H C E ill ountry states Hill Country Estates/Westview ...…William Cannon, and a new location at...

Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc. Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates Community Newsletter - April 2008 �

Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates

Volume 3, Number 4 April 2008

The Official Publication of the Hill Country Estates HOA & Westview Estates NA

ill ountry states

estview statesH C E

EW and

ommunity ewsletterNC

Don't want to wait for the Mail?View the current issue of the Hill Country Estates & Westview Estates Community

Newsletter on the 1st day of each month online at www.PEELinc.com

Election Year Countdownby Charlsa Bentley, HCE

AustinwassureanexcitingplacetobeinFebruaryandMarch,consideringallthehooplasurroundingourTexasprimaryelectionheldonMarch4.Whilethepresidentialhopefuls(andtheirtelevisionadsandautomatedphonecalls)havenowmovedontootherareasofthecountry,thereisstillsomevotingtobedoneattheApril8PrimaryRunoff. TheTravisCountyRepublicanPartyofficetellsmethattherearenorunoffsforanyoftheircandidatesforpublicoffice.NotsofortheDems.AccordingtotheTravisCountyDemocraticPartyoffice,therearetworunoffsthataffectus:MindyMontfordandRosemaryLehmbergforTravisCountyDistrictAttorney,andDaleHenryandMarkThompsonforRailroadCommissioner. The Primary Runoff election will be held onTuesday,April 8,2008.Ifyoudidn’tvoteatallintheMarch4primary,youcanstillvoteintheApril8runoff.IfyouvotedintheMarch4DemocraticPartyprimary,youcanvoteintheApril8runoff. We’reinPrecinctNo.361,soourpollinglocationistheWestRuralCommunityCenterat8656Highway71West.EarlyvotingtakesplaceMarch31 throughApril4. Youcandoearlyvotingatanylocation;however,thethreelocationsclosesttoourtwosubdivisionsaretheRandallsatBrodie&Slaughter, theRandallsatMoPac&WilliamCannon,andanewlocationattheBeeCaveCityHalloutinthenewBeeCaveGalleria.VotinghoursatthosethreelocationsareMonday-Saturday7amto7pm,andSunday12:00noonto6pm.AsI’vesaidbefore,twoofmyfavoritewebsitesforvotinginformationaretheLeagueofWomenVotersAustinArea(www.lwvaustin.org)and theTravis CountyVoters website (www.traviscountytax.org/goVoters.do).Betweenthosetwosites,youcanfindjustaboutanytypeofinformationyou’dbelookingforANDverifyyourcurrentvoter’sregistration(orprintoutavoterregistrationapplication,ifyouhaven’talreadyregistered).

We’re a traveling bunch of folks!Carolyn Barkley (onStreamside)spent3weekstouringIndia,aplaceshe’dalwaysdreamedofseeing!Read Carolyn’s article in this issue about one exciting aspect ofhertrip.…… Highway 71 update. AccordingtoinformationobtainedattheTexasDepartmentofTransportation’spresentationonimprovementstoHighway71,theproposedconfigurationforoursegmentwillbefourlinesdividedbyacenterturnlanewithshoulders,andanticipatedconstructionstartdateisFY2010.……Runnin’ round the hood, and elsewhere!Sharon Figaro(onBrightStar)sharesthisstorywithus.Sharonsays:“I’vebeenrunningformanyyearsandenjoyrunningthequietstreetsofourneighborhood.I’veneverreallyenteredanyraces,althoughmydadalwaysencouragedmeandaskedwhyIdidn’truninanyraces.Iprefertorunalone,butformydadIenteredtheCapital10Kthreeyearsagoandgot10thplaceinmyagegroup.LastyearIenteredagainandgot4thplaceinmyagegroup.ThisyeartheraceisMarch30th,andIamplanningonenteringagain.Whoknows--maybeIcanget2ndplace,andmydadwouldbesoproud.Iknowyouarealwayslookingfornewstufftoputinthenewsletter,soyoucandowhateveryouwantwiththislittleinformationaboutthecrazyladyrunningaroundinourneighborhood.”Thank you, Sharon! This is exactly the kind of thing we enjoy learning about each other!…… The “Didjaknow” column is a monthly collection of random information and observations by your newsletter editors. We’re always looking for interesting tidbits that may not be big enough for a full story but nevertheless deserve the spotlight. Please send your contributions for this column to cbentley@austin.rr.com.

Didjaknow...

Book Club Update ForitslatestdiscussionofEat,Pray,LovebyElizabethGilbert,thebookclubtookacuefromtheauthor’sindulgenceinthepleasureofItalianfoodandenjoyedsomedeliciousItaliantreats.OnThursdayApril 10we’ll be discussing Love in theTime of CholerabyGabrielGarciaMarquez.Thenwe’llgatheragain o nMay22totalkaboutTheMemoryKeeper’sDaughterbyKimEdwards.Ifyouwouldlike to join the book club or attendonemeeting,pleasecontactAngelaBusseyat301-9650oraabussey@gmail.com.

2 Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates Community Newsletter - April 2008 Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc.

Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates

Newsletter InformationEditors HCE-CharlsaBentley.................... cbentley@austin.rr.com Westview-KevinGood..................................kgnrc@att.netPublisher Peel,Inc.........................www.PEELinc.com,512-989-8905 Advertising........advertising@PEELinc.com,512-989-8905

Important NumbersHill Country Estates HOA Officers MaurinePoe,President............................cmpoegeo@aol.com CatherineToran,VicePresident............. pringleCat@aol.com CharlsaBentley,Secretary&OHANRep ........................................................... cbentley@austin.rr.com MarleneWarner,Treasurer............ mdegailler@austin.rr.comWestview Estates NA Officers KevinGood,OHANRep..................................kgnrc@att.net

Baby Pet Plant YardName Age Sit Sit Sit Work PhoneAllison............................. 14....................•.........•....................632-9632Desiree............................ 13................... •.........•....................301-7316

*-CPR Training +-First Aid Training

Teenage Job Seekers

Attention Teenagers TheTeenage Job SeekerslistingserviceisofferedfreeofchargetoHillCountryEstates&WestviewEstatesteenagersseekingwork.Submityournameandinformationtocbentley@austin.rr.combythe5thofthemonth!

DISCLAIMER:ArticlesandadsinthisnewsletterexpresstheopinionsoftheirauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsofPeel,Inc.oritsemployees.Peel,Inc.isnotresponsiblefortheaccuracyofanyfactsstatedinarticlessubmittedbyothers.Thepublisheralsoassumesnoresponsibilityfortheadvertisingcontentwiththispublication.Allwarrantiesandrepresentationsmadeintheadvertisingcontentaresolelythatoftheadvertiserandanysuchclaimsregardingitscontentshouldbetakenupwiththeadvertiser.*Thepublisherassumesnoliabilitywithregardtoitsadvertisersformisprintsorfailuretoplaceadvertisinginthispublicationexceptfortheactualcostofsuchadvertising.*Althougheveryeffortistakentoavoidmistakesand/ormisprints,thepublisherassumesnoresponsibilityforanyerrorsofinformationortypographicalmistakes,except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case ofmisinformation,aprintedretraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental orconsequentialdamages,inconvenience,lossofbusinessorservices,oranyotherliabilitiesfromfailuretopublish,orfromfailuretopublishinatimelymanner,exceptaslimitedtoliabilitiesstatedabove.

At no time willanysourcebeallowedtousetheHillCountryEstates/WestviewEstatesCommunityNewslettercontents,orloansaidcontents,toothersinanyway,shapeorform,norinanymedia,website,print,film,e-mail,electrostaticcopy,fax,oretc.forthepurposeofsolicitation,commercialuse,oranyuseforprofit,politicalcampaigns,orotherselfamplification,underpenaltyoflawwithoutwrittenorexpressedpermissionfromtheHillCountryEstatesHOAandWestviewEstatesNAandPeel,Inc.Theinformationinthenewsletter isexclusivelyfor theprivateuseofHillCountryEstates/WestviewEstatesresidentsonly.

Personal Classifieds

Classified AdsPersonal classifieds(onetimesellitems,suchasausedbike...)run at no charge toHill Country Estates/WestviewEstatesresidents,limit30words,pleasee-mailcbentley@austin.rr.comBusiness classifieds(offeringaserviceorproductlineforprofit)are$50,limit40words,pleasecontactPeel,Inc.SalesOfficeat512-989-8905oradvertising@PEELinc.com.

Want to buy: Carseatforinfanttosmallchild,stroller(easytowork).CallStephanieWerner@288-5135.

For Sale: Motorcycle,2000HondaShadowAceDeluxe,lowmiles,extraseat&footboards.$5,500.Call288-2989(hm)or476-4200(wk)(JayneWooten).

Want to Buy:Adult(small)wheelchair.Call288-5135.

For Sale:Baby&YouthFurniturebySimmonsinbeautifullightMaplehardwood.Thecompletesetincludesbabybedw/mattress,3-drawerdresserw/changingtop,twinbedw/matchingheadboard,frame,andmattress.Callforappointment,632-9675.

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc. Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates Community Newsletter - April 2008 �

Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates

SeeingtheTajMahalinAgra,India,withmyowneyeswasthewishIwanted.SowhenIfinallydidgettoseetheTajMahalthisJanuary,Ithoughtallmywishesanddreamshadbeenfulfilled. But there was one more dream I wanted, and that was to ride acaparisoned Indian elephant. I had ridden an elephant inThailandandZimbabwe,Africabut itwasnot caparisoned. [Editor’snote: Acaparisonedelephant isone thathasbeendressedwithdecorativeorornamental coverings.] That dream was becoming hard to realize,however, as the tourism industry in India was discouraging elephantridingbecausealadyhadbeenkilledasshewasridingoneinJaipur.AsItouredIndiawithTauckWorldDiscovery,Irepeatedlyaskedtorideanelephantbuteverytimetheanswerwasnotfavorable.Iwatchedpeopleonthesideoftheroadandatpalacesandtouristareasridingelephants.ButIcouldn’trideone,soIgaveuptheidea. TwodayslaterourtourwasinUdaipurandwewerestayinginthe#1hotelintheworldasrankedbyTravelandLeisure2007.Iwashavinglunchwithacoupleonthetour,andwehadorderedourlunch.Thewaitervisitedme several times askingquestions aboutmyorder. I politelyansweredhimandheleft. Myfriendsonthetour,JimandRosemary,sittingatthetablenexttome,arrivedforlunchafterIdid,orderedandfinishedlunchandstillIhadnotreceivedmine.“Ifyouwanttogoshoppingwithus,weareleavingnow.”theysaidtome.“ButIhaven’thadlunchyet”Isaid.“Weareleavingsocomewithusnow”,theysaidonefinaltime. Ileftthetableandfollowedthemoutoftherestaurant.AndIthoughttomyself“this is theserviceat the#1hotel intheworld.”Ihadjustmadeitoutthefrontdooroftherestaurantwhenthewaitressranuptomesaying“Ma’am,pleasecomebackandeatyourlunch.”ItoldherIhadtogobecauseIwasinahurrytogoshoppingwithmyfriends.Shefollowedfor700feetandbeggedmeagainandagainuntilIgotintothecarwaitingatthehotelentrance.ItoldherIhadlunchofbreadandwaterandmissingamealsurelywouldn’thurtme.AndfinallyIassuredherthatIwasn’tupsetormadovertheincident;itisjustthatIhavetogoshoppingforallthewonderfulsouvenirsinJaipurandIhadtogonow.Jim,RosemaryandIhadawonderfulafternoonshoppingJaipuraswehadhiredaprivatecaranddrivertotakeuswherewewantedtoshopforallofIndia’streasurers. Wereturnedtothehotelintimefordinnerand,asagreedupon,wemadeareservationfor7p.m.inthesamerestaurantthatwehadlunch.IarrivedbeforeJimandRosemaryandwaitedatthetablealoneforonlya fewminuteswhen the restaurantmanager requested to speakwithme.Heapologizedfornomealatlunchandexplainedthewaiterdidnotunderstandameal“withnocheeseonit.”Heassuredmethattheyhadaspecialmeetingtocorrecttheproblem,thatthewaiterhasbeenreprimanded,andthatnewprocedureswerenowinplacesotheproblemwouldneverhappenagain.Heofferedacomplimentarydinner,dessert,anddrink,buteverythinghementionedIcouldn’teatoritwasincludedwiththetour.IthankedhimforhisoffersandassuredhimIwasnotupsetovertheincident. JimandRosemaryarrivedfordinnerandweallhadawonderfulmealasItoldthemabouttherestaurantmanagermeetingwithmeoverthelunchincident.Jimthensaid,“Youshouldhavetoldhimyouwantedacaparisonedelephantforthemake-good.”IwasjustinshockbecauseIdidn’tthinkofit.Wehadbeendiscussingforthelastfewdayshiringacaparisonedelephantfor$80anhourtocometothehotelonemorningsoallofuscouldhaveourphotomadewithit.Thatwouldbeourspecial

gifttoour24travelingcompanionsonthetour.ImmediatelyIsummonedthewaiterandtoldhim“telltherestaurantmanagerIwantacaparisonedelephantasmymake-goodfornolunchyesterday.”HeacknowledgedwhatIhadsaid. ThenextmorningIamhavingbreakfastinthesamerestaurantandIamabouthalffinishedwithmymeal.Irealizesomeoneistappingonmyleftshoulder.Itisthesamewaiterwhotookmyorderatlunchthedaybefore.“Ma’am,Ma’am,Ihaveyourcaparisonedelephantoutfront.”Istoppedeating,lookedupathimintotaldisbeliefandIwasscreaming“NOWAY.”Hesaid,“Yes,Yes,heisoutside.Comenow.Comenow”.Ireplied“ButIameatingbreakfastandIonlyhave20minutesbeforethebusleavesforourmorningtour.”HerepeatedthatImustcomenow.SoIgetupandhepullsmebythearmandmakesmewalk700feetveryfasttothemainentranceofthehotel.There,beforemyveryeyes,wasmydreamcometrueandmore.Therewasmycaparisonedelephantwithcamelsandhorsesandpeople,allofwhichwerepartofafestivalcelebration.IfeltlikeitwasChristmasmorningandSantaClaushadjustarrivedwithsurprisesforme.Mydreamhadcometrue. ScreamingandtakingphotosasfastasIcould,Igotothecaparisonedelephantandhavemyphotomadeandthenthecamel,horseandfinallythepeople.Alltheanimalsaredressedupin“costume”withcolorfulquilt-likeblanketsontheirbacks,garlandandsequinsontheirheadandlegs,acapontheirhead,withgoldandjewelseverywhere.Anelephantdecoratedwithgoldandjewelsiscaparisoned.Ladies,dancingtothebeatofthemusicalinstruments,weredressedRajasthanistyleinbrightcolorfulsarisandthemahouts(elephantattendants)guidedtheelephantasthemastertrainerscontrolledcamelsandhorses. Afterhavingmyphotomadewiththebeautifulladies,Iwenttoacamelandaskedthetrainerwhatitsnamewas.Icalledthecamelhisnameandtoldhimhowhandsomehewasandblewhimkissesoverandover.ThenextthingIknow,thecamelthrowshisheadupintheairandopenshismouthfullyandletsoutabellowthatisobviouslyoneofapproval.Thenhetouchesmycheekwithhisnoseandthenhistrainer’scheek.NeverhadIreceivedsucharesponsefromananimal.ThenIwenttothehugeelephant,foundouthisname,calledit,blewhimkissesandtoldhimwhatagorgeouselephanthewas.Allofasuddenhethrowshisheadupintheairandraiseshistrunkupintheairandgivesoutalongbellowinghonk.IwasjustinshockathisreactionandalittlescaredsinceIhadbeenwarnedaboutIndianelephants.Wehadbeentoldthattheladywhowaskilledhadbeentauntingtheelephantandtheelephantapparentlyretaliatedbythrowingheroff.Myelephantobviouslyapprovedofmygreetings. AfterIfinallycalmeddownInoticedthatmostofourtourmemberswereenjoyingthefestivalcelebrationalsoandhavingtheirphotosmadewiththecaparisonedelephant.Mydreamhadcometrueforusall.Butitdidn’tdampenourspiritsaswelearnedthecelebrationwasstagedtowelcome a tour group that had just arrived at the hotel.Wewerefortunate,however,tobeincludedinthecelebrationandthewaiterwasnicetohelpmefulfilladreamwhilethehotelscoreda#1intheworldmake-good. SonowmydreamofseeingtheTajMahalwasjustoneofmydreamscometrueinIndia.Thatmostbeautifulandmostperfectbuildingintheworldjusthadalittlecompetitionforfulfillingdreams. MughalEmperorJahan,thebuilderoftheTajMahal,wouldneverthinkhisTajwouldbeincompetitionwithacaparisonedelephantforfulfillingdreams.Butitwas,andbothwereincredibleinIncredibleIndia.

Dreams do come true… with Elephants!By Carolyn Barkley, HCE

� Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates Community Newsletter - April 2008 Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc.

Hill Country Estates/Westview Estates

% Voice 512-989-8905 V www.PEELinc.com

Peel, Inc.203W.MainStreet,SuiteDPflugerville,Texas78660

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPEEL, INC.

HW

512-989-8905 www.PEELinc.com

Peel, Inc.Printing & PublishingPublishing community newsletters since 1991

Advertise your businessto your neighbors.

Support This Neighborhood

Newsletter.Kelly PeelSales Manager

512-989-8905kelly@PEELinc.com