Well kids, I got the official word last night. We're gonna spend a week in Port Aransas this summer. Yep, summer.
So, no date set yet, but the Mamma-Boss wants both the Stetto-childs to come with. PuddinFace is here in town, no problem. But we'll need to pick an airport for Dylan to fly into (don't get me started on airline flying). I was expecting the band I'm in to be doing a festival or two out there, but I'm told it ain't likely, so we can pick and choose when to go.
Yes, I'm well aware of Tejas in summer. I lived in Phoenix, I'm no dummy. More to the point, I spent two years in Arkansas, which is more Texas weather-wise, than Texas.
With that disclaimer made, I'm to be the "planner" of this monumental journey to the sea...I'm actually looking more forward to stopping in Baird and a visit with Carl & Billy Sue and seeing my friends Jaime & Pat (if we can lure you to the beach). I guess none of us has heard from Roger and Joyce in a while? Maybe they still monitor the site...
So I'm all about a slow, meandering track before reaching the cluster of humanity that southeast Tejas is, as friendly as the locals I've met are...I will update...occasionally...
I'd dearly love to go into a Buc-ee's with Jaime. It'd be the stuff of a movie script, or an SNL skit... :disturbed:
Where dahellizat???
Quote from: balsum fractus on January 29, 2023, 05:03:40 PM
Where dahellizat???
Nony, point your e-map to Port Aransas TX. One of the most relaxing 3 day weekends in my life.
Its on the barrier islands near Corpus Christi TX.
My cousin Matt spent a week in June somewhere in the South San padre islands, said it was nice even at 90+ degrees on the ocean side.
Give it some thought, guys. We could make it a gathering event. Our targeted place to land is called Sandollar City, a tiny resort of maybe 5 or 6 bungalow style cabins, right on the beach, and we get around town in big-assed golf carts!
Can't wait, hope you bring coolers to haul pigs home in!!!
Quote from: wtxsflyr on January 29, 2023, 09:42:37 PM
Can't wait, hope you bring coolers to haul pigs home in!!!
Mind reader! ❤
Oh HELL yes! Count me in, Stetto. Let me know when you'll be here and where. A Buc'ee's run would be totally epic... :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen:
Any updates Stetto?
Not really Carl, though I might have to make a special bacon & fat back harvesting trip to your pod. I told a few friends about your variety of pig farming and at least 2 of them want to come along!
What is it about pork anyway?
One of these fellas is an Iraq vet and has the niftiest 6.5 (Creedmore? Grendel? I dunno) hunting rifle, fluted stainless barrel and the trimmins. He wants to get mulies with it, I told him there's no smoker on the planet can make mule deer meat tender and tasty, whitetail or cow elk was the ticket, then for no good reason I brought up pork and he lit right up...
I do gotta get to the Honchos place first, bond my brain to a reticle and see if he'll let me have my banked items back.
If it ever decides to straighten up and be done with winter. My cousin Matt was planning on coming up this Friday to shoot, but looks like we are going to have a "breeze", snow showers and high of 45. :eusa_doh:
Well, here we still are. Our little lives here in Colorado are not quite measuring up to the Mama's expectations. Actually haven't since we planted ourselves here. With that in our tired, old little minds, events have occurred recently that have us discussing a final resting place. We just began this discussion, but it seems that "somewhere in Texas" keeps coming up.
Specifically Port Aransas and that coast. The Springs ain't cutting it for Terrin, financially and otherwise. Our vicinity to Denver and the boom of the wrong "type" moving in almost has me on a military footing.
So we're finally going to make that trek back to Port A. Maybe to stay. I could sell t-shirts for a toe in the sand. I'll keep y'all apprised.
Imminent or 'fairly soon'?
My cousin Matt has planned on when he retires in a couple years from the city of Greeley, they are going to sell his farm in CO and intend to move down to the South Padre island area somewhere. I imagine CO will bleed out more conservatives eventually, driven out by politics, policy and the cost of supporting it, and we already have seen what replaces them, the wealthy, and the parasites. Now I know what Native Californians felt as their state slipped into the abyss of authoritarian leftism.
The bleed from CO has shifted the political colors of WY a little more purpleish in the cities, though not large enough to command the entire state, have impacted here so we get things like green energy initiatives like carbon sequestration funded by the state, and resistance to things like property tax reductions. Jackson hole and around Yellowstone may was well be a entirely different state anymore.
However even if I don't particularly like cold, I hate 2 things more, change and moving, so likely will not be going south anywhere.
Every time I move I say "THIS IS THE LAST TIME!", and have now lived in 3 (three) homes where we were to grow old and die in.
Terrin was fired from her job on Monday. Perp walked to the front door. No warning. She wasn't exactly happy with it, but wasn't planning to quit anytime in the next few years. Now she's debating whether she wants to stay any longer than it takes me to sell my music gear 🙄.
And of course she's got the PuddinFace on-board. We're to claim a few yards of sand, build a grass hut and install our Sleep Number bed and open a t-shirt shop. Reasonable, no?
So timing is in the Twilight Zone, as were the last three moves.
Just so y'all know, I'm not so disenchanted with the Springs, as long I leave the house strapped, which I do virtually everywhere...besides, I do not want to sell ANY of my music gear.
I'll keep letting you guys know...
Buc'ees run would still be epic, they all got bigger. Come on down! Better yet, quit talking about it and just move here. Port Aransas ain't that far from us, we could make that trip easy....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBWNgg8CClc
I am headed to PA next Thursday to go on another 60 hour Tuna fishing trip.
Kind of a long cast from PA isn't it? :icon_smile:
You guys are a hewt, fo' sho'!
Actually, the fact that the Fubar ground zero and shootin' range is only a 3 hour drive is more than appealing.
She definitely wants to take a trip down to "scope it out", and not just a 3 day junket. I've looked at listing in that area and I see that Colorado Springs is not the big bilking grounds compared to others. There's one listing for a 12 hunnert Sq ft one bed one bath for just half a million. 😵�💫😵�💫😵�💫😵�💫
Good luck on the tuna hunt, Carl! If/when we come that way we'll definitely stop in...
PA=Port Aransas :eusa_wall:
Gotta think like a non Texan when talking to me. :icon_lol:
:icon_lol:
There be waaaaay too many non-Texan thinkers out there..... :disturbed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5o1idFrn54
Speaking of Texas thinkin'...
The Darlin Bride has been officially caught in the pulling of the trigger.
She spent a couple hours on the phone with her friend in Pflugerville this morning, effectively scoring a place to land. Apparently her friend in Pflugerville owns several properties, one of which was offered at a low rent figure so we can look around the state for our 4th house in which to grow old and die.
It looks like if I'm to get back to my favorite shootin' range I need to do it before June.
Pflugerville is a nice area, Stetto. Austin is a little odd (think VERY blue), but still not a bad place to live. And it ain't that far from us, so reunions could be totally possible. If you're really seriously thinking about coming out here, do it sooner than later. The kalifornian exodus is driving real estate prices up, but the legislature actually has been doing a great deal to reduce the property taxes we all know and love. Personally, I like the hill country around Fredericksburg, but real estate up that way ain't cheap anymore. I'd love to move away from houston, but the better half and the rest of la familia won't hear of it.
Good luck, my friend!
Well Jaime, I got the word today, in fact minutes ago. We. Are. Moving. To. Texas.
She's not happy here. I'm actually neutral on the matter, but I would love to jam with some Texas players. There is no time frame yet, just like when we moved from MN.
I want to make at least one more one-two day visit to Hawk Springs before then, whenever then is.
That's good to hear, amigo! :icon_mrgreen: The Texas Fubar contingent just got a little bigger!
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you out.
Huh. I got a call last night from an old friend from Minnesota who I don't hear from very often. He owns some wells south of Devine. I asked him his favorite spots to hang out when in Texas.
He answers almost immediately: "You could find a lot worse than Pflugerville, but Luling is the best food and people, if you don't mind the occasional strong smell of raw crude oil. I'll be down there in late May."
Well dayamn, fellas! Coincidence? I'd like to think not. I've been to the Luling City Market, best BBQ & smokehouse I got to eat at in the state!
So has anyone heard from Roger & Joyce?
You're right about City market, their sausage is the shiznit!!
You know for some reason I have been wondering about some of our wayward members, Roger hasn't been active here for 5 years, but is on facebook often and apparently doing well looks like still in Giddings, tracked him down through his Youtube videos where he watched a Space X launch and capture late last year.
Another "up"date: We're slowly putting ducks in a row and wrangling cats, an T has begun her jobsearch in the Austin area. A great majority of work in her line is remote, so she wants to secure a position now and have a presence in TX before we even load a truck. I'm on home restoration duty, which used to be me, a ladder and a toolbag, but this time consists of finding the right contractors at the right price. I get to pick up after them.
The house in Pflugerville is good sized, half the rent as our house p'ment here and utilities are all paid. I volunteered yard work, which they happily jumped on.
I'm going to start looking into my personal concerns, namely golf, bands, golf, and maybe a greeter job at H.E.B.
And yes Jaime, Bomber Field is a bucket item list...
More to come...
QuoteAnd yes Jaime, Bomber Field is a bucket item list...
You won't regret that one bit! And I'll even go with you!
Do you have any idea when the great migration will occur?
Quote from: jetmex on April 12, 2025, 03:23:41 PMQuoteAnd yes Jaime, Bomber Field is a bucket item list...
You won't regret that one bit! And I'll even go with you!
Do you have any idea when the great migration will occur?
It's looking a lot like September, though it could be sooner. Terrin is already applying for remote work there, and the PuddinFace, who is moving out there with us, has a lease on her apartment til June 15th.
OK. Sooner. She's ready now, becoming hard to live with about it. My band has a gig July 17, I promised to be here for that. But we have +/-100 totes of various sizes filling the living room this morning. Be aware...👀
And yes, Carl. We may be pitching a tent in your back yard on our way out. The path goes right through Abilene... :eek5: :devil: :disturbed:
Come ahead brother.
The tote program may just get me back into some shape beyond round these coming weeks. The PuddinFace has now left her apartment and moved in with us, laundry and storage pantry are already in storage. Neighbors have been offering to help (not sure how to take that).
So we're still on course. Eight consecutive days of rain (today will be #9) is a slight hindrance, but our target to leave here is around the first week of August, September being the alternate.
Still on track for the 1st week of August.
Our land pimp is chomping at her bit to put the sign up, but Terrin wants the house empty for showing, so we'll be on our way before she can list.
The new landlord is busy "repairing" what the previous tenant broke. I'm debating reinstalling the Crimson Trace dot on my full size 9, either that or get some night sights...Decisions, man.
Alright, the movers are booked and a tighter schedule is set.
Looks like the last week of July, 30-31st. Hoping the Bairds will be home that week, haven't seen Carl and Billy Sue since the original Gathering. It's a 13+ hour drive from here to our new digs, so an overnight in the Abilene area is warranted for this old guy.
I'd still love to do one more daytrip to see friends in Hawk Springs, but I don't know if time and money will allow.
More as we get closer!
Well do what you can, But yeah, that's pushing for time considering its already the last full week of June.
Oh, and Carl, you know I meant "the Barneses" when I said Bairds. This has been my brain for the last month.
Honcho, yeah, everything is tight, money, schedule, tempers. She's fast tracking and I'm more or less on the struggle bus. But the Dude will abide... :disturbed:
Knew exactly what you meant! Moving is a stressful undertaking.
Moving does suck. If you need to decompress, you're welcome to come out here before all the fun starts. I'm sure we could find something to ease the pain... :icon_mrgreen:
And don't be afraid to call if you need any help.
I sincerely pray that you Texicans are faring better than those poor people in the Kerrville area. We got some video from our Pflugerville contact and the ditches around the house we're moving into were full of running water yesterday, but the house was on solid ground. No idea what today or tomorrow is going to look like...
Anyone check on Roger & Joyce?
We are doing good. Feel so bad for the people affected by the flooding. Most of it is 1 to 3 hours south of us.
We have friends in San Angelo, about that far south and west of you, Carl. Gonna be a real adventure finding digs where I can truly grow old and die...
...but first, PORK!!!
I'd truly love to put a Gathering together in Port Aransas in the short term, great eats there, nice beach, and T & I have free use of an RV on the beach. Dunno if R/C is allowed but I have 5 kits to distribute to you boys, including Jaime's Mus-Yak...
San Angelo is right at 2 hours from us, and parts of it got hit pretty hard with flooding. I really enjoy going to PA, would be a fun place to have a gathering.
I just learned yesterday that the H is silent. Why not you tell me Jaime???
Well that c'anges everything, what 'ell, is that somet'ing new? :disturbed:
QuoteI just learned yesterday that the H is silent. Why not you tell me Jaime???
Are you talking about the "H" in Uhhmmble? People from Uffman, which is right across Lake Ouston from Uhhmmble, might disagree with you. And Uhhmmble, of course, is right off Ighway 59 and is also the ome of Uhhmmble Igh School....
Ay carumba!
I wasn't expecting to 'ave to relearn the pronunciation of 'alf the 'uman language when I get there! Next you'll tell me I can't stay in Texas without 'aving an anchor baby. Terrin gone be a hard sell for that!
If you (and I suspect you will) really want to drive people around here bonkers, pronounce it like it's supposed to be; Humble. The town is named after an Englishman named Pleasant (I'm not making that up) Humble, and I suspect the local's pronunciation stems from his British accent. Around here, it always comes out like "Uhhhmmmble" with a Texas twang. It's actually kinda funny, but more funny is the reaction when I pronounce it Humble. "Why??!!" they ask. Because it has a f---ing H in it!! The people I know in Uffman really like it when I say that.... :disturbed: They like it even better when I sing, "Oh Lord, it's 'ard to be 'umble..."
Humble Oil Company was founded here. That little oufit eventually became Exxon after being acquired by Standard Oil. Spindletop, one of the first big oil wells in Texas, is about 60 miles from here in Beaumont, TX.
Wow. Ten days isn't as long a time as it used to be...
So are you 'ere yet? We've been waiting..... :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: jetmex on July 21, 2025, 09:28:32 AMSo are you 'ere yet? We've been waiting..... :icon_mrgreen:
I did say 10 days. We are heading out July 29-31.
Aye, you did. But time means nothing to us retard folks... :disturbed:
RETARD; adjective (south Texas) - withdrawn from one's workplace to have a happier life!
So. Week Zero. Got a call request to Carl, got oil changes Monday/Tuesday, everything moving along. Friends and neighbors throwing a big going away party tomorrow, a bunch of appointments for 3-4 more days, adios Colorado by Thursday.
I will be a YUGE pain in the ass until I secure a job at Buc-Ees. See you soon enough...
QuoteI will be a YUGE pain in the ass until I secure a job at Buc-Ees.
You could SOOOOO be the Buc'ee's mascot dude! I'd pay to see that! :icon_biggrin:
Let us know when you get here, and if you need anything, don't be afraid to call...
So..........I'm supposed to call you??? I thought you were going to call me!!!!
Quote from: wtxsflyr on July 26, 2025, 08:44:20 PMSo..........I'm supposed to call you??? I thought you were going to call me!!!!
Yep, I'll call you. I sent you a pm asking if you were available but didn't get an answer. I figgered you were out ranching or something. No worries, it'll happen.
Friends and neighbors threw a nice going away party for us yesterday. They had a BBQ place called Rudy's cater. Finally hung a lip over a fork full of beans that came really close to what I cook.
So I'm talking to this young guy at the party I hadn't met before and we got into black guns and NFA and the like. Nice kid, right? I waited till after that chat to ask him what he did for a living: "I'm a cop with the Colo Springs police department"...😬🫡
He was cool and even interested, but there was a moment :disturbed:
So we'll hear later today whether the movers show on Wednesday or Thursday. THEN I'll give West Texas a call.
Heh, well maybe you will be gone before they get around to a warrant. :icon_lol:
Movers didn't call. Nothing new. I'll have to call them today.
Nobody actually answers their phone anymore. Got an email from the movers though, said they'd call before showing up TOMORROW! Da heww? We told them JULY 30/31. Freezers aren't even defrosted yet.
Have I ever told y'all the story about how much I love moving? Whether or not, you WILL be hearing it again... :disgust:
Now we're getting the 'ol bait & switch from the movers. Suddenly they want another $4000, saying they didn't realize how much stuff we had, even though their new inventory matches the original one.
Amerisafe, avoid at all cost.
Found a local guy, gave us a great price IN WRITING, who can start loading Thursday morning. What a nightmare!
If all works out well be outta here Friday morning. Carl, I'll call you when we're out the door. Figure 9 or so hours to your front door!
Back to hell tomorrow!
Uhg, moving. :eusa_wall:
What a day, dunno if my hips are gonna make it to Texas.
Truck is loaded and gone, but I had to rent a trailer anyway, 5'x8'. Too small but all they had. We're gonna look like the Clampets comin' down the road.
I'll call you Carl, but I doubt it will be early...
Well hell, y'all, that pesky time zone thing got me. Hunkering down in Amarillo for the night, hopefully will see Carl & Billy Sue for brunch mañana.
Yeah, little humid heah...
Welcome to Texas, mi amigo! I hope you and Terrin find this a better place than those where you previously lived, though you are just outside the weirdest city in the state. Feel free to 'ead to Uhhmmble at any time for any reason, we'll be 'ere....
Quote from: jetmex on August 03, 2025, 04:00:26 PMWelcome to Texas, mi amigo! I hope you and Terrin find this a better place than those where you previously lived, though you are just outside the weirdest city in the state. Feel free to 'ead to Uhhmmble at any time for any reason, we'll be 'ere....
Dayamn, Jaime. We stopped at Carl & Billie Sue's, now you and Pat can just drive over and help me and the girls empty totes!
Quotenow you and Pat can just drive over and help me and the girls empty totes!
Well, Stetto, it's like this. There are still unopened totes from when we moved here 35 years ago. Big ones, little ones, every color of the rainbow and some from stores that no longer exist. Pat do love her some totes, and whenever I try to dispose of them, I get the look. I'll bet she doesn't even know what's in them! :eek5:
Get me an address so we can find you...
Quote from: jetmex on August 04, 2025, 08:12:44 AMQuotenow you and Pat can just drive over and help me and the girls empty totes!
Well, Stetto, it's like this. There are still unopened totes from when we moved here 35 years ago. Big ones, little ones, every color of the rainbow and some from stores that no longer exist. Pat do love her some totes, and whenever I try to dispose of them, I get the look. I'll bet she doesn't even know what's in them! :eek5:
Get me an address so we can find you...
I hear that!
We're on the north side of town.
Carl, these eggs are nothing short of fantastic! Nothing compares to farm fresh!
We continue to reside in tote hell, but I do seem to be caring less as days and hours pass. I've been in the pool every day so far, nursing sore muscles and bruises.
The internet outfit Terrin chose may be a scam: Who ever heard of 350 megs per second of download but 25 (that's right, twenty five) megs of UPLOAD? She called the customer service department and got passed around from one non-English speaking H1B goomer to another for TWO HOURS. Outfit is called Optimum, I think. You Texicans have any knowledge?
Anyway, I'm late for the pool. Y'all stand by!!!😁👍
Glad you are enjoying the eggs. As for the internet, we are so far out in the boonies, as you know, our only option is Starlink! So no help there.0
Heh, mine is as fast as the squirrels can pedal, but they have unionized. the only local provider have never been able to give us more than about 25megs down and 1 up because I am near the limit of range to the broadband radio. I just tested mine though and its up to 45 down, but only .08 up, no wonder it takes forever to post sometimes.
Our pool has as snapper in it I think, but I opt not to swim in it either way. :icon_smile:
Officially here a whole week. I can't wait any longer, we're heading to the Luling City Market next weekend. I hear there's a monster Buc-ees outside town, so no worries Jaime, we'll stop there too.
We're filthy with H.E.B. here.
QuoteI hear there's a monster Buc-ees outside town
There is indeed, and for now, it's the monsterest Buc'ee's in their system. Be prepared for crowds. Big ones....
And yes, HEB is awesome. They're always crowded, too. Do the online shopping and store pickup instead of going inside. It will help maintain your sanity...unless you get lucky and have one of the stores with the BBQ restaurant in it!
Texas isn't working out the way I thought. Terrin & the PuddinFace are likely going to stay, but I'm likely moving on. This weekend they'll be going to Luling. I want to stop in Humble before moving on. It was inevitable, just hoped not so soon.
Will call before I'm out, Jaime.
WTH Stetto?
Lets hope he is kidding, if not, Take a breath buddy, moving is stressful.
You have my number, amigo. Call any time.
Anyone heard from Stetto? Kinda worried about our friend.
Nope, saw him mention something about bad golf a couple days ago on facebook, but nothing about what's going on. Kinda thought he would have been back to kill the suspense by now.
Hell guys, sorry for leaving you hanging like that. Some issues came to a head (you're right Buckaroo, moving stress).
Got it mostly hammered out, no worries. Hit the Luling City Market and buc-ees yesterday. The BBQ was as I remembered, the buc-ees not near as impressive as I remember from 10 years ago.
After a full week of absolutely nuthin' my phone has been lighting up with requests for me to join local bands. Nice to be wanted 😉
Glad to hear everything is ok, amigo. Let me know when you'll be 'eading down the 'ighway to Uhhmmble.... :icon_mrgreen:
I found my first fire ant nest this morning...by accident, of course. Lawn mowing has taken an upturn in adventure level. Only got a few on me, but oh yeah, they BURN alright!!
OK, you Texicans, we're eating at 54th Street tonight. Other than Marco's Pizza we haven't eaten anywhere but home down here. So hoping for a treat where I'm not under the gun to prepare the evenings epicurean delight...The web page said "San Antonio region", so I got no clue how Texas the place is.
So two weeks ago I was already in a band, a pretty good one mixing classic rock with classic country. This week they told me their bass player decided to not quit. The guitar player told me that the guy heard me play and got intimidated, whatever. So I'm looking for a new gig.
Not worried, my name's getting around.
I'm told this morning that my birthday will be celebrated in Port Aransas next month. About time, ya think?
We should all go... :eusa_clap:
When will y'all be there? I have another 60 hour fishing trip leaving on the 24th.
Quote from: wtxsflyr on September 04, 2025, 10:59:17 AMWhen will y'all be there? I have another 60 hour fishing trip leaving on the 24th.
I haven't got the specifics from SWMBO yet, but the birthday is October 1.
If we don't hook up down there Carl, you'd better drop a filet or two off on your way home! We are, after all, just off the 130 @ Gattis School...
Quotebut the birthday is October 1.
How 'bout that! You're in good company, Pat's birthday is October 2.
We're on the road on vacation at the moment, in upstate New York. We went to Woodstock yesterday, which was really cool. I'll try to post pics when we get home.
This thread started with the cheerful enthusiastic announcement of a week-long stay in the little Texas beach town of Port Aransas. The OP was dated January 29 of 2023...We're finally going to get there for a weekend, leaving here tomorrow at +/- noon (ish).
...just in case anyone needed a reminder :disturbed:
Enjoy!
Great time, some kind of kite festival going on. On the beach Saturday for 8+ hours. Obligatory seafood.
Only downsides were the 45 minute wait for the ferry and the swarm of jellyfish that found me as the tide rolled in. Those bastiges sting!
I'm also sporting the deepest tan/sunburn/melanoma of my life. It'll look great til it metastasizes...
Home Sunday night, had a band audition with a reforming southern rock band called Ma Ferguson last night (Texans in the room will get it :icon_wink: ). Turns out I was the most prepared musician in the room, including the guy restarting the band! I'll keep y'all posted on that one...
Today: golf at Star Ranch. In way over my head with old pros and young scratch players. Pray for me.