Bum friends had a BBQ today with us as the guests of honor. I have to say that I’m not really the most social guy in the world—the website is really my social outlet outside of my family, and even that obviously revolves solely around them—but these Bumfuzzle get-togethers always end up being a lot of fun. It sounds corny, but we really do have a pretty awesome group of people following us along. I think that the best part, really, is that we can relate to our followers much more so than we can, say, the gang we grew up with. Our lives, and what we want out of them, seem to mesh.
Anyway, the people were great, the food and beer they brought was great, and the conversations and connections were great. We had a lot of fun and got to meet a lot of people that we’d only known through e-mail and Facebook—some for as long as ten years.
The kids had a good time too. One family brought along a big tray of sugar cookies, along with tubes of frosting and other decoration. Ouest must have decorated two dozen cookies at least, and when she was done she went around the crowd and served them all asking very quietly, “Would you like a cookie?” Thank you to all the adults who were willing to eat a cookie caked with an inch of frosting, jelly beans, sprinkles, and a hard candy Easter bunny.
To keep the Kemah, Texas, goodwill juices flowing we moved into the driveway of another longtime Bum friend today. A friend with a girl turning four tomorrow, so it was like a double shot. They lived just down the road and right next to the Boardwalk, so we took a nice long walk, let the kids have a ride, climbed around their nearby boat, and then walked back and had dinner at T-Bone Tom’s.
Disaster struck when Ouest dropped a bracelet that fell through the crack in the deck and disappeared forever. Not just any old bracelet though—this one was from her older friend Miriam back at school in Mazatlan. She ran up to me sobbing, completely heart-broken, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Man does it hurt to see her so genuinely upset.
Aside from that one small incident it was another very nice day had here in Kemah.
One of the things that has always amazed me during our travels is the generosity of both our Bum friends and total strangers. Just in the past couple of days we’ve been offered jet-skis, a handful of cars, a golf cart, and houses. Everybody willing to simply hand over their keys to us and let us enjoy whatever they have. It’s good for me personally because, truthfully, I find it all to easy these days to get down on the U.S. Then the right people step up and remind me that they are every bit as good as anywhere else in the world.
Watching a band set up for the night’s show.
That’s one of the restaurant employees on the ground with his iPhone light shining through the cracks while Ouest asks over and over again, “You can get it back for me? You can get it back for me?” Had we known where it really fell through we may have.
27 Comments on “Texas BBQ”
I never want to hear of sweet little Ouest’s heart breaking the way it did when she lost that bracelet. Absolutely heartbreaking. 🙁
Big smiles on this post. Hooray Bums and Coel Mors!
TBone Tom’s! They treated you right!
The SOS burger, medium.
Love!
I was sitting here watching Andrew Zimmern and I just thought to myself and I don’t know why…. What was the best beer you ever had and where? There can be only one! I am sure you have answered this before, I just don’t remember seeing it. Enjoy TX, I was born there 🙂
Thx-MM
You know, I was just talking about this the other night at the barbecue when a friend said he might be relocating to Australia. So, drum roll please—best beer ever is Coopers Pale Ale (the green bottle) in Australia. Oh, how I loved that beer. I think that beer alone is what landed us on the National Geographic Channel as actors. 🙂
Also, who is Andrew Zimmer?
Only parents know the heart break when your child loses something that they treasure. It makes me tear-up every time just thinking about it.
You know the weird thing is that I almost find your post sailing blog more interesting than your sailing blog. Gives me hope that even if for some reason the sailing thing doesn’t work out we won’t have to go back to our former land lives.
Deb
S/V Kintala
http://www.theretirementproject.blogspot.com
There are so many adventures to be had in this world. We all just need to use our imaginations a little bit.
It’s been quite some time since we’ve read about a pit stop at Taco Bell and I heard today they are now making some kinda waffle product. Huh?
They stopped making our beloved Grilled Stuffed Burrito (at least the way we liked it). And we’re not into breakfast food much, so… TB is pretty rare these days.
Hey,
In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the Cheshire Cat is known for his mischievous grin. Your RV’s front bumper reminds me of that grin. The Smiling RV. That’s cool.
Bob
Southport, NC
Nice. Hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right.
Agreed and that’s why Bumfuzzle needs to grow a set of whiskers: https://www.google.com/search?q=bustache&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6jdXU–mBo21yASdwICwAQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=639. How about putting Ouest and Lowe in charge of the design and letting The World select the winning entry after you post a picture of the dining table? 🙂
I agree with Deb, I’m enjoying the new adventure even more than the sailing! Of course, there is no sailboat with more personality and character than a dodge travco, you can’t help but grin ear to ear at her cuteness. 😉
Is it just me or do you all seem happier too?
Pat, you have to try an Australian made ale called “One Fifty Lashes” pale ale you wont ever drink coopers again =)
I would love to. Unfortunately you Aussies only export your crap beer, i.e. Fosters. I don’t think Coopers leaves the country.
If only you had a crowbar and a powerful flash-light
maybe you could find quest’s bracelet. I can think of
a handful of times in my life where things have fallen
down drains in streets…. It’s like a childhood occurrence.
Oh, I second the James Squire “150 lashes”. We have just stumbled onto it and it is our new favourite ale. You might just have to come back to Oz for a sample 😉
I love, love, love this. Meeting friends you KNOW, just haven’t seen face to face, to reach out and touch. With a lifestyle that’s a journey without a specific route, and movile friends on their own unspecified paths, it sometimes hard to think that it can happen- but it’s magic when it does, and you’re reminding me it doesn’t have to be that rare. And wow, ten years later! It’s a great thing to read. I’m especially enjoying this because your family and Cidnie’s are among those I really hope we’ll intersect with someday.
Great post again Pat.
Hello Behan – sv Totem. Did you know the second line in your post is a haiku, and I think a very good one too.
Meeting friends you KNOW
Just haven’t seen face to face
To reach out and touch
Very nice, May I post it on the Big Farm game forum in the Creative corner?
Happy Harvests and Happy Sailing
Uncle Willy
Wow- Uncle Willy, yes, it is a haiku! That was totally unintentional. OTOH, we’ve been reading some poetry, including haiku, with the kids lately so maybe the rhythm was lodged in my brain. Please feel free to post, and send me a link! 🙂
Birthday with Super Kitty? Fabulous! I’m very sorry about Quest’s bracelet. But I hope the joy of being with good friends, even friends you have just met in ‘person’ outshone the loss. Here’s to ‘cruisers’, whether land or sea, meeting up!
Whoops! Sorry about the misspell, too. That should be OUEST’s bracelet. My bad.
I absolutely love that you are enjoying your time in Texas!