Lego’s, Giraffe’s, & Rockets

I’m back, and as of today life is back to normal.  It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks visiting family in California and Texas.  As summer’s typically go with Bean, we packed a lot in.  This summer even more so.  While in California with Anne we went to Legoland (blah), the San Diego Wild Animal Park (most excellent, even if I was molested by a large male giraffe), Stone Brewing Company (most, most excellent!), a Russian Sub (comrade cool), and Vegas (always fun).  The following week we zipped down to Houston and while visiting Matthew (and somehow Anne ended up there too!) hit an Astros game (a blast) and the Johnson Space Center (Space Center blah…historic mission control, very, very cool). 

The best meal of the trip was at Stone, quickly followed by The Brick House in Houston.  The brick house was not haute cuisine, but really, really good pub grub with a “man” influence.  Plus, they had an extensive draft/firkin selection and served the beer at each table in “bongs”.  These “bongs” were large clear cylinders with a tap handle.  This is the first time I have seen something like this and when it come to gimmicks, I’m hooked.

When it goes to cooking/grilling, I am proud to report that I used my first Foreman grill at Anne’s.  We made quick and easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Wraps which were…quick and easy.  At Matthew’s, I was proud to help him assemble his first Weber grill.  He picked up a Weber Sprit 310 which we assembled during a thunderstorm, ant attack, and 93 degree heat.  I wasn’t sure if the water running down my face was tears of pride, or sweat.  It was probably a little of both.