SXLB

Day: 219
High Temp: 74F

My experiences at SXSW were a mere sliver of all the excitement that this year's festival had to offer, but as many of you have asked, I figured I would provide you with the rundown of what was SXLB.

And by the way, I was so right to be intimidated! But we had a lot of fun. And I am glad that I now have a full year to recover...

Wednesday- Day one of SXSW music. Tom and I bike downtown and catch a portion of a Scottish band playing in a hotel lobby. We stroll about the 6th street/Red River area checking out the pandemonium. Tom says, "It's like a music amusement park."  He is so right. On every corner there is a rag-tag band competing with the live music pouring from every storefront, bar, balcony and open window.  We enjoy the musical stylings of local string metal group Judgement Day, who rock our socks off. We then have the unfortunate luck to happen upon (and quickly escape) a corner where an ex-boyfriend of mine happens to be playing with his band. It is beyond surreal, and this puts the nail in my coffin for Wednesday.

Thursday- We stay home. Screw you SXSW, we need to rest up for...

Friday- We first head up to our local pizza joint, Home Slice, to grab some food, and catch a few acts featured at their Music By The Slice party (MXTS). Among them, we enjoy Miles Kurosky (fmrly of Beulah) and Tom says, "I think I have reached my fill of guitar rock." Then we enjoy the Movits! (swedish swing-rap anyone? Yes they wear tuxes when performing). We bike over to the east side, pleasantly surprised to find no line at the Mess With Texas (MWTX) party. We catch the last few songs of Billy Bragg's set, watch Frightened Rabbit (more Scots!) and enjoy free Sweet Leaf Tea, and lots of swag (posters, CDs, temp tattoos, handkerchiefs, pins, etc). Then we head over to the south stage, and are temporarily confused by what we thought was supposed to be Man or Astroman?. We quickly learn they are 50 minutes behind schedule, and so steak out a great seat, sit through Black Angels (not my cup of tea) and then rock out to Man or Astroman? Tom and I have been waiting for this show for months (years!). The show does not disappoint, and we are thrilled by the kitschy stage props. One of the Astromen says, "It's been forty years since we have played a show... forty space years!" Then we bike over to St. David's church only to decide that $20/person is too much to pay, even if it does mean you get to see Jacob Dylan and Neko Case play a show in a historic church sanctuary. Possibly something we will regret down the road... Grab free water and bike home, exhausted.

Saturday- Holy hell Austin! It's cold down here. Although many a band will cancel their unofficial sets to stay out of the cold, Tom and I bike back over the lake, so punishing, to stand in a teeny tiny line and see what feels like a private show by Visqueen. Seriously, there were only like 50 people there! They are excellent, and to read what Tom and Kevin have to say about there most recent release click here.  Still ready for more rock, we walk over to the Mohawk, only to stand in line for the entirety of the Free Energy show we were hoping to catch. Now that our hands are totally freezing, we decide to bike back home to warm up.  I am brought to a complete standstill biking west on 4th street, as a bitter wind kicks up. I take a hot shower when I get home, and a nap! Tom and I bid adieu to SXSW 2010 in a laid back manner, as we take in a Vadoinmessico show at the Hilton Second Stage. We nab seats, grab a few drinks, and are home in time for dinner.

EVERYTHING we did was free (except the few drinks we bought at the various venues). SXSW is the best deal in live music, if you are willing to hustle a bit for it.

Intimidated by a Festival

Day: 209

High Temp: 70F

As the birds begin chirping and the bluebonnets begin to bloom, the minds of all Austinite's turn to one thing... no, not spring. South by Southwest! Abbreviated SXSW to those of us in ATX, SXSW is one of the premiere arts/tech festivals in the nation. And it is not just for music lovers, despite what you may think you know. SXSW has a large film festival and also features Interactive, a most intriguing festival component featuring presentations by top leaders across a multitude of industries. Beginning today, tastemakers from around the world will descend on my fair city to see, hear, tweet, blog and generally experience the best of what's new in music, video games, film, technology, etc. etc.

It is exciting. It's also intimidating. Not even taking into account the "official" festival activities, there are literally HUNDREDS of presentations/screenings/chats/shows/events taking place every day. They take place in pizza joints, churches, retail stores, bars and of course some of the best professional music venues in the nation. Much of it is free, and some of the neatest stuff isn't even announced anywhere. You just have to know someone, or be in the right place at the right time.

If you think I am overstating, I want you to do two things for me. First, check out the official SXSW schedule. That is crazy enough, but now head on over to look at this schedule. Notice the bright sea-foam "unofficial" denotation. With well over 50 unofficial parties happening each day of the music fest, just how would you would decide how to answer the question "What are you doing Friday?" It's impossible to decide!

PS- Schubas, the legendary Chicago music venue, is hosting a party during SXSW, as many of town clubs and radio stations will do. I think it is indicative of just how ever-present this festival is to note that the well respected Schubas will be presenting their show at Yard Dog the awesome and seriously teeny-tiny art gallery about 2 blocks from my apartment. It's all around you, you cannot escape!

Happy Independence Day!

Day: 199

High Temp: 59F

Texas Independence day, that is. I have never lived anywhere that celebrated an independence other than July 4th, and to be honest, the fanfare is rather lacking.

That said, I would like to direct your attention to a website kept by a man who truly understands the important place that UT and Texas as a whole have in this world. Jim Nicar is an employee over at Texas Exes- the university alumni association, and is sort of the unofficial historian of UT. He always has some pretty awesome and entertaining stories to tell, including this one sent in a campus-wide email this morning, detailing the Independence Day celebrations of 1996 and 1997. Enjoy!

For the proudest of Texans, it’s the most important day of the year. It’s a holiday that no other state can claim. March 2 is Texas Independence Day, and it’s observance on the University of Texas campus began with a missed class, a visit to Scholz’ Beer Garden, and a spiked cannon.

In the spring of 1896, the fledgling University was confined to a forty-acre campus, with a white-washed wooden fence around the perimeter to keep out the town cows. A Victorian-Gothic Main Building, only two-thirds complete, commanded the hill in the center. It was flanked by the Chemistry Lab Building to the northwest, and B. Hall, a men’s dorm, down the hill to the east.

The University’s 482 students were divided into two departments: Academic and Law. The Academic Department encompassed studies comparable to today’s Colleges of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences, and the “Academs” pursued their classes for the usual four years, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Law students, though, needed only two years to complete an LL.B. - a Bachelor of Laws and Letters - and a previous undergraduate degree was not required for admission. Junior Laws were first-year law students, while Senior Laws were completing their final year.

On the cloudy, warm and humid morning of March 2, 1896, the Junior Laws were waiting for their next lecture in criminal law, taught by Judge Robert Batts, when one student bemoaned the fact that the day was Texas Independence Day, a legal holiday for Texans, except, apparently, for UT students.

For years, students had regularly petitioned the faculty for a break on March 2nd, but had always been refused. “Our faculty is afraid to grant us holiday, even on such occasions,“ complained the Alcalde, a weekly student newspaper that pre-dated The Daily Texan (and not to be confused with the present alumni magazine). “They fear that some 2 x 4 politician, or still smaller newspaper, will accuse them of not earning their money. That is the real cause of their reluctance to grant a cessation of routine grinds, to allow our Texan bosoms an inflation of truly patriotic atmosphere.”

After serious discussion, the Junior Laws decided they would honor such an auspicious day by avoiding class altogether, and invited Judge Batts to join them. The diplomatic Batts responded with an eloquent speech, espousing all of the dire things that might happen to Junior Laws who skipped lectures. The students listened, cheered, and promptly ignored Batts’ pleas, choosing instead to spend the day at Scholz’ Beer Garden just south of the campus, where they were reportedly “very gemuethlick.”

One year later, in 1897, the now senior law class was determined to include the entire campus community in a celebration of “the natal day of Texas Independence,” and again petitioned the faculty for a holiday. But the Board of Regents had recently appointed George T. Winston (photo at left) as the new University President. A native of North Carolina and an alumnus of both the Naval Academy and Cornell, Winston neither understood nor shared the affinity Texans had for March 2nd. Winston recognized only one Independence Day, and that was on July 4th.

Undaunted, the Senior Laws pressed ahead with their plans, hoping to impress upon President Winston the importance of the second day of March. Working with the Texas Attorney General, four of the students signed a bond in order to borrow one of the two brass cannons that stood guard in front of the State Capitol. It took most of the afternoon of March 1st to roll the cannon to the Forty Acres, where the Laws planned to use it for a 21-gun salute to Texas at dawn following day.

Just before sunrise on March 2, 1897, the Senior Laws arrived for their celebration, only to find the cannon had been spiked. A large nail had been driven in to the ignition hole, and it took some time, persistence and the employment of several pocket knives to remove the offending item. By then, President Winston had arrived on the scene, and was rather unhappily resigned to the fact that the students were going to celebrate, whether or not the faculty approved. Hoping to minimize the damage to the class day, Winston asked the Laws to move the cannon away from the Main Building, down the hill to the University’s athletic field (where Taylor Hall and the ACES Building now stand). Or, they could wait until after noon to have their fun. As it turned out, the students did both.

Boom! Starting at 9:30am, an otherwise peaceful March morning was harshly interrupted by a series of cannon blasts from the athletic field. The entire Law Department attended, including Professors Robert Batts and John Townes, and following the cannon fire, each person present gave a short but sincere patriotic speech. The talks by Batts and Townes were greeted with particularly loud cheers from the students.

Meanwhile, a distracted Academic Department continued to hold classes as best as it could, some of the faculty hoping the Laws would tire of their efforts, while other professors were no doubt wishing they could join in the fun. The Laws, though, weren’t going to allow Texas Independence Day to pass without including the rest of the University.

At 1pm, a fresh supply of gun powder was secured, and the cannon was dragged up the hill and positioned directly in front of the Main Building, facing the Capitol. The first blast “threatened to break every window in the building.” In a flurry, the Academs vacated their classrooms and joined the Laws outside, and the scene of the morning was repeated, with more speeches from students and professors.

Midway through the afternoon, it was discovered that President Winston had quietly made his escape home just north of the campus, to which a large and boisterous committee of students promptly followed. Refusing to take no for an answer, Winston was persuaded to return and make a speech of his own. He opened with the remark:

“I was born in the land of liberty, rocked in the cradle of liberty, nursed on the bottle of liberty, and I’ve had liberty preached to me all my life, but Texas University students take more liberty than anyone I’ve ever come in contact with.”
The students responded with their loudest cheers of the day, and gave President Winston a rousing rendition of the University of Texas yell:

Hullabaloo! Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!
Hullabaloo! Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!
Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!
Varsity! Varsity! U. T. A.!

Since then, UT students and Texas Exes have recognized March 2nd as a time to celebrate both the Lone Star State and the University of Texas. In 1900, the Ex-Students Association adopted a resolution which states: “Whenever two Texas Exes shall meet on March 2, they all shall sit and break bread and pay tribute to the institution that made their education possible.”

Tom is a Rock Star

(this should have posted on 2/22- not sure what happened)

Day: 191

High Temp: 57F

Tom is a rock star. Of course most of you are sitting there saying, "yeah, we know!" But here is a new reason to respect his awesomeness...

Tom has spent this past weekend in Washington D.C., at Arena Stage's Devised Work symposium. Kirk Lynn, a co-founder of the Rude Mechs, a well respected theatre specializing in devised, nearly avant garde original theatre, is one of the presenters at the symposium (along with people from SITI and Tectonic, two very exciting theatre companies working to redefine what modern American theatre is.)

Kirk also happens to be one of Tom's professors at UT. Recognizing Tom's passion for non-traditional playwrighting and collective creation, Kirk approached the University and asked they would pay to bring Tom to the symposium with Kirk. I think he recognized that Tom would not only learn a lot from the presentations, but that he would potentially make lots of really excellent connections that will help him further his career down the road. The University agreed, and said they would pay.

I think it is just so cool that Tom was pulled out from a group of really talented playwrights to have that experience. I also think it shows Tom made a great decision in the program he chose to attend. They are obviously recognizing his talent and interests, and are doing what they can to foster those things. Yay Tom!

Wedding Dress Shopping Part 2

Day: 190
High Temp: 73F

Since Tom and I got engaged, I have been fixated on the idea of wearing two dresses, one for the ceremony, and one for the reception. I like the idea of a costume change. Part of it is surely the drama queen in me, but the larger part has to do with practicality. My wedding gown is long, it is full, and although it is light materials, it is a lot of dress. I just cant imagine enjoying a 5 hour reception in such a gown.

So, yesterday my fabulous friend Sara joined me at Unbridaled, a cute little bridal salon here in South Austin, specializing in unique bridal gowns. This boutique is so Austin, catering to brides who are laid back, and looking for something a little different than your standard ball gown. The girl who ran my appointment was sweet as pie, a master with those plastic clips, and really patient with me and Sara as we tried on 10 gowns, pored over the fabric samples and took loads of pics. The dress I chose is sleek, and short and very fun. It is the perfect dress to dance and party the night away in! And, it was part of their Jenny Yoo trunk show, so I got 10% off!

My mom has indulged me in this one splurge on my wedding day, agreeing to pay for two completely separate dresses, alterations and accessories, because she knows it will make me happy. How amazing is that?

Giving It Up

Day: 184

High Temp: 61F

Neither Tom nor I are very religious. We both grew up in Catholic families, and Tom was even an altar boy, but that is about the extent of our religious activities. Despite this fact, most years we do choose to participate in the ritual of sacrifice that typifies Lent. We both like personal challenges, they build character and can sometimes even make you a better person.

I gave up meat as a junior in high school. This, in fact, led to my subsequent decision to stop eating mammals all together. 12 years later, I marvel at how many times I have said no to pork or beef.

Tom and I both gave up alcohol a few years back. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be, and it saved us a ton of money.

I have even given up Chocolate, although I don't think this made me a better person.

I like to try and find a new thing to give up each year, and this year, having exhausted most of the typical Lenten sacrifices, I was hard pressed to find something that made sense. So, instead of thinking what would be hard to give up, I thought about what I could do to make me happier, and less stressful, and cause me to be more kind to my fellow (wo)man. The solution came to me on my daily commute...

For 40 days I will be a better driver. This doesn't just mean that I will curb my Chicago-born aggressive streak. I will also do nice things for other drivers, too. Here is how it works.

Driving related Lent sacrifices/promises.

I will:

-refrain from using my horn (yes, even if you cut over in front of me, without a turn signal, and promptly slow down.)

-leave the best parking space for someone else. I could use the exercise anyhow, and hopefully an expectant mother, or even just someone having a bad day will revel in their parking luck.

-not bitch or complain about Austin drivers, traffic, highway design, traffic lights, etc in any forum. Not when I get home from work, not when I am out with friends, and not on the blog.

-refrain from making any negative comments about how Tom drives (He says I am really hard on him, so I will stop.)

-let people in, even if they are doing something jerky and dangerous, like cutting around a line of drivers and through an intersection in the right turn only lane, just to get a head of those waiting to get through the intersection.

This will be real challenge for me, but my hope is that through conscious effort and repetition that my commute home will be better, not only for me, but for everyone... even the assholes who don't follow the rules.

Remembering Sweetie

Day: 177

High Temp: 64 F

It is with a heavy heart that I report to you all that Sweetie, the beloved beagle owned by my parents for the past 14 years, passed away last night. Sweetie was at home, with my parents, when she started having trouble breathing. Shortly after her labored breathing began, she died quietly and calmly.

If you know my family, you know that for the most part we are very much "dog people". Sweetie was a very important part of my family, and was a constant joy to have around. In honor of one of my most favorite dogs of all times, I thought I would share a few of my favorite Sweetie moments.

-Puppy. Seeing her for the first time in the cage at the humane society downtown. We fell in love with her immediately.

-Hide and seek. Sweetie loved to play hide and seek. I always had to hide, but she would literally play for an hour straight.

-Stormy Sweetie. She was terrified of storms, and if we were gone when a thunderstorm hit, we would inevitably find her wiggling her way out from under my mom and dads bed when she heard us come home. Even if the storm had abated hours before, she would wait for us under the bed.

-Bad Dog. My mom and I took a 6 day trip to San Francisco the summer before my senior year of high school. When I arrived home, I realized that Sweetie had been going into my bedroom to pee on my bed each day. Six distinct spots. We guessed that she was so mad at us for leaving her with the boys that this was her revenge. That, or she thought that if she did something naughty, we would come home sooner to punish her.

-PB&J. Sweetie was an infamous beggar, trained on years of table scraps. Her favorite part of the day was when my mom would come home mid-day after working a morning at the floral shop, and they would share a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I think it was my mom's favorite part of the day too!

-Santa's Little Helper. Sweetie was not only adept at unwrapping presents, but she also became a pro at stepping in just the right place on the paper while I was wrapping to leave a big, decorative wrinkle across one side, and maybe even a little tear, for artistic value.

-Squirrel Chaser. Sweetie definitely had the hunting instinct of her breed, and the famous beagle yowl. No squirrel could enter the back yard without a fierce bark from her, followed by a spirited chase up the hill. Terrorizing the squirrels of West County was her favorite pastime, a hobby that she happily taught Homer over Christmas.

-Sweetie and Bandit. While Sweetie always tolerated bigger dogs, she never really liked other dogs much, especially those smaller than her. However, a few summers ago my sister-in-law's sister Ashley brought her white Pomeranian, Bandit, to the house for a visit. The dogs were instantly best friends, and Bandit soon had Sweetie playing with the vigor of a puppy a decade younger.

I know this isn't the most exciting blog post to read, but it helps me to write it, so I appreciate you all bearing with me. Sweetie was a truly wonderful, and very happy dog and I will miss her terribly.