Road Trip!

If you've ever read any of my previous blogs than you know about my love for Abilene and all the unique things available here. Well I've finally found someone who shares my passion- the Abilene Visitors Bureau! 

They too are sick and tired of hearing people say "there's NOTHING to do in Abilene!" So the Visitor's center started a website www.abileneroadtrip.com to show Abilenians, both new and old, that there IS something to do in Abilene.

Abilene road trip is divided into itineraries for all the different things you could be looking for. Trying to plan a girlfriends get away? Try the "girls day out" tab. Want to experience the real 'wild west'? Check out the "western fun" section. There are also different ones for families, couples and other activities. 

Even if you don't have to go on a road trip to get to your destination, as soon as you get there your sure to have a great time.

Till next time-Courtnee 

Eat Soup, Fight Hunger

The Empty Bowl Project started in the 90's by a middle school teacher and through the years it has grown to include people all over the world. 

This Saturday (February 21st) is the second to be held in Abilene. Last year the Empty Bowls Project had 600 bowls donated and they ran out so this year they have over 1,000 and are hoping to run out again. 

On Saturday from 11a.m. till 7p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church everybody in the Big Country is invited to purchase a bowl (with a donation) and eat soup and bread, and once lunch is over you can take your bowl home with you! What restaurant lets you take your dish home with you?!

Local artist who own shops, or people taking classes (for school or leisure) or people whose hobby it is to make bowls have spent the year donating their supplies, time and finished products to this weekends event. Local businesses are also donating soup and bread- so 100% of the donations go to feeding the hungry in both West Texas and internationally. 

Some of the bowls donated are real works of art but all were made with love and hope that one day hunger won't be an issue here in the Big Country. 

Till next time-Courtnee

University Theatre

Two universities have opening shows tonight! I was lucky enough to get to sit through both dress rehearsals, and honestly, I'm trying to find time in my schedule to go see them again!

McMurry's dinner theater is Hedda Gabler a tragedy, by Henrik Ibsen, in which a selfish conniving girl's wrongful decisions ultimately lead to her end.

It's preformed in the Amy Graves Ryan Little Theatre with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for dinner and the show or $8 for just the show, and it will be performed Feb. 12th-14th and the Feb. 19th-21st. You can reserve your tickets by calling the McMurry Theatre Box Office at (325) 793-3889.

If you haven't made Valentine's Day plans yet, this might be a great affordable idea for you and a date- though the content matter might be a little hard for younger audiences to understand.

ACU also has an opening night tonight with their Winter Musical Little Women. Even those familiar with the book and multiple movies will be entertained with this version, because it's set to music!

The singing and dancing are as great at the acting and I kept finding myself trying to sing along- luckily for the people sitting next to me I didn't know the words so I wasn't able too!

Tickets for Little Women are $15 and are available by calling the ACU Theatre Department at (325) 674-ARTS (2787). The show starts at 7:30 and can be seen Feb. 12th-14th, the 19th, 20th, 27th and the 28th!

Abilene is so lucky to be able to have traveling Broadway shows visit, but also because we have all this talent that's already here! Many of the students in both plays are from fight here in Abilene!

Till next time-Courtnee

Fade to Fashion

I experienced another first tonight, my first fashion show. And it wasn't in Milan or Paris, but I bet it was just as good! 

Last year Mallorie Frank, current ACU graduate, was trying to think of a new way to bring black culture to ACU, she looked out a window only to see people walking by and she thought, 'Fashion!'.

Tonight's show had ACU students from all ethnic backgrounds dressed as they would normally dress- just maybe kicked up a notch!- in fact most of the clothes came from the models own closets.

Frank wants her fellow students to feel comfortable in their own skin and their own clothes- and tonight they did just that! Fast paced music and awesome outfits set the mood as the packed out audience cheered and whistled at each outfit as their classmates walked by. 

I always knew Abilene was filled with talent like singing, dancing, acting...but who knew we had a fashion show director in our mist?

Till next time-Courtnee 

p.s. check out the video to fully catch the feeling of the show!

The Harsher Side of the News and of Abilene

I'm constantly telling you about my favorite things about Abilene, but Abilene is just like any other city. It has it's good qualities but it also has crime and tragic accidents (crime can often be similar to tragic accidents, except it's more like senseless accidents), and today was one of those.

While many of you were out getting last minute cokes and pretzels for your Super Bowl parties I was out getting footage of a house that was no longer standing and talking to neighbors who watched their friends house burn to the ground with a mother trapped inside.

Early this morning three fire engines and a ladder truck, along with several other rescue personal, went to the 1200 block of Cedar where a house was already full engulfed in flames.

According to one neighbor, the home owner Eddie Edwards was trying to distinguish the fire with a garden hose and was unsure where his wife Michelle was.

It turns out that Michelle was trapped in a bathroom and fire fighters were unable to save her.

Eddie and his three children made it out of the house, but one of his sons did receive 3rd degree burns to 87% his body and had to be air lifted to Lubbock by a helicopter. His other two children were treated in town for minor injuries and have already been released.

It made it even harder when I went back tonight to shoot my stand up (when you can see me in the story), because Michelle's father came out and spoke with me. It's so hard to talk with a parent who has recently lost their child, and to make it worse he still does not know the fate of his grandson.

I choose to be a reporter, I've spent my whole life wanting it, but I can't deny the hurt and pain I feel having to be so close to so many horrible things that happen.

People talk about how depressing the news can be- but just imagine if it was your daily duty to stand in the middle of all that ciaos and tell others about it.

Don't get me wrong, I do my job for several reasons, 1) because somebody has to do it, 2) usually I do love my job and 3) there can be some really rewarding moments; like after you do a story and someone comes up and tells you how much you helped them or they tell you how they were impacted by something you reported on- there is no feeling in the world like it. Like when I was talking to Michelle's father and he told me about all the people who have already been to his home donating clothing for the children, giving them food and money, offering to help in anyway they can. Despite this horrible event I still get to see a great side of people.

Till next time-Courtnee

p.s. a special thanks to Bill Altom who shared this photo with me