Thanksgiving has come and gone. Five days in a row of football sure is good for you. This Thanksgiving Alexis and I headed down Friendswood way to spend the holiday with her parents. We left on Wednesday and after five hours of driving, we arrived. That night we decided to go out to a bar with her little sister since she just turned 21, and my favorite cover band of all-time was playing, Strippers Lie. We had a good time. Thursday brought two things; good food, and the first of five days in a row of football. Dinner was great. It featured the Turkey Day staple, turkey. We also had broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, jell-o salad, stuffing balls, mashed potatoes, and other stuff that I can't remember.
For some reason Alexis, her mom and sister went shopping on Friday. I don't know why it's called Black Friday, I think Red Friday is more appropriate since many shoppers may plummet further and further into debt all in the name of 'saving money'. I don't get it. They were gone for the better part of the day, having a girl's day. Sonny and I watched football, then I went to my parents house to watch football. That evening the girl's got home around 6:30 after being gone for hours, all was well though. They returned bearing gifts and pizza.
Saturday night Alexis and I spent the evening with my parents. They treated us to a great dinner at Pappa's Seafood House. The weekend was nice and relaxing, a good way to spend the Holidays.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Alexis' New Car
Earlier this week Alexis got a new car. Her very first brand new car. It is a Nissan Murano. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Murano it is Nissan's Crossover SUV. Which means its an SUV on a car chassis basically. It is black with a black leather interior. Its got good pick up and lots of room in the front and in the back. We will take pictures of it and post them. Which may mean we will take pictures and never post them. That seems to be what we do most of the time when we promise pictures. Anyway, new car, she loves it, that makes me happy.
She will be taking it down to San Antonio for the weekend. She is meeting her friend Jayne, I think she will run into her dad there too. That means its just Ace and me this weekend. Our food groups will be condensed into one easy to remember category, pizza. More on this weekend to come.
Football Rant
This Saturday is the last regular season game for Red Raider. They will be hosting Sooner in Lubbock. I am excited about a few of the game details. The game is the prime-time nationally televised game on ABC. Kick-off is at 7:12 (that's 8:12 for any Yankees that may stumble onto this). It may be a blow out, Tech does not like to play defense and Sooner is really good anyway. Sooner is a ten point favorite. Please note that the colors of this blog will shortly change as football season comes to an end.
This weekend also marks the first time that Diana's Alma Mater has faced off against my Alma Mater. That's right, Lumberjack vs. Red Raider in Lubbock. The two teams have a basketball game Saturday morning. While no official bragging rights are on the line, like when Aggie plays Red Raider in football between Daryl and me, I will rub it in if Tech wins.
She will be taking it down to San Antonio for the weekend. She is meeting her friend Jayne, I think she will run into her dad there too. That means its just Ace and me this weekend. Our food groups will be condensed into one easy to remember category, pizza. More on this weekend to come.
Football Rant
This Saturday is the last regular season game for Red Raider. They will be hosting Sooner in Lubbock. I am excited about a few of the game details. The game is the prime-time nationally televised game on ABC. Kick-off is at 7:12 (that's 8:12 for any Yankees that may stumble onto this). It may be a blow out, Tech does not like to play defense and Sooner is really good anyway. Sooner is a ten point favorite. Please note that the colors of this blog will shortly change as football season comes to an end.
This weekend also marks the first time that Diana's Alma Mater has faced off against my Alma Mater. That's right, Lumberjack vs. Red Raider in Lubbock. The two teams have a basketball game Saturday morning. While no official bragging rights are on the line, like when Aggie plays Red Raider in football between Daryl and me, I will rub it in if Tech wins.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Brett Won Season Tickets to the Rangers?!
Yes, I won season tickets to the Texas Rangers. I won them through a radio contest where you call in once every hour and offer something to trade for the tickets. At the end of the day the radio guys decide who had the best stuff to trade for. Well they picked me. So I won two season tickets for the Rangers' '08 season and a parking pass for all 81 home games. Sounds great doesn't it?
Well what I offered to trade was the catch. I offered Alexis' car. I wasn't sure on the value of the car so I thought it might be a good trade plus we are thinking about buying Alexis a new one. But I did not run this by her before I offered it up. When she got home I told her was was going on and she kind of laughed, but after a little convincing she was behind the whole thing. A little nervous, but behind it. We found out at 5:30 that I had won, and the tickets were ours. That night we went car shopping because we had to give them the car by the 9th of this month. Everything seemed to be in order.
Then we were able to sleep on it. And isn't it funny how choices that seem good at first only need a few hours of sleep to not be nearly as good. When I got to work the next morning, I looked to see where the seats were, they weren't great. I knew how much the value of the tickets was so I looked up the value of her car to compare. I thought her car would be worth more, but not much more. As it turns out her car was worth 2 or 3 times more than the tickets. Good thing I checked. I called Alexis at school and told her that we weren't going to keep the tickets, I got no complaints from her.
Anyway I called the station and I am no longer a Rangers season ticket holder. So close, but no. Weird story, huh?
One last thing. We will put up our Halloween pictures sometime this weekend, and some pictures of what Ace does when we aren't home.
Well what I offered to trade was the catch. I offered Alexis' car. I wasn't sure on the value of the car so I thought it might be a good trade plus we are thinking about buying Alexis a new one. But I did not run this by her before I offered it up. When she got home I told her was was going on and she kind of laughed, but after a little convincing she was behind the whole thing. A little nervous, but behind it. We found out at 5:30 that I had won, and the tickets were ours. That night we went car shopping because we had to give them the car by the 9th of this month. Everything seemed to be in order.
Then we were able to sleep on it. And isn't it funny how choices that seem good at first only need a few hours of sleep to not be nearly as good. When I got to work the next morning, I looked to see where the seats were, they weren't great. I knew how much the value of the tickets was so I looked up the value of her car to compare. I thought her car would be worth more, but not much more. As it turns out her car was worth 2 or 3 times more than the tickets. Good thing I checked. I called Alexis at school and told her that we weren't going to keep the tickets, I got no complaints from her.
Anyway I called the station and I am no longer a Rangers season ticket holder. So close, but no. Weird story, huh?
One last thing. We will put up our Halloween pictures sometime this weekend, and some pictures of what Ace does when we aren't home.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Back to the LBK
This past weekend was the first time that I have been back to Texas Tech since I graduated. I went back for the annual beat down of Daryl's Texas A&M Aggies. I will get to the game and all of the festivities later, but first Lubbock.
Things have changed!! Across the street from the university used to be old and run down. It didn't really look great and most of the buildings were vacant. But now, the buildings are new, the businesses will actually make it, and the architecture of the buildings matches that of the university. It's really amazing how much nicer and friendlier it makes the area look. That's not the only new things going on in Lubbock. The city is adding a new highway in and around town, so far there is just construction, but you can see the plans starting to take shape.
As for the university, they are planning on adding onto the football stadium, and they are currently working on a water park that will be near the rec center that includes a lazy river around the intramural fields. That will be really cool.
There are lots of projects going on and the area around the university finally looks nice.
Now for the game. We arrived at the tail-gate around 11 a.m. We were greeted with jalapeno poppers, hot dogs, brats, burgers, and of course the official beverage of Texas Tech, cold beer. The tailgate was great, hundreds of trucks, RVs and grills. Tents were set up with couches and TVs playing various football games going on across the country and dozens of Texas flags, Tech flags and pirate flags. A great atmosphere. People everywhere. One thing I noticed, the student body seems to stay the same age even as I grow older, I may appreciate that more as I get older.
Earlier in the week a frat guy came up with the idea for a t-shirt just for the game against the Aggies. The shirt said Vick'em of the front and had a football player wearing the number 7 hanging Reveille, the Aggies dog mascot. The shirt was discontinued and Tech officials apologized to the A&M officials for the shirt. I was upset about the shirt and thought it was a bad idea at first, but after seeing them, I thought there were hilarious. I only saw a few, and they weren't nearly as bad as the shirt I saw that said "OJ'em" on the front, and had a picture of OJ stabbing the Aggie dog mascot. For the most part the fans were great and the rivalry was great.
I had forgotten how electric the atmosphere is for a Red Raider home game. I guess it was one of the things that I took for granted while I was there. Once I was in the stadium I was taken back to the first time I entered the stadium and how it made me feel. I was in awe. I remembered all the great games, catches, and hits I had seen there. It was great.
We found our seats which were in the shade. There was about a 20 mph wind blowing through the stadium, typical Lubbock. We got the ball to start the game, and we went three and out. Then the Aggies got the ball. They rumbled down the field and scored easily, it looked like it was going to be a long day for us, and it also looked like the Aggie running back who guaranteed a victory for them was going to make good on his promise. However, it was not to be for the Aggies. That was the only time they would score. We dominated the rest of the game. We scored 21 points in the second quarter to go up 21-7 at the half. The Aggies did not even get to our half of the field in the third quarter. They did not even score in the 4th when we had our mop-up defense on the field. We took it to 'em for the final three quarters and left no doubt who was the better team. Not a bad first game back for me to go to at all. The final score was 35-7. After the game we headed back to the tailgate spot for Victory Beers. It was a great win, and a great day. And it will be a great year as I have locked up bragging rights over Daryl...again.
Things have changed!! Across the street from the university used to be old and run down. It didn't really look great and most of the buildings were vacant. But now, the buildings are new, the businesses will actually make it, and the architecture of the buildings matches that of the university. It's really amazing how much nicer and friendlier it makes the area look. That's not the only new things going on in Lubbock. The city is adding a new highway in and around town, so far there is just construction, but you can see the plans starting to take shape.
As for the university, they are planning on adding onto the football stadium, and they are currently working on a water park that will be near the rec center that includes a lazy river around the intramural fields. That will be really cool.
There are lots of projects going on and the area around the university finally looks nice.
Now for the game. We arrived at the tail-gate around 11 a.m. We were greeted with jalapeno poppers, hot dogs, brats, burgers, and of course the official beverage of Texas Tech, cold beer. The tailgate was great, hundreds of trucks, RVs and grills. Tents were set up with couches and TVs playing various football games going on across the country and dozens of Texas flags, Tech flags and pirate flags. A great atmosphere. People everywhere. One thing I noticed, the student body seems to stay the same age even as I grow older, I may appreciate that more as I get older.
Earlier in the week a frat guy came up with the idea for a t-shirt just for the game against the Aggies. The shirt said Vick'em of the front and had a football player wearing the number 7 hanging Reveille, the Aggies dog mascot. The shirt was discontinued and Tech officials apologized to the A&M officials for the shirt. I was upset about the shirt and thought it was a bad idea at first, but after seeing them, I thought there were hilarious. I only saw a few, and they weren't nearly as bad as the shirt I saw that said "OJ'em" on the front, and had a picture of OJ stabbing the Aggie dog mascot. For the most part the fans were great and the rivalry was great.
I had forgotten how electric the atmosphere is for a Red Raider home game. I guess it was one of the things that I took for granted while I was there. Once I was in the stadium I was taken back to the first time I entered the stadium and how it made me feel. I was in awe. I remembered all the great games, catches, and hits I had seen there. It was great.
We found our seats which were in the shade. There was about a 20 mph wind blowing through the stadium, typical Lubbock. We got the ball to start the game, and we went three and out. Then the Aggies got the ball. They rumbled down the field and scored easily, it looked like it was going to be a long day for us, and it also looked like the Aggie running back who guaranteed a victory for them was going to make good on his promise. However, it was not to be for the Aggies. That was the only time they would score. We dominated the rest of the game. We scored 21 points in the second quarter to go up 21-7 at the half. The Aggies did not even get to our half of the field in the third quarter. They did not even score in the 4th when we had our mop-up defense on the field. We took it to 'em for the final three quarters and left no doubt who was the better team. Not a bad first game back for me to go to at all. The final score was 35-7. After the game we headed back to the tailgate spot for Victory Beers. It was a great win, and a great day. And it will be a great year as I have locked up bragging rights over Daryl...again.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The State Fair of Texas
It is that time of year. The weather starts to cool down to 95, and football season is in full swing. Yes it is that time of year. Time for the State Fair of Texas. Alexis and I took our annual trip to the fair last night. Now, I don't know who, if anyone reads my little rants, but this is for those of you who have not had the honor of experiencing the State Fair.
The fair takes place annually at the appropriately named Fair Park. This is the home of the Cotton Bowl and the giant Texas Star Farris wheel (which I won't ride). The "hood" surrounding the fairgrounds could rival any inner-city, poverty stricken, gang infested, graffiti covered ghetto in the country. It seems pretty rough and there is nothing nice around the fairgrounds. It is the type of area that could have really benefited from the economic stimulation brought on by building the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in the area, but Dallas' not-so-much-of-a-thinker mayor decided the new stadium would be a better fit in Arlington, leaving no economic benefit to the city that is associated with America's Team. Anyway, the area around the fair is ghetto.
But once inside the nurturing biosphere of the State Fair, you quickly forget what waits for you as you return to your car at the end of your fair experience (if your car has not been stolen). The State Fair of Texas is a treat for all of the senses. The people, while not purposely dressed as clowns or other comical characters, often look ridiculous. Jorts (jean shorts for guys) to one's ankles, big baggy shirts that could double as a dress, dirty clothes, clothes that are way too tight, sideways hats, gold teeth, and the nappy, ungroomed goatees. It truly is a meeting ground of the substandard people of the Texan society. The pathways through the fair are littered with flashing lights, dirty carnys, police and rides that look as entertaining as they do unsafe. In fact we saw a carny (a worker at the fair, usually white trash) being escorted out of the park by four police, he was probably drunk or high.
While walking through the fair one can't help but notice the gourmet items those crazy carnys have cookin'. Things like alligator sausage, fried coke, fried cookie dough, fried latte, fried guacamole, fried fries, fried cosmopolitans, fried queso, (are you noticing a trend?), fried peanut butter jelly and banana sandwiches, and of course the corny dogs. As bad as most of that sounds, there are a few items that are eatable, but of course will require a trip to the fair's angioplasty booth. Alexis and I love the corny dogs (a true fair staple), funnel cakes, and the fried macaroni and cheese. None of which can be found at a salad bar. After our dinner, we felt like he had gained about four pounds and we could feel the grease swishing around in our belly.
We did see some good things at the fair. We checked out the animal exhibits including the grand champion steer. Which was sold for $94,000, you will be able to see him soon in your grocers meat department. We went through the petting zoo, which now that I look back on that, may have been the grossest thing I have ever done. First of all, they are petting zoo animals, they don't exactly live in the cleanest conditions, unless you consider saw dust, hay and poo clean. Then throw in the nasty people mentioned earlier touching the gross animals...you got yourself a petting zoo!!
Our evening wrapped up with a pig race, but most of the people in the stands could have used the exercise more than the pigs as they watched the race with a bag of popcorn in one hand and a turkey leg in the other. We also toured the car show, which I can't twist that and make it sound bad. Unless...you consider that the same people who were at the petting zoo were probably a lot of the same people touching the cars, sitting in them, and imagining themselves behind the wheel of the latest model, just like Alexis and I did. Gross.
The State Fair of Texas is truly a great experience. The art exhibits are nicely put together, the entertainment is top rate (there are concerts almost every night and parades too), and the atmosphere can't be beat.
State Fair of Texas; I will see you next year!
The fair takes place annually at the appropriately named Fair Park. This is the home of the Cotton Bowl and the giant Texas Star Farris wheel (which I won't ride). The "hood" surrounding the fairgrounds could rival any inner-city, poverty stricken, gang infested, graffiti covered ghetto in the country. It seems pretty rough and there is nothing nice around the fairgrounds. It is the type of area that could have really benefited from the economic stimulation brought on by building the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in the area, but Dallas' not-so-much-of-a-thinker mayor decided the new stadium would be a better fit in Arlington, leaving no economic benefit to the city that is associated with America's Team. Anyway, the area around the fair is ghetto.
But once inside the nurturing biosphere of the State Fair, you quickly forget what waits for you as you return to your car at the end of your fair experience (if your car has not been stolen). The State Fair of Texas is a treat for all of the senses. The people, while not purposely dressed as clowns or other comical characters, often look ridiculous. Jorts (jean shorts for guys) to one's ankles, big baggy shirts that could double as a dress, dirty clothes, clothes that are way too tight, sideways hats, gold teeth, and the nappy, ungroomed goatees. It truly is a meeting ground of the substandard people of the Texan society. The pathways through the fair are littered with flashing lights, dirty carnys, police and rides that look as entertaining as they do unsafe. In fact we saw a carny (a worker at the fair, usually white trash) being escorted out of the park by four police, he was probably drunk or high.
While walking through the fair one can't help but notice the gourmet items those crazy carnys have cookin'. Things like alligator sausage, fried coke, fried cookie dough, fried latte, fried guacamole, fried fries, fried cosmopolitans, fried queso, (are you noticing a trend?), fried peanut butter jelly and banana sandwiches, and of course the corny dogs. As bad as most of that sounds, there are a few items that are eatable, but of course will require a trip to the fair's angioplasty booth. Alexis and I love the corny dogs (a true fair staple), funnel cakes, and the fried macaroni and cheese. None of which can be found at a salad bar. After our dinner, we felt like he had gained about four pounds and we could feel the grease swishing around in our belly.
We did see some good things at the fair. We checked out the animal exhibits including the grand champion steer. Which was sold for $94,000, you will be able to see him soon in your grocers meat department. We went through the petting zoo, which now that I look back on that, may have been the grossest thing I have ever done. First of all, they are petting zoo animals, they don't exactly live in the cleanest conditions, unless you consider saw dust, hay and poo clean. Then throw in the nasty people mentioned earlier touching the gross animals...you got yourself a petting zoo!!
Our evening wrapped up with a pig race, but most of the people in the stands could have used the exercise more than the pigs as they watched the race with a bag of popcorn in one hand and a turkey leg in the other. We also toured the car show, which I can't twist that and make it sound bad. Unless...you consider that the same people who were at the petting zoo were probably a lot of the same people touching the cars, sitting in them, and imagining themselves behind the wheel of the latest model, just like Alexis and I did. Gross.
The State Fair of Texas is truly a great experience. The art exhibits are nicely put together, the entertainment is top rate (there are concerts almost every night and parades too), and the atmosphere can't be beat.
State Fair of Texas; I will see you next year!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Happy Birthday to Alexis!
Today is her birthday! Sadly, I am no longer a year older.
We went out for her birthday dinner the other night. We went to a place call Buca di Bepo, it was an Italian place. She really liked it, it was pretty good. Why aren't we going out for her birthday dinner tonight you ask? Well, she wants to stay in and watch the season premiere of Gray's Anatomy. Hey its her birthday, she can do what she wants.
Give her a call and wish her a happy birthday. You won't be the first one to wish her a happy birthday, that was me. She really likes it when people call and burst into the 'Happy Birthday' song.
We went out for her birthday dinner the other night. We went to a place call Buca di Bepo, it was an Italian place. She really liked it, it was pretty good. Why aren't we going out for her birthday dinner tonight you ask? Well, she wants to stay in and watch the season premiere of Gray's Anatomy. Hey its her birthday, she can do what she wants.
Give her a call and wish her a happy birthday. You won't be the first one to wish her a happy birthday, that was me. She really likes it when people call and burst into the 'Happy Birthday' song.
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