texasdago

Got back from an extended trip to Italy. I drive s lot while there. A LOT. Maybe saw five Tesla's. There's no love for them there. I saw more Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds that Teslas.

This was the start of leaving our church and questioning it's priorities... different church but I could see everything was about show and spectacle and growth growth growth but little about Jesus. Anyhow, friends on FB in our old part of town still bitching about the power situation. What a mess.

I've noticed the new talking point among Rs right now is "LOL project 2025 doesn't exist"... "you're making this up"... "QAnon for Lefties" I show them the link, make it clear no one is hiding it and... yup, they ignore it.

Its funny... after watching the ice storm and Austin Energy, I can only look to the southeast and think that even Austin Energy handles things better than CenterPoint. That's saying a lot.

Richmond on both side of the Beltway is a beast... but moreso on the west side. Between Wilcrest and BW8 it is a rim buster.

Good news for Greg Abbott... he'll win Hunt County next time, too... (2022 results)

Back from Italy... much to share after 20 days. Tired though, so tired. Averaged about 18,000 steps a day yet still managed to drive a ton, too.

Correct. 75 is usually standard on Mopac.

Yup. Made and acted on it in 2019.

Sure sure... all totally aligned with Biblical Christianity. Dallas sounds like it is getting even more insufferable. Who could have ever predicted this... "ON NOVEMBER 4 1960, FOUR DAYS before the general election, vice presidential candidate Lyndon Johnson came to town. It was Republican Tag Day in Dallas, and the downtown lunch crowd was being canvassed by three hundred women in red, white, and blue. They were Dallas congressman Bruce Alger’s women. Many of them were in the junior league, and they looked disarmingly girlish in their patriotic outfits and their red coif hats with ribbons streaming down the back. They were passing out literature for the Nixon-Lodge campaign. It was chilly, and some of them wore their minks.Johnson had spoken earlier that morning in Arlington, and as he entered Dallas a city policeman pulled over his Lincoln to warn him of a “little disturbance” awaiting him at the Baker Hotel, where the Johnsons traditionally stayed. Commerce Street in front of the hotel was filling up with tag girls, who had now transformed themselves into an eager mob, complete with placards that Alger had stored in the Baker overnight. The cop advised Senator Johnson to use the hotel’s Akard Street entrance to avoid the demonstration.Several women spotted the Johnsons arriving and rushed over to surround their car. As Lady Bird was stepping out, one of the pickets impulsively snatched Mrs. Johnson’s gloves from her hands and threw them in the gutter. Lady Bird went white. It was still a time when incivility was rare in politics, when public figures felt safe in crowds. No one, perhaps not even the tag girls themselves, was prepared to understand the ferocity and the anger of these apparently happy and well-cared-for women.Johnson rushed Lady Bird into the lobby of the Baker, which was packed with jeering tag girls. As he entered the elevator Johnson turned and said, “You ought to be glad you live in a country where you have the legal right to boo and hiss at a man who is running for the vice presidency of the United States.” There was an instant of silence, then a voice in the back of the crowd yelled, “Louder and funnier, Lyndon.” https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1988/november/was-dallas-a-city-of-hate/

IYKYK

South Austin says hey

Harvey says "Hi!"

Yup... visited two exceptional wineries in Morro d'Alba yesterday... any area in the Lacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC and the Castelli di Jesi DOC. Great wines... most bottles 13-14 Euro and under. The most expensive we bought was 23 and it was a very special vintage of a Lacrima made as an appassimento. Very time consuming, aged three years. Lacrima is such a particular grape that for the most part, you will barely see any oak in sight... almost all aging done in steel or concrete. Le Marche are exceptional... so many great places. Exceptional food. People are great, prices reasonable. Lots of amazing towns and beautiful drives.

I noticed Conad has carta with dog inserts (Not my dog)

From Rome: Tivoli Viterbo Cerveteri Orvieto Spoleto Castel Gandolfo Lago Bracciano Lago di Bolsena Also, I saw a comment someone made about not sleeping in wines from Campania. To be honest, don't sleep on wines from any region. Each area has lots of great wines, grapes and wineries that may be completely unknown outside of Italy. We are visiting a winery today and one of the grapes used in that particular valley is a white grape called Famoso. This winery also makes exceptional reds. Had a nice refreshing Pagadebit last night which is another white grape from the area. Whether you are in Puglia, Veneto, Basilicata or whatever, lots of great wines at inexpensive prices. Don't get roped in my the Americanized prices in Tuscany.

Yeah that's pretty funny. Buddy of mine played there last month

Boat only access beaches like this with 5-6 people around... love it!

Through the first third of our trip... sitting on a balcony now listening to the cicadas. The beach yesterday (below) was quiet and we opted to eat on our terrace for dinner instead of going out. In six days, we've heard two Americans here. I really want this area to stay a secret but trust me the experience in these kinds of towns in Italy is something else. Most we've spent on a meal as a family of four has been 120 Euros and it was a random stop that turned out to be fine dining. Will share more later. As for driving, still love it but we took a drive into a national park for a little hike and lunch. Temperatures from the sea to the forest were about 15° cooler. I've driven all kinds of windy roads in Italy but I almost never drove a straight stretch of road for 2 1/2 hours. Wish I'd had an Alfa. One section was the tightest steep road I'd ever seen outside of a Greek island. Another stretch was almost cow pinball. White knuckle driving.

People think I'm an idiot when I tell them we've avoided the touristy cities... why do I want to go somewhere absolutely packed when I know for a fact there are plenty of amazing sites in Italy that are beautiful, filled with treasures and not as packed. "But its the only time we might be there..." I get it but if the experience is ruined by masses of people, was it worth it? I've been to NYC lots of times for business and a few times for pleasure. One year, we went between Christmas and NY and decided to go to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree because the kids wanted to see the Lego store. Absolute madness... like, you couldn't move because of the crowds. Did I see the tree? Yeah, I don't know... maybe. Lego store? Nope... couldn't get in. So... was it worth it? Nah, we found other things with fewer people and had a great time. Trust me... Italy offers the amazing experience you have dreamed of in cities that are not the "OMG have you been to ________________!!!!!?!?!?!?!" Instagram-location. And driving is fine... just don't do it in the center of big cities. Google Maps is your friend. TBH, driving in Italy is purposeful. Know how to drive a stick, stay engaged and you will find it is more fun than driving here.

Yup... some people are saying he will use the proceeds from the Puerto Rico sale to buy Hawaii. Apparently too many people in Puerto Rico speak Mexican.

Yeah... they're so excited about having paid all this money to see a tiny dot on a stage. Weirdos.

Don't travel much?

Its pure ignorance honestly and its negative people who take one bad experience and then extrapolate it. Its a fascinating city and, personally, the further you get way from the sestiere of San Marco, the better it gets. San Marco has amazing sights but it generally more crowded and more expensive with less value. Its a place worth exploring and getting lost (not hard)

Yeah it was. Still remember... move move gooooo leave!?