the day I ate a kangaroo

So my friend Marci calls me up the other day and asked if I could take her over to a hospital in Rockwall to get some van keys from someone. Ok, sure, why not? I just needed to finish my props for my presentation in Philosophical Perspectives in food class. We found out where the hospital was and on the way we saw two places that we figured needed visiting: The Pickle Shack and The Beef Jerky Hut. After our mission was completed, we back tracked so we could find said establishments. We happened upon the beef jerky place and found a wonderful assortment of treasures! All kinds of meat into jerky and they give samples too! Seasonings, spices, popcorn (I like the dill pickle popcorn), tshirts about being a meat eater, and cheese! We loaded up on some goodies I got some seasonings and a couple of kangaroo jerky sticks, and a new bumper sticker that says "P.E.TA…. people eating tasty animals" Of course, I put this next to my other controversial sticker, aka "the vagina" sticker. We didn't have time to find The Pickle Shack, but I am interested to find out if it's a store that sells pickles and such or if it's a porn shop. Another day.

lots of good shit available here!

"Yes you can!" is a popular motto at the headquarters

My field trip to the Mary Kay headquarters and museum was a success!

Mary Kay headquarters building along the tollway

I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised to find out that 10,000 consultants (some husbands accompanied) from literally all over the world were strolling around on tour today! I heard several different languages: Slovak, Russian, Spanish and Cajun. I was happy to be ushered around with these women because as an added bonus, I also got to see the Executive offices as well as Mary Kay Ash's office - which was just how she left it more than 10 years ago.

50th anniversary employee art winners on display

portrait on plexiglass - an employee art piece

When you enter the museum, you are presented with all the products and packaging MK has offered through the years from 1963 to present. There are framed newspaper clippings and magazine articles adorning the walls. Awards and letters of appreciation  are tastefully scattered in alcoves and shelves. Several tv screens are set up in different locations so you can watch short commentaries about what is being displayed. Mary Kay's ball gowns which she wore to occasions are on display as well as consultant uniforms through out the years. A lot of pink collectors items such as trucks, cadillacs and coffee mugs are on display as well. I tool lots of pics, only a few are here. I didn't include the pictures I took of different fonts and typefaces and packaging - that was all for my research for my project. By the end of the museum tour, you are ensconced in elegance. The whole place is opulent yet not at all pretentious. It's very welcoming.

this clipping cracked me up "husbands get a friendly but firm message:
be supportive or get out of the way."

I was interested in seeing the early product packaging and how it's changed through the years.
The first consultant case with products was $25!

the executive conference room. I love the curtain and the view, the light fixture

peeking down at an office. I love the pink makeup case and pink phone

a tiny version of a sculpture that greets you as you enter the building. It's called  "On silver wings"
It represents a vision from a dream.

in one of the executive offices. just a coffee table set with the couches.
some of these items were props used in product catalogues.

When we got to the 13th floor of the executive offices, I was the only one taking pictures of things like the texture on walls or the pattern of tile on the floor, the art that was chosen for the offices or the sculptures. Nobody seemed to notice since they were all so excited to be in the presence of their mentor.

Afterward, I strolled around to the cafeteria and blended in with the tour group for lunch. I had a BBQ beef brisket sandwich with a side of potato salad, a fruit cup and a heart-shaped one and half inch thick chocolate chip chocolate and M&M covered cookie all for about nine bucks! I had water instead of my precious sweet iced tea - stupid kidneys.

While eating, I felt inspired to do most of the writing and sketches for my project.

After lunch I went to school and finished making my labels for my own beauty cream products I made up. I'm calling my brand "Under my skin". We'll see how it works out in class on Monday. 

I really enjoyed this project!

Free Beer - 287 miles ahead

I needed something. Something to do or someplace to go. So I got out my AAA map books I got when I drove across the U.S. a few years ago. I realized Shiner, Tx wasn't as far as I thought.
  Shiner, in case you don't know, is a very small town south of Austin where the delicious Shiner Boch beer is brewed. 

I took off about 8:30 Tuesday morning and on my way I stopped in at a place called Czech Stop in West, Tx and filled up the car with (cheap) gas and got me a kolache. Let me just say, it was filled with the best sausage I've ever laid my lips on. Dense and meaty with a slight black pepper flavor. I learned all the meat they sell there is processed in a plant just down the road in Waco. I took I-35 to hiway 77 and kept south. Just a little over 4 hours later I arrived at the Spoetzl brewery where they make all kinds of delicious Shiner beers.

I've been here!

 On the tour, I told some people that I was looking for Laverne and Shirley, but we didn't see them. After the tour, we got free beer!

my new favorite

me taking a pic of my reflection in one of the huge copper vats

 I tooled around the gift shop and small theater talking with everyone then asked where I could get some food. I was told about a few places to go and picked Werners. It's a typical American food restaurant, but it has a few German dishes since this area of Texas is highly populated with German, Polish and Czech immigrants. The sirloin almost melted in my mouth! The flavorful grilled onions and potatoes were lip-smaking too! The bonus was not a dessert menu, but the pickled vegetables loaded up on the salad bar, because I love pickled veges, in case you didn't know.

Next, I strolled down to a place called Antiques, Art & Beer - and that's exactly what it is! I grabbed a bottle of my new favorite Shiner and took my time looking around at the art hanging up and the antiques scattered around. I now believe every antique store in America should have a bar, then husbands wouldn't be so reluctant to accompany their wives on a day out. I didn't see anything I couldn't live with out, but I did find something I could have done with out:

a prosthetic leg being used for a flower vase...
is it just me or does anyone else find this
just a bit disturbing?

I strolled around town a little bit then decided I was too tired to drive to Austin to stay with some friends. I tried to find a place to stay in Shiner, but all the rooms were taken by the oil drillers working in the area, so I drove 14 miles to Halletsville and called it a night.
Even with the blackout curtains on the window, light started filling my room at 6:30 a.m.! I awoke with a headache and felt sick. It could be due to the heat and the beer from the day before, but I prefer to blame it on the onset of my period, it's always ruining my life anyway. I decided to sally forth and see what there was to explore on my way home. Driving through Shulenburg, I was met by a large statue in front of The Knights of Columbus Hall:

I didn't know this was their symbol, apparently they feel
very strongly about this

I also saw this place, but decided not to stop:

I liked that it says "come as u r bring ma n pa"

I stopped in Lagrange because I spied the courthouse building from the intersection. It's a beautiful stone structure with carvings around the windows, gargoyles below the clock tower and it's surrounded by pecan trees. A generous Veterans Memorial flanks the N.W. corner.

The square is filled with cafes, shops and businesses. I walked into a place called Flair & Co. and got to talking to a lady named Andi. She recommended a couple places to eat and I decided on Bodega for a chicken salad sandwich. This place is mainly a wine bar, but when I walked in, a group of ladies were seated, chatting and sipping their various drinks while snacks were spread out among them. I also thought the scene was set just right because they were seated under a sign that read "good friends, good wine, good times". After I finished my fresh, flakey croissant sandwich and butternut squash/ginger soup, I cruised around the square looking in shops and found the Texas Quilt Museum. It was closed due to a private function, but it looked cool from the outside.

Now the time came to leave and I wasn't looking forward to returning home. What was I gonna do, sit on my couch? But I had to, I was out of money and the cats had to be fed, too.

please enjoy a few more pictures I took that I thought were cool:

Like a band of gypsies...

click here to  listen to  

a great   cover of Willie

Nelson's song "On the Road Again"

I took a little trip today to look at some apartments near school. Upon seeing the building conditions and the neighborhood (The Dallas Police Department refers to this area as "Five Points"), I decided to widen my circle. I found two places where I felt I would not get stabbed walking to my door and where I could wake up each morning without wondering if my car was still in the parking lot and intact. They are just a bit more expensive, but at least I'll be safer.

After my trip, I trollied down Greenville Avenue, near the "M" streets. This is one of my favorite places in Dallas. Most of Dallas feels upscale and pretentious, but this area feels almost hippie-like, probably due to the fact that it is the college neighborhood. I decided to stop in at The Corner Market.   This place has great sandwiches and it's adjoined with a cupcake place that sets out free samples! Today I ordered a grilled portobello with spinach and brie slathered with spicy Dijon mustard and a side of homemade sweet pickles for about $7. I added on a bottle of Pepsi made in Mexico; my fav because it's  made with REAL sugar. While at the cafe, I worked on my research paper: organizing my thoughts and scribbled notes. Later, my friend from school, Bernardo, texted me so I went to hang with him at the school library for a while. We talked about cute guys but didn't meet any.

And now, home again, home again, jiggity-jig.