i've always loved

this car. I think it's been parked in the same spot for 10 years. It's parked at some office that appears to have been out of commission as long as the car. Isn't it cute?

i drove

and drove and drove, with camera in hand. This is what I found. As big as Houston is, I couldn't find anything I felt like looking at today. I found this horse in Angleton. There's something about it I like...and it's not the mohawk.

Eric's got spirit,

yes he do, he's got spirit, how about you? This is the garter Courtney gave him for the homecoming game. (I forgot to get pictures of the mum he gave her.) They decided not to go to the game since their seats were in the student section.

I think I was always the anti-school spirit. I never had any school spirit. The Jersey Village Falcons didn't get squat from this chick. I went to one football game, one pep rally, bought one yearbook...you get the picture. I even had my friend Jamie take my senior pictures to avoid going up to that school on my time off for a portrait in a pink fuzzy thing. (By the way, I think Jamie's pics rocked-unlike all the others.) Oh well, maybe if the school colors hadn't been purple and gold...

nowhere

I guess, since this is considered the "Bridge to Nowhere", I went nowhere today. Actually, I go nowhere twice daily. I've always hated this bridge but I think it's interesting...in that 70-year-old bridge kind of way. I think it might have even been ranked the most dangerous bridge in Texas a couple of months back. Whatever...here's a picture of it.

Oh, CMA was here first thing.

okay now

I don't think CMA has ever experienced the wrath of Melanie. For the most part, I'm an easy-going person. Okay, so I'm abnormally shy and quiet, but I'm nice and easy to get along with. I don't like to make waves. BUT... Every once in a while, after too much build-up, that little gasket blows and somebody ends up on the receiving end of an ill-tempered rant.
[Enter CMA Communications]
I have a tv with some stations that aren't as clear as they could be. No, it's not urgent but I am paying for their services. They were scheduled to come the morning of 9/10/07. Never showed. Rescheduled for the morning of 9/12/07. Never showed. Rescheduled for the morning of 9/21/07. Never showed. Now they are rescheduled for the morning of 9/28/07. IF they actually show up, it probably won't be ugly. Now, if I get another no-show...it's so on. (What do they say "it's on like Donkey Kong"?)

Thank you for letting me vent.

west of the brazos

Earl's surprise party was at West of the Brazos in Damon. We later heard that was the biggest crowd this place has ever had. (Remember, it's in Damon...probably 1/2 the size of Maypearl.) Here are a few of the pics.

last friday

We took Eric and Courtney to Dave and Buster's. We stopped to take a few pictures after I got sick and had to leave the restaurant. (Don't know if it was the food or the 2 Trimspa I took prior to eating.) Anyway, I thought I should alter Courtney in the pics since I didn't ask her mom about posting. So, here are a couple of shots at Jones Plaza.

A year older

As usual, Eric didn't want to come out with us, so Cosme and I went to pick up my birthday cake and 4 dozen petitfours. (hey, only a dozen were mine.) After stopping at Moeller's for the ultimate sugar fix, we went for a birthday dinner at Grotto. (I've always loved that place.) After dinner we were heading down the road and I gasped (as usual, I scared Cosme). I told him I HAVE to have my picture made in front of a 35 mph sign on my 35th birthday. (Yes, we live near hwy 35, but this had to be a 35 mph before we left Houston.) We found a sign with enough room for us to pull over and Cosme snapped away. Even more appropriate, I'm wearing my birthday top from Cindy and Earl along with my birthday shoes from Mom and Dad. (I don't have a picture of those yet, but you can see them here...they're the rust ones.) Anyway, it was fun. I'll show you some more pictures now. (Sorry, there's none of Eric. As soon as we got home and had cake, he headed off to guitarland.)

us at Grotto

my cake, mmm...

and the flowers I got the night before

boots

Making a pitstop between The White Elephant and the rv

forgot one

I forgot to post this pic of Mom and Dad. Mom decided to change from the "Paddington" straw hat to go for the Willie Nelson look with one of the free American flag bandanas we picked up.

then came sunday

There was really way too much to write about, but I'll try to summarize everything. Mom and Dad parked the rv at Billy Bob's so we could catch the Black Crowes Sunday and stay the night there. Well, it was actually an all-day event so the rv was great for pitstops. We started with lunch in the rv then headed over to The White Elephant Saloon. (I had someone take our group pic. He said he didn't know how to operate my camera so to get it ready to press the button...great job, dude.) We stayed here for a while and then went back to the rv for a rest and burgers. We could hang out at the rv and still hear the music from the bands playing. Plus we got to meet all sorts of interesting characters...thanks to Dad never having met a stranger! (Should I start with the guy who stopped to pee on the other side of the wall and ended up staying to have a beer and talk for half an hour? Or the woman from a few rv's down who was fighting with her husband?) It was all too funny. The pic to the left is the set up and the pic to the right is one view from the rv. We didn't spend much time in the actual concert area. We stopped in to get some freebies and look around. After our burgers, we all had naps (the Black Crowes weren't coming on until 11.) Dad headed over a little early to hear Cross Canadian Ragweed and get a good spot for the Black Crowes. The rest of us headed over closer to show time. We couldn't find Dad (since he was only a few rows back from the stage) and Mom headed back early because she couldn't find any of us. Cosme and I stuck around for a while but decided to head back to the rv. Below are a couple of shots of the stage (yeah, they're kind of blurry) and one of our view of the stage from the rv. It was a lot of fun. My opinion is: if there's an all day concert, an rv is the ONLY way to do it.

it's been a while

so here's the baby shoe. This was taken on Sunday at The White Elephant Saloon. (More pics from our day at the Stockyards to come!)

i say buddy...

you say Guy... (Okay, I've seen and enjoyed too many Hillshire Farms commercials.)

After having dinner at H3, we took Eric to see Buddy Guy at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth on Friday night. I don't think the word is used anymore, but Eric was stoked. The opening act was Honey Boy Edwards (he's 92). With none of us expecting Cosme to really get into the show, we were all wrong. He was clapping and hollering more than any of us! Buddy Guy put on a really good show. There were a couple of songs Eric didn't get to hear but he wasn't disappointed. It was pretty cool. I wanted Eric to get a cap and t-shirt, but he went for the autographed guitar strap. (Yes, it was black and white polka dot.) We thought the show was over and missed out on the Muddy Waters Band. Oh well, we were all impressed and went home happy.

stop. macro time

I don't know what this thing is but it's part of my flower bed and has pretty red things on it. This is with my macro attachment. Me likey.

Okay, so it's not the macro but I thought I'd check out the depth perception with a close-up on the grass. The reason I'm posting these last two is because I've been killing myself all morning in the yard and I love how the grass looks in the second pic. I almost had a heat stroke and looked pretty stupid with a wet towel around my neck, but you have to admit it...I pretty much rock. (Yeah, yeah...I know everything else needs trimming. Maybe tomorrow.)

back to school

Yeah, I know this isn't the best picture but it's all I've got. It's a little better if you ignore the glasses glare. Eric was irritated with me because we were in a hurry (which explains the ONE picture), I had to get his picture and I was making us late. I explained to Eric that I've taken pictures of his first day of school since kindergarten and I don't know what makes him think I would stop now. It probably didn't help anything that I, being as sweet as I am, okayed his wanting to stay in bed an extra 10 minutes. Come to think of it, it probably didn't help that his phone kept going off with text messages...and I'm sure all those received messages had responses. Oh well, we got to school on time. (Tardy bell rings at 7:15!) Now we'll just keep our fingers crossed that his principal will let the hairstyle fly. Deep down, I'm betting we'll have to make a stop for a haircut today.

my take

Okay, it seems like everyone is doing pictures under a pier these days. Well, here's one of my takes on the "pier pic". We headed out to San Luis Pass but going under the pier wasn't an option, the tide was SO high. We drove down to Quintana Beach and got a few shots...after a brief argument.

Eric: I'm not going out there to take pictures with the homeless guy.
Me: He's only sleeping. Hey, where'd he go?
Eric: He's in the PortaPotty
Me: See, he's gone.
Eric: [throws fit and makes noises that represent anger]
Me: Get out now or you're not doing anything else today.
[Melanie exits car with Eric following.]

I think we scared the guy away. He walked off but left his pillow and blanket.

This place needed some cleaning but the water wasn't as high as San Luis Pass. I really had a different, cleaner pier in mind but this one had to do.
-
Below is a picture of the gnarly waves hurricane Dean is bringing our way. The water is pretty rough but it's not stopping anyone from fishing.

here comes trouble

Eric had his first lesson on driving a standard. Dad took him out in the MG last week.

r.i.p.

I haven't posted anything because I think my computer died. All things having anything to do with my camera were on that laptop. I'm figuring out what I'll do next. My choices are to a) use the community computer in the kitchen or b) set up one of the other desktops. Assuming I choose b, my next decision is where to set it up.

what the?

THIS JUST IN-
Eric informed me he wants to not only go to open mic night at Dan Electros, but he wants to take his guitar and play "Life By the Drop". (Yes, he knows he has to sing too.) Okay, I'm getting sick just thinking about it. How can someone who seems to be so much like ME have any desire to get on stage and perform in front of people?

diet schmiet

To make up for all the Coke I haven't been drinking, I splurged. After Eric's MRI yesterday we had an outing. We did some school shopping at Soundwaves, had lunch at Chuy's and saved dessert for Central Market. (Is it normal to like a grocery store as much as I like Central Market?) Second to Moeller's Bakery, Central Market has some of the best petit fours. Okay, I was bummed out because they had ONE white petit four left and the rest were chocolate. Since Eric went through the MRI, I offered the white to him and I tried chocolate. (Yuck.) Not thinking I would be satisfied with the chocolate, I picked up a strawberry eclair and half a dozen cupcakes. Okay, it didn't make up for the white petit four but it was a sugar fix.

This picture also fits the word Mindy gave me: happiness. (Put a white petit four on that plate with a can of Coke next to it...oh, yeah.)

i miss you

It's been over a week since I've had a Coke. I cannot stand Diet Coke. Dr. Pepper's always been one of those drinks I have to be in the mood to drink. Dr. Pepper's also one of the few drinks in which I can stomach the diet version. So, diet Dr. Pepper is my new Coke. I also drink diet Canada Dry and diet 7up, but Dr. Pepper is my new caffeine. Believe it or not, I've had 8 of the little Coke cans in the fridge for a week and I haven't touched one! I miss my Coke but at least I know it's there when I need it.

too cool

Hey, when your name is Ace and you play poker, what do you expect? Well, I don't know what you expect, but what you get are these bad boys. Lauren and I found these in Galveston and well...they had Dad's name written all over them. I forgot to give them to him when he was down and came across them today. I'm sure they'll come in handy when it's time to put his game face on...or do an Elton John impersonation. (Actually, we are most certain Dad will NEVER wear these, but would bet lots of money Mom will.)

topic: dogs

Cosme said "dogs". Okay, this picture is kind of sad to me. When Buzz was doing time for the last guy he bit, they gave me his chain to hang on to. Well, Buzz never made it out of the slammer and I never got rid of the chain. So, when "dogs" came up as the subject, I knew my first picture would be Buzz's chain.

topic: cars

Okay, so I've asked for a topic or subject. Why, you ask? That's what I'm looking for with my camera. Yes, I could come up with things on my own but it's more of a challenge when a word is thrown at me, not knowing what to expect.

Dad said "cars"...

There are a couple more at my Flickr site. Follow the link on the left if you want to see them.

take cover

the one?

I think I might want this dog. Her name is Hazel and she is 1-2 years old. She is a corgi/basenji mix. Best of all, she's house trained. She's at a shelter in Houston because her previous owners could not have her in their apartment. I haven't seen her in person. I just don't know.


UPDATE: Hazel is not the one. I never got the chance to go and see her. As much as I liked her, nobody else felt the same.

mobile home

Someone's abandoned shopping cart just east of downtown. (yes, Cosme was with me)

i'm digging it

I'm so glad the lawnmowers are off the back porch and in their new home. I have reclaimed the space, along with my chair and grill. It's been raining for about a week and a half but I'm still enjoying it.

there's

and that's MY way.

party on the patio

Okay, so it wasn't actually a party. Saturday night was like Christmas...in July (well, Christmas in June until the clock struck midnight). Since Mom and Dad hardly ever come down, we had Cindy, Earl, Brittany and Dodo over for dinner while Eric provided the entertainment.

the blues

Brittany colored Eric's hair with chunks of blue. It's so pretty. It resembles a peacock. After that, she straightened his wavy hair.