Missing you, Garry

I don't know why I'm surprised, but it is amazing how many things make me miss you.  There is nothing right with a parent outliving one of her children.

Every time a leaf falls, I've cried another tear for you.

The Light

falling clutter
wings a-flutter
nearly crowning
almost drowning
help me up
loving cup
almost morning
without warning
help me cope
now there's hope
heaven above
filled with love

Burgers so far...

For the ten burgers off the list that I’ve tried, I decided I should rate them.  After all, it’s a nice round number, right?  Well, here goes.

1.        Max’s Wine Dive – cooked to perfection and smothered with a thick slab of brie.  Add in a place full of personality and this burger easily tops my list (so far!!).

2.       Alamo Springs Café –an excellent taste experience.  It didn’t quite send me into ecstasy like Max’s did, and the atmosphere does detract a little from the total experience (too hot and no A/C).

3.       Gourmet Burger Grill – a truly great experience all the way around.  Lots of interesting and unique toppings to try.

4.       Roaring Fork – one of these days, I’ll have to go back and see if I can handle the Big Ass burger, but the Half Ass was heaven on a bun.

5.       The Cove – the melding of flavors on the Texas burger will make you beg for more.

6.       Fatty’s – the flavorful burger came perfectly cooked and dripping in juices.  Kudos to the new owners for thinking outside the (ice)box with an ice cream burger that will give you a unique burger experience.

7.       Big’z – make sure you get it dirty – you won’t be disappointed!

8.       Koffee Kup – the burger was overcooked from how I ordered it, but it was good and messy like a burger should be.

9.       Roadhouse – fresh jalapenos and a thick slab of cream cheese topped this burger off well.

10.   Café Michael – the mushrooms and onions on the burger saved this burger from blandness.

It's interested how differently I rated these as opposed to Texas Monthly's ratings, but I guess that's why there is never a shortage of new burger places for us to try!  I've been having a blast so far - just wish I was better at describing how good these have been and how much fun it's been.  Right now, my bigger issue is that I’m going to have problems trying to convince my husband I need to drive to Dallas for a burger (not to mention the eight hours to El Paso), but I’ll work on him!  At least the places in Austin can be easily reached.

Local Trip for Burger #10

I was downtown today, so I managed to swing by Mark's Outing (recently renamed from Fatty's Burgers and More) for the #18 burger on the list.  Just for fun, I decided to try one of Mark's new creations - the ice cream burger.  It came with the usual toppings - along with a scoop of fried strawberry ice cream!  Interesting is what I would have to call it - didn't hate it, but wouldn't really rush back for another.  The burger itself, however, was definitely worth going back for.  Not too big, not too small, seasoned just right and good and juicy (needed lots of napkins).  If you're interested, here's a picture:

Hico rocks!

Spent half of  yesterday driving up 281 to Hico, TX for the #41 burger on the list - a jalapeno cream cheese burger that apparently led the Texas Monthly people to start compiling this list just to be able to get another taste of one.  Which just makes me wonder why it's only at 41 on the list.  I found it to be pretty darn good; however, they did ask me how I wanted the burger and then did not proceed to cook it to my specifications.  That was definitely my only complaint as I tried to finish the 1/2 pound monster, which is probably still sitting on my thighs.

Definitely worth checkout out there as well are the Cactus Jack burger (messy but worth it), fried pickles for an appetizer, the superb onion rings, and the worth-the-entire-trip pies.  We tried peanut butter cream, coconut cream, and pecan fudge - none of which disappointed any of us.

Burger #8

Just fresh from seeing "Magic Mike," so thought I'd hit up Big'z for the number 21 burger off the list.  I paid the extra dollar to get it "dirty," which means it was topped with a nice and gooey over-medium egg.  And of course, I needed bacon and pepper-jack cheese as well.  The burger was nice and juicy, only running down my arm once or twice, and the atmosphere  of the place and friendliness of the staff really added to the total experience.  All in all, a very satisfying burger at a reasonable price.

Book review!

Just finished reading a new YA book that I won on Goodreads - check out my review:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13466202-talented

One More for the Road

Off today, so decided to hit one of the local burger spots today.  Just came back from Gourmet Burger Grill, just making the list at #49.  After reading the menu, just had to try the Baja Burger, which comes stuffed with goat cheese and accompanied by chipotle cheddar, jalapenos, grilled onions, and a green olive avocado spread.  It was very good, but even better was the Caprese, which my son got - a burger covered with fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.  I know these don't sound like typical burger fare to most people, but to me, that's the point of the list.  Everyone has their burgers at their burger joints that they've been eating for years, but time to stop letting some of these places rest on their laurels.  I'm not saying you should forsake your favorites (I'm sure not going to!!), but get out of your comfort zone once in a while and see what other people have been doing with this good old American stand-by.

Busy Burger Weekend

Got in three burgers this weekend!

Started out on Friday at Roaring Fork for the Half Ass burger, which hits Texas Monthly's list at #30.  Utterly amazing - so glad I didn't try the Big Ass.  I think my favorite part of this burger was the whole thick slice of grilled onion that came on the bottom.

Saturday, my husband and I were in Galveston for my birthday, our anniversary, and Father's Day (all over with in one weekend this way!).  Tried the Tiki Burger at Cafe Michael Burger, which is #23 on the list.Fairly plain burger, but good flavor from the grilled onions & 'shrooms.  also worthy of trying were the stuffed jalapenos, which were stuffed with cream cheese and shrimp - we loved them!

On our way back home today, we decided to try Max's Wine Dive in Houston, whose Kobe Beef Burger makes the list at #16.  Much like Alamo Springs Cafe, all I can say is wow!  Totally fantastic burger here!  Came with some amazing brie on it, along with home-grown tomatoes and some great jalapenos.  Definitely worth checking out, but make sure you get reservations.  We got lucky that we even got seats in the place, which was packed!  The parking attendant told my husband that the fried chicken there is amazing, so might have to go back.  Mimosas are apparently their speciality, so enjoy one with your burger!

It's been a slow process, but 6 down already!  Who's next?  Guess I'll try to make it to Kerrville again.

Wasted my time yesterday.  We drove to Kerrville in the late afternoon only to find out that the restaurant we were heading for closes at 3:00!!  I have to learn to check these things out better!  At least I have been checking to make sure these places are still open - I'm sure I'm going to run into one or two that are no longer in business.  Don't know what I'll do about those since I obviously won't be able to get all 50 on the list.  That's what I get for procrastinating, I guess.  Oh, well, onward and upward - I'll try and hit one in town today.

Burger Three

Having to be downtown for the day yesterday gave me the perfect opportunity to hit one of the local places on Texas Monthly's best burgers list.  The #5 burger on the list was at The Cove on Cypress.  Their fantastic Texas Burger comes loaded with corn chips, refried beans, avocado slices, and much, much more.  A true culinary delight and unfortunately for my waistline, available to me any time!  Our order number was 47, which is how many burgers (and t-shirts!) I have to go!

Burgers One and Two

I'm a little slow, but better late than never. In 2009, Texas Monthly published their list of the 50 best burgers in Texas, and I've decided to try them all!

On May 26, my daughter and I drove to Bastrop to eat at The Roadhouse, whose Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger is on the list at #38. I must say, it was mighty tasty and a great start to my culinary endeavor. I do wish the jalapenos had just a little more bite to them, but all in all, I was quite satisfied. My other disappointment was that there were no onion rings to try, which is something I've done for a long time, in almost every restaurant I've been to. I do consider myself an onion ring aficionado. Bought a t-shirt there to commemorate the occasion, which is a tradition I hope to continue.

June 2 took Rebecca and me to Fredericksburg for the burger at #3 on the list - Alamo Springs Cafe's Cheeseburger with green chilies on a jalapeno cheese bun. All I can say is wow! When I can't even get my mouth around the burger because it's so tall and stacked, that’s really saying something.  As the juices dripped down my arm, I was in heaven.  I did get onion rings here, and they were fantastic as well.  Got a great meal and I have my t-shirt to remember it by.  Onward!

Are poets required

By some unwritten code

To write of muses

And goddesses

And all the ancient world

Had to offer?

Let this, then,

Be my offering

For I am greater inspired

By the things around me now

Than by those long gone by

Good Reads

Just discovered Good Reads and all their giveaways.  Got my first book two days ago and posted my review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/314840667

I've won eight more so far - can't wait to receive and read them!  One of my favorite things is discovering new authors to follow.

Ralph being "retired" has been quite an adjustment.  Just trying not to boss him around and treat him like my little house husband is a chore every day.  On the upside, Rebecca gets to ride the bus home from school and spend extra time with her father every day.  Now if I can just get him trained to have dinner ready when I get home from work!

It's been what, 38 days without a cigarette - wasn't any big deal as far as missing nicotine, but I find I'm bored too often.  Apparently I spent a lot of time puffing away - what do I do with it now?  Any suggestions?

Six days does not a week make, but today made seven.  First week without a cigarette - not bad!

5 days without a cigarette!