Sunday June 20, 2010

Our last morning in Austin! We flew out on time, this trip through Denver. Anna took us to Heidi's Deli, where we ordered egg salad and pastrami reuben sandwiches. We were happy we ordered only two as they were very big. we've done too much overeating on this trip!

We were placed in row 22, seats D, E and F. Again, no movie! I got up with my headset on and it flew off, landing on 23D's foot. Not the most exciting day of our trip! We did land on Father's Day. I could not give Matt his planned gift, as the Co-op was closed, but he enjoyed his Longhorn air freshener (:^)

Saturday June 19, 2010

Anna and I attended the Juneteenth parade, celebrating when the slaves found out about the Emancipation Proclamation announcement. Katie chose to watch it on TV. She found out Texas was already a state then. There were lots of people there, with candy-throwing floats and cars, water bottles and fans passed out (thankfully! It was hot!). I saw a little boy dancing on the lawn across the street and another one on the same lawn throwing a frisbee (well, trying to). One entry in the parade was a hair styling salon, with rainbow hair on parade! Anna laughed at the times I tried to help the children find pieces of candy in the street. I was just too lazy to get up and get it myself. I forgot to apply sunblock to my block, so I developed a nice u-shaped burn above my tank top. We spent about 1 1/2 hours at the parade and left before it was finished, to pick Katie up. I had to stop to take a shot of this oddly-decorated yard.

When Anna looked at the B&B online, she had an image of us enjoying drinks on the porch. We only took time to take a picture on our last day.

We drove over to Lamar to find "Chinatown", with no success. We went back to P. Terry's, a hamburger restaurant recommended by Melodie. We all had cheeseburgers, skinny fries and a drink for less than $5 each. The restaurant was busy and noisy, and the food was delicious!

We drove out to Barton Springs to check out the pool. It cost $3 to park and we had to walk down a long hill to get to the pool, where we discovered it cost another $3 to get to the pool. There was a long line so we chose to watch the people who paid to get in. We noticed fake ducks around the diving boards, which were next to the "sitters". The "floaters" could be seen on either end. It is a huge, outdoor pool.



Off to South Congress for shopping. We visited Uncommon Objects, Maya Clothing. We then drove back over the bridge to 2nd for shopping at a jewelry store. Off to the Austin History Museum, to get a picture of the star.



Anna had an appointment to view a duplex and meet a potential roommate, Meagan. Katie and I went back to the Co-op to get a souvenir for Matt, but it was closed. We ended up at the CVS, and then back to the B&B to wait for Anna. She called and we arranged to meet at Madame Mam's Thai restaurant for dinner. Katie and I drove; Anna walked from a block away from Guadalupe on 32nd to 38th (way too hot to do that!) to meet us. We decided the food was merely "edible".

To attempt to compare the Allison apartment to the Meagan duplex, we drove back out to Allison's to look for the bus stop (1/2 mile from the apartment) or Car2Go (like FlexCar), which was behind the complex. The distance to grocery/shopping was too far to walk. There is a pool at the complex, which is a plus. Comparing the walk Anna took to the Thai restaurant to the distance to the bus stop told her how hot she would be every day.

Back to Meagan's which is a block from the bus stop, two blocks from a grocery (the Wheatsville Co-op; we looked for Cheetos but the closest was Doritos), and close to other restaurants and shops. It is more expensive, but is not on a lease so she can move anytime. Katie and I gave Anna our opinions of each; Anna consulted with Kristen, and decided on Meagan's duplex.

Friday June 18, 2010

We met for breakfast at 9 AM (I mistakenly thought it was served until 10 but was told that cleanup would begin at 9:15). I called Anna and Kate to make it quick or be hungry. The breakfast was very generous (frittata, bacon, scone, cereal); we'll need to do some walking! When asked why there was no AC unit in my room, I was told there is central AC in the building. Anna & Katie have their own unit since their room is separate from the house. We went shopping at the Co-op and the Co-op outlet. People were giving out a free water bottle or bag (containing a t-shirt and cup) to advertise student housing.

We visited the Harry Ransom center and saw a movie exhibit (with costumes from "Gone With the Wind" - how tiny the dresses were!) and a Mexico Independence exhibit. I have since read that donations are solicited to repair the costumes on display.

We drove out to Juan in a Million for lunch. Kate finished the Don Juan (egg, potato, bacon, and cheese in a tortilla) which weighs one pound and costs $3.80. No prize was given, but I think you get something if you eat 5 in a row.

Anna's first appointment for an apartment viewing was at 1:30. It was a house with two men but didn't give her a good feeling. It was in a good location but she would need to share the bathroom and they were watching sports when she got there. Kate and I drove around while she toured the house. After that tour, we drove around the area, looking for apartment for rent signs.

Back at the B&B, Anna called "Apartment Finders". There is quite the market in helping students find housing. Kate and I enjoyed Bernie Mac while Anna visited Melody, who then drove all of us to two apartment buildings. Both had studios for rent, which met her budget, but were in an area Anna felt was "too residential". She will need to be able to walk to amenities since she doesn't have a car.

We drove to another apartment complex so Anna could meet Allison. Anna would have her own bathroom but this place is two miles from South Congress. It was cheaper than any of the others at $440. We drove around the neighborhood and saw a nearby fabric store and thrift store (which we stopped at).

We stopped at the Odd Duck for dinner; it offers local organic food out of an Airstream. We ate outside at another picnic table, and read some of the cupcake offerings at the donut trailer (chicken strip, bacon with maple topping, PB&J).

Near dusk, we parked for free at the American Statesman (newspaper) to wait for the bats to fly out from under the Congress Bridge. We read that the mother bats teach their babies how to hunt for bugs from that site. We reminisced a bit but I can't remember the details: Barbie (I think that was the Mom Barbie vs. Teacher Barbie game Anna played once); saltines; mashed potatoes; star spangled banner. We talked about soupy potatoes (Matt not being able to tell a 2-cup measuring cup from a 1-cup). I thought they said "southern soup for Snoopy". My hearing is bad!

We met Tiko the friendly chihuahua and his "brother" Diego, the German Shepherd. They come to the park every night to feed the noisy goose who freaked Katie out. The goose talked like Bonnie, though.

On to Curra's Grill for dinner, so Anna could enjoy an avocado margarita. We ordered two appetizers since we weren't that hungry, but they were HUGE! We had chorizo/chili/cheese and fish/avocado/tomato. We do have access to a refrigerator at the B&B but, with our eating out so much, we don't have time for leftovers. Tomorrow, the search for Asian food.

Thursday June 17, 2010

We took a trip this year to help Anna find a place to live, while she attends graduate school. Anna, Katie and I started our trip to Austin on Thursday, using my United miles. We flew through San Francisco. I expected the flight from Seattle would be movie- and meal-free (that is, lacking in both) and I was correct. What I did not expect was the more-than-3-hour flight to Austin was the same!

We did enjoy an interlude in the Red Carpet Club.



When we got to Austin, it was muggy and raining, to our surprise. We picked up our rental car and drove off to our bed and breakfast. We were told we were put into two separate rooms, each with a shower, rather than the one shared room with a bathtub. The reason was the lack of air conditioning on the top floor. Anna and Kate took the shared room on the main floor, with an outside entrance, and I took the single room on the 2nd floor with the single bed.








We drove about 30 miles outside Austin to the Salt Lick for dinner. We have since seen this restaurant on a famous TV show, describing the open indoor barbecue pit as "illegal in some states". You wait outside, with available picnic tables under some trees, and, our our night, free music, until your buzzer indicates your table is ready. The Salt Lick does not serve alcohol, but it does allow you to bring your own. Connie wondered about the legality of all that. With a possible one hour wait, sitting in the hot shade under a tree, slamming down a six pack, and then driving up to 30 miles? Recipe for a disaster, perhaps? I called it "bring our own booze" and the daughters summed that phrase up with initials. Do that for yourself.

Seating inside is also at picnic tables. We all chose pork ribs, brisket, coleslaw, potato salad, beans, and added on the onion and pickle side. The food was fabulous! And generous! Our waiter was kind enough to capture the moment.








I admired the fence around the parking lot. A picture of a souvenir dusty handprint on our rental Nitro!



















We returned to the B&B and walked along Guadalupe, across from the campus. We passed a church, with this giant Wandering Jew plant. I remember growing these in college, but not so big and not so purple. Beautiful!

Back in my room, we watched the BP hearings; I confessed that, if Anna had not turned that on, I would not have watched it, but did find it fascinating. We checked our email, and Katie found a work issue that had to be solved (while on vacation!). The weather is in the high 90's, and kept me awake until 1 AM.