Spring Break - 2012

Today is the last day of Spring Break - a week long holiday to enable students to enjoy the onset of spring. Having lived in US for the past four odd years this is the first time I participated in the break like a typical American student. Yes! I went on a short three day trip to the beach side holiday island resort of Galveston, TX. Before going to Galveston, we stopped at Houston and visited the Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center. This post is about Sheldon Lake, the first stop in our spring break tour.

Sheldon Lake is probably the only state park in Texas that has no entry fees. The park ranger was surprised to see me flash my State Parks Pass and thanked me for supporting them by buying the same. We took the map and went around to explore the park. This is mostly being used as an environmental learning center for high school and college students. There are several small ponds built in a row with walking trails to provide access to each one of them. Two are open to public for fishing and no license or fee is to be paid if you are going to catch and release the fish.

There are several other attractions at the state park one can walk the .5 mile pond loop trail that meanders around all the small research ponds. There are other places along the way worthy of visiting such as the Fishing Deck, Floating Deck, Bridge, Pond Center, Heron Plaza, etc. There is an interesting sub trail known as the Bent Pine Trail about which I will be posting soon. For now enjoy the pictures of Sheldon Park.

The Pond Loop Trail

One of the pond/ Aquatic Labs

One of the Fishing Ponds

A Baby Chemeleon

Summer Burns Texas

It is almost a week since I returned to the US and I feel as if I am melting in the triple digit temperatures of Texas. The day I returned it seemed as if Gods had taken pity and cooled it down with a small shower. Then the sun came back with vengeance and it has been in the 100s ever since.

Today the sun burned a steady 104 degrees F making it feel more like 114. This is not the hottest day... if the weatherman is to be believed tomorrow the mercury is going to rise to 107 with partly cloudy forecast. Clouds don't mean rain but more heat because heat gets trapped underneath the clouds and above the earth's surface making it searing hot.

If there is one season I don't like it is searing hot summers in Texas. I can take icy cold when temperature dips to a negative 5 or 10, but when mercury rises to triple digit heat that is when I get extremely uncomfortable. When it gets cold I can cover up with more and more layers but in the heat there is only that many layers I can shed.

I just hope that summer passes off soon giving way to the nice two months of the year, i.e. fall.

Summer heat continues to burn....

Texas Summers are my most disliked seasons in a year. It gets so hot that stepping out of the air conditioned comfort is nearly impossible. I have been spending time reading, browsing the internet, watching movies on youtube and generally passing time at home when I am not at work. On those days that I work the day generally passes fast with a wide variety of experiences. I am hoping that summer will pass quickly and there will be fall, the time before winter when the weather is just right to enjoy outdoors.

Holidays are here!!! Where are you going???

Every year I look forward to this time of the year. There are several reasons for this anticipation, firstly the weather is simply superb; secondly the holiday season is just round the corner. It is time for families to get together and celebrate festivals, enjoy holidays, and probably take trips to exotic places. As for me I have kinda decided where to go and where to stay. I will be heading straight to Branson, Missourie and my stay will most probably be at the exotic Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.

I chose these two hotels because they are offering some fantastically customizable holiday packages startring at just $329 per night from November 15 through December 23. I wouldn't miss this opportunity to enjoy with the family in the warmth and comfort of an Ozark Mountain Christmas.

Why, Branson? Because I have heard so much about this city from family, friends and read about it online. This is the ultimate place for shopping, relaxation, and live entertainment. The reason for choosing Branson to holiday during winter is the numerous live events that take place here. The festival of lights will have all of Branson aglow. There will be special holiday shows and over a one-mile long drive through light displays. This would be a great place to spend the holidays with the family.

Why Hilton because the Branson Landing passport is loaded with discounts at several exclusive shops, restaurants and also at Aspire Medical Spa. For the tiny tots in the family there is Santa himself handing out presents, cookies and goodies. This Santa's coming to town package starts at just $189 per night.

The kids would be thrilled to be on the Polar Express. There is a Package option which starts at $289, for a family of 4 including deluxe accommodation, a ride on Polar express and a souvenir ceramic mug. If you would rather content yourself with just a ride in the Polar Express then the tickets would be just $49 for adults and $39 for children (2-12).

Festival Gifts for my loved ones

Thanksgiving and Christmas season is just around the block and this is the time for everyone to give and receive gifts. It is not uncommon to see people going overboard to give the best gift to their loved ones. So how far are you going this festival season... are you just giving them a gift or are you granting your loved ones their wishes? As for me I have decided to grant each one of my loved ones whatever they wish? Thanks to Sears Layaway I am confident of being able to grant them their wishes even in this economy.

Well I chose these three items which are the wishes of three of my most favourite people. The first gift is for my beloved... she always complains having to walk all the way to the apartment laundrette to wash clothes so, this thankgiving she will get a Neat white Samsung 4.0 cu. ft. High Efficiency Front Load Washer and Dryer. I chose this gift because of two reasons.. one is she really needs a nice gadget to help her wash clothes at home and not spending loads on coin operated machines. And then the amazing savings that Sears is offering to buy this season.

Another gadget is the Craftsman 200 mph 430 CFM Gas Blower/Vac for my brother who lives in a big home and loves to do yard work. This easy starting gadget with a variable speed trigger will help him work in the yard and helps create mulch and clean up his yard. With its 200 MPH, 430 CFM blower/vac and Sim-Pul™ starting technology, Variable speed trigger and 10:1 mulch ratio I'd say my brother would be thrilled to receive this gift.

And last but not the least my sister will get her unlimited apparel shopping wish fulfilled this season. There are so many fantastic offerings like Apostrophe Vanessa Pant, the Levi's ® 545™ Boot Cut Jean and numerous other apparels on deals I am sure my sis will be thrilled.

This kind of a splurge would have been impossible in this economy if not for the Sears Layaway, which enables me to buy today and pay over a period of time in easy instalments. I am sure this season will be filled with happy memories.