I want to write today about how blogging the Summer of Jay 4 met, or was different from my expectations.
I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to set up a blog, even for a technophobe like me. Blogspot = Google, and making things easy is why Google has all the money.
When I use technology, I usually just figure out what I need to know for that one day or single use. That is why I never changed the profile pictures on the right hand side of the blog, why I did not update my profile, or add links to the blog. I don't think it would have been that hard, but I wasn't willing to embrace the technology that much. So the blog was not all that it could have been. I also thought I would work more to steer people I don't already know to check out my blog. I would have done this using things like the Runners World website, where I read a bunch in the forums, and people can post their blog addresses. I learned pretty early this summer that I did not want to spend that much time chasing readers, so I still just lurk on the forums, and don't post there very often. I did get at least one crossover reader, which I thought was very cool.
When I started to think about blogging, the presidential primaries were in full swing. I thought I would write more about politics than I ended up doing. As the summer started, the nominating process was wrapping up, and material to write about dried up like my water-starved front yard. Most of the people reading this are pretty politically astute, so adding my voice to the summer chatter did not seem like the thing to do. I also find that when writing about serious topics, I start to choose my words extra carefully. The results are less entertaining to read, and take too long to produce. That's a combination that doesn't work for anyone.
I also thought that I would write more about running, because it is such a fascinating topic. Before my 18 week marathon prep began, there was not much to write about, and now that the training is about to get "interesting," the blog is winding down. I think that the times that I ran with the camera, and people could see what part of my run looked like, it made the blog better. Pictures make any blog more fun to read, I think. Carrie, thanks for the camera!
Before the blog, I did not think very highly of my own writing. Many of you reading are smarter, funnier, and better writers than I am. Still, I wanted to give this a shot. I have to say that I have been happy with the results. It may have been mostly lunch and band reviews, but I felt like most of the posts were worth reading, even if you live far away, and cannot make it to Gene's or Las Manitas, or see an in-store.
Comments are like crack, for this blogger, at least. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate those who have let me know that you read regularly, or even once in a while. I put many hours into this, and it helps to know that a few people view it as worthy of their time. So thanks for your involvement in this self-indulgent process.
I may still write a little once I go back to school. I just don't know if I'll have time. Tara has said that she wants to get a "blog alert" e-mail when I have a new post. If any of you want to "opt in" to this system, notify me, and I will let you know when I write something new. Otherwise, you are hereby released from your duties as readers.
Housekeeping:
Top 3 Margaritas
In no particular order:
Manuel's
Fonda San Miguel
Z'Tejas
Trudy's
Yes, I know that is four, but it's MY blog dammit.
The gyros at the new Greek place on Guadalupe, across from the Wheatsville
Co-op are really good.
Go Red Sox.
Peace,
js4
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tick Tock
Do you hear that? It is the sound of time running out on the Summer of Jay 4. On Thursday, I go back to school, for more time than is necessary to "get ready."
In the meantime, I am trying to do a few more fun things in these last remaining days. To that end, Tara and I took a road trip to Lockhart yesterday to eat as much barbecue as we could manage in an afternoon. We started at Smitty's, where Tara had some disappointing brisket, and I had some yummy sausage. Hers was too dry, and not fatty enough for her taste. She did like her bottle of Czech beer, though, on the first day is was available at Smitty's, it turns out.
We then walked and drove around the downtown area of Lockhart, building up a little hunger for more beef. We went to Black's, for what should have been much better brisket. It was more moist than Smitty's, but did not have the smoky flavor that I was used to. Overall, our food experience was lackluster, especially given the burden of high expectations. Lockhart BBQ lives on legend and reputation, but it does not always deliver. I've had so much great BBQ there that it would take 3 more disappointing trips to make me really question why I would go again.
On our way out of Black's, Mr. Black himself greeted us while we were getting back into the car, asking about meal. He is getting on up there in age, and I was not about to give him too honest an answer about that particular meal. Besides, he went out of his way to introduce himself, which I thought was cute, as if I would not know who he was. I forgot to take my camera with me to Lockhart, but Tara took some shots with her cellphone camera. If she can figure out how to send them to me, I'll try to post them tomorrow. Before leaving town, we stopped at Kreuz Market to get some more meat to take home and freeze. More sausage links, and some big ol' pork chops for me. All in all, still worth the drive, even with the price of gas.
Today I went to LuLu B's, which bills itself as a Vietnamese sandwich joint. This is another South Austin trailer situation, similar to the crepe place from earlier in the summer. It was a great way to combine my wariness of Asian food with my devotion to good sandwiches. The grilled pork was very good, with a cool marinade that gave it a zingy flavor. About every 7 bites, I would get a serious kick from some far-away spice that made me wish for a gulp of milk. It was kind of like playing Russian Roulette with a sandwich. I also tried a shrimp summer roll, which was fine, and probably very good if you like that sort of thing.
Tomorrow will be my last Summer post. I will try to reflect a little, which means it will likely take me several hours to write. Insights come slowly, if at all.
Peace,
js4
In the meantime, I am trying to do a few more fun things in these last remaining days. To that end, Tara and I took a road trip to Lockhart yesterday to eat as much barbecue as we could manage in an afternoon. We started at Smitty's, where Tara had some disappointing brisket, and I had some yummy sausage. Hers was too dry, and not fatty enough for her taste. She did like her bottle of Czech beer, though, on the first day is was available at Smitty's, it turns out.
We then walked and drove around the downtown area of Lockhart, building up a little hunger for more beef. We went to Black's, for what should have been much better brisket. It was more moist than Smitty's, but did not have the smoky flavor that I was used to. Overall, our food experience was lackluster, especially given the burden of high expectations. Lockhart BBQ lives on legend and reputation, but it does not always deliver. I've had so much great BBQ there that it would take 3 more disappointing trips to make me really question why I would go again.
On our way out of Black's, Mr. Black himself greeted us while we were getting back into the car, asking about meal. He is getting on up there in age, and I was not about to give him too honest an answer about that particular meal. Besides, he went out of his way to introduce himself, which I thought was cute, as if I would not know who he was. I forgot to take my camera with me to Lockhart, but Tara took some shots with her cellphone camera. If she can figure out how to send them to me, I'll try to post them tomorrow. Before leaving town, we stopped at Kreuz Market to get some more meat to take home and freeze. More sausage links, and some big ol' pork chops for me. All in all, still worth the drive, even with the price of gas.
Today I went to LuLu B's, which bills itself as a Vietnamese sandwich joint. This is another South Austin trailer situation, similar to the crepe place from earlier in the summer. It was a great way to combine my wariness of Asian food with my devotion to good sandwiches. The grilled pork was very good, with a cool marinade that gave it a zingy flavor. About every 7 bites, I would get a serious kick from some far-away spice that made me wish for a gulp of milk. It was kind of like playing Russian Roulette with a sandwich. I also tried a shrimp summer roll, which was fine, and probably very good if you like that sort of thing.
Tomorrow will be my last Summer post. I will try to reflect a little, which means it will likely take me several hours to write. Insights come slowly, if at all.
Peace,
js4
Friday, August 8, 2008
Another Post (With Pics)
Two posts in one day? Can you do that?
I carried my camera with me on the first part of my run yesterday. I did not drop it, but my mp3 player "bounced" on the Congress Ave. sidewalk once. It survived.
First pic: Stevie Ray, at Auditorium Shores, always provides some inspiration during a run. It also means that a water stop is nearby.
View from Congress Ave. bridge, looking east.
I was so struck by these two gentlemen as I ran by them, that I had to stop, circle back, and hope they were still talking so I could get the shot. On Congress Ave. The man in the apron stood with such elegant angles, and they were both so dignified in their own way. I think the picture almost captures what I saw in them.
View of the Capitol Building from the north.
Slightly off my route, on the UT campus. MLK statue, with the UT Tower in the background. Worth the detour to get the picture.
I carried my camera with me on the first part of my run yesterday. I did not drop it, but my mp3 player "bounced" on the Congress Ave. sidewalk once. It survived.
First pic: Stevie Ray, at Auditorium Shores, always provides some inspiration during a run. It also means that a water stop is nearby.
View from Congress Ave. bridge, looking east.
I was so struck by these two gentlemen as I ran by them, that I had to stop, circle back, and hope they were still talking so I could get the shot. On Congress Ave. The man in the apron stood with such elegant angles, and they were both so dignified in their own way. I think the picture almost captures what I saw in them.
View of the Capitol Building from the north.
Slightly off my route, on the UT campus. MLK statue, with the UT Tower in the background. Worth the detour to get the picture.
The running is going well right now. I was able to run while in Colorado. It was only a little cooler temp-wise, but the humidity was really low. So nice. I did 12 miles on Tuesday, and my shorts were not even soaked with sweat when I finished. I'm set to do 18 miles tomorrow. The first 20 miler of this training cycle is next week. 20 miles in mid-August. Ugh.
Got to see Brad last weekend before going to Colorado. We celebrated his 39th birthday, by staying out late, and having some high quality margaritas. Manuel's ranks in the top three, in my book. We also stopped by the Cedar Door for Mexican Martinis. After dropping Carrie off at home, Brad and I headed out again. We hit two more bars downtown, but wisely did not drink anymore. We were there to throw darts and play shuffleboard. As usual, he got the best of me at darts, and I was killing him at shuffleboard when they kicked us out of the bar at closing time. Brad was suprised that not too many stumbling drunks were evident as we walked to the car. I assured him that they were all leaving the bars on 6th street, and that we were in the more responsible warehouse district. He was not convinced, and the sight of two guys urinating in nearby bushes called into question my assertion of respectability.
The next day, Brad's wife finally called to wish him happy birthday, after I had worn him down in a sweatfest of a disc golf game. He needed that inspiration a little earlier, Dina.
Gotta go. Thanks for reading, everybody.
Leave a comment today, please, just so I know that you were here. You don't have to be clever, really.
Peace,
Js4
Me and Paul
You may remember that I was having trouble getting my new running shoes from Runtex. Now that the saga is over, I want to share how I ended up with plenty of shoes for a while.
Paul Carrozza, the owner of Runtex, has an accessible e-mail address on the store's website. So I sent him an e-mail, to let him know what had happened to that point.
The following exchange pretty well covers the rest:
From: Jay
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 10:05 PM
To: Paul
Subject: shoes and service
Paul,
I've been a regular customer at Runtex for several years, and wanted to alert you to problem I'm having in getting a pair of shoes from the Riverside store. You did not have the Mizuno Inspire (size 8) in inventory, so your helpful staff put in an order for them. That was 23 days ago. The salesperson told me that the shoes would be in, in no more than two weeks. After two weeks, I had heard nothing from Runtex, so I went back to the store. I was assured that they would be in within a week. Nine more days have passed, and I have gotten no calls about my shoes. I am training for a November marathon, and really needed those shoes in a timely manner. Because of all that you and Runtex do for runners in Austin, my first choice is always to buy from Runtex. On Monday of this week, I gave up and went to the new Rogue store, where they had my shoes. I will still need the shoes I ordered from your store, and probably at least two more pair before the marathon. I want to have confidence that I will be able to get the shoes I need in a reasonable amount of time, if not on the first visit. This frustrating experience makes me doubt if Runtex will be dependable in the future. I hope that you will look into the inventory and special order issues that my experience highlights. I would appreciate a response to this email, so that I know that you are aware of the problem. I do want to remain a loyal customer at Runtex, confident that I can get the quality service that is your reputation.
Thanks for all that you do.
Jay
(27 minutes later, on a Friday night, I got a response.)
From: Paul
To: jay
Subject: RE: shoes and service
Jay,
I am sorry about this, I will get it expedited and fixed.. the shoes will be on me and I appreciate your loyalty. I will be back in touch on Monday.
Paul
(Before I could respond, he sent me this the next morning.)
Jay,
I wanted to confirm that we will get you two pair… as our gift.They will be here this week and we will let you know when they arrive. If you get me your address, I will have them delivered via UPS.
Paul,
Thanks so much for your timely and generous response. I appreciate what you are doing to make this right.
Jay
From: Jay
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 9:39 PM
To: Paul Carrozza
Subject: RE: shoes and service
Paul,
I picked up my shoes yesterday at Runtex. Thank you for the way you handled this situation from the moment it was brought to your attention.I would like to share this experience, and our e-mail exchange, with my friends and family. If you would rather that I not make public your e-mails to me, then I will respect your wishes in that regard. If I don't hear from you letting me know that you do not want me to share them, then I will assume that it is okay with you. Thanks again for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jay
RE: shoes and service
From:Paul Carrozza Sent:Sat 8/02/08 10:53 PM
To: Jay
Jay,
I am thankful that you are taken care of. You are welcome to use our conversation as you please. Thanks for giving us another chance.
Paul
Very cool. I think he was out of state when I sent my last e-mail, but his response came in a matter of hours. I just hope they fix the original problem, so people can get what they need from Runtex, still the best running store around.
Peace,
js4
Paul Carrozza, the owner of Runtex, has an accessible e-mail address on the store's website. So I sent him an e-mail, to let him know what had happened to that point.
The following exchange pretty well covers the rest:
From: Jay
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 10:05 PM
To: Paul
Subject: shoes and service
Paul,
I've been a regular customer at Runtex for several years, and wanted to alert you to problem I'm having in getting a pair of shoes from the Riverside store. You did not have the Mizuno Inspire (size 8) in inventory, so your helpful staff put in an order for them. That was 23 days ago. The salesperson told me that the shoes would be in, in no more than two weeks. After two weeks, I had heard nothing from Runtex, so I went back to the store. I was assured that they would be in within a week. Nine more days have passed, and I have gotten no calls about my shoes. I am training for a November marathon, and really needed those shoes in a timely manner. Because of all that you and Runtex do for runners in Austin, my first choice is always to buy from Runtex. On Monday of this week, I gave up and went to the new Rogue store, where they had my shoes. I will still need the shoes I ordered from your store, and probably at least two more pair before the marathon. I want to have confidence that I will be able to get the shoes I need in a reasonable amount of time, if not on the first visit. This frustrating experience makes me doubt if Runtex will be dependable in the future. I hope that you will look into the inventory and special order issues that my experience highlights. I would appreciate a response to this email, so that I know that you are aware of the problem. I do want to remain a loyal customer at Runtex, confident that I can get the quality service that is your reputation.
Thanks for all that you do.
Jay
(27 minutes later, on a Friday night, I got a response.)
From: Paul
To: jay
Subject: RE: shoes and service
Jay,
I am sorry about this, I will get it expedited and fixed.. the shoes will be on me and I appreciate your loyalty. I will be back in touch on Monday.
Paul
(Before I could respond, he sent me this the next morning.)
Jay,
I wanted to confirm that we will get you two pair… as our gift.They will be here this week and we will let you know when they arrive. If you get me your address, I will have them delivered via UPS.
Paul,
Thanks so much for your timely and generous response. I appreciate what you are doing to make this right.
Jay
From: Jay
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 9:39 PM
To: Paul Carrozza
Subject: RE: shoes and service
Paul,
I picked up my shoes yesterday at Runtex. Thank you for the way you handled this situation from the moment it was brought to your attention.I would like to share this experience, and our e-mail exchange, with my friends and family. If you would rather that I not make public your e-mails to me, then I will respect your wishes in that regard. If I don't hear from you letting me know that you do not want me to share them, then I will assume that it is okay with you. Thanks again for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jay
RE: shoes and service
From:Paul Carrozza Sent:Sat 8/02/08 10:53 PM
To: Jay
Jay,
I am thankful that you are taken care of. You are welcome to use our conversation as you please. Thanks for giving us another chance.
Paul
Very cool. I think he was out of state when I sent my last e-mail, but his response came in a matter of hours. I just hope they fix the original problem, so people can get what they need from Runtex, still the best running store around.
Peace,
js4
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Sad News
The care-free days of the Summer of Jay (4) ended a week ago when we got the news that Carrie's Uncle Dan had died. Thanks to all those who have offered their support to us. I want to keep this short.
Though he stood about 5' 7", Dan was a giant in Carrie's family. His loss leaves a huge void for many, many people. For the 20 years that I knew him, he was never anything but warm and generous towards me. Typically, his relationships with his family and their spouses were complicated. I was lucky, because Dan loved Carrie so much, and he knew that she was happy being with me. The best way that I can honor his memory is to make her laugh, come home every day, and comfort her in times like these.
Peace,
Jay
Though he stood about 5' 7", Dan was a giant in Carrie's family. His loss leaves a huge void for many, many people. For the 20 years that I knew him, he was never anything but warm and generous towards me. Typically, his relationships with his family and their spouses were complicated. I was lucky, because Dan loved Carrie so much, and he knew that she was happy being with me. The best way that I can honor his memory is to make her laugh, come home every day, and comfort her in times like these.
Peace,
Jay
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Pets
Our pets love Summers of Jay. They get so much more attention than when school is in. Last year, The Summer of Home Projects, was their favorite. Except for the fleas. The fleas were very bad for everyone. But there was lots of attention.
The first picture is Milford. He used to be very aloof, but now he is Mr. Snuggly, and can be quite impatient about getting his needs met. He loves to sit at the window, watch the world go by, and plan his next great escape out the back door. This picture took several tries, because when I would get his attention, he would jump down, hoping I was offering to pet him at the bathroom sink. He hates it when school starts back up.
The next picture is Sydney, aka The Princess. All of our pets have a long list of nicknames, which I think is normal, but may not be true. Sydney is less than half Milford's size, but she can more than hold her own against her brother. They are about 13-years-old. Sydney's loyal subjects try to keep her happy, but it is rarely enough.
Our dog is Beau, also 13-years-old. She is the cutest dog in the world, and the smartest dog in our house. She is the sweetest, unless you are under the age of 8, try to come on our porch, are the mailman, or try to give her a bath, etc. As she ages and slows down, we spoil her more and more. I can't type any more about her without starting to cry.
Our pets keep us grounded. If not for them, I would want to quit our jobs, buy a big van, and travel 8 months out of every year. I would not trade them for anything.
Peace,
js4
The first picture is Milford. He used to be very aloof, but now he is Mr. Snuggly, and can be quite impatient about getting his needs met. He loves to sit at the window, watch the world go by, and plan his next great escape out the back door. This picture took several tries, because when I would get his attention, he would jump down, hoping I was offering to pet him at the bathroom sink. He hates it when school starts back up.
The next picture is Sydney, aka The Princess. All of our pets have a long list of nicknames, which I think is normal, but may not be true. Sydney is less than half Milford's size, but she can more than hold her own against her brother. They are about 13-years-old. Sydney's loyal subjects try to keep her happy, but it is rarely enough.
Our dog is Beau, also 13-years-old. She is the cutest dog in the world, and the smartest dog in our house. She is the sweetest, unless you are under the age of 8, try to come on our porch, are the mailman, or try to give her a bath, etc. As she ages and slows down, we spoil her more and more. I can't type any more about her without starting to cry.
Our pets keep us grounded. If not for them, I would want to quit our jobs, buy a big van, and travel 8 months out of every year. I would not trade them for anything.Peace,
js4
M&M Bad
Easily the most disappointing in-store of the summer was yesterday, when Mickey and the Motorcars phoned one in at Waterloo. I expected way more out of this band, consisting of younger brothers of the main guys from Reckless Kelly. Even if they had been "Reckless Kelly-lite" it would have been better. The vocals had the same Steve Earle-ish sound, but the music was just weak. They had three guys with accoustic guitars, doing the job of one and a half players. They weren't into it, the small crowd wasn't into it, and it was a thankfully short performance. Family connections may open some doors, but if this show was any indication, The Motorcars need a major overhaul.
Peace,
js4
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Running Story
On my long run on Saturday, I kept mostly to the trail around the lake. I left the house early to beat the heat, as if that were possible. Around 7:00, I was on a quiet stretch, east of the interstate, as the sun was coming up over the trees. About 60 yards ahead of me on the trail, I see this man on a bicycle, stopped, and talking on his cell phone. As I get closer, I see that he has his son with him, sitting in a seat on the back of the bike. The kid is maybe two-years-old, and he is watching me closely as I approach. Then the little guy leans out from his seat as far as he can reach, and raises his open hand to me. I know the international sign for "High Five" when I see it. We make eye contact, so there is no way that I can just leave this kid hanging. As I pass, I slide my hand against his little hand, and keep going. After about 10 yards, I turn to look back, and he is twisted around in his seat, looking back at me with a big smile on his face, and waving. That one moment made my whole run. I'm pretty sure that cell phone dad was clueless about the whole event.
The marathon training plan that I am following this time is big on longer mid-week runs. That meant a 13 miler yesterday. I had run just a 2 mile recovery on Sunday, because I was a little worried about how 13 would go, so soon after the 17 miles on Sat. I kept the pace easy, about 20 seconds per mile slower than I had run on Saturday. I felt good the whole way, and did 6 miles today, in the 8:40 range. Some speed work is on tap for tomorrow.
Peace,
js4
The marathon training plan that I am following this time is big on longer mid-week runs. That meant a 13 miler yesterday. I had run just a 2 mile recovery on Sunday, because I was a little worried about how 13 would go, so soon after the 17 miles on Sat. I kept the pace easy, about 20 seconds per mile slower than I had run on Saturday. I felt good the whole way, and did 6 miles today, in the 8:40 range. Some speed work is on tap for tomorrow.
Peace,
js4
Monday, July 28, 2008
No Title
I had this post all finished, then lost my internet connection. Damn. Now I have to retype it.
Carrie and I had lunch at Las Manitas on Sunday. Old favorites: Migas for me and the Chorizo Plate for her. Never gets old. The giant, shiny buildings in the background remind me that Las Manitas will have to relocate to make room for another new, giant, shiny building. Progress, brought to you by the Marriott Corporation.
Love going to Arkie's, way out at the end of Cesar Chavez, probably the most blue-collar diner in Austin. They are closed on the weekends, so summertime is my only opportunity to eat here. I went early enough today to get a late breakfast of pancakes and eggs. The $5.50 breakfast special includes juice, which is a rarity. (Note that, Mr. Toland.) The last time I ate at Arkie's, I was too late to be served breakfast, (They don't cater to slacker teachers.) and had a good BLT. Nothing fancy here, just real food.
This sign caught my eye as I drove home today. The lack of detail made me wonder if we were talking about a missing dog, or the name of a band. I'd go see a group called "Lost Chihuahua," wouldn't you?
Grupo Fantasma played at Waterloo on Friday. They are to Latin Funk, what
Nomo was to Afro-beat. Three piece horns, more guitar driven, and more steel in the drums. They know what they are doing, and it was worth fighting the Friday traffic.
There was more, but I'll put it in another post later.
Peace,
js4
Carrie and I had lunch at Las Manitas on Sunday. Old favorites: Migas for me and the Chorizo Plate for her. Never gets old. The giant, shiny buildings in the background remind me that Las Manitas will have to relocate to make room for another new, giant, shiny building. Progress, brought to you by the Marriott Corporation.
Love going to Arkie's, way out at the end of Cesar Chavez, probably the most blue-collar diner in Austin. They are closed on the weekends, so summertime is my only opportunity to eat here. I went early enough today to get a late breakfast of pancakes and eggs. The $5.50 breakfast special includes juice, which is a rarity. (Note that, Mr. Toland.) The last time I ate at Arkie's, I was too late to be served breakfast, (They don't cater to slacker teachers.) and had a good BLT. Nothing fancy here, just real food.
This sign caught my eye as I drove home today. The lack of detail made me wonder if we were talking about a missing dog, or the name of a band. I'd go see a group called "Lost Chihuahua," wouldn't you?
Grupo Fantasma played at Waterloo on Friday. They are to Latin Funk, whatNomo was to Afro-beat. Three piece horns, more guitar driven, and more steel in the drums. They know what they are doing, and it was worth fighting the Friday traffic.
There was more, but I'll put it in another post later.Peace,
js4
Friday, July 25, 2008
Flippin' for Crepes
Flip Happy Crepes on Jessie St. just north of Barton Springs Road has been featured on The Food Network (must be on cable), and has gotten other good press locally. Scott D. in Garland forwarded us some information, and requested a review. Today is also Scott's birhday, so Happy Birthday to him!
See that trailer? That's the place. Actually, it is just the place they make the crepes. You eat outside, at mostly shaded picnic or patio tables. It would be a more relaxed environment if not for the noise from the condos going up in the background. Anyone want a condo? 'Cause we got 'em.
The line was short, but the wait was long for my chicken and goat cheese crepe. I was grateful for the shade and something to read while I waited nearly 40 minutes for my simple order. I'm serious when I say they must be cooking these babies one at a time. It was good, with most of the flavor coming from the goat cheese. For $7.00 and that kind of wait time, I was hoping for a sublime experience, but it fell short of that. The dessert crepes looked quite good, though. I hope they find a storefront, or a bigger trailer, or something so they can accommodate the demand for their wares.
Remember Jack Handey?
Deep Thoughts:
Before you criticize people, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them...you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.
Peace,
js4
See that trailer? That's the place. Actually, it is just the place they make the crepes. You eat outside, at mostly shaded picnic or patio tables. It would be a more relaxed environment if not for the noise from the condos going up in the background. Anyone want a condo? 'Cause we got 'em.
The line was short, but the wait was long for my chicken and goat cheese crepe. I was grateful for the shade and something to read while I waited nearly 40 minutes for my simple order. I'm serious when I say they must be cooking these babies one at a time. It was good, with most of the flavor coming from the goat cheese. For $7.00 and that kind of wait time, I was hoping for a sublime experience, but it fell short of that. The dessert crepes looked quite good, though. I hope they find a storefront, or a bigger trailer, or something so they can accommodate the demand for their wares.Remember Jack Handey?
Deep Thoughts:
Before you criticize people, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them...you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.
Peace,
js4
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Smoothies
"They" tell us that we should eat like seven servings of vegetables and fruits every day. How is this possible when french fries don't even count? In my regular, non-summer life, three to four a day is pretty standard for me. Summertime and the blender have really helped me eat more healthy food. It also helps balance the non-healthy "Summer of Jay" indulgences of eating out nearly every day. The list of possible combinations is endless, but if you want to get the veggies in, I recommend carrots and tomatoes. Some leafy greens work on occasion, too. Fruits have included the traditional bananas, and all kinds of berries, usually frozen. Mangoes, peaches, apples go pretty well, too. Some apple juice and yogurt make a good base. Put in enough berries and bananas, and it tastes sweet enough offset the harsher flavors. I usually have a huge one of these every day. It is several hundred calories, I'm sure, but it gets me through the afternoon without too many cravings for Amy's ice cream. Don't know how I'll manage this once school starts again.
Not feeling too adventurous at lunch today, I opted for a Hyde Park turkey burger and fries. As good as the other 50 times I've had that. Old favorites are old favorites for a reason.
I worked a 4 mile tempo run into an 8 miler today. I was nervous about picking up the speed, especially with the humidity, but it went really well.
Splits were: 7:16 (a little fast) 7:26 (compensating) 7:21, 7:19 (just about right.)
I ran 6 with hills and a few hill repeats yesterday, but I did not feel any lingering effects. Happy about that. Plan to 17 miles on Saturday, the farthest I'll have run since Houston in January.
We are finally catching some rain from H'cane Dolly. It'll feel nice getting wet as I walk to the car.
Peace,
js4
Not feeling too adventurous at lunch today, I opted for a Hyde Park turkey burger and fries. As good as the other 50 times I've had that. Old favorites are old favorites for a reason.
I worked a 4 mile tempo run into an 8 miler today. I was nervous about picking up the speed, especially with the humidity, but it went really well.
Splits were: 7:16 (a little fast) 7:26 (compensating) 7:21, 7:19 (just about right.)
I ran 6 with hills and a few hill repeats yesterday, but I did not feel any lingering effects. Happy about that. Plan to 17 miles on Saturday, the farthest I'll have run since Houston in January.
We are finally catching some rain from H'cane Dolly. It'll feel nice getting wet as I walk to the car.
Peace,
js4
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Bumpkins and World Music
After being thwarted from having dinner at Manuel's downtown last night, Carrie and I went to a new place on 6th Street called Parkside. At this point, the story becomes "The Rubes Go to Dinner," because we were completely out of our element. Not because Parkside is overly fancy, but because they specialize in raw seafood, and the volume of raw seafood that we have consumed in our lives would fit on a plate or two. The waitress was on to me early, warning me off the amberjack I tried to order, and steering toward the salmon off the grill. Bless her. Carrie's Caesar Salad came with a four inch slice of anchovy laid on the top of it. Easily picked off, but I exposed my rubosity by comparing the lingering flavor (which was good) to that when you take the pickle off your Chick-fil-A sandwich, leaving the nice essence of pickle flavor. Carried loved the gnocchi, and we will go back there, but we still won't try any of the 12 different kinds of raw oysters.
Michigan-based Nomo played at Waterloo yesterday. Horns, drums, and two guitars, creating an infectious world music/Afro-beat sound that was quite good. Not normally my kind of music, but if I was hosting a party, and I wanted grown-ups to dance a little, I'd want to put their CD on. Most of the band members looked like band dorks from Ann Arbor, who got together and said, "Hey, let's be in a cool-sounding band." It worked.
Michigan-based Nomo played at Waterloo yesterday. Horns, drums, and two guitars, creating an infectious world music/Afro-beat sound that was quite good. Not normally my kind of music, but if I was hosting a party, and I wanted grown-ups to dance a little, I'd want to put their CD on. Most of the band members looked like band dorks from Ann Arbor, who got together and said, "Hey, let's be in a cool-sounding band." It worked.
Watching these two drummers bang in unison made me glad I'd moved to the side of the stage. Looked as cool as it sounded.
Carrie and I were watching some political coverage the other night when George Stephanopoulos came on to do some analysis. Carrie posed the question if anybody came out of the Clinton Presidency any better than the boy wonder. I couldn't think of anyone. He left the Clintons early enough, got his gig with ABC, then inherited the David Brinkley show. He seems to have played his cards just right.
Despite Dave and his poor-mouthing, doing a fine Lou Holtz by the way, here come the Yankees.
TTFN
Peace,
js4
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday P.M.
From a few days ago, this picture is from an in-store with Brothers and Sisters. Their sound was good, and Steve B. said they reminded him of Gram Parsons/ The Byrds/Burrito Brothers. Lots of pedal steel, which I liked, and they played a solid 45 minute set. The music (six piece band) was so much louder the vocals, I could not hear much of the lyrics. That's too bad beacause the songs might have been good, but I coud not tell.
Recent lunch at El Sol Y La Luna, a very unpretentious place in the heart of oh-so-trendy South Congress. Doesn't calling it SoCo sound stupid? The chorizo migas were a big winner. If I lived anywhere nearby, I could see becoming a regular here. Slightly bigger and fancier than Hyde Park's Julio's, but a similar welcoming, laid back feel. I thnk this was only my second lunch south of the river. I guess I'm a provincial type, who remembers when South Austin was just Bubba Land. I know there are good eats down there.
Went to Nau's Enfield Drug for a dull club sandwich and an out-of this-world chocolate shake today. I got there just as the undermanned waitstaff was getting slammed by the lunch crowd. I thought I might be invisible because it took maybe 20 minutes for someone to finally say, "You've already ordered, right?" "Um, no, actually I haven't." Oh well, the old-style soda fountain makes it a cool place, and they've only been in business since 1951, so you gotta figure they'll work the kinks out with the service any day now. Nau's Trivia: Hollywood Henderson bought his winning Lotto ticket here.
So are we really attempting to try Osama Bin Laden's driver for war crimes? His driver? Did we go after the guy who did Hitler's laundry in WWII? This guy has been tortured - yes the U.S. does this now - and held for seven years without charge. Perhaps something will emerge in this case that will make it clear why he is such a high value target, but I remain skeptical. He was arrested in Nov. 2001, and I don't think Osama is still at the last place he was dropped off by this driver.
Peace,
js4
Recent lunch at El Sol Y La Luna, a very unpretentious place in the heart of oh-so-trendy South Congress. Doesn't calling it SoCo sound stupid? The chorizo migas were a big winner. If I lived anywhere nearby, I could see becoming a regular here. Slightly bigger and fancier than Hyde Park's Julio's, but a similar welcoming, laid back feel. I thnk this was only my second lunch south of the river. I guess I'm a provincial type, who remembers when South Austin was just Bubba Land. I know there are good eats down there.Went to Nau's Enfield Drug for a dull club sandwich and an out-of this-world chocolate shake today. I got there just as the undermanned waitstaff was getting slammed by the lunch crowd. I thought I might be invisible because it took maybe 20 minutes for someone to finally say, "You've already ordered, right?" "Um, no, actually I haven't." Oh well, the old-style soda fountain makes it a cool place, and they've only been in business since 1951, so you gotta figure they'll work the kinks out with the service any day now. Nau's Trivia: Hollywood Henderson bought his winning Lotto ticket here.
So are we really attempting to try Osama Bin Laden's driver for war crimes? His driver? Did we go after the guy who did Hitler's laundry in WWII? This guy has been tortured - yes the U.S. does this now - and held for seven years without charge. Perhaps something will emerge in this case that will make it clear why he is such a high value target, but I remain skeptical. He was arrested in Nov. 2001, and I don't think Osama is still at the last place he was dropped off by this driver.
Peace,
js4
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Spoke and Running Shoes
While Carrie was doing the difficult and heroic work of looking after her grandpa in Arkansas, I stayed home to keep things on track in Austin.
Last Thursday was a farewell gathering for the Bell/White Family, hosted generously by Pat and Pam. Many of us then proceeded to the Broken Spoke, which may be the most "Texas" place in Austin.
Last Thursday was a farewell gathering for the Bell/White Family, hosted generously by Pat and Pam. Many of us then proceeded to the Broken Spoke, which may be the most "Texas" place in Austin.
The sign below says it all, in that the Broken Spoke is all about the dancing. They let us in, even though we surely brought down the dance quality quotient for the night.
Carrie and I once stood in the Spoke's parking lot for two hot hours for the chance to see Willie play a free show that CMT was taping. We were the last ones admitted, and it was awesome.
The Bell/Whites and Tara K. are pictured below. We are sure going to miss Steve and Wendi.
The first week of marathon training ended well, with a 15 miler with Dave on Saturday. 15 wasn't enough for Dave, who did 16. Back to 48 miles for the week for me. After waiting nearly 3 weeks for Runtex to deliver on my new shoes, I gave up and went to the Rogue store today. They had my shoes in inventory, and I left happy. For a number of reasons, I would rather buy at Runtex, but they have real inventory/customer service issues.
I'm keeping my mileage steady for the next few weeks, but some of the runs will be longer: 12 tomorrow (Tues.) and 17 on Saturday. At least that means that some of the runs will, in fact, be shorter. Every marathon training cycle is like a little experiment, and the basic hypothesis for this one is that increased mileage will result in a faster time. Let's find out.
Peace,
js4
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Change Can Be Good. Just Food Today.
Bob Bullock was reportedly a regular at the G/M Steakhouse at 7th and Lamar. All those cigarettes and kerosene he inhaled must have killed his taste buds before he ever set foot in that place. I tried it once, and that was once too many, and I'm pretty tolerant of a bad burger. Austin lost nothing when that "icon" was lost. Now the place is the Counter Cafe, one of our regular late breakfast stops. I went yesterday because I was craving their steak and eggs, which are always good when Carrie orders them. The Counter Cafe is so small that they have trouble seating parties larger than two. If you sit at the counter you can watch the guys cook, and eavesdrop on their conversation. Something about organic chicken farming yesterday. Everything is fresh, local, perfectly cooked, and pricey. It is always worth it, with the exception of the pancakes, which don't outdo Kerby, Magnolia, or the Omlettry. The service is great, and I have a crush on the waitress with the cool bicycle tattoo above her ankle. Sadly she was not working yesterday. When they put the plate of food in front of me, I'm thinking, "No way I finish this; some of it is going home." (Do I really think in semicolons?) It was too good not to eat it all. With coffee, tax and tip, this was a budget busting $20 breakfast, which could only have been better if the cute waitress had been there.
Other places I can recommend:
Shoal Creek Saloon, on Lamar. Great Cajun gumbo, good fried seafood, and a super back patio on the creek. Even better when it rains while you are there.
Tacodeli, on Spyglass, I think, by the entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Bustling lunch crowd (Where do they all come from?), fresh-tasting tacos, and nice outdoor seating when it's not too hot. The al pastor was very good, but I should not have tried to find a substitute for Taco Sabrosa.
Blue Dahlia Bistro, on E. 11th (used to be the Dandelion Cafe). Went there with Missy B. one day when she was working on the east side. We had something called tartines, which may or may not be French for "really good open-faced sandwiches." From the bread up, these were excellent, with stuff like capers on mine, and raspberry chutney on Missy's to add to the taste. It looked like they had a nice area out back that could be a good place for a glass of wine. They are ready for when more giant condos open on the east side.
Peace,
js4
Other places I can recommend:
Shoal Creek Saloon, on Lamar. Great Cajun gumbo, good fried seafood, and a super back patio on the creek. Even better when it rains while you are there.
Tacodeli, on Spyglass, I think, by the entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Bustling lunch crowd (Where do they all come from?), fresh-tasting tacos, and nice outdoor seating when it's not too hot. The al pastor was very good, but I should not have tried to find a substitute for Taco Sabrosa.
Blue Dahlia Bistro, on E. 11th (used to be the Dandelion Cafe). Went there with Missy B. one day when she was working on the east side. We had something called tartines, which may or may not be French for "really good open-faced sandwiches." From the bread up, these were excellent, with stuff like capers on mine, and raspberry chutney on Missy's to add to the taste. It looked like they had a nice area out back that could be a good place for a glass of wine. They are ready for when more giant condos open on the east side.
Peace,
js4
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Dehydrated? Blame Baseball
As a native-born citizen in this Nation of Whiners, I feel fully entitled to say that Major League Baseball ruined my run today. Inexplicably, I stayed up to watch the All-Star Game until the very end last night. I would never do something that uselessly stupid if I had a real year-round job. Maybe I can blame the teacher's union for this one, too. Teachers know all about whining.
Anyway, extra innings naturally led to that extra glass of wine (whine?). It all added up to what turned out to be the hardest run I've had in about eight months. The thing about hydration issues is that by the time you realize the problem, it's too late. I was about five miles from home when I could tell this was not going to end well. Maybe I need a button to wear around my neck that will call Carrie and say, "I'm an idiot, and I need a ride home." The neighborhood swimming pool provided some relief when I got back near the house.
Back to baseball: The Rays' seven game skid allowed the Sox to enter the break in first place. Maybe that home-field advantage the AL won last night will come in handy after all.
Just before the 4th of July, my brother-in-law Bill took Zach to a game at Yankee Stadium. Last season for the old relic/icon, and all that. I asked Zach what the best part of the trip was, and he said, "When the Rangers scored all those runs." Never mind that the Yanks crushed the Rangers something like 19 - 7, the boy's got his heart in the right place. I gotta admit that a part of me would really like to go there before they tear it down. The reverence for the place last night was interesting to watch. They called it a museum. That's a bit much. They are tearing it down by choice, right? I guess I could have made a trip up there this summer, but then why should I care more about the Yankees' history than they do? I can be smug about that until the powers that be take down Fenway Park.
Peace,
js4
Anyway, extra innings naturally led to that extra glass of wine (whine?). It all added up to what turned out to be the hardest run I've had in about eight months. The thing about hydration issues is that by the time you realize the problem, it's too late. I was about five miles from home when I could tell this was not going to end well. Maybe I need a button to wear around my neck that will call Carrie and say, "I'm an idiot, and I need a ride home." The neighborhood swimming pool provided some relief when I got back near the house.
Back to baseball: The Rays' seven game skid allowed the Sox to enter the break in first place. Maybe that home-field advantage the AL won last night will come in handy after all.
Just before the 4th of July, my brother-in-law Bill took Zach to a game at Yankee Stadium. Last season for the old relic/icon, and all that. I asked Zach what the best part of the trip was, and he said, "When the Rangers scored all those runs." Never mind that the Yanks crushed the Rangers something like 19 - 7, the boy's got his heart in the right place. I gotta admit that a part of me would really like to go there before they tear it down. The reverence for the place last night was interesting to watch. They called it a museum. That's a bit much. They are tearing it down by choice, right? I guess I could have made a trip up there this summer, but then why should I care more about the Yankees' history than they do? I can be smug about that until the powers that be take down Fenway Park.
Peace,
js4
Monday, July 14, 2008
New, and About Time
Carrie and I headed to Arlington/Ft. Worth for a day, and Longview for this past weekend. On the drive up, we were reminded that you don't have to travel all the way to the Ozarks to find comedic religious marketing. Near a McDonald's in Waco (surprise!), we saw this bench. Bonus points for anyone who calls the number and reports back.
Before our trip to Silver Dollar City in June, it had been 15 years since Carrie and I had been to an amusement park. Now it feels like this is "Thrill Ride Summer." We took My sister's kids, Courtney and Zach, to Six Flags on Friday. They were great fun, and we had ice cream, just $7.00 ice cream, for lunch. Zach wasn't sure about bigger roller coasters early on, but Courtney and Carrie really worked on him. He rode The Shockwave for the first time ever. Then he rode it for the 2nd and 3rd time, declaring it his favorite. The picture was taken just before that 3rd ride. He angled for a 4th trip, but settled for the traditional Pink Thing on the way out of the park. 
The last time Jo Carolyn took them to 6 Flags, she did not ride any rides, which is the norm for her. She instead completed several hours of CPA continuing education while the kids did their thing. How's that for time management? Classic.
In Ft. Worth we went to the Bass Concert Hall for the first time. Terrific building, but it is worthy of some open space in front, rather than facing a restaurant and a Barnes & Nobles across the street. We saw "Avenue Q," a musical with puppets. Think Sesame Street with an "R" rating. If you think puppets that end at the torso can't do explcit things that make you blush, think again. It was a good show, and obviously there was more to it than puppet sex. We will be imitating the "Bad Idea Bears," (cute, fuzzy things that encourage reckless behavior) for weeks. Being in downtown Ft Worth, I was struck by how much it feels like a small town. Some good and bad in that, I guess.
We had a relaxing couple of days in Longview with Mom an Jim. Too hot to do much outdoors, but we swam a bit, and Carrie went with Mom to help feed the horses. There is a pretty high quality Shakespeare Festival in nearby Kilgore every summer. We were in town for the "Non-Bard" portion, but went anyway, to see "1776." It was a musical history lesson for me, full of good performances, and more comedy than you might expect from the Founding Fathers.
So the best way to not go for a run when your body says it needs rest? Go out of town for several days and leave the shoes at home. Removes the compulsive temptation. I ran 5 miles very slowly on Sunday night, took yesterday off, and did 10 today without any trouble from my leg/hip. I've been doing a lot of stretching, which I had neglected for the most part. This is week 1 of training for San Antonio, so I'd better be ready to go.
Good to be back home.
Peace,
js4
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Lunch Reviews and a Bad Run
Yesterday, Dave (dpl) and I were going to try locally famous burger place Casino el Camino, which doubles as a bar on 6th street. Turns out it is more of a bar than a burger place, because they don't even open until 4:00 in the afternoon. I say the best bars are open by 11:00 anyway, so C. el C. may not make the summer list of lunches. We scrambled to decide on another place, and did not want to get back in the car, so we walked to Moonshine, near the Convention Center. I would describe the food at Moonshine as "safe." They have to please downtowners and conventioneers, so the food lacks a sense of adventure. Already in the mood for a burger, I stuck with that, while Dave had a chicken sandwich of some sort. For the price, these should have been better than they were. The burger was dry and overcooked. When asked about the quality of his meal, Dave replied, "The steak fries were great." They were, but a ringing endorsement for the sandwich it is not. Dave looked smashing, by the way, in his crisp white shirt, suit pants and tie. So that Dave would outdress me by only several degrees, I found a shirt with a collar to go with my shorts. We both fit in at Moonshine.
Today I went to Astor's Ethiopian Restaurant, around 28th and I-35. I took a chance on the #1 (I couldn't pronounce it, and I can't spell it now), which was described as "spicy." Sort of a stewed meat with sauce that compares texturally with carne guisada. Flavorful mixes of vegetables come with it, served atop a flat piece of bread, that if you chose, you could pick it all up wrapped like a burrito. I accepted the offer of silverware. The first bite or two, the spices got my attention, but after that, with the help of the veggies, it was all just good complex flavors. I did not care at all for the bread, which was like a big, spongy, bland pancake. Emphasis on the spongy. At $6.50, it was a bargain, and the service was first-rate. All Ethiopians should eat so well. Worth a return visit.
The Austin Chronicle, in their critic's picks, recommended the Tuesday Turkey and Dressing lunch special at the Stallion Grill on Airport. I don't know why. The dressing was good, but the rest of the meal I had there last week was an epic battle between the forces of bland and salt. Other people's burgers looked pretty good, but there are burger places I haven't been to yet this summer. Time is getting short in the Summer of Jay 4.
Bad run yesterday. I set out to do 10 miles, and finished nine. Early on, I felt a twinge in my upper left leg, around the hip flexor. It came and went several times, and I could tell that I was adjusting my stride because of it. Any number of things might have led to this happening. I need new shoes. (Hurry up, Runtex, with my on order Mizunos.) I ran some hill repeats last week. I've had fewer days off since we returned from Arkansas. I have not been doing much stretching. Some combination of these, and other mystery factors, have led to what feels like a relatively minor injury. Now I have to follow the simple yet almost impossible, best advice, "Listen to your body." My body says, "Don't run today, and probably not for a few days." So far, I'm listening. It is better today. I went to the gym, did some upper body stuff with the weights, and stretched a lot.
This is particularly frustrating timing, because next week, I am set to start my 18 week training plan for San Antonio in November. I've been able to get my mileage up to a good level in recent months, and I've felt really healthy the whole time. Now this. I don't think it is a big deal, and I won't lose any fitness by taking a week off, but I would have preferred to start my official training plan in a better state of mind and body.
Peace,
js4
Today I went to Astor's Ethiopian Restaurant, around 28th and I-35. I took a chance on the #1 (I couldn't pronounce it, and I can't spell it now), which was described as "spicy." Sort of a stewed meat with sauce that compares texturally with carne guisada. Flavorful mixes of vegetables come with it, served atop a flat piece of bread, that if you chose, you could pick it all up wrapped like a burrito. I accepted the offer of silverware. The first bite or two, the spices got my attention, but after that, with the help of the veggies, it was all just good complex flavors. I did not care at all for the bread, which was like a big, spongy, bland pancake. Emphasis on the spongy. At $6.50, it was a bargain, and the service was first-rate. All Ethiopians should eat so well. Worth a return visit.
The Austin Chronicle, in their critic's picks, recommended the Tuesday Turkey and Dressing lunch special at the Stallion Grill on Airport. I don't know why. The dressing was good, but the rest of the meal I had there last week was an epic battle between the forces of bland and salt. Other people's burgers looked pretty good, but there are burger places I haven't been to yet this summer. Time is getting short in the Summer of Jay 4.
Bad run yesterday. I set out to do 10 miles, and finished nine. Early on, I felt a twinge in my upper left leg, around the hip flexor. It came and went several times, and I could tell that I was adjusting my stride because of it. Any number of things might have led to this happening. I need new shoes. (Hurry up, Runtex, with my on order Mizunos.) I ran some hill repeats last week. I've had fewer days off since we returned from Arkansas. I have not been doing much stretching. Some combination of these, and other mystery factors, have led to what feels like a relatively minor injury. Now I have to follow the simple yet almost impossible, best advice, "Listen to your body." My body says, "Don't run today, and probably not for a few days." So far, I'm listening. It is better today. I went to the gym, did some upper body stuff with the weights, and stretched a lot.
This is particularly frustrating timing, because next week, I am set to start my 18 week training plan for San Antonio in November. I've been able to get my mileage up to a good level in recent months, and I've felt really healthy the whole time. Now this. I don't think it is a big deal, and I won't lose any fitness by taking a week off, but I would have preferred to start my official training plan in a better state of mind and body.
Peace,
js4
Monday, July 7, 2008
BBQ and Music
Carrie and I had the best lunch of the summer at Iron Works BBQ late last week. Without having to drive to another county, or out to Driftwood, this is the best BBQ in the city. We had a hunk of brisket and pork ribs, their two best meat options, I think. Tender, with just enough fat for good flavor, and sides (beans and potato) that I actually like. While we were sitting on the patio overlooking Waller Creek, clouds blew in, the temps dropped (maybe even into the 80s), and it rained really hard for 25 minutes. Savoring the food, the Shiner Bock and the sudden change in weather felt like a little vacation right there in downtown Austin.
Two more Waterloo in-stores last week. First was Chip Taylor, and old guy still writing songs because he can do anything he wants. He can do anything he wants beacause way back in 1965 he wrote "Wild Thing," and those royalty checks keep rolling in. He did some pretty basic folkie stuff with a good band, and yes, they played "Wild Thing" at the end. Chip Taylor changed his name from Voigt, and is John Voigt's brother. Maybe you see a resemblance.
Los Lonely Boys played Thursday to a nearly packed room at the record store on Thursday. I expected a bigger crowd, and possibly not getting in because I arrived pretty late. They do rock when they play live, and they sounded great. I have their first CD, but don't feel compelled to buy another until they do something that breaks the mold of the SRV/Santana pop sound they stick so closely to. They are opening on an upcoming tour for Los Lobos, and could learn something from their elders about how to mix things up to sustain a career. That kind of talent should not be thought of as a one hit wonder.
After the Waterloo show, I immediately drove to Shady Grove, where James McMurtry was playing later that night. Gotta get there early if you want to get a seat because people start saving rows as soon as they can. We bring reading material and pass the time waiting with the best "plastic cup margaritas" in town. Different catagory , but very good nonetheless.
McMurtry did not play a lot of old stuff (really just Leveland and Too Long in the Wasteland), but even new stuff that I am unfamiliar with sounded good. He has so many good songs, and performs with such intensity, even at a laid back venue like this, that I cannot remember ever thinking he was not worth seeing.
Two more Waterloo in-stores last week. First was Chip Taylor, and old guy still writing songs because he can do anything he wants. He can do anything he wants beacause way back in 1965 he wrote "Wild Thing," and those royalty checks keep rolling in. He did some pretty basic folkie stuff with a good band, and yes, they played "Wild Thing" at the end. Chip Taylor changed his name from Voigt, and is John Voigt's brother. Maybe you see a resemblance.
Los Lonely Boys played Thursday to a nearly packed room at the record store on Thursday. I expected a bigger crowd, and possibly not getting in because I arrived pretty late. They do rock when they play live, and they sounded great. I have their first CD, but don't feel compelled to buy another until they do something that breaks the mold of the SRV/Santana pop sound they stick so closely to. They are opening on an upcoming tour for Los Lobos, and could learn something from their elders about how to mix things up to sustain a career. That kind of talent should not be thought of as a one hit wonder.
After the Waterloo show, I immediately drove to Shady Grove, where James McMurtry was playing later that night. Gotta get there early if you want to get a seat because people start saving rows as soon as they can. We bring reading material and pass the time waiting with the best "plastic cup margaritas" in town. Different catagory , but very good nonetheless.McMurtry did not play a lot of old stuff (really just Leveland and Too Long in the Wasteland), but even new stuff that I am unfamiliar with sounded good. He has so many good songs, and performs with such intensity, even at a laid back venue like this, that I cannot remember ever thinking he was not worth seeing.
See you back here tomorrow.
Peace,
js4
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Chicken On The Run
Okay, here is the picture of Nancy, aka Nancois, a regular reader and leaver of comments on the ol' blog. If you leave comments and want me to make you famous, let me know. Nancois is seen here spicing up the lunch plate at the family reunion. It was a catered affair, if you count KFC, and their plate o' brown food as catering.Fast food driving tips:
To top off the hotel Taco Bell, Carrie and I stopped for "food" at Burger King, Wendy's, and McDonalds along the way. I generally chose my meal by guessing what would be easy to eat while driving. Standards go out the window. I gotta say that the chicken wrap at Wendy's is better than the chicken wrap at McDonalds.Fried over grilled for flavor, of course. This is not so much a recommendation, as it is a "if you have to choose."
Carrie and I had the best lunch of the summer yesterday. Try to guess where. I will write it up next time, along with some more music stuff.
Hottest June ever is the record books. Bad month for running, but plenty of people still out there with us. Hoping for a july 4th slog with Tara tomorrow.
Peace,
js4
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Catching Up Part 3
I got more pictures loaded from the Silver Dollar City festivities. Above: Cousin Zephan, Miranda, Carrie and I on the the teacup ride. Z was way energetic in spinning the teacup, and it became a thrill ride beyond my expectations.This sensation was outdone only by the ride pictured below. The Powder Keg was the scariest roller coaster I have ever been on. As you can see, Carrie and I had no idea what we were in for.
Leslie and Deanna were all smiles before their ride. Actually Deanna, who is not even 7-years-old, rode this thing half a dozen times in two days. Props to her parents too, because they never said, "No sweetie, I'll puke my funnel cake if you drag me on that ride again." Vacationing with children = Courage.
The Powder Keg did make me feel old. The other time I felt my age was when I lost 2 of 3 Air Hockey games to Cousin Z in the hotel game room. During the tie break game, I could actually feel my shoulder tighten up from, what, overuse? The kid could play, I tell ya.
By far, the best part of our time in Corning, Ark. was the fact that Carrie's Grandpa was able to make it to lunch at the community center to see everybody. He had recently been in the hospital, and at 92, he sucked it up and made more than a cameo. Pictured below are (in no paricular order) : Marquette Laughlin, his son Terry, married to Jo Marie, their girls Catherine and Carrie, the girls' respective husbands, Keith and Jay, and Elijah and Isaac, the sons of Catherine and Keith. After lunch,the boys learned a thing or two about wiffle ball from the kids in the next picture.
Mark Elliot(12) and Elizabeth(7) are patient and well behaved, whether they are interacting with a 92-year-old, or a 3-year-old unfamiliar with wiffle ball. Their mother assures us that at home, with fewer witnesses, they are less angelic than they appear. Maybe so, but Carrie and I adore them and their parents, Mark, pictured below and Nancy, who may get her own blog post if I can get the picture I took to upload tomorrow.
For those keeping track, I did manage two runs while we were gone. I drove into Branson and ran 7-8 miles along the strip where all the theaters and cheap hotels with parking lot pools are. Seeing other runners doing the same thing made me feel less crazy for being out there at 7:00 A.M. If I'm not the only one, then I must be okay, right?
Tried to run one day in Poplar Bluff, where we stayed for the family reunion, but it was raining. Hard. When I went to the fitness room at the hotel, someone was already using the treadmill. Running freaks are everywhere. I went back to the hotel room and caught a nap.
I got up early the next day and ran 12-13 miles along the highway in and out of town. Not too much traffic, so it was really pleasant. For runs like this, the two things I really need are ways to get fluids (water and Gatorade) and the mp3 player. I could not have gone for two hours without the music.
Oh, and the Corolla averaged about 36 miles per gallon on the trip. Not hybrid mileage, but not bad.
Peace,
js4
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Part 2 Catching Up
How did we pass the 9 hour and 36 minutes it takes to drive from Austin to Branson, MO? First you try to get there as quickly as possible, so that it only takes 9:36. Packing snacks to eat while driving, and tending toward dehydration minimizes the need for stops. I forced Carrie to track our hourly progress (it was like a really long run), collect info on our gas mileage, and change CDs about a dozen times.
Nothing notable to see until we got to Oklahoma, which triggered some PTSD-like flashbacks for Carrie as she recalled family travels as a kid to their farm in Kansas. Native American casinos dot the landscape along the way. We did not stop. The luckiest thing that could happen for us would be to get out of Oklahoma ASAP. The worst thing about leaving Oklahoma was that the next state was Arkansas. Getting into the Ozarks was at least pretty from a scenery standpoint. Everything else about the region just screamed, "Hillbilly Redneck Evangelical Biker." Now any one of those words on its own I can usually roll with. In combination, it was more than just a little creepy.
As we got closer to Branson, there was less of the biker influence, but more of the evangelical message - more of a marketing slogan, as hotels and eateries tried to "outbless" the others, or at least keep up with the Joneses, or the Swaggarts, if you will.
Honestly, I can see some of the appeal of a vacation to this area for some people. It is the kind of place you can take the kids and the grandparents for a few days, and everyone can find something fun to do.
We stayed in Branson West, away from the main tourist area of Branson. We were there for the sole purpose of visiting Mark and Leslie, and their lovely daughters. Along for the multi-generational fun were a nephew (14 yrs) and Leslie's dad.
Given the girls' squirming resistance to pictures being taken, this one turned out remarkably well. I deleted the one that resembled a mass restraint.
All were delightful, as we spent a full day at Silver Dollar City amusement park, swam at the hotel, ate Taco Bell in the room while the girls watched Spongebob, etc. The Taco Bell was a highlight of the fast food consumed on this trip. Had not had a 7 layer burrito in a while. Mmmm.
There would be more pictures from this part of the trip if I could figure out how to upload or download, or whatever the shots that Mark sent to my email. That, alas, is still beyond my skill level.
We picked up Carrie's parents in Little Rock on Friday, after driving down from the hills. There were signs which made us laugh, glad to be leaving the area where attractions like "Moonshine Beach" and "Toad Suck Park" (I'm not kidding) are on the state highway signs.
After a quick tour of the river front of Little Rock (not much to see really, and we did not have time for the Clinton Museum), it was on to the airport. Hey, more live music!
There is supposed to be a picture here of the airport jazz band, but it won't upload. Okay, I got it to appear on the right side, next to the family pic.
Done for now. Part 3 next time.
Peace,
js4
Nothing notable to see until we got to Oklahoma, which triggered some PTSD-like flashbacks for Carrie as she recalled family travels as a kid to their farm in Kansas. Native American casinos dot the landscape along the way. We did not stop. The luckiest thing that could happen for us would be to get out of Oklahoma ASAP. The worst thing about leaving Oklahoma was that the next state was Arkansas. Getting into the Ozarks was at least pretty from a scenery standpoint. Everything else about the region just screamed, "Hillbilly Redneck Evangelical Biker." Now any one of those words on its own I can usually roll with. In combination, it was more than just a little creepy.
As we got closer to Branson, there was less of the biker influence, but more of the evangelical message - more of a marketing slogan, as hotels and eateries tried to "outbless" the others, or at least keep up with the Joneses, or the Swaggarts, if you will.
Honestly, I can see some of the appeal of a vacation to this area for some people. It is the kind of place you can take the kids and the grandparents for a few days, and everyone can find something fun to do.
We stayed in Branson West, away from the main tourist area of Branson. We were there for the sole purpose of visiting Mark and Leslie, and their lovely daughters. Along for the multi-generational fun were a nephew (14 yrs) and Leslie's dad.
Given the girls' squirming resistance to pictures being taken, this one turned out remarkably well. I deleted the one that resembled a mass restraint.
All were delightful, as we spent a full day at Silver Dollar City amusement park, swam at the hotel, ate Taco Bell in the room while the girls watched Spongebob, etc. The Taco Bell was a highlight of the fast food consumed on this trip. Had not had a 7 layer burrito in a while. Mmmm.
There would be more pictures from this part of the trip if I could figure out how to upload or download, or whatever the shots that Mark sent to my email. That, alas, is still beyond my skill level.
We picked up Carrie's parents in Little Rock on Friday, after driving down from the hills. There were signs which made us laugh, glad to be leaving the area where attractions like "Moonshine Beach" and "Toad Suck Park" (I'm not kidding) are on the state highway signs.
After a quick tour of the river front of Little Rock (not much to see really, and we did not have time for the Clinton Museum), it was on to the airport. Hey, more live music!
There is supposed to be a picture here of the airport jazz band, but it won't upload. Okay, I got it to appear on the right side, next to the family pic.
Done for now. Part 3 next time.
Peace,
js4
Monday, June 30, 2008
Part 1 Catching Up
We are back from our travel into the Ozarks and the flatlands of Arkansas, and I'll spend some time this week reviewing the trip. But first, a quick entry about the evening before we left.
It was Tara's birthday, and we were going to miss her party during the weekend, so we had some live music and drinks in mind. Many years ago, Tara, Carrie and I went to a bar on 6th Street to see a new band that was getting popular with the college kids. A Reckless Kelly show at Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar was a big night out back then. Last week, the band was doing an in-store, so we got Tara to go along, for old time's sake. Waterloo was giving tickets away for the band's show that night at Antone's, and one of the ways to win was to prove that it was your birthday. Ding! Tara wins.
Reckless Kelly at Waterloo.
We all walked down to Z Tejas for Margaritas (In the top 3. Still haven't had the other 2 best this summer.) Good times.
Long story short, none of us could muster the energy to go to the show later that night. Carrie and I packed for the trip, and Tara had to work the next day. Age, and the need for sleep won out. Is this how a Summer of Jay is supposed to go? Rockin' til 1:00 A.M., then getting up pre-dawn to drive for 11 hours would have provided some real blog-worthy material. I'm sorry if I let you all down.
Tomorrow: On to Branson.
Peace,
js4
It was Tara's birthday, and we were going to miss her party during the weekend, so we had some live music and drinks in mind. Many years ago, Tara, Carrie and I went to a bar on 6th Street to see a new band that was getting popular with the college kids. A Reckless Kelly show at Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar was a big night out back then. Last week, the band was doing an in-store, so we got Tara to go along, for old time's sake. Waterloo was giving tickets away for the band's show that night at Antone's, and one of the ways to win was to prove that it was your birthday. Ding! Tara wins.
Reckless Kelly at Waterloo.We all walked down to Z Tejas for Margaritas (In the top 3. Still haven't had the other 2 best this summer.) Good times.
Long story short, none of us could muster the energy to go to the show later that night. Carrie and I packed for the trip, and Tara had to work the next day. Age, and the need for sleep won out. Is this how a Summer of Jay is supposed to go? Rockin' til 1:00 A.M., then getting up pre-dawn to drive for 11 hours would have provided some real blog-worthy material. I'm sorry if I let you all down.
Tomorrow: On to Branson.
Peace,
js4
Monday, June 23, 2008
Risk
Is there a risk that if I write on my blog that we are going out of town soon, that some genius computer hacker will find out and steal my 19 inch analog TV while we are gone? If that happens, can I get a 32 inch HD to replace it?
Is there a risk that the Tampa Bay Rays could be in first place soon? Would I feel better if it was the Yankees breathing down the Sox's necks? We might find out soon.
Is there a risk that I might find myself running down the sidewalk in Branson, Missouri later this week? What if I run smack into Mel Tillis? Or the ghost of Mel Tillis, if he is actually dead?
Is there a risk that the Republicans are actually sandbagging their own expectation for November, and that they could wind up picking up seats in Congress? That one is for Brad, in case he is reading. There is no effing way we lose the majority in Congress. The executve branch, still at risk.
If I were to play "Risk," I would follow the axiom, "Never fight a land war in Asia."
Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.
Peace,
js4
Is there a risk that the Tampa Bay Rays could be in first place soon? Would I feel better if it was the Yankees breathing down the Sox's necks? We might find out soon.
Is there a risk that I might find myself running down the sidewalk in Branson, Missouri later this week? What if I run smack into Mel Tillis? Or the ghost of Mel Tillis, if he is actually dead?
Is there a risk that the Republicans are actually sandbagging their own expectation for November, and that they could wind up picking up seats in Congress? That one is for Brad, in case he is reading. There is no effing way we lose the majority in Congress. The executve branch, still at risk.
If I were to play "Risk," I would follow the axiom, "Never fight a land war in Asia."
Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.
Peace,
js4
Friday, June 20, 2008
Outdoor Music and Working with Percy
The best part of yesterday, which mostly stunk because of the lost glasses incident, was going to the Juneteenth Celebration at Rosewood Park. It was 101, so finding shade was critical. Fortunately this blues band was also in the shade. Good times, and it's not too often that my presence adds to the diversity of a crowd listening to live music.
This morning before seeing Dr. Melanie about a new prescription for glasses, I went down to Threadgills, where they were raising money for their "fan drive" for the elderly and disabled. They had good musicians, but they did not play more than three songs each, so there was lots of sitting around time. Still, a good cause, and donated time, so I cannot complain much. Below are Paula Nelson with George Devore on guitar, and writer of famous songs, Bruce Robison.
This morning before seeing Dr. Melanie about a new prescription for glasses, I went down to Threadgills, where they were raising money for their "fan drive" for the elderly and disabled. They had good musicians, but they did not play more than three songs each, so there was lots of sitting around time. Still, a good cause, and donated time, so I cannot complain much. Below are Paula Nelson with George Devore on guitar, and writer of famous songs, Bruce Robison.
Summer gives me time to catch up on chores I've been putting off, sometimes for months. In January, I usually clear out all the leaves from the yard and driveway. 2008 was a record year for procrastination, so that finally got done this week. Only five months late. I decided to get some help, so for the first time ever, I went to the city's day labor site and picked up Percy, whom the site coordinator told me was a regular. Percy told me he got the first pick of jobs that day because on another day when he did not get work, he stayed at the site and cleaned up. He wanted to make sure that we would be working a full day so that it would be a good job to take. We had plenty of work, and I did about four hours in the heat. Percy, with no noticable breaks worked his ass off for seven hours before we were done. He told me that some of the workers will turn down really hot outdoor work like roofing, but that he never minds the heat. We talked about the NBA finals as I drove him to a random corner in East Austin at the end of the day. He had not seen the previous night's game, as he gets up at 5:00 am to walk downtown so he can catch a bus to the labor pick-up site.
Quick impressions of the day:
1. The city runs a good operation for laborers, easy to access for employers, and helping to ensure that workers are not exploited.
2. I didn't do a head count, but the place is clearly not exclusively for the undocumented. Percy hails from Dallas.
3. For me, it further humanized the faces I see when I drive by the day labor site or other gathering spots where guys wait for work. Dignity to all who do legal work, except maybe telemarketers.
Good runs this week, despite the heat. Tomorrow's 15 will get me 48 again for the week. I did 3 miles at "summer tempo" pace (@7:30/mile) on Wednesday. I gotta start those earlier in the morning. I'm slower right now, but I'm hoping the added mileage and stamina will pay off later.
Saw a great quote on the Runner's World website the other day:
If you can't do sports, become a runner.
If you are slow, just run really far.
So the reports are that Tiger Woods tore his ACL while jogging. Really? Unless he was dodging alligators in Orlando, I don't see how jogging would cause this injury. Do reporters just not ask?
A few people have forwarded me suggestions of places that I should go for lunch. Unless you are buying, forget it. Just kidding, I like trying new places and appreciate any suggestion, and comments on the blogs, too.
Peace,
js4
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Heat Impacts Brain Function
Or maybe I'll naturally stupid enough to think that a side pocket in my running shorts would hold my glasses until the end of my run. After about six miles this morning in the 80 degree heat, my glasses were getting spotty enough with sweat that I could see better without them. Instead of putting them in the back zipper pocket, I slid them into the side pocket. I did not know they were gone until I finished my run. Ever have one of those days were one seemingly small decision triggers a series of events that cost you hours or more out of your life, not to mention serious cash? You just want that moment of decision back. I spent nearly two hours on foot and bicycle retracing my path, on the long shot chance that I might find them. Carrie even played the part of the helpful spouse, and covered the first mile with me before she had to leave for work. No luck finding them, but I had to look before admitting defeat.
Planning for a new pair of glasses, I headed to Eyemart to do some preliminary shopping for frames. Upon leaving the store, I find that one of my tires has quickly lost much of its air. Quite a day this is turning out to be. I knock on wood that this was the last bad thing to happen for me today. When things start to go better, I get to experience one of my favorite things: gratitude. I am grateful that the Pronto Mart, the greatest convenience store ever, has free air and a tire gauge to borrow. I am grateful the Furguson's, my car repair place of choice, could plug the leak with no wait, and send me quickly on my way home. I am grateful that Dr. Melanie, my optometrist of choice can fit me in for an appointment tomorrow. Finally, I am grateful that my problems are so relatively small, that this worst day in the Summer of Jay really ain't all that bad. And I'll write tomorrow about some down right good stuff that happened today. Trying to keep things in perspective.
Peace,
js4
Planning for a new pair of glasses, I headed to Eyemart to do some preliminary shopping for frames. Upon leaving the store, I find that one of my tires has quickly lost much of its air. Quite a day this is turning out to be. I knock on wood that this was the last bad thing to happen for me today. When things start to go better, I get to experience one of my favorite things: gratitude. I am grateful that the Pronto Mart, the greatest convenience store ever, has free air and a tire gauge to borrow. I am grateful the Furguson's, my car repair place of choice, could plug the leak with no wait, and send me quickly on my way home. I am grateful that Dr. Melanie, my optometrist of choice can fit me in for an appointment tomorrow. Finally, I am grateful that my problems are so relatively small, that this worst day in the Summer of Jay really ain't all that bad. And I'll write tomorrow about some down right good stuff that happened today. Trying to keep things in perspective.
Peace,
js4
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
HRC
Big fun this Father's Day weekend at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop with Courtney and Zach, my sister's kids, pictured below with PJ, my dad. Thanks to Jo Carolyn and Bill for putting this weekend together. The second picture is Dad, Jo Carolyn and me.
Quick restaurant review: Be careful how you order at Baxter's on Main in Bastrop. Avoid the chicken fried steak, and go for something with shrimp in it. Half of our party was pleased with the food while the other half wondered why we bothered to make the trip into town.
Now the Father's Day brunch at the Hyatt was good for anyone not counting calories. Crab claws, omlettes, and plenty of desserts to sample. Yum.
Running is going well right now. I'm trying to do a "regular" 48 mile week, because some travel plans will potentially disrupt next week's running. I did ten miles today, with a bit of a sore hamstring (yard work "injury"). Should be better tomorrow.
I was thinking about Hillary Clinton on Saturday, and then had the chance to run with one her supporters that morning. Don and I had a fairly lengthy discussion about sexism in the campaign, which the media finally put in the news cycle as it did the autopsy on Hillary's campaign. As an Obama supporter, I was glad to hear Don's thoughts, and he is rarely shy about sharing his opinions. The gender vs. race issue came up as we ran, and that is the first thing I want to touch on here.
Sexism is so much more okay in society today than is racism, and that is reflected in the media. I remember John McCain's response to a woman, a woman, who asked him, "How do we beat the bi**h?" McCain's response: "Good question." Not "Hold on, let's keep this respectful." No. He said,"Good question." Let's say an African American Republican (They're out there somewhere.) asks McCain, "How do we beat the ni***r?" You think he's gonna say, "Good question."? Sexism was infused in this campaign, and it seemed so natural for it to be there. We are not shocked by it because the line of what is acceptable has not moved as far with sexist language as it has with racist language.
I am reminded of Shannon Faulkner, the first female student to enroll at the Citadel in South Carolina in the mid-90's. State school, taxpayer funded, all male. Until Shannon Faulkner challenged the system. She did not last long, but she broke the door down so that other young women could exercise their equal right to attend that ridiculous school. A few years later the Citadel had their first female graduate, and many more have followed. They, and the young men of the Citadel have Faulkner to thank for being the first through the door, whether they recognize it or not. When the U.S. does have its first female president, Democrat or Republican, she, and we, will recognize again just how much Hillary Clinton did to show what was possible for women in America.
One of the columnists I read last week wrote that women should not get mad about Hillary's loss, but get even. Not by voting for McCain, but by getting more women elected to statehouses and Congress. Good idea. I hope that the next time there is an open primary on the Democrat's side that there are three or four qualified women to choose from, competing for the presidency with an equally qualified group of men. Because I hope Obama wins, We need to be a few election cycles from that happening. This time around, I hope that women will turn out for Obama. It's important. The war. The courts. It took the courts to make the Citadel allow women to attend school there. It took the courts to end segregation. John Paul Stevens is really old. It's important.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
3 Lunches and an In-store
Wow, I'm three lunches behind here. Tuesday was my favorite cheap burger joint, Hillbert's on N. Lamar. Family operated (and working the counter, too), with blue collar patrons sitting on mustard yellow stools. First-rate all the way, including the fries and chocolate shake. Eat here.
If anybody can tell me where to find the people who made Taco Sabrosa's al pastor pork tacos, there is a reward involved. Taco Sabrosa changed into some other restaurant a while back, and now the place is shuttered completely. I went by there to do some taco recon. on Wednesday, and am fearful that I may never get one of those al pastors again. I then tried Azul, a fancy sandwhich place on Cesar Chavez. Being renovated. By now I'm getting pretty damned hungry, so I head to Cafe Mundi, knowing I can get a good sandwhich there. Score, with the turkey and provalone. Followed that with a not-too-sweet slice of pumpkin bread for dessert. In shorts and a t-shirt, I am somehow overdressed for Cafe Mundi. Dreadlocks, tattoos, and bare feet were what I needed to fit in. They were nice to me anyway; maybe they thought I was a narc. They had soccer on the TV screen inside, so I made a beeline to eat on the patio.
Today's choice was the Blue Star Cafeteria. What a letdown - worst meal so far in this summer tour. For those unfamiliar, this is nothing like a cafeteria, but a mid-priced, mid-town eatery on Burnett Road. The crab cakes were gooey, and looked a bit like they had been cooked the night before. On the plus side, the salad under the cakes was fresh and tasty. In shorts and a t-shirt, I was the most casually dressed person there. Blue slacks, and a button shirt (or maybe a sundress) is what I needed to blend in here. The service was weak, perhaps I was being profiled by my clothes. My water glass sat empty, and the waiter did not get my change right (error in his favor, natch).
Yesterday's Waterloo in store was with local band Shearwater. Having read the album review in last week's Chronicle, I did not know what to expect, because the reviewer used a lot of big words that I did not understand. My first impression was that the lead singer was a pretentious artiste, as he opened with an intense falsetto operatic thing (not a song). When the band got going, it was complex arrangements, with everything from an oboe to a tambourine. The lead guy played four different instrument in the first five songs. This was not my kind of music, but I would say it is was good. I was always curious about where the next song would head, and there was a vision to their sound. (I'll stand by that statement, no matter how stupid it sounds as I read it back.) They were performing their music as opposed to playing a gig.
If anybody can tell me where to find the people who made Taco Sabrosa's al pastor pork tacos, there is a reward involved. Taco Sabrosa changed into some other restaurant a while back, and now the place is shuttered completely. I went by there to do some taco recon. on Wednesday, and am fearful that I may never get one of those al pastors again. I then tried Azul, a fancy sandwhich place on Cesar Chavez. Being renovated. By now I'm getting pretty damned hungry, so I head to Cafe Mundi, knowing I can get a good sandwhich there. Score, with the turkey and provalone. Followed that with a not-too-sweet slice of pumpkin bread for dessert. In shorts and a t-shirt, I am somehow overdressed for Cafe Mundi. Dreadlocks, tattoos, and bare feet were what I needed to fit in. They were nice to me anyway; maybe they thought I was a narc. They had soccer on the TV screen inside, so I made a beeline to eat on the patio.Today's choice was the Blue Star Cafeteria. What a letdown - worst meal so far in this summer tour. For those unfamiliar, this is nothing like a cafeteria, but a mid-priced, mid-town eatery on Burnett Road. The crab cakes were gooey, and looked a bit like they had been cooked the night before. On the plus side, the salad under the cakes was fresh and tasty. In shorts and a t-shirt, I was the most casually dressed person there. Blue slacks, and a button shirt (or maybe a sundress) is what I needed to blend in here. The service was weak, perhaps I was being profiled by my clothes. My water glass sat empty, and the waiter did not get my change right (error in his favor, natch).
Yesterday's Waterloo in store was with local band Shearwater. Having read the album review in last week's Chronicle, I did not know what to expect, because the reviewer used a lot of big words that I did not understand. My first impression was that the lead singer was a pretentious artiste, as he opened with an intense falsetto operatic thing (not a song). When the band got going, it was complex arrangements, with everything from an oboe to a tambourine. The lead guy played four different instrument in the first five songs. This was not my kind of music, but I would say it is was good. I was always curious about where the next song would head, and there was a vision to their sound. (I'll stand by that statement, no matter how stupid it sounds as I read it back.) They were performing their music as opposed to playing a gig.
Running was sluggish today, and I think I was not properly hydrated to start. Gotta be careful with that in the record heat. I did 8 miles with strides at the end. On track to finish with 48 miles for the week.
Happy trails.
Peace,
js4
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Enchiladas y Mas
It looks like I may have figured out how to post photos in the body of a blog entry. We'll see. Thanks to Dave for his assistance. When I hear myself having an "aha" moment, saying, "Oh, it's on the tool bar," I feel like, well, a tool.
Lunch yesterday was at La Cocina de Consuelo on Burnett Road. From the picture it looks small, which it is, and like a dive, which it is not. There are only four tables inside, and a few outside the back door. I had the chicken verde enchiladas, which were tasty. The only negative would be that there was not enough green sauce to really give them the kick of full flavor. I've had them here before and never had this problem. At over $9.00 for the full plate, this is no discount place. Consuelo is very proud of her cocina. A quiet place wth good chips and sauce. La cocina is closed on Saturdays.
My run this morning started at the trail on Lady Bird Lake. I was not in a huge hurry, so I carried the camera. Carrie drove the car home when she finished with her run, and I ran home from the trail. It is four miles from the water stop at Auditorium Shores to my house, and I did about 5.5 on the trail, for a total of 9.5 miles.
I have never seen a turle crossing the trail in all the time I've run there. He was not even shy about having his picture taken.
If you have not heard, our 150-year-old Governor's Mansion burned the other night. Arson, they believe. It is on my route from the river back home, and I was able to get close enough to get these shots.
The security guy in back was not real happy about me getting close for the picture below, but I couldn't resist. 
DPS had troopers guarding this place around the clock even before the fire. This raises two thoughts:
1. If someone can get past these guys to start a fire, it seems that this was a pretty vulnerable target for any kind of attack.
2. It must be tough to be vigilant night after night when nothing at all happens on your shift.
Complacency and denial set in too easily, and we cannot guard against everything, all the time. Still, I expect them to do their jobs better than that.
I guess this is the biggest act of intentional destruction for destruction's sake in Austin since that nut poisoned Treaty Oak.
Lunch yesterday was at La Cocina de Consuelo on Burnett Road. From the picture it looks small, which it is, and like a dive, which it is not. There are only four tables inside, and a few outside the back door. I had the chicken verde enchiladas, which were tasty. The only negative would be that there was not enough green sauce to really give them the kick of full flavor. I've had them here before and never had this problem. At over $9.00 for the full plate, this is no discount place. Consuelo is very proud of her cocina. A quiet place wth good chips and sauce. La cocina is closed on Saturdays.
My run this morning started at the trail on Lady Bird Lake. I was not in a huge hurry, so I carried the camera. Carrie drove the car home when she finished with her run, and I ran home from the trail. It is four miles from the water stop at Auditorium Shores to my house, and I did about 5.5 on the trail, for a total of 9.5 miles.
I have never seen a turle crossing the trail in all the time I've run there. He was not even shy about having his picture taken.
If you have not heard, our 150-year-old Governor's Mansion burned the other night. Arson, they believe. It is on my route from the river back home, and I was able to get close enough to get these shots.
The security guy in back was not real happy about me getting close for the picture below, but I couldn't resist. 
DPS had troopers guarding this place around the clock even before the fire. This raises two thoughts:1. If someone can get past these guys to start a fire, it seems that this was a pretty vulnerable target for any kind of attack.
2. It must be tough to be vigilant night after night when nothing at all happens on your shift.
Complacency and denial set in too easily, and we cannot guard against everything, all the time. Still, I expect them to do their jobs better than that.
I guess this is the biggest act of intentional destruction for destruction's sake in Austin since that nut poisoned Treaty Oak.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday Morning
The dirt flew, the crowd cheered, the champion dominated the competition, and expert observers proclaimed the victor as one of the all time greats. Too bad this is not referring to the Belmont, and the Big Brown victory that so many, including me, expected. No, this refers to Rafael Nadal utterly taking apart Roger Federer in the French Open Final. Nadal owns Paris, having never lost a match there, and winning four straight times. Federer might be the best ever, but he looked helpless out there against Nadal. After the match, it you were looking to see if Federer would show frustration, or a small bit of poor sportsmanship, none was evident. And Nadal even apologized to Federer for how the final went for him. These two guys show so much class, they might be the best two role models in sports.
My efforts in sporting excellence fell short on Saturday morning. The 10K in Leander a slow, muggy affair. A good portion of the race was on a mulch trail, with lots of turns through the woods. It was scenic, and rounding a corner to see enthusiastic 9-year-olds manning the water stops was worth the effort, but it didn't make for blazing times. At least not for me. I finished in 45:47, about a minute slower than my Cap 10K time from late March. My endurance is good, but now that I've gotten my mileage up, this result lets me know I've got to get back to doing strides, repeats, and tempo runs if I want to get faster. My legs are still a little sore today, so these faster paces will have to wait for now.
My thoughts turn to Hillary and Barack, to people I know on their way to or home from Iraq, and then to some trivial topics which serve as a refuge from such deep matters. One of those topics is lunch. Don't know where I'll go, but I'll write about it tomorrow.
That's what we in the blogging business call "a tease."
Peace,
js4
My efforts in sporting excellence fell short on Saturday morning. The 10K in Leander a slow, muggy affair. A good portion of the race was on a mulch trail, with lots of turns through the woods. It was scenic, and rounding a corner to see enthusiastic 9-year-olds manning the water stops was worth the effort, but it didn't make for blazing times. At least not for me. I finished in 45:47, about a minute slower than my Cap 10K time from late March. My endurance is good, but now that I've gotten my mileage up, this result lets me know I've got to get back to doing strides, repeats, and tempo runs if I want to get faster. My legs are still a little sore today, so these faster paces will have to wait for now.
My thoughts turn to Hillary and Barack, to people I know on their way to or home from Iraq, and then to some trivial topics which serve as a refuge from such deep matters. One of those topics is lunch. Don't know where I'll go, but I'll write about it tomorrow.
That's what we in the blogging business call "a tease."
Peace,
js4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
