League City Center on Walker- Bay Area Blue Grass Meets- 3rd Saturday every
Month. Starts at 7pm.
Open to all Blue Grass musicians and visitors, listeners and pickers. Free .

Geocaching.

TMN certificate program.

Bay Area Paddlers Clear Lake.

 Things To Do in Houston, Texas and Surrounding Areas. 
  Here is a long list of things to do.  I've done MOST of them by myself or with friends and family. 
Now you know why I am always so busy! 

                           With all this stuff to do, WHY  LEAVE TEXAS !!! !  ! 
I had 50 choices.  I chose TEXAS for many reasons.  You will find some of them mentioned here. 
There is still soooo much I haven't added here: the Bats in Austin and West TX., the caves up near ROUND ROCK... 
   - got something to add something? ... send it on ! 
  *********** 
  Museums: 
  http://www.houston-guide.com/guide/arts/artslisting.html 
 The above listed website has lots of useful info on most of the following subject matter. If the link isn't below, it can be found in the Above Houston Guide. 
 You may wish to check out the Menil Collection, a small art museum from 
 the personal  collection of Dominique De Menil. A Variety of  medieval, folk, and  modern art. Free Admission. 
  http://www.menil.org/ 
 The Rothko Chapel near the Menil is a non-denominational chapel with a Rothko's paintings. I have performed and attended a few wedding ceremonies in this area. It is really pretty. 
  http://www.menil.org/rothko.html 
 The Fine Arts Museum has a permanent collection including photography 
  exhibits, touring exhibits and a film series. There's a beautiful sculpture garden across the street, and the Modern Art Museum nearby. I am a member of this museum also. 
The Houston Museum of Natural History is my favorite. If I can't get anywhere else, you can find me hanging out here. There are  mineral exhibits, natural history exhibits, a planetarium with laser shows and an Imax theater, a butterfly habitat, a paleontology exhibit with dinosaurs, and a chemistry hall. There are also quite a few interesting classes and conferences of general interest. There are great things for children to do. Crowded on weekends, make your reservation and get tickets online(or call for reservations) for the Imax, planetarium and butterfly exhibit.
http://www.hmns.org/ 
  My Beautiful Sweet Grandbaby J. loves the Butterfly Habitat. 
  The Heritage Society and Museum at Sam Houston Park, downtown are another super option. Here you will find some of the oldest houses from several eras of our history moved here. 
http://www.heritagesociety.org/ 
 
http://www.stepintohistory.com/states/TX/Heritage%20Society%20in%20Houston%20Park.htm 
  Buffalo Bayou Art Park- Very nice outdoor exhibit.  You can also kayak on the Bayou. 
http://www.bbap-houston.org/ 
  Bayou Bend - Ima Hogg's former estate near River Oaks, now a museum- Beautiful Gardens. 
http://www.famoustexans.com/imahogg.htm 
The Children's Museum with exhibits and activities. 
http://www.cmhouston.org/ 
Space Center Houston- exhibits and tours of the nearby NASA facility. 
My uncle and I visited here the first time in the 1970's when the SPACE 
 SHUTTLE was just on the drawing board. http://www.spacecenter.org/  But
of  COURSE !  He loved the Space Center, and was facinated by the advantages of the Shuttle jumping off into Space. You can get a coupons for the entrance fee in the Entertainment Book.  I sell them every year to benefit the Handicapped Children's Camp in Kerrville, TX. 
http://www.ci.brownwood.tx.us/organizations/bwdlion.htm 
  There are other smaller museums scattered around the area: Fire, Funeral, Police, Printing. 
  Check  www.google.com  for more info. 
  *********** 
  Restaurants 
  I Highly Recommend :The Great Caruso Dinner Theater 
  http://www.houstondinnertheater.com/ 
  Houston is a versatile restaurant town with so many specialty restaurants, including Seafood, Cajun, Mexican and TEX-MEX and BBQ. 
 I also recommend  Goode Company Barbecue. I visited it for the first time when I was 9 years old, and it instantly became a dining tradition for me.
  http://www.goodecompany.com/results.asp?svtemp=9  . 
 Luther's is another of my favorites. I like to idea of grabbing my favorite beer as I walk through the line. 
  But MY ALL TIME FAVORITE is HINZE'S BBQ in SEALY, TX.  Honey, you ain't 
 had BBQ until you've eaten at HINZE's. (Pronounced hen-zee's) 
  You may also want to spend a nice, quiet afternoon at the Kemah Boardwalk. 
  Snacking on fresh seafood as you watch the boats go in and out. 
  http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/ 
  Spend the evening at Lance's Turtle Club.  When my 'significant other'
and I had our boat, we ran into one of his piers. (You may notice that one is  a bit newer than the rest. ) 
http://www.lancesturtleclub.com/ 
There are also a lot of ethnic restaurants. On the west side of town along 
Bellaire is Chinatown, with all kinds of Asian Food. The street signs are in Chinese. Houston also has a Chinatown near downtown, and  Little Vietnam on the southwest side of downtown, and also off Bellaire and the Beltway.  I eat in this area often with my Asian friends.  My children also love to eat in this area. We stop at the Asian Markets and pick up some of our favorite teas and food stuffs.
Houston also has wonderfully tasty Indian, Mid-east, German, French, African, South-American, Italian, ... .  http://www.b4-u-buy.com/b4ueat.htm 
 http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/cuisine/vegetarian.asp 
  Thai Food !  Yummy ! 
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Thai+Food-+Houston%2C+TX&btnG=Google+Search 
 Try the Restaurant at UH before or after attending a sports event and/or concert.
The  Houston Press http://www.houston-press.com has extensive restaurant listings. 
 ********
 Outdoors stuff 
  Visit some of Houston's Finest Arboretums: 
  http://www.houstonarboretum.org/ 
  http://www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/ 
  http://www.cp4.hctx.net/jones/ 
  http://www.cechouston.org/groups/has.html 
  http://www.bayoupreservation.org/pages/volunteeract.html 
   Various parks, including Memorial Park, Hermann Park, Buffalo Bayou Park. 
 and Sam Houston Park. Further out of town are Armand Bayou Nature 
  http://www.abnc.org/ 
   and Brazos Bend State Park.   http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/brazos/ 
  NOW ! If you find yourself in this area, you MUST visit 
  http://www.fbac.org/george%20observatory.htm 
   The IDA    http://www.darksky.org/  - of which I am a member, has fought 
  LONG AND HARD to keep this area dark to maintain excellent viewing of the 
  night sky for everyone.  The Houston Astronomy Society also has a site out in Columbus, Tx, just down the road from my property. http://spacsun.rice.edu/~has/ 
  Various places to rent a canoe, horse or sailboat, cruises on Clear Lake, 
  Buffalo Bayou, or Galveston Bay. Fishing all along the coast and at 
 various lakes.

Walk out the Texas City Dike. 
  http://www.texasoutside.com/galveston/texascitydike.htm 
  http://www.aransaspass.org/ 
 Now, you haven't visited a water park until you visit SHERIDAN, TX. 
  Actually, the ONLY thing you may find in Sheridan is the Waterpark, a Gas 
  Station which is also a feed and general store, and a Post Office. 
   The town is very small. (and we like it like that. ) 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hrskk.html 
 The website says Sheridan disappeared off the map, but I tell ya, it is still there. You can sit out back of the General Store and have a beer, which you purchase from the cooler, and watch racing with the locals.
(Whocan be quite colorful.) Notice: they are very 'rightwing' and 'conservative'. 
 My favorite place to Canoe and Kayak is on the Colorado River in
Columbus, TX. (I10 and 71) There's also another Favorite BBQ place just before you get to Columbus.- Mikeshka's. They have an extensive decor of Stuffed Creatures who used to live in the area.  (But Hinze's in Sealy is the best, in my opinion. ) 
  
  *****
Shows 
  Houston is  a good theater town. Try a play at The Alley Theater, TUTS, Stages, Ensemble, Main Street, etc. The UH School of Theater has professional-calibre shows for the price of a movie. Try Dinner and magic shows at Magic Island.  http://www.themagicisland.com/homepage.htm

  You may even want to visit some of the local High School Plays and Sports Events.  They lend to inexpensive and great weekend entertainment for the whole family. 
  Various Comedy Clubs  http://www.comedycaravan.com/Marpo/clublist.htm 
 (This is a link to many comedy clubs across the US.- click on TEXAS ) 
 Check out this website for more useful info: 
  http://www.ssmrocks.com/kimnovak/concertsbyband.php 
  The Miller Outdoor Theater has events several nights a week, from May through October. Various types of music, Wonderful Presentations of Shakespear's Best, full-scale musicals,  symphony, etc. And It's Always Free. Your kids can run up and roll down the "Grassy Knolls" for fun. 
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/pr/miller/ 
 
  ********** 
  Live music 
  We have everything from Classical to Reggae. There are concert listings in the weekly Houston Press as well as the Houston Chronicle. http://www.houstonpress.com/ 
If you are on the North Side of Town,  Check out the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
  http://pavilion.woodlandscenter.org/ 
  ********** 
  Sports 
  Houston has professional baseball, arena football, men's and women's 
  basketball and hockey teams. Again, I recommend High School games. Choose your location. 
  http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/thatcher/2042/Compaq.htm 
Memorial Park has inexpensive golf.  I've taken several golf lessons there. 
 **********

Other Activities 
Gulf Greyhound Park, the world's largest parimutuel dog racing complex. http://www.gulfgreyhound.com/ 
Houston Raceway Park, dragstrip with racing several nights a week 
http://www.houstonraceway.com/ 
 The Sam Houston Race Track, local horse racing http://www.shrp.com/ 
 We also have multiple Bike and Jogging Trails at Memorial and Hermann Parks and along Buffalo and Braeswood Bayous. http://www.bbap-houston.org/ 
 Equestrian Center for horses and Velodrome for bicycling. 
 http://www.justhorses.com/f.html 
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/alkekvelodrome/ 
Water skiing, surfing and wind-surfing along the coast.  Check your google listing. 
Folk arts. The Orange Show is a must-see, and they can give you info about the other places: Beer Can House and Flower Man, etc. 
 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/TXHOUbeer.html 
 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/TXHOUorange.html 
 http://www.janesaddictions.com/cturner01.htm 
  The Richmond and Westheimer Strips- Great for daytime shopping and  nighttime eats and entertainment. Visit the Antique and resale shops. ("Vintage Clothing") 
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Resale+Shops-+Houston%2C+TX&btnG=Google+Search 
  Wanna Volunteer? 
  http://www.volunteermatch.org/bymsa/m3360/c10/org1.html 
 *********

 More Fun 
How about a  free ship channel tour boat ( must make reservations in advance). 
 http://www.topads.com/houstonbayoutours/ 
  Or you can go down on Sunday and drive around the docks; take the Ship Channel exit off the East (610) Loop, follow the signs to the guard station, and they'll give you a map and directions. - This may have changed since 9/11- so call first. 
Notice: DO NOT GO HERE AT NIGHT unless you are on a tour ! 
****************** 
  MORE FUN STUFF: 
  http://www.houston-guide.com/guide/sports/framesports.html 
  Hermann Park -- make it a day visiting the Natural History Museum, the Garden Center and  the zoo. Ride the train, play golf, and enjoy a  picnic. Then pick up whatever's happening at the Miller Outdoor Theater. 
 Allen's Landing -- downtown, where the Allen brothers, early real-estate developers, first landed their boats and founded Houston. Nothing there to see, but it's been nicely landscaped lately. The Bayou Belle cruises
leave from here. 
  The San Jacinto Monument commemorates the battle where Texas won its 
  freedom from Mexico. The monument looks like the Washington monument only
  taller. There's a museum in the base, and an elevator up to an observation deck at the top.  
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/battlesh/ 
  The Battleship Texas is docked near the San Jacinto Monument. The Texas 
  fought in both World Wars. It had extensive historical value.  A tour of this ship is well worth it. 
And while you are in the area: Visit the MONUMENT INN for lunch. 
  http://www.monumentinn.com/ 
  http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv1746.asp 
 ********

 Industrial tours -- Imperial Sugar (in Sugar Land). When I was a l;ittle 
  girl, long ago about the time of the dinosaurs, ( !!) - Sugarland was an 
  out of the way place with miles and miles of sugarcane fields and a
prison with a chain-gang to cut it! My Dad took us on a tour of the factory, and 
 afterwards my sister and I were given a Child's Cook BOOK which I still  have. The prison is still there. DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS !  
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hfs10.html 
  Now, of course, I like to visit the Budweiser Beer Factory !  (I-10 at the 610 Loop) 
  http://www.mrgoodbeer.com/maps/ 
  The Transco Tower Water wall and Observation Deck is a fun place to go when out weather is nice. Your kids may try to 'fall' into the water... :-) 
 The Water Wall is next to the Tower, and is quite nice to visit.
 The downtown Chase Tower also has an observation deck. Check Google for details. 
 We have a tunnel system under downtown Houston with over 4 miles of connected tunnels,  stores and restaurants. Open Monday through Friday during  business hours. I get lost every time I go down there ! 
Ice Houses -- what Houston used to have before liquor-by-the-drink was 
  legalized. Cold beer and an open-air place to sit and socialize with pool table and/or jukeboxes and, my all time fave: DARTS ! . Most Ice Houses have great music on the 
weekends, and Ladies Night on Wednesdays. Here's an interesting link: 
  http://www.amazingproducts.com/harley/bars/texasbar.htm 
  Rice University -- check out the architecture, see a film at the media center and/or a recital at Stude Hall. 
 http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~musi/ 
  On a nice day, I always recommend a visit to the architecture building at  the University of Houston. One of my favorite haunts. 
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/texas/houston/univofh/uofh.html 
  or  just drive River Oaks to look at all the beautiful houses and
gardens,  especially the Azalea Trail Walking Tour. (BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES, A HAT, WATER AND SUN SCREEN ! ) 
 http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/AzaleaTrail.cfm 
  Did you know there's a  Hindu temple in Pearland. 
  http://www.meenakshi.org/index.php 
  Buddhist Temples: 
  http://www2.cs.uh.edu/~tihuang/bud_hou.htm#buddhist_vihara 
 ******** 
  Shopping 
  Rice Village -- lots of unique shops and restaurants.  http://www.houstoncl.com/riveroaks/ro007.htm 
 We have plenty of Indoor and Outdoor Flea markets all over town. Biggest are Trading Fair on the South (610) Loop, and Houston Flea Market (59 at Westpark) 
 There's also Trader's Village off 290 .
http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF8&sa=G&q=Flea+Markets&near=Houston,+TX 
  Resale Shops 
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Resale+Shops-+Houston%2C+TX&btnG=Google+Search 
  The Galleria -- a huge complex with a couple of hundred stores in three sections. Galleria I has 3 levels, with an ice skating rink on the bottom area. There are lots of ritzy stores, but there are places you can find a bargain. Great restaurants in this area as well.  Memorial City MAll - I10 and Gessner has just been remodled and now has an iceskating rink as well. Visit Early ! Visit Often !

 There are big Outlet Centers in Conroe, TX, off Highway 45 North.
 
http://www.outletbound.com/lasso.acgi?-database=ob&-layout=centercgi&-response=center.html&-search=&geocity=71FWN1S2   and La Marque (way south). 
  http://www.valueretailnews.com/links/links_centerLocation.htm#Texas 
 Then there's my favorite Sealy Outlet Center, Sealy TX. Located on I10 past Brookshire, on the way to Columbus, and San Antonio. 
 Take a leisure shopping tour in  Simonton, Sealy, Columbus, and that General Area. 
 for antiques and bargain treasures.
http://yp.yahoo.com/yp/Simonton_TX/Retail_Shopping_Antiques_and_Collectibles_All_Other_Antiques_and_Collectibles/8120316.html 
Old Town Spring, north of Houston, has dozens of small shops selling antiques and crafts .http://www.oldtownspring.com/ 
  There are also Antique Stores all Houston, but concentrated on lower Westheimer and around River Oaks and the Heights Area.  
 Interested in  Book Stores? -- Half Price, Murder by the Book, Brazos Book Store, 
 Brown's Science Books,  Book Stop on Alabama and Shepard, across from  LAND SEA AND SKY , Barnes and Noble, Borders, we have them all. . 
 *******
 OUT OF TOWN 
  Galveston 
  Visit The  Sailing Club in Galveston. Founded in1934. 
  http://www.seabrook-tx.com/html/body_seabrook_sailing_club.html 
  Railroad museum, shopping and Victoriana on the Strand, trolley to the ocean side. You can walk or rent a bicycle or skates and cruise along the 10 mile seawall. 
 You can also take a ride on The Elissa. http://www.galvestonhistory.org/ 
  Heck - You can even SAIL HER ! 
  http://www.tsm-elissa.org/elissa-volrecruit.htm 
  Visit one of the county beaches or take your car and drive out to a deserted beach. 
 If you like old houses, see the Bishop's Palace and Moody Mansion. 
  http://www.texasoutside.com/galveston/bishopspalace.htm 
  http://www.moodymansion.org/home.html 
  Moody Gardens has a 3D IMAX, a white sand beach, an indoor rainforest and 
  beautiful landscaping. 
  http://www.moodygardens.com/attractions.html 
  Good restaurants are all over Galveston, including Mexican and Italian, 
  but seafood is the main attraction. Gaido's seafood restaurant on Seawall  is very popular. 
 
http://houstonareahotels.com/texascity_galveston/hotelid2131.php?ReferID=None 
 Did you know our coast was protected by Jean LaFitte and Henry Morgan? 
  http://www.piratesinfo.com/fact/pirates/henry.htm 
  http://www.cityofgalveston.org/ 
  http://www.portofgalveston.com/ 
  http://www.crimelibrary.com/americana/lafitte/main.htm 
  http://www.nps.gov/jela/ 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/LL/fla12.html 
  Take the free ferry to and from Bolivar( Pronounced BALL- a- ver). Bring 
  crackers to feed the seagulls (they also LOVE CHEETOS!), and with luck, you 
might see some dolphins. I used to do this trip with my little rat- dog.  She 
wanted so badly to swim with the dolphins and tried to jump off the ferry several times. WARNING: Mosquitos are terrible on Boliver in the summer.  
  http://www.shifting-sands.com/early_bolivar.html 
San Felipe, TX- http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/sfa/ 
Columbus, TX and the Colorado River. 
  http://www.city-data.com/city/Columbus-Texas.html 
  Columbus has FOUNDER's WEEK the second week in May.  There is great music 
  and outdoor shops set up in the Plaza. We also have COLUMBUS GRAND OPRY
on Main Street every Saturday Night with great Country Western Music. 
 Simonton, TX  Established in 1850.   My Sister In Law lives here.    On  the Turn off you will find Lily Ponds.  They sell plants, and water lilies.  It is a great place to visit. 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hls50.html 
  Down the road from Simonton and Sealy is San Felipe, home of Stephen F. 
  Austin, http://www.lsjunction.com/people/austin.htm off I10, hang a left 
 at  Columbus Highway 71 to Alternate 90A. Then go Right and about 20
miles later, you will get to Sheridan.  Keep going another 18 miles to Halletsville, TX.   I love Halletsville.  There are a lot of Historical Monuments on Highway Alternate 90A on the way there.  Stop and Read, them all.
 Visit, have a Picnic Lunch. 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/HH/hgh1.html 
   and then on to Gonzales. 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/hfg6.html 
 One of  My Son's Roommates in his freshman year at TEXSAS TECH  is from Gonzales. It's a very rich town.  Notice how many banks are on every corner in Sealy, Columbus, Hallettsville and Gonzales... and the population of these towns? UNDER 4000 ! 
  Cows and Oil make Texas the 4th largest COUNTRY in the WORLD ! 
  http://www.traveltex.com/ 
 Now why would I ever want to live anywhere else? 
  
  Brazoria, TX.  My sister lives here.  The Cradle of Texas. 
  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/hgb10.html 
  You Must attend the BlueGrass Festival in October. 
  Fishing in Aransas Pass: http://www.aransaspass.org/ 
  http://www.aransaspass.org/fishing.htm 
  http://www.texasfishingguides.org/ 
  My favorite Fishing Vessel is Captain Ron's. You will probably find pictures of me in the Archives ! 
 (Plus he has a boat like MINE ! ) 
 
http://www.texasfishingguides.org/saltwater_fishing_guides_port_aransas.htm 
 
   OTHER FUN OUTDOORS STUFF: 
  There's a wildlife sanctuary at Anahuac that's great for birding. Go at sunset to see the waterfowl come in to nest. 
http://www.friendsofanahuacnwr.org/wildlife/butterflies.html 
  The Texas State Zoo in Victoria; all their animals are native to Texas. 
  http://www.texaszoo.org/ 
  Bayou Wildlife Park near Alvin has rhinos, buffalo, giraffe, etc. that you can hand feed. 
 
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-97903-bayou_wildlife_park_houston_attractions-i 
The Big Thicket National Preserve is a dense forest with a wide variety of  plant and animal life. The Alabama-Coushatta Indian reservation is nearby. 

http://www.nps.gov/bith/ 
http://www.capitolconnect.com/actribe/registration_form.asp?subject=127 
http://www.texasindians.com/albam.htm 
 Washington County, northwest of Houston, has nice scenery, including some 
  of the best wildflower displays in the spring. There's Washington-on-the-Brazos for history, 
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/washingt/washingt.htm 
Lake Somerville, http://www.wildtexas.com/talk/showthread.php?t=291  My first boat (27 foot SeaRay with Cutty Cabin) took many trips up to Lake Somerville. The water is COLD !  After I  saw several water moccasins I decided I'd rather ski on Lake Conroe. 
  NOW YOU MUST visit the Blue Bell Ice Cream Creamery, BLUE BELL THE BEST 
 ICE CREAM IN THE COUNTRY !!  http://www.bluebell.com/  Your kids will  thank you and think you are the BEST parent in the world if you take them here. (And if you have teenagers. you know THAT honor can change really fast without warning! )
If you like flowers, The Antique Rose Emporium is the place to go. 
  http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/findus.tmpl 
  Bet you didn't know we have A Texas Monastery that raises miniature horses! 
 
http://www.brenhambanner.com/articles/2004/03/27/visitors_guide/explore_washington_county/visit12.txt 
 
  I haven't yet touched on LUBBOCK, Ft. DAVIS, Marfa,( the MARFA LIGHTS!)http://www.marfalights.com/ MIDLAND (There is a plaque in my uncle's honor in the PLAYHOUSE in MIDLAND, TX.  He served in the TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in the 50's, and was an illustrious playwright and actor in Midland.  My Uncle worked in the Oil Fields with George Senior. 
What about San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Portland, TX (VISIT THE  AQUARIUM! ) Laredo, Freer, (My Dad used to stop on the 2-lane highway int he 50's on our way to visit my grandparents in Corpus, when we lived in Laredo,and hunt for arrowheads ! ...he'd find some every time...) 
  ...and we'd go out and hunt rattle snakes every summer, out under the 
  mesquite trees in Laredo and Freer.  I kept the rattles in a cigar box
for YEARS !  until my Mom threw them out when she found them under my pillow one day. 
 http://www.traveltex.com/CitySearch.asp?SN=4798662&LS=0 
  http://www.as.utexas.edu/mcdonald/mcdonald.html 
                                              We have so many great towns. 
                                   If you'd like more information, let me know... 
  If you get the chance, visit Rising Star, TX ... and...... 
  
                                 ... to be continued.....
 >
        and then there is :   http://www.llu.com/