Thanksgiving

FaDay: 100
High Temp: 73F (Don't hate me, but it is gorgeous here!)
Status: Unemployed (and possibly soon to be receiving unemployment benefits!!!)

Sometimes I hesitate to even tell people about what my Thanksgiving is like, afraid of the overwhelming jealousy that it will cause. This year, however, there are so many of you loyally reading this silly blog that I have decided to try and describe just what the Horan Thanksgiving is all about.

First off, I have to say that spending my Thanksgiving with the Horans comes at a great cost, namely missing the holiday with my own family. Even though this will be my 6th Thanksgiving with the Horan clan, I still get a little twinge of sadness mixed in with my excitement when we book the plane tickets, knowing it is one more year I wont be with my family. I miss Aunt Sally's cranberries, my mom's sweet potato casserole, and the many pies my dad makes. I miss making the pies too, as many years I was sous for Chef Bob. And I miss the black Friday ladies lunch on the Hill (girls, have a slice of tiramisu and think of me).

The trade off is that Tom and I get to spend Christmas in St. Louis. And if you have to miss your own family's fete, you should definitely beg for an invitation to this one.

My first several Horan Thanksgivings were spent at a cute cabin near the Mount Shasta National Forest in far northern California. When our cabin benefactor decided to sell his fabulous vacation home, we spent a year at Nan's (Tom's mom's) house in the Bay Area, vowing to find a new location. That new location came in the most unexpected ways, with the entrance of Dr. Kim into the Horan family mix. He was brave (crazy?) enough to let the group borrow his beautiful ski cabin, and so last year we moved the trip to Truckee, CA (located just a stones throw from the north shore of Lake Tahoe). And we did so well that he has agreed to let us come back!

No matter where the festivities occur, the general goal of the holiday weekend remains the same, utter relaxation. We all travel to be there, and we all stay together. That means no one has to drive home after the pie course, and you don't have to get dressed to go watch the football game with your family either. Indeed, it is common to find a majority of the family in pajamas well into the afternoon, until someone suggests a hike, or a trip to town to pick up some forgotten ingredients for the evenings meal. Enthusiastic and rambunctious card games are liable to break out at any time, and there is always a fire in the fireplace. There are games, crafts, naps, puzzles and frequent visits to the hot tub on the back deck (have you ever been in a hot tub when it is snowing? It's the best!). There is also lots of food (and wine).

The Thanksgiving meal is the ultimate in tradition, and as new family members join, it has been fun to see what they add to the mix. I am not sure what the Horans were doing for pies and cranberries before I arrived... The pie recipes are my father's of course, built upon the pie crust that my Great Grandmother used. This year, I will do 3 different types, apple, raspberry cream and chocolate (two chocolates, actually). And someone else may even make a pumpkin one.

Tom and I leave Austin first thing tomorrow morning, and will be settled at the cabin by early afternoon. I plan to spend most of my time reading , cooking, eating, drinking, crocheting and embroidering Christmas presents and puzzling. I will make professional work out of lounging about and enjoying the mountain air. I will relish putting on my boots, and my big, down sleeping bag jacket and stomping in the already plentiful snow. I will talk wedding planning with my soon-to-be sister Erin, who is also getting married in 2010. I will forget that I am unemployed. I will catch up with my California family, and miss my family in St. Louis, Chicago and Madrid. I will joyously welcome the official start of the Christmas season, even if that means that all that is left of the big Thanksgiving meal is sandwiched between bread on Sean's and Colin's plates.

I hope you all have celebrations to look forward to as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

Weekend In Review

Day: 93
High Temp: 62F (it feels like fall!)
Job Status: Unemployed


I normally don't like to write these recap type blogs. You know, the ones that throw a bunch of "this is what I did"s into one post. But, this past weekend was the first that felt like a normal weekend, not just a continuation of a week of days that I spend playing with my dog, searching for and applying to jobs, and complaining about the weather. This weekend reminded me of weekends I would have in places where I actually live, which made me feel, finally, like I may actually live here in Austin. I want to document it.


Friday night, Tom joined me at the Lustre Pearl, a really unique bar located just north of the river from us. It's an old house, which contains a bar in what I assume would have been the kitchen. It feels like a what might happened if someone through a really great party at an abandoned house. Anyhow, great atmosphere, and definitely a place I would go back to for a drink or two.


Following the Lustre Pearl, Tom had to head to work for a while, so me and my new friend Sara (yes, new friend! and NO, she does not attend UT!! sweet!) headed to Fado on 6th street downtown for a pint or two, and a double Jameson, and... well, you see where this is going. We had a great time, and she got me home early enough so that Homer wasn't too pissed off at having to be home alone.

Saturday we hosted a small gathering at our apartment for a reading of one of Tom's new plays. A group of his friends from UT came by, and it was generally fun to play hostess for a night. We made Cuba Libres and Dark and Stormys, and served appetizers. After the reading, we all headed to Doc's, a local bar for some food, and a few rounds of shuffle board.

On Sunday, we once again gathered with the UT crowd to head out to Driftwood, Texas for some of the best barbecue on earth at the Salt Lick. The Michner Center (fancy writing program) at UT invited all the creative writers at the Univeristy, and their families, out for a big banquet. Salt Lick serves these big, family style meals where they basically just keep bringing tons of food until you surrender. This was our second time at the Salt Lick, the first was when my parents were here--my dad's pick and as per usual, genius. I know most people would say the highlight of the meal is the meat (brisket, chicken, smoked sausage and pork ribs are all served), however my votes go to the amazing sauce (mustardy, a little spicy and a little sweet), the warm German-style potato salad, and the peach cobbler. Again, if any of you ever get off your lazy asses to come visit me, this place will be high on the agenda!

So, it was like a totally normal weekend, where we saw and hung out with friends, and had actual things to do. Now I am looking forward to my brand new Book Club on Tuesday night and the upcoming annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to California.

The Big News

Day: 87
High Temp: 78F
Status: Unemployed

So a few blogs ago I included a teaser about some very happy news that I had recently received. I have been given the go-ahead from the primarily involved parties, and am happy to let the world (or my dozen or so readers) know that come this July 2010 I will be an aunt! That is right, little brother Andy and his wife Megan are expecting a baby.

For those of you really in the know, you may also have heard that just about a week before the news of the pregnancy, we were informed that Andy and Megan's international adoption papers were accepted by the authorities of Ethiopia. Yes, that is right, not one, but two babies on the way... technically at least. It will be at least another year (or two) before Andy and Megan can travel to Ethiopia for the adoption, but two babies! Add that to the 3 dogs, and you have one very full house.

I am so thrilled for the two of them, and maybe most of all for my parents. Truth is, Bob and Mona have been ready for grandkids for a while now, and this definitly takes the pressure off of Tom and I, at least for the time being. And, I will be an Aunt again!!! (I have been honorary aunt to my friend Jenny's two beautiful babies (okay not babies anymore) all their lives, so I have lots of practice.)

So, yeah, when my wedding day rolls around next October, there will be a baby! Oh, and credit to Dan Nies, who after reading the teaser in the previous post emailed me to register his correct guess that Andy was having a baby. And a hearty laugh to all my crazy friends who, for a brief moment, were thinking I was the one with the bun in the oven.

nerdnite - Austin

Day: 84
High Temp: 79F
Job Status: Unemployed

Be there and be square. That is the motto given to nerdnite - Austin, a highly enjoyable monthly occurance at an unlikely spot on Austin's popular 6th street. 6th street is probably not the first place you would think of for a night of nerdy revelry, but on the first Thursday of every month, geeks from all over the city converge on Buffalo Billiards to hear their fellow dorks talk on subjects ranging from WWII era aircraft to the history and evolution of Guy Fawkes Night (the British holiday).

Tom and I attended our first nerdnite last Thursday and had a really great time. We had been to Buffalo Billiards before, to play shuffle board and drink beers when my parents were here a few months ago. Knowing how packed this place can get with lame frat boys and drunk co-eds on the weekend, I was curious to see how nerdnite would fit in with the atmosphere of this absolutely cavernous nightspot.

Good news, it works perfectly. BB has a large upstairs space that serves as a private room for the nerdnite festivities. There is a stage and some a/v set up at the back of the room, and the attending nerds are invited to pull up a chair and enjoy the festivities. The aforementioned festivities are simply a program of a few speakers who present mini-lectures on the topic of their expertise. While most of the experts come off as more of enthusiasts, than experts, it is a wonderful show case of all the weird and dorky things people are interested in learning about. And it is a guarantee that you will learn something odd, funny or downright enlightening. Throw in a special on domestic drafts, and plenty of beer breaks, and what you get is a hilarious and informative geeky gathering.

We met up at nerdnite with a large group of UT Theatre and Dance grad students who were all there to support of one of their fellow MFAs Steve Moulds, who was to present a discussion on "how directing plays taught me the ease of manipulating people." Steve was hilarious, and purposefully or not, his presentation actually ended up being one of the most incisive guides on how to manage difficult personalities in any work place (be it the stage or elsewhere). Other highlights of the evening included a middle-aged Texan who is the aforementioned WWII aircraft enthusiast. This gentleman presented a revisionists take on the infamous Spruce Goose, and managed to work in what is now my new favorite phrase "prettier than a punchbowl of titties." He brought the house down.

Truth be told, I cant wait to attend more of these nerdnite events. I heard there will be a talk next month about the history and evolution of marching bands... I love marching bands!

There are nerdnites starting to pop up all over the country, and abroad. Check out the nerdnite website for details.

It's Slower in the South

Day: 79
High Temp: 71F
Job Status: Unemployed

I haven't been writing much lately, as there hasn't been a whole lot to report. I am feeling like I am in a bit of a holding pattern, actually. I have officially been unemployed for 3 months now. I really can't believe it has taken so long. But, I have learned that things move much slower in the south. So, on top of searching and applying for jobs and taking Homer out to the park, there hasn't been a whole lot going on.

I did get a call on Friday for a phone interview, for a job that I applied to six weeks ago. SIX WEEKS AGO! My experience in Chicago was if you didn't hear in 2-3 weeks, you could just forget about it. But that said, I am thankful for another interview opportunity. This will be my third interview since arriving here. I am still waiting to hear about possible second interviews for the first two positions I interviewed for. In each case, I felt like the interviews went pretty well, but you know, things move much slower in the south.

What hasn't moved slow here is the onslaught of "holiday" advertising. It seems as though all these places were just waiting for Halloween to be over before starting to run their joy filled adverts. Although I must call out Crayola, who has been showing this commercial for a few weeks now that alludes generally to "gifts" and seems non-holiday until the very end when the viewer is treated to the subtle last 9 notes of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." I recognize you for what you are Crayola ad! I mean, I LOVE Christmas, and the whole holiday season. It is the absolute best time of the year. But come on, I think two full months are enough.

I am, though, happy to report that my some of my holiday catalogues have already found their way to me, and all the way down here in Texas. I am already dog-earring pages filled with items much too expensive to buy for my friends and family this year (sorry guys, looks like 2009 will be an all-homemade Christmas...)

I did get one bit of amazing news last week that had me crying tears of joy. I am not sure how public this news is yet, but rest assured I will let the stork out of the bag just as soon as I am given the go ahead. Stay tuned...After all, if there is one lesson that I hope to learn here in Texas, it is that some things are worth waiting for.