Road Trip

Angela and I are driving to Austin for Memorial Day weekend. We love that city. We met there in 1998 and lived there until 2001 when I got the job on Kidd's show, and now if we go too long without revisiting our old hangouts we have major withdrawls. Austin is like one of those big comfy, overstuffed chairs that you just sink into and all of the material rises up and envelopes you and gives you a big chair hug. It 's really difficult to get up out of those chairs. And it's even harder to stay out of them. But why would you want to? And so it is with Austin.

This whole trip is going to center around food. I'm already strategizing about my carb intake, wondering how many carbs I can stuff into my body over the holiday weekend and still get into my Levis 515's on Tuesday. I'm in a constant state of awareness about this, but I will be more so on a weekend where restaurants like Shady Grove, Magnolia Cafe, Hula Hut, and Chuy's are all within easy reach. (Chuy's in Dallas on McKinney Avenue is great too. We've been there many times and always order the creamy jalapeno dressing to go with the chips and salsa. Extra calories, but extra fun too.) Anyway, we girls know how our pants are supposed to fit, and when that fit becomes more of a squeze it ruins your whole day. Maybe I'll just wear overalls for a week after we return and make myself deal with it.

The last time we were in Austin Angela got her ears pierced at a body piercing place on 6th street--little silver hoops with white balls. I waited until we got back to Dallas and got mine pierced at Obscurities at Cedar Springs and Throckmorton--little silver hoops with sea green balls. Now I want more hoops in my ears. But Angela is afraid another ear piercing will make me addicted, and then there will be no end to the piercing madness. No worries. I'm content with the navel and ears. But perhaps just one more in my ears.

We're staying at Hotel San Jose. It's crisp, clean, and modern. And instead of business suits and briefcases, it's flip flops and beat-up leather bags. And the owners' dogs are usually running around in the courtyard. It so Austin--comfy and creative. And it's right on South Congress a block away from Guero's and across the street from the Continental Club. Maybe Toni Price or Trish Murphy will be playing. And if Patty Griffin is playing anywhere in Austin while we're there, we must go see her and buy new t-shirts or CD's or any other merch which happens to be graced by her presence and influence. No other artist hits me at the core like she does. I know Dallas has discovered the greatness that is Patty Griffin too. We went to one of her shows at the Granada Theater awhile back and the place was packed. It makes me happy that Dallas gets the Austin vibe.

So whatever it is for you--road trip, graduation, hot date, the new Star Wars, or whatever--happy Memorial Day! Have a great weekend ya all. Be safe.