Ashley and I just got back from a much needed relaxing weekend at the coast.  Not much to report other than the copious amounts of sunshine and the feeling of not needing to do anything.  The local hotspots that were visited:

• The Inn at Clarks– I nice hotel on the water. Would be better if they had internet.
• Josie’s Mexican Restaurant- The breakfast tacos are hard to beat.
• The Cantina- Really an extension of Josie’s, the local night spot.
• Speedy Stop- Deli Express at 3 in the morning, the locals idea of supreme cuisine.
• Cathy’s- For a surprisingly good chicken melt( Chicken fried chicken with cheese, Jalapenos and grilled onions on Texas toast.)
• Virgina’s on the Bay– A early afternoon snack and a Bloody Mary, Jalapeno Mesquite-Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Dip on the Ritz.
• Snoopy’s Pier– Fish and Chips with Crab Stuffed Jalapeno poppers
• Snoopy’s Veranda– Ice cream before heading home.

After a quick walk down the beach and eating we were back to the grind, until next time.

Were you lucky enough to get a hold of the most talked about tablet since the pair handed down from Sinai? Or perhaps you had the saintly patience to wait for one after pre-ordering from Apple. If so, picking up Minoit’s Real Wood iPad 2 Cover ($70) will guarantee your sleek new gadget doesn’t get lost in the crowd of Apple’s own smart covers. Made from a single piece of wood, the shell actually improves on the folding tricks of the leather and polyurethane competition by rolling into a cylinder. This lets it act as a stand in both portrait and landscape mode while still using the same magnetic magic to stay in place. Reserve one via pre-order now.

If you are a Flickr user and have an idevice this is a necessity.  This app and a camera connection kit could elevate the need to take a laptop on a trip just to upload pictures to flickr.  After a few days of light use I have found ways to use Explore more effectively and the big one is to upload.  Obviously the need to edit and watermark are still there but in  a pinch this will work and will save time and your back on the quick weekend trips where the iPad is all you need.

Texas State Capitol , originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A little HDR

Driskill Hotel , originally uploaded by adambarhan.

The Driskill at night

Hole in government , originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Backside of Capitol

The Front Steps , originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Looking up at the Texas Capitol Building

There’s aged whiskey, and then there’s theGlenlivet 70 Year Old Whiskey (£13,000; roughly $21,000). The second release in Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations range, this rare spirit was distilled on February 3, 1940, and comes in a gorgeous tear-shaped, hand-blown crystal decanter, with a silver stopper and base, and a handmade box crafted from Scottish Elm. If you want some, you’d best hurry — only 100 bottles were made. [Thanks, uncrate]