Our New Logo -

Spring Has Arrived at The Hotel Abandon!

My sister Amy, her wonderful husband, Greg, and their adorable children (now full-fledged pre-teens) spent the weekend at The Hotel, and it went way too fast. We spent time swimming (of course), shopping (the "Escalada Madness" continues), and watching Julia perform in a Lake Dallas Choir fundraiser.

We had a wonderful weekend (although there were many "work" interruptions) and it was over all too soon.

Work is nearly complete on The Hotel Abandon Ultimate Summer CD Spectacular, which will be the only CD you will ever need to while away the hours basking in the sun, or enjoying cocktails at sunset; however, from the absymally low reaction level to the Spring Sampler (and the blog in general) I fear we may be cutting back on the list of those "Friends of the Hotel" who will be receiving this most excellent and exuberant celebration of summer (and for those of you who are confused, it means .... "no comments - - no love -- no CD" - you hear me? - and YES ladies, this means you!).

Much Love,

- The Proprietor

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words!

One of my mother's several cinematic endeavors. Just in case any of you ever thought I make this shit up.

Deb's Legacy Recording

I am spending this Easter Sunday working on some of the more "mundane" tasks associated with completing Deb's Legacy CD - like inserting, printing, and removing, about one hundred cds into the printer, cutting out CD inserts, back labels, et. cetera, et. cetera. While it's been mindless, it's also been very healing. I'm hoping to get all the printing, et al done this weekend, and I'm close to deciding on the master recording disc, which I hope to take to one of the local music shops for high speed duplication - which will save me hours of CD duplication.

Thanks to you all for being so very patient with me as I work through this process. I am really excited about how it's all turning out. In the meantime, I'll probably be bugging a few of your for updated addresses for some dear friends I've lost track of over time. Happy Easter to you all!

It's A Baby Girl for Donny Buck Himpel!

Deva Ann Himpel-McKleer, born July 3, 2007, was adopted by Don and his partner, Bill. She's adorable!

Hotel Abandon Spring CD Sampler is in the Mail!

The Hotel Abandon Spring 2008 CD Sampler
1. Within Without – Over the Rhine
2. You Might Walk Away – Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter
3. Skin Divers – Duran Duran
4. The Cold, the Dark and the Silence – Sea Wolf
5. Broken – Tift Merritt
6. Since You’ve Been Around – Rosie Thomas
7. Somebody Loved – The Weepies
8. In the Deep – Bird York
9. Time is a Lion – Joe Henry
10. La La La – The Bird and the Bee
11. I Stand – Idina Menzel
12. Don’t Let the Moment Pass – Marti Webb
13. The Boondocks – Little Big Town
14. Firecracker – Dana Falconberry
15. Heart of a Man – Eliza Gilkyson
16. Dark Road (Acoustic) – Annie Lennox
17. Fever (Live & Slow) – Over the Rhine
18. I Didn’t Know What Time it Was – Nancy LaMott
19. Whatever Happened to Romance – Victoria Hart
20. Total Momisms – Anita Renfro

Skyline Salon - Grand Opening Slated for May!

I heard from John Escalada, looking oh so dashing and twenty-something in his Tarot Card Portrait, via voicemail this evening, and I'm pleased to report that things are going well with his soon-to-be opened Skyline Salon. He shared with me that the gi-normous "grand opening" will likely be sometime in May. Depending on Julia's schedule with her classes and choir performances, the Faust delegation intends to be in attendance for this most auspicous occasion, and we welcome all friends of The Hotel Abandon to consider the trip to KC to commemorate the begining of what will surely be a tremendously successful business venture.

We love you John, and wish you and Carmen all the best success in the world!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I Love My Victrola!

Thanks to many efforts, I finally have my incredible victorola in my bedroom, and my mom and dad are sending boxes (yes, that is plural, boxes) of old 78 rpm records with my sister Amy when she and her family come to visit in two weeks. I can't thank Shanna and Laura enough for twisting my arm and making me buy this wonderful musical time machine!

And, just to tease the casual visitor to the Hotel Abandon's virtual home, make certain you're on the guest list for the upcoming "Spring CD Sampler" and of course on the guest list for the 2008 Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Spectacular.

Our Little Girls Are Growing Up!

But they still like to play in the snow, I guess. I found these on Julia's camera this morning, and had to share it with you. Julia's starting to look at colleges, Jess has a job and will be driving soon, and Caleb is taller than me and will be in High School next year.

Lord, I'm feeling older by the minute.

I have completed the Hotel Abandon Spring Sampler and will be working on copying and assembling over the weekend. Look for it in the mail sometime next week.

It's Been A Hard Day . . .

The Love of My Life

May 26, 1961 - March 10, 2006

Sarah Frazier Triumphs In Southwestern College Production of Into the Woods!

Julia and I traveled to Winfield, Kansas this weekend to catch Sarah Frazier's performance as "Cinderella" in Into the Woods. It was an amazing performance by a HUGE cast for a small college, and, of course, Sarah stole the show, especially moving in her rendition of No One Is Alone. It was a quick trip up on Saturday and back on Sunday, but more than worth it. Plus! I managed to track Shanna down and get the victrola I bought last weekend in Kansas City! Now I just need some more old records to play on it. Julia and I had the best time talking on the way up and back, that is when she wasn't sleeping. I fear she's inherited her mother's fondness for that particular state of being! On the way home, I've been formulating the playlist in my head for the Hotel Abandon's Spring Sampler. If you're not already on our request list for this item, please call, write, or email, and we'll get you on the mailing list for this most exclusive item.

The Watchmen Movie - Production Stills!

High on the Hotel Abandon's "Recommended Reading List" is the Alan Moore graphic novel, The Watchmen, which is being made into a movie to premiere on March 9, 2009. Some of the Hotel's patron's have already read this most excellent work, and I highly recommend it to any of you who haven't. It was on Time's list of the 100 Greatest Books of the 20th Century.

The Hotel is considering hosting a premiere party for this event, in lieu of its annual New Year's Celebration, so please do mark your calendars.

To check out more photos, see the Production Blog for the Movie at http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/

Dallas Experiences Freak March Snowstorm! Yeti Sighted at the Galleria! The Dogs are Sticking to the Sidewalk!

My Wonderful Friends!

It's been such a whirlwind since I got back from my weekend in Kansas City at John and Don's incredible home, that I haven't had the chance to post anything about the weekend, but my favorite part of the weekend, even considering the incredible performance of The Spirit of Uganda, and the fabulous shopping with my guardian angel of fashion, Mr. John Escalada, was the incredibly lazy, wonderful outdoor lunch on the Plaza with all my friends, and it so reminded me of the days when we would all get together in Wichita at The Artichoke and do the same thing. And thanks to Laura, those good times and that great feeling of companionship was captured in this great charicature, a copy of which I keep in my office at home and at work. I just can't say how much I love and treasure you all. I'm a very fortunate man, indeed!

Snowy Primary Day In Big-D!!!

We got snow last night and this is what we had to wake up to this morning! Don't even ask how long it took me to get in this morning, and I'm still not caught up yet.

I, of course, made certain to vote before I got on the parking lot we like to call I-35. It will be interesting to see who ends up winning tonight.