My Rental Car Observations

Sorry, readers, but I just can't stop writing about our Texas trip yet! I thought it might be helpful for those of you planning a trip to consider rental car options. Normally, Wes and I drive very typical, boring cars. (At least neither are silver or Buicks which would be Wes' first choice, but that's another story...) So, while debating at the rental car place in Dallas, I saw a yellow BRAND NEW PT Cruiser that just brought a smile to my face. It has a large-capacity trunk, a sun roof which sells Wes on it, too. We take it! We notice that we are "noticed" while driving this car. People look at us in parking lots, and the valet guy at the hotel always brings our car immediately to us as per our request. When we park ourselves anywhere, we are the only yellow PT Cruiser in the lot, making it easily located. In a sea of cars, that's a really good thing! Do we look like we are having a good time on the road or what? How fun is it to drive looking forward at the road with all this sunny yellow car dashboard stuff cheering you on? Even when skies are cloudy and gray? Just brings a smile to my face! Here Wes poses by our yellow PT Cruiser with the Moody Gardens pyramids in the background (Galveston Island, Texas.) So, the next time you get a rental car, find one that makes you smile and transports you to a vacation frame-of-mind. Go red!(or yellow) Go convertible! Go sunroof! Go different! After all this is a getaway from your everyday ho-hum life, right?

Seriously, Is This a Texas Thing?

At about this time last year, there was excitement in our household as plans for Anne and Jed's wedding were well underway. Save-the-Date cards were sent months ago, invitations were made and almost ready to be addressed and mailed. Reception venue was arranged, flowers ordered, musicians planned, dresses arriving for the maids and flower girls, photographer hired. But, after our recent trip to Texas and seeing all these brides ALONE, I began to wonder if we had missed something a year ago! Is this what they do in Texas BEFORE the wedding to get a picture in the newspaper of the bride ALONE? Is this what they do all over the country in preparation of the big day? Sort of like a trial run with the bride and her photographer? Each bride came equipped with a plain-clothed photographer. Some photographers looked like professional "snappers" while others looked like relatives. All brides had beautiful bouquets, freshly coifed hair, and truthfully seemed very calm and relaxed. I was thinking it could NO WAY be their wedding day! Besides, where were their grooms? This is the ONLY "set" of bride and groom that I saw the entire day at the Botanical Gardens in Dallas! I'm thinking maybe, maybe they really tied the knot on this day. Seriously, did we miss something in preparing for Anne and Jed's wedding last year by not having Anne alone photographed in a lovely outdoor scene? Days before the wedding...or on the actual day? Or is this a Texas thing? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Art Treasures

While Wes was busy at his AFP Conference, I visited the Dallas Museum of Art, just a couple of blocks away from our hotel. Time flows whenever I'm taken into the world of painting, sculpture, photography, amphoras, and the like! The museum has a significant modern art collection. As much as I ponder over the meanings of many of these pieces (did you know I was an art major in college?), I still am taken in by beautiful paintings such as the one above. Isn't the little girl mesmerizing in her bonnet? After this particular gallery, I entered the doorway with this view: Dale Chihuly is one of my favorite glass artists. We saw his creations at the Garfield Park Conservatory, in the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, and it was a wonderful surprise to find a significant work of his in the Dallas Museum of Art! His flowers surround a huge window area in the museum. Breathtaking! Here's a close-up of one of the flowers. It's about the size of a hula hoop and is simply beautiful!

Flower Show

Day 2 of our Texas trip is spent at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. We have been to many botanical gardens throughout this country, and this ranks right behind the best one (Buchart Gardens in British Colombia, Canada). Go if you can...springtime is the best show, so the "locals" tell us. Wouldn't it be fun to live in a house made of flowers? Check out the Lone Star flag. You're never too old to become a human butterfly! Finally, this one is for you, Jed! This VW Bug was covered with blooming flowers; next to it was a blooming VW Bus. Peace out, man! Life is groovy!!

Lone Star State, Here We Come!

Wes and I have just returned from a lovely week in Texas. A conference (Wes) and the beach (me). There are perks to being empty nesters! Before our departure, I was frequently checking the weather reports: a lot of rain, cloudiness, and even storming was predicted. We were pretty lucky, however, and saw only a couple of days with rain. Temps were in the 70's and low 80's, and GREEN was everywhere. Hallelujah! Flowers in bloom, the scent of earth awakening was much needed and highly appreciated. Our first stop: the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. Here are just some of the sights from Dallas,Texas. We had a great view from our hotel - on the Terrace Level - and daily made trips to check out the architecture from this level. (We still think that Chicago's architecture is hard to beat, but were very impressed with what we saw!) As this week back home progresses, I will be adding more experiences and photos to my blog...should you like to get an armchair version of Dallas, Galveston and Houston from the Lindahl perspective.