Monday Meanderings - 6.19.2017

As if this part of Texas wasn't weird enough, we are now having Bigfoot sightings. Sort of. Round Rock Parks and Rec folks are finding large footprints and clumps of hair in several of the parks in their jurisdiction.

Half-again larger than a normal footprint, three images were captured at Freeman Park, Old Settlers Park and Brushy Creek Trail between June 8 and June 10. Mike Parker, editor of the Pflugerville Pflag and Round Rock Leader community newspapers, thinks the creature may be the “Hairy Man,” a local legend which dates back to Round Rock’s pioneer days and which has inspired a local 5K and Hairy Man contest.

They are not saying it’s definitely Bigfoot, because as one Facebook commenter said, if there are cameras at the parks to capture these images, then why aren’t their photos of the Sasquatch himself? But they do suggest that if you’re hiking in any Round Rock parks this summer, you should probably keep an eye out for something large and hairy. In fact, to reinforce that message Parks and Rec employees were putting up warning signs this past week.

But the "Hairy Man" is not the only critter making news. Or getting some signage. There's also the Killer Grackles. The UT campus is home to one of the largest gatherings of grackles anywhere, and during nesting season they apparently act like mama bears if you come near their babies. So much so, UT has begun posting warning signs about "Aggressive Grackles." And I thought you only needed to avoid standing directly under them.

Oh, great! Now we have to break in a new wait-person at Chuy's. Kathy, our server for the last 4 or 5 years, texted in her goodbyes last week, just when we were thinking about adopting her. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a close relative working at Chuy's? Think of the perks. Kathy worked with us through our 18 or so months of the Diet, so she knew automatically to bring the taco salad in a regular bowl, or to hold the cheese and avocado on the grilled chicken salad. Now we have to remember all that stuff. Either that or just always go with the ChuyChanga with queso sauce.

Apparently her leaving was a big surprise to everybody.  Marty, one of the managers, came to our table to find out if we were somehow responsible for her sudden departure! We assured him we had nothing to do with it. But when you have a relationship with a restaurant that has gone on for almost 30 years, we often say - sometimes out loud - "We were here long before you came. We'll be here long after you're gone."