Fiesta 2012 in San Antonio

Well, it is Fiesta time once again in San Antonio, TX.  All sorts of parties and celebrations are going on around the city.  Today is the Battle of Flowers parade so many kids and parents are off today, myself included.  The weather is not too hot so it should make for a great day to go out and have some fun.  We usually go to the Fiesta Garten at http://www.beethovenmaennerchor.com/ but it seems like many of my friends from UTSA have other plans so we will not be getting together.  Too bad as it is always a lot of fun.  We'll plan for next year or maybe for Oktoberfest in the fall.  Cooler temps and just as fun.  Happy Fiesta 2012 to all!!!

What sound, what presence…bellisima macchina

Let me build this story a bit to get in the appropriate frame of mind.  My route home takes me in front of the new Porsche dealership, which happens to be very modern and sleek yet sadly hidden behind the off ramp from the highway.  Someone must have gotten a great deal on the land because it is rather inaccessible and takes away from the experience.  I also happen to go by the Ferrari dealership, which in this case is rather ugly and is overshadowed by the much more attractive Audi dealership.  I guess that the Ferrari dealer can get away with the cars being the shining jewels in the rather ugly crown that is their building.  You don’t stable beautiful stallions in a shack.  I think that if I had the money I would fly to Italy to buy my car in Maranello just for the full experience.  But, I digress.  Back to the story.  As I am driving home yesterday on IH10 in San Antonio, TX I notice that right behind me is a 458 Italia.  Black on black with a menacing frown, wide, and very sleek.  My little MazdaSpeed 3 looks like a toy by comparison.  The weather is overcast and it is a fine temperature outside.  So, I turn off my radio as I want to hear this cavallino as it rolls down the road.  I roll down the windows and when the highway opens up he gives it a bit of gas and passes me on the right.  I have to admit that the black color is not as attractive as Ferrari Rosso but I like it nonetheless.  As he goes by I can see the yellow brake calipers.  They pop out and make the wheels look astonishing.  This is getting better by the minute.  I can hear a snarl coming from his trio of exhaust pipes coming out dead center in the back.  I am fully engaged now.  The sound, the presence, the angular and purposeful body lines, it all takes me to another place.  I don’t even try to catch up to him.  What for?  I have been in the presence of a God and being a mere mortal I can only smile knowing that such a beautiful sight is rare and should be filed away for future recollection.  

Back to work today but very excited because I have heard from a work colleague that the outdoor store REI will be opening here in San Antonio in the Fall of this year.  I am preparing for our family trek next year across Spain (Camino del Norte http://www.caminodesantiago.me) so I plan on buying all our gear this summer.  I might not buy all the equipment from them but I can certainly get some good advice and some items as well.  I have been carefully planning our trip, and I have the schedule written out and travel dates set.  I am still working out the infinite number of details that need to be looked at but all this activity it keeps me excited.  Now, I'll be honest, I have been daydreaming about winning the lotto (who doesn't?) and if we did win we would have enough money to go this year.  And we would be able to do the entire five week trip.  Next year I will only be able to do about two weeks of solid walking before we need to fly back to the US.  This will leave us with the task of coming back the following year to finish it out.  Not the way I want to do it but I don't have an option.  Thus, the daydream of winning the lotto.  I am on my way to but a ticket...or two.

Last post in 2007????

I can't believe that I have not posted since 2007!!!  Not that I lead such an interesting life but I should have kept up because it is always interesting to read old posts.  Sort of a snapshot in time of what goes on in my life as the years go by.   Well, I'll make it a point to write something at least once a week and maybe this will become a habit.  I am making some plans for summer of 2013 so maybe I'll start there.  I'll leave with a picture of our little Schnauzer and our boy's 15 year bday.  He is growing up and soon will be a college bound kiddo.  Wow!!!  More to come...