A Blood And Tree Guts Weekend At The Crossing [Speed]

Posted on May 19, 2011 by

We all know that I’m an old softy. So when Speed asked about me taking him and a bunch of friends down to my parents’ place in the middle of nowhere, I said that I was happy to. I had taken Speed and three boys down back in February 2010 for an unbelievably cold weekend. What could go wrong?

We did the usual stuff–steak dinners at the Leona Steakhouse, lunch at Pecan Grove, a trip to Buc-ee’s and Walmart–along with our first stop at the somewhat recently opened Leona Drug Store, which houses a soda fountain.

But the weekend was really about being out in the elements on ATVs. All of the mothers made them promise to be careful, and Speed assured his mother that all ATVs are meant to be ridden two at a time. Wrong on both counts.

But this weekend won’t be remembered for the good food or ridiculously awesome convenience stores. It will be remembered first for Noah crushing the mule against a tree within the first 45 minutes of use.

Second, for Ryan splitting his forehead open with the Mauser bolt-action rifle scope (hence, the need to trek to Walmart for bandages, etc.).  A little competition for Madysen.

Amazingly, the last 24 hours went accident free. And the boys claim to have had an awesome time, injuries notwithstanding. I hope Speed enjoyed it because I doubt I’ll say yes to future similar request.

Posted in Friends, Funny, Speed, Travel | Leave a comment

Food, Concerts, And Soccer Are My Weaknesses [Birthdays]

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

I don’t mention my or Holly’s birthday very much around here. And I’ve delayed this post about my 38th until Holly actually made the Key Lime Pie she promised me. She came through ten days late, but it still tastes good.

On the night of the event, Holly and the kids took me to one of my favorite local places for the always excellent London Broil and frites. London Broil was a staple whenever I visited my grandparents.

For dessert–since the Key Lime Pie was looking pretty iffy–we split a butterscotch pot de creme and a butterfinger hot fudge banana split. Totally worth it.

Not really related or part of my birthday, but Holly and I went to two great, but very different concerts on the Saturdays straddling my birthday. First, after Madysen’s graduation dinner with Holly’s family, we went to Gexa Energy Pavilion to see Arcade Fire. We timed it perfectly to miss all the concert traffic and the opening acts to walk in just as they took the stage.

It was an awesome set with great energy and visually pleasing. Holly’s expert opinion: “Wish they had more words and less sounds.” Not that she knew any of the words they did have.

The following Saturday was Wilco at the University of North Texas Main Auditorium, a non-conventional concert venue.

Another great set but with a completely different energy. More like a warm hug of your favorite tunes.

Even more tangential–the following day was Mother’s Day and I got Speed and Emma out of the house for the morning (Madysen was at the lake with friends) to give Holly some quiet time. We went to The Londoner to watch Manchester United win a huge tilt against Chelsea 2-1 to put them 1 point short from the EPL title. It was awesome to watch. I took this picture of Sir Alex celebrating just as the final whistle blew.

The 19th league title is pretty sweet.

Posted in Birthday, Emma, Holly, Layla, Madysen, Soccer, Speed | Leave a comment

Family Dinner Suggests Graduation is Nigh [Madysen]

Posted on May 8, 2011 by

Last Saturday evening–following our shooting expedition–our family met up with Holly’s parents, Kim’s family, and Karen, Dan, and Uncle Ed for a graduation dinner in honor of Madysen. She picked Villa-O, her favorite place that I have personally sworn off–except for this once. Twenty people at one table is a lot.

And because they are awesome, Madysen had Sprinkles Cupcakes for dessert. She wasted her calories on Peanut Butter Chocolate. Everyone else had Red Velvet, which went like hotcakes, including Brendon who wanted to save some for later it was so good and Ashton who was introduced to the amazingly good technique of eating the stump first and then the top.

And then I took more pictures of Madysen with family in the restaurant and by the fountain outside.

After dinner, a group went to Froggie’s 5 & 10 to play with toys and Wild About Harry’s for more dessert.

Posted in Dallas, Family, Madysen | 2 Comments

The Family That Shoots Together Knows Whom Not To Anger? [Family]

Posted on May 7, 2011 by

Last weekend, Speed and I took spent in the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation Lone Star Classic XVII. In the hopes of avoiding looking like complete fools, we headed to the range a few days before.

Emma went along for the first time and had a good time watching with her eyes and ears on.

We did this last year with Holly’s dad, but I can’t find any mention of it. Regardless, we met up with Holly’s dad, her brother-in-law, and Cousin Brendon on Saturday morning. It was humid, and it took way too long–and I stunk, figuratively and literally–but it was still fun. Somehow I ended up signing Speed and I up for both the Civilian and Competition categories, which meant we shot twice at each station.

Speed at the Glock’M station.

If I’d been aiming at the clip fastening the bottom of a target, this would be evidence of quality marksmanship. But since it was a foot below bullseye, it’s a memento of something else.

Next, we moved on to Glock the Plates, which is the most mentally challenging. The metal targets are small and since they are metal, you both see and hear when you hit the target. Miss over and over again and the silence can get into your head. Philip went first.

I didn’t do so hot, but I did finish strong getting 5 of 6 plates on the last of my 8 passes.

Speed did okay. He’s probably not going to be exciting about me posting this video of one of his passes. (You can hear the guy at the next station put his plates down in just a couple of seconds. Intimidating.)


Brendon was the only one of us to get all six plates in a pass. I have no photographic evidence.

I did get this photo of Brian needing one more round to get this last plate.

5 to Glock was, mercifully, the final station. Speed looks cool awaiting his turn.

My Glock jammed twice, and I was unable to finish. So I got the maximum time penalties. That’s why I didn’t win.

Speed, Philip, and Brian went back on Sunday to shot again. They all claim to have done much better than on Sunday, which is exactly what I expected them to say. But the posted rankings seem to corroborate their story.

Here are our results pieced together.

Plenty of room for improvement.

Posted in Emma, Family, Guns, Me, Speed, Video | 1 Comment

Chicken And Comedy: An Evening [Friends]

Posted on May 7, 2011 by

Last Friday, Layla and I were invited to join a group of school friends and dads to attend a Chick-Fil-A fan event. Riding to/from the event in a limo bus was nice (complete with a rose for each girl).

Of course, we were greeted at the door by cows.

Dinner was–what else?–chicken sandwiches and sweet tea. Nothing wrong with that.

After dinner, we watched Tim Hawkins, a comedian/parody singer. He was fine for me, but Layla and Hattie laughed amazingly hard. During his last song, “Peed Just a Little Bit,” he threw out adult diapers. Layla and Hattie both got one, which they got Hawkins to sign afterwards.

A nice event capped off by one of the dad’s mistaking construction booms on the way home for gunfire and diving into the bottom of the limo bus and freaking out the girls. Good times.

Posted in Friends, Funny, Layla, Me | Leave a comment

2004 Archive Up; Finish Line In Sight [Administration]

Posted on May 7, 2011 by

About ten days since I finished up the 2003 archives and pointed to many of the interesting 2004 events that were already up on the blog. Nearly 50 posts in all, the 2004 archives are up and in their place. In case you missed it, I implore you to glimpse the best Halloween ever.

Moving on to 2005, there are already more than 30 posts up, including an April Fools Christmas letter, Emma trying to take a picture, my little girls getting married, Madysen’s Colorado tournament winner, Layla’s first soccer team, our California vacation of Disney, choppers, and beaches, and the first incarnation of the blog.

But because I have more pictures each year and my memories are somewhat better (and, frankly, because of my OCD), I have plenty more to add to 2005. Here we go.

Posted in Administration | 3 Comments

Easter Eggs And Broken Blow Pop Sticks [Holidays]

Posted on April 30, 2011 by

The remnants of the Saturday evening egg decorating extravaganza that Madysen and Speed were way too cool to participate in.

On Easter morning, Emma was the first awake (as always), and she took pictures of the Easter Bunny baskets. (This first picture was taken with the ToonPAINT app that I quickly became obsessed with and then soured on just as quickly.)

After Madysen, Speed, and Layla returned from church (Emma stayed home and in her pjs because that’s “the rules for egg hunting.”  Pay special attention to Emma’s marbled eggs with eyes and Layla’s Madysen and Speed eggs. (I’ve included some ToonPaint versions, which intrigue me but seem completely pointless, which explains most of my days.)

The decorated eggs were hidden in the backyard where Layla and Emma went in search for them.

We also had over 100 plastic eggs stuffed with candy of everyone’s choice. Speed had chosen Blow Pops, which didn’t fit well in the eggs. So Holly broke the sticks to make them fit. Surprising how much a broken Blow Pop stick can impair one’s enjoyment. Anyway, Madysen and Speed hid the eggs inside the first floor. Speed’s effort at hiding declined aggressively over the 3 minutes he invested, which is why there were 20 eggs laying in open site in the dining room.

One final ToonPAINT. I think my ToonPAINT dalliance is over.

Posted in Emma, Farmington, Funny, Holidays, Holly, Layla, Madysen, Speed | Leave a comment