Memorial Day Weekend

Driving around Houston requires concentration... you don't want to be where you are in this picture and realize you need to be on the freeway that is 5 stories above you and to the right. This hasn't happened to me yet though... there are lots of signs and they give you advance notice (although it's in miles).

On Sunday I went to my first Louisiana style crawfish boil in H-town suburbia. It's similar to an east coast lobster boil only they're hundreds of the crustations. They boil them in a giant pot with the seasoning (spices, peppers, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, cob-corn) and dump 'em on the table. Then everyone takes turns standing at the table gorging themselves. It's awesome. The rest of the evening consists of beers, swimming (almost everyone has a pool in suburbia), and chillin'. Thanks to Mark for letting me tag along.

You'll also notice the orange 'longhorn' shirts... In Texas any piece of clothing in this shade of orange or with the longhorn logo is acceptable attire at any event. On the golf course, downtown, crawfish boils, and casual Fridays at work.

Also popular in the suburbs... State of Texas shaped flagstones on your lawn .

H-Town

Here are some pics from the last couple of days... Highlites have included my first real cajun meal, Sam's Place (as recommended by a former Houstonian, thanks!), and Main Street. I also rode the elevator with someone who had all gold teeth, it was sweet.

Ultimate

After work today I joined a co-worker to play some "pick-up" Ultimate Frisbee. Apparently "pick-up" has different meanings on either side of the 49th (it's the 49th right?). I was the worst player on the field... everyone could 'flick', most could 'hammer', some played the 'force', but luckily the other team was playing the 'euro'. Not that I was that bad, but when you can only throw backhand (that's what they call a lowly normal frisbee throw) you're at a disadvantage.

One guy just graduated from college and was the on the varsity team. Ya, the varsity Ultimate Frisbee team. They usually came in 2nd or 3rd in their div.

It seems that deep in the States most people either play a lot of sports or are 'not-so-active'. And if you play a sport, you're passionate about it... you play 3-4 times a week, enter tournaments, and practice (whatever, haven't they heard of 'beer-league'?).

On another note, when I arrived back at my hotel there was flurry of activity. There were cars thumpin' outside with tinted windows, lots of bling in the lobby, the shiniest pair of pumps I've ever seen, and dudes in shorts that went down to their ankles. Upon further investigation I learned that the CA was having a convention at the Hilton here this weekend. I may not leave the hotel again.

Cheerleaders that suck ~UPA (who knew?)

Went to get a coffee from the kitchen in the office today and found a styrofoam coffee cup!  In fact, you see them everywhere here, for giant pops at lunch, giant coffees, giant rum & cokes in restaurants.  WTF?  Why has the rest of the developed world banned styrofoam in order to help landfills except for Texas?

I was driving to the mall tonight and off in the distance I see some random 80 story building in the middle of nowhere, all by itself.  Only in Texas.

The mall was fun though.  The "Galleria".  Had all your favourite stores like Sak's, Versace, Tiffany, Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew, Billy Ried, a Fox's Sport Grill (it had like 5 tv's in it, I think people were actually there for the food), Armani, A|X (ya, 1 of each), and the Gap among countless others.  It also had an ice-rink... I was going to rent some skates and body check some 12 year olds, but there was figure skating lessons going on.

Ran into an art store for some Goddard guy... a few pics are below.  My favouritewas the one with the flaming dice on a craps table with a martini glass, come on shootah!!

  

Dropped in the Sharper Image where I could pick up a robot chimpanzee.  It responds to your touch, movement, and sound!  It's like it's alive!  I hope I can make some friends in Australia or I'll have to order one these monkies.  ha!

For supper I went to Chuy's (pronounced Chewies).  It was a super busy tex-mex place on Westheimer and it didn't dissapoint.  Best enchilada I've ever had (I even attached a picture!).

 

One way to break up | Casual Fridays

For those interested in the project I'll be working on there is some information on Exxon Mobile Australia. Click the PNG Gas link at the topof the page. There is also a good .pdf of the PNG Gas Project here.

KBR is part of the Eos group with another company called Worley Parsons. We're working with them to do all the Engineering and Construction Management for Exxon.