end of it all
It was early, so our room wasn't nearly ready, so we checked
our bags and took some combination of public transports to
the other Lockhart Smokehouse, where we arrived at close on
opening time, with only about an 8 person line ahead of us.
I went to the bar to get a waiting beer, but the pourer said
that I had to have food in hand before I was allowed to buy.
So back in line, which took 10 minutes, for a pound of fatty
brisket and a rib. lili wanted baked beans, so we got a small
order. Everything was excellent, the brisket as rich and smoky
as anyone would like, the rib done with just that little tug
to the meat that makes one's teeth happy. I was left with a
cup of beans, because these had been heavily spiked with I
think serrano peppers and thus were too ahua for her. They
tasted good, and I ate them up, which meant I didn't have room
for much brisket, so there was plenty to take home for brekkers.
We had a Rahr Texas Red, harmless, and some kind of berry-
flavored cider from Sonoma, sweet and harmless.
There are those who express a distinct preference for this
location or the one up in Plano; I was well satisfied by both.
Off to the Meadows Museum at SMU, which came highly recommended.
It's pretty easy to get to and from via the light rail and then
the student bus. We got there just in time for the daily docent
tour. The docent asked what we were interested in, and I blurted
out that I was a Goya person, which it turned out she was as well.
So we spent most of our docenting on Goya and, since he was also
well represented and hung nearby, Velasquez. Some pretty cool
stuff at this museum. After the 90-minute tour was over, we had
some time to revisit our favorites and to see the rest of the
collection. Pretty good all told, and as this very intense young
fellow pointed out (I don't know if he was staff, volunteer, or
just a fan), a first-rate little sculpture garden out back.
Afterward we flagged down the bus driver on the street and had a
nice chat with her on the way back to the train station.
The trip back downtown was quick, and our room was just ready.
They'd given us an executive suite, two big rooms with all
the bells and whistles, in a kind of old style, which was
fine, as we are kind of old style. Dreamily comfy beds.
Having had our adventure for the day, we just hung around
instead of trying for more barbecue, taking full advantage of
the club lounge and its complimentary Canyon Road Cabernet,
of which lili had several glasses; I had an ungodly pairing
of Shiner bock and Dr. Pepper, not drunk at precisely the same
time, though. In addition to the usual cheese and crudites and
stuff, there were tasty though tenderized to death teriyaki
beef skewers and greasy but spicy and good-tasting samosas.
The concierge was very helpful.
Bedtime came early, because I planned on an 0530ish light rail
to the airport, which came altogether too soon. I forgot the
leftover brisket in the fridge.
UA1797 DFW IAD 0725 1129 739 4E
Security was a snap, and I was at the gate in plenty of time.
Nice flight. Breakfast was some kind of puckish egg substance
with cheese that I didn't eat, getting my calories from a
cinnamon roll (as I've said, a far cry from those served
during Continental's glory days) and a Courvoisier.