She Love’s My Automobile

 

My dear dear friend, Jeremy, visited the great nation of Texas (for the first time!) over the holidays, which I took as an opportunity to try out for the first time the “Joseph Roberts: This Is Houston, This Is My City, and This Is Why It’s Fabulous (And If You Disagree Then Get The Hell Out And Move To Dallas Already) Greater Metropolitan Tour Extravaganza!”*  In other words… experiences quintessentially Houston and Houston alone.

In reality it was merely an excuse to visit a myriad of locales around the city I for which I haven’t made the time, all wrapped up in the guise of “Southern Hospitality.” That’s the secret about us Southerners— we’re just as selfish as everyone else, it’s just harder to detect because of our accents lull you into a false sense of security.  Regardless, the first stop on our “Joseph Roberts: This is Houston, This is […] Tour Extravaganza!” was none other than longtime Houston institution …

The Art Car Museum!

 

The Art Car Museum, or “Garage Mahal” as many know it, opened in February 1998. […] The Museum has its conceptual origins in the 1984 Collision show curated by Ann Harithas at the Lawndale Art Center. Collision unveiled Larry Fuente’s “Mad Cad” art car which has since been featured in museums and cultural institutions across the country. The Collision exhibition provided enthusiastic fuel for the art car movement in Houston and eventually precipitated the Art Car Parade and the international Art Car movement. – Via the museum’s website

 

Due to the sheer number of art cars in the collection, the museum tends to rotate different specimens in and out of the museum gallery. As such, here are some of their most current pieces.

 

 

There’s even a Luke-sized option!!

 

For a real taste of what these things look like on the road, here’s a compilation of one of the more recent events:

 

Artist: Willie Nelson / Album: Live and Kickin’

Family Man

 

After our 12 hour bus ride from Germany to Paris and the 9 hour plane ride to Chicago I still had one more flight to catch until I was truly back in the homeland—Texas, that is.  My brother, Matt, picked me up at the airport in Dallas and I spent the night at his house.

BENJAMIN!!!! (Making his blog debut)

The next morning all of us headed off to Kilgore for my granddaddy Dan’s 85th birthday partay!! My mom and aunt Brynda had been spending mucho tiempo getting all of the guest list, food, decorations etc. together and with over 150 guests it was no small task!  Bonus: It was held at Bodacious Bar-B-Q and I was able to get my first bbq fix for quite a while!

DE-LECKER!!!

 

One of the most amazing things about the party was that there were soooo many pictures of the birthday boy and his family and friends scattered about. Additionally, many of the tables had facts about the different decades in which Dan has lived.

Ah the ‘70’s… I remember them well!

 

A view of about 1/3 of the room.  (Also, I’m pretty sure the collective age of the group as a whole would overwhelm even the most advanced of computer processors!)

 

But what’s a birthday party without a cake, am I right?  Nancy and Brynda didn’t disappoint either with this three-tiered hunk of chocolate deliciousness.

Can we also notice how well the candy flowers on top match the ones on the tables.  Classy touch, Ballenger gals!

 

Mom and Brynda doin’ some cake cuttin’! (Two days back in Texas and I’m already abbreviatin’ my endings)

 

In addition to our two national flags—Texas and U.S.—there were also oil derricks (Kilgore was a huge oil town back in the day) and all of the colleges that Dan helped support over the years.  Naturally I cherry picked the Baylor and University of Michigan ones.  You know what that makes me?… … …

A BUM!!  An educated bum, but a bum nonetheless.

 

I’m not quite sure how he got a hold of it but Luke decided to change his allegiance from Texas A & M to the old maize and blue. 

 

One certain pair of pictures was displayed prominently on the “family” board:  The top one was taken at an airport when we were all younger and then the bottom was an attempt to re-create the first when we all went to London/Paris to celebrate Joyce and Dan’s 50th wedding anniversary!

 

The next morning at brunch we couldn’t help but take another group shot seeing as it has been well over 10 years since the last one! (With Joanie and the great grandkids thrown in for good measure!)

 

Before leaving the party everyone was asked to sign one of two pictures of Dan as a child… here they are!

 

HAPPY 85th GRANDDADDY DAN!

 

Artist: James Taylor  /Album: In the Pocket

PS: While we’re celebrating numerical milestones… this week I passed 20,000 views.  THANKS EVERYONE!!

Married with Children

 

As I mentioned in a post on Friday, my friends Brett and Kat got married this weekend here in Houston and I was honored with being able to sing a couple of ditties at the wedding (Panis Angelicus is totally a ditty, right?)  I also might have mentioned that my nephew, Luke, was the ring bearer.  From my vantage point in the organ loft I was able to snap a couple of surreptitious pictures of the ceremony…

He did such a great job!!! It was a cautious walk for about the first third and then a mad sprint to the finish line after that

 

MONICA! You can’t take pictures during a wedding!!!! (Glad she did though!)

 

 

                           Not married…                                                                  MARRIED!

 

So look for a couple of more posts over the next few days… Monica and I basically had a photo shoot at the reception.  PLUS, mom and dad rocked it on the dance floor and I have photographic evidence!

(And not that it necessarily needed explanation, but the “children” referred to in the title would be Luke… in case any of you dainty Southerners were about to have a spell)

 

Artist: Oasis/ Album: Definitely Maybe

Love and the Rehearsal

 

Tonight I attended the rehearsal dinner (and of course actual rehearsal) for my friend Brett and his fiancée, Kat.  In a nut shell, Brett was my brother’s roommate during their tenure at Texas A&M and has since become a close friend of the family.  Matt is a groomsman, my nephew, Luke, is the ring bearer, and I’m singing… it’s basically Robert’s-palooza 2011 here in Houston this weekend! My friend, Monica, is my date for the weekend and was able to attend the rehearsal dinner with me at Ouisie’s Table.  Let’s enjoy some photographic evidence of the evening, shall we?!

Lamenting the fact that, although the party was decorated immaculately, I CAN’T GET AWAY FROM POTTERY BARN PRODUCTS!!!

 

Mom, Myself and Monica.  I always appreciate some good alliteration!

 

Dad couldn’t help but get in on the action (Facebook style).  Also, I have a bit of crazy eyes going on in this one…

 

Monica, an avid jogger, pointing out that the pan roasted chicken was served with “running gear”  (whatever the eff that means)

 

Me entertaining Luke with an Alphabet book.  (“P” is for “Pig” btw… in case you weren’t already aware)

 

Dad entertaining Dad with Luke’s Etch-a-Sketch.  THIEF!

 

   

Dessert Diptych #2 (You might remember #1 from an earlier post)

 

Artist: Stephen Warbeck/ Album: Shakespeare in Love

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

 

One of the joys of living in Houston is that I am only a car ride away from so many family members.  Granted, “car ride” is a bit of a vague term seeing as how my paternal grandparents live a brisk nine hours away in Midland, TX, but that was bred into me when I was young so long car rides are no problem for me.

At about half that distance is Dallas, which is just close enough I can justify heading up there to see Matt, Joanie, Luke and Benjamin when I have two days off in a row.

Benjamin is just over a month old and I can’t even begin to imagine how much juggling Joanie has to do sometimes, so I tried to keep Luke occupied as much as possible.  It was a nice day out, so side walk chalk was perfect!

A little art imitating life, if you will.  (Oh… and you WILL!)

 

 

Mom (Joanie, who I don’t think I’ve ever seen wear a flower pin)                   Dad, D.D.S

 

Uncle Joseph and Baby Benjamin! (My shirt is in the picture on purpose so you can see Luke’s attention to detail)

 

We also had a chance to go to the park Luke’s park with mom and baby bro in tow.  There is a nice little creek leading to a waterfall that is a short walk over this nice bridge Luke’s bridge and down a path.  On the way there we passed this tree.  Luke seemed to think it looked like Granddaddy Matt… but I don’t quite see the resemblance. Those crazy kids and their imaginations!

 

 

Credit goes to paparazza Joanie for this next shot, as she was hangin’ back on the park bench with Benjamin.  She had the caption “Pondering life with Uncle Joseph” under it when she uploaded it to facebook.  Ironically, at one point when we were there I thought it would be funny to say something like… “One day, kid, aaaaaalllll this’ll be yours!” but knew Joanie was about 20 feet too far away and Luke was about 15 years too young to get the allusion to Hamlet The Lion King. In reality, though, we were talkin’ sticks and what color the garbage was stuck in the falls (green, in case you were wondering).

 

I also got to witness, right before Luke went down for his nap, something that I had read about on Joanie’s blog that I think is hi.lar.i.ous and have been telling everyone I can.

When we are putting him to bed, we go through the standard sayings: "Sleep tight Luke,"  "I love you," "Night night," "Sweet dreams."  But lately the last thing he has been saying to us is "Don't wake up."  Which is just about the most disconcerting thing a mother can hear.  "No, Luke, please, please wake up!!"  It's so odd because he's always been such a good sleeper that we've never asked him to not wake up in the night.  Still, it's kind of eery and I won't be sad when he stops saying it!

As I was giving him a hug goodbye and tucking him in to bed he looked up at me and goes “DON’T WAKE UP, UNCLE JOSEPH!!” with the most cherub like smile on his face.  Creeeepy and hilarious!!!

 

Artist: Elton John/ Album: The Lion King

Two Suns in the Sunset

 

This last weekend was the first time I had the opportunity to drive up to see my nephew, Benjamin, since he became the newest member of the Roberts clan two weeks ago.  This was also the first time the General and I took the drive from Houston to Dallas since we ran into a little bit of trouble on Christmas day.  Luckily for us, though, we had nothing but blue skies and great music to keep us company for the 4 1/2 hour trek.

That’s at least like 60 points on the Scrabble® board

 

Benjamin was actually napping when I first arrived so I took the opportunity to hang out with big brother Luke while I had the chance.  Turns out he too is a fan of sunsets!

cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!!!!

 

LUKE ATTACK!!!! Watch out, Japan!

 

Joanie’s sister, Meg (she’s more than just that—we’re actually very good friends!), made a surprise appearance to join us for dinner. 

 

The next day we took him to Matt’s office to introduce him to the staff, as they had not yet met him.

You’re a real adult!!!!

 

And of course I wasn’t getting away without my own picture with Benjamin!

Our matching outfits are purely coincidental, I assure you

 

DON’T LEAVE, UNCLE JOSEPH!!! (I’m about 93% sure that’s what’s happening here)

Artist: Pink Floyd/ Album: The Final Cut

Keep on Truckin’

 

Christmas this year seemed to mimic last year’s stuck-in-a-blizzard-while-driving-to-west-Texas (the stories I could have told if I had my blog back then) theme of awfulness as far as the transportation aspect of it all was concerned.  I got home at 12:30am on Christmas morning from the second of two Christmas Eve services and was up until about 2:00 finishing up packing and wrapping presents. Awake at 5:00 and off by 5:45, thinking: “Allright! I’ve got my coffee, I’ve made some CD’s for the trip, and the General is runnin’ great!!!”

Cut to about three and a half hours later when the old warhorse gets wounded in battle and the transmission blows in Ennis, TX.  Luckily dad came to the rescue (as dad’s so often tend to do) and picked me up so I could make the festivities at Matt and Joanie’s!!

We were all lucky enough to be joined by my aunt Brynda, uncle John, cousins John and Katy, as well as my granddaddy Dan for the holiday.

   

 

Me looking on from the peanut gallery as Joanie put it

 

Even Daisy got to come up and celebrate… much to Scout’s chagrin.

  

“I promise I’ll behave!”                                                        “Heh heh heh”

 

One of the joys of going up to Richardson was getting to spend time with my nephew, Luke.  Not that everyone else wasn’t interesting, but there was really no competing with the most adorable 2 year old EVAR.

As I mentioned previously, I got him a couple of books (Even Monsters Need Haircuts and a German-language version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar I got while on tour this last summer) as well as a giant, stuffed Memo Nemo.  I think it was a hit!!

 

   

My meager attempt at artistry! Also, the reason I was up until 2:00am

 

Daisy looking on and mother apparently floating whispily about

 

It’s exhaaaaauuuuusting opening all those presents

 

One of the biggest hits of the weekend was the Play-Doh set up in the play room.  There were many hours spent molding animals on those tiny tiny tiiiiiny chairs.

Joanie, who is about a week away from welcoming Mr. Roberts No. 2; Luke, our master sculptor; and myself

 

      

             I LOVE this picture!!!!                                     Playin’ it cool with a snake right in front of him

 

When talking about Play-Doh creations I can’t help but think about one that my friends Jeremy, Chris and I made one weekend out of boredom in Ann Arbor.  This time it isn’t so much of a snake as it is a worm taking a vacation at the beach with a cocktail, paisley umbrella, bow tie and sunglasses. Forgive the poor picture quality, it’s from my old phone.

 

That would be a box of orange tic-tacs on the right hand side, in case anyone was interested.  WE COLORED OUTSIDE THE LINES!

 

Monday, Matt was nice enough to drive me back to Ennis to get my car checked out at the local Ford dealership where we met a gentleman in the service department with a certain penchant for abbreviations.  “Okay gents, gimme just a second and we’ll get a diag started and see if we can figure out what’s wrong with your tranny,” which quickly prompted this text conversation with my friend, Will:

Me: Looks like I’m going to have to get a new “tranny” as the Ford guy puts it.

Will: So what’s a new tranny cost these days?

Me: I dunno, about $2,700 and a new tube of lipstick?

I ended up just driving back to Crockett at 35mph (those cars behind me were NOT having it) so that I could get it checked with someone we actually knew.  Unfortunately the General did end up having to get an organ transmission transplant but some very generous family friends of ours were kind enough to loan me a car, of which I have decided to temporarily name the Colonel, so that I could get back to Houston and, more importantly, back to work.

Even with all of the travel travesties I am so thankful for such a wonderful group of family and friends.  The holidays can be a stressful and even sad time for everyone involved, but at the end of the day all you can do is value the time you have together.

So thanks to everyone for the presents and the food and the festivities and the roadside assistance!!!

 

Artist: The Temptations  / Album: The Temptation Collection