Spring flowers

Went to a farmers market yesterday and found they were selling orchids. The rest of these flowers are spring blooms found while walking around old San Antonio neighborhoods. Everywhere we look, something is blooming.

Local Wildlife

While wandering around San Antonio, we see a surprising amount of wildlife. Despite what Michael Pollen might think, some of it is good to eat, especially for those five years of age or less.

Birthday and Dinosaurs

Celebrated Amber's birthday last week. On Thursday we picked up the boys from their school and went to the Witte Museum to see the animated dinosaurs. Dylan just loved them, and especially loved pushing the buttons that made them roar and move. Justin wasn't comfortable with them, and stuck close to me while we walked through the exhibit. Then we all went to IHOP for dinner.

An urban trend that has gone on for at least half a century is the restoration of old, inner-city houses and neighborhoods. This tend often happens in low rent, inner-city areas where artists set up studios and residences. The trend is known by a number of names, but the one often used is "gentrification." But this is an inaccurate term. What does happen is a rapid rise in the value of neighborhood real estate. Those early to the game often do much of the restoration work themselves for their own use. It is only later when real estate speculators come in to make profits from the increasingly fashionable neighborhood. The two houses in these pictures are prime candidates for restoration because they were at one time grand houses.

It's Spring!

Color everywhere

Wandering Images

Water

Water is, and always has been, critical here in South Texas. If there isn't enough water in some seasons, it comes in great floods in others. San Antonio has a history of many floods which created wide spread damage. Pictured here is the flood control intake for a 24' tunnel which diverts water about three miles south of the city. This means that much of the water in the River Walk is not river water, but pumped up from the Edwards Aquifer and then pumped back up to the beginning of the River Walk. The flow of water along the River Walk is the result of continuous pumping so the water level remains constant come drought or deluge.

Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Went to an Irish Festival held in the Student Union of San Antonio College just North of the downtown area. There is an Irish heritage community here, but it is small. The festival had a number of children's Irish dance groups, and adult singers. There was also a fellow who had collected dozens of Thomas Nast cartoons from Harper's Magazine which originally appeared between 1846 at the height of the potato famine, and 1875 at the height of Irish migration to the U.S. Many of these cartoons were virulently anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish. Looking at the mural behind the Irish performers, you can see Hispanic culture being celebrated. This is a multi-cultural community.

With the car done for the day, there was considerable "bench" racing in the pits while considering the damage to the Pink car. The teenage daughter of one of the drivers got her own car this spring, and unfortunately she spun, over corrected, and spun the other way straight into the wall going about 40 mph. It was a terrifying looking shunt, but fortunately she was unhurt. All that safety equipment works. The car will have to be completely rebuilt from the windshield forward. As the sun sank, we headed off for some Texas barbecue, all in all a fine spring Saturday.

At the track

This was dwarf car practice, not a race. The first race of the season is still about a month off. This day ended when the bolts holding the exhaust cam bearing cap on cylinder four stripped out. This caused no other damage, and the bolts holes have now been repaired. The car is ready for the start of a new season. Next Saturday is technical inspection for the car and safety equipment.

Getting ready to race

Last Saturday Jeremy and I worked on the dwarf car to get it ready for a practice run in the afternoon. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done. None of this work required specialized mechanical knowledge. We filled the differential with gear oil, changed engine oil, put correct pressure in tires, gapped spark plugs, and Jeremy removed much of the dirt track scooped up from his last race.

The old Pearl Brewery has become a center of commerce, art, non-profit organizations like Nature Conservancy, and restaurants. So far we have only eaten at a sandwich and soup place called "Texas Farm to Market" which had exceptionally good food. There is an oyster bar there which was surrounded by Mercedes and Porsches, so I assume the food must be good. Also the Liberty Bar is there, and we were taken there last year. Their menu is interesting, and the food well above average.

When I saw the back of the Holiday Inn, it screamed, "Hello, 1950s Modern." While I was never taken much with that style, it was like meeting an old friend.

There is wild life along the River Walk, and not just in the pubs and bars. The ducks have become especially good at pan handling.