Baywatch Dolphin Tours

One of the activities we did while we were still in Galveston a few weeks back  was go on a dolphin tour of Galveston Bay. Anyone who knows me, knows that dolphins have long since been my favorite animal so this was one tourist attraction I did not want to pass up. I'm also happy to report that we were not disappointed in this experience.

The Premise

We went with Baywatch Dolphin Tours for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the price. Most boat tours in the area were out of our budget, especially considering we had a group of seven to consider, four of which were mine. Baywatch charges $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under (infants and pets are free). I spent a grand total of $25 plus tax. The second consideration was time. Baywatch had a boat leaving every hour on the hour. Convenient for those of us that don't like to plan every minute of the day. The tour lasted about 45 minutes which was plenty long in the Texas heat and humidity. Also, we knew it would be easy to locate because it is in Galveston's Pier 21 District. Trust me on this. My mom and I have had many a grand adventure because we get lost everywhere we go. In fact, my kids caught on long ago that when Mommy starts going in circles, it's best to tone it down and let me concentrate on getting back on track. Finally, it's within walking distance to The Strand, which was our next stop of the day. Nothing like a little retail therapy to end your day.

My Take

As far as I could tell there is only one boat that runs the entire operation. The boat was extremely well maintained. In fact, they cleaned it up in between tours; wiped the seats down and everything. On the boat, there were three main places to sit. Outside in the front, outside in the back or inside in the middle of the boat. My kids chose to sit in the front. We smarter, dare I say older, adults chose to sit in the shaded interior. The captain did his best to answer any questions that the group had. The captain also doubled as the tour guide. He was knowledgeable on the history of Galveston Harbor and Bay. And, true to the advertisement, we saw the dolphins.

A lot of dolphins. They were following the fishing and shrimp boats. They were beautiful, graceful, and majestic. Many times, they came close to our boat to show off. Dolphins weren't the only wildlife seen. It was amazing how many pelicans like to hang out with the fishermen. I realize how much sense this makes now. However, not being an avid fisherman, I had never thought much about the symbiotic relationship between the pelican and fisherman.

The ride was smooth and dolphin safe. The boat has no propellers to harm the dolphins or any other animals in the water. The captain slowed when the water got choppy and warned us of any wakes we encountered. They did their best to keep us all comfortable as well. Drinks were on sale for $1 should you get thirsty. Sunglasses were also available for $2.

The Verdict

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would probably do it again just to get better pictures of the dolphins. The kids loved it as well. It was the first time they had been on a boat other than the ferry. The dolphins captivated them as did the rest of Galveston's wildlife.

I give Baywatch Dolphin Tours two fins up! Dorsal fins, that is. Keep it up and hopefully we'll be back soon!

I took this picture during the tour.

Hotel Hospitality?

This past weekend my family went out of town to Kerrville, TX to help celebrate the golden anniversary of good friends and mentors to my husband. Roughly one month prior we made a hotel reservation and placed the charge on a credit card. This is our experience...

Our philosophy with hotels has always been to forgo comfort for price. On any trip my husband and I have ever made out of town, the room we stayed in has only been used at night. We never hung out at a hotel. We were always out visiting friends, sightseeing, shopping, eating, celebrating, etc. and never had the need for resort living while on vacation. That being said, we still have standards. The room must be clean, smoke free and private. I want to be able to shut my curtains and be certain that no Peeping Toms are spying on me while I'm dressing. That's my husband's job.

My Take:

My husband found America's Best Value Inn online. The pictures portrayed the motel as being clean and modest. They had an outstanding score on their own website. Of course, it was America's Best Value Inn rating America's Best Value Inn. The room we looked at had two queen sized beds. A tight squeeze for two adults and three kids, but again, we would only be sleeping there for two nights. Plus, we had plans for the two days that we would be in town and had no need for a large room where everyone would need their space. According to the photos, it would a nice enough experience for my kids' first hotel stay. Not too fancy so as not to spoil them and not a dump either.

We left our home late in the evening on Friday and didn't arrive at our destination until nearly midnight. My husband was buzzed into the locked lobby with our confirmation sheet in hand. He was greeted by Gita, the front desk lady, and proceeded to find out that we didn't have a room. The reason given? The reservation line didn't send her the confirmation fax. It didn't matter that our name was in the system. It didn't matter that we had reserved the room nearly one month prior. It didn't matter that the company had my credit card information. It didn't matter that according the reservation agreement if we didn't accept the room, we owed the full price of the room. We didn't have a room. Unless we wanted a single bed. For five people. She didn't offer us two rooms to make up for the mistake. She didn't offer a future discount on a future stay. What we got instead was the opportunity to find another place to stay for the weekend at midnight on a Friday night.

In a situation like this, who do you blame? The business is blaming corporate for not sending them a faxed confirmation. What was the point of making the reservation online if the location you are going to doesn't get the confirmation? However, it was confirmed that our name was in the system. It seems to me that the reservation was made but somebody somewhere dropped the ball and no one wanted to take the blame. The result is a bad review from me. (And don't worry, I called the credit card company and so far, we have not been charged.)

Our next stop was Best Western which was right up the road. By now it was after midnight, the girls have to pee and my youngest is almost in tears because she is so tired. We took the advantage of the open lobby and all went inside. I took the girls to the bathroom while my husband inquired about a room. Again, only single rooms available. As we were walking out I asked the lady at the desk if there were any events going on this weekend. I thought it was a reasonable question considering no rooms were available. I have only one word for her. Manners. I realize that it was late and we came trooping in to use your restroom and (heaven forbid) ask for a room in your hotel, but when a person politely asks a question, respond in kind. Instead, without ever making eye contact, she very snootily, as if I were interrupting her life somehow, responded, "It's summer". Because those two words were supposed to mean something to us when we were not there as tourists, not that you would know that because you clearly could have cared less about us. Needless to say, I was happy not to give her my business either. Rudeness never prospers.

Our next stop was Holiday Inn Express and Suites. We let dad go in and handle the business again. Finally, some luck! Again, they only had single rooms available but we were able to get a suite at a slightly discounted rate because they were doing renovations. In the suite, we had two queen sized beds and one pull out couch. There are 28 reviews of this particular Holiday Inn on the website giving it an average rating of 4.1/5 stars. For our purposes, it was much better. The staff was friendly and accommodating. They even came back to give us fresh towels and change our sheets when we requested after house keeping had left for the day. The continental breakfast was pretty good, too. Fresh eggs, pancakes, pastries, juice, milk, coffee, cereal, oatmeal, sausage and biscuits were enough to impress the kids. Plus we had two tv's in the room, so no fighting over programs to watch. I think I may be converted to a higher standard when it comes to my hotel stays. I think I was spoiled and, sadly, my standards were never very high to begin with. I guess they will be now.

And so are my kids'. So much for not spoiling them.

The Verdict

America's Best Value Inn: 0/5 for losing our reservation and not trying to come up with a way to compensate us for the mistake. Instead they played a game of "Pass the Buck".

Best Western: 1/5 because even though I didn't have a reservation with them, I could have been swayed to book two singles rooms if the front desk clerk had been at all interested in our business.

Holiday Inn: 5/5 for being accommodating, fast and friendly. The room was beautiful and the renovations didn't interfere with our stay at all. In hindsight, a suite was a much better idea than a single room for my family. We all had a little space of our own and the girls didn't have to share a bed with their brother. A definite plus if you ask them.

Pleasure Pier in Galveston

I've been a bad blogger and didn't keep up with my blog for two weeks. One of those weeks I was sick, the other I was on vacation in Galveston, Texas. Time to catch up!

Last week we took a family vacation to Galveston. My mom, sister, nephew, myself and my three kids all went to the beach for a few days for fun in the sun. The only thing missing was my husband who had to stay behind to bring home the bacon. On Sunday, my mom and I drove down to the beach house she had rented and spent the day setting up house.

Monday we waited for my sister's arrival by visiting the beach. Once she got there we made our way down to Pleasure Pier. Something I learned about Pleasure Pier was that it was originally an entertainment facility for the U.S. military during WWII in the 1940's. It remained a prominent tourist destination until Hurricane Carla in 1961. After that, the pier was reconstructed into the Flagship Hotel. It remained the Flagship Hotel until Hurricane Ike in 2008. In 2011 construction began (by the Landry's Corporation) and Pleasure Pier opened in 2012.

Enough history, on with the review. Now that the pier is being used as an entertainment facility once again, how does it measure up?

My Take

I had a family of four, all over 48 inches tall. I bought the family four pack for $99.99. With tax the amount was just over $108. This meant we could ride all of the rides as many times as we wanted all day long for roughly $27 per person. Pleasure Pier has 16 rides. If you have kids under 48 inches, there are rides for them as well at a reduced ticket price. We rode nearly every ride in the park. The kids had their favorites, the adults had theirs. Of course, if you don't want to ride rides you can just pay the $10 entry fee. That sounds kind of like a waste to me unless you're going to supervise your kids, though. Other than a few lookout points over the ocean, there isn't really anything to see as a sightseer that you can't see from other points on the Sea Wall.

We were there during the work week. It wasn't very crowded and we were able to park nearby. There is a paid lot across the street but we were able to park on the Sea Wall for free. Yes, it was hot. But being on a pier has its advantages. There was a sea breeze all day plus we were riding rides which creates its own air conditioning. There was one ride in particular that was like a log ride. It had a splash zone where you could stand and get completely soaked so even though it was hot, it wasn't miserable. Needless to say, that was the kids' favorite ride and favorite place to hang out for the day.

Like any amusement park, there are rules about food and drinks. No outside food and drinks were allowed in. The Pier provided their own restaurants, food and drink services. At inflated prices, of course. A bottle of water was $3.50 and a large fountain drink was $5.50. I didn't bother with the restaurant prices but if you're interested Bubba Gump is the restaurant on Pleasure Pier. They also have kiosks that offer the standard hamburgers, pizzas and funnel cakes that most amusement parks offer. We chose instead to take advantage of the Pier's re-entry policy. We went back to the beach house to eat lunch, hydrate and rest before returning for more fun.

The staff was friendly and attentive. They were mostly Russian, which I thought was strange. They all had names like Viktor, Ivan, Igor, and Inga. It was almost as if a casting call went out for Russian models to work at Pleasure Pier. They were all good looking young people running the rides. I hadn't originally planned on riding rides because I was going to save a few pennies by buying the $10 day pass. The family four pack ended up only being a few dollars more than what I intended to pay so I bought that instead. Since I wasn't intending on riding rides, I wore a short blue jean skirt for the day. I'll tell you what, there's nothing more intimidating than a good looking Russian man having to check the seat connections between your knees when  they're separated by a metal bar and you're wearing a mini skirt. And you're all sweaty and nasty from being out in the sun all day on the Gulf Coast in June.

All in all I thought the expense was worth the trip to Pleasure Pier. If you think about how much you pay at county fairs, festivals and other amusement parks, I felt like I got a good deal. The rides were in excellent condition. The Pier was immaculate. The staff was friendly and responsible. There are only two designated smoking sections on the Pier so no one is walking around throwing their butts on the ground or blowing smoke in your face (a personal pet peeve). My only complaint would have to be the price of refreshments.

The Verdict

Overall I give Pleasure Pier 8/10 roller coasters. Why? Because after paying for entry, you still have to pay to play midway games and for the high price of food and drinks.

Inseparable (2011)

Inseparable is a movie that I had sitting in my Netflix Instant Play Que for a pretty long time. Last night was one of those nights where we were looking for something to watch and Kevin Spacey caught our attention. Both my husband and I are huge Spacey fans, which is probably how Inseparable ended up in my Que to begin with. Because most people probably haven't seen this one, I'm not going to give a full synopsis but I will give you my take on on the flick.

My Take

For starters, the movie is subtitled the entire way through, spoken in both Chinese and English. So if you can stand that, you're off to a good start. The main character, Li (the very talented Daniel Wu), is facing some personal demons and has come to a turning point in his life. Do I end it all or go on living in misery? A new friend happens to show up just at the right moment. The new friend, played my future ex-beau Kevin Spacey, (don't worry, we'll always be friends) gives Li a new outlook on life. They team up as a superhero duo and try to right the wrongs they feel have been the burden of common man. Eventually Li begins to question Chuck (played by Spacey) about his motives. Who is he, where does he come from, etc. And that is where the conflict begins. There are clues throughout the film that lead you to the inevitable conclusion of events, but the joyride it takes is worth the wait. 

Daniel Wu and Kevin Spacey make an interesting pair, to say the least. There is something charming and warm about Wu. Spacey's character is sarcastic and pushy. Together they make it work. So much so that when they don their superhero costumes, it actually makes sense. The themes of friendships, relationships, need, loneliness, and mental health were not lost on me. But I appreciate the writers and director not beating me over the head with it. It was easy enough to identify with a person who just wanted to fix things so badly he temporarily loses his touch with reality, I didn't need a PSA on top of it. So I commend the decisions made in production. Well done.

The Verdict

I give the movie 4/5 superheroes. I really enjoyed it, but I recognize it's not for everyone. But if you want to see Kevin Spacey running around in superhero tights, this one is for you. 

Christian Brothers Automotive

Yesterday was a busy day for me which is why I failed to post a review. I had to get my state inspection done on one of our vehicles. A chore I dread. In fact any job having to do with cars, I put off for as long as I can. I started saving them for those days I need a shave and a shower. I put on my baggiest clothes, pull my greasy hair into a pony tail and walk in wearing my high-waisted mom shorts and about a weeks worth of growth on my legs. You'd think it would be a deterrent.

I took the opportunity to patronize a new place of business. (Well, new to me.) I ventured down the road to Christian Brothers Automotive. The parking lot was full when I drove in, which is either a good or bad sign depending on which way you look at it. I pulled in thinking, "They must be good at what they do, but dang it! I'm going to have to wait forever!" Surprisingly the lobby was empty. I don't know where all the other car owners were, but they weren't waiting impatiently inside.

I was greeted very promptly and very professionally by the manager, Mike. He warned me that it may take a while before they could squeeze me in, but I was expecting to have to wait anyway so all was well. I'd like to say that I waited until the end of the month to get my state inspection done just so I could squeeze it in when everyone else was trying to squeeze theirs in and see how the business handled the pressure, but, the truth is, I'm just lazy. And forgetful. At any rate, Mike promised to have it done as soon as possible and offered me a  cool frosty beverage.

One thing that I noticed about the lobby was that there was no television, very few magazines and copies of the New Testament on the tables. Everything was clean and actually didn't smell like grease monkeys. I settled in with my water and proceeded to read and play games on my Kindle. A little while later a young mother and her toddler walked in for a scheduled repair. Mike the manager was right on top of things. A part hadn't been ordered correctly, but rather than reschedule the customer he got right on the phone to have it delivered immediately and made arrangements for mom and son to go home and relax while the repair was being made. While doing this another, less agreeable, customer came in to inquire about why he was still waiting. I was really impressed with the way in which both situations were handled. The phone conversation with the shop was put on hold and the grumpy man was taken outside to, I assume, explain his situation. Then Mike returned and continued his phone conversation ordering parts. The customer was put first. In fact the shop was run so efficiently that my car was fit in during a stopping point during a brake job and I was in and out with my new inspection sticker in about 30 minutes.

And not once did anyone hit on me, try to look down my shirt, or offer me a 'discount' on a service I didn't need. At least I've been smart enough to say that I'll have my own mechanic look at my car before I have any work done. Not to be sexist, but I know as much about cars as most other women do. And have about as much interest in learning. I can check my fluids and air pressure and I can change a tire, but that's about it. I might be more inclined to learn if I didn't have to get so oily.

The Verdict

Definitely a 5/5 for customer service. I will go back there again when I need anything else done and tell you how it goes.

As they Grow

This past weekend we joined millions of others in celebrating Memorial Day by going to a pool party and eating bar-b-que with friends. The company was great and a good time was had by all. While everyone was sitting around the pool I couldn't help but take in the sight of my three kids playing and splashing in the water, getting along for the first time in weeks. I remember what it was like to be a child and make friends for the day. Today we're besties, floating and diving and making up rules to our own games. Tomorrow we're sunburned, tired and happy. Nothing but the memories of a good time to get us through the last few days of school.

I love the age that my kids are now. Old enough to be on their own but still vulnerable enough to need the watchful eyes of their parents. Tim is 12 and is awkward, funny, and always just outside the group. Rebecca, at 10, seems to get along with everyone whether she wants to or not. She is too nice to say no to others even at a cost to herself. Diana, 7, is independent and voices her feelings without a filter, happy to play on her own or with others. As they splashed and laughed I observed and smiled, grateful for the opportunity.

There were kids of all ages at the gathering. I found myself being thankful that I no longer have to hop in the pool to insure their safety. I don't have to feel like the meddling mom, constantly checking on her brood. I can stay on the sidelines, within reach, and still answer the call, "Mom, watch this!" Or swim and play with them because they want me to, not because they need to.

I'm not even sure I miss those days. I loved having my babies. I loved carting them around, bathing them, clothing them, wiping away tears and cleaning boo boos. I would never trade it for anything. But I, much like my kids, have grown and changed. I have matured and am still working on becoming the mom I want to be. Every once in a while I still get to wipe away tears, but it won't be long before it's due to broken hearts or fights with friends instead of trips and falls. Boo boos are coming fewer and farther between and I've learned to treasure the time I have. I still sneak in their bedrooms at night to stroke their hair, kiss their cheeks, pull the blankets up a little higher. That is the one vice I will not give up.

I love the freedom that having kids has afforded me. They made me a better person. I don't feel tied down to them. I feel liberated by what they have given me. I was taught responsibility, how to educate, entertain, and worry. My kids gave me the freedom of choice. What kind of mom do I want to be?

I think the proof was in the pool that day. As all three kids forgot their petty arguments with each other and played uninhibited with a slew of other equally great kids, I felt a satisfaction like none other. Not that mom and dad don't love their dates; we just appreciate them all the more.

Kids grow up and you can't change that. You do have some control over what kind of person they will turn out to be. Nothing is ever perfect, including yourself. Cheers to the bittersweet adventure that children are.

4/5 - Because you can't stop it and you can't change it, even for the better.

A Celebration of Achievement

Last night was the sixth grade awards ceremony for my son's school. In a day and time when children are all given participation trophies and congratulated for not really trying, it was really nice to see a small population of his sixth grade class being recognized for true greatness. Also, we didn't have to sit through a needlessly long event.

My son plays the trumpet in beginner's band. He has been first chair nearly all year long. At the concert at the end of this school year he has told me he will be playing a solo. The instructor expects him to enter Honor's Band next year, pending the end of year audition, of course. Quite an achievement for my little guy. So naturally he was recognized for his accomplishments in band. He also got a certificate for language arts. Guess the love of writing runs in the family. Now if only he would turn in his homework.

The whole ceremony went pretty smoothly. The faculty started pretty much on time and had the whole herd of kids across the stage in 40 minutes. In fact I can't really think of any complaints about the faculty. The kids on the other hand...

When an invitation says, "Please dress nicely" I take that to mean wear something business casual. Not dress like you're about to go out clubbing. Or fishing. I'm not even sure what kind of clubs 12 and 13 year olds can get in to. And I always throw my holey jeans away. It just makes me wonder what kind of example these parents are setting for their children. "It is ok to ignore the rules. It's ok not to look your best when being recognized as a model student. It's not important to put forth an effort when people are trying to make you feel special."

And what is with parents letting their kids do whatever they want while sitting in an audience full of families? The mom behind me had her hands full with three kids under the age of five, one of which was head butting the back of my seat. If you can't control your children in public, don't take them out in public. Additionally, I have a Kindle. But do I use it to distract my kids when their older sibling is being awarded by the school as being a good kid? No. My kids know how to behave because if they don't they get punished. I don't pacify them with movies and games on my electronic devices because I don't know how to keep them quiet for 45 minutes. And even if I did, I would be considerate enough to turn the volume down.

I am a full 5/5 gold stars proud of my boy. Some parents, however, only deserve 1.