Homewood Suites Houston-Woodlands The Woodlands

... wasn't worth paying for. And since the server confirmed they don't make their pies, I'd just skip dessert here and load up on dinner. Anyway, I'd heard the hamburgers are terrific but, honestly, I was excited to get some veggies! It's on the square at 1120 Sam Houston Avenue, (936) 295-2381. Be sure to park on their side because you don't want to walk across the street! Okay, another bar has been set: all future barbecue will be compared to the New Zion Missionary ...

... being able to sleep! Not going to do that again, you know! Good sleep, poor nutrition. The Baker was an excellent room to sleep in. Steven, who bought me drinks was "friendly." Nicole was the manager, though she was wonderful we chatted off and on. This is all old news, and stale. The real story went down athe next evening in College Station, but it may take weeks to post all that good mess!

So it was another rough shift. Started off slow enough, we didn't even get posted all that much, which should have told me something early on that it was not going to be a good day. About 3:30 we get toned out as third-in ambulance for an MVC, Honda Accord full of kids vs. a cement truck. I knew it really wasn't that good when I heard the SO say it had been T-boned, and the MCHD supervisor broke in - she was already on scene - and ordered two helicopters. We pull up and ...

... giving her a medication that no EMS service I've ever heard of carries. Deep breath, think good thoughts. Ever the student and diplomat (snort) I cornered her in the hallway and asked a few routine questions about croupe - just enough to get her to calm down a little. She did once she explained it. I think she was probably just having a bad night, so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. We had a real CVA with difficulty speaking but no neurological deficits. Her BP ...

We arrived at the Airport at least 2 hours early. This was good since we had a slight issue with our Tickets being unreleased to Continental so that we could board the first flight. It took us at least an hour to get that all worked out. We got to take 2 suitcases each and they could only weigh 50 ...

We went to Bastop State Park. It is not very big, but good enough for my first backpacking experience! We hiked 3/4 of the trail the first day and stayed the night. The trail is small enough to do in one day but we wanted to camp out. It was very pretty but we camped in the wrong area and could hear the highway : ( Over all I enjoyed the hike.

So driving back and forth between Houston and Dallas/Ft Worth, I always pass the big Sam Houston statue in Huntsville. Finally one day I decided to stop and take a picture. Basically it's just right there on the side of the highway. I was trying to take a picture and all the truckers were honking at me. Someone told me it used to have a huge "bulge" in the pants area, but the town voted to have it shaved down.

What a great two days we all spent in Austin--meeting each other and learning more about the trip to Egypt. Both Chris and Kamran were awesome. They willingly shared their knowledge and personal anecdotes about the Middle East. The lectures were so informative --from academics on the growth of cities and the history of Islam to the nuts and bolts of what NOT to eat and what NOT to wear. I think when Chris put the ticket into my hand, I finally realized I was really going to Egypt!