Austin City Limits: weed, bikinis, and music

My very first ACL. Hopefully not my last. Though I stood out like a sore thumb: jeans, straightened hair, and a brain filled half empty of musical knowledge--I had one of the greatest times in my life. At one moment I laid on a blanket in the grass, looking up at the cloudless sky and just let all the music from all the bands envelop my entire person. The dust and smoke consumed me. I listened. I danced. I stood in the back and watched people experience this same thing: a consumption. An overdose of music. The way the eyes lit up when a band took the stage and played their favorite song. It was amazing. Music has been described as having a "scene"--at ACL, it was an entire act. ACL was a show in itself, one that I hope I can see traditionally.

What a degree gets you.

A career, respect, friends. Maybe even a wife! There are countless things a degree can get you. But one thing that grows with the number of degrees you have (at least for some) is an attitude. Now, I've had many professors with who knows how many diplomas and they've been respectable, intelligent people who I truly enjoy learning from. But... there are some that stretch my sanity with every ounce of their being. I don't blame their degrees, they're "oh so many" degrees. They're "I'm so much smarter than you peons" degrees. I blame them as professionals. Since when did college become an institution that makes you look smarter but makes you feel more stupid with each passing semester? To those professors out there who not only fail to teach appropriately but fail to give respect to those who are paying for the education they can provide, I give you a "D".

St. Edward's University

It's small and private setting give Austin a charm typically unseen. But as far as an educational institution, how does St. Edward's University rank?
The campus looks like someone took a chunk out of a quaint northeastern town, cranked the heat up thirty degrees, and killed some grass. But the overall look is rather appealing. The century old buildings portray some history and offer credibility.
It is small, only a few acres with buildings sporadically placed amongst it. But I believe the students find the size an endearing quality, if not one of it's selling points.
St. Edward's University excels academically. It's MBA program ranks as one of the highest in the nation. And though the bachelor's program falls short of the list, students gain a knowledge that is respectable.
One of the best qualities of the university is it's focus on real-life knowledge rather than textbook knowledge. And unlike most catholic institutions, does not focus heavily on religion.
Overall, the University has both educational and aesthetic appeal.

Seventeen: not just a magazine but a culture!

They have spunk, and they dress totally rad. They're seventeen and they're just about to go to college.
Seventeen year olds are at the top of their game. They're seniors in High School: their the big guys, the older kids, the upper-class. And all too soon they will be thrown to the sharks in the life-changing experience known as "getting a degree". So, they must live it up while they still can!
I think that's what makes them so... annoying? They create a culture of sorts: self-conscious, but they hide it by saying "dude, look how totally RIPPED I am!"
When they finally get here, they are the Napoleon Bonaparte's of the university world. Small and vicious. Like ferrets with rabies. Losing their mind because unlike the last semester of high school, this takes work.
They do the work though. And find time to party. Which then creates a co-culture: next generation seventeens. Seventeen year olds don't grow up, they get older. So now, they are buying stocks, can drink till they puke, and they still dress totally rad! The seventeen year olds of today are not taking life like a challenge, but a party. My rating of this culture: B. Not too shabby on trying to make everything fun, but, seriously, don't help me do my taxes.

Austin Tea Party

Tea parties are something that should have never left our generation. It's as if the youth of America, aside from three year old girls, missed out on the opportunity to gather in mid-afternoon to delight in conversation with the ladies of the town. Even when writing about it I feel that I have to be from Savannah. The voice in my head has gradually shifted to southern belle. Why is it though? For my thirteenth birthday, me and my closest friends had a tea party (an ACTUAL tea party) at the Ritz in downtown Houston. I had a great time. But, unfortunately, because of the standards my peers have placed upon me, if I go to a tea party now, or mention that I plan to attend one, I will be scoffed. If you are one of those who feel that way... you are not invited to my tea party.

Ice-ka klick klick-cream

Sure, Amy's is notable for their interesting flavors, some even including alcohol, and who doesn't like that? But also what must be mentioned about Amy's Ice Cream is it's character. Amy spared no expense on making this little ice cream shop pure Austin. Even the employees are entertainers.
On my good friend Lindsay's twentieth birthday we hit up Amy's for some celebratory treats. We of course mentioned the fact that it was her birthday and, being overtly confident and most likely annoying, demanded a birthday song and dance. We all laughed and went to have a seat.
It was then that Amy's became not just an ice cream shop. One of the employees straps on his tap shoes, jumps on a piece of ply wood and goes to town. I went into Amy's ice cream expecting two scoops of chocolate and I got a show! And Lindsay received the best birthday present ever: a personal tap dance accompanied by delicious ice cream.
The ice cream at Amy's is great, but the atmosphere is now the selling point. Only in Austin can you find local entertainment and desert all in one, and at no extra cost.

The best question

Today I was asked "which road sign describes your sexual life?"

Now I can't help but laugh when I see "road humps ahead".

What's yours is mine

People come up to my dog and just assume that it is theirs. One woman today literally got in her face and said "you wanna come home with me?" then turned to me and said "looks like she's going home with me!"
Excuse me ma'am, that would be theft.
People don't do that with babies! You don't touch a baby with the hand that just picked your wedgie.

Shades of joy

I bought a lampshade and it is quite possibly the best purchase I've made in a while. It's deep raspberry shines onto the wall from my lamp with elegance and passion. I love my lampshade. The beauty it gives my bedroom is awe-inspiring. People will walk into my bedroom and think "oh my, this room! It has such warmth. How does such a room give off such majesty?!" I will cooly reply with "my lampshade". This lampshade is my ticket into a better life! A better home! A better room! Twenty five dollars has bought me more than I ever thought it would!

Or I just watched a show on wine tasting and thought that I could apply it to a household object.

Success.

WTF?

If today's generation gets it's way, future conversations will consist entirely of acronyms.


I really hope I'm dead by then.

Thanks cold front!

Wavering Ike finally hit landfall in the Houston area. Though businesses across Austin worried that rain would drown upon them, creating floods across the hill country, sure enough, they didn't come. Hardly a sprinkle hit Austin.
Last second a cold front came and saved us, and, ironically enough brough amazing weather. Look outside! There's a chill in the air, a soft wind: it's beautiful. The cold front fought off the bad weather and gave us great weather.
I'm thinking it's my new BFF.

Happy balloons

My roommate and I joke that the song "99 red balloons" is actually a metaphor for life. Let me explain. Upon birth, you are given 99 red balloons which resemble happiness and stability. If something bad happens a balloon pops; if something good happens a balloon inflates. The point is to remain at a steady 99 balloons. Not excessive: you're not the weird girl that can't stop smiling. And yet, you are happy.
Obviously the balloons are imaginary; I'm not walking through life surrounded by them. But the thought of having so many happy things, even if something bad happens, makes me a little less inclined to think that my life sucks. So if you wake up with a zit on your face, it's OK. You still have ninety-eight left.

Invasion

I found five crickets in my apartment today. If there are more crickets than inhabitants of the household, that's far too many. Why is it that Austin has so many? I don't like it

Take care of your pets.

The nickname "man's best friend" doesn't go without saying. Dogs, or pets in general, can make us healthier, happier people. After all, we aren't lonely; we have something that will unconditionally love us until the day they die. You'd think after all that our best friends give us, we could give them a little something back.
I've worked at a vet clinic now for a few months and I'm still left speechless. I can't count the number of times that I've heard "can't I just put it to sleep?" or "I don't wanna spend all that money on him, I'll just take him to a shelter". Your pets are your responsibility. They alter your happiness and you control theirs. I will never understand the inconsiderate actions we take upon living things.

We're losing sight of shoe

I've noticed a decrease in foot coverage. Everywhere I go there are toes. Painted, stinky, fungus-ridden--I've seen more toes than I can count. But, it's all as of recent. Have our feet become so suffocated that we must let them breathe? Do they feel they're missing out on the world? It's SOLE, not SOUL. My shoes have a purpose: to shield my delicate toes from the evil, dirty world. How can a flip-flop win the battle?

Journey Haiku

It's who you go with
Traveling can be magic
Or a big migrane

He's young, he's singing, he's Frankenstein... on Broadway

It wasn't too long ago that Mel Brook's highly acclaimed film The Producers became a Broadway mega hit. After winning Tony Awards and spawning a movie turned musical turned movie-musical, it is no surprise that another one of his multi-generational hits, Young Frankenstein would soon take the stage.
The movie was a comedic masterpiece when it hit theatres in 1974. "Walk this way": the memorable line said by Igor to Fredrick even sponsored the popular song by Aerosmith. With all this acclaim the Broadway version would be a huge hit! Right?
Truth be told, it's fame kicked it square in the face. The movie just can't seem to be beat. When you get to the theatre expecting to relive the memories the movie created, watching with anticipation as the dialogue nears your favorite scene, all to find out that they've turned "Would you like to have a roll in zee hay" into a catchy broadway jingle... it's disappointing. Better luck next time Brooks. Maybe your fans will love the idea of tap-dancing cowboys for Blazing Saddles.

The next few blogs

I spent this last weekend in New York City: a town driven by fashion, business, and technology. Ironically enough, I didn't have access to internet so instead I wrote my blogs in a journal to be later inputed into my online journal.