Don't Mess With Texas

I went to Texas for the first time to visit my dad who just built a house outside Killeen/Fort Hood in central Texas. This trip also marked my first ride on a prop plane. I don't fly well, as a matter of fact, I need to be completely drugged, Xanax being my medication of choice, but I was fine flying in this smaller plane maybe because I could see the ground the entire 20 minute flight from Dallas : .)


I just love the dual meaning in "Don't Mess with Texas." Not only is it a slogan for the Texas Department of Transportation, and was developed to reduce littering on Texas roadways, but exactly what it says, "Don't Mess with Texas." I found it hard, however, to take such a slogan seriously when Texas pride was painted on the side of a bathtub.

Dad started collecting tractors as soon as he moved. Such a country guy!

Dad and I drove two hours to San Antonio, where I dragged him thru El Mercado - shopping and then on a ghost tour of downtown. Nope, we didn't see any ghosts, but we did get a good dose of local history. This is a shot of us outside the Alamo.

You know how you have certain expectations? Well, the Alamo is much smaller than I expected. (Versus the Mona Lisa, which was larger than I expected, go figure.) Did you know that there's no basement in the Alamo? : .)

Aunt Ginny and Uncle John live next door to dad and had us over for dinner. My cousin and his new wife joined us. Uncle John and I played dualing cameras. He doesn't like to have his picture taken.

I love that my dad lives in the middle of nowhere. The birds wake you in the morning and the deer visit in the afternoon. I think I'll go back, not only to practice my Texas drawl, but to get some more Lamme's Pecan Pralines, yum!!!