MANcation 2011

It's that time of year again. The temperature is slowly rising, the grass is turning green, and baseball is about to start up. This means several things. About 5 years ago, it meant a wedding just about every other weekend. (As I get older, it's gone from frequent weddings to a birth announcement every few weeks.) It also means that people are coming out of their winter slumber, and planning all kinds of events. We usually have BBQ Cookoffs, more weddings, and golf outings. Perhaps the greatest occurrence this time of year though, is the annual MANcation trip!

For several years now, we've gotten a group of friends together from the Hill Country and made the trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico for a long weekend of general debauchery. The cast isn't' always the same, we add a few and lose a few each year (marriage, babies, work, etc). Even with the fluctuating attendance though, each MANcation somehow tends to up be better than the last one!

We try to leave on a Wednesday afternoon and make the almost 550 mile trek to the Land of Enchantment. While we're there we tend to stay pretty busy between the Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino, Ski Apache snow skiing, golf courses, and the bars. It's usually a pretty long drive back home on Sunday, but plenty of stories are swapped on that ride!

Last year we played golf at a country club called Cree Meadows. After a pretty long 18 holes, we finished around 4. We were going to run back to the house and make dinner, but we had to retrieve our drivers licenses that were being held hostage until we returned the ice chests that so conveniently hook onto the golf carts. The Pro Shop was already closed, so we had to run up to the restaurant/bar to make the exchange. We decided to grab a drink at the bar before heading back to the house. This somehow turned into several hours, and making a ton of new friends.

Luckily, one of those in attendance brought a video camera, and we managed to catch this greatness. The names will be withheld to protect the innocent.

This year's MANcation takes place mid March. Here's to hoping it'll surpass last year!!

Dive Texas

Been thinking a lot lately about getting my Scuba Certification. Back in the day, my Dad made a bunch of trips all over the place on Scuba vacations. I didn't really see the appeal in breathing underwater.

I'm not sure what's so appealing about it to me now either. I don't know if I'm starting to like the idea of being underwater and seeing things that you can't see without the aid of the Scuba gear, or the the travel involved. Seeing as how there aren't a lot of exotic diving locales in Texas, that means flights, foreign languages, islands, boats, bikinis, and probably a few beers. After seeing it typed out like that, the later of the two looks very appealing.

I'm also not a very strong swimmer. Everyone says that doesn't matter too much. You just have to make sure you can out swim your dive partner, in case of sharks. To add to any anxiety about diving, I recently watched Sanctum in 3D. (I don't get the 3D craze, but that's a whole other post.) It's safe to say that I'll be staying away from any cave diving.

This also could be a way for me to broaden my horizons. I'm as bad as anyone about staying in my comfort zone. Staying above water, not straying too far from the norm. This would be pretty far out there for me. Plus the added benefits of the travel. What is there to think about? Maybe someday I'll be posting some wild underwater pictures. Time will tell!

Have a great one!

Gus the Crazy Dog

All you need for this trick is a hyper yellow lab, and a laser pointer. This is one reason my dog is better than yours..

Check Out the Links

I've been playing more with my template on here and changing things up. Well actually, I'm giving myself entirely too much credit. I actually am just adding a few links on the side to some of my friend's pages (blogs, websites, etc). I don't know how to do much else than that.

Anyway, make sure to check those out. These folks are not only WAY more interesting than me, but they update more frequently. It's a pretty eclectic mix, so you won't notice any similar themes from site to site.

Most of them are sort of potluck, whatever they're thinking about, they'll post it. Others though are an encounter of something going on in their lives, or a goal that they're setting for themselves.

The blog that I just added is from a guy who I've known for years through camp. First as a camper, then as a counselor. He's in El Salvador as a Peace Corps volunteer. His writings give us a good idea of what a Peace Corps member goes through when out on assignment. I find this interesting because I've actually looked into joining the Peace Corps several times. Never serious enough to enquire and apply, but enough to do several weeks of research. I just can't imagine being away from home for that long at this point in my life. Another aspect I enjoy, is that while reading you gain more of an appreciation for the things we take for granted here in the States. I don't think a lot of people realize just how lucky we are to be where we are.

If you have the time, check 'em out. If not, come back later and give them a read. I don' think you'll be disappointed!

The Trend...

Call me way before my time if you will. I've had this Hacienda Del Gringo thing going for several years now..(Actually just checked, and it's been 6 years and 1 day.) Just in the past few months, I've had several friends either start their own blog, or start advertising their blog via twitter or facebook. Reading their posts, their deep thoughts, or their lighthearted fare makes me long for the days that I really enjoyed sitting down and hacking away on that old Gateway computer I had (later the Dell laptop, now the Sony Vaio).

Now does that mean I'll make daily entries, and turn this blog thing into a tell all encounter of my life. Well no. Let's just say that I'll try wholeheartedly to take a little time out of my day to write things here and there. Things that I see that are funny, maybe deep thoughts, or just random silliness.

I've had multiple people ask when my next post will be. Or the why haven't you written on your blog in ages. That makes me feel good, that people actually take the time to type in the HdG web address and see if I've actually made any updates. People even ask about it when there's been a year between postings (or more in some cases). To you folks, thanks...It's nice to know there might actually be a few who DO care what this guy thinks..

In short, the reason I don't post often (even though I do think about it) is because I don't like being negative. I know a lot of people have their blogs so they can sit down, rant and rave about how mistreated they are and how the world hates them. That's not my M.O. I am, and always have been a glass half full kind of fellow. There for a while, the only time I'd sit down and type is when I had the feeling that I was being mistreated, and the world hated me.

That's not the vibe I want to give off to anyone who "checks in" on me via this blog thing...I won't always be sunshine and flowers, but hopefully I can bring a lot of smiles to the faces of anyone who checks in, or stumbles upon my creation...

Also realize I'm not perfect, I don't edit my posts, I don't go back and read what I've just typed. I just let it flow, sometimes forgetting to do the spell check, then click publish.

Sometimes I debate if I should even publish at all. A wise man once told me that I should sit down, type things out, and if I feel it has a negative vibe, just erase it. It's more fun to have it here where I can go back and read it after the fact though. That way, days, months or even years later I can look back and see how ridiculous I am/was!

What you're getting is unequivocally me. Hope it's enjoyable, and I hope it makes you think....