Going to San Antonio!

This is old news, but I’ve been wanting to share it. Apparently the local news sources have had Thunderbirds on the brain. No, not the car, not the cheap wine, I’m talking about the giant critter of Native American legend.

Guys, I’m talking a big, damn, scary, bird.

The article that got me looking into this was published by MySA.com on July 28th. Funnily enough, it was posted under the pets and animals category. I keep envisioning someone keeping a thunderbird as a pet. I wonder if it likes kittens?

*******

Oohh I just figured out why these old stories are being published. After digging through tons of links saying these sightings were either hogwash or surviving prehistoric creatures, I come across ONE blurb about a painted horse sculpture for sale where the artist is quoted as saying the Thunderbird is a harbringer of rain and new life.

Mystery solved. I thought it was strange that the most recent sighting mentioned happened over 30 years ago and that it made news yet again.

Apparently this bizarre rain has gotten more than one person feeling a bit odd. Guys, it rained every day for over THREE WEEKS in July. It has rained weekly since we moved here and that was the first of May.

Yup, Texans are crazy and apparently eternal optimists. Hrm. Or eternal pessimists. The Thunderbird is a harbringer of rain and new life. The question is, is that new life good or bad?

Let’s make it good, ‘k Kids?

I know, for the last two months about all I’ve been doing with this blog is looking at the bookmark and thinking “ooh I really need to go write something!” but instead I’ve been out making friends and having a party!

Hopefully my readers will come back to me and bring new ones with them.

The blackout began when I got a new job. Actually having to be somewhere and pay attention to something else will really derail the best of plans at first!

I’m officially a secretary. A pretty dubious honor when what I really want is to be a CEO, but hey, we all start out somewhere huh? I’ll be the secretary for someone else’s company, and CEO of my own, till I pass it on to someone and just rake in the checks instead. Sound like a plan?

Or maybe the blackout began when we start hanging out with the Meetin crew? Chris and I found Meetin when we first moved here, but have become really active with the group lately. I’ve been asked to act as a member of the Welcome Wagon committee which means that I am responsible for welcoming new members and explaining what it’s all about.

I am so flattered that I’ve been asked to participate in the group in this manner. I really believe in it, and love the role that it plays in our lives. Chris and I moved to Texas with lots of dreams in mind, one of those being a move into a more active social life. I’m really grateful that meetin has been such a fun and effective means to accomplish that goal.

If your city has a meetin group, I highly recommend checking them out. There are no membership dues, and everyone is there to have a good time.

That’s some of the magic of it. The only thing the members have in common is the desire to meet new people and have a good time. What a radical reason for people to meet in this day of corporate life ownership.

Oh yeah!

Tickets go on sale August 6, and the show is October 11. Plenty of time to buy your tickets and make your plans. Tickets are available online at this link.

I know we’re planning to go with all of our friends and I’ve sweet talked my dad into coming from Arkansas for the show. Say “Hi” if you see me! I’ll make sure to get lots of groupie pics if I can. I’ve never been to the venue, so I don’t know if they let fans meet the performers or not.

Getting to see Willie Nelson is one of the reasons we moved to Texas. Cities like New Orleans and Memphis have always overshadowed Texas for me in regards to music, but I’m beginning to learn and respect the Texas music scene.

With performers like Willie Nelson and Bob Schneider in our back yard (literally, our house faces south :D) I’m still excited to be here!

Photo is courtesy of a google image search for Willie Nelson. Isnt it beautiful? Thank you, photographer!

In this edition of the Blog Carnival, it was a party. A large party with attendees from all over the world!

Los Angeles-Lydia of CovertEffect ‘took’ us to Saints and Sinners lounge to start our evening. Her post gave a fantastic description of a neat bar so it became the imaginary setting for our party.

Over drinks and over good music, everyone was kind of mingling but you could tell no one had ever met before. There were lots of people, but conversation was stilted and quiet. Something needed to be done soon or the entire night would consist of people just sitting and drinking and this needed to be a party!

Washington, DC-Jon of The DC Traveler saw the situation and stood up. He pulled out his Zippo-clicked it open-and started telling us about the building of a better lighter.

With the ice broken the conversation picked up a bit in tempo-

San Diego-Carole from the San Diego Beat showed us a video of of surfer and other beach goers.

Dubai-Grace from Sandier Pastures started telling her neighbor Ant about the problems Dubai is experiencing with government finances and the road toll experiment that is in the works.

Orlando, Florida-Ant of The Beef Jerky Blog shook his head in sympathy with Grace’s comments and then began sharing with her the story of his trip to Disney World and his first day with Mickey.

Seattle-Mary Jo of The Seattle Traveler moved the conversation from Mickey to Movie by letting everyone know about the Midnight Movies that are being shown at the Egyptian Theater in her city.

New York-Madeleine of Mad Kane’s Humor Blog really got the party started when she started telling the story of a woman who won a civil rights lawsuit against New York city when the city said she wasn’t allowed to go topless in public.

After the uproar died down more of the international attendees began to speak:

Delhi-Down near the end of the table, Kalyan of Kalyan Speaketh began the conversation anew with a well defined case for visiting the museums of a city.

Buenos Aries-at the middle of the table Alan of Buenos Tours began a fascinating description of the Feria de Mataderos. He told of dancing and shopping and delicious street food.

Amsterdam- Mark of Hot Strategies gave an overview of all the neat things to see and do and places to stay in Amsterdam.

Gozo-Martin of Total Dismay joined in with a description of his oasis in his city.

Overall the party was a huge success! Everyone posting recognizably about cities got to speak their piece and everyone had a good time!

Big thanks to Home Turf Media for creating the Carnival of Cities. Make sure you submit a an article about your favorite city sometime.

Next week’s carnival will be hosted by Jul at This Non American Life. Make sure you check it out!

What are you in love with about your city? What’s going on in your large to semi large town?

What do you want the world to know about the city you love?

Submit your post to this link by 2pm Eastern time on Sunday, July 1st so that I can help you share it with the world on July 2. If you miss the deadline use the same link, but Jul of This Non American Life will have the honor of posting it instead.

The Carnival will go live at 9am Eastern time July 2. Come read and enjoy!