2014 Through My Lens

I had been doing a Christmas newsletter/yearly recap for almost a decade, but the last couple of years I just haven't been motivated to do one.  I think that I just have so much going on that the thought of summarizing seems like too much work!  This year, I've decided to do a pseudo-recap of 2014 through photographs that I've taken during my adventures.  No recognizable people in them, just a few of my favorite photo compositions throughout the months.  Click on the first pic to click through as a slide show.  Here's to a happy and prosperous 2015!  Enjoy!! 


Historic Saenger Theater,  New Orleans, LA (Dec)

 

Holiday lighting on the Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX (Dec)

 

Day of the Dead Festival sugar skulls and marigolds, San Antonio, TX (Nov)
 

CVMA State Meeting flags, Gruene, TX (Oct)

Jacob's Well, Wemberly, TX (Oct)

 



San Juan Mission, San Antonio, TX (Sep)

Chili peppers on the grounds of the Alhambra, Grenada Spain (Jul)

Red bird of paradise flowers, San Antonio, TX (Jul)
 



Retreat, San Antonio, TX (Sep)

 

Bikes and bridges, Fredericksberg, TX (Aug)

Roasted garlic, goat cheese and crostini, Alamo Springs Cafe, Fredericksberg, TX (Aug)
 

Fountain art, Granada Spain (Jul)
 

Boiled seafood bayou-style, Houma, LA (Jun)

Riders, Deals Gap, NC (Jun)



Ever-present vultures over the battlefields, Gettysburg, PA (Jun)

Bird eggs in cannon, Gettysburg, PA (Jun)

Bridge over canal, Missouri or Arkansas (Jun)



City scenes, Amsterdam Netherlands (Apr)



Tulip fields, Keukenhof Netherlands (Apr)



Lausanne Cathedral, Lausanne Switzerland (Apr)



Lake Geneva, Morges Switzerland (Apr)



Canola flowers in countryside from 200 mph train window, western  France (Apr)



Antique glass, Cameron, NC (Apr)



Lunar eclipse over Alamo Cenotaph, San Antonio, TX  (Mar)



Bluebonnets, boot fence and CVMA riders, Willow City, TX (Mar)



Riders in front of capital building, Austin, TX (Mar)

 



TX Bucket List

One of the San Antonio Missions- The Alamo

With a break in my teaching schedule, I've  been able to devote more free time to enjoying Texas.  Like every place I've lived in the last couple of decades, my time here in TX has an expiration date (and no, I don't know that date yet!).  Early in my military career, I was too young and homesick to really appreciate the ridiculously unique locations I was fortunate enough to find myself.  Unfortunately, I was too busy comparing each place to where I was raised or the location I had just left.  There's a saying in the military that no place is as good as the place you just came from, and no place is worse than the one in which you are currently stationed.  It's sad, but unfortunately an accurate perception.

Day of the Dead Festival

At the beginning of my three month internship at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs back in 2003, I made a mental list as soon as I got there of all the places in Colorado I wanted to see before my summer internship was over.  With my aversion to cold climates and northern locales, I figured I may never go there again, so I should see all that I could in those three months. 

Blue Bonnets in bloom

Each weekend, I ticked off an experience or location on my list.  There wasn't a single day off that I didn't go out and experience all that Colorado had to offer.  I ended up staying to live and work in Colorado Springs for another 4 years after that summer internship.  Until I had bought my motorcycle though, I had seen and done more in Colorado in those three months of my internship than I had in my whole four years afterwards. 

Jacob's Well

I've continued to made  a mental list at each new place I live and then make a conscious effort to do and see as much as I can while I live there.  I didn't realize how much I had been slacking on my list here in TX until I it dawned on me that I hadn't really seen anything new in a while.  So, I've been revisiting my bucket list.



Luckenbach, TX

So far:

Stock Show and Rodeo
Hill Country wineries
San Antonio Missions
Spoetzl Brewery (Shiner)
Luckenbach and Gruene Dance Halls
Bluebonnets blooming
BBQ at just about every well-known BBQ joint
Jacob's Well
Day of the Dead festival
Zip-lining in Wimberly
Ride Three Twisted Sisters
Natural Bridge Caverns



BBQ pit at the Salt Lick

Still left to experience:

Big Bend National Park
McDonald Observatory
Blue Bell Ice Cream factory
Cadillac Ranch
Battle of the Flowers Parade

I'm sure I'm missing a ton of great locations and experiences, so I'm open to suggestions!

3 Nov update:  Since my friends all prefer to comment on Facebook, here's three more to add to the "still left to experience" list:

Marfa lights
Fort Davis
Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Thanks team!



Wind Therapy

Jumpmaster, Bugsy, L.F. and Big Bird at Hanger Hotel and Diner

I've been working too much lately.  There, I said it!  The last several weeks have been the heaviest workload for me this semester.  It's the end of the semester for our students and all their projects and writing assignments have been coming due that require lots of feedback and grading.  I really enjoy teaching, so I'm not complaining, but it sure is time consuming and mentally exhausting.  So after 24-hour staff duty Friday night, I decided that the remainder of my weekend would consist of sleeping and riding; that's it!

Inside the Hanger Hotel Diner

When I finally got up this morning, I rallied up with a few friends for some much needed wind therapy and lunch.  I love that I can send a text that just says I need lunch and a ride, and I am provided a rally point and showtime!  No thinking required on my part...perfect :-)

The day started off a bit hazy, so the sun wasn't blazing down on us which made for a very enjoyable ride.  Not that I would be able to retrace the route anyway because I'm so directionally-challenged, but I absolutely let my mind zone out for the ride to clear my mind.  Don't worry, I'm paying attention to the road and my riding.  To be honest, that's all my mind was focused on, which is why many of us consider riding to be a kind of therapy.  I've never been able to calm my mind enough to "meditate", but I suspect this is what it would be like.  To be in the moment (or the ride), so intensely that every other thought is crowded out.

Ice cream in downtown Fredericksburg

We rode out to Fredericksburg and had lunch at the airport at the Hanger Hotel and Diner.  Click on the link to find out more about it, but it's right on the runway of the regional airport and was built to resemble  a 1940's style aircraft hanger.  All the polished fixtures and hard wood finishes exude an air of a bygone era of classy travel.  The place really did feel like a step back in time, or an old Hollywood movie.  We sat out on the porch and watched a couple of planes take off and told  aviation stories from our past travels.  Although the sound and smell of turning engines always make my stomach knot up just a bit as memories of aircrew or skydiving/parachuting experiences come flooding back, it truly was a relaxing scene.  We followed that up with a roll and stroll through downtown Fredericksburg culminating into the hot fudge sundae you see me enjoying here :-)

All in all, a great day of riding and camaraderie...just what I needed to remind me that it's OK to work hard as long as I remember to take a little time for myself too!

Granada, Spain

I swear, it's feast or famine with me.  Until  my deployment to Afghanistan a couple of years ago, I hadn't been out of the country in 4 years.  There were times in my life (employed by US Olympic Committee and the US Navy) where I was routinely out of the country more than I was in it! Even though my international travel has slowed quite a bit in recent years, I've somehow managed to make it to Europe twice in the last few months.   A few days after all the promotion party shenanigans, I hastily rummaged through my pockets for left over Euros from my trip in May, packed a bag and then flew out to Spain.

I was asked to fill in and do some work with a sports team during a competition in Spain, so I cleared my schedule for a week for the opportunity to stay current in my chosen field.  Since this is a travel blog and not a work blog, I won't go into detail about my work  there, but I will share with you the little sightseeing excursion that I did manage to sneak into my schedule.

I was stationed in Rota, Spain in the mid-nineties, so I'm no stranger to the southern region of the country known as Andalusia.  The region spans from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.  During my three years there with the Navy, I experienced so many quintessentially Spanish events. I ran with the bulls in Vejer on Easter Sunday.  Well, truth be told, I jumped up and hung from the bars on the windows of the establishment  in which I was standing in front while enjoying  a cerveza and let the bull run beneath me.  I rock climbed in Tarifa on a cliff so high that  I could see Morocco from it.  I went camping in Malaga and saw bullfights in Puerto de Santa Maria.  I drank sherry  and attempted to Flaminco dance at a feria in Jerez.  But one of the most memorable experiences was tapa-hopping and visiting the Alhambra in Granada with my mom when she came out on a vacation.

So, when I found myself with a couple of free hours on my last day in Granada  a couple of weeks ago, I caught a cab and went to re-explore the Alhambra.  It was still the majestic piece of architecture I remembered from over a decade ago.

According to its website, the Alhambra was so called because of its reddish walls (Arabic meaning "red castle").  The fortress, dating back to the 9th century, sits strategically atop a hill overlooking the whole city and meadow below it.  The Arabic influence on the current buildings built by the Moors in the 11th through 14th centuries is evident in the exorbitant stonework and tile throughout the palace.  The intricate carvings cover so much area that it's almost dizzying.  The gardens and pools are still immaculately manicured and overlook the picturesque countryside and town.  Though my time was limited, it was worth rushing to spend a couple of hours there after the tourists had thinned.

 Now that I'm back in San Antonio, my time has been consumed with teaching and trying to catch up from all the events of the last few months.  The weather has been great though, so I'm sure there are some adventures waiting to happen :-)   

Rumble on the River

Pyran and I at the rally/staging point

Just when I thought the weekend couldn't get any better, we woke up to a beautiful sky and great riding weather.  The 4th of July started off with two carloads of family and friends following me on my bike to the rally point for Rumble on the River.  My original intention was to host a second party at my house on the 4th for my CVMA biker family.  But, as it turned out, one of my CVMA brothers, Chief, and his wife Babycakes, traditionally  hold a big Independence Day blow out at their house on the Guadalupe River every year.  Chief decided that combining the two parties would make it twice as fun and invited my blood family and out-of-town guests to join our CVMA family to celebrate our country's independence.  I hope that some day I figure out what it is that I am doing that continually puts me in the company of some  genuinely good folk so that I can keep doing it!

Around 20 bikes and 5 cages rolled out of the staging area headed in the direction of Chief's house.  We had to roll through a couple of little towns in the Texas Hill Country to get there, so we spent some time stopped on the asphalt waiting for Independence Day parades to pass.  No worries, we just got off the bikes and started visiting :-)

I've ridden with a lot of different groups over the years, so I know what it's like to ride with not-so-experienced and unfamiliar riders.  With that knowledge under my belt, I marveled at how effortlessly it is to ride with my CVMA family.  We roll with a lot of the same people, so it's easy to fall into a familiar rhythm.  Like Raven and Sapper, L.F. and Big Bird  use headsets to talk to each other during the rides, so they usually put me between them.  I'm not sure if it's for safety or for them to keep me from doing something stupid, but as a third wheel, they always make me feel like I'm exactly where I belong.  We had members jump in and peel off of our ride while we were rolling without even changing the group's speed...simply fluid.

Chief reciting his original poem about a bayou sister :-)

Once we got to Chief and Babycake's house, they were in full on host and hostess mode!  After everyone got settled in, we got down to the business of toasting our brothers and sisters who have left this earth and those who are still in harm's way.  We stood as a family and pledged our allegiance to the United States of America with hands over our hearts in the direction of Old Glory.  I suspect that if you are reading this blog, then that last sentence caused you to tear up as opposed to rolling your eyes.  If you had the least inclination that this small, grounding act is one to be ridiculed, then you obviously don't understand what this group of people and their families believe.  Our service to our country has not been easy, and certainly has not been without questioning authority, but at the end of the day, we each believe that we stand for something bigger than ourselves.  And in that belief, we are united.

Overlooking the Guadalupe River

I spent the entire day with my blood and CVMA families hanging out and enjoying each other's company.  The weather was perfect, the company dynamic and entertaining, the food delicious (but overwhelming!) and camaraderie easy.  The river water temperature was pretty chilly, but we took turns going for rounds in the tubes, kayaks and boats.  It was great to see everyone sharing this brotherhood with children, spouses, friends and parents.  Like any family, we don't always see eye-to-eye, but it seems as though we do see the value in this tribe and so we continue to participate in its existence.  Chief and Babycakes certainly know how to throw a party and I hope they know how appreciative we are for the amazing hospitality they provided!

This cake looked so much better before the 90+ degree heat got to it!
 

Over the last couple of days, the party favors have all been picked up, the left over food frozen for another day, and all the out-of-town guests have returned to their places of origin.  I may have returned to work today with a higher rank, but I am still the same bayou girl basking in the glow of family and friendships made along the way.  I couldn't have asked for a better transition and celebration...I am truly thankful!

Cajun Invasion!

Paul, Monica, Nicole, me, Pyran, Aunt Ruth, Dad and Mom :-)

I'm Cajun; born and raised on a bayou in South Louisiana.  That means that every significant life event must be accompanied by family and food!  Undeterred by the event happening 500 miles away, my family loaded up a couple of vehicles and headed my way.  When I say "loaded up", I don't mean they just packed their suitcases and a couple of gifts.  These Cajuns rolled up with black iron pots, propane burners, 20 lbs of catfish, 10 lbs of alligator and the fixins and utensils required to cook gallons of gumbo and jambalaya.  Oh, and don't forget pecan pie, pralines and brownies! 

Paul manning the jambalaya, catfish and alligator cooking

My little house is not big enough to accommodate all my friends and family, so I had to divide the celebrations into two separate events.  The first one was for professional colleagues and friends at my house the evening of the promotion ceremony.  Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year, so I was excited when I found out that my sequence number would put my promotion date in July.  Unfortunately, when I scheduled the festivities for the 4th of July weekend, I suspected that several key people would not be able to attend.  Fortunately however, it worked out for a few; Christi flew in from NC and the Robinson family were able to drive up and make a family vacation out of the event.

Although it was hot, the weather cooperated and we were able to remain outside well into the evening.  Most of my guests had never tasted "real" Cajun food, but judging by the disappearance of food over the evening, everyone seemed to have an adventurous palate and did more than just sample the novel cuisine. 

 

Just to avoid any confusion while I describe dinner preparations, I'll give you a little Cajun language lesson.  I refer to my Uncle Wayne as "Pyran" or the more proper spelling "Parrain" which means "Godfather" in Cajun French.  My family was raised Roman Catholic which means that when we were baptized as babies, our parents chose a responsible male and  female to be Godparents who would fill in as guardians if anything were to happen to them when we were kids.  Although my mother's brother, Wayne, is Pyran to my older sister and not me, my younger brother and I grew up hearing him referred to by that name throughout our childhood, so it stuck for all of us.  Pyran is the Marine who swapped out my shoulder boards along with my dad at my promotion ceremony. 

 





My momma's chicken & sausage gumbo...delicious!

I don't know if it's true for all Cajun families, but in mine, there is an interesting allocation of cooking duties.  The everyday, family cooking typically falls to the women of the households while the preparation of main dishes for large get-togethers is usually handled by the men.  Outdoor grilling, boiling and deep-frying seafood, as well as preparing mass quantities of gumbo and jambalaya for family gatherings and social events, was customarily done by my grandfathers, dad and uncles to varying degrees.  For this party, my dad, my cousin Paul, and Pyran, manned the jambalaya pot and deep fryers outside while my mom, Aunt Ruth,  Monica and Christi  prepared the gumbo and salads and readied the house for dinner guests. 



I had to set the record straight when a few of my guests commented that I really knew how to throw a party- it's actually my family who really knows how to throw a party!  I simply invited people, gathered equipment and purchased necessities while my family were the ones who set everything up and made magic happen!  This get-together is just another example of how strong our family bonds are.  It wasn't until I enlisted in the Navy and left South Louisiana that I realized how special my family and roots were.  While continuing to meet a wide variety of people through my travels, I am continually reminded that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a family and family traditions as exceptional as mine.  What a special and meaningful way to celebrate my promotion!  Check back in  if you're interested in reading about the continuation of festivities, my next post will be about the party with my CVMA biker family!     

"Today's weather prediction...MAJOR Sunshine"

I couldn't help but to giggle as I read this wall post by L.F. on my Facebook page Thursday morning!  After only being back from the Gettysburg adventure for a few days, friends and family started arriving into town for my military promotion to MAJ.  It was a stressful few days as I tried to teach classes and fulfill work obligations in addition to preparing for house guests, a ceremony  and parties.  I've learned over the years though to just roll with it; it may not turn out perfect, but it will all be OK.  True to experience, the last several days turned out to be extraordinary!

Although not as big of a deal as advancing from E-6 to a Chief Petty Officer (CPO) in the Navy, there is a significant shift in  leadership focus when an Army officer advances from company grade (Captain) to a field grade officer (Major).  In the most basic terms, a Captain's concern is on executing  particular tasks and correcting/preventing specific problems in a unit.  A Major however, should be focused on the system in which those tasks and problems exist.  Instead of focusing on an individual event, the field grade officer is expected to view that event in the context of the bigger picture.  At my age and breadth of experience, I feel as though that shift in thinking occurred quite some time ago for me, but now I will be given more responsibility upon which to put it to use.

Nick, me and Doc

I cannot overstate the impact that several excellent mentors have had on my personal and professional development over the years.  I was honored when COL Russ Kotwal, one of those mentors, agreed to be the one to promote me to MAJ in an official ceremony even though his own retirement ceremony was a month ago (he's not officially "out" however, for a few more months)!  This humble, unassuming man is not only a legend in Army medicine (go ahead, google him!), he also has the uncanny ability to influence everyone around him to live up to his or her full potential.   Although some strong-arm tactics may have been involved, another one of COL Kotwal's mentees Nick, a friend and colleague whom I admire, consented to wear his dress uniform and to be the one to read the promotion orders.  Nick is currently pursuing his PhD in the civilian sector, so appearing in an Army dress uniform was an arduous request! 

Pyran, me and Dad

In the presence of what we estimated to be around 60 people, the two most significant veterans in my life, my dad and uncle, removed the CPT shoulder boards from my dress uniform and replaced them with those of MAJ.  These two men's military service not only acted as a catalyst for my enlistment in the Navy 25 years ago, but has continued to inspire my ongoing commitment to the Armed Services.




CVMA family did a group ride to the ceremony on post

Over tasty beverages at later get-togethers (more on that in future posts), my co-workers acknowledged that I probably win the award for the most diverse crowd at a military promotion; family, members from several military branches, civilian friends, coworkers, students and bikers!  It was hard to hold back the moisture forming in my eyes as I gazed out at the audience and saw so many of my "families" gathered to help me celebrate this milestone in my life.  Although I truly value and enjoy military traditions, I don't particularly feel comfortable with pomp and circumstance when it comes to events involving me.  So when COL Kotwal asked me what kind of ceremony I wanted, I emphasized that it should be official, yet short and sweet.  True to my request, he highlighted my strengths which contributed to this advancement in rank while graciously downplaying my shortcomings, delivered sage advice for my future role as a field grade officer, and promoted me all in the span of about 10 minutes!

I'm not very good at reciting written words verbatim, so I tried to paraphrase a quote in an effort to summarize my feelings about this promotion.  The quote is one that is included in the signature line of an officer for whom I have an immense amount of respect.  These words are by General Maxwell Taylor... "The badge of rank which an officer wears on his coat is really a symbol of servitude to his men."  I will do my best to live up to that sentiment.