Matthew McConaughey owns a condo in a high rise on the other side of the lake from me. I've decided to start shopping for groceries in that direction, down by the Hippie Connection Smoke Shop (not even kidding.) Dan pointed out the place on the way to Kemah boardwalk - where we went last night for fireworks. Kemah has a population of about 2,000, all these little bed and breakfasts, a ton of docks, little shops, condos and houses on the beach. It was a little like going to Navy Pier only on a smaller scale and mixed with Key West. We ate at Joe's Crab Shack and then wandered out into the midway and the carnival area to watch the fireworks. Everyone had the same idea.
The fireworks were pretty good and they had music that went with them just like Rockford, though there were considerably more country songs included here and our viewing spot wasn't as good as we're used to, but it was our first try and we'll get better at it in the next few years as we figure out where to go and where to sit. It finally cooled off after the fireworks as we exited the mob. Earlier in the day we had record setting heat and wearing a skirt and a tank top I still had sweat rolling down my spine all day. I was in awe of some ladies wearing blue jeans and a full face of makeup under a mop of perfectly straightened shiny hair falling over their shoulders and not even breaking a sweat. Perhaps that's how it is if you are from a place hotter than here.
After the fireworks, on the way to the car we found a cute little Italian place where we sat on the back balcony and drank two rounds of beer and Shirley Temples while we waited for the traffic to lighten up. We caught more fireworks to the south from the restaurant balcony before we went down the steps and found our truck. We finally made it home about midnight exhausted and pink with sun where we fell into bed. Also I'd just like to say this again - Matthew McConaughey.
Today I venture over to my local quick lube place and get the car inspected so that I can take the proof of inspection, the VTR 130-U form, the VTR 272 form, proof of insurance, my old registration and my first born to the county tax office so that I may stand in line all day and listen to Ella complain that she's bored. I know you're jealous.
Ella and I went to the bank yesterday as Dan's company doesn't offer direct deposit and our theory on that is it's not needed, guys in construction like to cash their checks at the bar on Friday afternoon and this way their wives never know exactly how much they make. But I digress, I took the check to the bank yesterday and while there I asked the gal at the counter if there was a good taco place we could hit on the way to the grocery. Really I was wondering which one we should stop at, as there is a taqueria on every corner right next to the thousand sushi places. The gal at the counter said she didn't live in the neighborhood (and apparently never goes out for lunch either) so the lady at the next desk pointed me three blocks away to the Taco Bell.
I punched in "Fast Food" on the GPS and found Freebirds World Burrito and Ella and I went to fill ourselves before we hit the grocery. Ella was immediately impressed with the giant sculpture of Lady Liberty on a motorcycle crashing through the wall and thought the line sign said the wait would be 11 minutes, it wasn't it was more like 4.
I got up to the counter and like Subway told the burrito maker I'd like 3 tacos and when he inquired what I wanted on them, I replied "I've never been here before, make what you like. What's your favorite?" his eyes lit up and he made me three chicken tacos with rice, lime juice, cheese, salsa and guacamole. I tried to eat all three, I wanted to eat all three, it just wasn't going to fit. While we munched I noticed all the tinfoil sculptures on the walls. I wanted to make one but alas I hadn't ordered a burrito and didn't have the tinfoil. Ella had a cheese quesadilla and for the first time ever in the history of ever she ate the whole thing. We spent about $10.00.
Ella gives it one thumb up. I agree. Did I mention they have beer?
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Later in the evening after it cooled we packed up and went to check out Challenger Seven Memorial Park and all I can review for you are the monkey bars and slides because that's all the further we made it. Ella met some very nice children and they played across the three play areas while Dan and I hung out at the picnic tables. Ella left exhausted, sweaty and happy and I think we'll go back. I'd like to see the board walk and the mother earth mound. I also found out yesterday (Dan gleefully informed me) and now you may feel free to hurl the word "DUH!" at me that Houston has alligators! And some of them are big. I keep trying to think of something in northern Illinois that might be equivalent and I've got nothing. It's not like a fox can grow big enough to eat your dog or a small child. So today I read up on alligator safety.
We went to the other pool (there are two here the further across the street where the apartments are more full) the night before last and there were kids and Ella swam with them even though one of them kept picking on her (She handled it.) Dan and I looked around the pool wondering about the neighbors on the other side of the road. The parents of the kids Ella played with were tattooed, highlighted, tanned and having beers, they seemed nice enough but looked to be about 24. We are pale old nerdy folks - just probably not a lot in common there. There was a group of guys at the grill, they were muscled, tanned, highlighted and poking keys into the bottom of beers and shotgunning them poolside racing to get drunk. Saturday night there will be a luau at the pool so people can meet their neighbors and though we'd like to make friends, I just don't think we're gonna go.
I did a search this morning for "Houston Moms" and found this website called Meetup. I quickly found some groups of mommies within 20 miles of me and then realized a lot of the groups say things like "WE ARE CLOSING TO NEW MEMBERS, AGAIN....PLEASE DO SIGN UP TO JOIN AND YOU WILL BE PUT ON THE WAIT LIST." or the kids are between 0-3 years old. I did find one I thought I might like but they ask for a picture in their application and the thought of being judged by my picture and an application creeps me out, I really just want a similar minded parent who has a kid Ella's age to be where we are, we don't need to be BFFs or even talk, we could just sit on our respective benches in the park and read our books or blog on the laptop.
Today we are leaving the cave to run errands and maybe hit the local park. Perhaps we'll find another distant nerdy chick with a kindergartner in tow. This will all be so much easier in the fall when Ella starts school and I start derby.
I have not been roller skating. I'm waiting, Houston Roller Derby try outs are in August. In the mean time I had been moving boxes of things and going to bed sore and tired every day up until this week. So a few nights ago I did something I'd never done before, I went to the gym. The first day I walked two miles uphill and felt tired but didn't sweat as much as when I skate and to my disappointment only burned 200 calories. The stupid machine keeps track of it for me and I wish it didn't, I'd be happier if I didn't know. I don't even really care, but now I have the information and feel like I should be doing something with it, charting it or subtracting it from some magical daily number of caloric intake that I make up in my head because I don't even want to know what 4 honey covered waffles and a beer add up to.
In an effort to make my lungs feel like they are on fire, like when I skate, I tried a different contraption last night, the one where your arms and legs are going at the same time. This time the machine was keeping track of my heart rate to make sure I wasn't slacking or letting go of the handles to itch my nose or change the TV channel (and what DO people watch when they are on these things?) Right away it told me to slow down so I didn't keel over, but instead I imagined I was on the skate floor and did three miles in thirty minutes - ROAR! For the first time in weeks I didn't have crazy legs in bed last night.
