This Is Charley

wow

CHA CHA CHA CHA CANCUN!

YES, YES, YES! ONCE AGAIN IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY I WENT ON MY YEARLY PILGRIMAGE TO CANCUN. NOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING THERE ONCE A YEAR FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO. AGAIN THIS YEAR WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT; WE STAYED AT THE ALL - INCLUSIVE GRAN CARIBE REAL RESORT AGAIN, A FABULOUS PLACE. THIS YEAR MISSED MY FAVORITE WAY TO FLY, JETBLUE AND FLEW ON LAME-O AMERICAN AIRLINES. GOOD OLD MERICAN CHARGE $5 FOR A LOUSY SANDWICH AND $5 FOR AN EVEN MORE LOUSY MOVIE.




NORMALLY WE GO WITH FOUR OF THE BOYS OR MORE ! THIS TIME IT WAS JUST ME AND THE WARDEN! YES HE FINALLY GOT HIS GET OUT OF JAIL CARD (PASSPORT) AND CAME ALONG FOR THE RIDE, ALONG WITH THE TWO STALWART GALS.


THE TRIP TO CANCUN IS SIMPLE, WE BASICALLY EAT BREAKFAST, DRINK, LOUNGE AROUND THE POOL, DRINK, EAT SOME LUNCH, DRINK LOUNGE AROUND THE POOL, DRINK, HAVE DINNER, DRINK AND PASS OUT. ANOTHER NICE PERK IS THAT OTHER THAN A FEW BUCKAROOS FOR TIPS TO THE GREAT STAFF AT THE GRAN CARIBE REAL RESORT , YOU BARELY SPEND ANY CASHOLA!! THIS TIME AROUND I ACTUALLY LEFT THE RESORT (EGAD!!) FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS TO GO WITH THE WARDEN FOR A LITTLE SOUVENIR SHOPPING!!

OTHER THAN THE SHOPPING THE TOUGHEST THING I HAD TO DO WAS TO DO SOME HARD WORK ON MY TAN. IT TAKES SKILL TO ROLL OVER AT THE PROPER TIME YOU KNOW! AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PIC BELOW I AM QUITE AN EXCELLENT TANNER AND ACTUALLY LOOK GOOD IN A STUPID SOMBRERO! I THINK EVEN THE WARDEN HAD A GREAT TIME ALTHOUGH HE SEEMED TO TRY AND NOT TO SMILE IN THE PIC BELOW(MUST HAVE BEEN THE TEQUILA?)!

WE HAVE BEEN MAKING THIS TRIP FOR YEARS....STOP YOUR DIRTY, FILTHY THOUGHTS RIGHT THERE! THE GALS ARE LIKE SISTERS TO ME. THE FUN PART IS THAT THEY ALSO CONSUME MASS QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL & FOOD AND CAN BARELY STAY UP PAST TEN PM LIKE ME! THIS TRIP WENT BY UNUSUALLY FAST AND AM CONSIDERING EXTENDING NEXT YEARS TRIP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IF MY LIVER CAN SURVIVE IT!

MY FAVORITE NICKNAMES FOR BOXERS

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AND WITH ME TRYING TO BE CLEVER!

DEMARCUS "CHOP CHOP" CORLEY

DARNELL "DING-A-LING MAN" WILSON

ANDREW "SIX HEADS" LEWIS

CHUCK "THE BAYONNE BLEEDER" WEPNER

OWEN "WHAT THE HECK" BECK

STEVIE "TWO POUNDS" FORBES

NATE "THE GALAXXY WARRIOR" CAMPBELL

JUAN "THE HISPANIC CAUSING PANIC" LAZCANO

ERIC "BUTTERBEAN" ESCHS

SAM "THE PUNCHING POLICEMAN" HILL

Kill Bill

THIS ONE IS FOR THE WARDEN

TEXAS TWO STEP
PART DEUCE, SECOND STEP

OK, THE NEXT DAY APRIL 26 (WEDDING DAY) WE WENT FOR A DRIVE ABOUT TO LOOK SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND AUSTIN. THE DAY BEFORE WE SPOTTED THIS SIGN/TRAILER OFF HIGHWAY I35. NATURALLY IT PIQUED MY CULINARY INSTINCT. SO IT'S ABOUT ELEVEN AM WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME TO HAVE SOME BBQ! I SWERVE RIGHT TO GET TO THE EXIT AND PULL INTO THE GAS STATION WHERE THE LITTLE TRAILER IS PARKED. THE RESTAURANT CONSISTS OF A LITTLE TRAILER WITH 5 PLASTIC TABLES & CHAIRS AL FRESCO. THERE ARE ALREADY ABOUT 6 PEOPLE WAITING FOR FOOD. HAD A PLEASANT CHAT AND THE KIND FOLKS SUGGESTED THE CHOPPED BEEF AND BURGERS. THEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS FROM NEW JERSEY AND KINDA LOOKED AT ME FUNNY. WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS JUST KIDDING I WAS REALLY FROM TORONTO, CANADA THEY REALLY WARMED UP TO ME!

HAD SOME TIME TO CHAT UP WITH THE OWNER/COOK/BBQ MASTER/SOUS CHEF/MANAGER, WALLACE BRANDYBURG. A REALLY NICE BIG DUDE WHO WAS A TRUCK DRIVER IN HIS FORMER LIFE. HE HAS BEEN SERVING UP SOME FINE BBQ SINCE 1999. HIS PLACE WAS VOTED ONE OF TEXAS' TOP 50 PLACES TO EAT BBQ. THE GREAT STORY BEHIND THE NAME IS THAT AN OLDER LADY HAD ASKED HIM IF HIS BBQ WAS TENDER ENOUGH FOR HER TO EAT EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD NO TEETH. HE GAVE HER A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE AND THE REST IS HISTORY. I HAD THE CHOPPED BEEF (WHICH IS BASICALLY CHOPPED BRISKET!) A NICE TASTY SANDWICH ON A SOFT BURGER BUN WITH ONIONS, PICKLE AND A SPATTER OFF BBQ SAUCE. DARN TASTY INDEED AND ONLY THREE & A HALF BUCKS! IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK YA GOTTA GO TO THE GAS STATION AND BUY IT THERE. HE ASKED THE MRS JIMTHEGREEK IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOME, BUT SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS A VEGETARIAN. OLD WALLACE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD CHUCKLE ABOUT THAT. WELL OFF TO VISIT WITH SOME OF THE MRS' COUSIN BUT FIRST GOTTA STOP FOR SOME COFFEE AT AUSTIN'S OWN KICK BUTT COFFEE!!

YES, KICK BUTT COFFEE, A QUIRKY YET NIFTY LOCAL COFFEE CHAIN. THIS COOL JOINT NOT ONLY HAS GOOD COFFEE BUT THEY SERVE IT UP WITH SOME HUMOR, BOOZE, SMOOTHIES AND FOOD! THEY ALSO SEEM TO BE BIG FANS OF CHUCK NORRIS, WHICH IS OK IN MY BOOK! ALL RIGHT NOW WE WERE READY FOR THE VISIT WITH THE RELATIVES! IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PLEASANT AFTERNOON CHAT IN THE YARD OF A QUAINT HOME AND THEN WE WERE BACK TO THE HOTEL TO CHANGE AND GIT TO THE SALT LICK BBQ FOR THE WEDDING!





AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR DRIVE FROM AUSTIN, WE GOT TO THE PLACE. THERE WAS A NICE SIMPLE WEDDING CEREMONY IN A PLEASANT GARDEN. THE SALT LICK BBQ IS ONE OF THE MOST UNPRETENTIOUS, REGULAR TYPE KIND OF PLACES THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. IT IS BASICALLY ON AN OLD FARM WITH PICNIC TABLES AND A REAL FAMILY STYLE KIND OF PLACE. BRING YOUR OWN BEER N BOOZE, HAVE A GOOD TIME, GOOD FOOD WITH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL AT A REASONABLE PRICE. I WOULD SAY THE ONLY DRAWBACK IS IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN OR DO NOT EAT ANY MEAT. THEN YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE "VEGETARIAN PLATE" OF COLE SLAW, POTATO SALAD & BEANS. MAYBE YOU CAN GET SOME BREAD TOO. THAT'S ABOUT IT ON THE NON -MEAT MENU. OH, AND DON'T BRING YOUR CREDIT CARDS CAUSE IT IS CASH ONLY! THE FOOD WAS GOOD.

THE WEDDING WAS A NICE HAPPY AND FUN EVENT. IT WAS GREAT , FOLKS IN SUITS AND FOLKS IN JEANS AND COWBOY BOOTS. YOURS TRULY WAS THE ONLY GREEK COWBOY IN THE HOUSE. YES, I HAD DUSTED OFF MY OLD BOOTS, PUT ON A BOLO TIE AND WAS STYLING! IN FACT I MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY GREEK COWBOY EVER TO VISIT! A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL. AFTER THE WEDDING , STOPPED BY THE COUSINS HOUSE TO HAVE SOME NIGHTCAPS AND DO THE USUAL SLIGHTLY INEBRIATED TALK ABOUT POLITICS, LIFE AND THE YANKEES!

THE NEXT DAY OFF TO THE AIRPORT. AN UNEVENTFUL DROP OFF OF THE RENTAL CART AT THE EVIL ALAMO CAR RENTAL RETURN AND ON TO JET BLUE TO GET HOME. IT WENT SMOOTHLY UNTIL WE GOT TO JFK AND THE IDIOT CAR SERVICE DRIVER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JET BLUE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURE AREAS. FRIGGIN HALF HOUR WAIT! OH WELL GOOD TO BE BACK IN GOOD OLD NY!

** Wild SURFING Cat **

WOWSERS

TEXAS TWO STEP

PART ONE, FIRST STEP

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

WAY BACK ON APRIL 25TH, ME N THE MRS WENT TO AUSTIN, THE HILL COUNTRY OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE NEPHEWS WEDDING. NOW LET ME TELL YOU, YOU AIN'T BEEN TO A WEDDING TILL YOU GO TO A TEXAS BBQ WEDDING AT THE SALT LICK IN DRIFTWOOD TEXAS!!!

WE TOOK OLD RELIABLE JET BLUE ON A DIRECT FLIGHT FROM JFK TO AUSTIN. JET BLUE IS MY FAVE AIRLINE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE DIRECT TV OPTION AND YOU CAN WATCH ENDLESS ESPN,CNBC,TNT N STUFF! THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL WHICH MEANS GREAT!

WE LANDED AND WENT TO GET OUR RENTAL CAR AT ALAMO. ALAMO CAR RENTAL WHICH SHOULD REALLY BE CALLED WESOSTUPID CAR RENTAL. THE IDIOT AT THE DESK TOLD ME THAT I WAS UNRENTABLE? IT DID NOT MATTER THAT I HAD A RESERVATION & CONFIRMATION NUMBER. I WAS UNRENATBLE? OK, OK I SAID REMAINING CALM. I WILL GO TO NATIONAL NEXT DOOR. OOPS THEY ARE OWNED BY SAME COMPANY....MORE IDIOTS. SO I TOLD THE TOP IDIOT I AM GOING TO HERTZ. HE THEN SAID ,OH? WE CAN RENT THE CAR TO YOUR WIFE UNDER YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER. I GAVE UP AND THE MRS DID THE RENTAL. LATER ON CALLING ALAMO ABOUT THREE TIMES TO CUSS THEM OUT THEY FINALLY FIXED IT AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I EXPLAINED THAT I KNEW THE REASON WAS THEY THEY WERE FRIGGIN IDIOTS AND I WOULD NEVER RENT FROM THEM AGAIN!! THERE RESPONSE WAS "OK, THANK YOU FOR CALLING ALAMO CAR RENTAL". APPARENTLY WE WERE NOT THE ONLY CITIZENS WITH A BAD EXPERIENCE AT ALAMO CAR RENTAL AS THERE IS A WEB SITE CALLED ALAMO CAR RENTAL SUCKS. HOW TRUE, HOW TRUE!

WE GOT TO OUR VERY NICE AND VERY FREE HOTEL, THE AUSTIN MARRIOTT SOUTH AIRPORT HOTEL. LOVE THEM MARRIOTT POINTS. WE SETTLED IN AND SPENT THE DAY EXPLORING THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I FOUND AUSTIN TO BE THE NICEST, MOST COSMOPOLITAN & DIVERSE CITY IN TEXAS. YOU CAN ACTUALLY WALK AROUND AND SEE/DO STUFF IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT IS THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS AND IT HAS A GREAT MUSIC SCENE WITH DOZENS OF CLUBS, BARS RESTAURANTS FEATURING LIVE MUSIC FROM HUNDREDS OF BANDS. THE AREA WHERE MOST OF THIS WAS HAPPENING IS KNOWN AS 6TH STREET. SIXTH STREET IS A NEAT, ALMOST SKETCHY , FUNKY, MUSICY, ARTSY PLACE WITH LOTS STUFF GOING ON. SORTA LIKE A GREENWICH VILLAGE/HAIGHT STREET KIND GROOVE GOING ON. WE ENDED UP GOING BACK THERE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR DINNER...... AND WHAT A DINNER IT WAS!

WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED US TO THE PARKSIDE WAS THE OLD SCHOOL TYPEWRITER TYPE MENU. THAT AND CAUSE THE MENU LOOKED DARN GOOD. NOT ONLY DID IT LOOK DARN GOOD BUT IT WAS EXTRA DARN GOOD. WE ORDERED A BOTTLE OF AUSSIE WOLF BLASS GOLD CHARDONNAY. A VERY TASTY, CRISP, INEXPENSIVE & UNDERRATED AUSSIE WHITE WINE FIRST INTRODUCED TO ME BY MY GOOD FRIEND, THAT CRAZY CHINAMAN. WE DECIDE TO JUST GO WITH THE TASTY SOUNDING APPETIZERS SO WE STARTED WITH THE CEVICHE; THIS WAS A WONDERFUL DISH OF COOL, FRESH, FLAKY WHITE FISH (STRIPED BASS), SHRIMPS, SCALLOPS, ONION, TOMATO, CILANTRO, LEMON, LIME, GARLIC, & JALAPENO. THE SILVER BREAM; A GLISTENING, FRESH SASHIMI STYLE FISH DISH WITH FRESH GREENS, LEMON ZEST & CRISPY ALMOND THINGYS. WHOA THERE COWPOKES, NO MEAT HERE (WHEN DINING WITH THE MRS ANYWAY). WE THEN HAD THE ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE & TASTY PISTACHIOS ALONG WITH AN EXCELLENT TRIO OF DELICATELY FRIED SARDINES & GARLIC AIOLI. FOR DESSERT WE HAD THE TOP QUALITY SASHIMI TYPE SALMON WITH BLOOD ORANGE SECTIONS ALONG WITH A DECADENT SMOKY ALMOST MEAT LIKE ROASTED MUSHROOM DISH. ACTUALLY I HAD A REGULAR ESPRESSO FOR DESSERT! A TRULY EXCELLENT MEAL.

NEXT UP IN PART TWO, NO TEETH BBQ & THE WEDDING AT SALT LICK!!!