Absence make the reader wonder why...

Road Call, Day Five (and a half)...

Wow! I am sorry that I have not been posting as often as I said I would. This trip has definitely been an experience. Nothing bad....but definitely an experience.

Traveling from South West Texas to South East Texas seemed like "forever". I don't know how people did it with horse and buggy. Maybe that is why the wild west was wild...and Jesse James moved freely. No one wanted to take so long to catch up to him. LOL Don't take the wrong impression from what I write though...there is beautiful country in Texas. Just don't think you will be going through it in just a few hours. Plan on not rushing. And plenty of potty breaks that have a dual purpose of gas fills.

Let me catch you up on what was seen and done during my online silence.

Meet Mr. Black. Jerris and Jelly Bean found him taking a midnight stroll while I was refueling the car in Lordsburg New Mexico. As you can see...he is no spider to be over looked. Makes you wonder where the rest of his family was. Can anyone say, Aracnaphobia????? LOL Mr. Black was our New Mexico ambassador and although he seemed pretty chill, I don't think that either Jerris or Jelly Bean wanted to hang out with him for very long. In fact I was told that Jelly Bean told Jerris, "Run Auntie!" I don't think she meant it in the political sense. By the way, check out the gas prices.

I've already told you about El Perro so I won't bore you with a repeat. We left him (and his family members there at the Deming NM Holiday Inn and pressed on toward El Paso, TX which would be the half way point in our trek through Texas. After fueling up in El Paso, we decided to keep going, thinking that we could make it into San Antonio. Unfortunately, we didn't quite make it there. Ten hours of driving and 40 some odd miles north of our destination found us checking into the Kerrville TX Holiday Inn Express. We all were exhausted and needed to be able to stretch out on a bed instead of sitting in a car. We also took an extra day of rest at this location and utilized the pool. Jelly Bean is a natural frog in water and we were able to get quite a few photos of her playing in the water. She had a ball with Jerris in what I am calling a wading pool. As you see in the photos on the Holiday Inn link for Kerrville it is a rectangle that is only 1.5 feet deep. They were having a splash fight and I have a feeling it was a strong tie. Too much giggling was happening from both contenders. Afterward we settled back in the room (Had to....I had a problem listening to "Just give her what she wants!" from another little girl who seemed to think she needed to tell me what to do in the pool. And ya'll know how I am about being bossed around. Especially by a child.) for a few hours.

We decided to get dressed and head out to find a spot to have dinner at. Which was easy enough to accomplish since there were several establishments on the same street as the hotel. We decided on a Chinese buffet that is called Bamboo Asian Buffet. I am no food critic (pro anyway) but I have to say that the food was ok. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't the greatest either. The blogger who's link I have supplied suggested going to this place when they are already busy and I have to agree. We went when it wasn't busy and the food was not hot and rotating like I am sure it is when they are busy. Although this opinion may not sound like a raving endorsement, I would definitely have another meal there if I found myself in Kerrville again.

Their interior decor was nice though. A rich cherry wood partition with an etched glass inlay screen the view of patrons from outside the storefront. This place was very plain looking outside so to see the interior as it was was a very nice touch. The waitress and host were as the blogger posted...matter of fact and polite. No extra frills or fuss. I think we were probably one of the last few customers of the night as it was just getting dark and the parking lot was emptying out. Oh, and the Dollar Tree (next door) had just closed.

After fueling up, we headed back to the hotel and got the stuff ready to be packed into the car for our next portion of our trip through Texas. Taking what basically was a nap, we were back on the road by 4:30am. Nothing eventful to report with the drive during the dark hours. Just the usual stuff.

The sunrise was amazing and yes we have some interesting photos but I think it would be more fair to you if I made a separate blog entry of misc. photos than to put them in this one.

We arrived in Beaumont by late morning. Seems that the GPS unit decided to give us a scenic route to go with but all in all it was nice. Lush green trees and nostalgia here and there for the eye to see. Interesting signs along the way too, but again I think it is best to post the pics for them in another entry.

Our stay with MsV (Virginia) has been very enjoyable. I have known her (and her husband Harold) for several years now and consider them not as friends but as a treasured family members. In fact, she is one of a few that I consider to be a sister to me and an Auntie to my children. Even her mother is my mom. She opened her heart to me and my children back in the late 90's and welcomed Jerris as if she always knew her. A warm smile and infectious laugh is what you will have from her (and with her) when you are in her presence. No one is company...if you are in the house, you are home. The kitchen is open, the bed is ready....just pick up your dirty clothes. LOL She is "good people" and I love her dearly!!!! Can't get too emotional here.... yanno, street cred and all. But ya'll feel me. (Shaking it off so to look tough)

So anyway...She took us out to a buffet called Ryan's. Interesting is a word to use. The food....for being buffet was ok, (she said The Golden Corral is better), but no solid complaints from us (the travelers) were made. Wait! I take that back. Jerris did mention that she didn't see the "Shrimp Five Ways" menu items. But then again, maybe it is because its offered on the dinner menu, not the lunch. Sorry Jerris, maybe next time.

Today, we went to Marble Slab Creamery which is very much like Coldstones. They too have the cold slab of stone that they prepare the ice cream creations on before putting them in either a cone or bowl. Nice choices to pick from but Jerris has her mind set on one particular brand of ice cream that she was told is only sold in Texas...Blue Bell Ice Cream. We have planned to stop by a store on our way out tomorrow and pick up a small container to try for ourselves. I am not sure if it will be the same flavor as the one showing on the photo here but I wouldn't mind trying this particular one out. We will have to let you know what the outcome is for the choice(s) of flavor in a later blog entry.

Well everyone, I am sorry to let you know that I will need to continue this train of thought later as it is now 1:15am on Friday morning and I need to find my blankie and pillow. (smile) I will "try" to post on the blog tomorrow before we pack up and head out.