6/2/2011

Woo hoo! I'm done with that on line class. Of course now I have to take the bullshit certification exam. That is going to be blowful. Oh well. So, Saturday I'd decided to blow off the Apex Driving School portion of Birkinstock, right? I slept in. Eventually I got up and went out in Ms. Clio. I headed to the fabric store, with Birkini top in hand, to buy replacement snaps. I also decided to get some kind of “pookie” to finally stop those snaps on the scuttle from vibrating. I knew I could get both items in one stop if I went to the JoAnn Fabrics on Old Granbury Road and I-20 then walk across the parking lot to the O’Reilley’s. This I did. I took the top in and flopped it on the counter, opening it up to one of the broken snaps. The lady pointed me to the snaps aisle and I went there. Now, I know I've bought one of these snap installation kits before because I made the “Bra Strap” in an attempt to silence the scuttle in the past. I have no idea where that tool is now. I bought another kit with the proper sized snaps fingering I could carry it in The Seven's tool kit even if I find the original. Besides, I needed it. From the fabric store, which always makes me feel EVER so manly entering, I walked across to O’Reilley’s. I found some two-part epoxy in a syringe thingy with mixing nozzles and bought it. I decided to go to the shop, being right down the road and all, and install the snaps there. The ulterior motive was to see if John and Dave were blowing smoke up my butt about not being there. They weren’t. I installed the snaps and had a quick look around to see if there was anything I needed to do. There wasn’t. I headed home. I think mom and I went to lunch at this point but I don't really remember. Eventually I got to work on the scuttle snaps. I put the nozzle on the syringe thingy and squirted some pookie under one of the snaps. What? Why yes, it did make a remarkable mess. How did you know? I eventually fingered out the procedure and pookied up the rest of the snaps. Within minutes they were all nice and solid. I installed the Birkini top and went inside to wait for the time I was going to head back to Cresson. I wanted to get in on the Birkinstock Banquet at the barbecue place by the track and see what the timing for Sunday’s departure would be. I headed out in Ms. Clio because I didn't really feel like folding myself into The Seven knowing I'd be doing that all day Sunday and Monday. I believe I took the long way to Cresson and had a hoon. At the track I was informed that someone had been looking for me earlier. Turns out the guy from the church, the one I had invited to the event, actually broke free from the family and came down! I was bummed. I called mom immediately and told her to apologize to him on Sunday. We hung out until time for dinner then met at the BBQ place. We ate and had a good time. It was decided that everyone would leave from the hotel at 0900 h in the morning so I said I'd see them then. I went home and went to bed. Normally I'd stop here and tell y'all about Sunday tomorrow and Monday the next day, but since tomorrow is Friday I'll tell y'all half of Sunday’s tale today and finish up tomorrow. Sunday morning I headed out in The Seven to meet the folks at the hotel in Cresson. I arrived around 0830 h and met Carlos in the parking lot. We went inside and I grabbed some “French toast” from the continental breffixt bar. When everyone had gathered and were ready to leave, we broke into two groups for the tours. We picked “leaders” from cars with navigators and headed out. Within a mile, one car which had been overheating on the track Saturday, totally crapped out. They took it to the track and parked it. In Granbury it was decided that Dick Brink would go back and offer them the keys to his Toyota truck so they could at least follow along and be with us. We headed out again and eventually got to the Shack on the Grass (Inn on the River actually) in Glen Rose. We hung out there for an hour or so, stretching our legs and re-hydrating, then began to look at the maps for the trip to Hico. The maps and directions made little sense at first blush but the more I looked at them the clearer they got. Unfortunately that got me elected leader. Oh, the idea of two groups was pitched as well so I was leader of the entire pack. As we were walking to the cars, Dick asked if his granddaughter could ride with me. I said she could if she’d hold the map for me. We loaded up and headed out. The first few turns were easy, get back on Hwy 67 east, but the next two caused trouble. The directions clearly said turn right on FM199 then turn right on FM 200. OK, easy enough. We head out 67 and pass a turn off for FM200. I keep going. As we approach the Brazos river crossing, I begin to second guess myself and look at the map. Nope, I'm on track because I see we cross the river before turning. As we’re approaching FM199, Phil roars up next to me and yells, “We missed the turn!” He goes to run around and is followed by two or three cars. I begin honking and flashing my high beams to him when I see the FM199 sign. He turns around right across from the turn, which I make with two other cars. One of the cars following me pulls up and I ask, “What should we do?” He asked if WE were on course and when I answered in the affirmative he said, “Keep going.” We took the twisty roads and high speed stuff at a good pace and eventually arrived in Hico for lunch at the Koffee Kup. And with that I'll leave you until tomorrow.