friday night lights...

On Friday, September 24, 2010 Kyle, Jason, and I wanted to experience a Texas High School Football game. For years I have heard that Texas high school football is not a sport...its a passion...its life. I found out...it is. It is an entire different world. Let me give you some background.

Not knowing any schools or good teams to look for, I found the local news station had dubbed the Reagan vs. Churchill game to be the Game of the Week. Sounded good to us! When I looked it up, Reagan "Rattlers" (who would want a snake for thier mascot?!) were ranked #4. Churchill "Chargers" ranked #6. Sounded like a good game to me!

***Sidenote***

Reagan High School "Rattlers" have roughly 2500 students in the 9-12 grade.

Churchill High School "Chargers" have roughly 2900 students in the 9-12 grade.

So, not knowing fully what to expect, Kyle, Jason and I set out for the stadium. Football games are not played at the school. They are played at stadiums. The one we went to is brand-spankin' new. Heroes Stadium. It opened in 2009 and is owned by the North East Independant School District of San Antonio. The stadium is "home" field for 7 schools. It offers track, football, and soccer. Capacity roughly 12,000 spectators.

Just pulling into the paring lots our jaws dropped. This is what we saw. First round of reminding ourselves that this is HIGH SCHOOL.

Not even thinking, I had picked a random t-shirt that was red, and it had London, England on it with the England flag. As we pull into the parking lot, we see a sea of red and green. Great. I picked one of the school colors. That was O.K. though, it helped us decided which side to sit on! (Ironically enough, when they scored touchdowns, they ran they England flag across the field. I fit right in!)

As we chose seats in the middle of all these parents...we started looking around. This stadium was HUGE. It is hard to put into words, and the pictures don't do it enough justice. I looked at the bleachers across the field- one whole section was dedicated to band/cheerleaders/dancers. Not students. These schools are bigger than my home town!

The football players were taller than the coaches, I can only imagine what their height/weight were. (The programs were $5, I didn't want to spend that on a program). Here we needed to remind ourselves again that this was HIGH SCHOOL.

The game proved to be tightly matched- it was 7-7 for the longest time. After seeing all the action of the first half, we were pumped to see the half-time show! All I can say in recap of it, it put the NDSU half time show to shame. The band was unreal. The dancers amazing. The flag girls rocked. The drumline could rival the movie "Drumline" without haveing to fast-forward clips. I think my jaw was dropped the entire half-time show. BOTH schools put on an amazing show. I found myself thinking this was still HIGH SCHOOL.

Here are some pictures of the field itself:

Needless to say, I was in awe as I watched the night unfold. I found it funny as well that I was HOT sitting at the football game as my little sister froze, dressed in about 8 layers, also watching high school football. We ended up leaving at the end of the 3rd quarter only to find out the next morning the game went into overtime with a final score of 35-34, Reagan won. It was a great first experience of TX High School Football!

p.s. This makes me want to take a roadtrip to where they based the movie Friday Night Lights...in Odessa, TX. Someday.

few things I learned...

Since moving to Texas earlier this year, there are a few things that I have learned abou me and life in general. Just wanted to share!

1) Food. I love to cook. I love being in the kitchen, scouring over cookbooks and finding new recipes to try. I think if I ever wanted a career change, I would be a chef. I am just thankful I have a wonderful husband that likes all the food I try! I also love to go find new places to eat...new foods to try. The only bad part of that is I need a gym membership to go along with it!

2) Friends. I never fully realized how social I was until I moved down here and secluded myself from friends. I miss friends. When I lived in Fargo I had plans multiple nights of the week with people and always on weekends. Now, I am lucky if we have plans on one night of the weekend. It has definalty brought Kyle and I closer together, and slowly but surely we are meeting new people. I know all too soon our lives will be a chaotic and I will dream for these days.

3) Air Conditioning. I never realized how much of a life-saver it is. Especially in the 'deep south' where we live now. We turned the AC on during the Easter weekend this year, when we had guests visiting. The only time it has been off since is when it broke. It is set at 75º and it is perfect. In MN that would be high, but there, it is cold! Crazy. And I do think my blood is thinning from all this heat. I am going to freeze when I go back to MN!

4) Social Media. I love my area of work. I am intrigued that the enitre world, from one end to the other, can share information and do research in an instant. People in China can find out information just as fast as people in London can. All by the click of a mouse. It made me think about it after Facebook went down yesterday and it made the 5 o'clock news. THAT is when you know how powerful social media is.

5) Movies. I think Kyle and I alone have been supporting the entertainment industry this year. We are in love with our Netflix subscription, and still go to the theatre to see the 'good' movies coming out. I am a sucker for buying them at Target, on sale of course! Our collection of DVDs keeps growing, and we never get tired of watching them! Having the ability to watch TV season episodes instantly on our TV is awesome as well.

6) Fashion. After starting my job here at Stowers Furniture, I have become a secret fashion addict. I never knew the world of furniture could be so fashion-forward. So much of the furniture we select for the store is based on fashion trends and styles. Growing up on a farm I had no idea this big world of furniture existed. I currently follow multiple fashion, designing and furniture blogs and I am always learning something new. The most important lesson I have learned so far is that it all takes money. And lots of it. Someday my house will look like one of our showroom sets...and my closet will someday look like a retial store in the mall. Someday.

That is about all that has been on my mind lately. Oddly enough, Kyle and I have plans this weekend, so hopefully next week there should be some fun posts! Have a great weekend!

speed limit...

Did you know we have different speed limits during the day and night here in Texas? I have been trying to think of things that are "different" from up north compared to here, and had completely forgot about this difference! I am so used to it already! I must say, I find this more useful and 'smart' than just setting the speed limit at 55 mph and everyone going 60 mph anyway...

Having problems picturing the speed limit sign? Check it out!

happy anniversary...

In all honestly, I was not expecting much for our anniversary this past Sunday, the 19th. (I thought we would choose a different night during the week to celebrate). Kyle had been gone on a weekend long hunting trip with his company, and I fully expected him to be exhasted and wanting nothing more than to sit and relax on the couch. More or less, I was right. He was beyond exhausted (he even took a nap!), he could barely form sentances that made sense. After I woke him up from a 2 hour nap, he surprised me by saying he had booked reservations at a "nice" restaurant in town. 8:00 o'clock. I was stunned! He was very excited on celebrating on the acutal day, so I was all for it!

I was all excited to put on my heels and go our for the evening. When we arrived at our destination, I was super excited. Kyle had made reservations at the Tower of the Americas restaurant, The Chart House. It is the revolving place to eat at the very top of the tower. We were seated right next to the window, so we had an excellent 360º view of San Antonio. At night. With all the lights. We had dinner by candlelight and shared a bottle of Rodney Strong Merlot wine. It was a perfect evening to reflect upon this last year of our lives, as well as the first of many more.

one year...

A year ago this weekend I married the love of my life. The man of my dreams. My best friend. As I stop and think about how is it possible that we have been married for ONE YEAR already, i thought back on what this last year has brought us...and it is a lot!

Within a year, we got married, moved clear across the country (20 some hours away from ANY family member), got new jobs, promotions, new car, house, friends...so much for so little time. We are thankful that weddings and celebrations have brought us back to the MN/ND area, and we are also thankful for friends and family wanting to visit us (or the warm weather!).

As I think back on the year...I could keep adding to the list, but seeing how much Kyle and I have accomplished in one year, it is just helps prove how much we are meant to be together. The move to Texas, although trials and tribulations it may bring, has ultimately brought us closer together. With lots of plane rides back to the MN/ND area for weddings and celebrations, we have been thankful to see family throughout the year (and to help support the airline industry.)

I can only hope the next year brings as many blessings and as many adventures as this past one.

Happy Anniversary, Kyle!

sad but true...

While I was out and about on the Riverwalk the other night, I saw a magnet that caught my eye. Not because it was glass or sparkly or one-of-a-kind, it was a Texan magnet. Not only is it TRUE, it is spot on.

This is really what a Texan thinks of the rest of the United States:

What do YOU think?!

at the fishers'...

On Saturday, Kyle and I went out to visit some friends that live about 30 minutes south of San Antonio. They have a small "farm," complete with a pool, 4 kids, 3 dogs, a cat, a bird, chickens, and some huge bald snake on the loose (the snake is not a pet...we were warned). Anyway-- anytime Kyle and I venture out there, we know it is going to be a good time. We grilled a rack of ribs over charcoal and had a nice cookout with deviled eggs, summer salad, and I even brought some cookies! It was amazing food and tons of fun.

The two girls absolutely LOVE taking Kyle and I for rides in their go cart. And of course, we like getting the rides! These girls are fearless and will do anything. They were wipping doughnuts (and I was screaming)...but we were safe! Helmets and seat belts. Here is a picture of Kyle and I getting a ride in the go cart with Jo driving and Aphrodite (the dog) getting a ride too!

life...

Tropical Storm Hermine has now left, and in its wake is a soggy and muggy San Antonio. Kyle and I are fine, as is our house (minus the millions of bugs that have come out of nowhere after the rain.) Our grass is finally green again, thankful for the rain. Roads are finally open, although, I think some places have big trees down still. Electricity is finally back on across the city, so things are returning to normal.

Our air conditioner is FINALLY fixed, after a week with no AC. Yesterday when I went to meet the repair man, it was a hot 88º in our house. Thankfully, with temps still in the 90s, it is now a comfy and cool 75º in our house. It was very odd watching the Vikings play while grilling burgers and sitting inside an air conditioned house. For some reason it just did not feel like football season...guess that is one more thing to get used to.

Hope everyone up north is adjusting to the cool fall temps. I will let you know when they hit down here ;)

I will leave you with something I read on one of my other blogs I follow, something to ponder for the weekend, or longer. Have a good one!

tropical storm hermine...

We are currently directly in the middle of a tropical storm. After having a somewhat hot weekend in the 90s (with our Air Conditioner BROKE) Kyle and I are ready for a cool down. Looks like we might get it...if we survive Hermine.

This is a radar picture of what we are currently going through:
We are in a flash flood advisory unil tomorrow, wind advisory until tomorrow...and probably a whole bunch more before this thing is over.

Kyle and I are OK, as is our house. As of now, there is no need for us to worry- just a lot of rain and wind coming our way (they expect 5-8 inches by tomorrow)!

fredericksburg adventure...part 3

Willkommen (Welcome)! For the last part of the Fredericksburg blogs, I am going to show you the actual town of Fredericksburg. I have been talking about it so much, so now I am going to show you!

Fredericksburg is a true-German town, founded in 1846 by a German settler, and it has carried on its traditional roots until present day. However, the city has now become a tourist attraction to Central Texas, specifically for those living in Austin and San Antonio. It is a town abundant in bed and breakfasts (over 300), hunting, fishing, shopping, antique stores, museums, and German influenced bakeries, stores, and they also are famous for their peaches.

The main street of Fredericksburg looks fairly common for a smaller city, however; if you look closer, the main street sidewalks are full of stores and tourist shops, looking like this:

Kyle walking on the sidewalk outside a well-known place to find German food and beer

We walked up and down Main Street for a while, oo-ing and awe-ing at all the different things the stores had. There were vintage signs, jams and jellies of every flavor, iron and granite stores...anything. If you have ever been to Estes Park in Colorado, it reminded me a lot of that town.

For supper, Kyle and I wanted to embrace our German heritage and find some good ol' German food. We did. We went to Auslander 'biergarten' & restaurant.

We ordered the German Specialty called "Schnitzel a la Suisse." We wanted to make sure and save room for the German beer, so we split the meal...and I was still FULL. The meal came complete with a hot German potato salad, potato pancakes, a delicious dinner bun, and even applesauce.
And of course, the German Beer! Kyle had a a Paulaner, and I had a Spaten.

After our German meal, we wandered over to the Fredericksburg Brewing, Co. to have some more beer! Instead of staying at a "Bed and Breakfast," we found a "Bed & Brew." Instead of free breakfast, we got a free beer sampler at the brewery!

The Fredericksburg Brewing Co. had renovated rooms above the brewery to rent out, and we chose the 'Cowboy' room. They all had certain themes, and we ended up in a room complete with a long horn, lasso, and even a toy gun.

Overall it was an excellent weekend-day trip to Fredericksburg, TX. I am already looking forward to our next adventure!

fredericksburg adventure...part 2

After we left Alamo Springs Cafe, we headed up towards wine coutnry along Highway 290, which we learned is the second most popular place to visit and learn about wine in the United States-- just behind Napa Valley, CA. The official title for it is called the "Wine Road 290."


Here is what a general map of the Wine Road 290 looks like, and the wineries available in that stretch:

We went to a winery called Grape Creek Vinyards, "the Tuscany of Texas" was thier slogan. And it really was. I was very impressed with not only their facilities, but their wine was amazing too! They have recieved 100 medals in the past two years, in competitions ranging from San Fransisco to New York. Usually placing 7 out of 9 or 11 out of 13 wines in all competitions they enter. Grape Creek is a bit smaller winery than some, yeilding only a maximum of 10,000 cases a year.

Here we are standing by a small portion of their vinyard:


For just $6 we got to sample 6 different wines, included was a complimentary wine glass. I tried the (Dry White) Pinot Grigio, Vionier, (Dry Red) Cabernet/Syrah, Bellissimo, and the (Sweet) Riesling, and the Grand Rouge. Of course, as I suspected, the Dry Reds were my favorite! Kyle tried the (Dry White) Viognier, (Dry Red) Merlot, Bellissimo, (Sweet) Grand Rouge, Cabernet Blanc, and the Port.

Interesting fact: The Cabernet Blanc is also known as the "hot tub wine," it is the perfect drinking wine while soaking in the hot tub!

Have you ever tried a Port wine?! Here is a description, "This rich and elegant Port imparts complex dried fruits, walnut, almond, and cinnamon spice characteristics." With a splash of Brandy. I did NOT like it, but Kyle was a fan. It is for sure one of those "sipping" wines that you can only have one glass per night of. I think between the two of us, we both agreed we liked the Bellissimo wine the best. Here is the description, "This Super Tuscan style Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend yields cherries, spices, and toasted oak with hints of vanilla!" It really was delicious.

After we tasted all the wine, we signed up for the Barrel Tasting Cellar Tour. Grape Creek offers a tour of the winemaking facilities and barrel cellar and allows you to taste the wine aging in the French and American oak barrells. They only use the barrells 3 times before they get new ones.

At the start of the tour, we were able to see their storage for their cases of wine. It was a cool 60-something degrees in there, compared to the 97 degrees outside!



and the machine that bottles the wine and puts labels on: (costs roughly $150,000)

After a bottle is filled with wine, it is set in its case in the storage unit to "settle." As our tour guide put it, "wine does not like to be bottled," so it needs to settle and get all the fruit, skins, and tannin all back to its normal levels.

We were then led to the fermentation room. This is what it looked like:
Depending if it was a white wine or red wine, they had different days of how long they needed the fermentation process. Each "cooler" was set to 56 degrees F and, for red wine, had to sit about 10-14 days in the fermentor, stirring occasionaly. The room had a very bitter, almost sour smell to it; obviously from the fermentation.

After the fermentation room, we headed down into the cellar to see the barrells. It smelled delicious! Just how oak barrells should smell. After seeing and hearing the explenation behind the "French" and "American" barrels, we got to try some, straight from the barrell!

Here our tour guide is using what is called a "Wine Thief" to get the wine out of the barrell.

You would never guess how many gallons of wine can be held in one barrell. Here is a sheet taped to one of the barrells as proof: 480 Gallons!

We enjoyed the tour very much, and learned alot. We also got 2 more wine glasses, so we now have a set of 4 Grape Creek Vinyard wine glasses!
After the taste testing and the tour, Kyle had his share of wine and we started out again on the road heading into Fredericksburg for our next adventure...

...to be continued: fredericksburg...part 3 (German Town)