Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
The Vacation Man Is At It Again
Posted 02-14-2014 at 01:33 PM by case44
Forget that it's just another cheesy title, but the Vacation Man really is about to take the road again. 
Time for another round of rest from the stress of work. Time to hit the roads of the great state of Texas as a way to relax, seeing more and more of the things that made my homeland what it is.
This weekend, I'll be getting my belongings together, and by dawn on Monday, this writer will find himself burning rubber down on a road near me. Abilene, Buffalo Gap, and San Angelo, Texas, all await my arrival as they welcome me with open arms into their lives, if for just a short time. Mother Nature will actually keep things nice and warm for this trip, especially after what many of us have experienced within the last few days. Next week, how about highs in the 70s?? You're probably thinking, "Ditch the sweats, Case: You'll want to run around the parking lot naked".
Thankfully, you won't have to see me do that.
What will happen, though, is I'll be on the road once again, seeing some great sights, including some new things never before seen. And, as in every trip, there will be some good food to be had. Among the places that I'll stop by, foodwise, will be Joe Allen's BBQ, The Flipping Egg, Belle's Chicken Dinner House (all in Abilene), Perini Ranch Steakhouse (Buffalo Gap), and Packsaddle BBQ (San Angelo). I'll find out if any of the above places are worth a second visit.
While you stay home and eat chocolate cake, let me have you lactate on this great website of a very innovative history museum. In case you aren't familiar with this, here it is.
Frontier Texas - Abilene, TX is an award winning museum featuring the true stories of the Texas frontier
Time for another round of rest from the stress of work. Time to hit the roads of the great state of Texas as a way to relax, seeing more and more of the things that made my homeland what it is. This weekend, I'll be getting my belongings together, and by dawn on Monday, this writer will find himself burning rubber down on a road near me. Abilene, Buffalo Gap, and San Angelo, Texas, all await my arrival as they welcome me with open arms into their lives, if for just a short time. Mother Nature will actually keep things nice and warm for this trip, especially after what many of us have experienced within the last few days. Next week, how about highs in the 70s?? You're probably thinking, "Ditch the sweats, Case: You'll want to run around the parking lot naked".
Thankfully, you won't have to see me do that.
What will happen, though, is I'll be on the road once again, seeing some great sights, including some new things never before seen. And, as in every trip, there will be some good food to be had. Among the places that I'll stop by, foodwise, will be Joe Allen's BBQ, The Flipping Egg, Belle's Chicken Dinner House (all in Abilene), Perini Ranch Steakhouse (Buffalo Gap), and Packsaddle BBQ (San Angelo). I'll find out if any of the above places are worth a second visit.
While you stay home and eat chocolate cake
, let me have you lactate on this great website of a very innovative history museum. In case you aren't familiar with this, here it is.Frontier Texas - Abilene, TX is an award winning museum featuring the true stories of the Texas frontier
Total Comments 7
Comments
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It's 80-something degrees right now in my part of TX. Just a few days ago, there was ice on my windshield. I'm sure lots of people in this state will be sitting at outside tables tonight.
Enjoy your trip to the Big Country/Rolling Plains, Case.Posted 02-14-2014 at 02:01 PM by shoe01
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Just dig that Texas weather.......
Posted 02-14-2014 at 02:13 PM by case44
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Hope you have a good trip.Posted 02-15-2014 at 04:33 PM by Gurn350
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I'm thinking about an alternative route back to Austin from Missouri next month. I can't stand Interstate 35 through Texas with the heavy traffic and construction. I'm thinking of going through Wichita Falls down US 281 to Marble Falls and then heading east on 71. Yeah, it will take longer but won't have the aggravation. I'm gonna research somewhere to stop and eat along the way. Maybe bbq.
Glad you had a good trip. I've lived in Austin for 3 years and still haven't been to hill country.Posted 02-23-2014 at 06:14 PM by MoNative34
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Mo, you just need to get out to visit the Hill Country. It's not that far of a drive from Austin, as you know; just hit 290 West and go. Check out Johnson City (the LBJ Ranch and the Pedernales River), Fredericksburg (great Main Street and two fine German restaurants), Luckenbach, and the aforementioned Marble Falls. For barbecue in that part of Texas, you should check out Cooper's in Llano; otherwise, you've got plenty of BBQ in Austin, Driftwood, Round Rock, Elgin, and Lockhart.
When I tell people from out of state what the first place in Texas is that they should visit, I try not to be too partial, but I always recommend Austin and the Hill Country among the first places for them to visit.Posted 02-25-2014 at 03:43 PM by case44
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By the way, folks, regarding the restaurants in the post that I mentioned, let me give you star scores for each one. [Scores: 1=worst, 5=best]
Joe Allen's (5*****): Great smoked meats, but skip the bread. They also have steak, which I'll try next time. Reminds me a little of Bryan's J Cody's.
The Flipping Egg (4****): Food was decent, but coffee was boring. It didn't help that the place opened 12 minutes late and I was outside waiting.
Belle's Chicken (5*****): Abilene's equivalent of Dallas' Bubba's and Babe's chains, but with a slightly different breading recipe for the chicken. These guys serve rolls, not biscuits.
Perini Ranch (5*****): Cowboy-style food worth going back for again. It was better than I expected.
Packsaddle BBQ (5*****): Good smoked meats and good sides. Probably exceeds quality of other West Texas barbecue joints, and there aren't too many good ones out that way.Posted 02-25-2014 at 04:15 PM by case44
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Thanks for the info, case!Posted 02-26-2014 at 08:22 PM by MoNative34
