The reason we"re here

A thought to share.....

She wrote................. I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection--the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this "quality girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin--a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings?--rarely. Women do it all the time. We share from our souls with our sisters, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged--not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health!

We are indeed very very lucky.

So let's toast to our friendship with the women in our lives. Evidently it's very good for our health!!

July 3, 2010 Arrival

It was an almost uneventful arrival except for a couple of Carolisms that will be remembered. Seeing her come out of the men's rooms at the Austin airport was very special. Of course, she had already done what she needed to do in the bathroom but never noticed that there were men there.
Carol calling another passenger on the plane "Kevorkian" , I'm sure made his day!

It is soo good to be home again after a year long absence. Who knows whats in store for us this week, but whatever it is you will be reading about it right here!!

The Final Day

Everyone up early. Lucy made sure she got in her last swim. Packing, grazing on leftover strada and toast. Pictures around the table one last time and off they go. The 'Fresh Air Fund" packed to the hilt in the rental car. Carol, as usual, protesting that she doesn't want to go to the airport that early and everyone else moving her along. We saw them off, all a little teary. We wait for the visit all year long with anticipation and in a blink it's over. Oh well, look on the bright side, only 360 days until the Austinas Locas blow into Austin again. I better start thinking of that drink of the day!

Friday July 10, 2009

The last full day, boo hoo. At last the long promised hike happened. First Karen prepared the annual strada. It's kind of like the running of the bulls, the making of the strada. Once the strada was in the oven Susie, Dolores, Karen, and Lucy trekked off. Well, they drove off as Karen said getting to the entrance to the hiking place was a hike in itself. We really enjoyed the hike and were gone a little over an hour. It was peaceful and we came across a little slow moving creek. We took pictures of flowers and tree and each other (to prove we had really done it). Then ate strada and did what - you got it, hung out in the pool. Tom finished the birdhouse and found a place of honor for it outside.

Karen and Nancy went to Central Market to get the makings for that night's final dinner - paella and whatever struck Nancy's fancy for dessert. They 'grazed' through CM and Nancy got inspired by a dessert they were sampling: bananas foster.

When it was time for the drink of the day, Tom said we had to try all the liqour he had bought at Spec's. So Karen made herself a Madras and everyone else had pina coladas with blueberries. It was a great afternoon at the pool - we were in and out, drinking and carrying on. Nancy made true noodle art as she constructed a noodle prison for herself. Karen made paella for that night.

Joni came over to take head shots for Tom. Karen served as her assistant holding the light reflector. And she took pictures of the entire Austinas Locas. When she left we settled down to dinner and watching "Mama Mia". Everyone loved it, laughing and singing along. Nancy served the most amazing Bananas Foster and chocolate something. OMG! After the movie, we put on the soundtrack and erupted into dance -- it was the most amazing spontaneous moment, captured on film and video. One last drink in the gazebo as we wound down, sad that the long awaited annual gala was almost over.

Drink of the Day: Pina Coladas and Madras

Party Night

The sun is shining as usual, and the morning is cool, so the Christian Science reading room has moved to the pool area. Have to get moving, meeting Karen for lunch at 11:30am.
We are out the door in plenty of time. We arrive at Nubian Queen Lola's Cajun Barbeque Cafe 15 minutes early. The place is small and the air is thick with cajun scents, and smoke.
We choose our meals and wait patiently for our food. We had pork chops, etouffe, po' boys, catfish, and a BLT. Not outstanding food, though the atmosphere with hanging beads and Obama bilia was fascinating, not to mention lots ' Jesus. It was an adventure to say the least.

Tom, Lucy and Nancy head off to Michaels, for come crafty things, while Jennie, Carol and Susie try to figure out how Carol broke the TV.
Tom and Nancy return to find smiling TV faces, and spend the afternoon crafting, while the others nap, or swim. Excellent day. Tom was making a bird house for Karen and Jennie and Nancy was doing 3-D framing for a card that K&J had bought in Florence. It turned out great.

Party that night as friends who had all met Austinas Locas at one time or the other were invited over. Guest list - Charlie Hill, Frank Benge, Renee Brown, Joni McClain, Leanne Pounds and her mother, Donna (who came in for a family party of their own), Vicki.

Vicki and Nancy hit it off as they exchanged arts and craft talk and looked at various websites. We see an exchange of talents in the future. As usual, everyone ended up in the gasebo. Show tunes were playing and Susie and Karen decided it was time to sing show tunes from the pool. They started something because within 15 minutes everyone was in the pool! It was Rodgers and Hammerstein nite and everyone voiced an opinion on the Broadway Mary Martin version of Sound of Music versus Julie Andrews and the movie.

Drink of the day - Free for all

Wednesday July 8, 2009

Wednesday was the ultimate hang out and do nothing day. Carol slept until 2:00 - we kept checking on her to make sure she was still breathing. Tom would get up and join us for conversation and then go off for a nap. The afternoon was spent hanging out in the pool, drifting on noodles and having great conversations about...everything! Tom even joined us at some point when there was enough shade in the pool. It was a chore to get us all out of the pool and get ready for dinner.

Dinner was at Fogo de Chao in downtown Austin. It was a Brazilian meat restaurant, where you are brought one meat course after another until you scream stop!! The food was incredible, the drinks were great, the company was greater. When we got home, Jennie introduced everyone to the Rachel Maddow show, but it was early to bed. Too much food and sun (can there be too much?)

Italian Night

This was a very special day, as we were expecting for the first time, the arrival of our honorary Austina--Tom! Not only that--tonight was also the night for our long anticipated Italian dinner. When I came down in the morning, the kitchen was already a flurry of activity. Nancy and Lucy were busy making the desserts. Karen had fled to poolside--too much activity for so early in the morning. I had the idea of making a welcome sign for Tom. I thought the best and most embarrassing way to greet him was for all of the Locas to be at the airport, waiting at the bottom of the escalator to baggage claim with a big Welcome Tom! sign. It was too late for that, but I figured we could make a sign for here which is what we did. His flight was due in relatively early, so we had to leap quickly into action to prepare. Jennie got involved and made Manhattans so we would have Tom's favorite drink ready when he walked through the door. And we all just laughed and laughed.

We sat around and warmed up leftovers for lunch then did what we always did -- talked a lot, laughted a lot and hung out by the pool. Nancy and Lucy were charged with shopping and Susie promised that she would cook the meal if she were allowed to hang out in the pool and circumvent the shopping trip. It was agreed and that's what happened. Tom went on the shopping trip and they took over Spec's. Apparently some nicelooking clerk noticed that Tom had glitter by his eye (from the 2009 glasses) and then began to help Tom find all kinds of liquor. Of course we kidded him about that the rest of the week.

Susie stayed in the pool until the last minute and then 'leaped into action' assisted by her sous (Sue) chefs who chopped and grinded to their hearts content. Results: Magnificent. It began with prosciutto and melon, prosciutto and breadsticks. bruschetta, artichoke dip and Prosecco in the gazebo. Then chicken cacciotorre, salad, bread for dinner (delicious) and the piece de resistance: tortoni and zuccato for dessert. Wow. This is not a week for the faint of heart... you have to be able to consume much food and alcohol to be an Austinas Locas.

Quote of the day. We always kid about needing a 'Carol interpretor' to explain what she just said. We're sitting at dinner and Carol says something. Nancy asks "What did you say" and Carol says, "Even I need an interpretor for that one". We howled.

Drink of the day - Manhattans

Monday July 6, 2009

The dog had birds last year - for the answer read the entire blog.

Today was the day we were going hiking in the ravine. When Carol came down to breakfast at 11:00am we knew that was the end of the hike.
Breakfast consisted of bagels, quiche, scones and muffins. Karen, Nancy, and Lucy went off to pick up the enchiladas, rice and beans that Karen had ordered.
Since the day was cloudy, we hung out looking at Italy pictures. Then off to lunch downtown at the infamous Z-Tejas. Lucy was wearing the same shorts she wore 7 years ago when a tray of salsa ended up in her lap tempting fate. No incidents this time.
Lunch was excellent, Dolores and Carol had chicken fried steak for the first time.
Shopping at Fortney's, then the Book People, then on to Central Market to pick up the ingredients for dessert for Italian night.
So we hiked after all, just not in the ravine.
A short swim in the pool, because the enchiladas are waiting! Dolores was tired and didn't make it to dinner, but the rest of us did and loved the food. We watched the original documentary of "Gray Gardens" and everyone just was amazed at it.

Drink of the Day - Is it a bad sign that I can't remember? Oh, I think it was the mango margaritas at Z-Tejas. Now I feel better.

Sunday July 5, 2009

Had quiche for breakfast, hung by the pool for most of the day. Discussions about everything.
NY Times crossword puzzle clue Hoffman is not Dustin.

Drink of the Day - Strawberry Dacquiris, Carol fell in love with them!

Dinner was left over fajitas, burgers, and pizza.

Off to the Oasis for Salsa dancing. Carol bought beautiful earrings for Karen and Jennie at a craft market. Karen ran into some people she used to work with.
Then up to the top to scout for table and chairs. Dolores won the prize for scoring the most chairs!
The nachos were spectacular, while Susie, Karen and Lucy took Meringue lessons.
Then a few spins on the dance floor, and they were pros.
The heat was oppressive, with the sweat dripping.
Jennie is watching Carol take a photo of the amazing sunset and shocked it did not drop on the floor below.
Take a gander at the picture to the right - Karen needed a longhorn pic and here it is!!!
Home exhausted.

Saturday July 4, 2009

Susie, Carol, and Dolores arrived on Friday, July 3. It was the earliest they had arrived in years with plenty of pool time and we did get in the pool! Susie loved being able to be in the pool at night. A travel day, so we ordered in pizza, had mango champagne cocktails (the first drink of the day) and went to bed fairly early.

The first full day and the 4th of July! So we had a late lunch of burgers, corn on the cob, and pasta salad. Eveyone spent as much time in the pool as was humanly possible. Susie was amazed at how warm the water was. The past few years have been plagued with late rainfalls that kept the pool temperature a little cool, but this year the water is perfect.

More arrivals. Lucy and Nancy drove in around 3:30pm in a Mazda 5. Swimsuits were on in minutes and the pool was fabulous. It was a rough day, hanging out in the pool and the gazebo, talking and laughing. You have to have stamina to be an Austinas Locas.

Drink of the day - White Sangria

2009 Arrivals

Friday July 3, 2009 - The first wave of New Yorkers arrives and as usual some fanfare is involved. But I should let Carol tell the story.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Yesterday was the shopping expedition. For the first time, some of us went and some stayed home. Karen drove, Jennie smoked shotgun and Lucy, Dolores and I sat in the back seat, taking turns sitting in the middle. Nancy was kind of tuckered out from all of yesterday's activity, so uncharacteristically let pass a shopping opportunity. Carol stayed home so as not to spend money.

We went to a town called Gruene (pronounced "green") that is located somewhere between here and San Antonio. We saw cows and shopping centers en route--including an outlet center we resolved to hit on the way home.

Gruene proved worth the trip for it's several old buildings dating from the 1800s. Karen is particularly fond of Gruene Hall--still a dance hall and saloon. Jennie found some must-have chatchkas--a couple of cobalt blue glass items and a couple of horses (plastic, not live) for her collection. Karen found some gifts for friends and Susie bought a pair of silly/glamorous sunglasses. We went to a wine tasting where Jennie bought some wine in a cobalt blue bottle--little concerned with the taste of the beverage because the bottle when empty will become part of her collection of cobalt blue.

We ate lunch at the Gristmill which occupies the 1870s cotton gin on the river. It is a picturesque maze of indoor, outdoor dining areas. Comfortably installed at an outdoor table, we had just begun to munch on the delicious onion rings and sip on the first round of margaritas, when rain drops began to fall. We tried huddling under the umbrella, but as the rained gained in intensity, and after our umbrella was overturned by a sudden gust, we reluctantly decided to head indoors, but not before the rain had reached the level of a full scale flash flood type of downpour. We made a dash for shelter--a moment of high adventure during an otherwise uneventful meal--and resumed dining at a dry table--not dry in the non-alcoholic sense--it just wasn't raining inside.

After lunch we hit a few more shops and on the way home did stop at an outlet mall.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Carol and Nancy enjoyed a hearty not so healthy lunch of burgers and fries. They watched game shows and napped.

Dinner was El Camino Real Tex mex food. Good but a little spicy.

Early to bed, exhaustion set in.

Monday, July 6, 2008

Breakfast Tacos in the morning, then off to the pool.

Lists were made and Lucy, Dolores, and Nancy were off to shop for the ingredients for that night's meal. (Susie: I felt kind of guilty for hanging poolside instead of joining the shopping expedition, but they went earlier than originally planned, and I assured Nancy that I was only a phone call away. In fact Nancy called with a couple of questions: Where to put the "kids"--I don't know why she was talking in code since Karen and Jennie couldn't have heard her on my cell--and whether the butter should be salty or non.) First stop was Costco, then on to Central Market for the good stuff.
Straight to the seafood department to pick up the lobsters Lucy had ordered in advance.
Everything purchased on the list except a big pot to cook them in. Lucy's idea to try Big Lot's and success! A perfect big pot.
(Word of advice- when purchasing lobsters, remember they are alive, and later to be consumed, so don't name them or become too attached; they are dinner)
Lucy and Susie were the brave gals to volunteer to cook the lobsters. (Susie: I wish I could say I was that heartless or brave--I really only volunteered for other aspects of the meal--the less animate parts like salad and corn.) After waiting over an hour for the water to boil in our new very large pot, the dinner was ready. Nancy created a terribly clever menu from a Word Perfect template--it took longer for us to figure out how to print it than it did for the lobster water to boil. We are not even going to try to attach it as we have a shopping expedition planned and tech knowledge and services here are somewhat limited.
The setting for the dinner was supposed to be the new gazebo, but the rain interfered and it was moved to the dining room. The decorations we had purchased for this event was a 5 foot lighthouse, a life preserver, a string of lobster lights, and Larry the lobster blow up. The servers' uniforms, discovered in Karen and Jennie's costume, were wide brimmed pink bridesmaid's hats.

Dinner was a great success and since the rain had stopped, the peach pie and ice cream were served in the gazebo.

Visit to a museum

The day began with Karens famous dish " Strada". It was consumed in a matter of minutes, with conversation at a minimal due to the delightful munching.

The sun was shining so no time was wasted by Susie getting back in to the pool.

After showers we headed for some culture! The Blanton Museum is downtown and filled with some great works of art. Jennie and Carol stayed at home, napping and watching tennis respectively. Carol was very excited that Nadal won. The museum group decided that was enough culture for the day because the sun was shining, the clouds were minimal and the pool was waiting. This decision made Susie very happy.

Afternoon at the pool that started out with Nancy's famous Grapefruitini -- it's not nearly as healthy as it sounds. let's just say that we have already gone through 2 bottles of vodka and that's not the only alcohol that has been consumed! While Nancy napped (yes, Nancy who NEVER sleeps!) Karen entertained with installation noodle art. Pool noodle creations are a specialty of the Locas and Karen was particularly inspired by her afternoon at the museum. Two of her best noodle art creations were "death by noodle" and "noodles take over the world". Those pictures will be posted later. Then it was leftovers for dinner, and a board game to end the day. We played the game " Wise and Otherwise", a game where you are told the beginning of a phrase, you write your own version, and chose the correct one. It was clear that Karen and Nancy can't control themselves. Neither could anyone else as there were great belly laughs all around --- suffice it to say, Carol's take on the game and her playing of it left us in convulsions. We finally cut ourselves off from alcohol at 11 and it was off to bed for most.

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

It was a very rough day. We swam, we ate, we swam, we shopped, we swam, we drank, we laughed.

Loca Susie's two cents: As the others know, I hate to leave poolside. The reason is simple: we don't have a pool in NYC. (Note to Loca Nancy--we do have shopping and Haagen Daz.) What happens when we go shopping is that it is perfect pool weather-- in the parking lot. It's hot; it's dry. You would just give anything to jump into that fresh, cool, blue water. But you can't. Because you're in a parking lot. So we quick finish the errands--quick being a relative term--corralling Locas is kind of like doing same with cats--and hasten back to the ranch (of course it isn't really a ranch, that's figuratively speaking)--and of course clouds have moved in--the perfect pool moment has passed. Loca Rule #1 (if I have anything to say about it) Pool time is the priority!

We had 3 visitors, Nicole, Joni, and Leeane. The wanted to see the New Yorkers, and Carol was on her best behavior.

First Day Friday, July 4th 2008

The sun is shining the weather is beautiful and the pool awaits us.

First to rise is Dolores as usual, then one by one the rest of the girls are up. Susie makes her usual late entrance, already dressed in her swimsuit. We know what her plans are.
Breakfast was Bagels, 2 different Quiches, and jelly beans(which made Dolores break a tooth).

The scene is the living room couch, the TV is on and we are captivated by Jennie's performance in the Beauty Queen of Leenane. What a great play and Jennie was superb.

The best part was sitting most of the day in the spectacular new gazebo, built I am certain with the Locas in mind.
Nancy picked up the ingredients for the perfect drink, the "Grapefruit Martini".
Susie used her tried and true recipe, but Nancy had gotten the diet grapefruit juice so the drinks were extremely inferior. Back to the store Nancy and Lucy went to get the good juice and the day was saved!

Dinner was chicken and steak fajitas made expertly by Karen.

After dinner, Susie, Nancy, Lucy, and Karen decided they needed to relax in the hot tub. It may have been relaxing for us, but it had to be hell for the neighbors when they decided to sing show tunes -- loud, off-key, but with gusto! The favorite of the evening was the entire score from West Side Story, which sounded like this, "When you're a jet, you're a jet all the way, from your first cigarette, la la la la la la!"

Meanwhile, Jennie had conked out in her bed, Dolores conked out on one sofa and Carol on another. Shortly after emerging wrinkled, but happy, the rest of us sat outside for a while, and soon made our way to bed. First day...flew by as usual.

Arrival Day - Thursday July 3, 2008

The flight was scheduled to depart Laguardia Airport at 4:25pm. Susie, Dolores, Lucy and Nancy arrived around 3pm. After navigating the security line we arrived at our gate with plenty of time to spare. But where was Carol? Several phone calls established she was packed, but not dressed. More phone calls with the realization she was packed, dressed and waiting for a cab. The minutes ticked by and a wager was made. Nancy bet 1 dollar Carol would not make it. Susie met that bet and raised it 1 dollar.
We met Susan who thought that a girlfriends weekend away was the best thing ever, looks like she needed one.
The plane is boarded, Dolores is alone waiting for Carol. Lucy is waiting for Dolores. Nancy and Susie are comfortable in their seats, both hoping to win the bet.
4:25 and Carol is paged, she made it! Susie won!
After all this the plane is evacuated because of mechanical problems and we spend the next 2 and a half hours waiting for another plane to arrive.

We land in Austin 11:40pm.
Home to Ashton Ridge and several glasses of Champagne later our week has begun. But wait, a surprise awaits Austinas Locas. We start exchanging stories as always and the girls want to hear about our trip to Scotland. So Karen says, "well, good stories have to have a good setting so let's go outside because we have to put you in the proper surprise setting." The girls, always ready for surprises, champagne in hand, follow her out to the deck, Susie first. A scream from Susie alerts all to the fact that there is indeed a surprise. After years of talking about it, Karen and Jennie have had a gazebo built and there it is, all lit up and just waiting for all us to descend upon it and talk until 3 in the morning. So the annual Austinas Locas party has become even better as there is yet one more spot for lounging, drinking, talking, and, yes, napping!