Greek seasoning rides again

Several years ago, Earl's uncle Roger, a Lutheran pastor in Iowa, introduced us to Cavender's Greek seasoning. Not convinced on the authentic Grecian background of the spice blend, we gingerly tried it, and became true believers. We use it most often on grilled steaks, swordfish, shrimp or scallops. It's delish.

We introduced Kathleen and her family to the joys of grilled swordfish when they visited us last summer, and I sent them home with their own shaker of Greek. So their Greek in Houston came by way of Boston, and indirectly from Iowa, if not Greece.

Well. On my recent sojourn to Texas oil country, I told Kathleen that I wanted to look for a pair of boots for my cowboy husband. She found a store, programmed the GPS and off we went.

So there we were, outside Cavender's Boot City, in an uncharacteristically cold drizzle. Inside, the store had everything from flannel shirts to bolo ties to enormous belt buckles, plus boots that ranged from $80 to $1,000 a pair. When a salesman (in full western regalia) offered his help, Kathleen the Texan Imposter stepped in and said, "No, thanks, we're just admahrin' the boots," in the twangiest twang I'd ever heard out of her.

I noticed all weekend that she slipped into a Texas accent whenever she talked with the locals. When I teased her about it, she said, "Of course you have to talk that way to them! Otherwise they'll think you're cold!!" Well, ah em cowld, thankye verih much.

Anyway -- I found a pair of boots for Earl (who was holding down the ranch and looking after the two little cowpokes while Abby and I were away.) And then, when I was browsing around, I saw several shakers of my favorite Greek seasoning on display.

Greek? In Cavender's Boot City?

Then it hit me lahke a cast-iron fryin' pan upsahd the heyud: CAVENDER'S Greek Seasoning. CAVENDER'S Boot City.

So the shaker we sent back with Kathleen last summer was really just goin' home to Texas.

Home again and column

Abby and I are back home. I'll write more about my trip another time, but the Cliffs Notes version is that it was fun, relaxing, and restorative, for both of us. And I was so happy to see Brian and Timmy when we got back that I got all teary in the car.

I had the Broad Sides column in the Womyn Zone section of today's Patriot Ledger. Much to my surprise -- I opened the paper and there it was.

Off to do my other job -- I have a piano lesson to teach in 10 minutes. But my brain is still in Texas, if not my heart.

En vacances

I've just submitted that article I've been working on, so now I'm really on vacation. Kathleen and I have plans today to go out to lunch and then a Houston Symphony concert. We're hoping to get to the gym this morning, too -- something I really could use after the sumptuous snacky dinner we had last night. Freddy made me a glass of kir -- white wine from France with a little splash of blackberry liqueur. Delicious! And we had various puff-pastry hors d'oeuvres and foie gras (which I tried and didn't love) and chips and dip. And peanut butter cookies with Hershey's Kisses in the middle. This, after Kathleen's homemade Reubens for lunch. I'm going to be as big as Texas by the time I get back. But I'm enjoying it!

Abby participated in Patrick's recreational therapy yesterday, and had a good time. They played board games, and she got a little bossy ("Patrick, it's your turn now!") but it was nice to have some structured playtime, and good for both of them to practice their social interaction skills. We then ran some errands and Abby got to see a dog being groomed at Petco -- something her wonderful therapist had recommended, because Abby is so into playing dogs lately.

Houston is an interesting landscape. There are no zoning laws here, no planning boards, so many of the residential neighborhoods are subdivisions, which protect homeowners from having commercial development spring up next to them. Kathleen and Freddy live in a gated community, which is very nice. The houses are closer together than I would have imagined, with all this land down here. Smaller yards than I envisioned. But there's still a nice sense of privacy, with fences and the way the houses are angled in their cul-de-sac.

There's an interesting opinion piece about urban planning and what it means for development and economic growth in today's Houston Chronicle. I'm not sure I agree with it, but it can certainly give readers an idea of the mindset of many Texans on this issue.

Deep in the heart of Texas

I'm here in sunny Houston, where it was the same temperature yesterday as in Boston. So much for a warm winter getaway! But it's a toasty feeling, basking in Kathleen and Freddy's hospitality in their spacious, gracious home.

Abby did wonderfully well on the trip. She listened to a couple of CDs, read books, and played ponies and Polly Pocket on the plane. She handled the airport, the people, the delay and everything else with aplomb. When the lovely gentleman who sat in our row commented on how well she did, it was all I could do to hold back from telling him, "and she has autism, too!" But I realized that he didn't know, couldn't tell, never would have guessed, and I didn't have to clue him in. A delicious feeling, to have a secret like that, and the luxury of keeping it.

Kathleen, Freddy and I went out to dinner last night, and left the kids with one of their regular babysitters, and again, Abby did great. I'm really proud of her.

I'm writing a piece with a deadline of Monday, and wasn't looking forward to working on it here. But I decided to get up early to write, as is my habit at home, and discovered I love it just as much on vacation as I do in real life. Mornings with coffee and words -- it doesn't get any better than that. Except when someone else makes the chocolate chip pancakes, for a change, and I get to eat them while they're still hot!