Santa’s Wonderland Launches Cool New Site

I know it’s not the Christmas season yet, but I wanted to write abouta new website just launched by a local attraction that’s been here for over 12 years. It’s pretty much a landmark…especially if you drive by at night during the season.

Santa’sWonderland is that place on HWY 6 on the way to Navasota with all the lights and the Old West looking town. You’re sure to have seen it if you drive by during the Christmas Season. It’s a beautiful site. It’s the most lights I’ve ever seen in one place. They actually made “walls” of lights. Pretty cool. Well, if you haven’t been, you should check it out this year. It’s not open yet, but they will be selling advance tickets pretty soon. They are opening on November 20th.

They asked me to help them work on their website…both the Santa’s Wonderland and the Santa’s Town website. The artwork was created by a Santa’s Wonderland family memeber. It’s really a beautiful site. There’s snow falling, flickering lanterns, photos and all the information you need to learn about Santa’s Wonderland.

They’re scheduling live music, they have a mechanical bull, a petting zoo, and of course, hayrides and vehicle tours through the lights.

They told me they added a bunch more lights this year, and have added some LED lights and worked out some of the parking issues as well.

They have shops, a cafe and so much for the whole family. They even play various Christmas Movies at Santa’s Town. Check out the Santa’s Wonderland website for more information.

We’re still updating some of the pages on the site, so check back for more information. I’ll be writing another post once they schedule the live music events for the season, so stay tuned.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Tasty Tacos from a Truck

You know wherePost Oak Mall is right? That’s Harvey Road. Go East (under HWY 6) and travel for 2 or 3 miles. You will pass Koppe Bridge and C&J’s BBQ on the right. Right after C&J’s, there’s a traffic light. Take a right (toward Carlos) and in less than a mile, across from Powersports Gym, you should see a Taco Truck.

Now, you have to go during the week between 7am and 1pm. They serve really tasty breakfast tacos and also lunch tacos. They make their own tortillas, and their own hot sauce.

Their breakfast tacos are $1.50, and they are not “skinny”.

The owners are real sweet too. They actually live right behind where they park the truck.

Totally worth the extra few minute drive to get tacos.

Enjoy

Here’s a map of the area.

Red Light Camera Petition College Station

A couple of nights ago, my wife and I were out on a date and we happened upon a “Red Light Camera Petition” tent. We stopped by (we were early for the movie we were going to watch).

I’ve gotten a ticket…or whatever it is that they call it…over on Harvey and Muson. It was an accident…I mean, I didn’t realize I was running a red light.

When I got the ticket in the mail, I was bummed. Then I had a thought that it was actually a good deterrent, you know, like having to pay money for speeding. Giving away money because I went over the speed limit is for me a good deterrent. No one likes giving their money away. But it makes me not want to speed. I don’t want to pay $75 just for running a red light, so I’m gonna do my best to not run red lights…I haven’t since.

So, yeah, it was lame that I got a ticket ($75) by the way, but whatever. Then I started realizing that whenever I passed that intersection, I slowed down, and got nervous, and even stopped a couple of times at the yellow light…that’s pretty dangerous.

My wife thought it was lame because since there was no one there, there was no way to “appeal” the fine. I disagree with her. Even if there was a cop there handing out tickets, how many times have you been able to NOT get a ticket for running a red light or not stopping at a stop sign…even if you didn’t see it, whatever, you almost always get that ticket.

So, we talked to the guys at the petition signing thing, and yeah, we signed it. Mostly just because apparently, the city of college station, I mean the people, didn’t get to vote on the installation of the cameras. They told us it had gotten piggy backed to another more important bill.

As I was talking to them, they mentioned that running a red light wasn’t a criminal offense. I stopped them, “It’s not a criminal offense to run a red light?” He said it was not if you don’t get caught.

I disagree with that statement as well. In fact, that almost made me scratch out my name from the petition, but I left it on there. I mean, that becomes a moral issue of integrity and deception. I am making a huge effort to teach my kids that just because I’m not in the room, it’s still not OK to hit their brother or sister.

Here’s what they state on their facebook group:

Problems with red light cameras:

*Decrease Safety
*Increase Collisions
*Remove right to appeal
*Remove officer discretion
*Remove the right to face your accuser
*Force one to choose between safety or fines
*Remove opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances to jury
*Create a special risk to motorcyclists, to whom a rear end collision could be fatal
*Create an unequal standard for the same offense depending on whether it was witnessed by an officer or a camera
*Have been constantly shown to only be the first step towards further camera monitoring, ranging from vehicle registration or insurance checking to speed limit enforcement.

Honestly, I agree with some of those, but when it comes to “unequal standard” and “extenuating circumstances” and “face your accuser” and even “right to appeal”, the argument falls flat for me. It’s either legal or illegal. Fairness has nothing to do with it. (and the “further camera monitoring” isn’t really an issue either, unless you are trying to hide something, right?)

I’ve known people who smoked pot and justified it by saying that they weren’t harming anyone, they were doing it in private, etc. My response is that it’s illegal. That’s it. They find it on you, you are busted.

It seems like lately it’s all about how you can get out of a responsibility. So, you ran a red light, but you were reaching back to put the seat belt back on your four year old who just figured out how to push the button and unstrap himself. You still ran a red light. What if you had ran over someone crossing the street? Solution: get through the intersection, pull in to the closest store, strap him back in, figure out a way to keep him from doing it again.

I know someone who is in jail because he killed someone while driving drunk. He’s in jail for like 5 years. I’ve also know many, many people who have made it home from a party just fine even through they were very intoxicated. The effect does not justify the action.

My wife an I played an April Fool’s joke back in college that turned bad. It could have been worse though. We faked that she fell off the balcony at the art building…she laid down at the ground floor. People looked over the edge and one student ran to a phone and called 911. Well, the cops and ambulance came full speed, through the quad, lights, sirens, everything…through parking lots, etc. The cop had to read us our rights, he didn’t arrest us. He told us that if they had caused an accident on the way here, or ran over someone in the quad or something, or even wrecked the police car or ambulance, we would be liable for that.

So, the part of me that doesn’t like giving my money away doesn’t want the red light cameras. If it’s true that they are causing more accidents, then that obviously doesn’t work. Is there a graph? I’d like to see a pretty graph.

I’m not sure that signing a petition to get something on the ballot to vote on in November is going to change anything. How many people vote anyway, really…but that’s another issue altogether.

The city does NOT get revenue from the cameras. The money goes directly to the company in Arizona that installed them. It is not a traffic violation…apparently. So, for a vote to get them torn down, it’s not so much about the vote. This is a company that is making money. It would be like trying to get all the adult video stores out of town. It’s been done, but it took quite a bit of work.

Here’s another quote from their facebook group:

We are part of the petition drive to place the College Station Red Light Camera program on a ballot to receive an up-or-down vote. Whether you support or oppose the cameras, it seems only fair to let the citizens of College Station decide whether or not we want them in our city.

Seems only fair? What is “fair” anyway? Will a vote get them torn down?

Anyway, go check out their facebook group, and go talk the them where they’ve set up their tent. They are really great people, well informed, and will answer all your questions.

And by the way, they told me that none of the “staff” were red light runners. They are standing on principle.

I would say that a better approach would be to do your best to not run red lights…always…not just at the intersections where there are cameras. This way, they will take them down because they can’t be paid for. I think this is better than a vote. Proof is in the pudding, right?

Date Night Dinner, Books, Coffee and a Movie

So, My wife’s parents came to town last night and they kicked us out.

We started the evening with a meal at Ozona Grill. It was a slow Sunday night for them, so our server was very attentive. My wife got a “Cheap Margarita” and they let me try their Ace Pear Cider on tap. I liked it so I had a glass.

Leigh had a salad and I had their Chicken Fried Steak. It was all very good. Something funny, my wife saw a sign at the server station that said “Sip and Go Policy”. We started speculating what that could mean. I thought it meant that the servers were encouraged to take a sip off the top of whatever drink they were serving, you know, total quality management, make sure the soda isn’t flat, etc. Leigh thought that it meant they would be fired if they were caught taking a sip from anyones drink. Well, truns out, it mean that if they need a drink, they are to use the small disposable cups provided to them, take the quick drink, and keep on serving. The management doesn’t want the servers hanging out at the server area having their drink. Makes total sense.

So, we finished and wen’t to Barnes and Noble to look at books. Leigh looked in the Christian section and flipped through a book called “Ruthless Trust” by Brennan Manning. It’s a book exploring the issue of “trust” being the most important aspect of a Christian life.

I looked at a book called “Masters of Deception” about optical illusions in art, including Dali, Escer, the guy who paints veggies and fruits to look like faces, etc. Really amazing book. Of course, I am attracted to the art and graphics section of the store because I’m a Graphic Designer.

The store was closing so we went to It’s A Grind for a coffee and a brownie. It was nice. Their special right now is the Funky Monkey that is a frozen coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, banana drink. yum. They even split it into two small cups for us, very nice of them. Leigh doesn’t like “banana” flavor, you know, the “banana runts” candy flavor. I do. So they made my half with banana and hers without.

So, we left there and started toward the Cinemark theater over by Sam’s to watch Star Trek. On the way there, there was a tent set up for a petition to stop the red light cameras in College Station. We stopped by and signed the petition and asked them a bunch of questions. I’ll write about that tomorrow. They have a Facebook Group.

Then we watched Star Trek. Really cool. A little confusing with the whole time travel thing, but it was fun.

So, there you go. Dinner, books, coffee, signing a petition and a movie.

And we didn’t talk about the kids the whole night.

Murals Around the City

I’ve been keeping my eye out for murals and here are some I’ve seen.  Anyone know of anyother murals I’ve missed?

Cazadorez Restaurant on Texas Avenue on the East side of the building. Nice use of the existing window, and the deer just looks like he wants to be shot, doesn’t he? (Oh, Cazadores means “hunters” in Spanish). This would be a great target, so I’m assuming that the artist meant to make a point that this is a good place to hang out. deer come here and are at peace, so you can come here and eat.

Cazadorez Restaurant West. This side is a little more “artsy” with the large deer head on the horizon, but still keeps with the theme of hunting. I think that’s supposed to be a winding river. Honestly, I’d say the the ever watching buck god of many points is beckoning me to eat at this restaurant. Not sure if I was a hunter that I would see this mural and say something like, “i must eat here.” It’s actually a really good place to eat…they don’t serve venison.

Fritellas Restaurant. Made to look like a postcard. I like the swirlies in the Italy shape. My take on this is that this is an “authentication” mural. They are trying to tell me that this restaurant is a transplant direct from Italy. Truth is, the way they’ve decorated it looks like that’s what they are going for. Those purple flowers outside are called “plumbego” and they sure are pretty.

Jose’s Mexican Restaurant Part 1. This part is more like one of those spray paint fantasy looking paintings that you see people doing on the street in Austin. Not sure why that star is so bright, or if that’s the sun, and they disregarded the archway there. This mural is sort of a “This is our land” kind of thing. See the next picture where the musician is singing toward the expanse and mountain, not paying much attention to the girl next to him.

Jose’s Part 2. This part is cool. I like the disproportionate look of the head and hands. Therege’s a girl to the left in traditional Mexican clothing, but notice that the musician is not looking at her. He seems more smitten with the land than her. Maybe this is a nod to how proud they are of where they come from.

Los Molcahetes Part 1. Still in progress, but it looks nice. This is one of the funkier in town. Sort of a Picasso meets Matisse or something like that. I like it. The story of the fingers holding the cup is here. In this section, you can see a molcajete on the right. It’s traditionally a stone bowl made out of volcanic rock where you smash and mix spices, salsa, guac, mole, anything. This holding up of the cup is a quirky little thing they do here, and Iwould assume they want people to ask about it. I’m actually really glad they included it into the mural. The mural has a “high art” kind of feel, but it’s offset by this humorous and mysterious finger cup thing.

Los Molcahetes Part 2. This is the other end of the mural. These are at Texas and Villa Maria. It’s a large mural, and it’s still not done, but it looks great. Here the woman is making tortillas. This seems to be an “authentication” mural as well. Handmade food. There is another painting inside by the same artists.

I think this one is on 26th or somewhere around there…in Bryan. It’s old, looks like it’s an attempt at Yosemite Sam, and it’s just funky. I like it. It’s obviously a detailing place, but with the gunslinger there, maybe they do it fast? Or they don’t take crap from anyone? I’m not sure about that part. The funny thing about it is, if they meant they do it fast, then drying them on the line is actually a slow way of drying. Also, the cliche “hung out to dry” comes to mind which actually means that they would abandon us when we needed them. I think I’m reading too much into this one.

Las Lomas Part 1. This one I almost missed. It’s kinda hidden under a patio. Truth is, I’ve never been here, if I had, I would have seen it. A “loma” is a hill or hilltop. I like the little scene here with a lake at nestled in the mountains, and see there are three waterfalls coming into the lake. This seems to me to speak of a fertility and that it’s a “healthy”and lush area.

Las Lomas part 2. This is next to the one above. Portrayed here is a suitor courting or wooing a girl. They’ve got some traditional Mexican colors on the blanket, the guy has his own horse, and he’s given her a flower. Iwonder if that white flower has significance. They are holding hands, so maybe they are soon to be married. It’s either that or he’s going off to war or to market.

So, there’s my take on a few murals in town. There are a few others I knw of, I’ll be collecting pictures of those and post them in the future. Any help would be appreciated, especially if they are hard to find. I’d be up for grafitti as well, but I haven’t seen much other than on trains passing through.

jorge