Relaxed...

I spent a relaxing Thanksgiving Day. It was pretty low key as I like it. Made a salad, grilled steaks, bonded with my dog... Listened to a lot of Johnny Cash. Talked online with my best friend... Had drinks late night with some old and new friends.

What I wish right now is that I would have had my digital camera to record it. This is why I am hesitant to loan things. People return them on their time, not mine. My bad as I should not have lent it.

Just wish I would have had it to capture some one time only memories today.

Is this how parents feel???

Ok.. So last night was different. How? A lot going on. My friends Molly's dad had a heart attack. She is at the hospital as I write this. I hope he wakes up and pulls through.

Laurie and I did the rounds last night. Iron Cactus, which has become our new launching spot lately, then the Barfly. But, she was supposed to send me a text or email when she got home. None. Now after a few beers, I do like to know everyone makes it home safe. But since no answer on the phone and no replies has me worried.

Possible Scenarios...

1. DWI.. We really didnt have that much and only one shot. But, how we feel and the legal limit sometimes do not match up. (ok, lets see, we both had 2 bourbons, 3 beers, and 1 tuaca. over 4 hours.. wait, those bourbons were huge.. shit..)

2. Lost phone. This is the BEST case scenario..

3. Not talking about 3.. Didnt happen.

4. She hooked up with a late night booty call. Man, I hope she did, though I will kick her ass for not letting me know in the morning that she didn't have a 1 or a 3 scenario.


Now I understand that whole worrying thing...

A nice treat...

I saw Walk the Line last night. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards I had to grab a beer at 'Mean Eyed Cat', a Johnny Cash tribute bar. If you never have been there it is a great place to drink a beer with friends. Oh, and go see the movie too...

A midwinter night's...

Sweaters. Hot chocolate. This is what I love about the cold. Coming from Minneapolis, this cold is nothing. It is a 3 month sweater and jacket romp to me. And the smell of wood burning will soon be in the air.

So I wait for 37th st lights. Spiking the hot chocolate. Keeping someone else warm. I love this time of year...

Guess who is back in town...My surrogate parents! For those that know me, they know I do not have any family left. But John and Louise Koller have been my rock in this town for quite some time. The winter months would never be the same. (They live in upstate NY, and come to Austin for six months to avoid winter)

A great way to end a long day...

Text message inviting me downtown $.10 cents

Text message repeating invite $.10 cents

Phone call changing plans to meet at Dallas (free weekends)

Text message saying will leave to go to Dallas after one more beer $.10 cents

Text message an hour and 20 minutes later saying you are not going

and have decided to go somewhere else

Priceless...

Here is another version...

Turning down invite to go downtown $.10 cents

Still turning down invite to go downtown $.10 cents

Answering phone and talked into changing plans to meet people (free weekends)

Paying coworker to do your sidework so you can meet up $10 DOLLARS

Walking 24 minutes to Dallas (free)

Waiting 30 minutes to get a text message saying plans changed at 1:20am

Priceless...

Yeah... Not so bueno. That is exactly how I like to end a really long Saturday.

Ominous sky...

Ok, so I have been sitting at Texadelphia in the Arboretum eating lunch and using the WiFi. The sky is starting to look pretty spooky... Storm must be coming..

Time to reorganize...

I haven't spent enough time with old friends lately. Especially my friend Amy. Our schedules never match up as she works days and evening are the only time she has to spend with her current.

And I need more sleep. Yes, more sleep.

And more time with the dog. I love time with the dog. So that should be easy.

And clean.. I need to clean. A lot.

Hello. My name is Liam. I am a 3 mo old Border Collie/Healer mix. I friggin hate my picture being taken by this dog torturer that made me wear this ugly ass collar and dragged me around the park. I took a big old dump on his clean laundry. That will teach him... I can't wait until Mommy gets me.

I am dog sitting Molly's new puppy Liam. I have been trying to teach him how to be on the leash. He isn't digging it. The other dog is named Mollie.. (ok, Molly is human, Mollie is canine) That pup is going to grow up huge. Look at those paws...

THUNK THUNK THUNK...

Those are the sounds of Molly's darts. Actually Molly kicking my ass AGAIN with MY DARTS! I can't beat this girl. I even made the extra effort of bringing my own darts! She used them against me. That just isn't right... It is kinda like your girlfriend cheating on you and they use YOUR condoms...

Anywho, no bar was raised, no shots taken, but fun was had. Good beer, small talk, and some spicy queso makes for a nice night out. I think the queso put us on our angry soap box as we were ranting on certain issues. Nothing like becoming philosophical when there is cheese dripping off your chin.

A sign said it best...

Driving with Molly to The Gingerman we passed a sign at El Arroyo. It simply said...

Prop 2 PASSED

Tacos must now be served

on seperate plates

That is funny... At least there is some humor for how ridiculous this all is...

Whatever happened to live and let live???

Well, here in Texas, the narrow minded when another round. Propostion 2 made any same sex marriage illegal. I work with a lot of same sex couples. I can only imagine how insulted and hurt they must feel.

I just don't understand the big deal.... Why deny anyone a human right?

What night would be complete without Dallas! Ah, cold Lonestar on a November night in Texas...

Karaoke!!! Ok for only one person singing a song, it was hil-fucking-larious!! I had a blast!

A moment of clarity is needed...

I definately need one. Sometimes I just get confused. About what? Well, people, job, life, and sometimes how to blog my thoughts. Lately it has been people. I just haven't been reading people the way I used to. This only applies to higher levels of knowing people. And life... Don't get me started...

The thing that gets me more often than not are those little crushes you can have on people. Oh for the most part I am a fan of the crush. It lets you really appreciate certain aspects of an individual you would never notice before. I think they are healthy to have. I dated someone once who would refer to certain people as work crush, bus crush, etc.. It never bothered me, as I knew where she would be at the end of the day, never doubted that.

Sometimes they just sneak up on you though. What do you do with that? File it under "Dangerous". Nothing good comes of those. As long as you catch it early, it isn't a problem. It is when you let it fester and grow when it becomes one. Yes, I am using some pretty harsh language to describe that, but sometimes you gotta treat it like a life threatening illness.

It is when you least expect things to effect you that finally realize you need to intervene and take control over the situation. Rip it off like a band-aid. Shock the system.

This maybe why I sabotage many relationships. The people I date I have crushes on, people I want to date, and harmeless crushes on people I admire. I don't like being in weird territory sometimes. So I finds ways to get out of it completely. Subtle ways.

Wouldn't it be great if we could have our lives taped and edit the parts we don't like... Change outcomes.. But that would take out so much of the fun too..

I am refocusing on what I need to be doing with myself for a bit. At least until I can see clearly. (I hear a Johnny Nash song playing in the background..)

Ok.. Up at 7am. Did laundry and headed to KLRU at UT Campus. Why? Austin City Limits... Plus you get free beer. And good beer. Dark beer. Pale Ales and such. Good times will be had...

I love this movie. And it has more flair... Nice edition to the collection...

Enjoy the silence...

It has been pretty relaxing having no phones. I am looking fwd to another evening of who knows what. Well, that is after I spend a lot of time making the quon this morning.. I hope my Packers win...

Mmm.. El Dorado.. Tune in tomorrow for El Vomito...

Laurie has done brought trouble.. DANG!

No no, not an El Dorado... Whatever you do don't make the drink!

The theme for the evening was "Street People". Here is one of our more famous residents and mayoral candidates Leslie!

I want to say the guy with the dog is named Sam. I saw him on the corner doing his usual thing of selling roses. If anyone has been watching the Real World Austin, this was the guy that Johanna stole roses (like his whole stash of them) from when she was really intoxicated and then was arrested for a PI. (Public Intoxication if you didn't know) He told us all about the incident and the bribery that Bunim/Murray attempted to get him to drop the charges. Funny thing was that he didn't press charges. The officers did.

My NASA credentials are on the line...

Laundry. The necessary evil that keeps us from becoming stinky. I hate laundry.

Let's move back in time a bit. I was out and about the other day and there was some Halloween candy left in a bowl. Everyone was grabbing some, and I thanked the person who offered it and took a couple pieces. One of these was a piece of Dubble Bubble (yes Molly, it is spelled right...) and I was going to save it for later...

That later I was saving it for apparently was laundry. I went to put on a pair of boxer briefs and as I slipped them on I found it. Yeah.. Those went in the trash. At least it didn't break up and end up all over everything I had washed.

Rocket Scientist? Ha...

Another day another day another day...

Well, day 2 of 12 hrs. I need some time to myself. Or with friends. I need time.. (I hear the Stones playing in my head.. "Tiiiiiimme, is on my side.. Yes it is..") Looking into what the weekend will have for me. Not sure what I will do if anything. I need coffee and a day to take my dog to the park. Yes, that is what I need.

And I gotta clean the apartment.

And I need something else, but I forgot...

Life in the chill lane...

Well, first off, it is about time I took time away from going out. It's not even about money, as the last week I have been taken care of.. (Yes, next time I know it will be my turn to do so..)

Second.. Phones. Both of them. Off. Damn. No phones for a couple days. Need to reach me, email me. Phones and text messaging are getting me into trouble.

Third. A break.. And one that it was.. I was over at Sharper Image and I sat in the massage chair and was out. Cold. Why? It has this new iPod connection so I hooked me up some Wendy Colonna and relaxed to a full body chair massage in the iJoy. If I had the money I would have purchased one right then and there...

And lastly, cake. I got Ms Molly 'Life has me by the balls' McDonald a good ol slice of cake last night so she could get her chocolate on. Sometimes you gotta look out for the one with the cravings...

I may go to Modest Mouse late Thursday, may not, but my friend Ellie offered me the hookup.

Well, back to being productive...

More Cowbell!!!

I love Halloween. I got off work and I really didn't feel festive. Plus trying to get a hold of everyone was a chore. After talking to the scrooge of Halloween (ha ha Molly!!) I was inspired to hit downtown.

I ran into everyone at SOHO and the night exploded. Mijo, Ben, and Noah were the Ghostbusters. Noah worked on these for a month. Complete with trap, nuclear accelerator backpacks that shot silly string, and a walking soundtrack they stole the hearts and minds of the revilers on sixth street.

Then came the chants. More COWBELL!!! More COWBELL!!! I thought my costume in 03 had them going, but between the Ghostbusters and the Cowbell most of the night was spent with people taking pictures with us.

Too much fun. I love Halloween!!!

Um.. Yeah..

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!!!

More cowbell!!!

It's storybook time.. And Rainbow Bright showed up!!

Yeah, cowbell in demand..

Everyone wants more cowbell..

Noah, myself, Mijo, and Ben.. Halloween has begun!