Paper Clip Snob

For years I have realized that I am a paper clip snob. Only the jumbos will do for me. Those small-sized, insignificant paper clips simply don't do the job adequately. If I want to clip things together, I want a substantial coil of wire to hold my papers in place. It occurred to me while teaching school that I was requesting jumbo paper clips from the office when I was needing more paper clips. The small size is flimsy and annoying. Doesn't do its job.

I buy multiple boxes of jumbo paper clips at Sam's. Always like to have a steady supply!

A Southern lady can require a lot of ice for her iced tea and her Coca-Colas and her ice water. Not only am I a paper clip snob, but I am also an ice snob. I buy bags of ice from the grocery store or a close convenience store. Somehow the ice cubes in the ice maker in the freezer just don't measure up.

As if the ice weren't enough, I'm ALSO a straw snob. Restaurants that use dinky little straws just annoy me. I love those thick, substantial plastic straws from the likes of Sonic, Whataburger, McAlister's, and McDonald's. Chick-Fil-A used to have those sissy straws, but now they have nicer, thicker ones. Good straws rock.

Must have been in the bathroom . . .

So. When computer whiz genes were passed out, I must have been in the bathroom.

I never intended to start this blog. I was just trying to post a comment on Betty's Blog and VIOLA! I ended up on the page to start your own blog. Sounds intriguing, I thought. And here we are. Pink blog and all.

Once again, I was just trying to reply to the first comment posted on my blog (Thanks, Lizzie!) . . . . and I end up making MYSELF a member of my own group of followers. How uncool is that? It lists ME as one of my own members. Sounds like I'm a little self-absorbed.

Always a new wrinkle to keep things interesting . . .

Maybe I'll actually figure out how to attach photos and put a picture of myself on my profile. Stranger things have happened . . . .

Fashion Police. Not.

So Saturday evening I was getting ready to leave the house since Mick and I were meeting Scott & Carla at Papacita's for supper. I'm standing in the bathroom curling my hair. I happen to have on a gigantic sundress (turquoise with hibiscus ---hibisci? hibiscuses?---on it and little tiny spaghetti straps) since I was wearing it like a housecoat. Kind of a giant moomoo with teensy straps. Obviously I was putting on makeup and fixing my hair in this big comfy dress before putting on the actual clothes I'm wearing out in public. Mickey comes in and says, "Are you wearing THAT?"

I'm thinking to myself, "Has he ever seen me in ANYTHING besides black pants or black capris in the last four years or so?" Hmmm. I'm also thinking that surely he knows I have more fashion sense than to wear what looks like a ginormous turquoise tent out in public. I wouldn't even walk to the mailbox in that since people could actually SEE me from their cars as they are driving down the road. My eyes are saying something like "I can't possibly believe you just asked me that question" and "are you kidding me?" and "after 31 years of marriage, don't you know me better than that?" as I exaggeratedly roll them in his direction.

The Fashion Police he ain't.

And just for the record, I wore black capris with a white tank top and black and white checked camp shirt along with black Clark sandals and sterling silver jewelry. My purse was pink. I looked just like I look every other time I ever go out in public. Like a middle-aged schoolteacher! :)

Gruene Beans

While traveling with my girlfriends last week to Gruene, Texas, (pronounced like the color "green") I was entertained by noticing how many plays on the word "green" that the business owners and townfolk came up with. As we perused the menu at the historic Grist Mill restaurant, we saw Gruene beans offered as a side dish. They were quite delicious actually. Fresh green beans cooked with tomatoes and garlic. Yum-o, Rach! You could whip those babies up in less than thirty.

Besides the bean dish, there was a shop called Gruene with Envy and a hotel (or maybe it was a bed & breakfast) called the Gruene Apple Inn. That's just right up my alley. I could spend days trying to think of clever ways to use Gruene. I also managed to spend some Gruene while I was there, too, . . . . . . . . .

the bee's knees

So --------------- I read an article in a magazine this week that says middle-aged women typically have trouble with their knees. Been there, done that. Random pain that comes and goes in the left knee. For over a year now, it hurts for several days and then is okay for awhile. I try not to overdo when it is hurting. It causes a real kink in the well-planned exercise routine with the personal trainer when I show up at the gym and declare I can't do all the stuff he has mapped out for that day's workout. I try to look pitiful for better effect.

The miscellaneous pain is getting more intense. Couldn't ignore it --- so now I'm scarfing down anti-inflammatory drugs and doing the heat pack thing. Had x-rays and blood tests and everything. A visit to the doctor lets everyone know that at least I'm trying to find a cure for this intermittent agony. (I'm pretty sure I misspelled intermittent. That bugs me -- but not enough for me to go find a dictionary. Well, maybe I spelled it right after all. I went ahead and clicked on spell-check and it thinks I'm great with spelling.)

My husband is trying to be sympathetic and concerned. "Do you think the spider bite caused it?" he asks. (The spider bite happened in 1994.) "I don't really think so," I reply sweetly. "After all, the spider bit me on the OTHER KNEE!"

Deja vu all over again

The Jeans had lunch in Fredericksburg on Wednesday at a much-recommended restaurant called The Peach Tree Tea Room. The food was delicious, and as soon as I began looking at the menu, I realized that I had purchased the cookbook from this tea room for Mama when Lizzie was a freshman at A&M. That fall after Liz had back surgery, I spent a lot of time in the Barnes & Noble right across from the A&M campus while waiting for her to get out of class. I had to drive Liz back and forth to class for a while. Everyone in the family got a book from me that Christmas that I picked out from Barnes & Noble. How neat to remember that connection. I'm hoping that I got that cookbook when Daddy let us have cookbooks last Christmas. One of the girls might have ended up with it.

My lunch at The Peach Tree was the sandwich sampler (chicken salad, tuna salad, and jalapeno pimiento cheese) and avocado soup. Delicious.

It is SUPER hot here. Wednesday was 106 degrees with a heat index of 113. Makes everyone feel a little nauseated. Sweaty, too.

Thursday found us in Gruene, Texas. We ate lunch at the famous Grist Mill. Open air but lots of ceiling fans. Really good waiter. I had a yummy turkey sandwich and lots and lots of iced tea. As we walked around the historic buildings filled with little shops everywhere, I hear this voice saying "Hello, Miss Rebecca!" There stood Terri and Jeff! I knew they were coming to Fredericksburg and surrounding areas this week, too, but was still surprised to see them! They had come to the Hill Country with their travel trailer, Jeff's truck, and the Harley. Both were in their Harley garb. They got to officially meet the Jean Girls and we, of course, had to take pix!

After ending the day at our next destination of San Marcos, we had supper at Cracker Barrel. My FAV!!! Of course I had to have some beans & greens --- along with the Thursday special turkey & dressing. I never miss a chance to have turnip greens!

Willie, Waylon, and the boys

Today we went to Luckenbach, Texas. Population 3. Basically one main building. A decrepid old frame building that used to be the post office. Looks about the same as it did in the '70's. I don't remember when or why, but I went to Luckenbach with Baylor friends in college or with Mickey when we were living in Austin. Now the place is pretty much a gift shop with Luckenbach souvenirs. There is a dance hall out there, too, now. And a string of porta-potties. It is apparently a big deal music and drinkin' place in the evenings. The Jean Girls had a great time talking to Virgil, the store guy. Quite a colorful character. Naturally we had photo ops with him. Then, lo and behold, when we walked into the Fredericksburg restaurant for supper (Andy's Seafood and Steak House), there sat Virgil with a blonde. He continued his friendly banter with us across the restaurant. Apparently meeting the Jeans was a real highlight of his Tuesday.

We also went down the road from Luckenbach to Boerne today. Love these central Texas towns. Beautiful really old stone and frame houses and buildings. Nice shops. Especially antiques. We had lunch at El Chaparral and enjoyed some great Mexican food. Since JH has daughter #1, son-in-law #1, and grandson #1 living very close to Boerne, they drove over and met us for lunch. Grandpa RH was even with them since he babysits grandson #1 sometimes. Got to see that whole branch of JH's family. She's the first among us to be a grandma.

After dinner, we checked out Fredericksburg's one and only movie theatre. There was quite a crowd there to see "The Proposal" with us. The whole bunch laughed and laughed. Great chick flick.

Tomorrow we spend the day in Fredericksburg. We haven't spent time in all those cute shops downtown yet. Shopping! Fun day coming up tomorrow.