How did we ever end up in Galveston for New Year's?

Because we were poor.  And it was within driving distance.

We met Grammy and Grandy there back in 2000-2001.  One night we went out to "The Steakhouse."  Asher was a little over a year old.  He was getting a little antsy before our dinners arrived, so I took him on a little walk to the lobby, to see the parrot. 

When we got there, the parrot was sitting peacefully on his swing in his gilded cage.  Asher thought that was really cool.

Then, the large bird approached us as any creature with no arms would...he grabbed one of the bars of his cage with his beak, and then two other bars with his large talons, and let out a loud SQUAAAAWWWWWK!!!

Asher thought that was really scary.  And he did something we've only seen him do 3 or 4 times.  He stepped back, went into a full-body-shiver, and began to cry.  From then on, whenever he acted up at the dinner table, I'd offer to let him go see the parrot again.

So I was in Galveston this week, and decided to go see if said parrot was still there.  He is.