Go Fish Galvez

Just back from an hour-long walk to the beach. What a cool and soothing day! The fog was so dense I could barely see the surf.

The seas were up, too, with gently crashing waves and lots of foam. And quiet. The fog makes it all so quiet. A good day to think things through, contemplate the future, plan the possibilities. Another good day to be alive.

That time of year again and, once again, I’ll be missing it!

Well, not all of it. Friday was the official kickoff for this year’s festivities, with the first of the parties and parades scheduled for Friday and Saturday, so yesterday Tippy and I leashed up and headed over to the seawall for our mid-morning walk, timing it just so we could hopefully catch a little bit of one of the opening-weekend parades down Seawall Boulevard.

The weather could not have been more perfect—it was an absolutely gorgeous morning, with searingly blue skies and mild temperatures that brought the people out in droves. And yes, they were everywhere, dressed in all their Mardi Gras finery and dripping in multicolored beads no doubt collected along the Strand the night before. Read the rest of this entry »

Not exactly breaking news on CNN or anything, and nothing remotely significant for those of you out there in the world at large, but for the residents at 4806 Avenue O in the enduring burg known as Galveston, Texas—feline, canine, and, especially, this old monkey—a new backyard fence is, well, huge!

They say that fences make for good neighbors. And while I’m sure that’s true, I’m also certain that they make for fewer lawsuits, especially when a frequent inhabitant of said fenced backyard is one up and coming American Pit Bull Terrier.

That would be Tippy, of course. Read the rest of this entry »

What ever happened to our alleged subtropical climate?

What happened to the mild winters and extended growing season for flowers and fronds that I was so looking forward to?

Where the heck is global warming when we need it?!

Okay, so with island temperatures slated to drop into the upper 20s by Thursday night, I’m off to wrap five outdoor faucets and all the copper water pipe feeding the garage apartment behind the house. Read the rest of this entry »

Is this unbelievable or what?

Of course, I had been keeping up with the ongoing dilemma of what to do about all those grand old live oaks that were ravaged by the saltwater surge due to Hurricane Ike, stately sentinels that for a century had adorned the lovely Victorian section of Galveston called the East End. Read the rest of this entry »

An historic treasure has returned to the island, even if every single board of it is brand spanking new.

Murdochs is back!

After being completely destroyed by Ike’s wrath exactly fourteen months ago tomorrow, construction to rebuild this landmark tourist favorite has been in progress for some time now. Read the rest of this entry »