6 Steps to SURVIVING summer heat.

Here in Texas, we take our heat pretty serious.

Even though Texans can fry an egg on the sidewalk, pop tar bubbles with toes, and get a tan in 10 minutes, that doesn't mean folks in the Lone Star State don't take heat seriously. Real serious. 100 degree weather with 70% humidity = frighteningly high heat indexes.

When temps SOAR, who needs the most attention?

Kids
Elderly
Hard-headed teens
Pets

CDC Warning Signs for Heat-Related Illnesses

So those are the medical specifics . . . but what actual steps do folks who bake in six months of heat follow?

No SKIMPING on water consumption! Room temperature is fine. My farm-boy daddy swore that when you were really hot nothing beat a glass of regular temp H2O. He didn't want his glass clinking with ice. 'No sir,' he'd say, 'just gimme me a tall glass of tap water.' Whose to argue with a man who grew up picking watermelon and corn from a field, and shooing cattle from pasture to pasture? Now, the 'crik' water? That he wanted cold.

Parenting independent-minding teens is always a challenge, but parents should make certain that teens carry water bottles when headed out for a game of pick-up basketball or an afternoon at the skate park. Refillable (makes the green crew happy) and many parks now sport the higher drinking fountains designed to refill bottles. Parents: emphasize to teens that any fast food restaurant will provide water when asked. The fries . . . they'll need to buy.

Shade, shade, and more shade! Nothing will take the place of getting out of the sun. Our youngest population can overheat quickly, and none want to sit in the shade when there are swings for swinging and ropes for skipping and little brothers or sisters to chase . . . but getting out of direct sun exposure is crucial to protecting little ones. When temps soar, make certain youngsters take a break in the shade.

Perch a hat up TOP! But remember to make it a breathable hat. Closely woven fabric doesn't allow the head to breathe. Yes, that's right breathe. Old myths prophesied that 40 to 45% of the body temp escaped through the head. Some go old-school and believe that wearing a hat makes a body hotter. NOT TRUE. 1st -- According to research from 2008, only 7 to 10% is lost through the noggin, reports Life's Little Mysteries. 2nd -- Consider walking a shady path, sitting beneath a cafe umbrella, or even a bus stop awning . . . shade that protects the surface of the head will keep body temps down. Besides, who doesn't like to pull off a nice-sized hat and fan themselves? Not you! Then you haven't been hot enough, yet.

Protecting pets! If you can't stand on the concrete--barefoot--for 5 seconds then it's too hot for your dog to walk. People generalize that because dogs come with leathery pads that the surface temperature doesn't affect their furry companion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Serious pet parents know that walking during the heat of the day is to foolishly court overheating for critters & themselves. Morning & evening are the ideal dog-walking times. Remember, too, if it's hot enough for the walker to have a bottle of water then the walking sidekick needs a drink as well.

Always . . . always . . . always check the backseat.
Have kids -- check the backseat.
Don't have kids, but kids live in the neighborhood? Check the backseat.
Don't have kids, but leave your windows down for cooling when it's parked in your drive? Check the backseat.
Getting the picture -- always, always check the backseat.

This demonstration shows 80 degrees. For those who live where summer has more of a bite and day-time temperatures can hit 95 to 100, internal car temps can reach 150 within minutes.

Check the backseat!

Finally, keep an eye on the sky. Or at least a weather APP tuned in. Spring into Summer can turn vicious: quick-building thunderstorms, flashflood warnings, and tornado watches. Don't speak weather-ese on approaching cold fronts & stationary hot troughs? Rising barometric pressure & potential wall clouds make your head spin? Then make certain to have a weather APP with alarms downloaded to your mobile device. Lakes, parks, family outings are all things meant to be enjoyed during summer months, but being cognizant of rapidly-changing weather conditions can save lives. Yours and those you love.

I'd always heard . . . if you don't like the weather in Texas, just wait a minute. It'll change.

But seems that adage applies to loads of places.
Common sense should be the best rule of thumb.
Oh, and do keep a sense of humor.

Southern Humor - Friday Funnies

The day I sent my husband to the grocery store!

If you need a laugh . . . and who doesn't?
Take seven minutes out of your schedule and watch this YouTube. Not only will you smile -- you'll laugh out loud.

Whether you have a husband, a significant other, or a roommate, you will relate to Jeanne Robertson's husband's LITERAL translation of her grocery list.

Being raised in Texas, which we consider part of the South, I can relate to Jeanne Robertson's accent and sense of humor. You do need to wait for the punchline when dealing with Southern humor and certainly Southern women. We don't get in a hurry to reach the end. A good story should end about the time a gal gets to the bottom of her glass. (Could be sweet iced tea . . . could be Mint Julep . . . or could be Sazerac; whatever is in our glass, touch it and die.)

But you don't need deep South roots to enjoy female humor or a good drink. You simply need a preferred beverage and a place to perch. Could be your front stoop. Could be your favored lawn chair. Could be a back porch. The point is: TAKE TIME, LAUGH, AND FIND THE JOY IN THE EVERYDAY. A tall glass of something cool and wonderful and a place to settle are the only requirements.

Do you have a favorite sippin' drink?

My goal is not to force you to tarry. If you've watched the video, laughed for a bit, put a smile on your face and thought about where you'll settle with a little time and a nice drink, then my late-night (or early morning, depending on your timezone) goal is done.

I will leave you with one of my favorite sayings. As a matter of fact, I want this on a sampler. Maybe, I'll save time and just stitch it right across my kids' foreheads.

Wishing you a wonderful day from my back porch.

A Must-See-EAT for Texas Barbecue - Sonny Bryan's landmark

Folks: a term meaning Texans and ‘others’ (anyone who hails from outside the Lone Star State) have enjoyed Bryan’s Barbecue since 1910.

When visiting Dallas, Texas, head down I-35, exit for a short drive up Inwood Road and find the original Sonny Bryan’s location. This hole-in-the-wall building (think old, ramshackled, faded paint, completed with a gravel-parking lot and that’s the picture) has been serving Sonny’s finest since 1958. Nestled among towering medical facilities, first-time visitors often think the interior of plank walls and old school desks belong on a movie scene. Regulars know it’s not the place but the food that counts, and old-timers still remember when saw dust covered the concrete floors, Sonny reminiscing about his favorite fishing spot, and brushing shoulders with a few socialite folks, including Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, several of the original cast from Dallas, Robert Duvall, and President George W. Bush.

The original location does TAKE-OUT on a grand scale.


That’s because the building is small enough to resemble the inside of a sardine can. Folks amble through, pick up their white to-go box and amble back outside.

Some slip into expensive Beamers or Mercedes.

Some settle on the tail of their beat-up pickup truck.

(FYI, Sonny’s does house a backroom, called the Mercedes Room which can accommodate parties of up to 50 BBQ-hungry patrons.)

If visitors are looking for an order line, they’ll wait in vain. The building—smoky and warm in the winter and smoky and down-right hot in the summer—is chaos at its best: jammed packed with every type of folk from those shod in custom Italian loafers to battle-scarred workboots to high-end athletic shoes. For those who want their fair BBQ share, speaking up, hollering, or even bellying up to the counter is all acceptable Sonny's behavior.


Grandfather Bryan first delivered smoky barbecue back in 1910 with Bryan’s Barbecue. The torch was passed to father, ‘Red’ Bryan who coincidentally named his 1930 location: Red Bryan’s Smokehouse. Finally, son, William Jennings Bryan, Jr. (known by all as Sonny) slipped on the white apron, stoked the wood fire, and opened the Inwood location in 1958. In the day, Sonny and crew served up smoked meats until the smoker ran out – or Sonny decided it was time to quit and go fishing – one of these usually occurred each day by early afternoon. But trends change and the area evolved. As of 2016, the original location keeps out their ‘welcome all’ sign twenty-four hours a day. As this quaint building snuggles near round-the-clock medical care, the decision was made to offer extended service for those hardworking hospital folk.

Why drive to the somewhat seedy side of Dallas to eat at Sonny’s place?

Because these fine folks have been serving up lip-smackin' barbecue for over a century. When Bryan people claim, ‘We know how to smoke it’: consider it gospel.


For the still non-believers, they’re welcome to check out the award wall highlighting a coveted James Beard Award to Texas accolades from the Dallas Observer & D Magazine to little screen, Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels and onto the USA Today award for 4th best Southern barbecue.

But it’s not the awards true BBQ connoisseurs consider.

It’s the smoke in the meat; the ‘bark’ on slab; and the original BBQ sauce to smother it (if visitors choose.) Barbecue at Sonny Bryan’s is good enough to eat with your fingers, lick 'em clean, and then snitch a piece or two off your neighbor’s plate.


Sonny Bryan’s chain currently sports 5 locations, all in Dallas.


My favorite memory of Sonny Bryan's was eating here with my dad. My father was a little sliver of a man, nicknamed RED, and worked in the beef business from the end of WWII and on. He'd learned a thing or two thousand about good meat. He wasn't partial to any barbecue that didn't come from Sonny's or from out of his own smoker. Dad's BBQ sauce was a version of Sonny's. NOT that Sonny gave away his secret recipe, but when two guys are standing around in a kitchen long enough, one of them stirring a pot and adding a pinch of this or a swig of that . . . well, the other one picks up some mighty fine tips. When Daddy finished making up his sauce, we kept it in the fridge (one of the secrets involved). But like most serious barbecue-eating folk, the sauce was nice but not necessary. My Daddy is smoking brisket for a higher crowd these days, but I will always treasure the good memories of eating at Sonny Bryan's with my father.

Other Texas Travels:

Giddy-Up to Galveston: How to get there, where to stay, what to do. Gotta GET to Galveston!

7 Tips for Travelling the Texas back roads -- weekend road trip!

5 Fabulous Fort Worth Bars - more than your average Honky-Tonk!

Giddy-Up to Galveston, TX

While Texas beaches may not often be mentioned in the top 5 beachfront areas across the nation, or boast the pounding Atlantic or even gentle lap of Pacific waves against our Gulf coast, Texans have long found a visit to Texas beaches well worth the trip.

Galveston, is a mere thirty-six miles south of Houston (well, Pasadena, which is South Houston). Houston Hobby is the closer airport if you’re planning on flying to the area. A taxi ride (Uber & Lyft would probably be comparable) is $75.00 to $100 one-way. For those on a budget: Galveston Island Transit operates a connecting bus service around the island and between Houston & Galveston.

Side-note: if you’re planning a cruise from Galveston (now, the second busiest cruise post in the nation), there are loads of ways from getting between Bush Intercontinental (IAH) or Houston Hobby (HOU) and the port. For more information, go to: 6 Easy Houston to Galveston Cruise Transport Options.

Also, if you need to stay overnight prior to your cruise, or after returning to port, check out this article on where to stay on Best Galveston Cruise Port Hotels.

However, if Galveston is your destination, what is there to do?

Let’s take a look.


If you have a group – family of varying ages – consider your budget:

Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center


From restaurants that serve Texas shaped waffles to the Palm Beach Waterpark (now, open daily until August 18, 2018)

TO Colonel Paddlewheel Boat

TO the Zip-line course

OR an evening spent on the beach with Bands on the Sand . . . Moody Gardens has a great deal for families of all ages.

If your hotel destination requires easy walking distance to most area attractions & right on the beach, consider Hotel Galvez (A bit more economically priced than Moody Gardens, but still loads of luxury and onsite things to entertain.

Consider:

The Commodore on the Beach (2-Star) Featuring an outdoor pool with waterfall; all rooms have a Gulf view; some rooms with poolside patios; other rooms with private balconies; WiFi throughout property; USB charging stations.





Best Western Galveston West Beach Hotel (2-Star) On the seawall . . . beaches are within a few steps. High-speed Internet connections available; complimentary continental breakfast; outdoor pool; exercise facility; and inside corridors if that's a requirement.


Beachfront Palms Hotel located on the Seawall, a stone's throw from the beach. Rooms feature WiFI. Price includes BREAKFAST, but only the morning meal. When it's time to fuel again, take a step outside and stroll down The Strand for loads of variety. Pool with seaside deck and free parking.

or The Tremont House (4-star Historical) One of the most historic hotels in Galveston, Texas, featuring three separate dining experiences; rooms equipped with Wi-Fi, HDTV, Wolfgang Puck coffee, bathrobes; rooftop (beachfront) bar experiences, and more. Oh, and there's valet parking for your convenience as well.

Now that you know how to hit Galveston city limits, and you’ve options on where to stay in Galveston . . . what are you going to do?????



Want to see a dolphin swim beside the boat? Check out BayWatch Dolphin Tours




Are sweets your idea of afternoon joy? Then plan a visit to: La King’s Confectionery (Demonstration schedules change. Make certain to consult website.)

For a true ole-fashioned dining experience, visit: The Star Drug Store

And what trip to a coast could be complete without a lighthouse or sailing ship thrown into the visit?
Point Bolivar Lighthouse (you’ll take a ferry for this one.)


1877 Tall Ship Elissa

And if you’re interested in more lighthouses and additional Galveston history, check out: Galveston History

No matter how you fill your days and nights . . . make certain to leave time to stroll the beaches.

From my Pinterest saves, I linked several great blogs to help you navigate Texas beaches.

Here’s one family's account of a Great Seashell Beach in Galveston
And another for a Day at the Beach
And finally, The Best Galveston Beaches

Special thanks to these travel bloggers who offered thoughtful information and details to aid in Galveston travels. Be sure to visit each of these bloggers for more great travel sites.