Cornell Hurd ended his set with a song alluding to the three years he spent in a mental hospital. I'm not sure if it was fake news, but the lyrics said, "If you play with my mind, you'll get your hands dirty; if you play with my heart, you'll get your fingers burned." His whole set left me grinning ear to ear. I mean, What can be better than Honky Tonking in Austin, Texas? Hurd's band did ninety minutes of Country Songs, some Nat King Cole, one Prince song, a Righteous Brothers tune, and a golden oldie from Martha and the Vandellas, and several originals. In between each song, Cornell waxed funny with his brand of mildly raunchy Texas humor. He was very entertaining, and the moment was moving. Beyond the honky tonking, the whole day was excellent (As it always is with the Franz's). We started with a lunch visit to the Taco Deli, then spent a couple of hours in the Bullock Museum of Texas, then an hour or so wandering Crongress Street, then a little rest with snack in the trailer, then an early dinner at Chuys' Mexican restaurant, and finally, the early set for happy hour at the Saxon Pub. What a day! For me, a non musician, I'm astounded at the alacrity of the performers, the ease with which they play, and the comfort they seem to enjoy being in front of the crowd. The entertainment value is just exquisite. What's more, we got home before 8:30, so there was no danger of infringing on Judy's curfew. Tomorrow, we plan another big day, but one with more daylight and a long view of the Texas Hill country. We'll start at the Mendenhall's for breakfast, travel to LBJ's Historical Ranch in Stonewall, Texas, take a little lunch in Fredericksburg, and return once again to the Mendenhall's for dinner. The driving will encompass about 200 miles, but the sun will be shining, the company will be welcome, and who knows what unexpected adventure may present itself. Regardless, life will be good, that is if I'm not so presumptuous as count a day that's yet to happen. I hope we'll be granted another day because the life we enjoyed today was good. We'll welcome the blessing of another.
We started the day with savory mush: oatmeal cooked in chicken stock, garnished with seaweed, green onions, hot sauce, and topped with a fried egg. Yum! Yum!
Rod and Karen arrived at the Pecan Grove about 11 A.M.
They met our neighbors from Oregon: Casey and Carrie, who are traveling in a pickup camper, and were very interested in upgrading to an Airstream. I tried my hardest to be a good salesman.
It's not that rod, Karen, and Judy are small. The Star of Texas is just that LARGE.
This floor mosaic is a circular history of Texas as seen from the third floor.
Sad I am that the Stevie Ray Vaughn exhibit won't be open until next month.
A really fine Tex-Mex experience just a short t walk from the Pecan Grove RV Park.
It's always good to share a meal with family.
The special of the day: Bang, Bang Buritto.
Rod and Karen had the #1 combination.
Happy Hour started at 6 P.M.
The Cornell Hurd Band.
Cornell, brandishing his little Oscar-the punchline in a particularly ribald joke.
Austin's finest arresting Rod Franz (I'm pretty sure they were tipped off by Kelvin Friesen).
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