Deep in the heart of Texas

Joy and John are one more weekend into 2010 with another great weekend worth reporting. This one started on Friday night (15 Jan 2010) at the historic Cactus Hotel in Old Town San Angelo. Joy, John, Laura, and Cat had the great pleasure to see Beto and The Fairlanes and dance the nights away to some Cha-Cha, Swing, and Salsa. The best part was seeing the look on Joy’s Ob/Gyn face when she saw Joy swinging around the dance floor at 7.5 months pregnant. John danced with all three of his beautiful escorts who in the process made him look like some kind of gigolo. Right---Dream On Johnny O!

The next morning we hit the road again;


this time for southwest Texas and a small town called Ft. Davis.

We stayed at the exceptionally cute Limpia Hotel in the heart of downtown Fort Davis (a very small but nice town- Joy was very impressed), enjoyed a fine diner of Texas BBQ at The Chuck Wagon, and took in the stars at the McDonald Observatory (http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/). What a great evening! We attended two events at the observatory which is boasted as tops in the world. The first event was called “Modeling the Universe” where we learned about how the earth lies within our universe (The Milky Way) and how we correlate to all the major constellations. The most interesting item of the evening was that the earth wobbles and there are actually 13 major constellations. Due to that wobble and the extra forgotten constellation, we all might think we’re Cancer or Scorpio but are likely NOT. This was a somewhat positive development since all astrology books say Virgo (John) and Gemini (Joy) should never get together. Maybe we work since we’re not what we thought… Apologies for the digression.

The night sky was clear, crisp, and truly spectacular. The clarity with which we could see the Milky Way, Orion, Taurus, Andromeda, and all the others were amazing. Our guide pointed all these heavenly bodies out to us and at the end of it all we had the pleasure to view many of the celestial bodies through high-powered telescopes.

The next morning we enjoyed a Mexican Breakfast- John’s favorite (but, the only place that was open for b-fast at 9:30am on a Sunday morning- crazy) and stopped into a Health Food Store (unbelievable that Ft. Davis had a health food store- it barely had a convenient store- and with products we can’t get in San Angelo) to stock up on foodstuffs for our trip into Big Bend National Park.

On the way, we had a loss in the family. John broke his beloved lavender sunglasses.
They have been together for the last five years and we were unsure if John would recover enough to enjoy the rest of the week-end. (R.I.P lavender shades, you will be missed!)


We drove southwest from Fort Davis toward Mexico and entered Big Bend National Park (http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm) just North of the Rio Grande. We did a bit of hiking along a ridge on the North bank of the Rio Grande and took in some spectacular views while on our short hike. It was gorgeous and also very cool that Mexico was so close.



The next morning we awoke early and hit the hiking trail. A five mile hike seemed within reason for someone 7.5 months pregnant but we soon regretted our decision when we discovered the first 2.5 mile were straight downhill and the 2nd 2.5 miles were spent climbing out of the basin! While exhausting, it was well worth it. The air was clear and the views marvelous. Just as we returned to the lodge we had an encounter with a family of deer.

We were both astonished when we realized a family of three deer was walking along side us on the hiking trail. They were within about 10 feet and strolling along until our paths began to intersect. The lead deer froze and so did the baby deer just behind. The lead doe started stomping her hoof and grunting in our direction. Recalling some “When Animals Attack” video clips and realizing that nothing is more powerful in this universe than the maternal instinct to protect her young we backed slowly away. We provided the family a wide berth and hoped they would move along. But no…she continued stomping and huffing. John launched a rock in their direction to attempt to spook them but to no avail. The stomping and huffing continued. Finally John ran up the hill in their direction waving his arms like a lunatic and making equally strange noises. While far from threatening it was apparently enough for them to move on their way; surely laughing in the process.

We packed up our things and enjoyed a scenic ride home through the Western Texas landscape.

It was a great trip and allowed us to once again appreciate the joys of nature. Along the way we say sparrows, bluebirds, javelina (wild pig), the aforementioned family of deer, a collection of prairie dogs, and the largest roadrunner you’ll ever lay eyes on (http://www.texastwisted.com/attr/paisanopete/).

We were so impressed with west Texas, we are currently planning our return; maybe to the Alpine Cowboy Poetry Gathering and to the small city of Marfa, where the movie “Giant” was filmed (which we rented as soon as we returned home) It is a really great movie filmed in the mid fifties and stars Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, a young Dennis Hopper and James Dean in his final role before his untimely and tragic death.

Until next time....

Happy Trails!

Happy Birthday Billy O!!!

We left off our last note with our trip back to Texas just after the New Year turned to 2010. And we picked up 2010 where we left off…on the road. The first weekend in January we decided to attend John’s brother Billy O’s surprise 40th Birthday Party. It was a wild weekend to say the least.

We woke on Sat morning (9 Jan) at 1:00 am and drove 3.5 hours in order to arrive in San Antonio in time for our departure flight. From there we were to catch a 7:00 am flight which would connect through Atlanta and arrive to Philly Int’l @ 1:pm/ Well, that’s if all goes according to plan and schedule; which it rarely does. The flight from San Antonio was delayed due to a malfunctioning lavatory system. The night before Texas experienced a major freeze- a rarity in that part of Texas. And, the water in the toilets froze. It reminded John of his youthful propensity to accidentally lock himself in the bathroom. It’s as if the bathrooms of the world conspire against him. Three and half hours later the flight for Atlanta departed; still without lavatory services. After the toilets defrosted they discovered the lavatories were simply not working. Keep in mind that a 2.5 hour flight at 7 months pregnant is no easy task. No doubts here that Joy is quite the trooper. Since the surprise party kicked off at 6:00pm we were now on schedule to make it just in time. The connector through Atlanta was seamless and after some last minute re-coordination our friends Shana and Matt picked us up at Philly Int’l at 5:15 pm. We hit the highway through downtown Philly headed for Conshohocken, PA where we would celebrate Billy O’s 40th Bday with friends and family. We arrived to the Great American Pub just in time. We even found five minutes to have a cold beverage with Shana and Matt at a pub next door. Thanks for the clutch pick up Shana and Matt!

We parted ways with Shana and Matt, albeit temporarily, and headed for the party. We rode the elevator to the second floor and were greeted by a party full of folks prepared to holler-SURPRISE!!! Except they were the ones being surprised since Tina O was the only person who knew of our covert plans. So, they had to hold their surprise just a while longer while John’s mother burst into tears of Joy. It was great to succeed in the surprise visit and to be apart of the celebration. We had time for a few hellos before we all prepped for the guest of honor’s arrival. Billy O and Tina exited the elevator to a chorus of hoots and hollers and although we suspect Billy O may have had an inkling of the surprise he was definitely surprised by many in attendance, including us. We spent the night catching up with family and friends; some of whom John hadn’t seen in 10+ years. We danced, drank, and relived some great memories. John even got to catch up with a few of his college buddies who play in a band (Red Head Betty Takeout …Place Link Here…) that Tina hired for the party’s entertainment.
Shana and Matt also hung close by and after a short time crashed the party (with permission) so we got to spend more than the original 40 minute car ride with them. After the party broke up we moved into the downstairs bar for more frivolity and debauchery. Joy, Patti, Stacy, Justin, and John capped the night with a visit to the historic Llanarch Diner were a smorgasbord of waffles, snapper soup, grilled cheese, chicken cheese steaks, and milkshakes were enjoyed by all. It is worth mentioning that the last person standing at the end of the evening was Joy weighing in at 7 months pregnant and on the tail end of a 26 hour bender! She was very proud of herself. Baby ain’t keepin’ her down!!!

We woke the next morning and after a quick breakfast with the family Momma O’ and Aunt Cathy dropped us off at the Philly airport. The flight took off as planned and for those counting we spent approximately 16 hours with our feet on the ground in Philly. We again connected through Atlanta and while everything was progressing as planned a delicious Popeye’s Chicken lunch got in the way. We so much enjoyed our lunch of fried chicken in the Atlanta airport that we lost track of time and missed the boarding call for our connecting flight back to San Antonio. We were TWO minutes late after they closed the door. Luckily another flight to San Antonio was departing 2 hours later and we arrived back to San Antonio @ 6:00pm. Another 3.5 hour drive back to our home in San Angelo and into our beds for some much needed rest before heading back to work Monday morning.

While it was wild it was also well worth it. We had a great time at the birthday party and one cannot put a price on the quality time spent with family and friends. Thanks for the memories!

Happy Birthday Billy O!!!

2009 in Review

Greetings and Happy New Year to All!!!

Joy and John wish to send our very best in the New Year and hope your 2010 is as full, exciting, and blessed as our 2009. Wow, where should we begin…

Since we have been on the move (4 moves in total- so no worries if you are having trouble keeping track of our current address) in 2009, most of the year was spent exploring new places and visiting friends; two of our favorite pastimes.

We rang in 2009 in - where else but NY City. Well at least just across the river in Hoboken with some dear friends amongst whom were some of John’s oldest mates from college and high school. The visit’s highlights included; Bigfoot slippers, breaking Matt’s glasses, radish vodka, cats, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Christmas tree; not to mention a stop in the lounge at St. Regis Hotel where the Bloody Mary was supposedly invented. Thanks Marina, Shana, Matt and Alex!

In January, we went skiing in Maryland (Thanks Sean!) which is always an interesting and comical experience for Joy, who spends as much time trying to stand up after falling than actually skiing.

We arrived to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC just in time to hear President Obama’s inaugural address. A bitterly cold day, but one we will always remember. Many Thanks to Joy’s Mom and Dad who encouraged us to make the short trip downtown, when we where planning on sleeping in. It was something we will never forget.

We finished our Spanish language training in DC while preparing for our departure to Florida and then Mexico. John had to return to Tampa to complete his Air Force Reserve commitment before leaving the country. It was a great opportunity to catch up with all our family and friends down south. We also purchased a new car, a 2004 Honda CR-V (which we are extremely proud of since it only had 17,000 miles on it and all our other desires - cassette player, sunroof, tinted windows, all-wheel drive and the very difficult to find manual transmission). Joy drove back to DC solo (her first time traveling by herself) stopping in Valdosta to see one of her oldest friends, Kristy King and visiting her family in Alabama, then enjoying the Great Smokey Mountains and Shenandoah Valley and wrapping it up with Natalie and Mike in DC. We also had a “see-yah-later” party in DC with the many friends we have made in State Department and John’s family. Thanks to all who made the party a great success!

After a short stint in DC we were off to Mexico; which meant a great three-week cross-country road trip, via Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Albuquerque, and Tucson. It was amazing to see the land change and travel some of old Route 66. So many people throughout history traveled the same way to start over in the West and create a new life for their families. Thanks to Katie, Roark, Jarrod, Teresa, Kim, Russell, Jenifer, and Sam for making time for us!

We arrived to our new home in Hermosillo, Mexico on the same day we celebrated our four year wedding anniversary. We spent a great three months in Hermosillo, met some wonderful people, and saw some spectacular sights. The beaches are beautiful, the haciendas spectacular, and the people inviting. We attended events in the community and networked with the locals. Joy did some volunteer work and continued to take Spanish lessons, as well as unpack and set up the new home. It was like Christmas, since many of our belongings were packed and in storage for the previous year and a half. We received our first visitor in June. Joy's Mom visited and started her adventure by flying into Tucson, where we picked her up and then drove to Flagstaff, Arizona. The next day we explored the Grand Canyon where we also celebrated Joy's 31st Birthday. It was a great visit. Mom was able to enjoy our new home with us and see some of the Mexican marvels surrounding us.

In Mexico, John started his job as a Consulate Officer with the State Department. He worked in the American Citizen Services section. There he helped American citizens update and apply for passports, assisted citizens currently in jail, saw to needs of family members whose loved ones passed away in Mexico, as well as US citizens who experienced emergencies while traveling in Mexico. Upon return later this year he will move to the Visa Section where he will interview Mexicans who desire to legally travel to the US and approving (or denying) visas.
We were very sad to depart.

But depart we did and onward we moved to our new and current home in Texas. However, it is comforting to know that we still have our home in Mexico, waiting for our return.

The trip to Texas was fun, made possible by the purchase of some camping equipment. We stocked up on vitals in Tucson, AZ and then spent a few nights camping on an Indian reservation in NE Arizona at Canyon de Chelly. Wow! That place is impressive – we will always remember the night sky with so many stars, it was absolutely magical, the milky way clearly visible and falling stars every few minutes. It was as if we stepped back in time. The next stop was Mesa Verde, CO before spending a night on the banks of Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utah border. A night in Moab, UT and some hiking in the Arches National Park, UT instilled a new found appreciation for this great and beautiful country. The Arches National Park reminded us of the Flintstones and the Roadrunner cartoons. The creators obviously got their inspirations from this landscape. From the Arches National Park we moved onto Colorado to spend a weekend with some friends in the Denver area and celebrate Jennifer’s birthday. From Denver we traveled to Steamboat, CO (thanks for having us Liz!) and on to Santa Fe, NM. We love Santa Fe! It is the ultimate Southwest city. Ultimately we arrived to San Angelo, TX. We are here in San Angelo, because John has been called back up to active duty with the Air Force, in order to attend required training. His “work” entails sitting in a classroom, taking tests, and giving presentations to prove he is learning. Joy has been working as a Nanny! Laura, a classmate of John’s needed help with her two children; Lilly, who is 3 ½ years old and Cal, who is almost 2 years old. It has turned out to be a great job and a blessing in many ways. (Laura thanks for the support and friendship!) Not to mention great “on-the-job” training.

We’ve been here since mid August. We made our first purchases of furniture, which makes us feel like real “adults”. A few all-wood pieces, antiques, and a wonderful king mattress (we can now retire Joy’s full that she has had since age13) and in the process have got to enjoy weekend trips to San Antonio, Austin (where we attended the music festival Austin City Limits- What a great time!), the Hill Country (Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock State Park). We also had the extreme pleasure of attending the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in October with Joy’s Mom (thanks for making the trip out and enjoying the 3 pound cinnamon roll with us). I am sure you have seen the pictures of the Balloon Fiesta and should know it’s even better in person! It made us feel like kids again!

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Hot Springs, Arkansas with Joy’s Dad, Lisa, Chloe, Adeline, and Nancy. It was a great getaway and relaxing weekend with loved ones. We recommend that everyone take a break from the cooking for one Thanksgiving and let Cracker Barrel cater the meal. So easy and STRESS FREE!!!

We also made another cross-country road trip to Philadelphia for the Christmas holidays. A lovely 30 hour drive (one-way). We were able to see Joy's high school friend Jessica, Travis, and Grandma in Nashville on the trip North. It was great to see all of the family for Christmas. Although, the day after Christmas John's maternal grandmother "Mom-Mom"- Ruth Lewis passed away. A time of reflection on a wonderful woman and a full life. And, what really matters in life; spending time with the ones we love, friends and family. On the way back to Texas, we spent New Year's eve in Indianapolis with our dearest of friends Katie, Roark, and our favorite 3 four-legged friends (Mack, Mia, & Jake). Big Congrats on the new house- it is beautiful and you deserve it! We also spent a great evening in Memphis and Beale Street. The car that started out with 17,000 miles in May, starts the new year with 48,000. I wonder where it will have been at this time next year....

The other BIG news not included above is that Joy just entered her third trimester. The “Baby” is due @ 20 March 2010 (we are waiting until birthday to find out the gender and the baby will be born here in San Angelo) and we figure by the time it is three months old it will have visited anywhere from 5 to 10 US States and be an international traveler….Lucky Baby! But we’ll save those adventures for next year’s note….

Thanks to all of you wonderful folks who helped make the above travels possible! This new lifestyle has given us the opportunity to see new and beautiful places, but also the opportunity to see clearly life’s greatest of gifts and what really matters. The time we have spent and spend with each of you mean’s more than words. So, as we send this update out it is the perfect opportunity to thank you for the greatest of gifts in our lives - your friendship, support and love.

As Always Much Love …. And All the best in 2010!

Joy –n– John