Winter Texan Night at State Farm Arena

Our Winter Ranch bus driver, Jack Hulsey, picked those of us going on the bus to the hockey game at 6 PM.  The Killer Bees (the home ice hockey team) played the Amarillo Bulls.  

Some Killer Bees

Killer Bees vs Amarillo Bulls

Judith Simpson, Judy and Bob Babler

Dick and Karen Larson and Kathy and Scott Maynard

Dave and Teri Thurston

Top Row:  Bob Babler, John and Martha Anderson

 Bottom Row:  Mark Williams and Rich Ritchie

Top Row:  Larry Chapin, Al Priem and HB Hulsey

 Bottom Row:  Charlene Brouillt on the phone

The good news was that it was Winter Texan Night at the State Farm Arena in Hildalgo so all the seats for us senior Winter Texans were free.  The bad news is that the concession stand food was not.  Lee bought me a 20 oz water for $4 and our friend, Dave, bought a beer for $7.50!

Dave showing off his $7.50 Beer!

Sir Sting-A-Lot

The game started out with a bang.  Both teams were out there throwing each other around and banging into walls.  We didn't think anyone was ever going to score but then the worst happened and the Bulls scored two goals.  

Final Score

In the end the Bulls won 4 to 2.  They dominated the whole game!  We actually had a good time even though the outcome wasn't so great!

Heading Back To The Bus

Our bus has a new paint job.  Last year we called it "Big Blue".  Now it needs a new nickname!

Heading Back To The Ranch!

Ol'D's Soda Shop

Our first bus trip this season with Winter Ranch was to Ol' D's Soda Shop in Harlingen, Texas.  We always have a terrific time when we go there. 

We've gone to Ol' D's before and it's always a good time. We left Winter Ranch at 5:30, got there and ordered our food around 6:30. It's a somewhat small place so their kitchen is usually overwhelmed when a bus group shows up so we had to wait a while for our food. We both had a burger and fries so it wasn't very diet but it sure tasted good! We also enjoyed a hand-made chocolate milkshake (as an appetizer) while we waited.

Dave, Lee and Steve

Everyone waiting for the entertainment to start

Jack and Donna

JoAnn and Patrick

Russ and Ray

Ray ordered a Double Decker Burger.  If you eat the whole thing, you get $1 off.  Ray cleaned his plate so well that the owner, Dave, told the waitress to give him another 10 cents off since they didn't have to wash the plate!

Double Decker

After we ate, the real fun began. Double Decker, the house band, began their first set. Double Decker is so called because it's the owner of Ol' D's (Dave Decker) and his mother Bev Decker. They're pretty good and perform a variety of music including lots of fifties rock and roll. We danced a little but Mary's knees have been bothering her lately so we couldn't get too crazy. 

Double Decker and Rob Carter

An Aspiring Musician

Steve and Judy

Tonight Ol' D's had a new act, a magician named Robert Angell.  He did some fun tricks and they had everyone on the bus talking about how he did them.  Lee figured one or two of them out but to me, it was just magic!

Steve and the Magician Robert Angell

But the highlight of the night was an appearance by Rob "Mustang Elvis" Carter. He's a pretty good singer and does the whole repertoire of Elvis songs including some of his gospel. The Elvis part of the show lasted about an hour and Rob really works the audience as he sings. He kept coming back to Teri who was sitting next to Mary. It was all in good fun and she had good time with it.

Rob "Mustang Elvis" Carter

An Upcoming Elvis!

Elvis singing to Judy Good

Elvis is singing to Teri now

Judy, Mary and Teri listening to Elvis

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Elvis paid a lot of attention to Teri Tonight!

The show was over about 9:30 and we got back on the bus and rode back to the ranch.

Irma's SweeteIrma's Sweet Shop Shop

Last season Nora and Charlie and us tried to get out to breakfast and never got it done so we decided to go before everything started up this season. We let them pick the restaurant because we aren't familiar enough with the Mom and Pop places. They took us to Irma's in Pharr. What a neat little place. You can spend hours talking about the stuff on the walls!

 

Irma's Sweete Shop

Nora and Charlie being silly!

Door to the Men's Rest Room

Door to the Women's Rest Room

Inside the Rest Room

Also Inside the Women's Rest Room

Also a Bakery

We all had Irma's Special: 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns and toast or a grilled biscuit. It was great! Of course, now we're watching what we eat for the rest of the week!!