Lawnmower Man

Neighbor mowing lawn

Coconut

We've got plenty of Coconut Palms in the neighborhood so Moni and I grabbed this one that had fallen down the street from us.
Tom Hanks makes opening a coconut look easy in the movie 'Castaway'. This one took took us a bit more time. The coconut is actually the nut which is housed in a larger seed. Getting the nut out of that seed is a great challenge. I'm sure it's easier with the right tool but we just had a hammer.
The white part (coconut meat) is actually good. The coconut water inside is drinkable but I wouldn't order a glass. It's neat living in an area where coconuts are all around and don't taste half bad. Don't get me wrong, absolutely nothing compares to fresh northern Michigan cherries in the summer, but I'll take a fresh coconut since they're available.

Crusing

Nice car on a nice day.

The digs

So here's the place. It's in a great neighborhood. It still feels strange waking up to palm trees in lizards in the yard. It feels like a different country altogether.

Made It

I'm happy to say that Moni and I made it safely to Miami. I wish I could've posted stuff sooner but we received an internet connection just last night. We're staying in a small cottage behind a couple's home. Wireless internet is included in the rent but we have to go outside to access it. No big deal. We have a great patio on the front of the place. I'll post a photo soon. This chameleon wasn't in Miami, it was at Moni's grandparents' home near Tampa. However, there are loads of these things running around outside our apartment, keeping the bug quantities low. There's actually one sitting next to me right now as I write this.

Fergie

This is a boxer name Fergie that belongs to a friend of ours. This dog is as chill as they come. Cory, the owner, said to not worry 'cuase the only thing she'll do is like you to death.

Sealy, TX

This is from a barrel-racing event that took place a while back in Sealy, TX. It was great fun and it was super hot.

Exercise

I know what you're thinking. I wish there was someone riding the exercise bike also. It's been outside for months though and I've never seen anyone ride it so I think that this individual's porch doubles up as an extra storage spot.

Stuff

A week from today Moni and I are moving to Miami, FL. She was accepted to a great masters program at the University of Miami so we're off to the sunshine state. I'm excited for the new adventure. Our living room is full of stuff at the moment and fitting everything into our cars will be tricky, but we'll do it. On Saturday, August 8, 2009 we'll be cutting off our cable and internet so there may be a lack of blog posts. But I'm hoping that I'll get an internet connection on the trip over so I should be able to post something then. My aunt lives in between Miami and Houston in Niceville, FL and Moni's grandparents live in St. Petersburg, FL.

Moving Out

This is taken through my apartment door as the neighbors were moving some things out of their apartment tonight. It's been so busy I've had to resort to taking photos at my apartment ! It looked a little better in color. Sorry for the delay in posting. I've got some ok stuff on my film camera but it always takes me forever to shoot the film 'cause I'm always taking my time with every shot.

Dogs

The World Series of Dog Shows ended today at Reliant Center in Houston so Moni and I went down there this morning to check it out. It was dog overload. Super cool though. When we walked inside the Great Dane showing was taking place so that was a sight to see. They looked like a bunch of horses. Lighting was pretty dim for photos but I ended up with a few here and there. Nothing too crazy. I posted this photo because after a couple hours this is just how I felt. Seemed like there was more to see just standing in one spot than by walking all over.

Short Boxes

My best reasoning couldn't come up with an explanation for the shortness of these mailboxes. They're not even properly built. There is that one support on the left side there as if someone purposely built it not only short, but slanted. I spotted them while driving through the entrance to a small subdivision near Waller, TX.

The Real Deal

Moni and I ate barbeque today, and I swear I heard trumpets of angles. It's a small place down the road from the apartment and I can say it's the best BBQ I've ever tasted. I'm not the greatest with words but if I was, I'm sure I still wouldn't be able to find the right ones to describe the experience at Dave's Rib Shack. We ended up sitting outside by the smoker and Harvey (the guy in the photo) came out and chatted with us. He's the cook and he's perfecting his craft for 'cue about 27 years. Harvey said, "If you're going to eat good barbeque, you've got to eat it where the smoke is at." So we did. We sweated it out in the hot Houston sun and ate ribs by the smoker where they cook the food.
Harvey was telling us about his days as a basketball player and the time he dunked on Joe Dumars (he has photo proof) of the Detroit Pistons. Great fella.
Anyway, if anyone that reads this is ever in Houston, Dave's Rib Shack is a must-stop destination.

Huntsville

This was in a small town just North of Houston.

Seger

They say all great things must come to an end. Soon my favorite, super cool Bob Seger t-shirt from 1978 is about to come to an end. It's not one of those shirts that are made to look old, it's the real deal. It celebrates a musical event that took place four months before the day of my birth. After I bought it five years ago on e-bay, I knew it's days were numbered. My decision was to either find a way to preserve it or to wear it loud and proud. In a way I've done both.
My decision was to wear it. I've spent some great times with friends, enjoyed many a delicious beer and relaxed in the Traverse City summer time in this shirt. And of course cranked up "Against the Wind" while driving with the windows down and wearing this t-shirt. But it's threads are wearing thin and the holes are not getting smaller so it's time for retirement is upon us.
So now I sort of get to preserve it. Although I'm bummed it's on its way out, I'm happy to be able to post it on my blog in all it's colorful glory.