After six years of vacationing together, it was finally Mike’s turn to pick the destination, so we headed to Texas for Labor Day weekend. Back in his Army days, Mike did his basic training at Fort Sam Houston, so he’s been wanting to show me around the scene of the debauchery of his youth for years.

We rented a car and ate our way from San Antonio to Austin and back. Seriously. Guero’s Taco Bar, Stubb’s, Hey Cupcake, and Sonic were all destination points, not just stops along the way. And Mama Fu’s is one of my new favorite restaurants. We’re saving Amy’s Ice Cream for our next trip.

And how are Austonia’s not complete lard asses like Chicagoians with all the fabulous Mexican food and BBQ available in air streams on every corner? I guess Mike and I will just have to show them how it’s done.

Schlitterbahn, Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the San Antonio Riverwalk didn’t disappoint. I was even slightly intrigued by Austin’s Congress Bridge Bats. The shopping along South Congress was right up my alley and I’m pretty sure I’m destine to enroll in the University of Texas at Austin and be an official Longhorn.

I’ve always wanted to be addressed as Dr. Foster.

I guess that means I’m officially a lover of the Lone Star State and we’ll be back soon. Very soon. Sooner than you might think.

And don’t worry, after the first few hours in Texas, I stopped saying yeehaw and partner. Apparently they don’t really talk like that. Who knew?