Girls Night Out

That was the plan anyway, and believe me when I say Grandma J let's nothing get in the way of a good time.

This post might be a bit long, so go fix that chocolate martini, pour that carafe of wine, or pop open a nice cold brewski. Now pull up a chair and relax, and don't waste too much time or you'll miss the nine o'clock mass golf tournament on TV in the morning.

Since I'm moving at the end of the month, and I'm supposed to drive to Tucson June 1st with my granddaughter and JJ co-piloting, then continuing on to Las Vegas, things were getting a bit hairy and hectic. Normally juggling and multi-tasking is my middle name, but my Vegas buddy, (1SGT John's mommy) is heading to Miami the second week in June, and with the H1N1 swine flu floating around, I figured the scheduling was just too hectic to even pursue. So, I made a deal with my granddaughter. We'd scratch the trip, and I would take her shopping at her favorite mall in Austin, because it's only 77.3 miles away. Not only would I take her to her favorite mall, I would let her buy all the Wet 'n Wild makeup that she can fit in her Coach purse some new summer clothes. And, she could bring a friend.

The deal was cut immediately without any need for negotiations....and we were off.

The girls decided that it would be more fun if we flew down I-35 with all the windows down....and the moon roof open! Then we played loud Country Western music as we sang, la....la...la...la, all the way to Austin.

See? la...la....la.....la!

Then we switched to show tunes....because granddaughter's BFF is quite the dramatic singer...la....la....la....la!

Grandma J was happy as a pig in manure, because for the first time in ages, she recognized the music, and sang along.....la....la....la....la.



When we got to the mall Grandma J left the girls in Nordstrom's as she headed off to J C Penney's Coldwater Creek and Macy's.

We met back at square one when the mall closed, with square one being the Jr. department of Nordstrom's. We were all hungry, and decided to have a good all American Mexican dinner at Abuelo's.

The girls had piña coladas ............



Dinner with plenty of shrimp, fajitas, guacamole and maraschino cherries wasn't complete without plenty of chocolate. Yes, they sat this close throughout the meal, even though we had a huge booth.

We get back on the road at about 10:30 PM........that's when the real fun began.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grandma J decides to take the back roads home because it's really dark and isolated bound to excite the girls and maybe they will want to open the windows again and sing kumbaya show tunes, and giggle.




Here is the route to Heaven paved with chocolate the mall. Just your routine 77.3 miles of good old I-35.



This is Grandma J's big idea of a fun drive home....did I mention it was 10:30 at night? Did I forget to say that the alternate route is a two lane highway? How about the fact that Texas doesn't have any stimulus money for street lights...because Texans don't like payback. OK, I made that part up.



All of a sudden the light became dark, and the singers fell asleep were rendered mute, and Grandma J's bright idea was snuffed out in an instant when she came upon a closed road.....because a bridge was out. Back peddling wasn't a big problem, but it was a problem just the same. Big or small, a problem is a problem. There aren't too many FM routes on my way home, but there are plenty of CR roads, but many go nowhere, and this wasn't the time to explore.....I save those trips for JJ. Grandma J wasn't lost in the official sense of the word....besides, she has GPS. Even though it's always been a real friend to Grandma J......last night her GPS asked for a PIN NUMBER! Huh?


That's what made the alternate route a bit unpredictable. Grandma J kept a keen eye on her compass.....because it said she was definitely heading S/E instead of north. Clinging to the E part of S/E, Grandma J forged ahead......into the light. Yeah, when you are on rural roads, a town several miles ahead can be detected by a glow off in the distance, but you knew that.


So with the surroundings looking familiar, excitement filled the air, and Grandma J started singing show tunes as she went faster and faster....

That's when the red and blue lights started flashing, and the party was over.

The officer told Grandma J that she was going 67 mph in a 45mph zone.

Are you wondering how Grandma J got away with just a warning?

She cried like a baby. Yes, she did.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like......

...TEXAS!


I had to show you what is pretty common in Texas. This is a lawn on my daughter's street. That's right. All my fellow Texans know what I'm saying is true. The rest of you will want to notify someone about my mental state...but it's the wrong state...we're gonna talk about the State of Texas.

When I moved here from Southern California, no one could have prepared me for the reverence paid to the shape of Texas. I have a feeling I wasn't just a clueless Californian, I think most non-Texans would react the same way.

It's not just Christmas lights!

Here's a book about it.

Its bird houses.....

And address stones.... How about a waffle maker? You name it and Texans want it....shaped like the Lone Star State or the State flag.
Do you need a new cutting board?

A bathroom sink?

Then there's the backyard BBQ

Also, the coveted bedspread.

l've never see stuff like this in CA. You know, shaped like the State. But hold on. I can't let this Christmas pass us by without making an effort to please my friends in California.

Here's a custom made Christmas lights display
Your own waffles!

A muffin pan...

And a birdhouse

this was a big effort, California friends....even though the shape of The Golden State is not a popular symbol.

How about Florida? Colorado? Arizona? Virginia? Anyone?

**Gift suggestion #6 has been added below this post. Check it out.

DANCING WITH THE STARS WII

I'm hanging my head in shame...yes I am. I told you guys I would faithfully post about Dancing With The Stars. But remember, telling you something is not the same as promising you something. I would never break a promise..but sometimes I can't help breaking a tell or told.

Last night my current immediate family, along with all their some nieghbors....

which shouldn't be confused with my Texas immediate family, played the wii bowling.

Then we played the wii training bowling. We did this until the neighbors drank all the beer my avatar lost her little round arm.

The end...

SPENDING LIKE IT'S WATER

This weekend is a big deal in Texas. It's like a Holiday, and people plan for it, make lists, check the papers, listen to the news...and so on.


This guy is not a happy camper! Can you guess why? Ok, Texans, put your hands down, I know you know, but not all people are as privileged!

It's Back to School Tax Free Weekend! Yep...back to school shopping without the sales tax. Texas is one of only thirteen states that do this. Texas also had a tax free weekend a few months ago if you bought energy efficient appliances.

The reason people make lists and check the papers, isn't just for the ads, it's to make sure they buy the tax exempt items because not everything is tax free. For instance, if you are really talented, like a seamstress and love to sew, forgetaboutit! Yardage and cloth of any kind aren't tax free.
Neither are these....or sewing patterns or notions of any kind.

Now you can buy these nice fancy cowboy boots tax free.


But you have to pay the sales tax if you buy these rubber boots.
Pajamas are tax free, and so are diapers.

You can also buy an apron tax free.

So Texan's, grab your money, checkbooks, credit cards and such...but bring that official list so you don't get confused.

Do you have a Sales Tax Holiday Weekend in your State? Are the exemptions the same?