08-31-2010

Comments:
Mission Accomplished... Our combat troops are gone from Iraq but really? For most families with losses we will be there forever. Those words were misused, mistake or a really bad choice. We all are taking a collective breath waiting for part two. Not only do you have several major players but countries. Radical Islam is there also.

Schools back in session and our folks are struggling with lack of funds just as usual. With the economic downturn people who have jobs are staying put. They are waiting to have families and overall number of new teachers and alternative certification candidates have slowed or stopped. Meanwhile student numbers grow as do the need for new schools and better programs. 
 

Food:
La Madeliene , Ridglea for Beef Crepe Maison and Croque Monsieur excellent early dinner tonight. Hot coffee, iced tea and small lemon cakes.

Lucile's Stateside Bistro, Fort Worth, Texas for Sunday Brunch of Beignets and Eggs Benedict. The omelet was fantastic that the wife ordered. Buttered biscuits and strawberry jam with loads of fresh butter.

Rancho de Chimayo in Chimayo, New Mexico it was as fantastic as it has ever been. They have just recovered from a fire which had closed them for better than a year. We stopped by twice once from Taos on the high road and later in the week while in Santa Fe. The first visit was for breakfast with eggs and chilies. The had the little cinnamon pillows which were heavenly. They were little sopaipillas covered in cinnamon sugar and toasty hot. Honey is served but not needed. Just a good hot cup of coffee and lots of time. Later in the week we went back for dinner. There were the obligatory enchiladas, pork green chile stew and flautas. I had the chicken sopaipilla relleno with green sauce. We had Natillas for dessert with fresh hot sopaipillas. I can't say enough.

Taos, New Mexico
Michael's Kitchen a great place in Taos to eat. If you miss this place then I do not think you can claim to have really been to Taos. The hours are funky depending on the days of the week but breakfast is served all day. They have all the regular food plus a full Northern Mexico Spanish food set of entrees. If you go you just can not leave without going back again.

Graham's Grill is near the square on the Main Street. It is in the old Penny's Building. It is upscale but not way over priced. I had the pork tenderloin with berry sauce. The others had the shrimp salad and bison burgers. All were great and met our expectation. The folks use available food stuffs as much local as possible so the menu varies around what is available. It is a repeat for us.

Travel: This summer was more usual than not. We traveled with friends as our custom. From home we drove to Raton, New Mexico by way of Amarillo. The next morning it was on to Colorado through Trinidad to Fort Garland and then South Fork. Turning north to Creede then finally to Lake City, Colorado where we made camp. It was a wonderful little rental in town just south of the main doings. After a week we broke camp and drove south to Taos by way of South Fork and Alamosa. A few days in Taos then on to Santa Fe to finish up our trip. On the way home we took an over night at Clayton to break up the journey. It was wonderful as was the cool temperatures and beautiful weather. No fish this year but we did wet a hook.

Hobbies:
Ham Radio is struggling right now and changing. Lots of emergency managers and hospital folks are getting there Ham ticket so they can climb the ladder of emergency management. Several churches are getting their tickets so they can be prepared for the next emergency here or away. The club has just done a balloon launch and is beginning the serious planning for the January 11 Cowtown Hamfest.

Brahmas Ice Hockey is just around the corner and they are beginning to sign players and make plans for camp in October.

Witchin:
Nothing too big. I am ready for some quiet time with no BP, oil, Iraq, Katrina 5, Mines and whatever the next big news story is bound to be. I hope that the Brahmas Hockey would consider some new uniforms and a new game night script with a lot less between play ads and talk.

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06-08-2010

Comments:
I have to ask this question, where is the place for the leader of a country in time of war when you are honoring your fallen solders with a special day?

A. Hawaii
B. At home in Chicago hanging with his buds playin some round ball
C. Trying to locate his hinny with both hands
D. Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC

I further wish I could stay clear of the BP explosion and oil spill. But it is just to rich an area of comment. The folks "in charge" are almost as efficient here as with the earthquake in Haiti. It just magnifies our current lack of ability to get things done. Tonight I heard the leader of the free world say he was keeping quiet so he could more readily decide whose ass he was going to kick. I am not only astonished but appalled. In the spirit of repairing the damage caused by the former administration and making sure that all things were "transparent" I know now for sure he has not got a clue about running the country. His handlers were able to run a successful campaign and when he feels he is in trouble he hits Air Force One to run some more but the nuts and bolts of the job after 500 plus days he just does not have. We can only hope he can grow into the job. So far he does campaign stops well and knows how to introduce all the cronies before he speaks. I guess that is saying something. Poor Ole George could not walk and chew gum. The real rub is that I don't see anyone out there that is going to be any better.

Finally, to me what I see is BP boiling frogs. If you know how to cook a frog then you know my point. Start cool and heat him up slowly. He will go to sleep when he get cozy warm, then wham, it’s all over. Americans can't concentrate on anything for more than a few weeks. If you can keep them busy for the few weeks they get accommodated and move to something else. Meanwhile BP is still dumping crude in the Gulf and covering LA with sludge. I ask you what is more important billions of lost dollars of livelihoods or a incorrect call on first base leading to a missed no hitter? 

Food:
The Keg (6/10)
I start by saying the food was excellent. The wife and I had the bacon wrapped filet, done medium rare. Just pink inside but warm. The main courses were plentiful and cooked to our requests. We had the baked potato with the trimmings on the side. They had a special herb butter which was nice. We steered clear of the drinks they were just too pricy, but no more so than many eateries of today. They had mixed veg with mushrooms as a side dish. The dinners came with an above average Caesar salad. The wait staff was good to us and allowed us time to enjoy our food. They checked on us but did not over do it. They seemed to know to wait and not break into our conversations by asking if we needed more water. The total bill before tip was in the $70. Like many of today's places for us it means this will be a special occasion place but all in all very enjoyable.

Travel:
We are preparing for the summer holidays and will have more to say once we have returned.

Witchin:
BP Oil and the lack of ...well everything. Just glad the current folks are not planning and fighting "D Day" 

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04-28-2010

Comments:
How time flies when you are having fun? It is really hard to believe I got so busy I did not get back here until now. We have gone a complete hockey season, I guess I can use that for an excuse, right. The team played well but had lots of injuries. They were smallish compared to the winning teams. We could play with the others but not consistently, so we faltered and the guys are now golfing and looking for summer jobs. I guess that would be me too, but I don't play golf.

I noticed my last time on here was Gage's Birthday, it has been one thing after another since then. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Betty's, Tori's and Faye's Birthday, followed by the Annual Cowtown Hamfest, Spring Break and the like. I have slowed but I just have not stopped and taken stock of all that needed to be done, especially in my virtual world. The most pressing is the page at Brahmas.net which takes daily tending until after the season is over, which of course is now. I found Facebook this year and Twitter like so many others. Both can be fun but can be limiting. If you are wordy it can be down right upsetting. Friends from all over have found me and I have looked up some too. That part has been grand. I have watched about all the Perry Mason's and I know more about CNN than their newsreaders do. After a year it is easy to see it is not really news and if there is no news they will make some up.

A friend wants me to write about some of our adventures and some practical hints for teachers and school folks. What we learned is not from books but just sage pieces of wisdom and common sense. Things like, "Never get your honey where you get your money...". I have done a project or two but I am ready to find at least some solid part time work a few days a week. So it is time to dust off the work clothes and spruce up the resume' then find out who needs a little help out there.

Food:
Lambert's of Fort Worth (4/10)
Food was good. I had the chicken fried steak and the wife had the smoked prime rib. The main courses were plentiful and done to a turn. The cfs did not overwhelm the plate and there was room for nicely prepared French fries. The wife had the baked potato with all the trimmings on the side. We started with drinks and these were pricy, but no more so than many eateries of today. The real special was the bread pudding with hard sauce. After a nice sized helping that we shared, we had some to take home. The wait staff was average. They checked on us but did not over do it. They seemed to know to wait and not break into our moments by asking if we needed more water or if the half empty plate meant we liked the meal. I saw a fellow teacher I knew, Mrs. Amy Burk, she was there with her husband. That part of the evening was most delightful. The total bill before tip was in the $60. For us it means this will be a special occasion place but all in all very enjoyable.

Daybreak Cafe and Grill (4/10)
We had breakfast there about 7:45am on a weekday morning. The food was good. I had the normal eggs and bacon with toast but they have a varied menu of Mexican specialty items as well. The price was nominal and location good, right off White Settlement Road down for the FWISD Ad Building. They open early at 5am and stay open late. The only downside was most the seating is booths with just a few tables. That makes life difficult for some of us. It is definitely a redo...

Mexican Inn (4/10 update)
Updates just means we eat there often, which we do. This evening the food was great and staff terrific. We ate at the North Henderson/Jacksboro Highway location. This is one of the original locations and they have a slightly different menu than their new restaurants. Our table had loaded nachos, tacos and enchiladas all were exceptional. Big drinks and friendly folk. The price is about average for Mexican fare. The chips and hot sauce and the homemade tortillas are still something to die for. There is only positives no depression dip here.

Travel:
Went to Odessa for a playoff hockey game in April. Had a good stay after a long ride. We stayed late Sunday morning to check out the special Sunday Brunch. It was wonderful along with the pianist and all the good food. We only get to escape now and then, so each one is very special.

Witchin:
I have only one word... Health Insurance, pew wee.

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10-09-2009

Celebrated Gage's birthday Sunday and he had a ball. He is my little boy grandchild and Tori is the little girl. She won't be little very long as she knows just how old she is. Gage had a great time opening presents and chowing down on his favorite pizza. No cake for our guy, he is a devotee of the chocolate chip cookie. This was his fifth and boy has he grown. Lots of relatives showed up along with friends and school friends. Of course the presents came with loads of good wishes.

Dr. Westy

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9-23-2009

Well as I lay down to sleep I began thinking about how to change this blog to get back a little of what it once was. It changed when I assumed the principalship, mostly for my own reasons but as a principal it is not always best to voice ideas on opinionated topics. You have enough problems without adding more and open yourself to further misunderstandings.

The goals I have set are pretty simple. There are three spheres of contact, the local, the state/nation and the world. Within them I'll start by using an old process of talking about the good, the bad and the ugly. I'll comment on food. I know there are thousands of folks doing this but for now I feel I have something to offer.  It will be local and as I travel I'll let you know about these places and their delicacies. Finally as a minor league hockey fan, I reserve the right to comment on the how's and why's of what happens in the Central Hockey League and other minor league hockey around the world. I Go...

Dr. Westy

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9-12-2009

It has been a couple of months now and I still don't have a really good schedule. There are morning breakfasts and lunches during the day with friends. There is a radio club meeting once or twice a week. We are planning for the annual hamfest in January and preparing the protocol for the coming balloon launch next summer. Hockey season starts in about 30 days so we have "Making the Cut" a pro hockey camp and the team’s preseason training camp. I plan on becoming a rink rat for a couple of weeks at the "shoebox" our nickname for the arena we play at. It is NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills near Fort Worth in the Mid Cities area.

Not only am I taking care of the house but I have become the family bookkeeper and secretary. Last week I started checking emails and culling non working addresses. I have also been working on my networking and sending notes to folks I have worked with. I have a small consulting business that has been sitting while I did a three year tour of the principalship. It had been several years since I had a building leadership role. It was fun and kept me young, so it was a good thing. It was a unique way to close out before retiring from the public schools. At this point it is no where near the end of the educational career. I would love to teach college education and work with schools, school districts and their boards. Well the grand son is here for a few hours. He needs the computer so off I go. Just think I got on here and said nothing about our countries leaders, politics, insurance reform or presidential messages to our school children.

Dr. Westy

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8-18-2009

I had to have a little vacation and momma had to finish school and all that takes time. The number one question is do I miss the school and the kids now that it is about time to start up again? Well of course but I have just fleeting thoughts. I don't wake up worrying and I don't have to care about whose toes I might be stepping on. I could go on but it most likely would get me in trouble so I will leave it alone for now. I think its like the Star that has had a great run and knows way too much about everyone and everyone is wondering when the "tell all" book is coming out. I left things in good hands and I can only hope that they will do right by the students, faculty and parents. It was a great three years out of thirty eight so I can't really expect much more.

Dr. Westy

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