Since I haven’t blogged in a while and keep hearing that my blog is “stale” (from the Lyons as well as Carrie), here are some photos and videos to get everyone up to speed! There’s been lots going on the last couple of weeks - I just haven’t taken the time to write about it…

Friday, June 20

Randomly went bowling with the Tucker’s … They called me at the last minute on Friday to see if we wanted to go to dinner. Carrie was otherwise occupied (read: Friday night massage!), so I joined them at Saltgrass. Then Kendall wanted to go somewhere where we could “do something” — somehow we ended up on bowling. Here’s Kendall in action…

Saturday, June 21

We headed out to Sherri’s (Julie’s sister) house for Julie’s birthday party. Here’s Brendan finding Jack’s “Happy Button” — doesn’t Jack’s laugh just crack you up? This might be another one of those videos that Julie stops by to play over and over, much like the Polish Arm Wrestling — it’s hilarious!

Here’s Sherri demonstrating the “Cycle of Life” in her own backyard!

Tuesday, June 24

I got up around 5am and headed down to MD Anderson to meet up with Brendan and Jules for her scheduled cyber-knife procedure. It was a long day as Jules had to sit around in her “halo” for pretty much all morning…

Of course, she was a trooper, as always! The procedure finally took place a little after lunch. The procedure itself didn’t take more than 30-45 minutes, but there was a lot of planning that goes into it — several hours, in fact. As Julie pointed out, “Measure twice. Cut once!”

The “consultation room” that they had for them sat four people and we had between 7-10 people there, depending on the time, so some of us were in the main waiting room. Julie had me walk her out to her dad so that she could chat with him for a bit. After Julie talked shop (yes, she couldn’t stop herself from working!) for a bit, I took the opportunity to snap this photo with my Macbook.

Julie was cleared to go a little before 5pm — just a mere twelve hours later. Pretty amazing that this was an outpatient procedure! Brendan and Jules headed home and I headed over to Kelli’s for a glass of wine (thanks Kel - it was much needed!) and a change of clothes because I was not done for the day…

Carrie had her orientation program that night for her Texas MBA program. We got there just before the 7pm kick-off time and sat down for a quick introduction by the dean and other staff. Then the class of 2008, class of 2009 (Carrie’s class), and spouses, all split up for separate programs. We went through some cheesy mixer-type games to get us to meet some of the other spouses and listened to a panel of spouses of class of 2008 students and what their experiences had been for the previous year. Overall I have to say that I was impressed — I’m sure that this is going to be a great program for Carrie!

We finally got home around 10pm or so that night … and I went straight to bed, right? Of course not! More on that later…

Friday, June 27

Richele and Mike had us over for dinner — we hadn’t seen each other in a while — since Candace and Jason’s wedding, I think! Here’s Alyssa opening her birthday card / present … she is just a little dramatic!

As a joke on my sister Natalie, I gave Alyssa $21 for her birthday — $1 more than she had given her! LOL … This made Natalie very happy, I assure you!

I told Alyssa about the joke on Aunt Natalie, so she helped me by playing it up for the camera…

Here is Samantha eating bacon. I don’t know why, but it is funny! Isn’t she adorable?!?

Saturday, June 28

Julie’s ready to go! Apparently she thought that they were going backpacking through Europe - thus, her carry-on. Actually, Julie was the only smart one to pack an extra change of clothes in her backpack just in case their luggage didn’t make it. Smart!!

Hallie was excited about checking in … at least when Jack wasn’t looking in her bag. The front of her bag is see-through and Jack was LOOKING in it!!! Obviously, this was very upsetting!

Jack and Hallie with their carry-ons … Jack is in desperate need of an upgrade from his Blue’s Clues bag, as it is too short for him and hit his foot every time he took a step! He didn’t seem to care though!

Jack was looking a lot better standing in line than when he got his passport photo taken. For some reason he is in a stage where he doesn’t want his photo taken — and the one below had to be taken by Julie in the Walgreen’s after much effort by Brendan and Julie to get him to stop putting his hands in front of his face and crying. I’m sure that he will laugh about this photo when he is older … until then we can all laugh about it now!

The entire crew ready to go!

The flight was delayed almost 2.5 hours … No big deal, other than rescheduling their connection in Amsterdam.

OK — here is where I continue my story from Tuesday… After spending the day with Brendan and Julie at MDA, then going to Carrie’s Texas MBA orientation, I was somewhat tired, but at the same time was restless and knew that I wouldn’t be able to go to sleep. I wanted to relax for a bit, so I decided to go play poker for a while. If no one else understands this I know that JFLO will!

I headed over to Big Dog’s (the local “underground” poker room — yes, just like in Rounders — but it’s not run by the Russian mob) to play for a while. There was a seat open in the $5/5 game, so I took it. I haven’t posted any poker hands on here since I started a separate poker blog (which needs to be updated as well!), but humor me for a minute…

An player in early position made it $25 to go and five or six other players called. I was last to act with my measly 6-4 soooooted (of spades). Since I was last to act and there was a ton of money out there, I called, figuring that if I hit a big hand or big draw I could get paid off. The flop came Q-6-x and it was checked around! The turn was a 6 — thank you for the free card everyone!!! It’s checked around to me again — so, I bet out $50 and only get called by the original raiser. Everyone else folds. The turn is a blank, putting no straights or flushes on the board. I bet out $100 and get insta-called again. I flip over my hand, he sees the 6, and mucks. I didn’t see his hand, but he had AQ, KK, or AA for sure. Thank you for slow playing, sir!

There is a point to this story… I left substantially up for the night, and had worked off the tension and stress from the day. But that pot, if you were paying attention, was around $425 or so.

Later in the week, as Brendan was making travel plans to Switzerland, he was asking me about my President’s Club membership and if he could borrow it. That wasn’t going to work because they check your photo ID every time these days — ostensibly to prevent people like me and Brendan from abusing the system!

With an estimated $10K or so in expenses for travel and initial hospital payment once they get over there, Brendan couldn’t really justify a P-Club membership on top of that. Thinking back to the events of Tuesday, it only seemed right that my poker winnings from the night go to something useful. Specifically, the pot from the 6-4 soooted hand was the same amount as the cost of a P-Club membership. So I found the most manly ribbon I could from Carrie’s scrapbooking supplies (only because I didn’t have a rubber band!) and wrapped up some loot!

My paper’s thick!!! The “Pres Club” is an homage to our referee buddy Hayes, who always writes your last name on money that he pays you for working games. Brendan cracked up Wednesday night when I gave it to him.

The woman behind the desk told him several times that he could pay by credit card, but Brendan declined, of course! LOL … Part of the deal was that he had to purchase his membership with the wad of cash!

Here’s Brendan buying his P-Club membership with his roll of cash!

The P-Club worked out perfectly (after a quick lunch at Pappadeaux’s in the airport). After hanging out in the general area for a while, someone informed us that there was a Family Room! Cool!! So, we got to camp out in the family room, which was completely separate from the rest of the club, with two TVs — including a VCR with kids movies that you could check out, and tons of room for the rest of us to spread out.

Kerber kept Hallie occupied with some online kids game while Jack watched Surf Ninjas.

Jack and Brendan headed to the gate … somehow Brendan got stuck with Hallie’s bag — and, yes, he was actually rolling it part of the way! LOL

Da plane! Da plane!!!

Unfortunately, those are not the Lyons’ Lamborghini’s on the tarmac!

Finally, here are the Lyons’ boarding their plane on the way to Switzerland.

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Carrie and I had a chance to hang with the Lyons this week… I told them that we should meet up for a nice dinner this past weekend and somehow that turned into them cooking for us?!?! WTH??? Anyway, we got to hang out in the Lyons’ backyard while Brendan grilled (How are those coals doing, Bren?) and later on watched Because I Said So.

Brendan and Carrie were treated to a bus ride by Jack!

Nice chair Bren!

Here is Brendan teaching Hallie a new form of arm wrestling…

Hallie was excited because she kept winning!!!

On Monday I headed over to the Lyons to accompany them down to MD Anderson. Julie had a couple of tests that she had to do, but they were spread out over the day — one at noon and the other scheduled for around 8pm.

Brendan getting some work done… Fortunately MDA has free wi-fi!

Julie is well equipped on these trips — water, food (although she couldn’t eat any before taking barium!), her backpack, and desktop computer. Well, it is a “notebook”, but has like a two foot screen and huge keyboard — thus, why she needs a bag with a handle to tote it around! However, it’s really handy for reconciling credit card bills and receipts — which Julie did while Brendan and I watched movies! Yes, movies, plural. We were able to get in two movies in the evening while waiting on Julie’s appointment — The Italian Job and The Girl Next Door — watching on my computer with our dueling Bose headphones. Awesome!

Julie is a crackberry addict like the rest of us!

On the way to MDA, Brendan was acting up and (as usual) I was getting blamed for it! Julie started wondering out loud how much it would cost for a taxi to take me home!!!

To give you some backstory, Julie once told Brendan at MDA one night when I was visiting, “Brendan, if you don’t stop it, Brad is going to have to leave!” LMAO!!!

Love you Jules!!

Woohoo!! IHOP!!! We were all hungry after leaving MDA finally around 11:30pm Monday night, so we decided to stop at IHOP — one of the only places still open!

Brendan and Julie deciding what to order … Ordering at IHOP seems a lot harder when you are sober! LOL

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We are headed back to Houston. Literally. As in, I am posting this while Carrie is driving!

We made the requisite stop at Buc-ee’s just outside of Luling, for their oft-advertised clean restrooms and jerky, and we are now entering the city limits.

We had a great time at on the river with friends and at the Hyatt Hill Country this week and are coming home very relaxed!

Carrie at the pool — unfortunately the sun wasn’t as cooperative as we would have liked, but we did get a few hours poolside before it started raining!

One of the many waterfalls on the grounds — the landscaping is amazing!

Carrie reading and relaxing.

Our “amenities” tray from the Hyatt — more specifically, Barbara Scherff. We were pleasantly surprised to get a call around 6pm last night from room service and have this anti-pasta plate and bottle of Stag’s Leap delivered to our room! Awesome!!!

Thank you very much Barbara — we will be sure to call the next time we visit — and there will definitely be a next time!

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That’s about all Carrie and I have done since arriving at the Hyatt Hill Country Sunday afternoon. The evening that we arrived we just chilled out at the hotel for a while, then headed to the Alamo Draft House Cinema, just down the road. This movie theater is a little different in that they have a full menu that they serve throughout the movie along with the beverage of your choice. Cool!

Carrie did find something relatively healthy to eat on this menu (which was quite difficult) — she found out that’s it’s pretty hard to eat a salad in a dimly lit movie theater though!

We saw Knocked Up while we enjoyed some Shiner.

Here’s what the theater looks like — with little tables that you can eat at … Pretty different movie experience — and fun!

After the movie we drove across town (which in San Antonio is about 12 miles) to Amy’s Ice Cream — YUM!

That’s Carrie’s Mexican Vanilla and Cookie Dough being mixed up…

…and her enjoying it. Carrie hadn’t had Amy’s in about 4-5 years — since we last had some together in Austin. The Alamo Draft House is an Austin thing too — why are we in San Antonio again?

The Hyatt’s “Ramblin’ River” — not exactly the Frio!

The Windflower Spa — where Carrie and I spent a good part of the afternoon on Monday.

Carrie eager to get to our appointment!

I look pretty relaxed — and this is pre-massage!

This is the view from the back porch of the spa…

…where we sat and ate lunch…

…and read for a bit and just chilled.

For dinner we went to the Antlers Lodge at the hotel. The hotel guide said “No jeans, please.” but I decided to brave it, since I didn’t bring anything other than shorts, a bathing suit, and the one pair of jeans — I figured the latter was the most appropriate.

As we approached the maître d’, Carrie said, “You’re going to have to sweet talk him.” Not a problem.

I walk up and say, “We’re hoping to get a table for two, please.” — to which he asked, “Do you have reservations?”

I said, “No.” and as he was looking at his list of reservations, presumably to find us a table, Carrie decides to pipe up with, “He doesn’t have appropriate attire either!”

WHAT?!?!?!? So much for smooth talking. Nice one babe!

Fortunately, he said that the jeans were not a problem … that we are at a resort after all.

After that near debacle, we were seated at the last table next to a window and enjoyed a nice romantic dinner. We started with scallops wrapped in bacon for appetizers, along with a nice bottle of Stag’s Leap Petite Syrah. Carrie ordered the special — a 6-8oz Filet (Daddy Dan would be proud) and I had the Bison Tenderloin (yes, Bison) — it was really good! For dessert we shared a Texas brownie with Mexican vanilla ice cream.

After dinner we came back to our room and watched Derailed — if you haven’t seen it and like suspenseful movies with a lot of plot twists you should see it.

Overall, amazing and very relaxing day! Tomorrow we are headed to cruise the Ramblin’ River and sit by the pool for most of the day!!

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The title of this blog post is brought to you by Ron White - jump to the 4:10 minute mark in the video…

We had a great time “camping” with the Lyons et al this weekend … Carrie and I arrived right about 5:30pm on Friday, BBQ in tow, to find Milton and others trying to hone in on our dinner. See, in order to “camp” you have to pitch in for the cost of the rental house, plus cook one meal — and we were assigned Friday dinner. However, once you are done with your meal you are DONE — thus, you can just kick back and relax. So, others were trying to hone in on our Friday night meal so that we would get stuck with Saturday lunch. Nice try Milton!!

We had picked up Rudy’s on the way over and it was ready to go once we were there. Some of the people there actually expected us to cook — do these people know us? Actually, no — they were friends of Julie and Brendan’s (and now ours, of course) … maybe next year we will whip something up, then they will start begging us to bring BBQ from then on!

Saturday we were up bright and early — ok, 9am — for mimosas and doughnuts to get the day off to a great start. We headed down to the Frio river around 10:30 and were tubing by 11. Contrary to it’s name, it wasn’t actually that cold and the weather was perfect — cloudy for the first 15 minutes or so, but the sun came out after that. We made the first trip sans Carrie as she wanted a trip report from me before deciding whether to go or not that afternoon. Well, regardless of how it went I was going to tell her it was great, just so that she would go and have the experience for herself — however, it was a great time and she did accompany everyone that afternoon and enjoyed herself.

Let me tell you that the people on this trip are veteran campers and tubers. They had tubes for all adults and kids, as well as the three ice chests that tubed down with us. Even Julie agrees that you have to have a beer while you are tubing — even if it is 11 in the morning (My grandmother Mamoo would say, “It’s five o’clock somewhere!”). I mostly survived the trip with my SPF 50, although I did get a little burned on my forearms and shins — I think because the water washed off some of the sunscreen! However, no one warned me about tube burn! Maybe I paddled a little too much … regardless, next year it will be a long-sleeved sun shirt for me to take care of both issues (Brendan had his and seemed to have no problems!)

It was a great weekend and we enjoyed it — thanks for having us along, Lyons!

Here are some pics from the weekend as well as tubing videos from Friday night as Brendan and Julie tried to get Jack acclimated to the tubing experience. Hallie and Jack went tubing with us Saturday morning and were total troopers!

Julie pulls Jack and William around the river … Unfortunately this and going tubing for a few minutes with Brendan is all the tubing that William would get because Irma is a wuss!!!

Irma braves the Frio river up to almost her knee! Wow!

Brendan and Carrie chillin’ out … Carrie still trying to evaluate this whole river thing.

Kendall seemed to enjoy herself.

Brendan and Jack headed up the river to do a few test runs.

Brendan and Jack on their test run - Jack was a little scared at first, but seemed to enjoy himself pretty quickly!

Julie and Jack on his second test run - he’s much more into it this time after getting over his first tubing jitters!

William and Jack decided to go for one last run together with Brendan.

The marks on the tree are from where things hit it when it flooded several years ago! It was the 2nd highest flood ever — even taking a car down the river that year. And, yes, they still went tubing!

Jack says no more photos please!

Kerber says she doesn’t do photos, but this blog post says otherwise!

Just some of the empties!

When I got back to my room I saw that Brendan had helped me unpack! How nice! I can’t wait to find something to help him with so that I can repay him!

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