The beach house

We rented a beach house in Port Aransas, just behind the dunes of Mustang Island. This is one island in a string of a coastal barrier island stretching from Galveston Island down to South Padre Island on the Mexican border.

Port Aransas is a small beach community full of sun bleached pastel beach houses, an a central loop with shops and restaurant that draw customers through aquatic extravaganzas such as framing their entrance in a large shark mouth or placing pink octopus on the roof.

We're staying in a little round house on stilts - a reminder of the ever present danger of hurricanes in the Gulf. Judging from the stuff in their home, the owners like to fish, to read, to cook and to travel. Several Delft Blue decorations and Amsterdam travel guides reveal a fondness of Holland. I think I like them.

Apollo insignias

We visited the NASA Space Center in Houston. Surprisingly, I found it more nostalgic than futuristic. Maybe it's because with the space shuttle program winding down, there is no clear goal for future missions. Maybe it's because NASA has never been able to exceed the excitement of the Apollo program that put two men on the moon in six different missions.

I actually think it's the artwork. It's very distinct with references to Greek mythology, explorer sailing ships and American symbols. The icons of the Apollo missions are for ever engraved in my memory.

NASA continued to produce great logos for subsequent programs following Apollo. I wish someone would produce a coffee table book with all NASA artwork.

Galveston

We stopped by in Galveston during a summer tour of Texas. Galveston, located on an island 50 miles southeast of Houston, once was Texas' largest city and busiest port. Hundreds of immigrants, primarily German, disembarked from ocean liners each day. Trade was prosperous, especially cotton exports, and for a while Galveston was known as the Wall Street of the South due to its robust economy and modern amenities such as electric lights, telephones, and streetcars.

Galveston's fate was forever altered in 1900 when a massive hurricane caused 6,000 deaths and ruined a third of its buildings. As a result of the devastation, Galveston's industrial and residential population shifted to Houston.

Today, the beach is Galveston's main draw for Texans surfing, swimming or fishing. Greg tried his luck fishing. The surf was a little too rough, and he lost a few hooks and lines. The hammerhead shark on the pier was proof that other fishermen had more luck that day.

KLM posters

KLM re-issued several vintage posters at the company's 50 year anniversary in 1969. My dad brought three posters home from work at Tanne - Thomsen Associates. For years, these posters decorated the walls of my bed room.

A few months ago, I stopped over in Holland on my way to Sweden. I found these posters on my mom's attic and brought them over to the US. Today I framed them. I will look for a spot for them in the media room until KLM is ready to issue new posters at their 100 year anniversary in 2019.

Best places to live

We already knew this 3 years ago, but now it's confirmed by Money Magazine: McKinney is one of the best places to live in the US. Read the review on Money Magazine, and see the entire top 10.