Austin: The Morning After

This is my artistic abstract photograph of Dale Watson playing at The Continental Club. It was mounds of fun.











The outdoor seating of Jo's Coffee on South Congress. I love the metal! This is where I had my celebrity sighting.











Suzi took me to Smitty's Market in Lockhart, Texas. You buy the meat right from the cooks in a very hot! outer room where, regardless of outdoor temperature, there is an extremely hot fire burning for them to cook the meat. You can get an avocado and they give you white bread. No forks, people, you eat with your hands. I think it was the greasiest sausage I've ever had. I also had an Arnold Palmer.





This is the interior of Smitty's Market, where you get your sides (potato salad, beans, avocado) and drinks. It's cash only. I love the signs. Also, you can get beer if you want and ice cream for dessert.










An interesting building in Lockhart, Texas


















The replica of the Oval Office, cerca LBJ. I didn't get a picture of it, but there was a cool phone in a drawer. And a wooden console that housed three small TVs. Maybe so he could watch all three major networks at once?







All in all, the trip was a smashing success. I am glad to be home, where the temp is 73 instead of 93, with no humidity. I also slept like a baby. I was glad to see MB and Son also, though Son wasted no time getting up to his old tricks of not falling asleep until after 10 and not wanting to wear appropriate clothing for school. But he also couldn't do anything because he was so distracted by the books he's reading, about which I cannot complain.
I will now begin my post-vacation regimen of rice, vegetables and water. A vacation filled with barbecue, beer and wine means cleansing.

Austin Update: Celebrity Sighting

This morning, at 6:45 a.m., Suzi picked me up to go kayaking. We had a lovely paddle in Town Lake (saw some turtles, blue fish, and aggressive swans). Then, of course, we went to Jo's for some protein and caffeine. I am quickly becoming addicted to the Austin tradition of the breakfast taco. Yum!
While we were sitting there, next to the Hotel San Jose, who should come out of said hip, cool hotel but Luke Wilson. I kid you not. He's cute. He was wearing sun glasses and I tried not to stare.
I should also add that I went to bed last night at around 12:30. I went with Don and Martin to The Continental Club to see (or hear) Dale Watson. It was only $5 and it was so much fun! They played lots of oldies, like Merle Haggard and Charlie Rich. It was great! I had three beers (A Stella, Negro Modelo & a Lone Star) and, aside from being tired this morning, no ill effects. I had lots of fun watching all the folks swing dance and country two-step. I was quite impressed with the young, hip looking men who could partner dance. Apparently it's a thing in Texas, and I have to say I think it's a positive trend. I like men who can dance while still looking cool with their messy hair, skinny jeans and Chuck Taylor's.
All in all, Austin is a smashing success. Thanks to Suzi, who has taken me to all the cool local restaurants and the distant barbecue place and the hip coffee shop and the cool bar. And Don who took me to see live music. Tonight we are going to a Tapas place and a place called the Broken Spoke, where apparently there will be an accordion band. Yee haw!
Also, after my presentation (what presentation?), I am going with my colleague David to the LBJ library. I have never been to a Presidential Library before, so I'm looking forward to it. Apparently there is a scathing letter from Goldwater that I'm to keep an eye out for. If it doesn't thunder and rain tomorrow, I may get to go to Barton Springs again. If not, I will probably just go shopping, which is its own consolation.

Keep Austin Sweaty

Here's a pic of my friend Suzi and colleague David at a bar in Austin called Mean Eyed Cat. It has a Johnny Cash theme. It also, like many Austin bars, has cool outdoor seating. And imported beer for like, not that much.









Here are Suzi & I in front of the sign. You can't see it, but it's still kind of hot.












Here's Middlebrow and I at The Salt Lick. It was amazing. What else can I say.












Our food with the beer we brought from home. The Salt Lick is in a dry part of the county. It's BYOB.


















Blooming cacti in front of Suzi's house












I'm having a good time in Austin, although it's hot. And humid. We saw the bats. We swam at Barton Springs (best time ever!) and we've had nothing but great food since we got here. I love the cheap taco stands. Yeah cheap tacos!! And frozen sangria. Like a wine slurpee. At a taco stand! And cheap beer. Etc!!
But also I miss home. And Son. He's little. He needs me! (Or I need him. Same thing!)