Money Monster Movie - Tues., June 14, 2016

Tuesday was a relaxing day. We made egg salad lettuce wraps for lunch, then decided to see "Money Monster" in the early afternoon.

In this movie, George Clooney plays a TV investment advisor and gives his top picks for people to invest their money. He's cheesy and uses a lot of frippery in his show. Julia Roberts plays his TV production manager, coaching him through his earpiece about what to do or what's happening behind the scenes.

On this particular day, Julia Roberts sees what looks like a delivery man skulking in the shadows in the back of the set. She tries to see who he is and what he wants, when all of a sudden, he comes on set and pulls a gun on George Clooney, who apparently had given investment advice that this guy followed, only to lose $60,000.

Now the assailant wants his money back and he wants to be live on the air until his demands are met. He tells George Clooney to pick out one of the boxes that he had put on the floor of the set. George opens it and finds an explosive vest, which crazy guy orders him to put on, continuing to wave the gun around, and firing random shots into the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Julia Roberts, is on her headset ordering all the TV station employees out of the building, except the people who have live cameras trained on this lunatic who is now demanding $8 million. What follows is a very edge-of-your-seat thriller. Both mom and I enjoyed it very much. We recommend it to you too.

Later, at home, my sister came over and we planned to meet our friend, Kimmie, and have dinner at a vegetarian restaurant. We waiting at the house, because we thought Kimmie was going to meet us and we'd all drive to the restaurant together. About 5 p.m., Mom received a phone call from Kimmie asking us where we were, because we were supposed to meet her at the restaurant. Oops. We hurriedly got our purses and headed over to meet her.

The restaurant was in Bridgeport Village and was called Native Foods Cafe. I tried the Thai Meatballs which are made with seitan. I had no idea what seitan was, but my meal was excellent: Thai (seitan) meatballs served with warm kale and quinoa with a great spicy Thai sauce. I also had some sweet potato fries. My meal was filling; I couldn't finish it all. Tonight I finally looked up seitan to see what I had eaten. Seitan is also called "wheat meat," "wheat protein," "wheat gluten," or simply "gluten." If I had known that I probably would have ordered something else because Bob and I really trying to stay away from gluten. At least it was a very good dish and I enjoyed it.

Thai meatballs with kale, broccoli,
red peppers and quinoa

Mom, me, Kimmie and Jan

Orange coneflowers (Rudbeckia)

Another nice day today and no rain to speak of.

The City of Boerne, Texas - Sunday, May 31

Today we opted to do the Boerne city walk, thinking we wouldn't go anywhere near low spots where water might be high from all the rain. The day was overcast, but not much threat of rain. (I brought my umbrella, just in case.)

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church

It was Sunday morning and our route took us through the parking lot of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Early service was letting out and we dodged cars in the lot. From the church, we took off into a neighborhood, then onto Main St. We saw some pretty flowers and interesting shops. None of the shops were open because it was about 9:45 on Sunday.

The following flowers were on a big bush (or small tree - it had a trunk). They are not hibiscus, but look similar.

Not hibiscus. Anyone know what this is?

I want to go back when this store is open!

Main Street, Boerne, Texas

Ye Kendall Inn looks like a nice place to stay

Sugar Belle's - mmmmmm.

Haven't been to Soda Pops Sugar Shack.

After we walked in the old part of downtown, we headed east into more neighborhoods. That's when we came upon a low-water crossing in the road with about 2-3" of water in it. Susan and I high-stepped through it and got our shoes and socks (and feet) wet. Darren and Bob detoured one street over and took a bridge across. Smart guys. LOL.

Mexican hat (Ratibida columnaris)

Old-fashioned European motorbike

Cibolo Creek was flowing high and fast. We've been here many times when very little water is spilling over this little dam. Today it was roaring through and making foam around the trees on the downriver side of the dam.

Boerne Dam on Cibolo Creek

Darren standing next to debris deposited by flood water.

Boerne Dam. (See the foam under the tree -
upper left?)

This water does not normally flow on the right side!

You can see water does not normally flow on this side
of the fence.

Boerne has beautiful art galleries with lovely sculptures.

Prickly pear - larger than life.

Anyone know what this flower is?

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpura)

Army officer by the U.S. Army memorial

After the Veterans Park memorials, we headed back to our start point at the Boerne Comfort Inn. From there it was a short drive to Taco Cabana for lunch.

After lunch Susan and Darrin had a prior commitment, so Bob and I went to see "Tomorrowland," George Clooney's newest movie.

Both of us liked "Tomorrowland." It takes place in the future and imagines a world that is rich in invention and creativity. Somewhere along the line things go awry in Tomorrowland and a teen-aged girl visits George Clooney to find answers about a pin that, when she touches it, transports her to a futuristic society.

Some very evil people come calling, intent upon killing George and the teen-ager. They're not from the government and they're not there to help. The movie has an interesting concept and I didn't fall asleep in it. I give it a B.

Another good day in San Antonio. Travel Bug out.

Hair and Gravity - Wed., Nov. 13

On the way to the hairdresser, I stopped to do a (3.1 mile) Volksmarch at Lady Bird Park's Salado Creek Greenway Trail. It was an out-and-back walk to Tobin Park, through Los Patios shopping/dining area.

Salado Creek Greenway Trail

Today's walk was not pleasant. Trust me when I say, "You do not want to see the following signage along your path":

Stay Away! Raw sewage on ground...

This was one stinky walk! Apparently there was a problem with the sewer line along the creek. A work crew was trying to find the problem. I walked fast today and finished my 3.1 mile walk in one hour.

Seed pods in a tree.

Nice shadows.

Selfie.

Remember the floods San Antonio had on Memorial Day weekend? This creek flooded and you can see where debris was deposited in a tree 7' above the ground.

As soon as the walk was over, I headed to the hairdresser for some highlights and a haircut. Kim at Visions for Hair takes such good care of my hair. Thanks to Peri for recommending her.

When my hair was done, I hustled over to meet Bob at a credit union where we set up an account at a Texas bank. Our bank, U.S. Bank, is not in Texas. I may have mentioned that in a previous blog. Why U.S. Bank isn't in Texas is a mystery to me.

From there, I zipped over to Cinema Ridge for the 4:30 showing of "Gravity 3D." I agree with Catherine and JoBeth that 3D was not really needed to watch this movie. The movie was very intense with great views of the earth from space. The intensity of the predicament Sandra Bullock and George Clooney's characters find themselves in draws you right into their space adventure. Sandra Bullock did a good job expressing emotions for the problems her character encountered. Definitely academy award acting.

And that's how I spent my four days off this week. Travel Bug out.

Argo -- Sun., Oct. 14

A+, 5 stars--you can't get much better than that. Bob and I love the movie, "Argo." For those of you not familiar with the true story, this took place in Iran in 1979 at the time of the Iran Hostage Crisis. The American Embassy was stormed and hostages taken. Six American foreign service workers escaped and made their way to the residence of the Canadian ambassador and his wife. 

This movie is based on the true story about how the CIA worked to get them out through cooperation with the Canadian government.

A top-notch thriller is how I would describe this. We were on the edge of our seats through the whole movie! The story-telling is tight, the acting is phenomenal, there's humor, and actual footage of news from the time. Some of those news anchors were so young then.

Bravo to Ben Affleck for directing and George Clooney for producing this blockbuster. 

We recommend you go see it. Four thumbs up from Bob and Susan.

What are you doing still reading this? Go already! Let us know what you think.

Travel Bug out.