You'll Feel this Thursday

Direct quote from the guy who table topped me at the Crockett High School Gym. He also asked when was a good time to come in and show me his book. Texas is casual about its injury hand outs.

Jane's back on the swimming lessons. Dad's on the twitters. Mom's listening to the Serious Sirius - she's got the akshun so far as summer tuneage goes. Listening to Sleigh Bells or some shit. We like the Avi Buffalo. Just bought ACL tickets for Friday. Expect big things from the canned beer brigade.

Here's to gainers.




Pre-Resnick pool throw down and minor ballet heel click.




Their pool is really magnificent.




This is Jane showing me how her hair is just like the guy in the One on One video.




More from camp Hall / Oates, now with Retsyn:

One On One with Jane from Austin McKenna on Vimeo.

Of minor consequence to the grandmothers, the Southside curry and posh beer stand. This place rules.




Congrats to the Inters. I've been slagging Milito since Day One. Ate my own Canoli.

Ebbie Little Thing He Does is Magic

Just back from a long weekend in Bimini, the HH Organ Raffle and Conch Bellow, in honor of the pending tented event. Really heroic, medieval times. Ten men, ten thousand dollars in fly fishing gear, ten star comedy.

We stayed at Bonefish Ebbie's Island Lodge, kind of a combo bait shack / occasionally brown shower thing, with round-the-clock Kalik access in skipping distance to both the graveyard and Conch stand. Full complement of boats with lawn chairs in the slips.

Solid four state representation, very well behaved groom providers, many fish felt the sting of our barbs. Many escaped without provocation. Most of them with our costly tackle.



Test beers.



This is Ebbie, who is Bimini's Number One asset, singing to both Hawes and his cell phone, some sea shanty upon arrival. Ebbie alone is worth a trip, but when you tell him to do something, he do it.



Alleged dinner prep, fish cleaning area.



Sunset on the docks. This would be right about the time I asked Ebbie if chicken was an option for dinner. The return guffaw was paint peeling.



Golf cart racing to the "Club", which turned out to be more of a horse shoe pit than anything. Hawes got to do most of the driving / ramming.



The bach did not drink all these beers, merely demonstrating the legend of Edward Kalik Hands.



First day on the boat, Walter hooks up with 20 pound barracuda. We did some extreme trolling, failed to follow most of the orders barked at us, managed a few winners anyways.



Victory.

Peter got a bonefish.



Which Ebbie then tossed at the swimmers.



My first bonefish on a fly. Can't say my cast helped here, but luck intervened admirably.



Worth clicking through, this one.



Ron, snapper from the surf.



We were catching barracuda on flies from the surf too -- cost us (TUZ) about $100 in shrimps.


Wind down.



Post chumming at the conch stand.


The accommodations.



Team dynamite Durham.



Cuda fingers and last supper.




Ceremonial shot of ceremonial shot.



Almost worth getting my vows renewed to get back. Very good seeing everyone. We may see some video surface, should be insufferable.

Cheers to the groom, FLL flyers, Sir Ebbie, The Little Squire, Thunder Dan, Little Ebbie, and the guy who sold us the busted golf carts.

Tight lines, grin and grip it.

Coz

Happy Days, Mudder Mommy!

That's what Jane said to me upon walking in the front door with a bouquet of "lellow" flowers yesterday. She was a perfect sweetpea all day, as was Austin. I got to sleep in and then just stay in bed and read magazines while A & J shopped for the day's groceries. Some yoga, then pancakes for brunch and grilled steak salad with ginger scallion noodles for supper. Perfect Mother's Day!

(Jane and her cousin McNair back in NC coincidentally wore matching outfits.


Here are some other highlights from the week... Mommy/Daughter dance class is now happening every Monday morning. It is my favorite thing we've ever done together and quite possibly the cutest thing ever watching the little girls dance.


We used the leftover Country Ham from the Derby Party for risotto. Delish


Its already in the 90s here in ATX.

We had a ceiling fan put in on the front porch, and a screen door (needs painting still). We are refusing to go full AC yet.

After several days of waking up looking like this, Jane finally seems to have gotten over her weeks of colds and strep throat.

I got to take a sewing class on Saturday, where I made a reversible wrap skirt that sort of matches Jane's favorite dress.

2nd birthday party for Beckett at a playground that puts our neighborhood park to shame. Jane scaled her first rock wall, wearing her new ladybug wrap dress of course.

Is it time for another haircut already?




Family porch time. My favorite time of day.

Meating the Neighbors

Another run for the roses, Texas Style. Many animals and eggs sacrificed. Travis Heights mobilized for the occasion, funny hats and babies aplenty.

I bought my shoulder from this guy. Who incidentally, is promoting on his sign out front "the rabbits have returned".



The Edwards country ham, care of the Bryces, which has been hanging in a closet for 5 months, pre-cob web and mold removal. Amazing, the resiliency of the porks.




They polish up nicely.




Jane got up early with dad to prep the shoulder and soak wood chips. Cooler inspection duties, the YETI is baby proof.





With little fuss, approaching the big finish.




The chop and mop.




Brisket, courtesy of the Greek Yankee Cook team. This was a three stager - got hammered late night.




Race time. Note the only one not watching the ponies, my daughter.



The Percy's of Drake Ave, first class participation, Julep testing.



The spread.



Henry AKA War Admiral.


Huck and Jane, courting.




So no crushed ice in Austin, resorted to renting a sno-come shaver from the pinata store on the Cesar Chavez. This was genius.




Outfit 2 or 3.



Canoodling with the poison ivy.




Jesus made an appearance.




And the aftermath.




Miss the OTB. We have enough leftovers to flood the food banks.