June, 2017- Texas, Day 8

1646-I’ve been discreetly smuggling three cans of spray paint across this fine nation in anticipation of this destination. Hope Outdoor Gallery is a graffiti park located in a residential area of Austin. At first, the kids had a hard time buying what I was selling. 

“You mean, we can spray paint anything we want?”, “Are you sure it’s okay?”  “Are you sure mom, I don’t want to go to Juvy”, said Thomas.  Note to self: Threats of sending Thomas to the juvenile detention center are working. 

The idea behind this public outdoor gallery is that it is ever-changing and all artistic contributions to the gallery are temporary. The idea behind our trip was letting the kids tag something without legal ramifications.

Mile 1648-LBJ Presidential Library and Museum-Located on the campus of the University of Texas, The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library told the story of an fascinating man and his presidency. 

Oval Office

We were able to see all of the exhibits right before Thomas said, “Mom, do I have something on my back?”. Why yes, you do. It’s a big engorged tick. 

Now, “3 months ago Sarah” would have plucked that sucker off, tossed it, and carried on with some LBJ interactive exhibits. But,  present day Sarah reacts a little differently. You see, friends. Thomas was diagnosed with Lyme Disease about 6 weeks ago. We JUST finished antibiotic treatment for it. We’ve been released from the infectious disease doctors and he is going to be fine, but crikey, I don’t want to go through it AGAIN! Mr. Bullington and I volleyed questions back and forth “Should we go to the doctor?” “No, I’ve got some tweezers in the car, I’ll just pluck it out”. “What does the internet say?” “Don’t look at the internet!”  We decided that we should probably seek the services of a professional.

Wouldn't be vacation unless this one landed us in the urgent care. 

Mile 1661-We depart LBJ and find a doc-in-a-box. We finally got back to a room and the doctor came in. She was a cute little thing named Bobbi with an “i”. She pulled Thomas’ shirt back and I’ll be derned if that fudging tick hadn’t detached itself. At this point, Bobbi with an “i” thinks I’m cray.  Fortunately, we did find that fat critter on the examination table. And, now he is our newest travel mate all the way back to Georgia in his own little test tube. Thomas named him Fido. A quick trip to the pharmacy and we’re back on track!

Mile 1672-Museum of the Weird- I’ve lost a bit of credibility with Mr. Bullington. I found this place on the line and it looked like it might be interesting. I like museums. I like weird stuff. Seemed like a good idea….if lighting a couple of $20 bills on fire is a good idea. The exhibits were crammed in a narrow hallway that was so dimly lit you could hardly read the descriptions. There were a couple of mummies and shrunken heads. At the end of the hallway we were instructed to wait on our tour guide and watch an episode of Unsolved Mysteries circa 1989 about the featured exhibit, a frozen caveman. Eventually, our tour guide showed up. He guided us up a creaky staircase through the “wax museum” that looked like something in a seasonal Halloween store, and into a room with the frozen cave man. It was indeed a block of ice with some dark shadows and I think maybe some teeth. Mr. Bullington kept giving me “the look”, tee-hee…..For the grand finale, we took our seats on some bleachers and our guide informed us that he was a side-show performer called “the block head”. He told lame jokes and proceeded to stick nails and drill bits up his nose. Sorry, Mr. Bullington. Every stop can’t be a home run!

Heavy bug? I think it was fake

Some dude's petrified finger

This was the balloon animal the side-show performer made for Mae. Hardy-Har.

Mile 1675-Franklin’s BBQ-Mr. Bullington knew that the odds were ever in his favor and he suggested that we just “drive-by” Franklin’s BBQ. Franklin’s is known for it’s BBQ, but more so for it’s line. People typically start lining up around 6:00am (they open at 11:00) and they wait until they sell out. They sell out of 2200 lbs of meat every day! It was after lunchtime so we were hungry, but we grabbed a snack, took a seat, and hoped for the best.  A cute gal came out periodically and told us how much longer we could expect to wait and what they were running short on. We waited about 2 hours and it was worth the hype!

 

Thankfully, we saw this sign on the way OUT!

Food for the whole fam!

Mile 1678-Texas State Capitol- Everything is bigger in Texas including it’s YUUUUGE state capitol building. It is bigger than the Capitol building in Washington and 2^nd tallest in the Country! Where is the tallest? Stay tuned! We went in for a peek and she was a beauty!  Next stop, San Antonio!

 

Mile 1757-We got to San Antonio around dinner time and took a quick boat ride. It is such a pretty city. We grabbed some Mexican food, of course! And, then took the kids to the pool.

Night Swimming!