#50 My parents have power!!

 My hometown of Austin has been sunken in snow, freezing rain and cold. As the world now knows, millions in Texas have been without power for various lengths of time--my parents and brother are three of them.

Photo from KXAN gallery

Their electricity went out about 3 a.m. Monday morning and just came back on this morning - Friday--at 5 a.m. They were without power for basically 4 days! Daddy said that when the power came back on the house was at 38°F (3° C) !!! A couple of nights they went to the home of their best friends for food, warmth and device charging, so there were a few small reprieves. I asked them what they did all day long--we are people who usually have a TV on and are on an electronic device. Both of my parents wore 4 layers of clothing in the bed under all the blankets in the house to stay warm. And they just stayed there all day. For four days. Oh my gosh, I though 14 days of isolation was bad!

The water is still off and at some point during the week a pipe burst. Luckily a plumber was able to come out yesterday but since the water was out there was no way to check the work.

I didn't get a lot of information out of my parents when we talked today, but I got more than the last few days. My dad is not, shall we say, talkative via text. So I was super happy to hear their voices for the few minutes we took for them to fill me in on the high points of the last few days. 

They had to go and tend to the water situation, but hopefully they won't spend another night in 30 degree weather inside their house.

Here's an aerial view of Austin this week courtesy of the Austin American Statesman.

Update: My dad sent me pictures from their house. That's a LOT of snow!

Photo by RFD

Photo by RFD

Photo by RFD

#363: Holiday tour of Austin

Last night a friend from high school and I went on a "Christmas Tour of Austin" of sorts.

First there was dinner at 24 Diner at 6th and Lamar where the old Waterloo Ice House used to be.

Next to the Whole Foods Mothership across the street for dessert, where we stumbled upon ice skating on the roof! Unfortunately it ended at 9 and we got there at 8:58.

Full from burgers and dessert, a visit to the Zilker Holiday Tree! I haven't been there in years.

The best thing to do is to spin underneath it while you look up...then try not to throw up!

Our tour ended at Mozart's Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin Blvd. Here's why (try to overlook my singing; I got excited!):

There were five songs total. Here's part of another one:

And some random stills from the rest of the show:

#356: The Trail of Lights

Back in Austin for the Christmas holiday and we went directly from the airport to the Trail of Lights!

The Bat Cave

Thunderclouds- BOO!

Rainbow comes out- YAY!

#329: Thanksgiving in Austin!

It has been years since I was with my parents & my brother on Thanksgiving Day, and it did not disappoint. It's been a busy but awesome day!

I ran the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.

It was a little wet

 I found a Michigan State reminder along the way back...

No Thanksgiving is complete without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Grandma's secret recipe chocolate pie is setting in the fridge.

Say hello to Santa!

Watch a little Pro Football. Took a nap.

Watch a little college football with my dad!

Dry at the beginning of the game.

Soaked by halftime.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!!

#326: Me and Dad and the hike and bike trail

Time for a walk on the hike and bike trail around Town Lake!

#194: A Taste of Home at the Galway Film Fleadh

In July every year, the Galway Film Fleadh comes to town. As I have heard it said the participation is the key to harmony, I like to participate when I can. I also have the fear of missing out, but that's a post for a different day.

I went to a film today called The Jones Family Will Make a Way. It is the story of a family of gospel singers who want to carry the message of God but also would like to make a living singing.  The head of the family befriends a music critic in Austin, Texas (read: MY HOME TOWN!) named Michael Corcoran.

It was such a pleasant surprise to see the familiar sights of my home town, hear the thick Southern drawls and pretend like I was in the warm sunshine while sitting in rainy Galway.

Blessing #47 of 2015: The best Valentine's Day EVER!!!

I didn't get any cards, candy or flowers, but this was the absolutely best Valentine's Day of my life! 

I've fallen in love with myself!!!!  Who knew?!?!  I just found out this weekend!  Details:

• The best part first:   I felt like I belonged in the city I grew up in.  I've never felt like that before in my life, not in Austin.  I always felt awkward, uncomfortable and self-conscious there, no matter where I went.  I wasn't granola enough to fit in downtown; yuppy enough to fit in in Westlake, rich enough to fit in downtown or pretty enough to fit in with any men. 

All that is gone now!  I finally figured out that the only person judging me was ME.  A habit which has apparently ceased, because on this visit all of that old ick was gone.  G. O. N. E. Gone.  It's like I finally graduated from high school on an emotional level.  Just 22 years late.

 More evidence of the best Valentine's Day EVER:

• I got to stay with the people who probably love me the most of anybody
• I was nice to the people who love me the most of anybody
• The idiosyncrasies in said people that used to, at every occurrence, used to drive me crazy, DID NOT BOTHER ME AT ALL!  Not one bit.  Did not hit the radar.
• I got to go to a UT basketball game with my dad.
• I got to go shopping with my mom
• I got a lot of great clothes on said shopping trip
• I got to fly over the Grand Canyon
• I got to kiss my brother and tell him, "I love you"
• I ate at a vegetarian restaurant allergen-free!
• I made a new friend (sandals man)
• I saw some old friends
• I saw some new friends
• I ran into an unexpected friend from high school
• I didn't watch one single episode of Gilmore Girls, and I didn't even think about it
•  I got some schoolwork done on the plane today
• I was comfortable in my own skin the entire weekend
• I didn't lie to anyone, manipulate anyone, or hide anything from anyone 
• I didn't feel ashamed of myself once
• I didn't feel self-conscious at all
• I experienced all three Austin seasons: winter, spring and fall
• I ran a 2 hour (ish) half marathon
• I got to have breakfast today with a friend

Blessing #45: A LOVE-ly day!

I went to lunch with my friend from high school and his friend, who are both running in the Austin Marathon in the morning.  He is the reason I signed up for the marathon in the first place (though I downgraded to the half because of lazy-lack-of-training-syndrome). 

We went to this great vegetarian place called Bouldin Creek Cafe, where we waited an hour for a table.  It was totally worth the wait!  The food was great, and I had healthy food I'm not allergic to that wasn't a burger for the first time in a restaurant.  Yay!

While we were waiting, we went inside to get drinks.  As we loitered near the bar with our teas in hand, I heard someone say, "Joy."  When I turned around, a friend we graduated from high school with was sitting there at the bar!  He ended up staying and eating with us and the whole meal was a blast.  What are the chances I would run into someone I graduated with, on the one weekend I'm in town, when I'm out with someone else I graduated with?

Totally worth the wait- for food and company!

Must be a God thing.

Or a glitch in the Matrix.

Anyways...afterwards we went to packet pickup, where I found my running shoes, Hoka One One's, for 60% off!!  SIXTY PER-CENT.  These are expensive shoes!  Woo Hoo!

To cap of a great day, my dad and I went to the UT/Texas Tech basketball game, which Texas won.  I got to stand and sing The Eyes of Texas (video obviously not the event I was attending, but you get the idea) played by the Texas Longhorn Band at the end of the game, which is one of my top 10 favorite things to do.

And I still have another day here!

My Valentine

Texas wins!

The Eyes of Texas to my right...

The Eyes of Texas to my left

Blessing #44: Hanging with the parents in Austin!

Hanging with the parents on a Friday night in Mecca (i.e. Austin)!!

I'm so excited to be here and am absolutely loving spending time with these two quirky, lovely people.  Here's to a fabulous weekend!

Blessing #42: Tomorrow is my Friday!

I'm going to Austin on real Friday to run in the Austin Half-Marathon on Sunday.  I'm so excited I'm having trouble going to sleep.  I can't wait to eat Whataburger fries and stay up late talking with my dad while my mom watches reruns of I Love Lucy in the other room.

But getting back to today...today is my Thursday!  So tomorrow, though I don't get to wear jeans to work, I DO get to stay up late tomorrow night!  I get a day off from work on which I can sleep in late (like 7 am!!) wander around in my pajamas till 10 then pack for Texas at 11.

I'm SOOOOOOO excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!