Let the Cleaning Begin: Post-Christmas Review

Bullet Points:

• Thank God it's over.
• A very Venture Bros. Christmas (4 DVDs for me and the soundtrack for the missus.)
• Remarkable toy-buying restraint on the part of the grandparents.
• Will need to work on serious grinch-like tendencies before Christmas '10 when the sweet kid will be aware of such grumpiness.

Once the appreciated-but-slightly-misguided surprise gift I got the missus is returned, my stress will all but go away.

Wayne White Has Left the Rice University Art Gallery

Wayne White Has Left the Building - Rice University Art Gallery - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

The Wayne White show ended this evening. Hours later, this is how the gallery looked.

The Weekend Snow Daze: Wonderwild and the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Last weekend was all about snow (and for the sake of this entry, the weekend was Friday and Saturday.)

Lovely, large, picturesque snowflakes fell from the sky on Friday. This foreign white stuff from the sky cleared the roads nicely. The remaining traffic was remarkably unstupid; proper distances were maintained, signal lights used, etc. It was on this snow day the we three finally got to visit Wonderwild. An indoor playground for kids (pre-walkers, walkers) and on that day a 39 year-old birthday boy.

Zoe and Rob @ Wonderwild - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

White, clean and cavernous, the playground was built in part of a commercial park not too far from the Heights neighborhood in Houston ( 707 N Shepherd Dr, Ste 500). Started by an Arts Institute instructor, the place has a modern aesthetic and artwork from Houston artists on the walls.

For quite some time, we had the whole place to ourselves and it was nice. Eventually some other parents realized what we already had (that braving the snow meant fewer people to share the place with) and started filtering in. One little boy could be heard screaming in joy before he was even seen. He raced by all, with eyes solely on the multi-story climbing gym. Definitely a do over.

Saturday was spent at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for Snow Flurry day. The museum imported 80,000 lbs of snow for the kids to play in. The morning was sunny and lovely, and our little girl enjoyed tromping around in the white stuff.

Zoe - Houston Museum of Natural Science, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

After she was done playing, we got free admission to the museum. All in all, a nice weekend out and about. A good start to the season.

It's My Birthday And Perry Bible Fellowship Is Saying What I'm Feeling

Actually, I'm not that ambivalent about birthdays, but I do like Perry Bible Fellowship cartoons.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Ominous Sunset

Neighbors home and ominous clouds at sunset, originally uploaded by houstonryan.

Looking a bit like René Magritte's Empire of Light.

Pignataro Estate: A Castle in Santa Fe, TX

Yesterday was a road trip day, the first in quite some time. The quick 35 mile trip south of Houston got me to my destination. Pignataro Estate was first brought to my attention reading Eclectic Houston.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pignataro Estate - Santa Fe, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

I would have spent more time exploring that part of the state but my sweet daughter dumped oranges all over her happy self. She smelled nice, but needed a bath ASAP. Thus, ending my day early. Hopefully I will return and find more eclecticness.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more info and photos:

• Hitchcock history - HAIF: Houston's Leading Internet Community - loads of collected internet wisdom on the building, plus an article from the Galveston Daily News, September 20, 1981
• "Dennis G Hendricks" : Photo Keywords : Pignataro
• Pignataro Castle - Castles of the United States
• Eclectic Houston

Wednesday Night Photo Post: We Went to the Y... M... C... A...

The historic and outdated YMCA Building will make way for a more functional (and probably bland) replacement.

~YMCA ~          Slated for demolition 1941-2009, originally uploaded by skimonster2020.

New Pix & New 29-95.com Post: The Masons!

I managed to parley my fondness of things Masonic into an article for 29-95.com. My most recent contribution?...

Masonic Texas pride and the Houston Heights Oddfellows Museum - "What you don't know (and might never know) about Texas history."

I wish I had come up with the tagline. I also wished I could have included a snarky comment about Dan Brown, but I couldn't shoehorn anything worth saying in. And I wish I knew some Houston Masons to get some feedback from. Guess, I have more work to do.

Lastly, while trying to find Gallery 619 (too late to see the 1-day show, "Roadside Distractions" - YouTube Video), I instead found 620 W. 9th St. And liked what I saw, (what ever it was)...

620 W. 9th St - Houston, TX 1, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

620 W. 9th St - Houston, TX 2, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

620 W. 9th St - Houston, TX 3, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

620 W. 9th St - Houston, TX 4, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

620 W. 9th St - Houston, TX 5, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

The Real Reason We Bombed the Moon: Fascists in SPACCCCCEEEEEE!!!!

Space Nazis: The Movie!

New 29-95.com Post: TeH SEX!

Did you know that some college student can say the word "penis" without smirking? I met two! Learn more about smart Houston kids talking about sex on 29-95.com - Open Magazine: Not Smutty, Deal with It.

Rain is Nice: But Not For Tomorrow

It's been a lovely, rainy day here in Houston. Which is easy for me to say, since I'm staying in and don't have to deal with moronic Houston drivers. Hopefully, the weather will dry out, so a weekend visit with tiny horses will be fun for the little girl and friends. Also, back in H-Town, some Saturday night art openings. Maybe fodder for some paid gallery reviews.

Might I have found a small supply of motivation?

Wednesday Night Photo Post: UH-D

UofH Reflections, originally uploaded by DanPancamo.

Time Poorly Spent: His Gravestone Read, "He Could Google Really Well."

Blog readers would think that I fell off the Internet, maybe consumed by real world pursuits. They would be wrong. Many unproductive hours have been spent surfing the net. I've been attempting to wean myself from a strong addiction to a mild one. Creative indulgences have suffered due to an inability to pull myself away.

That being said, there have been some things done. I'll be posting pix of my Houston Fire Museum visit somewhere, and at week's end we will be visiting the Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns who support themselves by raising miniature horses. The kid should love the horses.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Just Hanging and Looking

Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, TX, originally uploaded by prb2391@att.net.

Carnival, originally uploaded by Pyro Zero.