From : "Amy H." Subject : I had a really good weekend Date : Tue, 21 Jan 2003 13:45:35 -0500 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hi everyone! Just letting everyone know that I had a really good weekend. Scott and I flew into Houston on Friday, we got there at 2:30 CST. Ann and Nabeel sent a limo to bring us to the hotel. The driver was pretty cool, originally from Philly, and then he lived in Germany for a while, so he knows what winter should be like. Surprisingly, it was about 30 degrees in Houston when we arrived. Warmer than the 11 in Detroit when we left, but still a little chilly. From the hotel, the crew went to the "Flying Saucer", which is a bar about 7 blocks from the hotel. They have about a hundred beers on tap, and another hundred in bottles. Yes, this includes my beloved Ace Pear Cider on DRAFT! How wonderful. I finally met Ann (Scott's sister) and Nabeel (Scott's new brother-in-law) Friday, and they're both great. Friday night was dinner at Farazzo's, about a mile or two from the hotel. Very nice place, HUGE portions, and a somewhat asian slant to the food, but only vaguely. I had springrolls and pizza for dinner, they also had fried calamari as appetizers. Their bread pudding was pretty good, and it came with a white chocolate (yum!) sauce. At dinner I got to meet some of Nabeel's family and we hung out with some of Ann's friends from California. The best part of the night, for the guys: The LA Lakers were staying at the hotel, and we got to see Shaq, as well as Kobe Bryant and Rick Fox(?). Tushar (Nabeel's friend) was in absolute heaven. And Shaq is absolutely HUGE, he was almost bumping his head on the ceiling. The Houston Rockets won the game that night, though. Back to the hotel: we stayed at the Four Seasons. Very, VERY nice hotel. I swear the housekeeping crew came in 4 times a day to fold my laundry. It was bizarre to come back & to have my things moved. However, everything was very, very neat and orderly. And they had very nice soaps and a bidet in the bathroom. I was very tempted to try it, but didn't get a chance. Also didn't get to go to the pool. Upside: we got a very good rate. The posted rate, per nite, for our room was something like $360. Ann and Nabeel's wedding was very nice. Isabella (Ann's 7 year old daughter) took part in it, helping to light the unity candle, and she was emphasized as part of the new family. Ann looked wonderful, of course, but Isabella sort of stole the show in her little princess gown, tiara, and curly hair. Afterwards there was a wonderful meal, 4 courses over about 3 hours, with appetizers beforehand while they were finishing up pictures. They had a really good idea for the guestbook: A mini polaroid camera, and a guestbook with blank pages. You were supposeed to have a picture taken of yourself, then tape it into the guestbook and write a message. Hehe. It avoids the "Whose signature is THAT?!?" question ;-) Sunday Scott and I drove to Austin, TX where we stayed in his cousin Sherry's condo with her two cats. We went out to Texas-style Bar-B-Que with Laura Kieras and Jim Wu at the Salt Lick (www.saltlickbbq.com) which is supposed to be THE best BBQ in and around Austin. We also hit 6th street, which is the big bar area near University of Texas /Austin. It was sorta dead, because it was Sunday night, but we found a nice Irish pub with a band and there were a few people doing Keili dancing. And of course, they pour a good Guiness there. Monday AM we met up with Laura and Jim again at the Austin Diner. Yay for Beans for Breakfast! I got migas (like an omelette, covered in cheese with cilantro and jalape�os inside) with a side of potatoes and black beans, and two tortillas. REALLY good, I would recommend the place to everyone and anyone. Unless you don't like waitstaff that looks like they skateboard a lot and have lots of piercings, but he was pretty friendly. The other big draw, besides the food? The Austin Diner has about a dozen funkey Kitchenaid mixers from the 1950's, with the fun fashion colors available then, like pink, and seafoam green. From breakfast, Scott and I had another 3 hour drive back to Houston, with no cruise control. We got into the airport (IAH) prettyearly, and had a couple of hours to kill so we rode the tram, and explored Terminal D's hor sauce shop. I was very surprised: The food in Texas was not automatically hot. I just presumed it would be, but I guess sterotyping does not pay off. So, I just added hot sauce to everything I ate, and just pretended it came that way :-) As for future plans: I will be in TC the weekend of the 7th for much fun and hanging out. I will be in Massachusetts the evening of the 12th through the 17th: Scott and I are going to Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Code, and staying at a super nice hotel with a fireplace and a hot tub for Valentine's Day. (might be this one, I can't remember: http://www.crownepointe.com/ Aha! Scott says it's that one.) Scott's friends are also planning a skiing trip the third weekend in February, in western NY, but I don't think I'm going to that - too much driving! And last little tidbit: I am taking assembly language, I have to read the first 3 chapters by Thursday, and you too can read 'em online at: http://nuvisionmiami.com/books/asm/index.html Cool, eh? Alrighty everybody, see you around! -Amy