Three Bits of News

Since I'm back on the blogging train, I can resume boring you once again with the mundane-ery of our lives. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking Yay, I just love the minutia of friends'/strangers' lives. But that's what personal blogs are all about, right. So here goes.

First, G and I hit up the Linens N' Things going-out-of-business sale this week-end and finally found a bed set that we liked! It's only taken 2 years!

Check it out! Decorative pillows and matching sheer curtains, thereby making this the single most coordinated room of the house. Quite possibly the most coordinated room of either of our lives...


Close up of the kitty cuteness - only because it's been a while. Now to my Jedi mind tricks. There are no crumpled, messy clothes on this bed. This bed has only two adorable kittens. All else is order and tidiness.

You can't see it now, can you? Amazing how that works...

Second bit - I bought us a webcam! Now we can call Ewa in England and Jola in Poland via Skype, and we can see each other while we gab. Technology is wonderful, isn't it. Especially when you actually use it. I'm a bit embarassed that Greg's mum had a webcam before we did, but we're catching up to you Ewa!

Thirdly, you can use this handy-dandy webcam to take gratuitous pictures of yourself when you're bored. I spent a good 5 minutes entertaining myself tonight, capturing goofy faces while Greg slept downstairs. Here's a not-so-goofy one showcasing my new bangs.


Yes, bangs. The last time I had bangs was probably around 13-years-old. I hadn't meant to get them, but I said the word "bangs" to my hair dresser and that's what she gave me. I don't hate them as much as I did last week.

ACL 2008

Austin City Limits Mustic Festival this year was two weeks later than usual and still hot, but bearably hot for a change. We had 3-day passes but only did half-days on Saturday & Sunday, a good strategy considering this was the first year that I wasn't sick for an entire week after the festival.

Early on Friday - this is actually a small crowd now

Allison Krauss & Robert Plant were awesome!

I love the music at ACL fest, of course. But there are a few other things I love just as much, including...

1. Overpriced festival food

$7 "turkey & brie panini" Ummm...

2. Interesting fashion senses

Batman

Old dude wearing a skirt

Her feet must be boiling!

3. And the ingenuity of festival goers

Ample bicycle parking


Happy ACL fest, everyone!

Ani Worship

Ani Difranco's music moves me deeply.

But I am a sad excuse for a fan compared to my friend Mar who has been known to go on multi-state, groupie road trips to catch show after show after show. Luckily whenever Ani is coming to town, I receive instant notification from Mar and have a concert buddy since Greg is slightly intimidated by the raging lesbian crowd that Ani's shows draw. (FYI, most of the lesbians I've seen at her shows are not so much raging as mooning. Big difference. Nothing to fear, Greg.)

So Ani made another breeze through Austin last month - this time sans baby belly. It was an amazing show as usual! But what made this one even better... Mar brought her most adorable 9-month-old Hadley to the show, and as we walked through the entrance we were asked if we wanted to sit in the VIP section! Because of Hadley!

**All concert moms! Bring your babies to Stubb's! You can't beat the perks!**

Mar & sweet Hadley, who melted Greg with her smiles

Stuart Comes to Austin

Greg's old friend Stuart had to fly over the states for a "very important conference", which incidentally usually translates into a drunken, debaucherous time on some dumb company's dime. So on his way to Seattle, he made a week-end pit stop in Austin to catch up with Greg and me.

First order of business... many, many margaritas at the Hula Hut. Of course!

Greg says Mmmm, girly drinks...

Stu says Mmmm, bar-b-q ribs...

From the Hula Hut patio on Lake Austin

Next order of business... A fierce game of putt putt golf.



Seeing as how much of Stuart's "work" time consists of hobnobbing with VIP's and playing golf, he naturally beat the pants off of Greg and me.

But I had this dinosaur to worry about. What's your excuse, Greg?

Next? Why snow cones, of course.

And dinner on the deck, courtesy of my darling Greg - best cook eva!

And what is a visit to Austin without some serious bar hopping. We ventured over to West 6th to meet up with friends.



I would have had a MUCH better time if I hadn't been forced to be designated driver, but it is a sacrifice I am happy to make to see these smiles. :)

Apologies

I have been seriously slacking on my blog duties lately. Sorry, Ewa!

I am attempting to do some catching up now, but to tide you over, I leave with this scrumptious tidbit.


Greg seriously proud of his rock star parking - right on the corner of 6th across from Opal Divine's. This never happens in Austin.

Tease

Just got this email from the Chairman's office that was sent out to all the grad students in my department:

date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:27 PM
subject: Free (Good) Coffee! Hooray!

Hello All~

We have some delicious hot Starbucks in our office up for grabs, complete with sugar and cream. Help yourselves.


And then this:

date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:44 PM
subject: Coffee is Gone!

Unless someone wants a big cup of cream.


I appreciate that they're willing to share, but I'm starting to think this is some kind of fun game for them. Kinda like teasing animals at the zoo. Throw out promises of free food to grad students and see how fast they desperately come running to collect on the goods. Maybe we're part of some sociology experiment. So far the only parameters being tested - as far as I can tell - is the bait. They've tried it with doughnuts, cookies, sandwiches, and now coffee.

FYI, so far doughnuts have the fastest clearance kinetics.