the Alamo – or at least the church
You will remember, gentle reader, that a couple of weeks ago (less a weekend) I headed off, bright and shiny and finally (I thought) over the plague that had struck me down, along with many of my coworkers. I headed off for a little business trip to San Antonio. I have never visited the fair city of San Antonio, but I was looking forward to three days spent looking at the inside of some nameless ballroom in some nameless hotel watching a series of oh-so-spicy PowerPoint presentations on scintillating subjects that I won’t go into here.
Yeah. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I was well equipped. I took knitting with me: the Snake River #2 socks, which I knit on a fair bit and got up to the ankles on; and the Jub Jub Bird socks, which I totally ignored. I had hand-knit shawls with me, lest the conference rooms become chilly. I had plenty hand-knit socks with me, which turned out to be… overkill. I had very warm feet because the weather was glorious — 80 F and sunny. I ate every meal sitting outside, soaking up the warm rays and glad for a few days of spring. Although I was well prepared with various types of product, my hair grew to enormous proportions. Ah, well. I can forgive much for that kind of weather.
One night we made it to a place called Rudy’s for dinner. It bills itself as the worst bar-b-que in Texas. Whatever. I will admit to eating an enormous amount of chicken, brisket, ribs, sausage, turkey, beans, potato salad, and creamed corn, all shared by a dozen or so colleagues, and enjoying it very much. We ordered so much they gave us an entire loaf of white bread. (I have since learned that white bread is a necessary part of any barbecue. I don’t know why.) Rudy’s had the most amazing barbecue sauce – supposedly developed by Doc Holliday at the OK coral (can’t you picture this… Doc: hold your fire there, pardner, while I rustle up a mess of ma special recipe bar-b-que sauce. I’m feelin’ a might peckish... ) I tried really hard to figure out how to get some of it home. But, with bag check costing $15, I finally had to pass.
The hotel was quite far away from central San Antonio. I was disappointed by this, as I really wanted to see the Alamo. So I didn’t bring my camera. But one night there were buses to take us down to Riverwalk. Since that’s only a short way from the Alamo, I got to at least see the outside of it (it was closed for the night). I have to admit – pretty cool! With no camera, I had to be content with a shot from my iPhone.
I arrived home and almost instantly came down with the plague again. Joy. On Monday I was supposed to go to the Dentist to get started on those two crowns I need on the teeth that were root-canalled just before Madrona (remember that?). I canceled the dentist appointment and went to the doctor instead. There I was informed that I have bronchitis and given prescriptions for antibiotics and a little something to help with the coughing so I could get some sleep.
All week, my days went like this: crawl out of bed… drink coffee, hoping to wake up a little; dial into work and stare at the screen waiting for coffee to kick in try to accomplish a few things; wonder if I really have to eat lunch and decide the instructions take with food are probably not kidding; eat the minimum lunch I think I can get away with; dial into work and try to accomplish a few things; skip dinner; go to bed.
The week wasn’t totally horrid, though. One day I found this bangle in the mail, and I was oh, so pleased! Isn’t this just the coolest thing you’ve ever seen? It’s an 8mm plastic, sliver-glitter-covered, knitting needle that’s been made into a bangle. These are made exclusively by Liana Kabel. The link goes to her Etsy shop, so you can order your own. Despite the long miles traveled – all the way from Australia – it arrived quickly and in perfect condition. Love it, love it, love it, and can’t wait to be well enough to wear it somewhere that people will actually see it!
Although I did wear it outside today so I could take a pic with the sun making the glitter all sparkly and stuff.
I wore it outside without a coat on… and… I was barefoot. Yeah. I really wasn’t outside that long and I didn’t get chilled or anything. It was a bit cold on the old toes, but so nice to feel the earth under my soles. I’m a barefoot girl, no doubt about it. (I can vividly remember Mama giving me what-for because I took the garbage out across the back yard to the alley through two feet of snow barefoot. It didn’t stop me from doing it again.)
And this was what I saw on my cherry tree.
Yes, the camellia is blooming — poor, confused thing. It was supposed to bloom at Christmas, but snow and ice nipped it in the bud and only a few blossoms made it through. The crocus are blooming, too. And the daylilies and tulips are poking their little arms up.
Can spring be far behind?
What a relief to know you are still alive – well, sort of alive.
1The trip should have cured you – once I had some flu thing for 3 weeks (I never left my bed) We were scheduled to go to a conference in the Caribbean for a week. The Dr. advised me to GO. He was right: the change of scene and climate did wonders. I did take an afternoon nap each day but the sun really helped!
Please take care of yourself.
Pat Martin
Remark from Pat Martin — Friday, 3/13/2009 @ 9:25 PM
After spending most of my life just down the road, I finally made it down to the Alamo. I was surprised by how much commercial business has grown up around it. Also, the fort itself was pretty small. It was the grounds around it that were huge.
And Rudy’s is Awesome! As far as bread goes, I don’t what it is about white bread and butter, pickles and bbq that works so well together. Also, if you get brisket, you can make sandwiches with bread, sauce and pickles. (You can add onions too, but I hate onions personally.)
I’m not sure what’s up with the “worst bbq” thing.
Did the one you go to have the automatic handwasher with accompanying “I have clean hands” stickers?
2Remark from Sally Villarreal — Friday, 3/13/2009 @ 9:33 PM
It’s a CHAIN! OMG! I wonder if I could get them to open a location in Portland?
According to Rudy’s website, the one we went to is the original gas station & general store. I don’t remember seeing the automatic handwasher, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. I was pretty full of BBQ by the time I left.
I just found out I can order that “sause” online. heh heh…
3Remark from Judy — Friday, 3/13/2009 @ 10:03 PM
Oh, MY! I do hope you’re on the mend now???
Sounds like the perfect thing to do, tho’ – go to Texas and warm weather for a few days…
Glad it was fun. And yes, somehow white bread really DOES go with BBQ – don’t try whole wheat.
4lolol
(((Hugs)))
Remark from Knitnana — Saturday, 3/14/2009 @ 1:34 PM
Glad to hear that you enjoyed San Antonio and that you were here while the weather was warm. Most of this week the state has been experiencing some cold (and wet 😀 ) weather. I think San Antonio is one of the best cities in Texas to visit. Glad you got to see at least the outside of the Alamo, too.
Rudy’s has great barbeque (although I believe my husband Rudy’s barbeque is better) and the sauce is a favorite of ours. The only problem with the sauce is that if you don’t consume it fast enough it gets even hotter. Yes, it’s a chain. I think the original location is in Boerne, but I’m not certain.
Glad you are feeling better. I’ve been wondering about you and just figured you were busy. Stay healthy!
5Remark from Bonnie — Saturday, 3/14/2009 @ 3:40 PM
Glad you’re feeling better!
I loved the Alamo. Both of our San Antonio trips were in January/February, so it wasn’t especially warm, but it wasn’t as cold as here, either.
6Remark from PDXKnitterati — Saturday, 3/14/2009 @ 6:15 PM
Eighty degrees and real barbecue? You’re making me cry…
7That bracelet is a stunner! What a great idea.
Hope you feel better soon. This seems to be the worst winter ever for nasty lingering cold/flu/plague bugs.
Remark from gayle — Sunday, 3/15/2009 @ 5:48 AM