+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Remember the Alamo
Applied Materials makes computer chips and stuff. Kim's mom works there and they played The Alamo for the friends and family of the employee's on an outdoor screen for free (not to be confused with the real Alamo). So we hung out for an evening, it was a blast eating popcorn, icecream and crackers. Ryan went to sleep but Kim and I watched the movie. Kim was feeling a bit under becuase her cookies got tossed. She doesn't really get morning sickness she gets md-evening sickness. :)
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Dragons
Went to go see Shreck 2 the other day. (I highly recommend this movie, it is hilarious.) On the way there, we were stopped in traffic (typical Austin) and these two decided to take a break. The high temperatures are getting into the low 90's now, yet I have been comfortable. Have not really started turning the A/C on when I'm driving around in the truck and the Apartment has been staying around 77 degrees. Odd how acclimation works. I know, several of you are counting down to see how I do in August... No Problemo!
+ 1 - 0 | § ¶2 be or not 2 be, or just 2 be 2
Ryan had a very exciting birthday. Maybe I should setup a slide show on here or something eh? This picture is Ryan studying a book he got from my mom.
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Connections and degrees
If you have noticed the block in the right column that says "Last Referrers" are where people clicked a link go get here. I thought I would point it out because today, somebody got to this page by going to yahoo and searching for BUGS IN SAND BOX
Shows how we are all connected with that whole 6 degrees of separation thing, eh? ...
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Austin is Weird
There are "keep Austin weird" stickers all over the place. So today, ol Travis (website not linked because it is a secret) sent some news articles of Leslie. Leslie is the cross dressing homeless guy that lives at 717 w 6th street. He runs for mayor and the last race he actually came in second with 8% of the vote.
The Articles:
Austin Experience.com
Austin Chronicle.com
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Tears
Why is it, when I pull a nose hair it makes me cough?
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Scatterbrain
This week has been an exciting week. Ryan has started asking "Why", as he approaches his "two birthday" on the 18th. That is fun, makes for interesting semi-conversations with him. Although I have not figured out how to explain why for some things, sometimes its just "cuz its supposed to be like that".
I had to work 16 hours last weekend and 6 this weekend. Makes for some extra *cash* but that is going to be offset by the taxes at the end of the year and the sacrifice in time not at home. Slashdot linked up a comment on how work is becoming an activity instead of a place. whatever.
I still have strange feelings of being far away from home. I am not sure why, I do not really have a "home", having moved a good bit in my 30 years. I have waves of it feeling like home is down here since Texas is somewhat close to Oklahoma, but the scenery looks like Madison which is confusing and my sister is much farther away. I know family has been getting frustrated with me because I do not communicate very weel when I get like this. Somewhere around April 28 was my second month in Austin. Amazing how fast some things change and others do not.
I am now able to make it from one side of Austin to the other and know where several of the highways go that cross I35. I have also figured out where some of the food places are and where to go "hang out". Things that do not change fast are getting comfortable with the new apartment, sure I sleep, eat, shower and poo there but it still feels like something is not there yet. Perhaps its the corner that the stuff I don't have room for sits waiting for me to get comfortable with the idea of parting with it...
Yesterday was somewhat tough. my grandma went to the hospital for an emergency surgery but I was out of the loop. She is fine and should be going home today. I sorta feel cool because she is much closer than when I was in Wisconsin, but the communication with my dad about it seems to come at a snails pace..
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Jokes for Betty
Q: How many monkeys does it take to fill a bus?
A: That depends on the size of the bus and the size of the monkeys.
Q: What did the Monkey say to the Turtle?
A: Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh
Thanks to rstuckey for this bit of humour.
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Operation Diner and a Movie part 2
Our apartments deliver a free paper and a news letter with the months happenings at the beginning of every month. This months newsletter had the events of Austin and listed and one of them is the Old Pecan Street Art Festival. We decided to give it a gander and headed downtown to 6th street which I learned *is* "old pecan street". Honestly, I would not have known I was not still in Madison at one of the many sidewalk art festivals that occur during the summer. However, in Madison right now my page reats 39F and its 70F here so I am guessing that they are probably still operating along the lines of the Kites on Ice, not sidewalk fair (unless you are wearing ski's).
The fair was everything it could be. We split a Turkey leg, sausage link on a tortilla (for those of you in Wisconsin, think brat) and some "Texas Taters". Which in this case it was a potato that was turned into a ribbon and fried. Similar to a potato chip, but its made right before your eyes. Then there was a snow cone. I was hoping to find a cookie but didn't.
Saw lots of stuff, junk and oddballs walking around. A few things looked interesting but nothing that we could not live without. It was lots of fun to walk around downtown and see stuff, people, buildings and hear some of the local bands. After we had our fill of the art fair we walked over to the Omni Hotel to see if we could gain roof access to see the pool without staying there. No luck with the roof but we did get to ride 12 floors up and down (for a total of 24 floors) in a glass elavator.
Next, we went to Dave and Busters which is like chuck-e-cheese only for adults.
After hanging around there for a bit we decided to try the alamo again and this time we made it. Watched Kill Bill 2 which was pretty good but the best part was really getting the food and stuff brought to you while you watched the film. I do not know if I can go back to one of the traditional theatres now.
+ 0 - 0 | § ¶Operation Dinner and a Movie
KillBill Volume 2 was indicatied as playing at 7:10 at the Alamo Draft House but when we got there, KillBill there was not. They did have a few other oddball films, Karate Kid or something. That was not going to work. The other unfortunate result became the inability to use their watering hole. The new agenda immediately became locating a usable restroom. A quick "look around" (thats for Kelly), revealed a restaurant immediately next door which could provide both nourishmentand the relief sought. Effectively killing two stones with a single bird. Crimson Austin was the name of the place. They even had the open circle sign indicating they were a wireless entrypoint to the internet. So we entered.
Let me say, if you happen to be in the same area, and do not feel like some really weird food then skip this place even if you have to wet yourself. Between two of us there was not anything on the menu that sounded appealing. Their menu offerings are "a spin on the southwest" which is divided between "naughty" and "nice".... Naughty: Thai Jumbalaya. Huh? Our waitperson, although friendly, appeared to be related to Jabba the Hut. She described the specials of the day, which included a spicy beef quesadilla and a salad for two with tuna. Not having seen anything too enticing on the menu we went for the specials.
I am not sure what Jabba meant by "salad for two", as the salad was actually a bit small for one, much less two. The quisadilla's were much better in my opinion. After gaining relief and feeling almost nourished we went for a walk over to Town Lake. Then decided to part from downtown and head home for a rest. We made it home it was decided that we had enough and were ready to settle down for the night. Thus ended Friday, weird food sans kino.