Eeyore's Birthday Party

It feels like I blogged about Eeyore's Birthday Party just the other day, but apparently it's been a full year. We missed it again this year, like we have the last 10 years or so, but that's life. When I was younger it was one of THE things to do in the spring in Austin. Now that I am older, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm...not so much.

We were shopping at Central Market this weekend and the checker (who was much younger than us) had just been to Eeyore's for the first time. She was thrilled with it. We told her we had both been to it many times in the past but we were now much older and didn't go anymore. She looked at us like she was thinking: "Yeah, right. You are old and probably never did go to Eeyore's. Or if you did, it wasn't as cool then as it is now. I'm NEVER gonna be as old as you and not want to go to Eeyore's." We just smiled and walked away thinking, "Just wait, honey, we thought we would never get old either!"

"Ah well, perhaps one has to be very old before one learns how to be amused rather than shocked." --Pearl Buck

Stuck in Fort Worth

I have nothing against Fort Worth. It's a fine city as cities go, but to be stuck here working and staying in a hotel for 4 straight days, isn't fine. I have suffered through torrential rains and thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes while I have been here. I have worked long days and spent little time relaxing after work, before I go to bed just to get up and do it all over again. This has been a long week. Luckily I am here with some really nice people who have made this week a lot less stressful. That is what makes this kind of trip bearable. Traveling with co-workers who support you, laugh with you and understand you. So thanks to them, I will not lose my mind before I can climb back on that plane to Austin tomorrow. I would rather be home in Austin. This isn't the same type of town as Austin. The people aren't the same, the restaurants, the scenery...it's all different. I miss the hills, the trees, the laid back atmosphere Austin just seems to exude. Most of all I miss my husband. And no matter how far I travel, Austin is my home and always will be. HOME! I am ready to be there!

Old Austin Music Scene

I went to see Beto y los Fairlanes last night at the Elephant Room and they were as good as ever! This morning I just started cruising the internet to see if any of my old haunts like the AusTex Lounge were listed and I found this great site:
THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED LIST OF VULCAN GAS COMPANY. Many thanks to Dennis Hickey who has a nice history of Texas Music and Austin in particular written up on the site. The Vulcan Gas Company was a legendary club in the late 60's and early 70's. A really good time for Austin. I particulary was found of the little dives like the AusTex Lounge, the Alamo Hotel Lounge, the original Hole in the Wall...the list goes on forever. You can link to a list of "dead clubs" in Austin at http://www.samopc.com/deadclubs/deadclubs.htm.


Outside the Vulcan Gas Company circa 1967

Interesting Events in Austin this Month

Thutsday April 19
The Harry Ransom Center
21st St. And Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78713

The earliest known permanent photograph taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1826 of the view from his window wil be on display. This is part of their Focus on Photography program series. The HRC is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. You can go to their 50th anniversary website to view an interactive timeline of the Center's history, photo galleries, and more.





Beto and the Fairlanes
Friday April 20
9:30pm

Elephant Room
315 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701



One of my all time favorite Austin bands is playing at the Elephant room this Friday! They have a unique sound that is purely Texas. It's a can't miss opportunity!

Waterloo is 25!!!

Waterloo Records is celebrating it's 25th anniversary with a concert in the parking lot today from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.. It's free , but donations will be accepted at the door to benefit Health Alliance for Austin Musician(HAAM). They're having food and drinks provided by Waterloo Ice House and Amy's Ice Creams. The event is sponsored by AT&T, the Austin Chronicle, Shiner Beers, 107.1 KGSR, Whole Foods, Seattle's Best, and Whole Earth.

So get on down there, you've already missed alot of the free fun!!

The Lineup Includes:

12:00 - Carolyln Wonderland
12:25 - Ruthie Foster
1:00 - Grupo Fantasma
2:00 - Brothers & Sisters
3:00 - Joe Ely
4:00 - Zykos
5:00 - Eisley
6:00 - Omar & the Howlers

Houston

Here it is folks! The view from my hotel room in Houston this past week. Not much to look at is it? Mostly it was a highway and some office buildings. Houston was humid this past week, but really green. It always amazes me the amount of vegetation they can grow down there. And such a variety! I saw this really cool tree with red flowers on it. The flowers looked round and kind of like pom-poms. Like giant mimosa tree flowers only thicker and round. Really interesting tree. Tbere are sago palms everywhere. It seems like every yard has at least one. And banana trees are all over the place. So, you might ask, why did I take a picture of concrete and cars? Because I didn't have a chance to take any pictures of yards and plants. Maybe next time.

Have a Happy Easter!!

A Few Good Quotes

I like quotations. A really good quote can summarize in just a few words what I want to say but can't, even in an entire page of wrting. Here are a few good quotes of friendship...I will remember later why I chose them.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
--George Washington, First president of US (1732 - 1799)

Go through your phone book, call people and ask them to drive you to the airport. The ones who will drive you are your true friends. The rest aren't bad people; they're just acquaintances.
--Jay Leno, US comedian & television host (1950 - )

Reveal not every secret you have to a friend, for how can you tell but that friend may hereafter become an enemy. And bring not all mischief you are able to upon an enemy, for he may one day become your friend.
Saadi
Persian poet (1184 - 1291)

It's a lot like nature. You only have as many animals as the ecosystem can support and you only have as many friends as you can tolerate the bitching of.
--Randy K. Milholland, Something Positive Comic, 08-16-05

I always like to know everything about my new friends, and nothing about my old ones.
--Oscar Wilde
Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900)

My mother used to say that there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet. She's now in a maximum security twilight home in Australia.
--Dame Edna Everage, Australian Comedian (character of Barry Humphries) (1934 - )

I will probably remember that some of these quotes mean something to me, some of them remind me of friends and some of them remind me of me....LOL! The trick is to remember which is which.

SPAMARAMA

This weekend Austin is scheduled to celebrate it's annual weird festival in celebration of that often maligned potted meat, Spam. I personally find Spam repugnant. Despite that, I have been to the Spamarama...twice. I would like to report that seeing Spam in a different light changed my feelings about it, but, unfortunately, No, I still find Spam disgusting. Maybe even more so after I saw it sculpted, tossed, barbecued, baked, frozen, pureed and liquefied. But, since this is an Austin tradition that dates back to the days when Austin truly was weird, I am in full support of this festival. Besides it's not just about the Spam, which there is tons of (I wonder if Spam stock goes up during this week?), it's about the community of Austin. The totally bohemian, no holds barred, full out in your face weirdness that we love so much here. So ROCK ON SPAMARAMA! Just don't make me eat any of it, ok?

Journals

Blogs are a wonderful thing, but they can not compare to a handwritten journal. Journals are just for you, to fill with your personal thoughts and ideas, doodles and drawings. Something you can keep private from the world. They start out with all those crisp clean pieces of paper waiting for you to fill them. You can touch it, feel it and smell it. Once you've filled it, you have a handmade book, with pages puffy from ink, full of ideas, pictures, and personal dreams. Nothing can beat a hand written journal. It's a bit of personal creativity that you can keep with you forever.

Such a Beautiful Day Here!

It's a beautiful day here in Austin Texas. The sun is shining and the weather is delightful. It's the kind of day that many people here take advantage of to get outside and run, bike, work in the yard or go to the lake. It's the kind of day that makes you happy you live here in Austin!

My vacation plans are still in the formative stage. I know what I am going to do on Monday, but after that I am still making plans and coming up with ideas. I might need to make a list of all that I want to accomplish. So much to do, so little time to do it in? No, I have plenty of time this week. Just have to make a decision on when and how. No problem.

Have a good week every one! Enjoy Life!

Happy Vacation!