George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Today I finally took the time to visit the number one of the top 10 things to do in College Station. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum has a massive feel about it as you walk up to the entryway. Once inside, I was greeted with a big Texas A&M 'Howdy' by the sweetest, most energetic senior who possessed a huge, genuine smile. She is someone that no matter how your day is, you can't help but smile from the inside out in her presence.

The lobby is a wide open space but the rest of the building is jam-packed full of history, both personal and professional. There is so much to see, read and listen to that one could easily spend the better part of a day there. I really enjoyed the 18 minute film. Things that grabbed my attention: the plane hanging from the ceiling, an aircraft camera, and the large, model ships.

My best description of the inside would be to liken it to a walk-in life size pop-up book. Not to say it was childish, not at all, but there is so much to see in every direction, turn and twist. Outside it is beautiful and spacious. There are statues, a garden area, and a pond. The surprising part to me is that you can actually fish the pond; it is catch and release.

If you find yourself in or near College Station, TX, this is definitely worth the time.

Replaced HotPoint Microwave/Convection Oven

In the middle of fun filled Christmas cooking chaos our microwave/convection oven quit. There was no flash, pop or bang to let us know. The screen simply went black and it no longer would heat, although, the turntable would still spin. After trying to reset it, unplug and plug it back in to no avail, I went to Google and YouTube for answers. They had me fairly convinced that it might just be a blown fuse inside it. However, they also bestowed a fear of opening up a microwave without really knowing what you are doing.

At first, we were going to upgrade to a brand we knew and 'trusted' but that proved problematic as we shopped around. The main issue we had was finding a unit with the exact dimensions. Since neither of us are carpenters, and we really didn't want one smaller, we ended up just getting it replaced.

I am not a big fan of microwaves but I do like the convection part. Our stove and oven are not as large as their residential counterparts so if you like to cook and bake more that a couple of dishes at once, one of these units is helpful. What makes it go from helpful to needful is the fact that it is your exhaust vent and also the light directly above the stove. The vent being the most important. How do I know this? Ask me how many times one of us had to fan the smoke alarm because we forgot to open the door and ceiling vent fan... lol

Seemed easy enough: unplug it, remove the screws holding it up, take it down then install the new one. Honestly, it was just that easy...after I pulled out the original instructions to install it so we could begin in reverse without destroying our cupboard it was attached to.

With the help of a neighbor, the whole process of actually taking down the one and putting up the other probably only lasted about a half hour or so. We were so excited to be back in business I straight away put it to work by baking a batch of cookies. We do hope it lasts much longer than the first. If not, I foresee one of us gaining some useful carpentry skills.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

A beautiful t-shirt kind of weather happened upon us so we decided to go check out some mammoths. We had gone to the park a few months before but it was so crowded, there wasn't even a parking spot. Luck was with us this trip. Although there were a couple of school busses, the lot was virtually empty. It was midday and the kids were finishing up their Junior Ranger activities under the shelter of a tent. 

We went inside the gift shop and purchased our tickets. The tickets have recently been reduced from $7 to $5 and double as bookmarks. They have tours every 30 minutes and they last between 30-45 minutes. I suppose it depends on the amount of questions.

Brad and I were it for the 1:30 tour, although, we were joined by another couple part way into it. My personal opinion: if you go and can either catch up with a group or wait for the next, wait for the next. They really pack a lot into the relatively short tour and you will not want to miss any of it.

In the semi-active dig site you will be able to see the bones of mammoths, a camel and an alligator tortious. There are also unidentified rib bones and a tooth [replica - the real one is tucked away somewhere] of a Saber-toothed tiger. Pretty exciting to imagine those animals roaming the very earth you are currently standing on.

If you are ever in the area, don't miss out on this treasure. More information can be found at www.nps.gov