Busman's Holiday -- Austin, Texas

Mmmmm... Texas-style BBQ at the Salt Lick!

Theie sweet plum tea-smoked duck tacos were so awesome I had them twice in three days.  The Hot Box Diner's truck isn't much to look at, but their food is to die for!  (P.S. -- They have bacon and bleu cheese queso, too.)

Biscuits and... Groovy.

Yes, I miss all that fabulous Texas food!

Busman's Holiday -- Austin, TX

For kids, both big and small...

You can be anything you want to be!

Busman's Holiday -- Austin, TX

Wishing all my friends in East Texas an end to the rain and a respite from tornadoes.

In the meantime, seen in SOCO...

Busman's Holiday -- Austin, TX

Snack time in SOCO...

Busman's Holiday -- Austin, TX

Lovely antique shop in the SOCO area...

The little Dutch boy, who is smaller than my thumb, came home with me.  I just couldn't resist.

Busman's Holiday - Austin, TX

Beauties from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center...

(This one was, I believe, a wink from the Princess Mom.  Why?  They're named "Barbara's Buttons.")

Busman's Holiday -- Austin, TX

I thought I wanted embroidered Old Gringos... and then I saw these.  It was lust at first sight!  (I'm saving my pennies up.)

 

My idea of heaven?

Yes.

Drive-Bys

Hah! Google has backed down on tracking your data if you don't want them to:

Google Inc. (GOOG) will allow a “do-not-track” button to be embedded in its Web browser, letting users restrict the amount of data that can be collected about them.

Be on the lookout for this new button, as it's not out yet.
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Ear Worm of the Day:



Embedded in my ear since 8:50 a.m. Argh!
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Miss Nancy is a vile, wicked temptress!

Boots 'n Bluebonnets 'n BlownStars

I got a note from the lovely Miss Nancy about the Saturday portion of this trip:

If we start out early Sat morning, and go down to my work area, and have breakfast (can do it at a healthy organic food store that does a kick ass buffet or a restaurant that does biscuits and sausage), then, you and 'Pup can go and do a quick tour of ...where ever.

Then, we can decide....

What do you want to do? Options include:

1) a quick trip.... (down and back and a quick tour and toe dip) to Galveston, the trip down there would be about a 3 hour round trip.

2) A tour of the museum district and a trip inside the museum of your choice (Fine Arts? Natural History?) We could do a drive thru of downtown, tho no tours avail as in Chicago..alas!

3) Shopping in the Village at University Place.. one of the more eclectic areas of town and in the general area of the original Goode Co BBQ and several OTHER Goode co restaurants and a club

4)...?

Now... PJ and Jim live in the Galveston area, although PJ says she's also frequently in Houston and might be able to catch up with us there. (But, if we went to Galveston, I could perhaps meet Baby Trouble, Rico Loco and the rest of the gang, too...) Jim did mention something about hauling out the hardware and making things go blammo on the shooting range, which would require some lessons for moi. On the other hand, El Cap and Michelle and Walrilla are already in the Houston area, and might have some dandy ideas, as well.

Then there are those of you I haven't heard from yet.

I've never been to Houston. What are the must-sees?

And you are coming, aren't you?
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Update: El Capitan says:

If you're going to Galveston, you probably ought to swing by the Johnson Space Center on the way there or back.

As for off-the-wall sights atround town, there's the Beer Can House, the Orange Show, the Art Car Museum, the National Museum of Funeral History, the Downtown Aquarium and, or course, my favorite mystery bookstore, Murder By The Book.

Argh!!! Too. Much. Choice!

Boots 'n Bluebonnets 'n BlownStars

The lovely and talented Miss Nancy and I have been trying to plan a date for a blogmeet around Bluebonnet season for years and have finally just said, "Screw it! Let's do it!"

Here's the plan, and it's a loose one:

Thursday, April 8th:

• Noon - ? Sightseeing in Austin.
  
• We're parking our cabooses at the Super 8 Austin Downtown/Capitol Area (1201 N. I-35).
  
• Dinner/drinks with whoever might be in town and want to meet for dinner. We're open for suggestions.

Friday, April 9th:

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (bring your cameras!)
• If we have time, the LBJ Library and Museum, as I'd really like to see the moving, talking figure of LBJ. (I've read the Robert Caro books. So sue me.) It's so kitschy that it's got to be great.
  
• Off to Houston!

Saturday, April 10th:

• Sightseeing in Houston (my first trip, yay!) with 'Pup and/or anyone else who's interested in making sure I see the best of your city.
• Dinner at Goode Company with as many of y'all as possible.

Sunday, April 11th:

• Take Miss Nancy and 'Pup somewhere really nice for brunch as a thank-you. (Suggestions, please!)
• Hit a garden center or two. It's a tradition.
• Head home!

The airfare was cheap (under $250 round trip) and the hotel was cheap (under $75/night). Anyone is welcome to join us; just give us a shout so we know to be looking for you!