Backers

Austin was so much fun! Yee-haw. You should check out all of my yelp reviews.

We all drank Shiner Boks or Lonestars at most every meal, and sang full-volume in our minivan between adventures. We played celebrity and Mike strummed the Banjo while Sarah crooned church songs. I purchased cow-hide cowboy boots.

We saw music too - some good (jug band), some not so good (duelling piano sexists) - and partook in chicken shit bingo. I ate lots of queso, which is yummilicious. A lot of our plans didn't work out, but I think we mostly felt revived and excited to realize we are still young and fun, though perhaps in a slightly more subdued and responsible form.

Maybe some of you will move out to Austin with me one day or at least visit?!

Since I have left the Bay Area so many of my friend have left, from Turadg, Thorben, Beverly, Shannon, Mike, and now Joanna, and Dana, and prospectively, Andrea. The whole time I was there very few people left (in contrast to my experience in D.C.). If I ever move back, it will be totally different to have those people absent from my life.

I can't believe I have been in D.C. for so long - approaching a year. I can do this. And, I am glad I did it. After being in Texas, while walking to work I realized that the walk to work is like a Marshalls or TJ Maxx fashion show. Sad. People are also markedly ruder here -- specifically in the service industry. I insist on being nice.

Last night Mike planned a great night for us. Through the freezing rain, we went to a book release party (the Not for Tourists Guide to D.C.) at Local 16, to El Khartoum Sudanese for dinner, we saw an indie play and drank some at the Warehouse, and ended the night at a gay country-western/karaoke bar (which had no Texas beer), where Mike and I randomly ran into two other Mac grads (one of whom exhibited the characteristic Mac aloofness). It made me realize D.C. is dandy.

In the play, they used this term "mench" which is short for mention. I like it. There was a whole sequence where they ended every word/name with "ers" and it stuck in my head.

I am going to Puerto Rico with my mom for my birthday present. I haven't been since my grandma died when I was in 9th grade.

I got to see my old friend chicken the other day. He was like a little brother to me. Now he is 26. I haven't seen him in perhaps 5 years. He slept on my floor and we gossiped about the old days. Was really nice. Overlapping memories are the most rewarding kind.