More on the road trip - Mary's Restaurant in Strawn and historic downtowns

We took this road trip as a chance to get out of the house. We hadn't done anything lately outside of our normal routine so it was a chance to get out and see something different, without spending a lot of money. So Bill and I and two of three children hopped in the car and headed west, with no particular destination in mind. (The youngest saw her chance at unimpeded computer game and TV time at home with her grandmother and grabbed it with both hands.) We stopped for photos of the courthouse in Meridian, where we got the Dr Peppers, then headed more northwest, passing through Stephenville and winding up in Strawn at suppertime. For those who don't know, Strawn is a small community at the intersection of Texas 108 and Texas 16, just north of I-20, about midway between Fort Worth and Abilene. It's also home to some of the best chicken-fried steak you'd ever want to eat, at Mary's Cafe. We'd seen Mary's featured on Texas Country Reporter (episode #1050, aired Oct. 13, 2007) before so we decided to stop and see for ourselves since we were there. Wow! Not only were the chicken fries very good, they were HUGE! The large that Bill and our 14-year-old son ordered covered virtually all of the platter-sized plate that they came on. The fries and salad came in separate dishes. Everything else may seem to be getting smaller for the amount paid, but not these. Wow.

We also drove up to Graham before heading back this way and were impressed with the way the community has maintained its downtown area around the Young County Courthouse. Besides being clean, there are shops and stores and a restored movie theater.
Graham became a Texas Main Street City in 1994, according to the city's Web page. It's an example of what we could do here in Palestine with the architecture that we have to work with. (We've seen this in other communities of similar size, such as Bay City, a 2003 National Main Street City.) Seems like when we take our occasional road trips, we come back reminded of what could be done here given our heritage, location and remaining historic structures. If these places can accomplish all that they have, why can't we over the next few years?

That thud was me falling off the wagon

For the two people who read this blog (Hi, Mom!), you've probably noticed I kind of quit talking about exercising. That would be because I fell off the wagon, so to speak. (my apologies to those who struggle daily with addictions way more serious than my cola fix) I'd been doing good - for me - with making it a point to walk more frequently and to drink water instead of soft drinks. So much for that. What happened? A Sunday afternoon road trip out west of Fort Worth two weekends ago. I was feeling tired, sleepy, needed a pick-me-up and didn't want a hot cup of coffee (or a cold one -- yuck). So when we stopped at a convenience store by the courthouse in Meridian to get the kids a snack and take courthouse photos, I gave in and drank a Dr Pepper. Yes, there are certainly a lot worse things to drink than Dr Peppers -- but there aren't many better than a cold Dublin Dr Pepper (the kind with Imperial Cane Sugar!!) still in the glass bottle. It was very good, as always. I climbed back on the wagon the rest of the day, ordering water at supper and drinking a cup of coffee later. Since then, though, I've had a couple of RC Colas and Dr Peppers (unfortunately, not Dublins) but I am trying to stick to my water guns.
And unfortunately, the wheels have fallen off of my exercise wagon, as well, so I've got to regroup and get going again.

Mom rant: Tired, cranky people

Warning: This blog entry contains mom-rant. Those without children may want to proceed to Sports.

The third grader sure picks her moments. For the past two or three weeks, she's done much better at waking up and getting ready for school. (Background: this is the child who accumulated tons of tardies in the fall because she refused to get up and get ready without a major tantrum, resulting in cups of water on the face, raised voices, spankings and once even being pulled out of bed and to the front door in her pajamas before grudgingly getting dressed. Yes, we did try getting her up earlier.) Today, though, she decided she was too tired to get up when awakened the first three times. Why? Today's reason: I hate school. It's not fair that my brother and sister get up and get ready (don't go there) and that everyone in my class hates me and makes fun of me and my brother and sister have friends and that doesn't happen to them (she speaks in run-on sentences). Third grader has a very selective and short memory, and a loud, feel-sorry-for-me voice. Third grader is grating on mom's sleep-deprived nerves. She finally gave it up after mom told her it didn't matter because the law doesn't require her to have friends at school, just to show up on time enough days. At least the eighth grade brother got ready and left with dad and other sister. He likes to move in slow motion in the mornings, to the point where he's also in tardy trouble, despite parental efforts. For anyone who remembers watching the Carol Burnett Show, the boy is like the little old man that Tim Conway played, the one who shuffled along in exaggerated slow motion. It's like watching paint dry. These people frustrate me greatly. I NEED coffee....

Texas Music Awards voting

The deadline is nearing to cast a vote for nominees for the 2009 Texas Music Awards. Voting ends Friday for the awards, which will be presented here at the Civic Center on Sunday, April 26. To be eligible for an award, these artists have to be members of the Academy of Texas Music and the categories generally (with some exceptions) are for the 2008 calendar year. Two of the nominees have local ties - KBHT 93.5 FM DJ Dave Wheaton, nominated for Disc Jockey of the Year, and singer Crystal Sands of Frankston, nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and the Rising Star Award. Many of those nominated are familiar to fans of Texas country music, whether through radio air play, Internet radio and videos or live shows around the state. Probably the most well-known name among this year's nominees is Michael Martin Murphey, nominated as co-producer of his album "Ridin' the Rio Grande," and for Entertainer of the Year. Murphey had big commercial success in the 1970s with "Wildfire" and "Carolina in the Pines" and is a member of the Western Music Hall of Fame. Murphey will be performing the after-awards show concert, as well.

Nice to see

While driving over to Palestine Middle School to exchange cars with my husband yesterday afternoon around 4:15 p.m., I noticed something that's been a long time in coming, in my opinion. I don't know how many people use Crestline Drive, but vulgar graffiti has been an eyesore for a long time on the back of the old gas station on the corner of Loop 256 and Crestline. A few months ago, Charlotte Moore had a crew of juveniles do community service by painting over some pretty bad stuff on the front of the building and that was good. But the stuff on the backside remained, until yesterday afternoon. Someone was diligently covering up the vulgar taggings and if I hadn't been in a hurry, I would have stopped and thanked them. I don't know if the person was performing community service hours or just a service to the community, but I'm appreciative and I'll be the neighbors are, too. Whoever you are, thanks!!!

Tidying up (fitness stuff)

It's a good thing that the people in Austin who set up this Governor's Fitness Challenge consider housework to be a form of exercise. Remember when you were a kid in gym class, having to bend over, twist and touch your toes to do what the teacher called "Cherry Picking"? That's good practice for picking up dirty laundry and stuff around the house. I think I'll rename it "Sock Stretches," in honor of attempting to pick up a pile of clothes and having at least one sock fall out that you have to bend back over to get (and not drop the other stuff). It's kind of like that first "Karate Kid" movie where Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) has Daniel (Ralph Macchio) doing the cleanup and painting to teach him proper hand and arm technique - wax on, wax off, Daniel-san.

Getting back to point, count me as an hour of light housework on Wednesday and two hours of moderate housework yesterday. I've parked and walked to the third grade wing to pick up a child every afternoon. This morning, I found the time to do three laps around the big block and cool down in 30 minutes. I'd like to do more on the walking side, but with three kids in the house, keeping up with housework is a competition in itself.

Progress? Yes. I feel good, and I don't feel guilty about not walking on days when I was busy since I'm allowed to count the housework I do before I go to work. I think I'm much more apt to keep this going for that reason. Soft drink status: still none this year.

The sound, the fury and the beautiful morning after

Tuesday night's severe thunderstorm brought a light show, wind and rain but thankfully little damage inside the City of Palestine. Here at the Herald-Press and elsewhere in the downtown area, we lost power from about 11 p.m. to around 1 a.m. when a tree blew down and took the electric line with it. In the process, traffic lights went out at Loop 256 and E. Palestine Ave. and probably a few other places, as well, but at that time of night (and in that kind of weather) traffic tends to be pretty light. We've heard that the county commissioners are out with their crews tending to trees down in areas around Anderson County, but luckily we were spared the destruction that Oklahomans are dealing with today. My prayers go out to those folks.

Nice to see interest in what's going on

Last night's Palestine City Council meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd into the council chambers at city hall. Normally, the "crowd" consists of the city department managers, the cable access person broadcasting the meeting from the back of the room, me and maybe a half dozen other people. A good many in attendance last night came because their kids were being recognized by the city for their outstanding efforts in the YMCA Youth & Government programs at Westwood and Palestine High Schools and Palestine Middle School. Still, several dozen (maybe three dozen or more???) were there to hear discussion and witness the votes regarding the old Senior Citizens Center property on Kickapoo Street and the contract to provide senior services at the new facility (still being renovated) on N. Church Street. As a journalist, you're not supposed to take sides and I try not to. I'm not taking sides now. But I did notice a few things about the group that came for the senior center votes. First, they showed up on a rainy night, regardless of which way they wanted the vote to go. Second, most of them made their preference known by donning baseball caps printed with "Support Your Seniors" on the front. Third, they fit the voting (and newspaper reader) demographics - the generation either nearing retirement age or at it. Let me reiterate - I'm not "for" or "against" either group represented in the senior center discussions. I don't have a dog in this fight, so to speak. I'm just glad to see people taking notice of what's going on in their local government and participating by being present. Come back again.

Kudos to the Palestine Middle School band!!!

Here's a shout-out to the Palestine Middle School band, both students and directors. On Friday, band students traveled to Nacogdoches High School for the middle school Solo and Ensemble competition. I haven't seen any official results for all who took part, but according to my sixth grade clarinet player, nearly all the sixth graders who competed received high marks, both as individuals in Solo competition and in their Ensemble groups. Wow! I couldn't even make squeaks come out a horn when I was a sixth grader. I'm VERY impressed with the band directors who A) have the talent themselves to be able to teach someone how to play an instrument; B) have the patience to do so without killing someone when they do stupid things with expensive instruments; and C) pour so much of themselves and their passion into these kids. THANKS from a grateful mom!!!

Band directors - Please e-mail the Herald-Press (either bfoley@palestineherald.com or community@palestineherald.com) a list of who did what and we'll run it in the paper. If you've got a group photo, we'll run it, too.

Sunday chats and Monday rains, Fitness Day 3

It didn't occur to me when I started this that I was creating two new habits - exercise and writing about stuff, including exercise. So...

Sunday
3:30 p.m. - Deciding it's time to take advantage of nice weather (and make sure kids are where they said they'd be) I figure I'll do my two-lap walk again in the neighborhood. This time I'll stretch my muscles first as a warmup. This does two things - it loosens up my legs and amuses Bill, my husband. I'm glad I can provide cheap comic relief. When his toe heals, he can get out here and I can laugh back.

3:34 p.m. - 3:52 p.m. Two of three children are in the yard when I head outside and down the driveway. The 14-year-old boy has the water hose turned on, showing his 11-year-old sister how sediment flows downstream in a flash flood. I remind them that I'm paying for their flash flood experiment, not FEMA, and to turn off the water. Of course they want to know where I'm going (with the unspoken hope that it involves a store and something for them). When I tell them I'm going for a walk, they decide to tag along, probably for laughs. (You can tell who their father is.) The boy jumps on his sister's bike and she decides she's going to run, because after all, she's a (former) soccer player and runs in PE and I'm 43. She yells for me to stop and wait. Um hm. I keep going. The boy, all 6-foot-5 of him, is hovering nearby, riding back and forth in sort of circles, kind of like a Labrador puppy - all legs and feet and excited to be out. I keep going. The girl catches up, talking the whole time and telling her brother not to run into her. I keep going. Halfway through the first lap, they start insulting each other in the middle of the street. I tell them not to have a family fight in the road. As I keep going.

After the first lap, the boy finds other things to do and departs. Not the girl. She's still got more to say. I haven't heard everything yet about Taylor Swift, the band's Solo and Ensemble competition or the latest sixth grade gossip. I keep going. So does she. I'm actually glad that she's talking to me about anything, and that she's exercising. I'm just not going to stop walking right now to listen. She can keep up. She is, after all, 11 and I'm not. I have to take advantage of momentum when I have it. However, when she brightly suggests that we should extend our exercise by walking to her Girl Scout leader's house several blocks over, I can visualize my momentum shaking its head, saying something like, "Are you mad?!?" and I say no, my limit is the remainder of the walk home.

Monday
Was it the Carpenters who sang, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down?" No walk today. We've had enough trouble with colds and sick days this year without adding more. I do, however, park the truck and walk to the third grade pick-up point when school is out to retrieve the youngest child. It's only drizzling at this point. No one in our family will ever melt. Tuesday I'll get back after it.

How many points for laundry??? Fitness, Day 2

I am sooooo out of shape. No way should my legs hurt the day after two brisk trips around the big block but they do. This is embarrassing. Today I didn't do another two laps. Saturday morning and early afternoon became housework time before I had to go to work. According to the Governor's Fitness site, housework can count (I'm sure they're thinking of something more than dusting) so I'm counting the 120 minutes of dishes, laundry, kitchen counter and cabinet cleaning and picking up as light housework. According to my activity log, that gives me 138 minutes for the week and a cleaner kitchen. I'm liking this...

My Latest, Greatest Attempt at Fitness, Day 1

10:16 a.m. to 10:34 a.m. – Okay, I’ve begun. Ignoring the old wives’ tale about not starting things on a Friday (what’s that about?), I kicked off my fitness project with two laps of brisk walking around our “big” block. Our neighborhood is roughly a square – three one-block-long streets running north-south hedged by an east-west street on either end. Weather report: partly cloudy, around 60 degrees and a strong, gusty south wind. Made for headwind resistance part of the way and a nice push up hill part of the way. I managed to hack off dogs at three locations by daring to walk by – twice. How do I feel? Good. This was a good start.
3:05 p.m. - Instead of driving around to pick up a child from school, I parked and walked. It's not far but it's something. Considering how drivers will cut in front of others clearly waiting to turn at the school, it's better for my blood pressure.

Welcome to my blog!

Thanks for making the effort to click your way here. I was never much good at keeping a diary or a journal as I was growing up. It felt too weird to write down what I was doing or thinking and possibly have someone else read it. Being a teenager was embarrassing enough without piling that on. As a journalist, blogging seems less like a diary and more like an online column, offering another way to publish information besides the standard printed page. So.... I foresee this blog space as a way to talk about what's going on with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts around the area, or to offer quick hits on upcoming meetings or events, and finally to post updates on my newest attempt at improving my fitness level - the Governor's Fitness Challenge. That should be good for a laugh for those of you who are actually in shape. Lastly, the name, Chattin' Over Coffee, seemed like a good fit since I love a good cup of real coffee and I intend for this to be more of a friendly conversation than a rant. So, off we go!