Of Refried Beans and Slimey Rellenos

The missus and I decided to dine at the local Mexican Restaurant, “Los Dos Amigos” here in Salem last night. The fridge was empty and I had a hankering for some Mexican food.

First let me explain what Salem Mexican food is not. It is not spicy. It does not even remotely resemble the Tex-Mex food I dined on with drooling lips back when I was living in the Motherland.

The hot sauce is more like spicy V-8 that trickles off your chip and on to your shirt as you try to put it in your mouth as quickly as possible.

The beloved Chile Relleno of my Texas memory is only that. A memory. What I get here in the great Pacific Northwest is a large squishy omelet with a pepper and very little cheese inside.

But you know what the truly sad thing is? It’s all starting to taste normal to me.

At least I am aware that it isn’t normal. At least I’ll be able to return to Texas to visit soon and cleanse my now Oregonian-like palate with a huge plate of greasy refried beans, rice and tamales and real hot sauce.

The memories come flooding back. Remember Herbert’s Taco Hut in San Marcos? The hot sauce was so hot that it burned a hole straight through my plate?

Heck, even Taco Cabana would be a sight for sore eyes right about now!

Rain Drippin' Off The Brim Of My Hat

Well, guess what? The rain is back. Summer sure didn't last real long. Maybe it will be back by the weekend, I don't know. I hope so, 'cause me and the missus are headin' up to mountains for the weekend.

The picture above is one I took after a rain storm a while back.

Brings to mind some old lyrics from a Charley Pride song, way back when...

Rain dripping off the brim of my hat
it sure is cold today
and here I am'a walking down sixty-six
Wish she hadn't done me that way

Sleeping under a table at a road side park
A man could wake up dead
But it sure seems warmer than it did
Sleepin in our king size bed

Chorus
Is anybody goin to San Antone
Or Phoenix Arizona
Anyplace is alright as long as I
Can forget I've ever known her

Wind whipping down the neck of my shirt
Like I aint got nothing on
But I'd rather fight the wind and rain
than what I've been fighting at home

Yonder comes a truck with the US mail
People writing letters back home
Tomorrow she'll probably want me back
But I'll still be just as gone

Chorus
Is anybody goin to San Antone
Or Phoenix Arizona
Anyplace is alright as long as I
Can forget I've ever known her

Anyplace is alright as long as I
forget I've ever known her

whistle to fade

Nature is a comedian

What cruel joke hath nature wrought when it’s 99 degrees in Salem, Oregon and 79 in Austin, Texas?

Is this like one of those Twilight Zone episodes when two worlds are flipped in a herky jerky fashion?

I have been away from my homeland for too long. When 99 degrees feels like it must feel in the center of the sun, then I question my Texan origin.

I grew up without air-conditioning for pete’s sake! Now I’m in Oregon for four years, and I’m whining like a true Oregonian.

Stephen F. Austin, please forgive me!

Welcome to Sunny Oregon!

Ahhh...83 degrees and counting! Blue skies, warm breezes. This isn't really Oregon is it? Couldn't be. But, yes, indeed it is.

This may be my favorite time of the year in the great Pacific Northwest. Warm days, cool nights. Shoot, back in Texas it would be 90 degrees at midnight with 90% humidity. That kind of weather will drive a man mad I tell you.

Well, this Texan is going to take advantage 0f this small window of sun and warmth while the gettin' is good. Lay out on the back deck, sippin' diet Mountain Dew, watching the snow swirl around the top of Mount Hood.

Does it get better than this? I think not.

Happy Mother's Day...Mama.

Well, I hope all my fellow Salemites have a sunny and wonderful weekend. Enjoy that bright orb up there in the sky while you can. We have just a short window of sunshine and warmth before the winter dankness descends on our little valley again next winter.

Oh yeah. And don't forget your mother this weekend on Mother's Day. For those of you lucky enough to be in Texas, go pick her up a bunch of bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. Meanwhile, I'll be scouting the valley for an Oregon wildflower or two.

Summer Arrives at the Salem Outpost

I am pleased to report that all signs point to summer having finally arrived to the Salem, Oregon outpost after an especially long, wet winter.

Today, the temperature reached 70 degrees with 46% humidity. Now, that would be a brisk winter day in Texas, but here, it's a summer day.

What I wouldn't give for a dip in the Barton Springs swimming hole in Austin or Blue Hole in Wimberley. I guess I shouldn't torture myself with such fantasies.

Falls City has a small waterfalls and accompanying swimming hole I'd like to try out someday. Fall City scares me a little now that the police department has been fired by the locals.