Yes to Yes - Saturday, November 12, 2016

Last week I planned to "kidnap" Bob on Saturday night. When we write "kidnap" on the calendar, it means one of us planned an event and we hope we can surprise the other person with it. 

Bob was guessing all kinds of places he thought I was taking him. I thought I was going to be able to surprise him. 

On Saturday, he came into the office while I was working and said, "Might tonight's kidnap have something to do with the Majestic Theatre?" 

"Probably," I replied. 

How did he figure that out? He looked like the cat that ate the canary. He was so proud of himself. While he was out on his 20-mile marathon-training run, they ran past the Majestic Theatre where the marquee stated, "ARW* - An Evening of Yes Music," or something to that effect. A light bulb went off and he wondered if that might be where I was taking him. And it was. [*ARW = Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman (the powerhouses of the prog rock band "Yes" over the years).]

After work, I changed clothes and we caught the bus downtown. We arrived a block from the theater at 7:10 pm and the concert started at the Majestic Theatre at 8:00 pm. We had time for a quick dinner at Subway, then made our way to the theater.

Stage at Majestic before show

Last weekend, I bought a new Samsung Galaxy 7 phone. Tonight I took gorgeous photos with it, but I can't get them to send to my computer. Very frustrated. Bob took the photo above with his phone and he was able to send it immediately to my email. Whenever I figure out how to get my photos to email, I will post them.

The concert started about 8:25 pm and went strong until 10:20 pm. How can I describe the the wondrous music we heard? The music they create produces waterfalls of notes, rich tapestries of sound that have the smoothness of Rick Wakeman's velvet capes with the sparkling attributes of the sequins on his cape. Then in another song, there's dissonance and complexity. 

What is amazing to us is Rick Wakeman's mastery of the keyboards. I counted five or six keyboards, and he could play two of them at once. It's no wonder he wears capes; he is a wizard of the keyboards! 

Our ears, mind and spirit were filled with years' worth of Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman music. Yes was originally formed in 1968. Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman are the heart and soul of the band "Yes." However, they cannot use the name "Yes" because there is currently a band touring with the rights to use that name; so they are now ARW.

Songs they played included: 

• Hold On
• I've Seen All Good People
• Rhythm of Love
• Roundabout
• Long Distance Runaround
• Perpetual Change
• Owner of a Lonely Heart

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening out. There was a glitch at the end of the evening, however. 

When it was time to catch the late bus back to the RV park, the 10:30 pm and the 11:30 pm bus did not come by. We were tired, it was late. I finally asked another bus driver what happened to our bus. He said I needed to talk to the Transit Supervisor in the lime green jacket. I walked over to the corner. The Transit Supervisor said, "The 42 late bus does not stop there anymore. You must not have ridden the late bus for three months." (That's true, we hadn't.)

The late bus stop for our route was moved to a different street 1-1/2 blocks from where we had been waiting. Man, that was a bummer. The next bus wouldn't be until 12:30 am. and we weren't waiting around any longer. We called Yellow Cab and they had us home by midnight...at a cost of $15. Now we know where to catch the late bus. 

Travel Bug out.

Amusements - Monday, Sept. 5, 2016

Day 3 of our Staycation: Bob went on five-mile marathon training run by himself. I slept in. When he got home we drove to the Shops at River Center in downtown San Antonio for lunch at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

Tiki Bar - "It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

While we enjoyed the music and the ambiance, my taco salad sucked. First, it didn't come in the usual taco shell bowl; instead there were four pieces of crunchy something or other laid on top of lettuce. It was basically head lettuce with "volcano" chili on top of it. The lime crema dressing was terrible in combination with the chili. I would not ever order the taco salad there again. I asked for honey mustard dressing to try to improve the salad. It went well with the salad and covered up the weird flavor of the chili. Bob's Cheeseburger in Paradise was very good. He substituted ground turkey for the ground beef. Moral of the story: Order a burger if we go to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville again.

A few weeks ago, Bob and I went to Dave and Buster's at Wonderland/Crossroads Mall where we played the H2Overdrive boat racing arcade game. It was so much fun we wanted to do it again. At work, I found some coupons in our brochure rack to buy one $20 Dave and Buster's game play card and get a second $20 game play card free.

There is a brand new Dave and Buster's in the Shops at River Center downtown, so we headed there and bought two $20 game play cards and got two free. We then went inside to play our favorite arcade game only to find they didn't have that game. We left without using our cards.

We made a detour back to the RV park so I could print a confirmation for my Six Flags Fiesta Texas 2017 Season Pass. We had to take the voucher to Six Flags to pick up the Season Pass Card.

The Dave and Buster's at Wonderland Mall is on the way to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, so we stopped there for about an hour and played H2Overdrive and Dirty Drivin' arcade games. Bob played Galaga too. We also used some of our game play on a motion simulator ride which was kind of fun.

From Dave and Buster's we headed to Six Flags. I hadn't ordered a Season Pass for Bob because he's not that into amusement parks. My friend Susan and I were going to go together. However, when we got to the park, Bob wondered why I hadn't ordered a Season Pass for him. We parked the car in a 30-minute parking area, not knowing how long picking up our pass was going to take.

Because we needed to buy a pass for Bob, we stood in a 15-minute-long line. While we waited in line, we decided to buy the Dining Package for both of us as well. I should mention that Six Flags was having a 70% off Season Pass Flash Sale during Labor Day weekend. The Season Pass (which is good from the day you buy it until the end of 2017) cost $63.99 per person and includes unlimited admission to all Six Flags amusement parks, parking, special events, and a certain number of "bring a friend free" days each year. The Dining Package is $69.99 per person and includes lunch, dinner and a snack EVERY time you visit a park.

Once our passes were bought, we had to go to the admission gate to pick up our cards and put in our fingerprint which is how you get into a park now...put your finger on a scanner. From there, I had to go to Season Pass Guest Services building inside the park to have my Dining Package added onto my Season Pass. Why they couldn't do that where they were selling tickets was beyond me.

In the meantime, our 30-minute parking time ran out so Bob literally ran out to short-term parking and moved the car to a new spot then came back in the park to meet me at Season Pass Guest Services. We thought about having dinner in the park but knew we couldn't eat and get back to the car in less than 30 minutes.

From Six Flags, Bob took me to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort to show me around: that's where his accounting convention was earlier this year. It's a beautiful place with convention center, seven restaurants, a lazy river, waterslides, golf course and beautifully landscaped grounds. We walked around for about a half hour, then headed home.

Hill Country Marriott

Lazy River/pool area

Pool

Beautiful landscaping

The glass art in the Marriott Convention Center ceiling looks like Chihuly, but I can't confirm it.

Beautiful glass art

Fanciful glass art

We thought about going to dinner after exploring, but we had German rye bread at home and cheddar and pepperjack cheeses. I made grilled cheese sandwiches and steamed asparagus. We sat down just in time to watch American Ninja Warrior and then Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Another wonderful staycation day.

Thank you, again, Bob for all the fun stuff we did this weekend. I love you.

Staycation - Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

After working a 40-hour week, at the end of the day Saturday I was ready for a long weekend. Bob and I planned a "stay"cation, deciding to stay in San Antonio for the weekend. No long drives in traffic for us.

Bob stayed home on Saturday and didn't work (which is a headline in its own right). He ran, did a few chores, but mostly relaxed and watched football. At about 6 p.m., he came to the office and walked me home from work.

I had a chance to change out of my work uniform shirt before he kidnapped me to dinner. I had no idea where we were going. We ended up at the Bavarian Restaurant on the east side of San Antonio in an industrial area. I had absolutely no idea this restaurant existed so it was a big surprise.

Bavarian Restaurant

It's a very cute place and popular with groups. We were lucky and arrived before two large groups were seated.

As we were sitting at our table talking, someone from the next table says, "Hey, Bob!" It's Maureen who used to work for Bob at MPS Construction. She, her husband Gary, sister and brother-in-law were all there. Not only that, but her mom works as a waitress at the restaurant, so we met her mom too. Small world.

Bob and I enjoyed our German dinners. Bob had the Chicken Schnitzel special and I had the Chicken Sausage Special. We both chose red cabbage and German potato salad as our sides. We shared an apple strudel with ice cream for dessert. We had a very nice dinner.

Me and Bob

Restaurant decor

Steins and other German memorabilia

Pewter cups and pitcher

Bob by the cuckoo clock

Me taking a cuckoo photo

After dinner, as we were driving home, we were treated to a spectacular cloud display.

The sun was setting but still behind the cloud

 

After some time relaxing at home after dinner, Bob and I went out rock 'n' roll dancing to one of our favorite bands, Arrowhead. We were at the Tonic Bar from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The band puts on a really good show, but at the bar be went to, no one dances except us (and a couple of girls near the stage on one or two numbers). It's really a weird vibe in that place, not our favorite.

Then we came home and got some much-needed sleep.

Travelers World Western Dance - Sat., Jan. 30, 2016

After working four ten-hour days, I'm usually pretty wiped out and just want to hibernate at home on Saturday night. However, tonight's Western Dance sounds pretty good. We made our way over to the Rec Hall and enjoyed an evening of dancing and socializing.

The dance floor filled with two-steppers

Line dancing is always popular

Felix

Winner of Super Bowl "Best Seat in the House" raffle

Karen, Skip, Mary

One thing about Travelers World Winter Texans (AKA snow birds): They know how to have a grand time. We enjoyed our Western date night.

We didn't stay very late because Susan M. and I have to get up early for a Volksmarch at the Tanger Outlet Stores in San Marcos. We also plan to go to the Snake Farm and Zoo after we walk.

Travel Bug out.

Volksmarch - Mission Espada: 1731-1824 - Monday, Jan. 18, 2016

Time to play catch up in blog land. I have been neglectful in writing for a few months. So here goes...

The Mission Reach of the River Walk in San Antonio has three different Volksmarches: two of which start at Mission San Jose. Today we chose to do the walk from Mission San Juan to Mission Espada, the southernmost of San Antonio's five missions. The walk starts out at Mission San Juan so we drive to the start point.

We walk the grounds and walk the Yanaguana Trail behind the mission. Along the trail, we see a portion of the San Antonio River as it looked when the Native Americans lived there. It is much more overgrown and smaller than the tamed portion of the River Walk in its current configuration.

We continue from Mission San Juan to the historic acequia (aqueduct system) Indians used to irrigate crops grown for missions. The old rock work of the acequia is still in pretty good shape.

As we walk along the river, we can be assured we will see bird life in abundance. Today was no exception.

Neotropic cormorants

Great white egret

Snowy egret

Great blue heron

Two osprey fishing

As we head south to Mission Espada, we go under I-410 on the bike path. Just before Mission Espada there is an area of historic markers explaining mission life and Spanish ranching.

 

We also passed a rack of B-cycles, rental bicycles you can ride all over the city and return at any of the other B-cycle racks.

B-cycle rental bikes

Mission Espada is the least restored of the five missions. There are partial walls around the outside edge of where the mission stood. The chapel is the nicest part of this mission. The front entryway has a unique keyhole door, unlike any of the other missions in this area.

Mission Espada Chapel

Keyhole door on the chapel

When we finished looking around Mission Espada, we hoofed it back to our cars, hoping to catch a movie. We were running late. 

When we got to the theater, there was a long line and we said, "Enough." We went to the Mexican restaurant near the theater and had breakfast. Inside the restaurant was an awesome, colorful mural. It's one of the prettiest I've seen.

 

After lunch we each headed home and decided to see the movie another day. It was a gorgeous south Texas day, not a cloud in the sky. 

Travel Bug out.

Drag Me Kicking and Screaming - Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

I'm catching up on blogs from November.

Sunday, November 22: Our dear friends Jim and Peri returned from being away all summer and were staying at Canyon Lake. When they're in town, we love getting together over a meal or playing games. Because they were a ways out from San Antonio, we met for a late lunch at Cheddar's on the north side of San Antonio. When we got to the restaurant we texted to let them know we were there and where we were sitting. About one minute later, Jim and Peri popped around the corner. They had already been seated too. We consolidated tables and ordered our lunch.

Jim and Peri at Cheddar's restaurant

Jim and Peri volunteered at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival this year. They took some amazing photos and shared them with us. Plus they entertained us with stories about what they did as volunteers. We received a stunning 2016 Albuquerque Balloon Festival calendar from them. Wow. Thank you so much, Jim and Peri! For the next month or so, they will be spending time with their kids and grandkids in the Austin/San Antonio area.

Monday, November 23: My friend, Susan M., wanted to hike at Friedrich Wilderness Park to make sure the Volksmarch directions were correct and easy to follow. When I left the house, I had my mind made up that I only wanted to do the 5k (3.1 mi.) walk. When we met at the parking lot, she got out of the car and said, "Do you want to do the 10k or 12k walk?" I told her I wanted to do only a 5k walk. She wouldn't be dissuaded so I chose the 10k walk (the more difficult walk) which is shorter. I like the challenge of the hills on the 10k walk. She practically had to drag me, kicking and screaming, on the longer hike.

 

Friedrich Wilderness Park trails

Our weather was beautiful but a little chilly. We started the walk with our windbreakers on, but soon cinched them around our waists. It's the end of November and some wildflowers are still blooming. These are black-foot daisies.

Black-foot daisies (Melampodium leucanthum)

Challenging is the best word to describe the upper portion of our hike. The trails we were on had rocky shelves, roots, and steep, rocky grades that are probably waterfalls when  there's a monsoon-like rain event. Hiking boots, hiking poles, water, and even a snack are worth taking on this hike.

We hiked up, down and along rocky shelves like this one.

One of my favorite parts of the trail -
love the dappled sunlight!

By the time we finished our hike, we were famished. For lunch we chose Islamorada Fish Company inside the Bass Pro Shops. When you walk in, you immediately see a huge aquarium loaded with tropical fish. Snorkeling in Hawaii pops into my head.

Both of us chose fish tacos for lunch; and no, they don't serve fish from the aquarium for lunch! Our fish tacos were delectable. For dessert we split their decadent chocolate cake with fudge frosting. Yummy stuff!

After lunch we headed for our respective homes. Costco was on my way home, so I stopped, shopped, and gassed up the car.

Thursday, November 26:  Susan invited us to their house for Thanksgiving. Her husband Darren is in California building an ultra-lite experimental aircraft, so it was Susan, their son Kyle, Bob and I.

Bob and Kyle on turkey carving duty.

Our feast

Fruit plate, rolls and wine

Susan M. cleaning up

We are thankful for our great friends who are family to us. Thank you for having us to your home for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

The fur kids send their greetings...

Bowie and Sunnie

Bowie and Sunnie (cat condo)

Bowie at home in a box

Bowie the box cat

 Travel Bug out.