More Scattershooting / The Casester's Vacation Plans

Here we are again, going here, there, and everywhere. Well, that's what one has to expect from Case's Column, what with so many things written and lots of things on my mind covered. It's time for more of what I call Scattershooting, and let's see what I've got to cover for you in this space while many of you are covering your faces with sunscreen. Needless to say, it's dang hot out there!

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The hotel plans are set, and Ol' Case will take to the roads of Texas once again, this time towards the end of July. It will be off to Lubbock once again for some sunsets, steak, and solitude. I am also going to venture off to a couple other places during the excursion, and these will be brand-new for me. One place I'm slated to go to will be Roswell, New Mexico. It's legendary for a UFO incident which occurred many years ago, and they've got a UFO museum in the heart of town which commemorates that. It's going to be a grueling 170-mile day trip from Lubbock out there (and back), and if the weather holds up good, we shouldn't have any problems. Also, I'll be going northward to little bitty Turkey, Texas. The town is known as the home of country music legend Bob Wills, and there is also a state park closeby that is very scenic. In town, there's a windmill museum (Collectiques), and a little restaurant called Galvan's that may be worth a stop, as they do home cooking with a Tex-Mex twist. And, of course, there's Lubbock, with some of my favorite eating places about to be visited again (along with a few new ones), along with the Buddy Holly Center. Once in the city, I'll get to drive the recently-completed stretch of the Marsha Sharp Freeway all the way from Interstate 27, through the Texas Tech University campus, and on to Loop 289. Granted, it's just an eight-mile stretch, but it took a few years to build, and now it's all drivable.

Case is going to go have some Llano Estacado fun!

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I can understand local news organizations competing with one another, but you should see this article by Houston's Mike McGuff. Things appear to be out of hand in the Houston news races. If I'm a KPRC-TV (Channel 2) employee, I'd have egg all over my face. This is embarrassing. Take a look; you won't believe this...

mikemcguff.com blog: KPRC 2 really likes KTRK abc13's news coverage; KTRK responds with promo

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It won't just be me traveling in a few moons. Many of you will be, too. Here are a few pointers for this summer's traveling season.

Taking the Kids -- to the Caribbean in summer | Fox News

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The Houston Astros had what I thought was a good couple of days at this weekend's MLB amateur draft. They were able to nab a local guy who could become an important part of this franchise for years to come. His name is Mark Appel, a righthanded starting pitcher who has had an outstanding run at Stanford University. He was this year's number one pick. Now, the Astros need to get him signed and into their ever-burgeoning farm system.

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Switching now to basketball. The San Antonio Spurs, at this writing, are up in their NBA Finals series, 1-0, against the Miami Heat. Will the Heat fizzle again? Find out.

Heat have history of responding well to adversity

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This writer had kind of a strange incident a few nights ago. I had taken my first visit into a new barbecue place in Frisco, Texas. It's called 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House, and it's run by well-known rib aficionado Trace Arnold. Let's just say that Ol' Case has to get used to some new things when visiting a new restaurant for the first time. After going through the serving line at 3 Stacks, I had gotten seated in the crowded Thursday night setting. It was a high table, and there was no silverware (which, I learned later, was supposed to be set on it for the customers). So, there I was, for five minutes, with no silverware. Face it, sports fans, I'm not eating cheesy corn bake with my hands. Too messy.

I visited again two days later for some other menu selections. They had wonderful smoked meats, but some very spicy sides. It has an opportunity to be a uniquely Frisco experience, but these people need to make it work.

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Almost Father's Day time. Here are some ideas in case you've run out of same on what to get your father on his day.

Father's Day gifts for the gadget guru - Fathers Day gift guide - MSN Living

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Signs will slowly be going up in the coming days on Interstates 2, 69E, and 69C in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, and on Interstate 369 in Texarkana. More evidence that progress is being on the new NAFTA superhighway connecting Texas with the Midwest and Michigan. As soon as I get some new stories to share, I will bring them, but start looking for pictures by road enthusiasts online real soon. I'd check Google first. The AARoads website will also have eventual coverage, as well as more details to come on the I-69 Alliance website for Texas. Just some exciting stuff in Texas' always-expanding infrastructure.

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And now, it's time once again for our Word Of The Day. Today's word is coffee. I like to drink my coffee black every morning, unless I get a latte at Starbucks. Some of you out there have had coffee ice cream. I've never had it, but I hear it's pretty good. And if I don't get some sleep tonight, I'll probably stay up and drink coffee all night long.

And there you are.