A Chicken Called Wanda.

Have you ever heard a chicken in distress? It sounds like a newborn pig being clawed to death. Go ahead and imagine that for a sec.  Got it? That's what I woke to 12 hours ago. It sounded like this: Heeeeeelll heeeeeellll squeeeeeeeeee  I felt it in my guts. So my eyes popped open. Really. A very upsetting sound. …

Continue reading A Chicken Called Wanda.

Birthday Surprise BACKFIRE.

You wanna talk about blue balls? I planned this super awesome surprise birthday trip for my husband. And get this. HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO. For three whole months I snuck around planning. Scheming. Taking time off. Arranging for my mom to take the kids. Asking the Facebook public awesome road trip ideas so he had LOTS to …

Continue reading Birthday Surprise BACKFIRE.

Report: Undercover Taco Contest Finds Clear Winner

Why a bean & cheese taco contest? Didn't we just do Best of Hays? And who are you? Why do you get to judge? Why does this even matter? Me? I've eaten all over this planet, but I'm local now. Apart from a few years in London, I've lived in San Marcos since 1994. Quality …

Continue reading Report: Undercover Taco Contest Finds Clear Winner

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool: The End.

This is so depressing. Where: La Madeline, Houston, Texas. When: 10:22 a.m. Drink: Bold French Roast, half & half, 2 packets raw sugar I'm so in denial. Packing up to drive home this morning, I couldn't bare the thought of it being over. IT being our trip to Liverpool. Six glorious sparkling champagne-colored Beatle-filled days. …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool: The End.

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day FIVE.

Where: Docklands Fish & Chips When: 2:31 p.m. Drink: Diet Coke O.M.G. I just got a pregnancy level craving for fish & chips. I love gastronomy and the fancy stuff but you cannot beat thick, flaky, fresh-caught cod served with salt and vinegar. Poor gluten-free Angie. She's a good enough pal to say "No, you …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day FIVE.

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day FOUR.

Where: Baltic Creative, Unit 51 When: 9:18 a.m. Drink: Cafe Mocha What a weird morning. This cafe came recommended but we had to walk through a long, desolate, industrial artspace to find it. The walk felt like something out of A Wrinkle in Time, void of humans in eerie morning light. Just us, rows and …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day FOUR.

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day THREE.

Hey. This is Day 3. Don't start here. Go to day 1. 🙂 ****** Where: Kings Mill Dock Flats, Liverpool When: 8:38 a.m. Drink: Organic green tea (with honey). Really, I should be asleep. I sound like a toad with a trach. Not sure why. I mean we did shut down The Cavern 6 hours ago. …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day THREE.

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day TWO.

Hardcore Beatlelove. Day TWO. ****** Where: The Cavern Pub When: 6:56 p.m. Drink: Heineken Finally here! Arrived by train to a rainy, temperate Liverpool. By temperate I mean 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Someone please remind me not to wear bell bottoms in inclement weather. By the time we walked to our flat, I'd soaked water up to …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day TWO.

Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day ONE.

My bestie and I travelled 4,739 miles from Texas to Liverpool to celebrate birthdays, friendship, and a mutual lifelong love of the best band in the history of the universe ever. (Ever ). We regressed to silly, giggling, (occasionally) weeping teenagers in that cold, rainy, pulsing city and it was AWESOME. For 6 days I …

Continue reading Day Tripper: A Beatlemaniac in Liverpool Day ONE.

Someone Please Forward This to Paul McCartney

This isn't a short story. This happened. A DAY IN THE LIFE December 13, 2000 2 a.m. Woke up, fell out of bed. December in England is NO JOKE. Especially half-naked in the dark. My bare feet hit the freezing floor and I bumbled around, trying to gather clothes and wits. What the hell do …

Continue reading Someone Please Forward This to Paul McCartney