Austin, TX

Home sweet home last night.

We had a fantastic weekend.  Started immediately finding out we WERE on the same flight.  She gave me her flight times (connection in Atlanta) and it was strange I couldn't find that flight to book for myself.  Turns out, her phone converted times to PST and it WAS the same flight.  Woo hoo.  Made the morning a little extra fun.

Austin took us a minute to get to know.  The accommodations were newly renovated, but the grossest pillow/bedding ever.  There was NOTHING extra in the house.  Totally empty except a dish set for 4 people and a Mr. Coffee with no filters or coffee to be found.  "Walking" distance to restaurants, etc turned out to be a 2 mile walk.  Not exactly grab-a-quick-coffee walk.  I forgot to take pictures.  We had our own rooms with on-suite bathrooms -- only nice part.

Austin is gentrifying and it's construction everywhere.  Beautiful, then falling apart, then beautiful.  That took us a minute to adjust.  We pictured quaint and cute, etc.  Once you get a minute to know the city, it's amazing.  Art, music, food.  Has it all.  It's gorgeously LIBERAL and signs of that inclusion and kindness were everywhere.  Bathroom signs -- ANY gender, just wash your hands.  LOVE inclusion.  Something as simple as a bathroom sign can make someone feel seen.

I didn't do the best job at taking pictures, but here are a few.

Music tour on a guided pedal bike.
We FROZE our asses off.
Two hours -- too long and mostly boring.
Gave us a good story to tell -- laughed all weekend about it.

Zoom in ...

Gas and Kombucha -- got to love it!

Walking street art tour -- super interesting.
Gas station.  Artists take rundown payphone areas and make them beautiful.

Let's talk FOOD.  AMAZING!!  Street tacos, incredibly unusual salad choices, sushi, BBQ.  We had so many delicious meals.  Ate well, didn't overeat.  Had a couple of glasses of wine each night.  Home and in bed by 8:30.  That was a treat.  The only picture I took was the least exciting part of one of my meals -- sashimi.  This is my sushi-loving friend and we always eat a sushi meal together -- it's the law LOL.

Austin gets a big thumbs up.  Knowing what I know, I would stay in a different area, but otherwise ... incredible city.

As expected, I TALKED and TALKED and TALKED (and listened, of course).  Great conversations and connection with a very good friend.  Now I need to hibernate -- hah.  Even my plane neighbors were chatty -- the entire flight.  I was open to it all, but now I need to reenergize a little.

I have coffee plans with another great conversation friend today -- not the best timing, but I'll go with it.  I need to focus on quiet time and sleep.  For some reason, I was wide-awake at 4:30 this morning.  I know I'm depleted and depleted leads to getting sick for me -- I can feel it now.   I have a lot to get going on the wedding shower and I can't afford to get sick.

I ate the first Pete's Paleo meal and it was yummy.  Meatballs, spinach and spaghetti squash.  I'll eat this week and chat about it soon.  Also, finished a book, started another ... more on that too.

Pantry is getting overhauled from The Container Store on Thursday.  Can't wait!  Picking up materials today.

Big week ahead.  Have to pace myself and do the THINGS.  Great trip, glad to be home -- that's the way I want it -- later gators.