Hoe Hen Inn @ Cow and Chicken Town: 12/1/09

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Nolan Ryans Waterfront Steakhouse REVIEW

We had 'dinner' on New Years Eve at 4:30 pm, only one couple at another table.

Appetizer: Blooming Onion tasted like nothing and dripped in vegetable oil, the batter was scorched.

Quail and Steak, ordered medium rare, was stringy. highly salted, had been soaked in liquid smoke to give the aged (as advertised flavor) with 1/3 of meat being fat or grissle. Quail tips were burnt and bird was dry. The Au Jous was watered down liquid smoke. Canned green bean big disappointment with mash potatoes and small roll cost was $20.95 -- totally not worth it.

Husbands chicken fried steak meal was flavorless and coating was soggy. Lacking salad bar.............

Child's menu, Chicken Fried Steak fingers were basically deep fried hamburger strips (frozen food fare) and the coating was soggy fried in same oil everything is cooked in. TASTELESS

Chicken Breast Parmesean, The breast had be injected with water ---- or flavorless mystery juice, this plate also came with cold potato planks which I covered in Ranch dressing for ketchup. I would have rather eaten some microwaved heated plastic dinner from frozen food company or airline.

SERVICE, slow, we had to ask for refills mind you only two tables had customers. The cook had on a sports game in the kitchen --- yes, it was loud enough to hear into the dining area. One employee walked in with 'Subway' sandwiches through the kitchen and crossed into the bar serving area. And our waitress told I am wagering her manager; She was sick (While she was rolling dinnerware into napkins). Talk about a confidence rush..................

We will go there again, probably not because the name NOLAN RYAN promised 'home cooked' and well-raised beef. I was sorely disappointed.

Out of 10 score, our family rated this place a 2.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/301/1278555/restaurant/Texas/Nolan-Ryans-Waterfront-Stkhse-Three-Rivers

Lets see if urbanspoon keeps my review. I am just sorry our dinner cost us $76 that we will never get back. Yes, I tipped the waitress.........That teenager (high schooler) has not been trained well thus, not her fault completely.

Part Two: the lake

Last Day of 2009 at Choke Canyon Lake

Monday, December 28, 2009

Movie Review: My Sister's Keeper

Though I had ordered this movie back in November. I had a hard time with sitting aside some time to watch it. Because the death of Jo Jo hit the two year anniversary plus other life events with the holidays.

This story tries to be contemporary with the SHOULD WE PLAY GOD theme. But, with the 'cut backs' in time and the 'fast forwards' there many were holes in the storyline. I just found myself asking too many questions instead of being totally absorbed.

The older daughter has luekemia, neither parent is a tissue match nor the already there brother. So, the parents have an engineered baby to save the first one's life. However, there are too many holes with this story.

1. Cameron Diaz has a shaved head on one scene the very next one --- full, glossy mane. (I told you confusing)

2. The creepy eyes and rotting teeth of daughter one will allow you to know when her end is nearing.

3. Baldwin character's plays his seizure sensing service dog as a 'magnetic' smelling dog.

4. Instead of exploring the WHY SHOULD we have a baby to use as spare parts for an older child vice thinking this out; because eventually the baby will have a will of its own.

Now the storyline was botched too bad say Lions Gate Film did not do this one. Someone with less of a polished -glitzy story making producer perhaps.

Great performances, I loved Cameron's self absorbed character. She had a baby (Anna) to save a baby (Kate) but, almost wound up losing her entire family. Baldwin character was not developed but he was believable as a lawyer who had no control over his own body -- thus his reason to take the case for medical emancipation. Jason Patrick as Brian was a hero when he took his family to the beach for Kate's last day. My film rating would be a middle of the road, rent it from Netflix do not buy..................................

What made me cry was not so much the film but remembering how, Lisa (my real life daughter) was affected by her medical incident in 2003. How Saenz was left to cope with our attention focusing on her; he was only 5 at the time. The other part was missing my friend Jo Jo who died December 20, 2007 from breast cancer.

Cancer is a horrible--horrible vampire..................

Saturday, December 26, 2009

KELLOGGS and DELL Review FUEL FOR SCHOOL

Back in August when Kellogg's was heavily promoting their Fuel to School rebates, I purchased the required items. I wanted to make sure I had my rebate forms in to allow time to purchase a computer for my son for Christmas.

You would think Dell and Kelloggs would want 'students' to have a wonderful computer for their upcoming school year. Well school started and no rebate so I called Kellogg's --- It was their program and they said:

OH SO, SORRY due to over whelming response. Our processing is delayed. Your rebate and code will be forth coming. (SEPTEMBER MIND YOU, I had mailed the rebate form on August 6th just five days after the rebate period began.)

October came and went....................Nothing

November came and so I called Kellogg's back. I wanted to ensure I had the coupon code for a computer in time for Christmas Shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Kellogg's said: OH SO, SORRY due to over whelming response. Our processing is delayed. Your rebate and Dell Code will be forth coming. If you don't get it by the first week of December please contact us.

WHAT THE FROG, Toni the Tiger?

I recieved in the mail last week, yep the code and the rebate. It was mailed from the processing plant on the December 11th, 2009 from Battle Creek, Michigan zip code 49037. It took Kellogg's 128 days to process a simple rebate form. Now, mind you............. I was not especially happy but nonetheless; I still needed a computer 'after' the fact.

SINCE the E-Machine laptop I purchased from Wal-Mart heated up and shut down on its own after being plugged in for two hours. Good thing, I checked because Wal-Mart has a 15 day return policy. I am having to return the laptop, Saenz did not get his Mum and Dad Christmas gift due to shoddy worksmanship (Wal-Mart) nor a Dell.

So today, I go online to buy after the fact. The Dell dude was nice and tried to help me with the rebate code. But, it seems ladies and gentlemen....................

Dell and Kelloggs picked out really slow moving computers with VISTA (which is discontinued) in to 'give rebates on,' Yep NOTHING BUT THE BEST for America's children. Mom, is here feeling shafted by Toni the Tiger.

My first post on this topic when I was expecting Kelloggs to deliver:
http://saenzmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/back-to-school-fuel-program.html

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/kelloggs_offers?c=us&l=en&cs=19

So, I am not happy but will probably pick a duo processor inspiron laptop by Dell. I am more upset over the horrid customer service but even more so that, the laptops offered have VISTA and are basically useless except for checking emails. Right now, Saenz is at the movies alone with his dad, watching Avatar. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr Toni the Tiger! that was my spot next to him.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Making Dad's Birthday Cake

Happy boys celebrating dad's big FIVE OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hard at work....

Busy hands

Train Ride in Brackenridge Park with Hutch

Meet Hutch

Saenz and Zephyr take the front seats.

Going into the handmade tunnel.

Dutch told the kids on the train to scream to frighten out the critters.

Such a beautiful day! Christmas Eve back at Hoe Hen Inn, we got wind gusts up to 50 mph. Bake Daddy Torres his 50th Birthday Cake which the boys decorated. More pictures to follow.