Benac.com Newsucanuse

Into Segovia

The Editor — 2008-05-12T01:33:03+01:00

Let's talk about Segovia, the ancient city first inhabited by Iberian tribes long before the Roman conquest, it's glory days as a Roman outpost with a miraculous aqueduct built to bring water to the hilltop town which still functions today. In more than 2,000 years, no need to call a plumber. The city boasts three main attractions in addition to its delightul quiet streets interrupted at times by colorful processions and celebrations: the aquaduct itself, the Alcazar, or fortified castle, and the Cathedral, built in the 16th C. in the Gothic style long after the Gothic style was way out of style, making it most likely the last Gothic church built in Europe (not a compliment; they were behind the times, as Spain so often was, artistically speaking. But still a marvel to visit.

It's great traveling with seasoned travelers; no snivelers, no divas, just good company with fascinating people. Thanks, Daddy Bill. You are the Man, the Great Facilitator, the Perfect Husband! You made my Mothers Day perfect today.

Into Segovia

The Editor — 2008-05-12T05:02:46+01:00

Into Segovia

The Editor — 2008-05-12T05:02:40+01:00

Goya's burial chapel

The Editor — 2008-05-11T01:50:37+01:00

WOW! There is something new in the Art Triangle of Madrid: a fantastic exhibition space/museum (can we call it a museum? That word just doesn't sound hip enough for this very cool place...) known as Caixa Forum, located along the Paseo del Prado. In addition to the stunning urban architecture, making use of an existing building and transforming it in a spectacular exhibition space, they have created a vertical garden on the wall of an adjacent building, covering it with a spongy, plant-supporting material, then planting it with all manner of flowering varieties including fuscia and other lovely colored flora. What a delight to come upon this brand-new spot on our walk back to the hotel. Here's a plug, by the way, for the Hotel Nacional, right across from the Atocha train station (where the terrorist bombing occured in 2003 and where there is a lush tropical garden in the middle of the station). Urban architecture these days! What a great time to be alive. It was cold and rainy today so we just had to find a chocolateria where we could dip some freshly made, hot churros into some of that wonderful, thick Spanish hot chocolate. Lucky for us, you find these places all over Madrid.

The church of San Antonio de la Florida is the burial place of Francisco Goya. A small and simple church, it is completely decorated inside with frescoes by Goya; on the walls and inside the domed cupola. One of those signature churches that are as much a memorial to the artist who decorated them as the saint whose name they bear. Think Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo) or Meditation Chapel (Rothko). Such a lovely quiet experience to come in from the grey and rainy Madrid day to a place of refuge and beauty. AND, Goya himself lies entombed right there in front. Happy day. Love to all.

Philip IV

The Editor — 2008-05-09T00:27:27+01:00

Philip IV. We think about him a lot. A weak king who nonetheless presided over the fluorescence of the Spanish Golden Age, his image is all over Madrid. During her first visit to the Royal City, Mary and the Ed stayed at a hotel where the image of the king was annoyingly ubiquitous. After Mary had had just more than enough, she found a portrait of Phil right over her very bed. Not to be ignored, this one. When we return, we shall wear a little sign saying, "Ask me why I'm so drawn to Espa�a."

Another generation of Music at the Meyerson

The Editor — 2008-05-07T11:45:36+01:00

We do love the Meyerson Symphony Center. That I.M. Pei knows how to design a building! Generations of Benacs have enjoyed a variety of musical offerings within its hallowed halls, and the latest was fantastic. Join us for a little taste of Sam's concert last night!

Places in Spain I've Never Been

The Editor — 2008-05-07T09:14:24+01:00

The house fills up as it empties out. We look forward to hosting numerous guests chez nous during the Editor's jaunt through Spain. Dreaming about Cordoba, we are, and the charming 16th Century monastery, the Parador de Almagro, which we shall call our temporary home during our Cordoba visit. The Editor's old Spanish Lit studies come back to mind, and in that vein, we share a favorite poem by Federico Garcia-Lorca about the legendary Cordoba: the Song of the Horseman, or Cancion del Jinete:

C�rdoba.
Lejana y sola.

Jaca negra, luna grande,
y aceitunas en mi alforja.
Aunque sepa los caminos
yo nunca llegar� a C�rdoba.

Por el llano, por el viento,
jaca negra, luna roja.
La muerte me est� mirando
desde las torres de C�rdoba.

�Ay qu� camino tan largo!
�Ay mi jaca valerosa!
�Ay, que la muerte me espera,
antes de llegar a C�rdoba!

C�rdoba.
Lejana y sola.

Even if you don't speak Spanish, just taking these words into your mouth and pronouncing them dreamily should put you into a fine Hispanist trance that will brighten your soul. Or check the English translation if you're feeling stubborn. But give us that beautiful Spanish poetry any day...

66th Anniversary for the Taylors

The Editor — 2008-05-06T06:45:39+01:00

In Mexico, it's the Cinco de Mayo with celebrations all around. In California, it's the 66th anniversary of our dear parents, Alice and Earl of the Far Coast. We thank them for their love and support all these years and rejoice with them in the longevity of both their marriage and their bodies!

May Birthdays

The Editor — 2008-05-05T03:27:03+01:00

Okay, all you May birthdays; you KNOW who you are...please accept our mass-market greetings and best wishes. Adam, Ram and John, we love you all! The Editor will be cooling her heels in far-off Spain, and won't be dogging the Internet cafes as she does on her private jaunts, so please forgive. Here's an unusual birthday treat for you: a paella cake. It's on the house!

Girls' Getaway on the Banks of the Brazos

The Editor — 2008-05-03T03:34:44+01:00

Ahh, the glories of Texas. Bushwacking with the Tamales, the Editor's tennis team. After our final match, we all headed out to somewhere near Cleburne, where a teammate hosted us for a girls' overnight in the glorious Texas countryside. We took a wildflower hike, dined in natural splendor on the banks of the Brazos River, went on a midnight hunt for feral pigs and deer, using an SUV and a spotlight to search for the stealthy critters, and generally had a raucous, good old girl time. All hail Texas! We are converted! We avoided the copperheads, rattlers, water moccasins and pigs and came home refreshed and happy.

Happy Birthday Matt

The Editor — 2008-05-01T11:01:09+01:00

Our most loving wishes go out this day to Matt, father of four of our most adorable grandchildren and magnificent husband of Cat. We love you, Matt. Have a wonderful day!

The Editor is finishing up a very losing tennis season with a very wonderful new team. We're off to drown our sorrows at the Ranch. Don't call. We'll be bushwacking with people we love!

Perfect Attendance? No thanks.

The Editor — 2008-04-26T20:15:54+01:00

In between crazy thunderstorms and hail attacks, we are managing to have some very happy little pool parties. Our dear Allreds, Morphii, Crocketts and new friends, the Brockbanks joined us for unlimited chocolate shakes and pizza tonight at the old homestead. All we need now are our distant little cousins, Mr. Will, Ms. Lucy and the Redheads.

We went to an awards ceremony at the high school the other night. The kids were paraded across the stage while a list of their accomplishments was projected on a giant screen behind them. Nubs had a nice long list, but not for the same thing as a select few, who were honored for...

perfect attendance

We don't know about you, but the Benacs have never believed in perfect attendance. If you have perfect attendance, you miss out on things like this. Call us crazy, but that's they way we see it.

Leaping Into the Limitless Void with Nubsy Wubsy

The Editor — 2008-04-26T02:21:50+01:00

As Caroline prepares to leave home and start college, we can't help but think that these pix just received today are an apt metaphor for the prospect of her setting out in the Big Wide World. Her sky diving adventure earlier this month was the stuff of dreams.

Click on the photo to join her for some vicarious thrills in the Great Blue Yonder. (Does this relate to John's 'Space Bug'?)

Yuri's Night with the Space Cadet, Social Injustic

The Editor — 2008-04-24T02:45:51+01:00

Does this boy look star-struck or not? Our John the space enthusiast attended a local Yuri's Night celebration and met up with a hero who was in space in the past year and invented Microsoft Excel as well. Put those two attributes together and you have perfect hero worship material for John, who is a computer-loving space geek if there ever was one. He and Mamie are holed up in a hotel in Seattle while they prepare to make the move to Houston, where John will work in logistical support for the International Space Station. We just love writing those dream-fulfilling words!

And now, for a tragedy of inexpressible proportion: Why can we not have this sweet little thang living closer to us!? Little Penelope of the Lower Left Coast just increases in unspeakable beauty every day and we are not there to witness it. Someone fix this!

Outsmarted

The Editor — 2008-04-23T06:02:54+01:00

You know the routine. The news comes on, and the big human interest story is hinted at again and again. "After this break, we'll clue you in in the story of the man trapped for two days in and elevator. And we have it on surveillance camera!" We had a lot to do this morning; a three-mile run to log into our cool new Nike Plus pedometer, a morning training session at the museum, voice files from the latest symposium on the Ciudad Rodrigo altarpiece to transfer to a DVD, etc. But we couldn't tear away from the tube! How did that man do it? Would we ever find out? After each commercial break, some other story about a shooting, about those poor kids being ripped from their parents after a ghoulish prank call, about the price of gas, etc, muddied the waters of the Editorial mind. Finally, a thought came. Whenever we are teased with that human interest story that trumps all the reallly major news, just hit the record button on the DVR and catch it for later. Why do we feel so liberated?

Mary and Ram report seeing the red-hatted Pontiff in the Popemobile Friday in the Big Apple during his visit to the City. Glimpsing a man in side, they wondered at the red hat, but come to find out, that is indeed part of his attire. New York is the place to be for the real news!

Hunky Unky Phil arrives

The Editor — 2008-04-17T11:22:34+01:00

The phone rang this afternoon. It was our Hunky Unky Phil, retired commercial realtor-turned actor, who had a few days break from filming his latest shocker movie on location in New Orleans. We were so pleased to welcome him to the Homestead for a Texas-shaped waffle, a visit with Matt, who happened to be using Daddy Bill's office, and an evening soiree to Unca Keith's for a delicious barbeque dinner. Phil surprised Nubsy by appearing at her workplace, melting hearts all around, we are quite sure. Isn't he cute?

The Camera

The Editor — 2008-04-15T11:04:47+01:00

We think we're in line for a Darwin Award around here. Brought the camera in to the shop, fully prepared to buy another one. It seems the thing wouldn't power on, even with a new battery! The camera salesman just put the battery in right side up, and voila! It works! Get ready to enjoy the ongoing Benac Saga before your very eyes...

Tumble of Family

The Editor — 2008-04-14T10:16:01+01:00

When we decide to have a party around here, it isn't hard to find an instant guest list. Consider our dear Gramma Helen, who turns 85 this week. Auntie Liz hosted a little get together for family and friends that yielded a boatload of great grandkids, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws and friends too numerous to mention. We see her here nearly drowing in a pile of adoring Littles. Way to celebrate, Gramma!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

The Editor — 2008-04-12T18:41:43+01:00

This just in: Char has actually begun walking, three steps at a time max, but still....!

It's a wonderful day today as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the birth of our sweet little Charlotte of the Lower Left Coast. We so look forward to her paying us a personal visit next month as she re-acquaints herself with her loving Texas family. Have a divine day, little one!

WAAAHHH! Our camera is BROKEN! What to do? Can't borrow Nubsy's as she took it with her this morning on her first (and only, we hope) sky dive. Yep, you read it here first. Thanks to Sarah B., Nubs had a chance to go explore the wild blue yonder in an early thriller that got her out of seminary AND school this morning. Senioritis, anyone?

UPDATE on Caroline's skydiving date this morning. Jumping from 13,500 feet in the air, she was exhilarated, and absolutely loved the experience. Her landing was picture-perfect (not like our quadriplegic, Make-a-Wish friend who broke both legs on landing and didn't figure it out till the next day when he noticed his legs were swollen...), and her only souvenir, other than the wonderful video she was given as a memento of her jump, is the fact that she is now able to blow air out of her ears. Not what we want. Solutions, anyone?

Ordering Shoes

The Editor — 2008-04-15T06:22:42+01:00

Ahhh, Zappo's online shoe store. We've finally found a source for those oversize footboats for the family flotilla of size 10 plusses that carry us through our days. Thanks to this fine site, we can type in our shocking size requirements and two days later the package arrives in its plain brown wrapper. We found some cuties this time around. Thanks, Z's! We remember back in the old days when the pressure to have small feet forced us into size nines with the bunions in the wings. Ouch! Just remembering it hurts

Oh, another thought. We remember the old Connecticut days, when the elementary school would hold its annual Grandparents' Day. Our little children would work feverishly to prepare their projects to show off to out of state Grandparents who never showed (why should they!). So our dear neighbor, Mrs. Lange from across the world and across the street, was pressed into service. When she arrived at the school, Sarah the Sweet took one look at her and incorrectly ascribed her identity to another family friend, Mrs. R. Shields, from our congregation. That explains why the picture of Sarah and Mrs. Lange shows the bewildered Mrs. L. wearing a nametag inscribed, "Sister Shields." Thanks Mrs. Lange. We shall pass on the good deed and go play grandparent to our dear little Crocketts, whose Gramma can't actually be at Grandparents' Day 2008. We look forward to touring Armstrong School!

Bataan Memorial Death March

The Editor — 2008-04-07T18:49:46+01:00

Aaron did something last week which we couldn't fully comprehend. He want to Arizona with a couple of law firm buddies, to an army base for a special themed-Marathon, the Bataan Memorial Death March. We thought he was kidding! But off he went, with a forty-pound back on his back (which he wore for the marathon) for the "Heavy Civilian" class, among hordes of dedicated and well-trained military teams and individuals who slogged through the desert sands in honor of the revered souls of those who endured that historic march. There for the event were several survivors of the actual event, who looked at the hundreds of modern-day marchers with who-knows-what emotions churning through their heads. Aaron and his teammates finished the grueling trek in just over eleven hours, and came home with some incredible memories under their belts. Beat THAT!

Having Fun on Conference Sunday

The Editor — 2008-04-08T04:09:34+01:00

Here's the photo album

It's that time of year again, when General Conference of the Church is broadcast throughout the universe. After a picnic at the Arboretum between sessions, we happily snuggled in with our Allreds and Crocketts (who might as well be ours) for the afternoon broadcast and a picnic in the back yard afterward, during which food magically appeared in what was one of the most elegant meals ever thrown together at the last minute. It was a day filled with jigsaw puzzling, tree climbing, plenty of little kids,, generalized snuggling, making music and picnicking.

Want some tips on how to live a good life? Want to know what's what? check out the archives and enjoy!

Nothing thin about Thin Mints

The Editor — 2008-04-04T11:07:12+01:00

Secret message: Bonjour, Jean Marie! Comment �a va?

It's that time of year again. The Girl Scouts are knocking at the door, laden with the boxed temptations which snag sympathetic friends and neighbors. Who can resist that upturned freckled face, importunate with ambitions of winning a fur-lined radio that doubles as a CD player, of being the highest seller in Troop 36? They cost almost nothing; so go ahead, we think. No, we didn't this year, but Nubs somehow got collared and fell for the pitch, resulting in piles of Girl Scout cookies on the front hall table. The peanut butter crunch variety accidentally got subsituted for the loads of Samoas ordered by our young ward, so we are safe from them. Who likes dried out peanut butter cookies? But the thin mints! Stash a sleeve here, a box there, put them all over the house, and then ask yourself what is thin about these cookies which are generally eaten a dozen at a time? This is the last year this will happen in this household! The LAST! Until our granddaughters get going in their troops, that is. Gotta hop, the cookies are waiting!

More family

The Editor — 2008-04-01T08:35:22+01:00

But wait, there's more family congregating as we welcome Billy and Kelsey, who join us tonight for a wonderful visit at Auntie Ruth's. Tamara showed off the gorgeous eggs laid by Pollo and The Other One, her two laying hens, and little Will got cozy with Fraulein Heidi.

Hunky Firefighter with Rototiller

The Editor — 2008-03-31T23:52:10+01:00

This is the kind of news we know you've all been waiting for. What does our hunky family firefighter Curtis of the Left Coast do on his four off days per week? What a great job he has; on duty for 48 hours each week, off duty for the rest. That's two days on, four days off, again and again and again, leaving him with time for coming on down to his momma's to till her pumpkin patch, which he's doing here. These Californians! We ate delicious fresh oranges right off Uncle Phil's back yard tree, met the two egg laying hens at Curtis and Tamara's house, everyone here has their own bees, so it's home grown honey at Phil's, Ruths, Unca Lenny's and the Parents'. We've got to get with it in Dallas. Bees? Let's do it!