Friday, March 27, 2009

Stations of the Cross

I've never been to Stations of the Cross before.

This is a Catholic tradition that takes place in the weeks before Easter. There are several stations set up depicting different scenes from Christ's Passion Week. I am told that different churches celebrate it in different ways. Tonight we are attending with some friends. It will be done inside with the congregants seated as the priest moves through the stations explaining each depiction. I have heard that some churches do other kinds of presentations of the Stations of the Cross including dramatic and/or outdoor presentations.

That I'd like to see.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

door museum

I've never been to a door museum.

I found two references to door museums online. One is just a photo but the other is a blog that describes a door museum outside of Olympus. I could not find a website for it but the blog in reference does a pretty good job of describing it. It sounds fascinating! You are greeted at the front by five different types of doors, a rotating door, a motion-sensor door, a door from an old house, a round door with a knob right in the middle, and in the middle a medieval portcullis.

As you enter you can choose which door you want to go through to explore the various places they lead you to. There are real doors, replica doors and doors from stories. There is even a backless wardrobe. You will also discover sliding doors, trapdoors, vehicle doors, and airlocks. I wonder if they have to use discount door hardware replacements very often, what with all the hands on!

Each door leads you into a fascinating place. There is even a door leading you to outer space!

That I'd like to see.

Phantom of the Opera

I've never been to Phantom of the Opera.

I only know the basic outline of the show and a bit of the music. But I have a ticket to the show this summer! My daughter wanted to go and also get a ticket for her friend as a birthday present. So we decided to do that. Then, the friend's sister wanted to go too, so her mom bought a couple more tickets to join us! Their seats are actually right next to ours. Even though the seats are up high, we are looking forward to seeing this smashing Broadway musical!

That I'd like to see.

Monday, March 23, 2009

design school

I've never been to design school.

And if you visit my home, you will notice that fact right off the bat! We have a very lived in look, and a lot of our furniture is old and/or hand-me down. But I found an online tool to help design a custom home office. It is a great tool to help turn a room into an office. You simply enter the dimensions and plan where you want to place your office furniture. This will likely be a handy tool for people who are finding themselves in need of a home office.

That I'd like to see.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Harvard

I've never been to Harvard.

Though we were not far while in Boston, we never made it over to see the university. There are apparently walking tours available. You can hire a guide who will take you from Boston to Cambridge to see the sights on Harvard Square. You will take in sights like Harvard Yard, Radcliff Yard, Brattle Street ("Tory Row"), the "Old Burial Place," Cambridge Common, Longfellow's Mansion and "The Square". Subway fare is included in this tour. Or if you opt to go the free route, you can book a student led tour of Harvard. With this tour, you will be led by a Harvard student and you will learn about American history and architecture from the Colonial period to the present.

That I'd like to see.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Boston's Red Line Train

I've never been to Boston's Red Line Train.

While visiting Boston, we used the "T" quite a bit. We commuted in everyday and would use the T to get around when we felt it a bit too far to walk. There are four T lines, Red, Orange, Green and Blue. My daughter pointed out that we used all except the Red Line. I guess that just means we have to go back some day to see the things we missed out on and to ride the Red Line!

That I'd like to see.

Friday, March 13, 2009

apartment demolition

I had never been to an apartment demolition.

In studying modern Texas history, I had my daughter do a unit on our town. I included a kind of scavenger hunt where she had to find out certain things that are going on around our town. One of the items was an apartment complex scheduled for demolition. I am not sure if it was damaged in the hurricane or not. We drove by yesterday to see what it looked like. Demolition was already in progress. I am not sure if they will be rebuilding these apartments on the lake.

That I'd like to see.



Outer Banks North Carolina

I've never been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

This is the area that includes Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head & Southern Shores. Of course a vacation here includes all the beach loving activities like fishing, kiteboarding and surfing. There are many other activities to enjoy as well. Some of the favorites are birdwatching, lighthouses and museums. Of course you can see where the Wright Brothers conducted tests that led to the first powered airplane flight. Don't miss the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum to learn about the Outer Banks maritime history and the 3000 shipwrecks in the area. Also of interest is the Lost Colony drama, a "symphonic drama told on the site where 116 men, women and children disappeared more than 420 years ago. "

That I'd like to see.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Chic-Fil-A

I had never been to Chic-Fil-A before.

At least not outside the mall. I know that is hard to believe! I have driven my son there before, but I had never been inside. They just opened a new Chic-Fil-A near our house. We got a coupon for a free breakfast entree. Today, my son had late arrival at school. So, when I went out to swim this morning, I brought him back his free breakfast burrito. (He loved it!) Because the drive through line was so long, I went inside to order. The store (being new) was very clean and bright. I liked the menu. Lots of grilled chicken options-salads, sandwiches and wraps (those looked yummy!) They were also playing the Christian music station inside. It seemed as if I had heard that Chic-Fil-A is closed on Sunday. I looked on their website and found that it is true. It is to allow workers to worship if they choose to do so and spend time with family and friends.

That I'd like to see.

Boston

I've never been to Boston.

We are leaving this week for our spring vacation to Boston! We have lots we plan on doing and seeing. From the St. Patrick's Day parade, the public garden and Downtown Crossing to Fenway Park, the harbor and USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall and a Celtics game, we are excited to see all that Boston has to offer. My husband is already there doing some work. He went into Boston today. He said he was just going to try to get his bearings-finding out the subway system, finding public restrooms, and discovering the parade route. He is (supposed to!) going to wait to experience the rest of the fun til we get there!


That I'd like to see.

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Birth of Christianity: A Jewish Story

I've never been to The Birth of Christianity: A Jewish Story.

This special exhibit will be displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science through April 12. It features artifacts from Jerusalem and its surrounding areas 2,000 years ago. You can see the earliest known manuscript containing the story of Christ's birth in the oldest known manuscript of the Gospel of Luke. The War Scroll from Qumran will also be displayed. A papyrus manuscript of the Epistle of Hebrews and a large scale model of Jerusalem can also be viewed. There are also ossuaries on exhibition. The bones of the deceased were placed in these boxes. This was only practiced during the Roman era. The exhibit brings together the inter-connectivity of the Jewish story and the Birth of Christianity.

That I'd like to see.

travel insurance

I've never been to buy travel insurance.

Though I have often wondered about it. When we took our cruise nearly two years ago, we wondered what would happen if there was a storm or something happened and we did not get to take or finish the trip. There are certain things usually covered by travel insurance. I think it's interesting that on our overseas trips, we have never purchased travel insurance. With those types of trips, I wish it was included in the cost of the trip!

That I'd like to see.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

8 and 9 year old volleyball

I had never been to an 8 & 9 year old volleyball game before.

Our neighbor had her first game today at the YMCA. I was so surprised at how well these girls did! They can serve from as close as the 10 foot line, but most of them made it over the net! None of the girls seemed to be scared of the ball coming at them and all would make an effort to return it. They would even call "mine!" It was fun watching these young girls learn the game. I think one day some of those 8 & 9 year olds will be really good volleyball players!

That I'd like to see.

safety equipment

I've never been to buy safety equipment.

While visiting the Spindletop Museum, we saw many of the items used everyday by the oilmen. Some things have not changed too much over time. Even back at the time of the Lucas Gusher, the men were using some types of safety equipment. I even saw an old safety hard hat. It looks a little different from what is used today, but it's good to see that they were taking care to be safe. I am sure though, that many of today's safety standards came about because of some things that happened through those early years of oil drilling. It's good to know that today, folks can do their work in a safer environment.

That I'd like to see.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Spindletop

I had never been to Spindletop.

I posted a bit about the Spindletop museum in the last post. I wanted to go ahead and load some photos of the set-up that we saw there.




undertaker/livery & boarding stable



surveyor's book



doctor's office



camera shop



trade and exchange board



home (bath tub in corner)



dry goods store



post office



replica oil derrick-I can't imagine that spewing oil for nine days!



That I'd like to see.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum

I had never been to the Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum.

This museum is set up to represent the boomtown of Gladys City that sprang up in 1901 when oil was discovered in Beaumont, TX. After oil sprayed the air for nine days, folks were clamoring to be a part of it. Land was actually sold in 1/64 lots. Derricks were lined so close together that it looked like a forest. One could actually cross from one to the other without having to touch the ground!

At the museum you can watch a seven minute film and read about the discovery. Outside they have replica buildings of the boomtown. You can see the machine shop, the saloon, the dry goods store, the post office, the general store, the photographer, the surveyors and even the livery stable/undertaker! Today, they were even going to spray water out of the derrick to re-enact the gushing of the oil!

That I'd like to see.

resume service

I've never been to a resume service.

I know right now a lot of folks are having to search for new jobs. They may be having to present a resume after many years of working in a company. It can be difficult to put a resume together after so long. Many folks are having to look anywhere they can to find work, even if that means moving out of town or out of state. In this case, posting and marketing resumes online can be helpful.

That I'd like to see.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Spindletop Park

I've never been to Spindletop Park.

Located in Beaumont, TX, this is the site of the famous Lucas Gusher of 1901. The oil was drilled and spurted out of the rig for nine days before they could cap it! The site was dry within ten years. In the 1920s oil was found on the flanks by drilling deeper and in the 1950s sulfur was mined. Now they are trying to use the salt domes to store natural gas.

That I'd like to see.

Broadway Show

I've never been to a Broadway Show.

There are some spectacular shows playing on Broadway, many of which my daughter and I would like to see. I would love it if I could get us tickets to some of these shows. It would be wonderful to fly up for her birthday, grab us a New York City hotel room, and head out to see all our favorite shows!

That I'd like to see.
I've never been to

New York City hotel



That I'd like to see.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I had never been to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang live.

Yesterday we got to see a performance of this off Broadway show! It was great fun! The show stuck closely to the video script. There was lots of laughing, singing and dancing. The actors were all very talented, with lots of experience. The flying car was grand! I love how the background was all black with "stars" to aid in the illusion of flying. We enjoyed the show and the audience really got into it. I must say I did not enjoy the potty humor of the spies, even if they were from Vulgaria. I enjoyed the performance of Professor Potts, Grandpa, all the children and even the child catcher! I would see it again if I got another chance!

That I'd like to see.

insure a car

I've never been to insure a car.

I leave all that in my husband's hands. But lately we have been looking for the best auto insurance quotes. Since we now have three drivers, one a teenaged boy, and a newer vehicle, our insurance needs have changed. We need to find the best rates possible. So anytime we can find a bargain, a discount or a deal, we are ready to compare rates to find the lowest one possible.


That I'd like to see.