport. Their flight from Las Vegas was relatively smooth. A tail-wind must have pushed them all the way to San Antonio because their flight arrived ten minutes early.

Meanwhile, FedEX came to the office. I saw a 1-800-Flowers box and looked to see who it was for. It was for me!! I opened the box and found two dozen long-stemmed roses in assorted colors: lavender, peach, pink, yellow, white. There was no note in the box. I called Bob and said, "Are you my secret pal?" I figured they must be for Mother's Day: one dozen for me and one dozen for Bob's mom. Bob confirmed my suspicions.

Tour guide Bob drove Louise and Laura around San Antonio and took them past Mission San Jose, the Acequia (aqueduct), and Mission Espada. Now Louise and Laura have an idea where they will go for a more in-depth visit.

I was working in the RV park office. Our VIPs are staying in the cottage on the RV park grounds. Bob brought them to check in. They were checked in and given keys. They were able to settle in and take a nap. A little later Laura ran out to buy supplies at Walmart. Bob and I went to dinner at Johnny Carino's.

This morning (Friday) Bob and I headed to our respective jobs. Laura and Louise borrowed my Escape pod to tour Mission San Jose and Mission Espada. They had a wonderful morning at Mission San Jose, part of the National Park Service. From the movie to their walk around the mission grounds, they learned a lot. Laura was especially impressed by the mill behind the mission. A park ranger on duty explained how the mill worked.

Mission Espada was their next destination. Mission Espada is the least restored of the three missions in San Antonio. Some restoration work is being done on the chapel. Bob mentioned to them to check out the small museum on the grounds, which they did.

As soon as Laura and Louise finished their morning explorations, they came back to the Rv park. took a few minutes to refresh themselves, then went across the street to catch the city bus into downtown. Next stop: The Alamo. Mother Nature reduced their plans to Jell-o. As soon as they crossed the street to the bus stop, big dark clouds moved in with thunder, lightening and wind. We checked the weather radar and a big storm was passing directly over us.

I went outside to wave them back into the building. Lightening was flashing, rain was starting to come down. They sat at the bus stop and waved back at me. So I insistently waved them back to the safety of the RV park office. As they were crossing the street, the raindrops got bigger. When they got back in the building, the storm let loose and dumped rain. We had waterfalls coming off the roof. It was way to wet for them to walk back to the cottage, so they stayed in the game room next to the office, played air hockey, and checked out the lending library.

About 45 minutes later, the clouds were gone and they headed downtown by bus. They spent the afternoon walking the Riverwalk and shopping at La Villita.

When Bob and I were off work, we drove downtown and met them for dinner. We walked a little and chose to eat dinner at Casa Rio, a historic Mexican restaurant on the Riverwalk. The food and service were very good.

Casa Rio (we ate inside)

Riverboat dinner cruise setting up.

Louise, Laura, Bob

One of many stairways on the Riverwalk

Casa Rio behind bridge.

After dinner we went to the IMAX theater to see a one-hour movie on The Alamo. Bob and Louise didn't like the movie. I thought it was too loud and too violent.

From the movie, we shopped a little then walked back to the car. Thankfully, we did not have any more rain.  A horse-drawn carriage drove by.

Horse-drawn carriage

Our evening in San Antonio came to a close. We headed back to the RV park so we can sleep before our long sightseeing day tomorrow.

Thank you, Bob, for my anniversary present. Our 24th wedding anniversary is Monday, but we have actually been together 31 years. He gave me a Hank Rearden steel bracelet. Ayn Rand's book "Atlas Shrugged" was instrumental in our meeting. 31 years ago Bob ran an ad in the newspaper personal section which said, "Hank Rearden type seeks Dagny Taggart type to help find Atlantis." In the book "Atlas Shrugged" Hank Rearden owns a steel company. He makes a steel bracelet which eventually ends up on Dagny's wrist. The bracelet has a lot of meaning to us. It is a very appropriate anniversary present.

Rearden Steel bracelet.

Travel Bug out.

Atlas Shrugged, Part 2 -- Sat., Oct. 13

This morning Bob went on a 16-mile walk in his quest to be ready for the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 9. The trail he checked out today was the South Salado Creek Trail. He said there are a lot of parks along the trail.

When he got back we headed out to see "Atlas Shrugged, Part II." For those of you who don't know, Bob and I met through a personal ad in a Portland newspaper. His ad used characters from the novel. I was reading the novel for the second time when I saw and answered his ad.

While we enjoyed the two movies, they can't compare to the novel which is over 1,000 pages. If you haven't read the novel, you may pick up on what the movies are about, but you would understand it much better if you read the book. We also do not care for some of the actors portraying characters in the novel. Overall, I'd give it a C. It's like a shorthand or Reader's Digest version of the novel.

Other than that, it's been a quiet day.

Bob is watching Timberwolves basketball because the team has players and a coach who he used to enjoy watching in Oregon. Now he's watching them from our 5er in Texas.

On Tuesday, I have an appointment with a D.D.S. to talk about the plan for my teeth once the wires and bands come out. 

Short, compact blog today written by a tall, not compact blogger.

Travel Bug out.

Us, Story of

Kerrville, Texas:

This is the story of us--Bob and Susan.

The Willamette Week ad read, "Hank Rearden type seeks Dagny Taggart type to help find Atlantis." The author is Ayn Rand and the book "Atlas Shrugged."

I was married twice before, had a baby from my second marriage, and swore off men after my second divorce. Swearing off men lasted about 18 months. It was time to date again. Bars were no use, I didn't want to marry a cheater or drinker. 

Plan B: local newspaper personal ads (this was before the internet). I don't know why I didn't think I'd find cheaters or drinkers in newspaper ads as opposed to bars. My success was much greater. I met super nice guys but didn't hit it off with any of them. They would make good friends, but I wanted a deeper relationship.

Until, that is, I saw Bob's ad (above). I thought, "HE sounds like the man I'm looking for." At the time, I was reading "Atlas Shrugged" for the second time. I sent off a letter in response to the ad. He called me a few days later. Our phone conversation went like this:

"Hi, I'm Bob. You responded to my ad in Willamette Week. Tell me more about yourself."

I responded by telling him I'm an independent thinker, a rebel, a mother who works full time, who enjoys dancing, hiking, playing cards, reading, photography.

He then brought out his list of interview questions:

• What kind of music do you like? 
• Who are your favorite bands? 
• What movies do you like? 
• What kind of food do you like? 
• What kind of work do you do?
• What are your favorite books?

After I answered all his inquiries, he said, "I'd like to take you out."

I said, "Hey, wait a minute! I don't know anything about you," and proceeded to ask him questions about himself. He was an accountant, had a son, was divorced. We enjoyed dancing, the same music and books, but his movie-going interest wasn't as strong as mine.

He invited me to dinner and because I felt so good about him, he was the only guy I let pick me up at my apartment. (Other guys had to meet me in a public place like a restaurant.)

My apartment was ground level with a parking spot in front of my door. I had a security peak hole in my door. When Bob came to pick me up, I watched him get out of his car through the peak hole in the door. Handsome!! When he knocked at the door, I threw it open and enthusiastically said, "Hi!" 

We went to a Mexican restaurant and hit it off immediately. I couldn't believe he knew the name of my perfume as it was his favorite. He also loved the blue sundress I was wearing. He thought I was pretty good looking. We jabbered on at dinner, enjoying our conversation.

After dinner we went dancing at a rock 'n' roll club. Very fun!

One week later he moved in with me; one month later we bought a house together. He did not want to get married again, I did. I say I had the last laugh at that time because our house mortgage was 30 years...many people don't stay married that long. 

Seven years later in front of families, co-workers and friends, we married in a small ceremony. (I'm a patient woman. LOL.) At our reception, we had a TV and chairs set up to watch the Portland Trailblazers in a play-off game. Yes, Bob is an avid basketball fan.

Bob and I each have one son from a previous marriage who are four years apart. Our blended family worked well most of the time and had the usual child-rearing controversies, but overall everyone seems to have turned out well.

Flash forward 29 years. Bob and I are more in love now than we were then (even living in our 5th wheel trailer -- about 320 sf).

Now you're up-to-date and Bob is unwinding in the easy chair.