SAN ANTONIO

Here we are in San Antonio and it has been a fun time.
We arrived, not knowing it was the start of rodeo season, which is HUGE! Signed up for four nights and ended up staying 11 nights.

First stop was the 'longhorn' cattle drive with real 'cowboys' through the streets of downtown which ended up at the Alamo. What an experience and the 'longhorns' are so majestic in their own way. Barb and I were fortunate to be quoted in the Sunday edition of the San Antonio Express News. We're famous in Texas now!!! Ha! Ha! The website below will take you to the article.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/specials/rodeo/stories/MYSA012708.04A.CattleDrive.27e392a.html

It was amazing to watch the longhorns go through the narrow trailer gate. They knew to twist their heads to fit the horns in ---- but alas some of them got stuck and were very frustrated.



.................and yes there were also 'cowgirls'.

Next stop was the Alamo which is right in the middle of downtown. It was physically smaller than we thought but interesting artifacts and history of the American West. Bought a DVD of the historical facts of the battle and Davy Crockett so now we will be entertained and educated. Of course being of the baby boomer generation aren't Fess Parker and Davy Crockett one and the same.

The 'River Walk' was much more dynamic than we expected -- just a fun place to be. The one picture shows a theater with the stage on one side of the river -- and coliseum seating on the other side. We enjoyed the sights plus getting our walking in too. Yeah!

Went to 'cowboy town' (Bandera), but it wasn't quite what we expected. No horses and a lot of Hogs (Harleys). The drive over was interesting giving us a different view of Texas terrain --more hills.

'Extreme Bulls' was the first night of the Rodeo and it was very much worth the wait. The pictures are a bit blurry because we were up in peanut heaven but you get the idea. They even had a 'rodeo zamboni' come out at intermission to smooth the dirt before the music act came on.

We took a short overnight trip in the car to South Padre Island - a Kite Festival was advertised and sounded like fun. It was truly an event I am glad we didn't pass up. Besides all the "kite laundry" (the kites that are just hanging in the air) there were team kite demonstrations. The choreography was unbelievable ......with the kites going every which way then being able to stop on a dime. We talked to one of the members of the IQuad team ... they go all over the world and fly kites..... sounds like a good job to me. The picture with the pinwheel kite is four separate kites controlled by these four guys, incredible. If you go to their website (teamiquad.com) you will get an idea of how amazing they are.

Our drive into southernmost Texas was interesting with a couple sightings of groups of warthogs, lots of cacti but the most intimidating was the yellow traffic sign as we drove into a rest area that said "Watch out for snakes". Needless to say I didn't dawdle in the restroom.

We are leaving tomorrow and have to say goodbye to our friends, the mutant ninja ducks (as the campground people call them) - they are very friendly but very strange looking. We "winter Texans" (not snow birds) are movin' westward!

HEAD'IN WEST in 2008

We had a great time up north visiting with family and friends over Christmas and New Years.

Louisville and the Mabreys were first and here's grandma reading to some little Mabreys. Not sure who is enjoying it more, grandma or the kids.

Uncle Matt is getting his Wii ready to play, watched by a very observant RR.

Then we headed east to Christmas in Virginia. Thankfully the weather cooperated with our travel plans.

Here's Sophie, Jonathan and Mia opening a gift from great grandad Wonnell. Could it be a train?? Yep!!

Our very special present from the Lossings was a book of pictures and memories of our family trip to Disney in June put together by Beth and John. They had one made for Matt and Mabreys also and we can't wait to share it with all of you. It is really a special keepsake.

From Virginia we trekked to Philly to visit with Patsy and Jim for New Year's. If it had been better weather we would have gone downtown to watch the Mummer's Parade but being in Philadelphia you have the privilege of watching it alllllll day on television. It was a fun visit and I was actually able to keep up with my sister on our walks. That's a real accomplishment! Love you Pats!

Zelienople, Pa was our next stop to visit with Bill's mom and spend time with Tom, Jan and Lynn Wolford. Everyone is doing well and we had a wonderful evening at Tom and Jan's. Thanks to them for giving up their bed.

On the way back to Hilton Head, since the weather was still cooperating we stopped to see our friends, Ronni and DB in Hickory, Pa for a couple hours. Love you guys!

Getting back to Hilton Head was a little bittersweet because we knew we would be leaving soon. It has become one of our very favorite places. We walked the beach and actually got to say goodbye to the dolphins that showed up. After watching our Buckeyes get tromped by LSU, we headed to Jacksonville, visited Amelia Island and then on to Destin, Florida. The beaches on the gulf are beautiful with very white sand and sand dunes.

We spent a day at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Was a great day visiting a bit of history. Here's a couple of airdales trying to navigate in a flight simulator. They even attempted to land on a carrier. Probably wasn't the Essex (CVS-9) which was Bill's home for three years----- but who knows.

Here is a little bit of emotional history. A model of the Essex and history of it's accomplishments.



From there we headed to New Orleans, scene of the BCS (had to endure seeing all the spoils of LSU victory and Ohio State merchandise was half price - imagine that).

First priority was stopping a week to work with the Saint Bernard Project in rebuilding one of the homes devastated by hurricane Katrina. Almost two and a half years since this disaster and there is so much more work that needs to be done. We worked on a home in the St Bernard Parish - one of 27,000 that were reportedly damaged, with most being ruined beyond help. Here is the working party with Richie, the homeowner. Barb is doing a little 'mudding' of drywall. Also a picture of a neighborhood apartment building completely devastated by the storm.



Saturday and Sunday were spent exploring New Orleans, a unique city. First picture is a 'bit' of water with New Orleans in the distance. Barb with one of her mom's favorite performers, Pete Fountain. Bubba Gump's was also worthy of a picture.

The French Quarter and the French Market were fun to wander through although the weather was not cooperating and it was very chilly (40's) and windy so we stopped in the Cafe Du Monde for a cup of cafe au lait and beignets (french doughnuts). I know that all you northeners are laughing about the temperature since it was in the single digits in Ohio but we are looking for warm temperatures and haven't found them yet in January.


Had to see a plantation, so we visited Oak Alley -- an hour west of New Orleans. Quite a few movies have been filmed here such as Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Long Hot Summer and Primary Colors. It was such a beautiful setting and the tour was very interesting.

An overnight stay in Lake Charles, Louisiana made it possible for us to visit with Michelle Starr, an old friend of Tricia's from Martin, Tennessee. Being around little ones again was so much fun!

We are now in San Antonio, Texas and waiting for the rain to stop and the temperature to get to 65 (tomorrow, yeah!!!!). Plan to be here for a few days so this is where we will start next time.

Keep warm as we continue to look for the sun and warm temperatures!!