New specs

And I don't mean the liquor store.

My new glasses came in. Yay!
Here are the old ones on the left....and the new ones on the right!

Crappy night

Didn't feel like myself last night. Was completely exhausted and got in bed around 9:30pm. Immediately got the chills and started shaking, and I hadn't even turned on the A/C when I got home. Finally got up to get my thermometer. Sure enough, I had a fever. It was hard to breathe last night as well due to my swollen throat. This morning my temperature was below normal, so I guess my body killed whatever was wrong. Is there a 12 hour flu?

Hope I am revived by tonight because I have to go to a concert. Not really excited about it either. I'd rather just curl up in my bed with the book I'm currently reading.

It's the Shiznit

I missed last week's glass at the Saucer, but the week before that was for 4:20 and had Snoop Dogg on it.

You can see all the pics here.

My very first Eeyore's Party

Went to my very first Eeyore's Birthday Party on Saturday. I was worked the beer booth during the second shift (2:30-5:30pm). It was quite busy at the St. Arnold's booth where I worked. What didn't help things was that several of the taps were coming out almost all foam. We had to fill up cups with the foam, let it settle, then marry the 2-3 in order to get one beer. Took some time, but we still got the customer a full beer!

After my shift, I walked around the park with Grabber and some others and we bagged trash and put new trash bags in the containers. Of course, one hand was carrying Grabber's beer as well as mine...so carrying trash bags in the other was tricky. I totally slipped and fell on the path made of small pebbles, but saved the beer!

We then came upon the Egg Toss. That was fun to watch. I mean, who doesn't love watching folks get splattered in egg gook?!

After Eeyore's, a bunch of us went to Felice's place for the after party. She lives right across the street in a little hidden apartment complex (6 units total) on the corner of 15th and Lamar. Quite handy for events at Pease Park, I must say. There was tons of beer, some wine and tons of appetizers. Felice knows how to feed the masses. And all without a microwave.

Felice then organized her own Egg Toss in the parking lot. JD and I won on the very first throw! I am a Champion Egg Tosser!!! Ok, so all the other teams broke their eggs on the first throw. Doesn't matter...we still won. :)

I ended up crashing there since I was too lazy to walk up the 15th Street hill to get my car and drive home. What's new? I am the ultimate "crash on your couch" friend because I hate driving home late at night.

Pics to follow.

p.s. I forgot to mention that I kept molesting Grabber's arms. That guy has some delicious biceps!!!

Where did my sight go?

I finally made an appointment to see the eye doctor today. I think the last time I went was 2-3 years ago. I have been noticing how my long distance sight was getting more and more blurry. I am totally near sighted. They said staring at a computer all day doesn't help with that. Dang it.

So next week I will be getting in my brand new, super cool, funky glasses! Can't wait. :)

I love the cardio theater!

Since everyone bailed on Saucer glass night last night, I went to the Tech Ridge Gold's instead of the one by my work. Their cardio theater rocks! It's like you're at a movie theater, but with cardio equipment instead of seats. Dark room, cool and a huge movie screen. Did the treadmill for 38 minutes while watching the last part of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It was the good part where they were shooting up their house at each other. I would have stayed on longer, but there were a lot of folks waiting towards the end and I'm not sure if there is a 30 minute limit during peak periods. I need to check on that.

I'll have to ask the cute guy who signed me up when I go back tonight after work. ;)

P-ville Hash

Don't think I posted the pics from the Pflugerville Hash on April 13. The first part was fun and interesting, but the last 2 legs were straight and boring. At least we ran by some body of water at one point, although the wind almost blew me over. Crappy place was where it ended....nowhere at all to hide and go pee!

At Beer Check #1

Cum Union gets her 25 Runs magnet.

You can see all the pics here.

It's official. I just re-joined my old gym. We got dropped December of 200-6 and I can't seem to get myself to go jogging around my neighborhood or Town Lake. The guy who signed me up was pretty cool...and cute. Yay to cute boys to check out while working out! I'll be heading over there after work. Woot woot!

I should take all of my measurements so I can watch my progress....

I brought a change of clothes so that I can stop in at the Saucer for my 7pm glass night beer too. :)

Dorkatron

As I pulled into the parking lot at my work earlier this morning...late...an old song (that I still love) came on the radio and I had to sit there until it was over with. Semi-dancing in my driver's seat. It doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing. If I hear that song it makes me smile. Know what it was? I actually just found a video of it! You're gonna laugh, but hell, I laugh at myself all the time. :)

Video link.

Rocky Hill aid station

I woke up at 5am on Saturday morning, stopped to get a bag of ice for the beer, a donut and diet coke, and then picked up Client #69. We headed out to Smithville to work one of the aid stations at the Rocky Hill Trail Race. I had a blast while helping out at the Cactus Rose 100 last year, so I was happy to help at this race. I got lucky and got the best location ever!

Gorgeous views

The Tunnel O'Pines Aid Station

Lulu!

Here is the photo op that Carl (Client #69) had us take. Blame him, blame him (for your lost minute)!

I had just been checking out the water crossing when Wiley came through the aid station a few minutes before Lulu, so I didn't have my camera handy. He was too quick, so no pic.

Talked to some very nice, interesting folks who stopped to refuel along their run. Trail runners are sooooo damn nice. One guy sat and chatted for a bit. He was doing the 50 miler and was running with an 18 pound pack to train for some run across the Gobi Desert where you have to carry in all supplies you might need. They only provide water. I think his pack will start off at 30 pounds when he begins that race. He said it's a 150 mile, 7 day run across the desert. You can read all about it here.

Here is the 1st person to take us up on our beer offer! Time was 8:54am.

We finally got the idea to make a sign.

You can see all the pics here. Wish I would've taken more of all the people, but I was too busy refilling water jugs, etc.

Special congratulations to Lulu for finishing 2nd place in the female division! You can read her race report here. And Wiley beat his goal of 2 hours and 17 minutes. Woot woot!

I'm an idiot..and Mike Doughty show

Ok, so yesterday I didn't make the best decisions. Glad everything turned out ok!

So, where to begin..... I thought I had found some friends to go check out the Reggae Fest with, once they finished with brunch. They bailed. What to do...go by myself? That's no fun. Another friend of mine wasn't going until later that evening and I was already going to see Mike Doughty at Antone's. I got a text from Trojan saying she and C'Em were gonna go get some drinks downtown. I was pissy and tired of waiting around. I was in.

We started at Manuel's on Congress (because Cork & Co. wasn't quite open yet). Had a margarita. Then went next door once Cork opened. They made me try a cheese plate. I actually tried everything...turns out I really like Brie (I knew that one already) and Gouda. Oh yeah, and 2 glasses of Pinot Noir.

Next up: Fado. One large beer and a bite of some homemade banana pudding from the cute bartender.

Another stop on our tour of the Warehouse District: the Gingerman. I almost forgot about going to that place. Christine met us here. Then it was time to part ways. Trojan and C'Em went to get dinner and Christine and I went to Antone's to meet Eric and another Jen for the show. That would help with my downfall....not eating anything for dinner except crackers and cheese.

We got there and the 1st opening band was on stage. We notice that they are all wearing long fake beards. I want a picture of that! We order and beer and whammy, they run off the stage. We just barely caught the end of their last song. I managed to get a pic of one of them though...which will come in handy later on.....No idea what they called themselves. Ok, just did some digging around. The bearded group is collectively called Ron Blackmon. And after seeing some good pics of them on this blog, I recognized a tattoo of the lead singer which matches Mike Doughty!

Next up was a group called The Panderers. I thought the drummer was kind of cute...in a scruffy kind of way. Which is weird, because I usually like the bass players. They had a big stand up bass (which I LOVE), but that guy wasn't doing it for me. I liked the music and wanted to buy one of their CDs...but forgot later on to stop by the merch table. I'll have to check out their web site to see if I still like them sober. :)

Next it was time for the Mike Doughty Band. He is the former lead singer of Soul Coughing (you know, that Super Bon Bon song from ages ago). He has a very distinctive voice. Love it! Two of the guys looked very familiar. Umm, they were the drummer and the stand up bass player from the previous band! Only this time, they put on suit jackets. And after looking closely at the pic I got of one of the long fake bearded guys from the very first band, turns out he is the same stand up bass player! I bet the drummer was the same as well. Too freakin' funny.



You can see all the pics here.

Several Lone Star tall boys later and the show was over. I don't remember this part at all. Did I walk to my car on 3rd at Congress by myself? It wasn't too far from Antone's, so probably. Next thing I know I am waking up in the backseat of my SUV. Look at my watch and see that it's a little after 1:30am. Found out this morning that the concert ended at 11:30pm. So I took a 2 hour nap after the show. The idiot move of the night? I get in the front seat and don't remember having to unlock the door to get in. Notice that my keys are in the ignition. Damn, I'm brilliant. I know better than to have your keys anywhere near the driver's side and what do I do? I have them hanging there with the doors unlocked and me passed out in the backseat. IDIOT drunkard!

I would've probably slept the rest of the night in my car, but I had to pee. Did I go to a 24-hour Taco Cabana? Nope. I drove up to the top of my work's downtown parking garage and peed up there. If anyone who lives in the Westgate Building was awake and looking out their window, they saw my ass. Nice. Then I made the trek home to North Austin. That drive sucked. My alarm came way too early as well.

OMG Becky

What did I do to myself yesterday? Guess I started WAY too early because I really should've had a DD to drive me to work this morning. I predict an early lunch today, followed by a power nap in the quiet room. :)

Awesome Speech. Seriously??

Wow. That's our Prez. Now if only I could find the short version of Jon Stewart's impersonation of Bush...

Shoal Creek Crawlers

On Weds, April 2 there was a Shoal Creek Crawlers hash. Started and ended at the Pleasure Palace. Maybe about a 3-miler? I brought a virgin, Just Christine. She must have enjoyed it because she came out to the Austin hash yesterday. Woot woot!

TAF was the hare

Just Christine's first hash ever.

SMB broke out the Jager!
You can see all the pics here.

Wanksgiving's Hash

Wow. I am super behind on posting pics. Things have just been really busy at work and socially after work. Maybe if I get internet access at home again, I can keep up. We'll see. I'm finally getting tired of having to go eat at places during lunch with wifi just so I can upload pics.

Anyways...Wanksgiving laid a hash on March 30. It was all in the greenbelt. I suck at running the greenbelt (cause I never run period), but it was fun. Although, I did totally eat it once and landed on my left hand and right knee. Blood on trail! Guess I landed pretty hard on my hand because typing at work that next week really hurt my wrist.

You can see all the pics here.

Raise a pint tonight!

On April 7, 1933, beer was again legalized. It was not until 8 months later that the entire Volstead Act was repealed allowing for the sale of wine and liquor.

Most Americans have heard of the Volstead Act. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1919, banning the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquor." The Volstead Act authorized federal enforcement of that amendment, putting the teeth in Prohibition.

What most Americans have never heard of is the Cullen-Harrison Act, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. Cullen-Harrison put the first chink into the armor of Prohibition, by basically adopting a new definition of "intoxicating." Under the Volstead Act, beer or wine could not contain more that .5% alcohol by volume. In March 1933, Roosevelt urged the Congress to modify the Volstead Act, and raise the legal limit to 3.2%. They did, Roosevelt signed, and the modifications contained in the Cullen-Harrison Act became law on April 7, 1933.

This was big news, and it was definitely celebrated at the time. It was reported that beer drinkers in Milwaukee even lined up outside breweries the night before! But is it something to celebrate now? There are probably few people today that get excited about a 3.2% beer - although it should be noted that there are still several states that prohibit anything stronger from being sold in grocery or convenience stores. (If you don't live in one of those states, be grateful. It's very annoying.)

And there are people who say it's ridiculous to pay attention to this insignificant piece of legislation. After all, it didn't really do anything about Prohibition. But if I hadn't been able to get a legal beer for, oh, say 14 years or so, I think I'd be dancing in the streets even for 3.2, thank you and pass me another. So, count me among the folks that will be raising a pint on April 7, and toasting my best friends, Mr. Cullen, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Roosevelt.

Check out my lovely work outfit today...didn't have many options to choose from in my car...only campout clothes! Thank goodness I had some shoes from Thursday in my car that weren't all jacked up from the rain. I've been hiding in my office so nobody sees my muddy jeans....
...or my red face and tired ass eyes. This pic makes me look more red than I really am, but it's close! Gagger is ready for a nap.

I'm a Sexy Bitch

So apparently it takes longer to get from The Woodlands to Austin than it does from downtown Houston to Austin. FM 1488 is a much slower road, especially with all the damn fog this morning. Ended up driving straight to work since I hit that first on 290 at 8:15am. Since this wasn't in my original plan, I don't have any work clothes with me. I am currently wearing jeans that smell like a fire pit with mud all over the bottom of them, my TXIH shirt with a short sleeved cardigan/jacket thing and my Pumas...hair in a pony tail and a slightly sunburned face and neck. A lovely sight, huh?

I couldn't have done this if the CEO was in town (his office is across the hall from me), but he is in DC along with my boss, so it worked out nicely. I'll be going home for an early lunch to switch into something more appropriate, but this will have to do for now! Guess I'll hide out in my office and pretend it's a de-clutter day (in preparation for our move downtown). :)

I extended TXIH as long as possiible, but it's now over. :(
Went to Donnie the Retard and ESPN with GayGay and Begging For It. Showered and chowed at Chuy's...mmm, liquid crack!!

I'm currently driving so stories later. Left donnie's at 5:15am, got a 44 ounce diet coke, a water and 2 kolaches. Hit the road at 5:25...hope I can make it home in time to get to work by 8am!

Ciao.

Finally!

Today was crazy at work and I had to stay late to finish a project. Now it's off to my casa to pack, then I can finally head to Knave's! Thought I'd already be there by now, but things didn't go as planned. Bummer.

Can't wait for TXIH!!!

UFO Party

Last Friday night Padre had his UFO Club party at the Flying Saucer. $100 to spend on whatever. He is #4 on the Ring of Honor wall, so they were trying to make a 4 in this picture. We quickly changed this gang sign to mean "Fuck You, Loser!"

After the Saucer we headed over to Ginny's Little Longhorn. Hadn't been in a while and I was in need of a good dive bar. Since it wasn't a Sunday and there were no chili cheese dogs out on the table, four of us (Client #69, UniPorn, Just Senad and myself) went to the original Kerbey Lane Cafe for some late night grub. Damn, I love the Paris, Texas platter!

You can see all the pics here.

THA "Fun" Day

So last Friday we worked a half day and then all THA employees met downtown for a Duck Tour. My company is trying to get us jazzed up for our big move to our new building downtown next month. I grew up in Austin and have never been on one...it's more of a touristy thing. But hey, it got us out of the office! Turned out it was cool learning neat little facts about Austin and buildings downtown, etc. But I'm a dorkatron and love those kinds of tidbits. If you don't know what the Duck Tourmobile is then click here to see how it all began. It goes into Lake Austin on the trip around town. Pretty cool.
The really cool part of the day was going to Mandola's for lunch with my buddy at work. We had pizza and wine. I've never had alcohol during lunch on a work day, but it was supposed to be our "fun day," so we made it fun. :) It was all over by 3pm, so we got to go home early. Score! I needed a nap before Friday evening's events due to staying out way too late with the softball guys the night before.

Ughhh

Have you ever had so much crap to do at work but didn't feel like doing any of it? I am just tired of this job and the stupid stuff that comes up all the time. I mean, if you tell me you've worked on a data file for hours and hours, then give it to me...I damn sure better not find 1,000 edits to make. Seriously! Stop fucking telling me lies!

I think I'm going to just quit. Who cares about finishing my resume first? My tax refund will be here in less than 2 weeks, right?

Fuck it. I'm gonna sneak out to my car and not come back. I quit! Who's thirsty??