10 years in Austin...

Tomorrow, June 1^st, is the first day I lived in Austin starting in 1996. My life has taken many directions over this time period but living in Austin has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Here are some of the highlights….

1996

Moved to Austin

First job was Houston’s Restaurant

Britt (girl I was dating in Houston) and I tried doing the long distance thing. It didn’t last.

Got a pager. (why I got one I have no idea)

I worked at Trianon Coffee house for extra cash.

Fell in love with Lake Travis and the “on the boat weekend”.

I finally got a dog. Maggie. Part Sheppard, part Jack Russell Terrier.

Met neighbor Marc Brown (who I am still friends with today)

Also fell in love with Liberty Lunch (best music venue Austin has had to date), La La’s, Crown and Anchor,

1997

Volunteered for SXSW for the first time.

Heather, a coworker at Trianon, became my roommate.

Went to Las Vegas for the first time.

Visited friends in Minneapolis for a “friends’ reunion”.

Discovered the “internet” via AOL.

Became a crew chief for SXSW.

Dated a girl named Maggie (which made it very hard with a dog named Maggie. No joke, I said “Sit Maggie” once and they both did..)

Karaoke at the Common Interest… What were we thinking???

1998

Heather out as roommate. Angela (old roommate from Minneapolis) in.

Broke both my arms in cycling accident. Had surgery.

I got my first cell phone. (PrimeCo)

Was a crew chief for SXSW again…

Had my first “internet stalker”. (What can I say.. the girl was in love with my digital self)

Y2K was the buzz….(everyone thought all computers would crash a year later when it turned 2000)

Wondered who the hell this “Will Ferrell” guy was and why everyone thought I looked like him.

1999

Left Houston’s Restaurant. Worked at Serrano’s Restaurant until I found a ‘real job’ at AT&T Wireless.

SXSW again. Met “The Three Bears”

Had an amazing 30^th birthday celebration. (and met a wonderful girl Ella)

Angela went back to Minneapolis and I went roommate free. (only way to live!)

Met Amy (longest relationship to date..)

The Millennium New Year’s Celebration. We all survived.

2000

I got my first Palm Pilot (important as items to do with that purchase changed my life in many ways, including a trip to Maui a year later)

Work became my life for the first time ever.

SXSW again.

Red Bull. Oh how this relationship has grown…

Purchased my first ‘real’ computer.

Discovered ‘craps’ in Lake Charles.

Negotiated a killer car purchase. (Those that know me know why..)

Waited in the rain for Bush to concede Gore’s Victory. Unfortunately that was not the case. And it took months to find out.

Amy and I ended things. Badly. (took years, but her and I are the best of friends now)

2001

Nearly lost my mind to anxiety and depression. Learned a lot of things about my weaknesses and my inner demons.

SXSW again.

Amanda W and The Kollers became some of my favorite people I have ever met at SXSW. (still friends today)

Met and dated Linda S and Stephanie B. (still friends with both)

Went to Maui on the company dime…

9/11

Left AT&T Wireless and went to T-Mobile.

After years of people pleading and begging, I dressed up as “The Cheerleader Guy” from SNL. Crowds cheered, people wept.

Unknown to me, met a Miss Tami Stout (who became a friend later) over promises of baked ziti.

XBOX and Halo.

The two Rhondas. (never knew a Rhonda before, but dated two in the same month.. Who knew!)

Found Maggie a knew home. (sad, but had to be done)

2002 (one of my favorite years in Austin)

The 33 and a third birthday celebration. Thank god I took pictures. Two words - Bucket drink -

One of the most fun times at a SXSW ever. More so due to the baked ziti story sweeping over SXSW volunteers.

Worked on the Sunshine Kids boat day for the first time.

Deanna, Sara, and Kate. All have special places in my heart.

This year was so much fun it was a blur.

My first ACL fest.

Sushi and I become close friends! (I love sushi now!)

2003

Left T-Mobile to work for SXSW full time. This lasted 4 months.

Flugtag (Thanks for the hook up in VIP Red Bull)

Barton Springs.

Got my current dog Mollie.

Met and dated Jennah D. We don’t speak.

Enjoyed 6 months of unemployment. (Thanks SXSW! I had a blast that summer!)

Worked with Sunshine Kids again.

Started at The Cheesecake Factory. Again. (Worked for them before I moved to Austin in 1996)

Dated Kim H. We also don’t speak.

The O.C.

ACL fest again.

2004

Went to my first SXSW as a partial ‘civilian’.

Red Bull House. This was also a life changer.

The “Joan Jett incident”. Let’s just say a not so fun scene infront of 2000 people with an ex. “I love Rock and Roll” was not the best soundtrack for that one.

Never play tour guide to a New Zealand stunt woman. (Zoe Bell) Also never try to go drink for drink with one.

The summer of Foundation, tubing, and Shannalita.

Parties at the Hilton.

ACL fest again.

MySpace. Enough said.

2005

I purchased my first laptop. And a Sony PSP. And an iPod.

Started Revolving Events event planning.

Helped coordinate Red Bull House 2005.

Jinny Carder’s “Envy birthday party”.

The Club DeVille patio.

My 36^th birthday aka “Napoleon Dynamite Prom”

LOST.

ACL fest again.

Molly, Laurie, Fez, and a lot of Lonestar.

2006

My first CAT scan. (Damn door!)

Coordinated Red Bull House 2006

Coordinated Red Bull Music Labs Houston

My first Tablet PC. (oh how I love thee)

Renewed my lease for a 10^th time.

There is so much that has happened that it is so hard to even come close to describing everything. But here’s to you Austin. I like to think I help ‘keep Austin weird’!!

Talk is cheap...

I am referring to when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is. It is kind of funny reading other blogs and all there is to it is whining. (Not all, some just are really enveloped in self pity)

If you don't like your life, make some changes. Stop waiting for your destiny to be handed to you. And get a clue. Just one.

It's time for some content...

I really have not had a post with some real content in awhile. Life has been pretty busy, and also for the last couple months, drama free. It's funny when you have changes in your life where people come in and out, and you can see after they have left the effect they had on you.

Everyone knows the people that claim to be drama-free yet always are immersed in it. I tend to gravitate towards these individuals and I add fuel to the fire. Hey, does make for some interesting blogs, so maybe without them it could explain my lackluster performance in postings of recent. But, it has been nice not being around the negative or self-destructive. Or crazy. Did I mention it is incredibly wonderful not to be around crazy? But, life is a lot of fun when you have a crazy in it. Oh the stories! (hmm, maybe people keep me around for the crazy... I will have to think about this...)

A couple of interesting highlights. Event planning is going in a direction I want it to. Also, I have met some pretty interesting 'scene' people who really redefine hipster in a good way. Austin is wonderful in the way that you could literally be 3 or 4 degrees from anyone. You never know who you can be talking to or who they may know.

Also I know a supermom that just got a modeling gig. I was so happy and proud of her. She keeps a wonderful attitude about so many things. I think she would be amazing on a show like The Apprentice where they put book and street smarts against eachother. She would have EVERYONE eating out of her hand by the end of it.

It is getting really hot again. Who knew that summer would be upon us again so soon. Time for Barton Springs, Movies in the Park, and tubing!

Thomas & Le Popov (Factory People) and myself after a couple libations at PLUSH.

What a wild few days I have had. Last night was an afterparty with She Wants Revenge and OK GO. Those guys sounded awesome at the show and were a lot of fun at PLUSH. (Adam from She Wants Revenge is pictured above) Friday was Cinco de Mayo and birthday celebrations. This week we have movies in the park and more!