Day #52 Genuine Texas Boys

Thank goodness Margie's post reminded me it was Friday. I should not have needed a prompt as it is also the last work day of the month and, therefore, payday for retirees in the NYS Teacher's Retirement System. That would be me. 

On the agenda today: a short trip to the Woodlands. I would describe it as a great suburban project to draw people to eat, shop, listen to music, relax by the water and people watch. The link below tells you more if you are interested.

The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau

Karen took and posted this picture as a "sign of things to come" when she was in the Market Street area of the Woodlands prior to my visit.

Can you see her reflection? Look carefully.

 Today I finally got to eat at The Cheesecake Factory... crab cake bites, arugula salad, roasted pear and blue cheese flat bread, followed by red velvet cheese cake. MMM MMM MMM

I let my mount wait while we chose to walk to the theatre for another tear jerker movie, The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

 We were the certain we were the only ones who really, deeply connected with the chin hair joke in the movie.

My Grandma Warner worried about her chin hairs right up until just before she died.

This we know as Karen and I, with Bea as our witness, had a very serious conversation about where and when and what and how we shave.

Plucking hurts. I keep a razor separate for my chin and upper lip hairs. I will let Karen disclose if and what and when she wants.

We took the short, 40 minute, Woodland Canal Cruise...

 Captain Ron at the wheel

This bridge was designed by a local high school student.

And then a brief rest at Karen's before the BIG Karaoke night at RMPs....

It's been a long time since I picked up a cue stick. It showed.

  

Karen's niece, Chelsea, gives the thumbs up as I sing a favorite Barbra Streisand tune, Evergreen.

 I was warned to expect anything. These young Texas men took a twirl or two on the dance floor.

And this fine Texas specimen was a phenomenon... one of the few singers that people stopped what they were doing to listen.

PCS Alumni gathered in Tomball, TX. Go figure. (From left to right: Bob Taylor '71, Al Dean '70, Karen Linderoth '72, Mary Kay Worth '72, Mel Pockalony '73.) And toasting the gang from behind us is ???

 Another sign that I was there or here or somewhere...        (where am I?)

I spotted young men in casts and counted four. It is, it seems, a badge of honor. They fought someone for something.

A night of cowboy hats, cowboy boots, Karaoke, beverage, cigarettes, real Mexican tacos (Thank you, Rock), hugs, laughs and country music. (I shudder to think how many were packing. In Texas you can arm yourself as long as you have a license, and I suppose even if you don't!)

Rock proudly modeled his genuine alligator cowboy boots.

And all night long I looked for this real cowboy!

Nothing at all subtle about this message I found today. Dang, my life is good. Thank you, God!