OK, here is some more of our daily life from the big city! When we came here with the RV we needed to find a place to do the laundry and not impose upon Mom too much. We happened into Harvey Washbangers which is about a mile from the parent's house and right on Texas, the main drag, just south of the University.

Remember, the first mission was to do the clothes, eh. Well, while doing the clothes in the back of this place (absolutely first rate washers and dryers) they offer a burger joint in the front, or to the right in this picture. As you eat and drink you can watch when your machines are done by a big lighted board in the bar.

Well, the first patty melt did us in! That was more than a year ago and we now consider this place our favorite burger/sandwich joint and they have a super selection of international beers and wines. The owner is great and his favorite is the patty melt and his music selection is from the 50s and 60s ....

Today, while Jo-Anne had the patty melt, which is made with a 1/2 pound burger on grilled rye smothered with onions and thousand island sauce, I had the Philly cheese steak, which is also awesome. Both served with their signature fries and a glass of Shiraz ...

Todays' blogs will probably seem to read backwards but considering the author I guess that is to be expected. To do it right go down to the start of the newest of today's entries and work back to this point ... make sense? .... probably not ... I've got a nasty cold as a weak excuse.

After you now have read about our trip to New Braunfels and the reasons for going there, as expected, here are a couple of gastronomic adventures. While in NB we hit most of our favorites, including the Gristmill, Omas, Ables. The Gristmill has constant good food and service and can host a bunch of folks like they did for Harvey's retirement. Omas is still the best German food we have had since living in Germany ... schnitzle heaven.

And Ables has the best eggs Benedict we have ever had ... and we keep trying. I think the price has increased to $6.75, but still a super deal ... and of course we couldn't resist the cinnamon bun!

Good old oilcloth table cloths and home cooked food and always a line at the door to get in.

Then on the way home on Sunday we stopped by the Roadhouse Diner for a couple of burgers. The Roadhouse is just east of Bastrop on Highway 21 near the golf course.

And they serve one of the best mushroom swiss cheese burgers that you can try to wrap your mouth around ... even a big one like mine, eh. They also have a parking lot big enough to slide the Flying Scotsman into for the experience.

Another reason for heading to the New Braunfels area was to visit Randolph AFB and get Jo-Anne a new ID card and do some shopping at the BX and Commissary. Randolph is always a treat as it is one of the Air Force's most beautiful bases. Here is the main chapel ...

And the centerpiece of the base which is called the Taj for obvious reasons. This was actually the base water tower and headquarters building when the base was built. There is a theater attached to the back of the building ... all of which is still in use today.

Last week we went down to New Braunfels to attend the retirement party for our long time friends Pat and Harvey Hueter. Harvey is just retiring from Comal County as a deputy sheriff where he has been for the last 7 or so years. Harv is also a retired Army Colonel helicopter pilot, Purple Heart recipient, and Vietnam vet; and after all that, decided to become a deputy when most people, like myself, thought retirement was heading to the beach. Super guy ... and Comal County is losing one of its best!

It was a surprise party at the Gristmill restaurant in Gruene and here he is with Pat as they entered.

The cake was a really well done replica of his badge.

And here is the guest of honor opening a few of his gifts while Pat entertains two of their three granddaughters.

Now for the mundane ... if not interested, please check back later. A few weeks ago we talked about water, water, everywhere. Well, the side yard between our place and the neighbor was a tiny, but literal swamp. This image is a bit of a spoof as I held the camera deep into the trench for effect.

But as you look at it from eye level it is still a mess. All of the water from the two garden homes drains into the Texas clay and it stays a mucky mire that you can't even walk on without the gunk sticking to your shoes. Poor Buster, eh! The builder has taken responsibility for most of the drainage problem and will fix that and then we will enhance his effort.

The first thing he did was to install a 6 inch drainage pipe that would absorb the tons of water that was collecting between our two houses, connect it to all the downspouts and run it back to the back of the property; and our property line is at those trees in the background, well beyond the fence.

Then a layer of sand on top of the drainage pipes and dirt in the beds with a rock border.

This picture is dark, but the workmen just got done at sunse today ... with some paving stones to walk on ... Buster is really happy that his little feet are now dry ... and his owner is really happy!

First, for the new year, here are Bruce's Mom and Dad, at 90 and 92 respectively, looking great and already planning what to do with this wonderful new year.

We spend a great amount of time at their house playing Mexican Train Dominos, of which Mom, is still the all time, unrelenting, undisputed all time winner.