Monday, December 22, 2008

SNOW!

We got home. We drove straight through from Redding to Bellevue, and I think we made the right choice.
It started snowing a little just south of Olympia, then increased a lot in Tacoma/Federal Way. We powered through, and it was a good thing, because the snow kept coming and thoroughly messed up the Tacoma area.
Tuesday I had a job interview, then it snowed Wednesday night. And snowed. And snowed. And snowed.
I'm supposed to have work tomorrow morning. Hopefully it doesn't snow anymore. At least until tomorrow night.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

In Redding, CA tonight - we drove a looooooong ways today. Looks like we are definitely going to hit snow tomorrow, hopefully it won't be too bad.
Now - sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, if the meteorologists are right.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Quick update

We are still alive! Currently at my Grandpa's house in Southern California.
Went to the Joshua Tree National Park yesterday - it's a HUGE park with HUGE rock formations and it's amazing. We saw a bunch of people rock climbing and now that's what I want to do - climb rocks in Joshua Tree. Someday.
Apparently the weather gods do not want the rest of the drive to be easy - it's supposed to snow snow snow from the time we get to Northern California until we get home. Yuck. Cross your fingers for us!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It all fit!
We drove all day, through sun and SNOW - omg lots of snow. It was crazy.
Now we're in El Paso and I'm going to go to sleep. Tomorrow - Lunch in Tucson with Moriah and then on to Phoenix.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Step 1 complete!

Packed!



I think this will all fit in my car... (not the couch and table, thank goodness.)

Sunday, December 7, 2008

I've been packing - or at least trying to pack - all day (minus a few hours set aside for my last Flying Theater Machine show), and I'm nowhere near done. I don't know why it's so difficult - I don't own much stuff, only have one box of breakables, and am going to stuff everything in my car tomorrow night.
Maybe it's more difficult on an emotional sense - as excited as I am to get home, back to the rain and the cold and Puget Sound and my family and friends, I am still bummed to be leaving, to be giving up on this dream.
But I'm not giving up, just postponing it. Or maybe the dream isn't right for me and I need to find a new one.
Regardless, I'm not getting any closer to being packed by sitting here writing about it.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Saying goodbye

Today was my last day at the preschool.
It was sad to say goodbye to the kids - they are awesome, even the crazy ones.
Otherwise, I have never been so happy to leave a job in my life. I tried not to write anything negative on this blog about the people and the job as I didn't want to endanger my position (and my paycheck) but now that it's over - thank GOD it's over.
I was at the bottom of a huge pile of 4-year olds today and that was pretty awesome. I love those kids, they are amazing. It's funny how some of them kept hugging me and telling me they would miss me, while others kept saying "will you tell us a story tomorrow?"
Kids are crazy.
I'm excited to start the drive home - it's going to be an adventure for sure.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

reflections on the giving of the thanks

After staying at my Aunt's house for two days, I headed to South Houston to my Uncle's house. (on a side note - getting from North Houston to South Houston takes over an hour. Who on earth decided a single city could be that large?) Being at my Uncle's house was the exact opposite of being at my aunts. I felt like I was hanging out with a bunch of (50+ year old) college boys, instead of at my mom's house. Both were great, I was just thoroughly amused by the contrast.
My uncles were tearing apart the kitchen, in preparation for Uncle Olin's Extreme Kitchen Makeover, 2008; which is part 2 in Uncle Olin's Extreme Home Makeover, Nelson-style.
The guest bath is done. They are finishing up the kitchen today (so the plan went) and will move on to the master bath by Christmas.
We ate leftovers, went to all the hardware stores, drank a lot of Miller Light, and hung out. It was good times.
I also got to see my friends Anthony, Gina, and Nick on Saturday - they moved to Houston not long before I moved to Austin. It was great to see them. We went to breakfast and then a park in downtown Houston where there was - get this - and ice skating rink. An OUTDOOR ice skating rink. In 60+ degree weather. Oh, Texas. Really?
I drove back from Houston on Sunday morning and managed to get back in time to do my improv show - I was very impressed with myself. Driving through Central Texas is a lot like driving through Eastern Washington, except it goes on for a lot longer. A LOT longer. I saw a dead armadillo and listened to Christmas music - exciting trip.

I leave in a week - or really less than a week. I'm not sure what to do with myself right now. It seems too early to pack. I ate too much (not possible!) barbecue and watched some Twin Peaks tonight. I'm going to miss good Texas BBQ. I will have to find a place in Seattle to satisfy the cravings.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Giving Thanks

I'm writing this on the verge of a tryptophan-induced coma on my aunt's couch in suburban Houston. My cousin and I drove in last night, in what will forever be remembered as the best Thanksgiving-weekend traffic ever. There were long periods of time when we were the only car on the road. Thank goodness for Texas and Farm Roads. My cousin coming from New Orleans was not so lucky, a normally 6-hour drive took almost 10.
I guess this is where I'm supposed to talk about how it's Thanksgiving and I'm so thankful for everything in my life. So here you go. I'm thankful that I have had the experience living in Austin for the past few months. I'm thankful that my roommate is awesome, that my car hasn't fallen apart yet, and that I haven't managed to bankrupt myself.
I'm thankful for my family, that I've been included in this Thanksgiving celebration here in Texas, and that I have so many different fantastic family members.
I'm really thankful that I am coming home soon.

Two weeks from now we will be halfway through our drive back to Seattle. If all goes as planned we will be at my grandpa's house in southern California, getting ready to make the drive up I-5. I'm excited for the trip and for the destination. Although I have enjoyed my time here, I miss Seattle (and all it entails) like crazy.

I think I'll keep up this blog even though my Texas adventure is ending for the time being. So, stay tuned for next week's episode!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Tornado watch? WTF Texas? Tornado warning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Which I think is the more serious one.
Gross.
Also, it needs to get cold already. It doesn't feel like November, or even like October, (except at night) and I have to say I don't like it, not one bit.
I like to wear sweatshirts and sweaters and jeans. I like to drink hot coffee and curl up under a blanket.
I do not like it when it is 78 degrees and raining, thanks. Unless it's also Hawai'i. And Austin is not Hawai'i.
I'm sure I will get home and it will rain for three straight months and I will hate that, too. But for now, it sounds good.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Is it possible that it feels so cold here because it's not as humid as Seattle? That seems counter-intuitive, but the weather report says the humidity level here is 25% and in Seattle it's 67%.
I thought it was supposed to be more humid here?

Either way, I'm freaking freezing.

Friday, November 7, 2008

I really want one or both of these t-shirts:

(http://www.wickedcoolstuff.com/probfrbetoch.html)


(http://printliberation.com/store.php?id=96)

Both very cool.

In other news, I'm very excited for my grandma and birthmom to come visit next week, to take two days off of work, to start planning my return to Seattle, and, more currently, to get in the nice hot bath I am currently drawing. I'm not sure what it is about Austin, but I am really really ridiculously cold. It's 55 degrees. That is not cold. Maybe it's the fact that we're situated on the edge of a big desert?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Um. Texas.

There was a big police/SWAT standoff this morning in North Austin, and it's all over the news. The thing that really shocked me is this: Austin Police carry semi-automatic weapons.

Yeah.

Texas.

Or maybe I'm naive and all urban police carry semi-automatic weapons?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Ok so the "big" news is I've decided to move back to Seattle/Bellevue in December when my lease is up here.
I am loving a lot of things about Austin, but it's not enough to quell the unbelievable homesickness I am experiencing. It has gotten better (ie I don't cry every day), but it's not enough.
So, expect me home in December. (Or expect me gone, depending on your location)
I'll be driving, hopefully with some family member or another, so pray for good weather and no construction between here and there. I will probably be driving over to California and then up I-5. While it won't be the prettiest or even shortest way, it will probably be the fastest and least likely to be snowy and gross and terrifying.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

297 electoral votes, baby!

I just cried. I might cry again. This is such an amazing moment.
Why the heck are there Christmas ads on the television right now? Seriously?
OBAMA!!!


Other things are happening, but it's all I can think about.

Iowa, Ohio, and New Mexico are all predicted to "switch sides" and go blue. This is big, people. This is history. This is amazing. I don't want to hope too much, but I can't help myself. I've wanted this for four+ years. OBAMA!!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Road Trip!

It's 60 degrees. So WHY AM I SO COLD?
This is insanity.

Dallas was fun. As promised, pictures and details:

We left at about 7:30 am. Still dark. I think we are both total rockstars for getting up and on the road that early on a Saturday.
We stopped at Whataburger for breakfast. I'm not usually a fast-food person, but I've heard that they have the best breakfast sandwiches you could ask for, and it was pretty damn good. Plus I love those little fried hash brown things you can get.

greasy deliciousness

It's a loooong drive from Austin to Dallas. Long and flat and... that's about it. I looked at the map and discovered that we would be driving past Italy, Texas. We decided we really must stop in Italy. So, we pulled off the freeway, and immediately discovered this:
It's a UFO!!!

So of course we stopped and looked around. Turns out, the Pegasus is for rent or sale. It used to be an arcade/ice cream shop/mini golf course. I want to buy it. Too bad it's in the middle of nowhere.


Side view of the Starship Pegasus

Road trips were invented for this shit.


To infinity.... and Beyond!


Aliens! Or, bored teenagers?



After that brilliant discovery, we drove into Italy, Texas. The only thing Italy, Texas has going for it is the name. Also they apparently once had a good boys basketball team.

1997? 1987? Who knows?

The rest of the town looks like this:

Italy, Texas. Nothing happens here.
Why are there so many cities with names like this in Texas? I know there's also Odessa... people missing home back when Texas was being settled?


Onward we moved. We made it to Dallas at about 11 and went to the Farmer's Market.


Yeah, that's me and a tractor.


Pretty produce
Okra. Very pretty. Not very tasty.

Talleri bought corn. Yum.

I want to live this farmers market. I realize this is an unrealistic dream, but a person has to have dreams.

After the farmer's market, we went to the Dallas Children's Theater and got a tour from one of the staff members. They have been in the building for about 4 years, so it is really neat to see such a new space. We then got to see the show, Lily's Purple Plastic Purse.

...SCT is so amazing, it's really hard to see Children's Theater anywhere else and not judge it very harshly. I know the script is great, Kevin Kling, who also wrote Busytown, (and who I think is an amazing genius and is how I daydream my Minnesota family to be) wrote it a few years ago, and it premiered at SCT. So the potential for awesomness is there. However, I was disappointed. (Sadly though, not entirely surprised.)

After the play, we went to Cafe Brazil, which I had been told was not to be missed. We stuffed ourselves silly with delicious food, then drove around until we found the Dallas Theater Center, where I have applied for a job (which I hope to have news on this week.)

The DTC building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

As it was Saturday, there was a matinee of the current show, so we walked around a bit. The theater is right next to Robert E. Lee Park. Yeah. Welcome to Texas.
The park has a creek running through it, and turtles live there. Very neat.
Turtle!!!

We picked up a bunch of literature on the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts being built in Dallas while at DTC, and decided to go check it out. The Dallas Theater Center, the opera, and several other performing arts groups will be moving there when it is completed in October 2009.
It's a pretty freaking big deal.

The building in process.

I had been looking on Craiglist at apartments in Dallas, and found some cute affordable ones in The Bishop Arts District, so that was our next stop.
What a freaking adorable neighborhood! Had I thought to Google it beforehand, I would have known what to expect, but as it was, I was pleasantly surprised. Obama signs could be found in many front lawns. The little shopping area is full of cute boutiques, restaurants with delicious smells, and quirky little shops like The Soda Gallery, a store full of every kind of soda you could imagine. In addition to soda, the store also housed a comic book shop. I had never been in a comic shop before, and I think that's probably a good thing. They have Shaun of the Dead comics! And then there was an action figure and the guy and I talked about Simon Pegg and he told me the name of his business was Boomstick Comics and I loved it all. So, if (and it's still a big IF) I do move to Dallas, I have found where I would want to live.

Now I have Simon Pegg in my bedroom!

Then began the drive home. Our one stop was at The Czech Stop, a Czech themed convenience store in West, Texas. I purchased two Kolaches,* an energy drink, and a ridiculous straw cowboy hat that says "TEXAS."

The End

*Kolaches are very big here. They are delicious in that greasy weird way, and I can't quite figure out why they don't exist in Washington.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Today we took the kiddos to the "Pumpkin Patch" at the YMCA. It was really fun, they were suprisingly well-behaved, and the weather was beautiful (only 73 degrees!)
Tomorrow, my friend Talleri and I are driving to Dallas to check it out. Neither of us have been there before, so it will be an adventure. I'm trying to find some cool things to do that aren't a lot of money, we will be hitting up a show at the Dallas Children's Theatre (Talleri has a connection) and going to the Dallas Farmer's Market, and who knows what else. I'm excited.
Pictures and a somewhat detailed post about the adventure to come.
Love you all!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

It's supposed to be 79 degrees today.
This is not what October is supposed to be like. I'm confused.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Blog post - now with pictures!

So the horrifying heat of the not-so-distant past has it's benefits:
It's mid-October and I'm wearing a tank top, driving around with my windows down.
Nothing quite beats driving around with all the windows down.

Went to the City Wide Garage Sale today. It was fun, I got a "new" bedspread and spent a lot of time wishing I could afford amazing antique turquoise jewelry.
Pretty New Vintage Bedspread


I really want to carve pumpkins and get into the "Halloween spirit" but it seems far too warm for that. Tomorrow I'm going to see if Target has any of their amazing stuff on sale yet. My friend Kate told me about this website that has Obama pumpkin patterns. Amazing! I want to make one like this:
OBAMA!!!

Friday I had my second phone interview with the Dallas Theater Center. I think it went really well, the opportunity is pretty amazing - running the teen programs already in place and creating new ones. I'm thinking about driving up to Dallas next weekend to see what it's like, as I have absolutely no idea.

The weather is so lovely that I opened a bunch of windows in the house today. As I opened one of my bedroom windows, I noticed another bug of GIANT proportions hanging out on my screen. I tried to get a decent picture of it - I still have no idea what it was.




I decided to treat myself to a steak dinner tonight. We made potato stamps at school last week and I had a leftover potato, which inspired me to do the whole classic "steak and potato dinner thing." It was pretty good, but I've now added a cast iron skillet to my list of things-I-need-to-buy.



I was planning on going to Maker Faire tomorrow, because it sounds awesome and fun and ridiculous. However, I have now discovered that it costs $25 to get in. So I will probably not be going to Maker Faire tomorrow, which is kind of a bummer. I'm a little confused by the fact that an event centered around the DIY movement and basically being frugal costs that much money. I guess that goes to show how much I know about the world.

I'm still thinking I really want to be a children's librarian, and it looks like UW has a good program. I don't hear good things about the program here at UT, so that's kind of a dissapointment. (apparently it recieves a majority of it's funding from Dell, which is centered here, so the whole College of Information is very Dell/Microsoft-centric and not so much about the books.)
Basically I think I'm just not ready to apply to Grad School yet. It's a really big step, and if I'm this unsure about what I want to do, I think I just shouldn't do anything yet.

I'm thinking about moving back home when my lease is up (mid-December). It would suck, and I would feel like I was giving up, but it might be the best thing. I'm feeling very lost here, with nothing to ground me. At least back in WA I would have family, friends, and familiar surroundings to keep me from blowing away. I'm not making any decisions right now, but I am keeping the option open. That was a big reason I took this room in the first place - to give myself an out in December if I decided that this wasn't where I needed to be. As cool as Austin is, I'm not going to stay here and drive myself crazy when I don't have to.


So, to sum up my day: I bought some stuff and still don't know what I'm doing with my life. I guess that's an OK Saturday when you're 24.
I like to make things.
Whether it's cooking or crafting or even building, I really like to create something and have a final product.
I think that's my problem with a lot of the job opportunities open to me. I want to sit down at the end of the day and say "look what I made!"
That's why cooking holds such an appeal to me. I would love to spend all day in the kitchen testing and creating new recipes.
That would be awesome.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I'm boycotting the debate tonight.
I had planned on watching it, to keep up the facade of a "intellectual voter" or whatever, but I changed my mind. I know who I'm voting for. I've known who I wanted to be our next president since 2004.
So I'm watching the genius that is Will Ferrel instead. Blades of Glory. Haven't seen it yet, as I'm really not a John Heder fan, but how much can you really object to any Will Ferrel movie?

In other news, I've been contemplating my future. I've decided that I have a few future careers that really interest me:

1: Rockstar. I'm working on this.

2: Running my own theater company - this will happen. I'm pretty much trying to figure out what do between now and then.

3: Theater Admin - I'm pretty good at this, it would be good prep for option #2, and I've done it and I like it. The problem: the market is pretty small, I pretty much have to go where the work is. I would most likely get my masters in either youth theatre or arts leadership to obtain this.

4: Children's Librarian - this is a new idea for me, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. I love to hang out with kids, I love to read (and young adult lit is my guilty pleasure), and my creative drama background would be invaluable. I could also plan library themes like "pirate week." sweet.

5: Caterer. I like to cook. I like to bake and come up with my own recipes. I would love to go to culinary school.

So basically the big question of my life right now is: grad school for theatre or for library science, or culinary school?

So really I think I need to put off grad school for a while longer, as I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. Gross.

I think I'm having a quarter life crisis, as cliche as that is. It's totally true. Uber gross.

Monday, October 13, 2008

brief

I still don't have a new job, but I don't not have a new job, either. I've been informed that the Zach Scott is still interviewing candidates. So, bummer, but keep your fingers crossed.
I also got a call from the Dallas Theater Center regarding my application. I hope to talk to a real person there tomorrow.
The Flying Theatre Machine improv show was awesome. I'm so glad I hooked up with that group of people, it sounds like it's going to be incredible.
That all said, I'm going to bed. I'm tired.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Be the 3-legged dog.

Wayne Coyne and Christmas on Mars was exactly what I needed today. (Along with a really good rootbeer float.)



I missed seeing Christmas on Mars when it played at Sasquatch, so I was really excited to hear that it was playing at the Alamo downtown. Then they announced that Wayne Coyne, lead singer of The Flaming Lips (and the alien super-being) was going to be there. Amazing.
So I went. By myself. And it was ok. It was better than ok. The movie was weird and crazy and I want to be a rockstar so I can make weird crazy movies like that. Then Wayne did a talk-back kind of thing after the show and told ridiculous stories and made me feel so much better about my life. He told a story about his brother's 3-legged dog, and how we should all be more like that dog, because he's missing a leg but doesn't let that affect his joy for life. He said we should be more like that dog, because we create joy in our own lives.

I also made some amazing macaroni and cheese today. It should, in theory, last me all week, but I will probably eat it all sooner than that.
In that vein, I want this cookbook. I like casseroles, you can make one and then eat for a week when you're the only one eating.

Still homesick.


I miss:
My family
My friends
Rain (real rain)
mountains
trees
the ocean
the sound of seagulls
crows
the wind coming off puget sound
trees (I know I already said that, but I really miss trees)

There are trees here, but they seem to all be oak trees and none of them are taller than maybe 15 feet. Everything is too low here. Low and spread out.

I miss the Space Needle
I miss being able to tell what direction I'm facing simply by looking at the horizon
I miss hills with a more than 10% grade

I like that there is live music at the grocery store and I like the Alamo Drafthouse and I get to see Wayne Coyne tonight and gas is under $3 a gallon and my roommate is cool and I have met some good people but I just don't feel like I want to live here.

Maybe I'll get a new job and all this will change. Hopefully.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Final thoughts for Sunday evening.

I realized that it's October and I can breathe through my nose... a big accomplishment for someone with allergies like mine. Maybe this Austin weather isn't so bad, after all.
On the other hand, maybe my allergies will get here when it actually starts to feel like fall.
But I'm going to stay optimistic.



And, Nick and Nora was an awesomely cute movie. I want the soundtrack. And I want to keep Michael Cera in my pocket and take him out when I feel blue. He plays the same character in everything, but I love him anyway.

Sundays are pretty good around here.

The past few Sunday mornings have consisted of huevos rancheros and bloody marys. I think that's pretty much the best way possible to start the week. The only thing that would make it better would be if someone else made them and then cleaned up, but I guess you can only have so much...
After my traditional breakfast of champions, I headed downtown for rehearsal of a kid's improv show I've been invited to be a part of. I'm pretty stoked to be doing improv here and even more excited that it's a show designed for kids. I'd love to get in a show for adults, too, but I guess I gotta take it one step at a time.
Tonight I'm going to see Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist at The Alamo. Because I never want to go to another movie theater. It just won't be the same.
Tomorrow, job interview!

Current homesick level: 6 out of 10. So it's pretty good today.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Right on....

I have a job interview on Monday and am applying for a job in Dallas, so I decided I needed some job interview clothes. Shoes I'm not allowed to buy because it's still cheaper to have my parents ship me the shoes I do have than it is to purchase new ones. But clothes are ok, since when I packed to move here I did not anticipate job interviews.
So I bought some clothes today.
But to back up a little, today was a shopping experience. I went to a outdoor flea market type thing in Sun City, a planned development golf-cart-community whatever thing north of Austin. I originally had plans to meet a family member there but she had things come up so I went myself, in the hopes of finding some good stuff. (I have a whole list of things I will need when I move out of this house in December and try to survive on my own. I don't own a can opener. Problem!) Unfortunately I overslept a bit and didn't make it as early as I had hoped, but I did score a brand new HP photosmart printer. Pretty cool.
Then I stopped at the outlet malls and tried on clothes that were still too expensive for me, even at outlet prices. And bought some knifes and glass food storage dishes (no plastic!)
Then, finally, Target. How I love Target. I probably shouldn't, it's probably no better than WalMart, but I like it.
I got interview clothes and new sheets for my bed and cards to send and, most importantly, I did not buy any Halloween decorations. That was hard. But I will be back the week before Halloween scooping up all the discounted stuff I can find. Especially things like this:











They also have shot glasses that match. Awesome.

Friday, October 3, 2008

good fences....

My neighbors are generally not noticeable, until they really are. I need to buy some earplugs.

Things are moving forward...

First off, I gotta say how much I love the new Genius Playlist in iTunes. You go, Apple. I'm listening to music I forgot I had.
And speaking of music, I bought the Fleet Foxes album today. Total impulse buy as I was buying coffee at Starbucks on my lunch break, but totally worth it. My iPod radio adapter doesn't work very well here (I'm thinking because it is so flat, so there is a lot of radio interference?), so I need CDs to listen to. Of course, since all my music is on my computer, I left all my CDs back home. So I need CDs in the car, otherwise it's listen to NPR talk about Sarah Palin or the bailout, both of which I'm sick and tired of hearing about.
Also, buy the Fleet Foxes album. It's amazing. Listen to the music on their myspace page, and tell me you can resist it.

I have a job interview on Monday - to be Assistant Manager of the box office at the Zach Scott Theatre here in Austin. I'm also currently (taking a break from working on) applying to the Dallas Theater Center, for an Education Associate position. It would be really cool, and something that fits right in with what I want to do with the rest of my life, but it would also be in Dallas, not Austin. I know I already moved 2300 miles so really, what is 200 more miles? But it's a scary thought to pull up what tiny new roots I've started planting here.
However, I'm still doing it, because I refuse to let the opportunity pass me by.
I really miss working in a theatre.
So cross your fingers/say a prayer/think happy thoughts for me on Monday at 5pm my time (that's 3pm for most of you)!

Tomorrow I'm going to a big outdoor garage-sale thing and trying to find a place to wash my car. You'd think after a month I would be able to find my way around this town but I'm still pretty much lost. Yet another reason to be terrified to move to Dallas. I'm sure it's just as not-like-Seattle as Austin is.

Thursday, October 2, 2008


What's that in my hand, you ask?
Why, it's my very own Texas drivers license. With pretty much the best license picture ever taken. Thanks, tiny little Georgetown Department of Public Safety. You rock.
It also has my real signature, not the "I'm trying to make this legible" signature that was on my last license. And oh yeah, it's not all weird and vertical, because I am over 21, thankyouverymuch.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Bad Ideas

Last night I decided that watching an old movie while eating dinner would surely cheer me up. So, I made my stir fry and popped in a Cameron Crowe classic - Say Anything.
Bad idea.
Why, you ask?
Of all the cheesy, classic, awesome 80s movies I could have chosen - this one takes place in Seattle. And it was actually filmed there. It's not the LA-Seattle of Grey's Anatomy or the Vancouver-Seattle of most everything from the mid 90's on, it's actually Seattle.

So that didn't help the homesick.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Companions


I really want one of these.
It's called an Ornate Horned Frog, but it's commonly called a Pac-Man Frog.
The albino ones are yellow, making them look even more like Pac-Man.
I've been watching Dead Like Me on DVD, and the main character "inherits" one in the second episode. I can't get over how cool they look.
I miss my cat and my dog, but I know I can't get one of those, especially since I don't know how long I'll be here. I thought about fish, but I can't keep fish alive. And I know you can't cuddle a frog, but that's not the point. The point is... I don't know what the point is.
The real point is, I can't afford a Pac-Man frog right now but someday I just might. And then I just might get one
Or not. But they are pretty cool looking.

Month-a-versarry

I've officially been here 1 month.
I anticipated that moving to a new city would be difficult, but that it would get easier. In some ways, it has gotten easier. I can find the library, the grocery store, and one coffee shop without getting lost. I've met some new people.
But...
I'm still horribly homesick. I moved because I was tired of being the girl who hadn't ever lived more than 90 miles away from where she was born. I wanted to discover who I was without the comfort of home and of family.
Who I am, so far, is the really homesick girl.
Moving away from home to go to college is such a different experience than moving to start a new job. When you start college you are surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the exact same boat as you, knowing hardly anyone and anxious to make friends and try new things. When you do what I did, and move to a new city to start a new job (or whatever), you are surrounded by people who already have their friends, their lives, and you have to figure out a way to fit yourself into the established pattern.
Which is not to say I'm giving up or coming home. As good as that sounds, especially on a Tuesday morning when my car won't start, or a Friday night when I don't have anyone to call, if I came home now it would be admitting defeat - something I don't do well.
I am meeting some awesome people and I am mostly having a really good time. I know it will get better as I continue to meet people and do new things, but I'm anxious for the fun to start. When does the fun start?
I'm thinking about joining this "social club" that organizes activities in the Austin area. They do things like kayak, hike, go wine tasting, that kind of stuff. It sounds both ridiculously lame and great at the same time - do I really want to pay money to hang out with people I don't know? On the other hand, how else am I going to meet people?
I'm going to consider it a while (and wait until I get a few more paychecks under my belt), then I might check it out.
I'm also pretty unhappy in my job, and am applying to several new ones. I hope to find something more in nonprofit/theatre work and less in corporate franchises.
I'm confident that things will get better and I will start having more fun. Especially now that the weather is starting to cool down (only 90 degrees today!). I can actually stand to be outside for more than 5 minutes.
It's 12:30 pm here now, so I should probably shower and decide what to do with myself for the rest of the day. Wish me luck.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Scary-stupid.







Same thing.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wrong!

I needed a new battery. Which is always something you want to discover at 8am when you go to start your car to drive to work.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Lessons

They say you learn something new every day.

Saturday night I learned that if my car trunk lid is ajar just a little bit, for most of the day, my battery will die. I learned that when the battery is dead in a Ford Focus, the dome light and power locks work, but the engine will not turn over, and all the indicator lights will flash at you, spelling "You are an idiot" in morse code.
I also learned that people I have known for two hours will push my car out of its spot and give me a jump. So that was the silver lining. The car has been running fine, so thankfully I think it was just my idiocy and not a problem with the battery.
New cars, man. Crazy.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Plans


I'll be home for Christmas! 
I know it's quite a ways, off, but my plane tickets home for the holidays have been purchased, thanks to my grandpa's mileage points. Hooray! I think it's the best Christmas gift I can think of. I'll be coming in on December 22 and staying until the 2nd of January - which means New Years in Seattle! Hooray!




Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Alamo Drafthouse


The Alamo Drafthouse is the best idea anyone ever had for a movie theatre.You go in, you sit down, you order food and beverage, you watch a movie. While eating really good food and/or drinking. Kids are not allowed unless it's "family night."
And tonight they had a "quote-along" to Evil Dead 2. Much like a sing along, favorite quotes were projected at the bottom of the picture for everyone to scream along to. Props were handed out to be thrown during the film (just like Rocky Horror!). Tonight's props: red streamers (for when blood streams out of the cabin walls), plastic eyeballs (for when an eyeball flies across the screen) and those little plastic confetti poppers (for when our favorite hero, Ash, shoots one of the Evil Dead in the face). 
Pretty awesome. 

They also show normal movies, which means I will probably never go to 
a different movie theatre again. Seriously. This is the best thing ever. Why doesn't every theatre have a full menu?

Also, apparently Bruce Campbell himself is going to be at the Alamo in October. Screening his new movie. Ummm awesome. The Chin, in person. Love it.


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Another one


The only good thing on SNL in a long time:



Don't you kind of think that's actually how it would go?

Le Ford

As promised, here are some pictures of my (currently dirty) car.


I still don't have a license plate, that's supposed to come soon. I have to get it inspected next month - that's a crazy Texas thing that I'm not so sure about. It shouldn't be a problem, other than figuring out how to get it done.


Saturday, September 13, 2008

I was told there would be rain.

Nothing to report on the weather front, I watched the news and Galveston and Houston got hit pretty hard, but we haven't even had any significant wind. I'm disappointed.

In other news, I love this:


Friday, September 12, 2008

Ike update.

Um so it's a little breezy, but other than that, no real wind/rain/other weather to report. There is, however, a HUGE SPIDER hanging out in its web on my front porch. I'd rather have the giant moths, thank you. 

So much excitement!

I'm watching the news as I sit here blogging, and the big news is all the football games being postponed due to Hurricane Ike and the tropical depression in the Pacific. The reporter just said "Texas is getting it from both sides," which made me giggle.
Anyways.
The eye of the hurricane is not supposed to "officially" make landfall until 1am tonight - but Galveston is already underwater as are many other areas of the coast. There are 17 shelters in the city of Austin housing people from the coast. Why do people even live here?
Last night I got a small preview of the excitement to come. I was in the shower (always an awesome place to be when things happen) at about 10pm. Suddenly the lights started to flicker, and there was a popping and a flash of light outside, then the power went out. While I was in the shower. Sweet.
So I did what any logical person would do, and finished my shower. Or maybe that's not what a logical person would do, because I did have a small fear that I was going to be electrocuted.
After finding my flashlight and getting dressed, I walked into the living room and saw police cars and firetrucks in the street in front of the house. I walked outside and looked up the street, and there was a branch in the power lines, arcing and sparking. Pretty cool. Except that our power was out for several hours (no a/c) and it was dark and all the neighbors were in front of my house forEVER. 
So, yeah. Branches fall into power lines here when there is no wind at all. And we have a "wind warning" until 7pm tomorrow. Awesome. Cross your fingers that a branch doesn't fall on my new car. Or, you know, me.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Oh, and hurricanes

First giant moths and ridiculous heat, and now a hurricane?
Austin is far enough inland that we will avoid the worst of Ike, but they are saying we could get hurricane force winds. Just in time for the weekend, too! 
Hopefully it will lose speed and just cause rain and mild winds here, but "city officials" are "urging residents" to "prepare." I'm still trying to figure out what that means, exactly. I have batteries in my flashlight, beer and tortillas in the fridge - that's probably not what they mean. 

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Local Wildlife

The bugs here are crazy. The ants bite. There are fireflies. And then there was this: 


I realize there is no real frame of reference for the size of this thing.... but it had a wingspan of at least six inches. I've seen smaller birds.
It found a nice spot to live on the ceiling of our back porch for a few days. 

There are also cockroaches, but I like to pretend they don't really exist.

No geckos, though. Bummer.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Welcome to Texas, please enjoy the air pollution

This is posted on the National Weather Service's website for Austin, TX:

"AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
CENTRAL TEXAS CLEAN AIR FORCE
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
113 PM CDT FRI SEP 5 2008

...AIR POLLUTION WATCH LEVEL ORANGE...

AN AIR POLLUTION WATCH LEVEL ORANGE HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE TEXAS
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS CLEAN AIR
FORCE...FOR POSSIBLE HIGH OZONE IN THE AUSTIN AREA ON SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 6, 2008.

WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAVORABLE FOR OZONE TO REACH
AQI LEVEL ORANGE, UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, ON SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 6, 2008.

THE AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI) SCALE IS DEFINED BY THE U.S.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE FOR
LEVEL ORANGE: ACTIVE CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND PEOPLE WITH
RESPIRATORY DISEASE, SUCH AS ASTHMA, SHOULD LIMIT PROLONGED
OUTDOOR EXERTION.

VOLUNTARY ACTION IS NEEDED TO HELP REDUCE AIR POLLUTION EMISSIONS AND
TO HELP PREVENT OZONE FORMATION. TO REDUCE OZONE POLLUTION...THE
CLEAN AIR FORCE URGES AREA RESIDENTS TO REDUCE VEHICLE TRIPS...
CARPOOL...RIDE THE BUS AND AVOID RUNNING GASOLINE ENGINES. OTHER
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS INCLUDE WAITING UNTIL AFTER 6 PM TO BUY GAS...
MOW LAWNS OR RUN ERRANDS."

Yikes. Also, I don't really know what it means, other than the air is bad here.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A better day

Things are better today - I called my work and said "look, I'm going to go crazy and/or bankrupt if I don't buy a car today. Can I skip work today?" and they said "we are awesome and we understand." Or something like that.
So I bought a car. I didn't end up with the Ford Ranger, because the dealership selling it was populated by idiots. I did, however, end up with a Ford. A Focus. I will post pictures later, it's actually a pretty nice car. I don't love it, but it will get good gas mileage and it's a 5-speed, which were my only qualifications. (Surprisingly difficult to meet, however.)
Whatever, someday I will have a sweet car. Right now I just need to get from point A to point B without fear of death or dismemberment.
Returned the rental car and gave them all my money. Being under 25 and renting a car sucks.

It's still hot here. 
The heat is affecting my appetite in a weird way - I'm not hungry until all of the sudden, I am REALLY hungry. Which can't be good for me.
I'm going to try and go see a movie tonight, just to convince myself further that I can have fun in Austin even though I don't know many people yet.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

PS

I just looked at my list of things I needed to buy from a couple of days ago...
I still haven't bought any of those things. I'm no good at this "being a grown-up" thing.

Homesick (a little)

Today it really hit.
The homesickness. 
If I had a million dollars (or even a couple thousand and no pride), I probably would have come home today. 
Nothing specific, really. 
I started my new job and it's decent (more on that later).
I still don't have my car, my bank is annoying and car dealerships are obnoxious.
Just a general feeling - I can't have dinner with my parents this weekend. I looked into plane tickets for Christmas and they are EXPENSIVE. It's hard to talk to people on the phone because of the time difference. My mom sent me cookies and they are awesome.

General note for self: going to Starbucks while feeling slightly homesick is the opposite of helpful. All those Seattle reminders: not productive.


Started the job today - lots of training but also some time in the classroom. I really like the teacher I am working with, the kids seem great (although today we only had 16 out of the 21), and I like the whole environment of the school. It's a different philosophy than SCT was, which will take some getting used to, but it's going to be good for me to grow as an educator. (I know that sounds like BS but I do totally mean it)

I still do not own a car, (truck) because my loan officer is an official retard. ("Mentally handicapped person." or whatever.) I understand that her job can't be the easiest in the world, and I'm complicating it by being two time-zones away, but seriously. Don't call me at work and then hang up while my supervisor is getting me. I definitely yelled some obscenities into the ether in my car this afternoon.
So I've now rented this rental car for twice what I originally had intended to. I called the sales guy at the dealership and he never called me back, and now I'm wondering if God/The Universe is trying to tell me something (like "don't buy this truck, jack***").

I feel like I'm leaning heavily on the few people I know in Austin for moral/social support, but hey, I just got here, hang out with me. Soon I will know more than five people and feel better about life, but for now, I hope these people realize that it's either them or the television, and I only have four channels to choose from. 

That's it, it's way past my bedtime.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

I've been thinking...

I've decided to name my first-born-child Peanut Brittle. If celebrities can go around naming their kids "Apple" (Gwenyth Paltro), "Zula" (Gwen Stephani), "El-Kal" (Nicolas Cage), "Ocean" (Forest Whittaker), and "Blue Angel" (The Edge from U2), then I'm going to name my kid after something truly awesome.
Peanut Brittle.
 

I did leave the house today, I promise. More than once, even.


Yesterday, I:
Found the ATM (in the middle of nowhere), found the library (closed for Labor Day weekend), and had dinner with my friend Talleri (have I mentioned how much I love Tex-Mex food? Because I do. A lot. Mmmmm). 
Then last night I volunteered at the Out of Bounds Improv Festival. I got to take tickets. Thrilling. But I did meet a bunch of new people, impressed them with my smooth personality and suave manner (ok maybe not), and saw some improv. Saw ColdTowne, awesome as always, and Kape, an all-female troupe out of NYC. I like to see all-female troupes. Girls can be funny together in a different way. After the shows, I went out with some ColdTowne people and other Austin folk, at a bar I had been to when I was in town last. Apparently, nothing has changed since I was here in June. 
After hanging out with improv peeps, I ended up at a party down the street with my roommate and a bunch of other UT people. 
Apparently I party like a rockstar in Austin. 

TODAY, I:
Had lunch at Central Market (which is like Metro Mart times 10), then I went to the Gap in search of work pants. No luck on the pants, but I did manage to spend far too much money. Damn the Gap. 
Then tonight I volunteered at another Out of Bounds show. This weekend (and today in particular) EVERYONE was in downtown Austin. I mean everyone. There was a 10k (The Nike Human Race),* a triatholon, BatFest, Out of Bounds, and I'm sure several other things. 
Due to all of these events, ALL OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN was closed. Not the businesses, restaurants, and venues, just the streets. ALL OF THEM. I was the luckiest girl alive to find a parking spot within a mile of the venue, and I did it by following people to their car. 
We held the house for a half an hour because downtown was so ridiculous, and there were still a ton of people who had bought tickets online who didn't make it. Sucks for them. 
The shows were good - one fantastic and one decent. 
Girls Girls Girls, billed as "Austin's only all-female improv troupe," specializes in improvised musicals. I wanted very badly to love the show. 
I did not. 
There were some moments of genius, but there were also a lot of moments of less-than-genius. Improvised songs are really hard, I hate doing them, and the thought of doing an entire show terrifies the crap out of me, but I have seen it done so much better than GGG's musical about beauty pageants. 
Perhaps I have been spoiled, seeing so many tight, well-performed musicals at Jet City, but this show seemed lacking in so many ways: Plot, for one. It was there, but not well-formed. Also, for a musical show, there was not a lot of songs. There was quite a bit of "speaking rhythmically while music plays," though. Cop-out. If you bill yourselves as a troupe that does improvised musicals, then do a musical. Sing some songs, sing different kinds of songs, don't bore me. I think they needed more structure than "we're going to do a musical based on a suggestion." There are so many kinds of musical, I think they should have picked a theme beforehand.
(They are going to find this someday and hate me. Oh well.)

The second troupe to perform was a troupe from The Groundlings, out of LA. The Groundlings have a great reputation, and for good reason. Yep. It was apparent that most of the improvisors spend a great deal of time onstage. 

Sitting in the audience tonight, I realized it must be terrifying to perform for a large group of improvisors. Way scarier than performing for the general public.

Now I'm sitting here, debating putting on my PJs. By last night's standards, it's still early. 


*I am absolutely horrified just at the thought of running a 10k. Now add 90 degree weather. These people are out of their minds. 

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Cold Showers

Through some weird miscommunication, the gas in my new house got turned off, instead of the account just switching names. My new roommate called the gas company and, because of the long weekend, they can't turn it back on until next week.
This means: no stove and no hot water.
At first I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, it's a billion degrees outside, cold showers should be ok. And occasionally, they are. But stepping into that cold shower first thing in the morning is something I just can't bring myself to do. I have to turn down the a/c, turn off the fans, and wait for the house to get good and toasty. Then I jump in, get wet, turn off the water, wash, turn on the water, and try to breathe while I rinse off. I don't feel like I'm getting very clean, but then, I start sweating the minute I leave the house, so who really cares?
In other news, I am pretty sure I'm going to buy a truck. I was pretty stoked on getting a Miata or something, but the more time I spend on the freeways here, the more terrifying that prospect sounds.
(On that note - Texas freeways are weird. I still haven't figured it out. Access roads? Tolls? ah!)
I went and test-drove this truck yesterday, it's a red Ford Ranger and I like it. While driving it, the skies opened up and began to dump rain. Not sure how I feel about that. There was also crazy lightening and thunder.

Yesterday I got a little homesick - trying to figure out all this new stuff (banking, driving, grocery shopping) got to me a little bit. I miss Seattle and Bellevue and Bellingham where I know where everything is and how to get there and I don't get lost on a daily basis. I'm sure I'll get to that point here, but for now it's kind of stressful.

My new housemate is in law school and I went with her and some of her friends to a big law school beginning of the school year party on 6th street. Think Pioneer Square and Bourbon street mashed up into one big mess. It was fun in a "now I don't have to do that again" kind of way. Or maybe I will, who knows?

There is a park across the street and people are playing tennis. I want to ask them if they are aware that it is 90 degrees out. They probably are. Crazies.

On today's itinerary: Find an ATM that takes deposits, find the library, meet up with my friend Talleri.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Arrival

Today I woke up at 4:30 Seattle time, which is 6:30 Austin time, and I'm now mentally somewhere in between those two times. Hopefully I'll adjust soon, but right now it's midnight Austin time and I'm both exhausted and wide awake. So basically just loopy as all hell. 

Flew from Seattle to Denver to Austin on Southwest air. They have the best in-flight snacks, granola bars, cheese-its, peanuts. Love it.
I started reading World War Z on the plane. Maybe that's why no one sat next to me. Or maybe I look intimidating? Who knows? Who cares? I didn't have to fight anyone for an armrest.
I arrived, my baggage all arrived, my shuttle dropped me off at my house, and my new housemate was here to welcome me.  I think we are going to get along really well.

There is a KEXP button stuck to the stereo in my room (belonging to the girl who I'm subletting from). I took that as a sign that this is where I'm supposed to be.

My new housemate took me to pick up my rental car - it's a bright yellow, brand new Chevy Aveo:

Not a car I would ever choose for myself, but it's actually kind of fun. Mostly I like that it is bright yellow and has a/c. Also it has a little over 800 miles on it. It's the newest, shiniest thing I've ever driven.

Went to dinner with my new housemate and two of her friends - we had a great time. Margaritas and warm weather and fun people - a girl could get used to that.

Then I went on an adventure of my own - I went to a show at the Out of Bounds Improv Festival. First, I'm just really excited that I found the place. (I got a little lost coming home, but that's a different story...) In addition to the excitement of getting there, I saw one of the four people in Austin that I know, the one and only Terp2It. (I'm sure I saw other people that I met last time I was here, but my brain is so distressed after however many hours of consciousness that everyone looked familiar. )

The improv was awesome, I love short form but I forgot how much I enjoy long form. The second troupe I saw perform tonight, Improv For Evil, did an improvised 1970's-style cop show. Let me just say - YES. But then, I'm a sucker for themes. And big ridiculous mustaches. 

I wrote a list of things I need to buy soon:
a washcloth, cotton swabs, pictures for my walls, extension cords, a car, black capris, and a little fan. 

Tomorrow I will be going to Primrose School for some training, and then looking at some cars. I'm going to check out a 99 Miata, a 2002 GTI, and a 1987 BMW. Hopefully one of them isn't total crap. I should really buy a Honda or something else non-German. However, there's no fun in that.

Now I'm going to try to sleep - But really I'll probably watch the movie that I didn't watch on the plane, or read more about the Zombie Wars. 




Monday, August 18, 2008

Too busy to blog

Getting ready to move across the country while working 40+ hours a week is pretty time-consuming. I haven't had much time to write, but I also don't feel like I've had much to write about.
I've been selling/getting rid of a lot stuff, I sold my bass last week and put my truck up on Craigslist today. My car is not in sellable condition right now so my dad (my hero) has been working on it. 
I signed my sublease agreement and sent off my deposit, so I will at least have a home when I arrive (in ten days!). Everything else is still kind of up in the air - hopefully I will find a car and a bank (probably not in that order) as soon as I get there. 
So, that's it for the update.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

In the great tradition of Brynn Hambly, I've decided that this here blog will be the best way to keep all you friend, family, and fans (I must have fans, right?) up to date on my big adventure - aka the big move from Seattle to Austin.
I will be flying into Austin on Wednesday , August 27th. Buying that one-way ticket was pretty amazing. (Round trip tickets to Austin are not that expensive - come visit me!) I have a place to live, but will be spending all my time trying to find a car as soon as I get there so I don't have to rent one for very long. 
I will be starting my job on September 2; I'll be working at the Primrose School of Vista Ridge, in Cedar Park, just outside of Austin. I'll be the lead teacher in the 18-24 month old class. Teeny Tinies, puppets, snack, and nap. How could that not be awesome?

I'm currently trying to get rid of almost everything I own. It's hard but also feels really good. It's amazing how much stuff a person can accumulate, even when you move as much as me. Tomorrow is the big trip to the storage unit. I'm a little stressed. There's stuff there I haven't seen in two years. But it's a good feeling, knowing that I'm going to get to Austin with a suitcase (or two's) worth of stuff. Starting over, clean slate. 

And now a question for you fans:
When I went to Austin in June, I was pretty much murdered by mosquitoes - does anyone know of a good repellant that isn't as toxic to people as it is to bugs? If so, please inform me. I do not like mosquito bites. Thank you.