Randomness #3

I have this strange obsession with coffee mugs. (Preferably oversized.) Every time I see one that is even remotely neat, I have the strongest urge to take it home with me. It doesn't even have to be a set. In fact, it's best if it's not. I like them on their own.

I have never really "collected" anything. I have tons of books and DVD's and CD's and pictures all over the apartment, but that's not really "collecting." That's another thing altogether.

So, here's my thought ... maybe I could embrace my obsession and start collecting mugs? I could get one of those corner cases and have a hay-day. It wouldn't be a collection worth anything in the long run ... but it sure would make me happy! :)

Window Crashers

Did I ever mention the lady who drove her car through the front of my mom's shop the day before Thanksgiving?

Well, I am now. The story goes just about like that. She hit the gas instead of the break and blasted right on through. Quite a shock, to say the least, but no one was hurt.

Alex and I were actually in town and on our way to her shop when it happened. There's the possibility I would have literally strangled someone had I driven up to see the disasterous scene and find that my mom was seriously injured. Thankfully, she wasn't, so it didn't come to that.

Anyway, it was a dreadful ordeal ... took forever to fix and with it being the day before Thanksgiving ... I don't know ... it just was a huge mess and hassle for my mom to deal with.

The craziest part, to me, is that the lady actually came back later that day to pick up her pants that my mom had altered. This was, of course, after she had been checked at the hospital and released. I shit you not. She really wanted her dang pants!

You would not see even a glimmer of me anywhere near that shopping center for the rest of my life if I had demolished a portion of the building like that for something as silly as hitting the gas instead of the break.

Anyhow ... the point is ... it happened AGAIN! Not to my mom's shop, thank goodness, but to the shop four doors down from hers, in the same shopping center! Are you kidding?! 5 months apart!

This time, it was a much, much older man. I guess the situation was similar, though. He might have gotten confused when leaving and put his car in drive instead of reverse. Either way, he managed to wedge his WHOLE car into the lobby of the balloon store down the way.

This affirms two things in my mind ... 1. the building's managers and owners should be forced to put cement those nifty partition things (very technical term) at the curb to deflect these cars (but are probably either too lazy or too cheap) ... and 2. as we get older (and I do mean ALL of us at about 75 and above), we should be taking regular, mandatory driving and eye exams before our licenses are renewed.

This has nothing to do with ageism. When I think of that little old man sitting in his car, confused as hell about how he ended up parked inside a storefront, it makes me want to cry a little. So, no, I have nothing against the older generations. I'm all for public transportation in the form of free/super-cheap taxi services or whatever for the elderly who do not pass these tests ... as long as they are not the actual drivers!

I'm simply talking about pure reality. Some of my favorite people on Planet Earth have been/are over 80 years old. One is 60 years my senior and more spry than I am! She can drive ... maybe better than me ... so I say, let her! But, you know ... not all have the presence of mind and body as the years progress to perform such tasks. I still love them dearly, but do I think some of them should still be allowed behind the wheel? Absolutely not.

That's all I'm saying.

Musical Stylings

Apparently, the widget or gadget or whatsit or whosit galore I was previous using for my Playlist at the bottom of the page has been on the fritz for a nice chunk of time. I didn't notice until someone emailed and brought the flub to my attention.

(Thanks bunches, by the way!) :)

It took a little tweaking, but the player is back! I add to it often, though I do keep the old songs on there. I'm up to something ridiculous like 120-some-odd songs right now. Oh well! I like it.

Right now, I'm stuck on Should Be Loved by Blue October. It makes me want to get up and dance around in circles with my arms in the air. I like it uh-lo'.

Oh, and with rain, one of my all-time favs is sounding mighty fine. That would be Alison by Elvis Costello. It's a crime to not like the guy.

So ugly they're cute!

I think I've fallen in love ... twice over!

This is a Bull Terrier. (You know, like Spuds McKenzie from back in the day.) I mean ... PRECIOUS!!!




And, for some reason, I have a strange affection for the French Bulldog. I think it could be because they look like little gremlins.




I have always fancied myself a larger dog kind of girl, but ... you know ... these little dudes are melting my heart these days. Of course, I know very little about the actual breeds. Much research and reading and planning first. All in due time.

Easter Weekend

I have been meaning to post all week, but have had some sickness issues and just haven't felt like it, to be honest. I'm feeling quite a bit better today, so here's the shake-down.

I had a really nice weekend. Kala visiting was just the ticket! She got in on Friday evening and we went to Alamo to see Sunshine Cleaning and have some dinner. I wasn't exactly clear on the premise of the movie, but I knew that I like Emily Blunt and Amy Adams as actresses. So, I thought ... why not?! It was a pretty decent story; I enjoyed it. Lots of good performances.

We woke up fairly early for a Saturday and went all around Austin, shopping in places that Lubbock doesn't have. You know ... South Congress (SoCo), the campus district (Urban Outfitters), 6th & Lamar (Book People, Anthropologie, etc), the mall (Apple Store). By the time we were done with that business, we had time to come back to the apartment, take a nap, and get ready for the concert.

We arrived at about 8. The doors opened at 7, but anyone who has any experience with bands knows that the estimated door time means nothing. The opener didn't even go on until 8:30 or so. We got wrapped up in catching up with our old friend, Alan, standing in line to get Kala a t-shirt, and obtaining adult beverages to really listen properly to them. I hear they were good, though.

Alan had Blue on a lot more promptly than any band I've ever seen, so that was impressive. He must run a tight ship. (Ha!) As I mentioned in an earlier post, I hadn't even heard their new songs. It was interesting to have no previous knowledge of their material, as I have pretty much always had pre-released demos and whatnot from having been going to concerts since the later part of '99 ... or was it 2000? I think it was '99.

Anyway ... it was a really great show ... as it always is ... but something was very strange to me this go 'round. I have been kind of used to seeing them in more intimate settings, with people who know all of their songs and don't go just because they've heard a riff they liked on the radio. Stubbs is a fairly large outdoor venue here in Austin, and the show was very sold out ... so there were A LOT of people there! Some of whom were very annoying and talked through the entire show. Granted, we didn't push our way to the front of the stage. I think those days have passed for me. But ... still ... if you pay money to see a concert, shut the hell up and watch it, for crying out loud! It's a peeve.

But, yeah, they've always been a great performing band. All of them have awesome stage presence, and every time I've seen them they have been just as good (if not totally better) live than recorded. (And, trust me, because of my earlier life "with the band" (although, not the band I'm currently discussing), I have seen them a whole, whole, whole lot.) They played their new stuff (all of it, I think) first, then went into some old-ish stuff. The encore was my favorite because they played "Italian Radio" from the very first, no-label album. Good stuff. The crowd went bananas.

I think because of my history, seeing them always dumps buckets of nostalgia all over me. It's a different feeling every time, really. I blame the music. Music will get you more than anything else. More than pictures, even. This time is a little difficult to describe because I've separated my past from now. Seeing them, though, is a pretty large chunk of my past, so it brings the past into the present ... with new words mixed with a little of the old. The feeling that I experienced almost felt like watching a movie of myself with characters that vaguely resemble me, but aren't really me.

They're one of my favorite bands for sure, but I have no real comparison anymore. I've been watching their shows for years, not really ever having been friends with them, but certainly not strangers at all. The parallel comes through in the words. My past linked with their songs. It's incredibly difficult to describe.

I will say that I have now purchased the new album and I like it quite a bit. It am listening to it exclusively right now, but I find myself stuck on one particular song ("The End"). It's the sickest on the whole cd, but the narrative is immensely captivating. I'm also a pretty big fan of "Should Be Loved" and "Been Down." ("When our colors mixed we couldn't fix the way they wouldn't blend" ... best line, hands down.)

So, yeah, good show. Alan texted afterwards asking Kala and I to meet them out at a bar downtown, but Kala was already in bed (dental issues) and I needed to get her to the airport at about 8 the next morning. It would have been nice to hang out, since I rarely get to see my "old-time" friends who live here very often. Sometime soon, I'm sure.

The next morning, I took her to the airport, came back home and made waffles for Alex and I. I hadn't made them in quite a while and I usually make one, really massive breakfast on the weekends. Plus, it was Easter, so why the heck not?! :)

So, I've decided.

So, I've decided ... after MUCH consideration ... that I will be getting myself a puppy as a reward for getting into grad school. I will first have to rent a house and settle in, then I will embark upon training a puppy.

I've wanted one for a very long time, but have opted not to get one while I am in an apartment. Since I have been in an apartment for some time now, well, puppies have not been possible. In a HOUSE, though ...

Yes, I realize it is a big commitment. Yes, I realize they are a lot of work. Yes, I realize they cost money. Yes, I realize they must be trained. Yes, I realize it's like having a child in your house.

My response: Okay! I am 27-freaking-years-old, for Pete's sake! If I want a dog, I should get a dog. That's all I'm sayin'. If I didn't think I could handle it, I wouldn't even consider it at this point.

The main problems I am encountering are exactly what breed to get and who to get this puppy-to-be from. I want a girl, and I don't want a dog that drools profusely or sheds like it is making spare coats in the living room.

Size isn't an issue, really. I mean, I don't want a Great Dane or anything, but small-ish ... medium ... large-ish ... makes no real difference to me. As long as she doesn't require a saddle or a magnifying glass, I'm cool.

So, yeah. I haven't gotten much further with processing or planning than that. There are about a thousand more steps that must be taken before I come anywhere near getting a dog. First step ... figure out precisely where I'll be living in 3 months ...

The point is ... I have decided to get one.

K & Blue

I'm excited!!

My good friend, Kala, will be coming into Austin this Friday to hang out and stay the weekend with me. She hasn't been to Austin since I've lived here, so it should be a lot of fun. We have a very full day planned on Saturday, then we will be heading to a Blue concert on Saturday night at Stubb's.

It's been a long time since we've been to one, so it should be interesting. I'm not too sure about their new stuff, as I haven't heard even one single chord, but "old times sake" is enough of a reason for me!

I also keep forgetting (partly because I'm in denial about this whole time-quickly-escaping) that Easter is also this Sunday. Wild.

In other news, I have lots of other ... uh ... news. It seems that I finally know about grad school. I do need to have some more conversations and fully solidify everything before I divulge, though. As it seems things like this always are, it's a bittersweet kind of feeling.

Change typically makes me somewhat weary. Thankfully, I tend to acclimate well enough.

For this present moment in time, I'm just going to be excited about getting to spend some fun times with one of my oldest and best friends in the very near future.

The One About Firsts

Well, friends and fam, the title ain't no stinkin' liar! The trip to visit Alex's parents last week was a trip chalk-full of firsts for this West Texas girl.

Let's make a quick list:

- I had never held a gun, much less shot one ... did it!

- I had never driven, winding up a mountain packed with ice and snow ... did it!

- I had never feared death by plunging hundreds of miles off a cliff ... did it!

- I had never been in the middle of a "white out" (albeit, very briefly) ... did it!

- I had never been 12,000 feet high without an airplane ... did it!

- I had never gotten drunk on a single beer (altitude, oh, altitude) ... did it!

- I had never ridden in a high-speed gandola through mountains ... did it!

- I had never successfully mounted and dismounted a ski lift ... did it!

- I had never snow skied all the way down a huge mountain ... did it!

- I had never realized how much FUN skiing can be ... did it!

So, as you see, the trip was quite eventful. I got back to Austin on Monday afternoon, and I am seriously STILL tired. I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation.

We had a blast, though! As is obvious, I had never done almost everything we did this trip. It is how Alex grew up, though, so I thought it was somewhat important to overcome some fears (hello, tiny 2-lane roads winding straight up and around MONSTROUS mountains, with no guard rails, while it is snowing like nuts, with ice and all kinds of snow packed on the road!) and just go for it. You only live once, right?

Telluride was very nice; although, we stayed in Mountain Village, which is about halfway up the mountain and slope-side. Telluride, the town, from what we could tell in the hour we were actually in the town, is a cluster of messiness. It looks like it just exploded one day without much planning beforehand. (Remieniscent of the city where I currently reside. Hmmmm.) Mountain Village was lovely, though. We stayed in a lodge next to a high-speed gandola that took us to the ski lifts and shops and places to eat. The ride was about 5 minutes, if it didn't get stuck from someone freaking out about getting on or off.

We were in Telluride from Monday to Wednesday, in Aztec from the Friday before until Monday morning, then back in Aztec from Thursday to Saturday. We went to Durango a few times ... it is only about half an hour from Aztec, where his parents live. We strolled around "historic" downtown and ate and drank and had good times. The rest of the time ... which wasn't much ... was spent at his parent's house, hanging out.

It snowed a lot while we were there. It snowed A TON in the mountain while we were there. I think the only actual break we got was when I was having my skiing lesson on Tuesday.

I decided to take a lesson, as opposed to Alex or his dad teaching me. The sole reason is because neither of them can recall learning how to ski. Alex has been doing it since he was about 4, and his dad has been doing it all of his life as well. I am the very definition of beginner snow person, having grown up vacationing at the beach and the lake, and not in the colder climates. So, nervousness on my part was much to be expected. I saw no reason for frustrations and arguments, though I'm not even sure there would have been any. I just felt better going out on my own, with someone who is used to seeing clumpsy folk on skis.

It worked out splendidly in the end because I was given a "private all-day lesson." I didn't pay the amount that anyone would ever pay for it, but, instead, lucked out in meeting my instructor-to-be in the gandola that morning, then having him request to just take me to the top of the mountain alone.

His name was Seth, and he was awesome! He pushed me, but not in an irritating way. We laughed most of the day. I did fall coming off of the ski lift many times before I got the motion down, and I definitely fell TONS throughout the day. Stopping was tricky, and my upper body definitely felt the effects of dragging my butt off of the ground hundreds of times by the end of the day.

I'm proud to say that I went all the way to the top of the mountain and wound down by the end of the day on greens. No blues or blacks for quite some time, I feel!

I will certainly need more practice, as one day does not an expert skier make, but I am definitely willing to continue learning and trying. Being horrible and somewhat timid was still fun, I imagine being good and confident is a total blast.

That was really the highlight of the trip for me. I think everyone can envision the rest of the trip without me having to go into detail. We were on a mountain. It took some tedious work to get us there, but ... we made it.

Altitude does get you, though. Maybe not 7,000 feet or less ... but 9,000 and up ... yeah, you feel it. The first day, I was winded walking from the car to the hotel room. Believe me when I say that has NEVER happened to me before!

Does make for some cheap dates, though ...

We also went up into the foothills by his parent's house and did some shooting while I was there. Alex grew up knowing how to shoot, and all of my family (well, my mom and Kay and Norbs) all know how to shoot pretty well. It's not something I would ever care to do directed at anything other than bottles, but ... I think it's probably important to know how to at least handle a gun, as a defense-only kind of thing.

I now know. That's about all I can say about that. Oh, I will add one interjection ... the buggers are a lot heavier than they look. I was shocked. So were my shoulders.

So, that was my trip in a nutshell. I had a little solo time in Lubbock with the family before flying to Albuquerque, and also after the trip and before driving back to Austin. It's always nice.

I did take some pictures, as did Alex's mom. As soon as I receive her batch, and organize mine to a point of showing, I will post a little strip for everyone to check out. I'm not sure when that will be. Most likely early next week.

In the meantime, Alex and I are both back in Austin together, trying to get back to our regular routines after being gone for 2 full weeks, still waiting to figure out what our next move will be in a mere few months.

(More on that later ... as I do have half of the puzzle put together, but am still waiting on the very central piece.)

Happy Weekend!