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
Case's Vacation Journal: Eventful Trip
Well, this road trip had a book written about it in somebody's mind. A lot of things have been happening here in Lubbock, Texas.
Besides needing a spatula, some eggs, and bacon to fry in a hot parking lot (Try a high of 107 in town today!), I became one of the first drivers on a new set of mainlanes on the Marsha Sharp Freeway (U.S. Highway 82) between Milwaukee Avenue and the Wolfforth city limits. Yes, it's happened very quickly, as I saw work crews working at night to get some things touched up and completed. The new westbound lanes opened today. Lubbock drivers are seeing mobility improve every day, with the Marsha Sharp Freeway having an additional lane under construction in each direction. Should be completed next year.
My stay at the Overton Hotel was a success. 11th floor. Eastern sky view, which meant sunrises every morning. And I watched all of them go up, too. Great stuff. Fast elevator. Satellite TV with just 40 channels, with the CBS station (KLBK-TV, Channel 13) going dark for some of that time.
I got to meet one of the owners of Cagle Steaks. It was Lisa who went around to people's tables, including mine whose occupant was waiting for his steak and potato. Great visit overall, but didn't catch her in time for a picture (This writer had left his camera in the car, thinking he didn't need it).
The Buddy Holly Center just added a new gallery of pictures in the west wing of the complex. As for the performing arts center which will bear Buddy's name, it's a hole in the ground now, and the signs are up. Local weatherman Ron Roberts is giddy with excitement about the new facility and he can't wait for it. That guy is a riot to watch on television. KAMC-TV (Channel 28) in case you want to catch him on EverythingLubbock.com. Even took time to trudge down off the caprock to Post, where I took a one-lane gravel road to get to the Ragtown Gospel Theater, in the canyons below the drop. Living dangerously is what you'd have to do to drive on that isolated road, where the limited sight distance is very dangerous. Glad I survived it both ways.
At Ruby Tequila's, the chili topping was really spicy and the chips were not sprinkled this time. I've been told it depends on the cook. Lubbock's Breakfast House added two locations in the last year or so, but I'm still sticking with the reliable South Loop 289 location. 19th/University is a freak show with no restaurant savvy and lousy service, and the 50th/Indiana location is still too new. Caprock Cafe still has the best hamburger in Lubbock. Shrimp Galley impressed me with their food on my first visit there, and I'm planning to go again. My lands, there were a lot of senior adults at that restaurant that I think I was the only patron under age 70 there. Ranch House Restaurant decided to close for the week leading up to July 4. Why? You'd think there'd be enough backup help if so many folks wanted to go on vacation. There was a paper sign on the door that read "Gone Fishin'". All right, then. To each their own. River Smith's was good as always. Orlando's has good pizza, but slices their Italian sausage rather than rolling them up into balls. I also discovered a new Mexican restaurant, Albarran's, located on Milwaukee Avenue just north of 82nd. Their red sauce is really a pretty good chili gravy. Better chips than Ruby Tequila's and some good hot sauce that is just right. Alexus was my server for tonight, and she was wonderful on my first visit. Too bad the mariachi band won't play until Saturday night. It always helps when you have a TV commercial to convince one to go.
Also had my first visit to Evie Mae's Barbecue, and some people from the aforementioned KLBK-TV were doing a story on the place. Your writer may show up in a clip on television very soon. Didn't get to meet the reporter or ask to get interviewed.
Just a relaxing time here in the Westoplex. And we're not even done yet, as one of the local wineries will see me heading over for some wine tasting. Switched over to a new Best Western location for the rest of my stay, but I need the points. Some live music, hopefully, will also await a listen. And I've seen quite a few rabbits, several prairie dogs, one roadrunner, and one snake (which I spotted on the way to get a snapshot of the Ragtown Gospel Theater).
So far, a fun trip in real hot weather.
Besides needing a spatula, some eggs, and bacon to fry in a hot parking lot (Try a high of 107 in town today!), I became one of the first drivers on a new set of mainlanes on the Marsha Sharp Freeway (U.S. Highway 82) between Milwaukee Avenue and the Wolfforth city limits. Yes, it's happened very quickly, as I saw work crews working at night to get some things touched up and completed. The new westbound lanes opened today. Lubbock drivers are seeing mobility improve every day, with the Marsha Sharp Freeway having an additional lane under construction in each direction. Should be completed next year.
My stay at the Overton Hotel was a success. 11th floor. Eastern sky view, which meant sunrises every morning. And I watched all of them go up, too. Great stuff. Fast elevator. Satellite TV with just 40 channels, with the CBS station (KLBK-TV, Channel 13) going dark for some of that time.
I got to meet one of the owners of Cagle Steaks. It was Lisa who went around to people's tables, including mine whose occupant was waiting for his steak and potato. Great visit overall, but didn't catch her in time for a picture (This writer had left his camera in the car, thinking he didn't need it).
The Buddy Holly Center just added a new gallery of pictures in the west wing of the complex. As for the performing arts center which will bear Buddy's name, it's a hole in the ground now, and the signs are up. Local weatherman Ron Roberts is giddy with excitement about the new facility and he can't wait for it. That guy is a riot to watch on television. KAMC-TV (Channel 28) in case you want to catch him on EverythingLubbock.com. Even took time to trudge down off the caprock to Post, where I took a one-lane gravel road to get to the Ragtown Gospel Theater, in the canyons below the drop. Living dangerously is what you'd have to do to drive on that isolated road, where the limited sight distance is very dangerous. Glad I survived it both ways.
At Ruby Tequila's, the chili topping was really spicy and the chips were not sprinkled this time. I've been told it depends on the cook. Lubbock's Breakfast House added two locations in the last year or so, but I'm still sticking with the reliable South Loop 289 location. 19th/University is a freak show with no restaurant savvy and lousy service, and the 50th/Indiana location is still too new. Caprock Cafe still has the best hamburger in Lubbock. Shrimp Galley impressed me with their food on my first visit there, and I'm planning to go again. My lands, there were a lot of senior adults at that restaurant that I think I was the only patron under age 70 there. Ranch House Restaurant decided to close for the week leading up to July 4. Why? You'd think there'd be enough backup help if so many folks wanted to go on vacation. There was a paper sign on the door that read "Gone Fishin'". All right, then. To each their own. River Smith's was good as always. Orlando's has good pizza, but slices their Italian sausage rather than rolling them up into balls. I also discovered a new Mexican restaurant, Albarran's, located on Milwaukee Avenue just north of 82nd. Their red sauce is really a pretty good chili gravy. Better chips than Ruby Tequila's and some good hot sauce that is just right. Alexus was my server for tonight, and she was wonderful on my first visit. Too bad the mariachi band won't play until Saturday night. It always helps when you have a TV commercial to convince one to go.
Also had my first visit to Evie Mae's Barbecue, and some people from the aforementioned KLBK-TV were doing a story on the place. Your writer may show up in a clip on television very soon. Didn't get to meet the reporter or ask to get interviewed.
Just a relaxing time here in the Westoplex.
And we're not even done yet, as one of the local wineries will see me heading over for some wine tasting. Switched over to a new Best Western location for the rest of my stay, but I need the points. Some live music, hopefully, will also await a listen. And I've seen quite a few rabbits, several prairie dogs, one roadrunner, and one snake (which I spotted on the way to get a snapshot of the Ragtown Gospel Theater).So far, a fun trip in real hot weather.
Total Comments 5
Comments
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Was wondering how the road construction might impact your trip. Guess they're trying to get some of it finished before September when the city has the crush of students & football game visitors on the half-dozen weekends where that applies. Glad it's been fun.
Have a safe trip back!Posted 06-30-2017 at 08:42 PM by shoe01
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More updates: I made a second visit to Cagle's for their new burger made from ground ribeye, and I got to meet Lisa again, this time for a picture. Even hung around afterward and listened to live music there, which I've needed to do in Lubbock. For the Cagle visit, well, I didn't need cover charge.
Thunderstorms moved through Lubbock on my last two overnights, but thankfully, the hail that others got had stayed away from my hotel. Many thanks to KAMC's Ron Roberts for telling me that I didn't have to be vigilant with hail the second night, so I wouldn't have to lose a lot of sleep. That TV bulletin came in right as I was flipping through the channels looking at radar. Lots of lightning and thunder on that first night of the storm, however (That previous sentence occurred the second night of the storm). Every day I spent there was sunny and got some great sunrises and sunsets. I'll never forget my time at The Overton.Posted 07-02-2017 at 09:01 PM by case44
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Oh, and the mariachi band that usually shows up on Friday nights at Albarran's, well, they didn't show on Friday. The restaurant promised they would on Saturday and they still didn't show.
At any rate, the place had good enough food to wean me away from Ruby Tequila's. We'll see how I feel the next time I go. And Gloria and Minnie (counter) were great to me at LBH. They'll remember my face really well.Posted 07-02-2017 at 09:06 PM by case44
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Unfortunately, this would explain Ranch House's closure when you were there:
Lubbock's The Ranch House Restaurant Closes After 45 YearsPosted 07-12-2017 at 07:45 PM by shoe01
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Actually, that was after the fact. The decision came yesterday. So much for "Gone fishin'". Reportedly, there had been some equipment problems at the site. Nonetheless, I'm not the only one who is shocked by this action. They had the best home cooking in Downtown Lubbock. I'm sure many Lubbockites are every bit as shocked as I am to see that staple close.Quote:Originally Posted by shoe01
Unfortunately, this would explain Ranch House's closure when you were there:
Lubbock's The Ranch House Restaurant Closes After 45 Years
This could also be a game-changer for downtown's redevelopment. Don't be surprised if some other news follows.Posted 07-12-2017 at 08:52 PM by case44
