Amarillo, TX

We arrived in Amarillo, TX around 5pm (CT). It's hard losing an hour due to time zones. We have lost two hours over the past two days. The indoor heated pool and spa close at 7pm (something I was really looking forward to enjoying) but we still needed to eat dinner. I called ahead and arranged for a free limo ride to and from the famous Big Texan Steakhouse Restaurant. Brian heard about this place from the Travel Channel and since we were passin' thru town...why not? It has a great atmoshpere. You can tell you are in Western Texas, everyone had there Wrangler jeans, leather boots and fantastic cowboy hats on. We must have looked naked without ours on. Texan' s show their pride in their state and way of life by wearing their hats, jeans and boots. I think it is to be admired.

The restaurant has several preserved animal species (deer, buffalo, elk, pheasant) proudly displayed above the tables. You can see into the kitchen where they cook the steaks. They have a table on a pedestal in the middle of the restaurant reserved for the poor fool who wants to prove himself by eating a 72 oz. steak in 1 hr's time. the reward is, you don't have to pay for the steak. Sound like an aweful challenge. I am not sure what kind of street credit or braggin right's you gain from this.

Everyone is wearing their western wear and they have a three man band (guitar, violin and standing bass) making the rounds. We asked the band to play us an ode to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, and they played San Antonio Rose. We ah-hahed at the end and Sienna clapped and danced and enjoyed every minute of it. She also wandered around the restaurant saying "hi" to everyone. She is outgoing- I wonder where she gets that from (Brian). I love it- it is great to see her reach out to people.

After dinner, I took Sienna to the playground, gave her a bath and now she is sleeping peacefully in her crib.