The next noticeable difference was the incessant air conditioning. Too hot outside...too cold inside. The company we kept made both bearable, however. Very friendly people every which way you turn.

My husband struck up a conversation with a land man at the hotel. He proceeded to show my husband his most remarkable machine. It answers that question that has been nagging at you for years: What do land men drink on the road? Do you really want to know? I'll tell you later.

Texas can also be counted on to serve up fried chicken and biscuits and gravy. Unless, however, you show up for breakfast at 10 AM. "Our 99¢ special is an egg and biscuit and gravy but we are all out of biscuits." We snoozed we losed! We also could not help but notice how many medical buildings there were. They even have medical malls! Do you think there is a connection with the fried chicken, gravy, and gargeque?

We were warned about driving in Houston. Wow! Nothing can prepare you for that maze of loops! We drove to my sister-in-law's house and missed the exit and went looping back around on those u turn things so many times I got dizzy!

So do you still wonder what a land man drinks on the road? Margaritas. And not just any margaritas. Margaritas blended in a garbage disposal and poured from a garden spigot after traveling through a loop of pvc pipe! Fits very nicely in the back of his car or on the sidewalk in front of his hotel room. Yum!

Copyright August 23, 2001 Ann Wilkes