Lubbock, Texas

[Tex]

We were in Lubbock for my youngest son's graduation from Texas Tech this weekend (saw Karl Rove and Karen Hughes). Lubbock is isolated and somewhat interesting but barring some emergency landing there, we figured that we might well not ever be in Lubbock, so we decided to take in all of the sights. We flew there on Southwest from Dallas and rented a car.

We took in:

The Buddy Holly museum - Interesting - it had everything from his Cub Scout uniform to a bunch of recording equipment from Norman Petty's Clovis, New Mexico studio and all kinds of pictures, report cards and other memorabilia- it was worth a trip

The Silent Wings Museum - The South Plains Army Air Field (at Lubbock) trained most of the WW2 glider pilots (British and American) who participated in the Normandy invasion, crossing the Rhine and various other operations. It was very dangerous duty and looking at the WW2 troop transport glider that they had restored was really sobering - sort of a big, flimsy, kite with flight controls. Glad we went.

Llano Estacado Winery - The Texas wine industry is only about 30 years old and a lot of it has room for improvement but Llano Estacado is the best of the lot, IMHO, and they turn out some decent wines. It was worth driving out in the country a few miles.

This morning while dring to the airport, we saw a spectacular sight. A Fed Ex plane was taking off coming almost straight at us at a very acute angle and apparently into a very strong wind. The plane was banking to the east and the wind and the angles made it appear that the plane was suspended in air a few hundred feet off the ground and turning on its axis - an optical illusion probably but an interesting one.

We took my youngest son Scott to dinner Friday along with his long time girlfriend, my oldest son Billy, my ex-wife and her husband (we get along well). Saturday we took Scott and his girlfriend out for dinner and drinks, the rest having flown back to Dallas.

...Lubbock, Texas in my rearview mirror...

[innit Geezer]

Congratulations to your son Tex, I'm sure he's well on his way to whatever endeavor he has planned.

[Merlot Joe]

Congratulations Tex. Best to your son.

Looks you had a nice weekend. I haven't tried any Texas wines yet but I am going to look for some out here. I am sure I can find a couple of bottles.

Joe

[Ardbeg... innit]

Congrats for your son Tex, what was his degree in?

[Tex]

His degree is in management. When he graduated from high school, he wanted to join the air force. He still leans that way. His mom is dead set against him joining the military. I have to understand. Her husband is an Air Force Academy graduate and he lost over half his class in Vietnam. She talked him into getting a four year degree first, then deciding. Here we are four years later.

He is going to take some time off to make up his mind. He plans to spend some time this summer out here in the sticks restoring an old mahogany boat with me. It will give us a chance to talk at length about his plans. He asked me and I just told him that it should be his decision. His long time girlfriend is OK with whatever he does.

[Irish Stu]

Congratulations to your son Tex.

Simon

[wareagle]

Congrats to your son Tex.

The comedian James Gregory did a show here in Montgomery a few weeks back and the warm up comedian was a guy who said he was born and lived in New York for 13 years and then his family moved to Lubbock. What a culture shock.

The comedian said he was still living in Lubbock after high school and his job sent him to Amarillo so he drove over night, fell a sleep at the wheel and woke up in Oklahoma, didn't hit nuthin cause there ain't nuthin out there to hit.

[Tex]

The security line at the Lubbock airport has a boot puller. (A small piece of furniture with two grooves designed to enable the user to pull off cowboy boots without sitting down)