Report Update: Queens Cottage...

I didn't want to leave you hanging after telling you about his place, Queens Cottage, over on Fred Road, and my wife still wanted to go by just for a look see, so Saturday, we made it the starting point for quite a day of adventures in San Antonio. We started off not really knowing which direction to go, but like Rock Stars trying to save the planet, by jetting all over the world, we simply didn't care.

So, The Queens Cottage was certainly a quaint shop which I could very easily see set-up in a shop along the River Walk, or perhaps next to a library some place. I get the idea, for sure. The pharmacy part of the store was closed, but honestly, seemed like an afterthought. I mean, yes there was a pharmacy and I'm sure you can fill your prescriptions there, but it did not have the feel of a full service Walgreen's in terms of the non-prescription needs. But, what do I know?

When my wife and I entered the store, the employees still outnumbered all the customers, but we immediately liked how everyone was friendly and eager to let us look around without hovering. My wife commented that we had heard about them on the radio, and that made one lady very happy.

The store had a large selection of gift items but really, nothing we wanted or needed and since we already had plans for lunch, we didn't plan to eat there, though my wife was curious about the menu. They serve the same things you might expect at a deli and the prices certainly looked reasonable. We actually felt bad about leaving without buying anything, and then felt worse when the lady chased after us to give us our free Ice Cream bar just for stopping in.

Located within the North Point Shopping Center across from Crossroads Mall, I'd give it a try for lunch sometime.

Man, I should start selling advertisements!

While we were on Fredericksburg Road, we took a quick drive down to that old Flea Market set up behind Harbor Freight. This flea market used to be quite hopping at one time; cause for a visit at least a few times a month, but I think the last few times I have gone, I have been less than impressed. We stayed long enough to look around and for my wife to get the creeps and want to leave. That pretty much says it all.

We did look at some matching His and Hers mountain bikes. The man swore they were brand new and wouldn't me and my "Sancha look nice on matching bikes for only $40 a piece"? Well wouldn't we? My wife told me that I have a bike already - it is sitting in front of the TV in our bedroom.

If you have never been to this flea market, but you you are looking for "stuff", you may find it here. Unlike many of the newer flea markets, this one is not filled with "Everythings a Dollar" type plastic trinkets. People actually pay for a table or just back up the pick-up truck and sell all the odds & ends they picked up at garage sales or may have procured via other dubious methods.

But if you are more the "antique" set, stick with Bussey's out on IH-35.

Feeling Down? You Should Talk to This Guy…

I have always enjoyed movies that most of the people I know consider to be flops. I find myself attracted to characters that have some weird personal issue of their own, but in trying to find or cure themselves, they end up helping others.

Everyone hated Lost in Translation with Bill Murray, but I could watch the karaoke scene, the absolute butchering of Bryan Ferry’s “More Than This” over and over again. And speaking of Bill Murray, the movie where he gets an anonymous note telling him that he is the father of a kid, so he goes out seeking old flames looking for the child. That was pretty out there, but I loved it.

So yesterday, my wife endured a movie I was eager to see called Mumford. This guy “plays” a psychologist in a small town called Mumford, and as it turns out, his name is Dr. Mumford. He has this way of listening to his patients and imparting small bits of wisdom that in the end, make these townsfolk feel much better. Apparently, this movie didn’t make it big because I saw it on Starz. That ought to tell you something.

So, again taking the long way around the barn… I had this on my mind when I encountered a man today who reminded me of one of these characters with the gift of gab, the ability to very quickly change a person’s perspective on life and perhaps change their entire outlook in a positive fashion.

I ran into the AutoZone on Grissom to grab some small little item (some Teflon tape if you must know - $1.49 in aisle 5, next to the JB Weld), and I got in line behind these two people who were very dirty, possibly drunk, and quite probably homeless.

But who am I to judge?

So, the toothless woman with extremely filthy toenails was saying something or other and her husband/vagabond/acquaintance was carrying on about what problems they were having and the man behind the counter just smiled and cheerfully rang up the few items they were there to purchase.

The lady then said something along the lines of “life just sucks” and with a chuckle that sounded like she was possibly coughing up a lung, she asked the man, “How are you doing?”

“Well,” he started off, “This has been the worst of 55 years in my life.”

The lady sort of recoiled not expecting such a blunt response. Naturally, I began to pay more attention.

“My car caught on fire, burnt the garage, and then burnt the house down. My wife wrecked her car then just a few days ago, I was driving and hit a little kid. The kid was riding in between the cars in the parking lot and when he came out in front of me, I hit ‘em before I could even hit my brakes. It all happened right over here.” As he pointed towards the HEB across the street. Then, he made a clap sound with his hands and used his right hand to motion how the kid just flew up into the air.

“If that wasn’t enough”, he continued. “I had just bought my daughter a 2006 Eclipse and somebody T-Boned her just yesterday.”

I’m pretty sure most of the people around me were starting to feel a little awkward and wondering what else could possibly befall this poor gentleman.

The dusty guy with the toothless wife paid whatever the bill was and said to the snake bitten AutoZone guy, “Well, Sir. You have our prayers for better times. You should go and spend some time with your wife at a time like this.”

“Hell no!” said the man behind the counter as he started to chuckle, “What I need is to get me a Sancha. You know anyone?”

And with that, he and the toothless lady laughed like a fat lady farted in church.

And I felt a little better too.