I'm back in a sunny Chicago, tanned and rested after an experience that's worthy the often overused adjective "amazing".
A chronicle. This will nicely tie up with all the other stories in
nomadlife.
Austin, Texas
"It's hot here; but it's dry heat so it's OK" is the first impression
you get when you stepped outside the air conditioned Austin
International Airport. Austin baby; welcome to the Hippy capital of
Texas.
Within the hour of my arrival, I was annointed with a new nickname,
"the dode";ask Jesse for explanation; and finding Mixmaster, Trent,
Angie chillin' out drinking in Jesse's "melrose place" apartment
complex (complete with kidney shaped swimming pool). This place would
witness a wild and noisy party much later on in the day.
Soon after Mixmaster and I did a survey of our immediate surrounding
by running around the adjacent UT campus area at 1 pm huffin and
puffing throughout the short running course; we ended up in the
refreshing cold pool water at the end of our run.
Chillin' with good friend in an afternoon heat was highlighted with a
game of throwing a big yellow dock doll from the second floor balcony
down to the pool. This afternoon was all about "getting the cheapest
beer available; it's the quantity, not quality, that counts; think
volumes". Beers and good friends in a lazy hot afternoon, what else
could one ask for? Well, apparent there was one more. The Madison
contigent
and I bitched and moaned like a high school girl about the lack of
shisha and pressured Phil to solve this problem. The much waited shisha
arrived later without tobacco and the ceramic bowl; it was DOA (dead on
arrival). We tried to McGyvered it but failed; Esprit de Corp hit bottom.
AIESEC Austin International Showcase
With the 4 dollar entrance fees what you got was a sold out show of
eclectic mix of shows dominated by martial arts showcase; Wontong
showed that he kan kick ass, flying and jumping around showing fancy
Wushu moves. The most fun part of the show was definately the Afro beat
band where Surya and Fnord play Djembe and Percussion, supplying the
funky beat to the dancing crowds on the floor. I recognized Fella
Kuti beat in one of their encore. Cragness Polish dancing was a delight.
Good job Aiesec Austin.
Trudy's
Surya had been bragging about the heavenly Mexican Martini at this
jammedpacked bar on a Friday night. It looked, smelled and tasted like
Margarita in a Martini glass. Slowly our party of five
blossomed to 35 or so people within the hour. We were taking over
the place. Drake arrived.
Trudy's had a policy on allowing at max two Martinis per person;
Mixmaster tried to get away with the rule and almost thrown out by our
waiter.
The fun marched on to Jessie "La Calista" apartment for an after party.
This is where the infamous Sheila and Drake passed out on the
couch picture was taken; It was wild and noisy at 3 am in the morning
with drunkards trying to play on the pool; I met Cristina part of
Cragnes, more radiant in real life that the pictures you see on Dturk
blog;
Tragedy of the Common.
Saturday morning started when I left Adam's apartment back to Jesse's
loiterring thorugh the lenght of Red River road soaking the early
morning atmosphere of the city. Adam had gracefully agreed to host
Angie and I after Jesse's party; all of us assumed that Jesse's
place would not be available because many people would crashed
there. I found early that morning at no one stayed over because we all
had assumed the same thing and stayed somewhere else.
The next brunch at "Juan in a million", which is located in the
original main street of Austin, a narrow street littered by graceful
old houses. Juan Million's taco definately "makes me feel good";
quoting Adam's heartfelt recommmendation of the place's breakfast
Tacos.
Campbell's hole.
We spent the afternoon the Green Belt, a stretch of greens in the
middle the city; Mel and I hopped around the rocks in finding the
perfect rock to enjoy the sound of flowing stream and sunlight. The
steady beat of a drum circle and the strong smell of openly smoked pot
colors the festive atmosphere of the place.
I love this fucking place.
As the evening approach, we moved to the Feast, an event of grilling 75
pounds of beef and sacrificing two innocent chickens. I met La Contessa
in this feast and she was as dazzling as ever since
the only last time I met here back in 2000. Ta - ta would
drunkenly
walked around threatened to kick my ass and I asked him to take a
number
and joined the long line. Celeste jumped on me screaming and giggling
when she realized I was there. All of us ate and drank our way
to obvilion in preparation for the next highlight of the evening, the
highly anticipated High Society party.
High Society started just past midnight and lasted until dusk at fnort
+ agnes residence. The mix of free flowing alcohol and spent energy
proved to make a very interesting night; at one point, I joined a group
of people staring skyward at the moon and trying to figure out the
length of a particular cloud in the night sky; and I managed to recruit
three girls to do the head shaking "cement mixture" drink; and let it
be known that this party has the highest ratio of hot women to man.
The party ended with saying goodbyes of people leaving Austin to their
home; there would only three of out of towners stay until Monday.
The day started with Mel offering to pick me up to have lunch at
Mother's Garden with her group, which I agreed to until Jesse pointed
out that that was a vegetarian restaurant. That wouldn't fly. Jesse and
I ended up in a yummy Dim Sum place after rounding up eight people to
come with us.
Weed Run.
While Saki and Cragnes spent a healthy activity back climbing hills
that afternoon, I was part of the convoy of eight bikes to go to a weed
dealer place; riding a tiny bike with broken brakes through small
streets near the campus and had the opportunity to observe the
Austin way of buying pot.
Last Supper.
Chips and Guacamole, Vietnamesse Spring Rolls and Pad Thai were the
menu of the evening; a bountiful dinner to say the least. Ruth's
Guacomle and Jessie's cooking would be missed. And we managed to fix
the DOA Shisha and smoked it after dinner.