Dogs are funny...

I walked to the bank this morning with Mollie. I tied her outside the bank and went in to make the deposit. On my way out, Mollie the dog, had untied herself and was waiting for me inside the double doors. She was so excited to see me it was hard to be mad.

Frienemies...

Last night was Jac's 22nd birthday. The plan was to meet up at Barfly's after 9pm and celebrate. I was going to meet one friend to go up there with them when they got off work. They forgot me. It took me another hour waiting for a cab to finally get there. While waiting for the cab, I got phone call after phone call from the group wondering where I was. When I did arrive, everyone was planning on leaving as they were ready for the next bar.. I go to the restroom and come out and I was forgotten again! (They remembered me halfway down the road and came back)

Before I go in the car, being forgotten twice already and still have not had a beer or even a water yet, I was going to call it a night. "Seriously, I don't want to be forgotten downtown, I am going to call it a night", I told them. Jac, in her eloquent manner, told me to shut the $#@* up and get in the car, as it was her birthday. So I did.

We park and head out to the bars. I finally get a Lonestar! I put the ice cold bottle to my lips and realize as I take a sip that its warm and skunked. I laugh to myself. "Tuaca please.." I take the shot and relax a moment.

We bar hop. Someone forgot their ID. They try to sneak them in. They fail. We move on. It's after midnight and we are all wearing knit yellow hats (I have no idea why), taking pictures, shots, and laughing. This would be the turning point.

We head back out to the bar we started at. The group is bouncing around from person to person, having shots, taking pictures! But one by one, the night takes its toll. You can see it in their eyes. A slight glazing over, a little stagger, a slumped position in a chair.

The bars close. It takes a few minutes to gather the troops. Five of us rode together. None of them can drive. We lose most of the group and the birthday girl. (She left with other friends to party the night away as everyone else was too far gone to continue) Then it begins..

I can drive one of the drunken girls says. Nope. I will then another replies. Nope. "The hell I'm not!" was the response. "I have been more drunk than this and drove home", she says. How reassuring.

The group argues. They split up. They rejoin. They argue. This goes on for 40 minutes. Finally one of them calls an ex for a booty call and the perfect solution has been found. What has been the saving grace is that they didn't remember where the car was. I told them I would tell them only after they released the keys to the ex (who would drive them home in his car) and I would tell them it's location when they were on their way home. I put them in the car and they drive off.

Where did everyone else go? Dammit! I was forgotten downtown! AGAIN!!!

(I called one of the group that had a safe ride home and they came and picked me up. I am not going out till New Year's. I am not going to tempt fate again!)

It's mine!!! All mine!!! I found more lights! Now where is this mysterious 37th st? Who needs it!!!

Mollie says Merry Christmas. She hates having her picture taken.

As luck would have it my 37th st light plans crashed and burned, again, but I found some lights to enjoy anyway.. And my good friends Crown, Tuaca, and Lonestar cheered me out of my stressed out self.

Gave it one last shot...

To see the lights before Christmas. I had a very unfortunate turn of events that really pushed me to the limits of keeping myself composed tonight. I was going to see lights after work, but due to what happened, I was barely keeping myself together emotionally. The friend I was supposed to go with invited people along and I just didn't have the composure to deal with others, especially since I was really lookng forward to hanging out with only one person so I would not have to 'act'. I just didn't have the energy or emotional stability to have plans changed again without asking me first. I really needed a friend's shoulder tonight. But, as luck would have it, not possible in a group. This season has really take a toll on me. I hope everyone out there is making the most of theirs.

All I wanted for Christmas...

Well, since I don't celebrate, I do like seeing the lights. All I wanted to do this year was see the lights before Christmas. I wanted to walk 37th st before Christmas at my own pace with a friend or two and enjoy some hot cocoa while enjoying the wierdest decorations in Austin. Tonight was the last night to do it. The next couple days I have to work long shifts. The last thing I will want to do after being on my feet all day is walk more.

Maybe next year.

It's a Christmas miracle!!!

Ok, some of you have known of my little disaster I called home. If any of you remember the odd couple, I had an apartment that was decorated like Oscar's room, with 10 bags of trash in it. SO I pretended to be a hazmat team and took on the impossible. Still a bit to go but now I can manuver around without having to hop over stuff...

Made my bed too...

Yep... I cleaned...

HA HA HA HA!!!

Check this out. Too Funny!!!

What ever happened to talking???

$26.20 in text messaging over charges. Ridiculous... Actually, I am ridiculous.

I give up...

Not having family makes the holidays pretty uneventful for me. It has never been hard but this year it is hitting me pretty bad. I rely on friends a bit during this time. But not this year. I guess the people I have been spending time with don't get it or me. One of my friends is upset at me because of how I acted when I waited a couple hours for them. Others have made plans and blown them off or decided to do other things.. I throw in the towel. You guys win.. I give up.

It seems to always happen...

Well, will be going to work instead of meeting with friends. Hopefully will be able to meet up with them soon after... It is a nice little chilly night.. Good for this time of year..

Burn candle burn!!!

Well, I have been running around so much lately I am plain exhausted. Is it too much to handle? No. Nothing like that. I just haven't given myself any quality time.

Right now I am taking a break at Wiki Wiki Teriyaki in the Arboretum. Not bad food, not great, but not bad. There is free wifi coming from somewhere, so I am happy.

Last night went downtown, for work, and it was damn cold. Yes it was for work. I did have a beer but it was because I ran into some people from Springbox who were having their Christmas Party. Now that is a fun group of people. I did fall asleep from pure exhaustion right after.

I am looking forward to seeing some friends tomorrow night at their Christmas parties. The funny thing is that I was invited to both, and they are at the same place at the same time! Good thing I didn't try to blow one off to go to the other as I would have been caught for sure!

I think I am gonna take a nap at Sharper Image in one of the massage chairs.

I went to see King Kong tonight with a friend. It was awesome. So was the huge drink and popcorn I got. AND I got to sit 3rd row center. My favorite spot!

My dogs are tired...

So I have walked downtown a lot the past couple days. A lot. I don't think I have missed one spot of concrete or asphault. Thank god for an ice cold Red Bull and my Doc Martens. Still.. Feet tired. I need a Lonestar!

Only in China...

The Chinese let a stalker go. Go figure. Can't wait until all the psychos here start using this as a defense..

I think they broke the mugs when they did this

Gotta love Friday nights out with friends.

Will it happen???

Snow that is.... In Austin Thursday in the ealriest of AM.. The forecasters don't know yet.. But man do I hope it does!

Saturday night off? How often does that happen. I hit some ofthe usual spots with my friend Laurie as she just flew back in from Vail. (Iron Cactus North is a great place to go first.. Its chill and has awesome specials) I ran into Deann for the first time in a long time at Dallas.

I went to the Canary Roost for the first time last week. Nice little dive with karaoke all the time.Becca waits oh so patiently for the song to start...

The Village Idiot...

My friend Laurie has been on vacation with her family in Vail for a week now. She is definately going to need detox when she comes back from the stories I have heard so far. But the stories... Hil-ar-ious... Hope you take and took a lot of pictures!

She has been partying it up in the Vail Village every night, hence the title. I love getting text message updates... Its kept me laughing all week!

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...