GNWCIA Meeting Report: Chances Are...

Chances are you didn't see my wife and I on KENS-TV last night when they did a report, partially shot at the Lodge of the Great Northwest during the monthly meeting of the Board of the GNW Commnuinty Improvement Association. The report was on the city's efforts to distribute painting kits to people willing to get out and paint over graffiti. What a wonderful idea.

You know how I hate to miss all the good information at the GNWCIA meetings, so I can report back to you, the readers of this blog, all the details. But we had a far more important engagement that warranted forgoing the meeting and the media spotlight. We were invited to attend the Johnny Mathis concert last night at The Majestic and I promise you, we made the right choice!

I'll tell you more about The Majestic and the incredible voice of Johnny Mathis later.

Meanwhile, thanks to our regular reader Calily, who is a producer at KENS-TV, for working to include our HOA in on the story about the new city program.

No, Really; Timber Path is Closed!

Look, I don't want to come across here as being obsessed about this or anything, but the lack of planning and common sense just stuns me. As promised, I took Old Grissom on my way to work as a route to get from Timber Path to Culebra.Looking at the chart above, you can see that Grissom Road goes along the top of the picture. I live on the north side of Grissom and Timber Path (before it closed) makes a short cut through a dry creek bed and comes out at Culebra Road. Forming sort of a triangle with Grissom and Timber Path is Old Grissom Road.

Here is the problem. Sitting at the light this morning at Timber Path and Grissom for five minutes made me realize that someone has not done their job. It also made me realize that people need to learn to safely run red lights when common sense tells you that there is a glitch in the system.

Example: If you are in a line of cars waiting for five minutes for a protected arrow to allow you to get onto a road and there is no other traffic coming in either direction on that road, why not live bold and run the light. Oh, I know, the first time I try this, there will be six cops and a SWAT team waiting for me, but really, can't the city or TxDOT workers just fix the stupid lights to reflect the changes in the road that is closed?

Other than that, the new route worked fine. Then, I had to come home, so I figured I would use the reverse of that route, exiting from Culebra Road to Timber Path, then onto Old Grissom and so forth.Hmmm. Looks like they completely blocked off the part of Timber Path that keeps you from having to make a sharp right turn. No problem.Unless of course, they have failed to cover or otherwise alter the stop lights at the intersection of the closed road. Seriously; Timber Path is closed in both directions. There is no competing traffic from either direction, so why are cars backed up out onto Celebra creating a log-jam? And further, why doesn't the guy simply, cautiously, run the red light. That is actually legal, by the way.

Okay, other than to update you on the status of the construction, I won't bring it up any more.

Timber Path is Now Closed!

Yep, we got the warning and everyone should have been ready to alter their commute beginning this Monday. Timber Path is officially closed so construction of a new bridge could take place.

If you are wondering where I'm talking about, here is a tiny little video to take you down memory lane. I know some of you may shed a tear when you recall the much easier days of cutting off a good chunk of the morning traffic at Culebra/Tezel/Grissom. Take a moment to compose yourself, and we can move on.

But, in spite of the fact that we motorists prepared ourselves, the road people didn't. This morning, I thought I would give Culebra a chance by getting on at the turn lane from Grissom Road. Bad move. Apparently, the people who control the lights have decided that there is only enough need for a protected turn signal to allow three cars (and that is if the first two are really ready to go) through the light at a time. I sat at about number 25 or 30 in line, backed up all the way to Timberwilde.

So, I gave it a few cycles of the light and got out of line and went all the way across Culebra/Tezel and basically turned around to approach from the opposite direction. I suspect tomorrow, just for grins, I'll give the Old Grissom way a little try-out.

I wonder if my company would arrange for a helicopter to get me to work?

Interesting Sightings Near 78250....

There is really nothing strange about this; I trust it is a legal hunting season after all. We were just minutes away from civilization out on Bandera Road today purchasing some firewood for our backyard fireplace when I pulled in behind this Hummer.Yea, apparently Santa is gonna need a replacement before next December.

There was also nothing really strange about this either, but it made us giggle. Driving down Tezel Road today, I pulled in behind this Student Driver who was going about 20 MPH. Remembering when my own kids attended driving school, I was cautious not to get too close just for fear of making the kid nervous. But I needed to be in that lane in order to make a turn within a few streets (though admittedly, at 20 MPH, it was going to be a while).Anyway, I really should have pulled out the video camera and started taping. First, the car was weaving into the other lane like perhaps the student driver had been given several beers before the drive. You could see the instructor with his arm out the window (which I think is a no-no) gripping the molding on the door of the car as perhaps a way of not strangling the young driver.

Then, as we approached the intersection of Tezel and Timber Ranch where I was turning, mind you, still at 20 MPH, the light turned yellow. There was plenty of room to stop, but I was thinking, maybe the instructor was telling the student that sometimes, it makes sense to go through the yellow light rather than force the person behind you to have to slam on their brakes. Who knows? I'm just guessing here.

So anyway, the light turns red and still, at a full 20 MPH, the student casually rolls through the intersection and only then when we see the instructor in the passenger side flapping his arms about do we see a hint of brake lights come from the vehicle.

Good times. I suppose that is why the cars are equipped with those big signs.

Hole in the Wall Report: Stump's Steak House Grill...

The name of the place sounded familiar and based on where it was on the map, I was certain we had at least driven by it a few times, but I just wasn't sure. So I called the number and the phone rang at least five times before I started to just hang up, thinking it was an old listing. Just then, some guy answered and I was sure he said "Stump's" but I didn't catch much more.I asked the man, "Are you open?" which I have to admit is sort of a silly question considering that he had answered, but you just never know. The man on the other end laughed and said, "Is that a trick question? What is this? Am I on Candid Camera?" And with that, my wife and I knew that we had to check out Stump's Steak House Grill for lunch.The outside of the place does not have the flash of some of the fancier places we have been to. Seriously, I recognized it as soon as Garmin told us we had arrived at our destination, as a place we had driven by on the way to Medina Lake. Honestly, without the man on the other end of the phone and the cars parked in front, I would have assumed it to be an abandoned hardware store.Inside, 'Mando as the regulars called him, was taking orders over the phone for people who would be by to pick up lunch in a while. Next time I'll make use of that. It turns out, the same guy who answers the phone and takes your order is also the guy who cooks the food. This might result in a slight wait.The place is certainly Hole in the Wall-ish. I especially liked the remodeled chairs.It has a homey feel to it though my wife and I both agreed that there was almost a McDonald's grill area smell to it. If you have ever worked at Mickey D's, you know that smell when you get home and your uniform smells of seared Quarter Pounders, golden brown fries and a hint of reconstituted onions. Okay, well maybe you don't know the smell. This is not something to worry about. You won't yak or anything, but it just smells like a place where fried food is served.My wife ordered a combo plate that included a 1/4 pound cheeseburger, fries and a drink. I like a place that will ask you how you want your burger cooked. Most places these days are so afraid of Mad Cow or some sort a salmonella that they insist on burning everything. The fries looked a little overdone to me, but they were actually good.I had the 1/2 pound Angus Cheese Burger (cooked Medium, thanks) and fries. This guy adds some seasoning to the patty that must be scientifically formulated to hit the taste buds in the right areas, because for what I assume was a processed patty (not handmade in the kitchen), it was mighty tasty. The bun was excellent, the lettuce, tomato, and everything else worked perfectly. And it wasn't just my imagination. A table of good ol' boys next to us were going on and on about how good the burgers were to a pardner there for his first time.

Stump's isn't some place you need to load up the family and travel all the way from Las Vegas to come and visit. But for us, this little place is only about 7 or 8 miles down the road and for a change of pace, it was certainly a good burger at a reasonable price and, an interesting venue.
Off the top of my head, I can think of several places that are supposed to be so special, but burger to burger, I'd be happy with this one. And that makes Stump's a Tasty Treat.

Need to see all the pictures of Stump's? Head to Flickr.

Comparison Report: TRH vs. Stockyards...

Yesterday, we took my daughter and son-in-law to Texas Road House to get a bite to eat for lunch. They have a TRH up in New Jersey, but according to them, while good, the steak definitely tastes different compared to real Texas beef. I have always sort of questioned that. I mean, you'd think that beef is beef, or that chain restaurants would do some sort of quality control thing to make sure it is as good in one state as another. Can you really tell the difference between a McDonald's or Burger King hamburger from one city or state to the next? I doubt it. But, if it makes my daughter feel better to get the real thing while she visits San Antonio, who am I to pass on a trip to TRH?

So anyway, it was while we were getting our TRH on, it occurred to me just how much better in appearance things looked compared to what we had at The Stockyards.First, Look at the Stockyards House Salad on the left and the TRH House Salad on the right. Notice the croutons and the size. TRH is way better.Next, look at the baked potatoes, both served loaded. Stockyards on the left (and yea, no butter), and then TRH on the right (you may ignore my ribs). Look at the salt on the skin. I swear, the TRH baked potato is so much more delicious, and the appearance just makes you want to dig in.Finally, ignore the potatoes and look at the Stockyards steak on the left. I know, it would surely do in a pinch. And on the left, this is the TRH steak my son-in-law ordered. If you can see beneath the onions, you will note the darker color and inviting appearance. And having tasted both, I can tell you hands down, TRH is far better.

Oh, and finally, cost? Four of us ate at TRH for $11 less than what my wife and I paid at The Stockyards.

New Years Day Report: Polar Bear Swim...

In spite of an exceptionally festive and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebration last night, we were up this morning at a reasonable hour and headed down to the Lodge of the Great Northwest and the Silver Creek pool to witness the spectacle that is the Annual Polar Bear Swim.I recognized quite a few swimmers from previous years, clearly people who are not afraid of the near freezing (okay, 52 degree) water. I may have made boastful suggestions that I too would participate in the event during the New Years Eve celebration, but as the noon hour approached, the temperature at 55 degrees had a sobering effect on my decision process. In other words, as my wife might say, I chickened out again.But to those folks participating and to their proud families and neighbors lining the pool, it was another reason why living in this community is so enjoyable.Master of Ceremonies, Jose Morlett prepared the swimmers with instructions while getting the spectators in the crowd into the mood for some splishing and splashing.Meanwhile, members of the local media stood by with cameras rolling and microphones poised to interview the chilly swimmers.At the strike of noon, the first wave of swimmers were off into the cold water and on their way toward warm towels, commemorative t-shirts and cups of hot chocolate inside the lodge.The second wave of swimmers included several brave participants from the first round. Maybe we'll have to start having winter season at the pool if this many people are such fans of the chilly temps!Finally, Silver Creek's first resident, Miss Olivia made an impressive dip of her own, though opting for a much shorter distance. Seniority has its perks!When all the swimmers had gotten the brisk swim out of their systems, Jose made himself available to awaiting reporters eager for details of the history of The Great Northwest and the rich traditions we enjoy.

Need to see more pictures and video of the Polar Bear Swim? Head to Flickr!