Dangerous Curves Ahead

We normally approach Sea World from the other side, but this time we were coming back from walking on this side. I normally see another one of the Sea World coasters. I'm not sure which one that one is, or this one is; but I thought this baby looked all curvy and such. It reminds me of a centipede.

Chinese Lunch

We had been meaning to try China Garden since we moved into our new zip code. They deliver, but we ordered to go instead. The adults ate Chinese and the kids ate Italian (as in Domino's Pizza). The food wasn't the best I've had but it wasn't bad either. I can never figure out what to get so I get everything or most of what I want. When I was giving my sister the order, she said "Get what you want, you're paying" So I did.

Motel 6 Shenanigans

Not sure what was going on here. We were on the way home when we noticed this little scene going on. We were trying to figure out what was going on. We didn't think there was anyone in the truck because of the way the cops kept looking in and such. In this photo you can only see the one police car, but right after I took this photo another one pulled up.

Service is at the End of this Rainbow

We were on the way home from Target I think when my nephew spotted the rainbow. I couldn't get it from the passenger seat, so I passed the camera back to him. This is the second rainbow he's gotten for me. I think he does pretty good for a "kid" (which he claims he's not at all of 11 years old).

I think it's funny how the end or beginning of the rainbow depending on how you see it right on top of the truck labeled service. :D

UTSA Traffic

That's the downtown campus of UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio.), the other campus is way out on 1604. My sister just started graduate school and my niece her undergraduate here this year. The metal thingies are the top part of an underground garage. I hear it costs about $150 to park anywhere near campus...I think I'd just take the bus. :D

Theatre on The Water

Saw this as I was walking back to work from an appointment. Not sure what that bit of graffiti is about, but I reckon it might have to do with the fact that the brick wall on the right is a theatre (the Empire theatre if I'm not mistaken). And OMGs I just realized that the red stencil is a pirate, how cool is that?!

Palm Monday

You see palms scattered throughout the city of San Antonio. Every time I see one I except to see sand and sun and coconuts, but no such luck. This palm is all lonely on the side of the road by the highway companioned only by this metal behemoth of a bulletin board. The cross street is a railroad track I think.

Our Yards Runneth Over

Yet still more rain in San Antonio. It started raining this afternoon and all this standing water you see here is a result of only a few minutes of rain. This is a fairly new development, around three years I think. The street in front of this house was filled with swiftly running water-of the flash flood variety.

Cloudy Reflections

Some rain left behind this puddle. I saw it on my way back from grabbing some breakfast. It was a perfect picture for me to grab since I love reflections and couds.

Greenery, Greenery Everywhere

Sometimes when I see something I find myself thinking of how easy it would fit somewhere totally not in San Antonio. When I see all this greenery I think how odd it is that's it's right in the center of downtown. This is the Central Library garden, and while most people are familiar with it's lines and colors, there is also some plant life scattered throughout. The third floor terrace visible from the Children's Dept, and this garden to the right of the auditorium and visible from the library from between the window in between the mens and women's restroom are just two examples.

Money Origami

Went to lunch at Chella's with a coworker today. I had never been there before. It's one of those restaurants that look like a house on the outside. I had some chicken tacos, which were okay. The corn tortillas were good with my beans too. The inside was nicely colored, the room that we ate in was a nice red. They had photographs all over. The restroom was a nice purple. Our server was eggscellent.

Mother's Circling Around

Once again Back to School has rolled around again. All those kids with no more late nights, no more waking up as they like.

Once more pencils, once more books; once more teachers dirty looks.

This teacher was pretty patient, but she was clearly eager to get the parents out of the way and start the day. You can see the parents circling around their progeny. I always think the kids are way more comfortable with separation than the parents.

Mama Margie's

For the first time ever at at Mama Margie's. I had passed it by before but never stopped. We stopped today and I had the soft taco plate. The chicken tacos I could have done without, but the beans were okay. My sister has eaten here once or twice because the people at her work like it, but it doesn't pass muster for her either. 

Adopt-a-Child 2008

This bundle is from a long time Adopt-a-Child participant. This lady works, as she puts it, "Until I'm done," when asked by the social worker that runs this program when talking to a new donor about how long it takes her to put all this together. 

You may wonder what takes so long. Well this lady makes most everything that she gives. I know she makes the clothing, and anything else special that she can. In this picture you can spot the nap time mat complete with quilt and pillow and the doll. In speaking with her this year she told me about the new found joy of online shopping where she found some of the the items that in the past had been hard to find, like a jacket in the summer.

She specifically asks for a little girl every year because she herself had two sons. She's even gotten her sister into participating. She delivers her goodies the day of the pick up and she stays to help out the whole day. She was given an award by the Daughters one year and I know she's probably deserving of it every year.

Adopt-a-Child 2008

Every year around this time I help out with the Adopt-a-Child program. 

Our Back To School Program helps to bring back the excitement of the first day of school for many needy children. School personnel from nearby school districts nominate needy students to receive a set of clothing and school supplies for the coming school year. Through the generosity of many caring donors from the community, children are provided those supplies so that they may enjoy that first day of school.

Normally I take the day off, but this year I helped out after work. It's a bit labor intensive, but we get volunteers that help us set up (9 of which were family, not that we get much choice). :D This little lady was just about the youngest one there.

Shooting the ... News?

Not sure what was going on here. Today I decided to go to RiverCenter Mall to see if I could find myself some walking shoes. I didn't find anything that interested me, but while waiting for the trolley to go back to work I noticed this guy talking to the Pat O'Brien crier. I figured it must be some kind of news story because the guy in the suit had a camera man with him, but I never did watch the news to see if it popped up. Anytime I'm waiting for the trolley in front of Pat's I notice the crier being chatted up by all and sundry. He must get to meet quite a cross-section of people that way. I think I saw him at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo too, at the storytelling booth.

Mural

I pass this mural most days. I like the cosmic theme. The building is labeled San Antonio Testing something or other, but not sure if the mural is any relational to that.

Cracker Barrel Dinner

We ate at the Cracker Barrel today. I've eaten at the one by The Outlet in San Marcos but never the one here. I ordered the dumplings, mash and mac. The mac was good, but I've had better dumplings at Acadiana and better mash at a lot of places. We passed the time til we were served playing that game that they have at all the tables, where you jump pins one at a time and take them out play. The less pieces you have at the end of the game the better. The least I could leave on the board was 2.

Lunch for a Cause

What kind of lunch is this you might be asking yourself. Well to help out the cause I'll buy just about anything. I hadn't had my lunch yet so I figured what the heck. My family and I love nachos, we will settle for just cheese, but it's better with chili too. My hot dogs I usually eat with mustard, chili and cheese. As for the pickle, we all like pickles too. This one was dill, but that will do in a pinch if there are no sour ones around. A former coworker used to get pickles from a neighbor of his and they were great-salty just the way I like them. In the old days we used to buy a Chinese candy and stick it all the way down the pickle. Some people would put chamoy on there, but not me, now I just use Lucas aka Sal-Lim on them.

China Rose

My sister likes the China Rose. We've eaten here for a number of years, well not here but at the Military location. I like the way this one is decorated. The old one on military was not like this, that I remember and now that they've redone it it still isn't like this, but it's also not the way it used to be. I always get the same thing when I come here: Chicken and Broccoli on white rice. Back in the day I didn't like broccoli so my sister ate my carrots and broccoli, now I like broccoli, but she still gets my carrots--since I don't like most of my veggies cooked and none of my fruit that way either.

Theme: Metal

This is right on the outskirts of downtown, where there seems to be some revitalization going. Nearby they are fixing up the old Judson Candies place as lofts. I liked the metal shadows falling on the buildings, the buildings color striations and the blue of the sky.