Tommy and I went to Austin for the Longhorns season opener. It was hot and humid but we sat in the new North end zone, saw Vince Young get his number retired and saw the Horns win.

We’ve taken the kids to a Rangers game tonight. It is not often that an August night is only 80 degrees F!

…And now I have a clone trooper for a son! Happy Birthday Tommy!

I’m outside Club Dada in Dallas waiting to get in to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, but the fire marshals have closed the doors. They are holding another show at 12:30 so we are waiting around outside. While we waited, Robert played outside on the street for us!  The picture is a bit dark, but its taken with my no-flash iPhone.

Jake obviously wants in on the fun, especially when we get the full band together for Rock Band!

I’m liveblogging from Buca di Beppo as we celebrate Meridith’s Birthday.

We took the kids to San Antonio this summer to see Sea World, but one the way home, I requested a slight detour. Destination? Shiner, Texas. As you likely already know if you look in my fridge, Shiner brews my favorite beers, so we went to visit, take the tour, buy pint glasses in the gift shop, and to sample some free cold ones! Shiner Bock, Shiner Blonde, Shiner Hefeweizen, and Shiner Bohemian Black Lager in little 4oz paper cups but fresh fresh fresh!

My family tree traces back to a group of Tiedes who arrived in New York City, USA, on May 24th, 1879 to be processed at Castle Garden.  They crossed the Atlantic ocean in the boat pictured here, the North German Lloyd S.S. Neckar. (This is a painting by Antonio Jacobsen dated 1879, btw, so it would be a good likeness. Notice the one tiny smokestack in case the wind was no help!)

My Great-Great Grandfather Daniel was a boy of 15 at the time, traveling with his family, including my Great-Great-Great Grandfather Gottlieb.

Here is a link to the New York times article mentioning the arrival (but not mentioning any specific passengers).

PS: The Neckar on which the Tiedes came was the first with that name, built in 1874 and scrapped in 1896, as the North German Lloyd company replaced it with a new boat of the same name that was three times the size.