Travel and Tourism
UUC Sarasota in photos
I loved the structures and gardens so much I couldn’t help myself–nearly 100 pictures! Possibly my withdrawals from what looked and felt like spring?
Here’s a quick sampling …
Alabama Museum Day
Okay, Austin and I are officially becoming museum snobs! Ha! Because of the rain last week, we spent an extra day in eastern Alabama and hit up two more museums. Here are just a few of our photos from the Anniston Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum of World History. Admission to Anniston was only $9.oo for the two of us (military discount, regular admission is $6 for adults/$4 children), and Berman was only $2.00 (Special pricing of only $1.00 per person on Thursday afternoons.) The museums share a parking area, and share grounds with a beautiful city park and gardens.
http://www.annistonmuseum.org/
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
What fun! Here, on a cold, rainy day, at the home of Space Camp and “Rocket City,” (Huntsville) Alabama, Austin and I enjoyed a full day of continuous interactive learning at the “Math Alive” exhibit presented by Raytheon, and at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. Though not cheap, costing us $41.oo (with discounted purchase at Redstone Arsenal ITR) for admission and one IMAX movie, this was the best math learning experience that Austin has ever had. Even he stated as we left that he “didn’t once get bored.” An impressive statement if you know Austin well!
Favorites were the IMAX presentation, “Magnificent Desolation,” about the surface of the moon and the astronauts’ advantages and difficulties getting around and working while on the surface, also, even though very difficult, the F-18 Flight Simulator was a fun test on patience and multitasking. There is even a full size Apache simulator but it comes with a 13-year-old AND 5′ tall requirement in order to be able to operate it but Austin is neither quite yet.
Unfortunately for us, the campus was so large and with so many interactive stations that we couldn’t get to them all, and with the rain on us we spent very little time outside at the numerous displays. But what could be a better problem than having so many learning opportunities at one site that as hard as you tried, you couldn’t get to them all? In the end, we both agreed that if ever back in Huntsville, this will again be a must visit!
I’m going to Jackson
That’s Jackson, Mississippi, in beautiful 76 degree weather! Another day free so each of a chose our want-to place in the State Capital. I got a visit to the home of Nobel Prize winning author Eudora Welty and Austin chose the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
Although I actually got some beautiful shots of fresh blooming camellias in the Welty gardens, my new camera and I have not yet come to an understanding of operations. Meaning, I don’t know what I did but I do know that I can’t find those pictures on it now!
We do have a few cool photos to share from Austin’s destination though!
Our day ended with a wonderful dinner at Petra’s Greek and Mediterranean Grill on Old Canton Road in Jackson. The restaurant serves authentic Greek, Mediterranean and Lebanese food and the hummus was to die for!
Mr. Duck attacks!
Our fishing outing on the bank had a bit of a twist to it today–
Thanks Mr. Duck for the great pictures!
Roosevelt State Park, Mississippi
Gator Country
Last weekend while leaving our home state of Texas, Austin and I made one last had-to stop in Beaumont. Owned by conservationist Gary Saurage, Gator Country is an alligator rescue facility in the East Texas bayou country. With over 300 live alligators, plus many other reptiles and animals, the facility is touted as the “premier alligator wildlife park in Texas.” Saurage has been featured on CMT, Animal Planet, Bravo and A&E, as well as international documentaries. Currently he can be seen guest starring with Billy the Exterminator on A&E.
While there we enjoyed the ability to touch and pet alligators, tortoises, a raccoon, and a large albino boa named Banana. And although the facility is on winter schedule, Gary himself joined in our group and made sure our experience was both exciting and educational.
This is a great stop for kids of all ages. There is a full playground for the children to let loose, and activities for adults and children including fun interactive educational shows.
For more information on visiting Gator Country: http://gatorrescue.com/
Christmas in our mini
It seems impossible to believe that Christmas is nearly here. Our space is small and we’ve done what little we could to decorate our tiny 2′ tall Norfolk Island Pine that sits on our dinette table. (Our only table!) No huge light strands or outside decorations because we’ve nowhere to store them once the season is over. The tree is live: good for Mother Earth and good for our space as it will make a beautiful present to a friend once we are ready to leave on New Year’s Day. Austin has a stocking hanging from one of the overhead cabinet knobs and our Christmas cards are taped to the refrigerator.
What’s really difficult is gift giving when living in a small space. Every item purchased must be very carefully thought out. Where will it be stored when moving so that it doesn’t learn how to fly? Is there space for it to be used? Does it require electricity or to plug in to the TV? Will it actually get used enough to consider a place for it in our tiny, 168 square foot home?
It’s a true test of necessity and desire. The fine balance between what you have to make space for and what you, for no true reason, can’t live without. Items like laptops and Legos, what is our top priority? What do we move or eliminate to make room for the new?
Luckily the grandparents sent gift cards this year. Always difficult when you receive something that has to be returned, re-gifted or left in a storage room. Of course, our ‘house’ is in a storage room, a POD full of furniture, treasured items, and things we can live without but truly want back one day when we once again move into a sticks-and-bricks home.
But for now we’re enjoying the freedom of not being attached to so many things. There’s a box full of presents in the camper ‘basement’ storage, and tomorrow night I’ll clear the dinette to make room for their delivery. Once unwrapped, unboxed, and the games are removed from their sleeves, they will take very little from our space, but despite their size, they are guaranteed to make a little boy a very happy one come Christmas morning!
Homeland cuisine
Although Texas is known for its steaks and chili, here in the borderland we have the ultimate in border Mexican cuisine. Anything from the simple to the gourmet, the chiles and the tortillas never tasted better than those from the heart of El Paso.
While some El Pasoans will argue the worth of some of the foods I love, it’s like a calling when coming back home. Australians have their vegemite, Scots have their haggis, and El Pasoans have our own Chico’s Tacos made infamous by “Fluffy” (comedian Gabriel Iglesias), and all of us who grew up with late night visits after Friday high school football and crashing quinceaneras. Chico’s Tacos are the tacos that are really flautas drowned in tomato water, drenched in a hot green chile salsa, and covered in an un-meltable shredded cheese. And did I say nearly impossible to eat? While some use the fork-tong method to temporarily hold them above the paper tray and attempt neatness while eating, many of us just grab the thing and damn with the mess. Honestly, aren’t some of the best tasting foods the messiest to eat? (Ever had a Whopper that didn’t drip? What a disappointment!)
My other favorite El Paso landmark restaurant is Kiki’s, made famous by locals and multiple 
awards and appearances on the Food Network channel. Every Sunday afternoon following church you will find my son Austin and me enjoying a perfect specimen of borderland food there. Known for it’s machacas, which are amazing, this restaurant doesn’t fail on any of it’s menu. When not splurging, I enjoy just a simple green cheese enchilada, my favorite of all foods. Enchiladas are also my test food anytime I try a new restaurant. Hell, if they can’t get the basics in tortillas with chiles, sauces, and cheeses, then you won’t find me returning for a second go.
I love my border Mexican so much that I took it with me on my last trip. Loaded up on frozen tacos and enchiladas, I pulled them out and shared them with friends and family unfortunate enough to live back East, far away from our desert paradise.
And now I face their dilemma, a full-year without my favorites. Dry ice and FedEx anyone?
If you ever have the fortune of visiting El Paso, use the links below to find my favorites:
Kiki’s Restaurant http://www.kikisrestaurant.com/
Chico’s Tacos locations http://www.yellowpages.com/el-paso-tx/chicos-tacos (Bring cash, Chico’s does not accept credit cards)
My desert home
It’s been wonderful being back in El Paso for the last year and more. I’ve been so used to traveling and moving that our little six-week trip in September and October back East just wasn’t enough to cure my bug, but at the same time, I’m home.
I graduated from Socorro High School here in El Paso back in the 80’s and then went straight 
into the Marine Corps as a 17-year-old. My friends and I were so hurried to get out on our own. Of my two best friends, one graduated mid-term and married the day after our last class. I graduated mid-term also and left for boot camp in January. While my friends were enjoying the prom I was on bivouac in Parris Island and by the time they were graduating, I was at my first duty station in North Carolina. At age 21, when many young adults are moving out of their parents’ homes, I was completing a four-year tour of duty.
Although I have a lot of pride associated with my service (even my youngest daughter became a Marine) I recently have had reminders of the unique experiences that I lost in all my ambition. I followed the military for 25 years and it was only my position with the American Red Cross that brought me back home to Texas, serving as the Station Manager at William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Within a year of leaving El Paso so long ago I lost touch with my first love. The last I heard from my best friends was about ten years ago. We’re now in our 40s, married, divorced, children. Although we’ve all gone in different directions, we will never lose our common denominator. And maybe I’m a sentimental fool now, but I’d love to see them all, hear their voices, cry with them, laugh with them, and heal their wounds.
In January I leave El Paso, but in December I’ll be back, back to my favorite place, my desert home.
Anticipation
Remember that old song by Carly Simon? It’s been ringing in my ears these days. Just the thought of being back on the road, staying in a new city most every night and a new state every week. It brings me butterflies and wracks my organizational Type A brain all at one time.
Unfortunately, I’ve found myself turning into a procrastinator. I keep asking myself, “Where is this coming from?” I’ve done all the tests that prove just how anal I am, I have ALWAYS been the one early, ready, and obnoxiously on point and on schedule. But now? I’m lost in a sea of, *eh* … really!
Is it age that makes me realize that some things are more important? When did sitting outside under the awning become more important than planning my trip, emailing contacts at my upcoming locations, looking up campgrounds, …
Okay, so the list could go on forever. I just want to be out there. I want to be on the road with, “Yeah, we’ll be there by Sunday but until then, we have six days to travel all of 250 miles and nothing else on the schedule.” I want to hit the parks, the zoos, the museums, and take time to just sit by the side of the road and enjoy the view of the skyline or the mountains, or whatever happens to be in my back yard that night. Think about it, in just a few weeks, the entire country will be my personal backyard!
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