Life in Austin

So for Halloween we went over to my first-cousin-once-removed Kate's house for soup chili (which in Texas is chili with beans, which is just what chili is in California) and some trick or treating with baby Grant (my second cousin) who is adorable. Jamie made a reappearance as Joaquin Phoenix (I practically had to beat people off him, he was a hit) and I buzzed my hair again and went as G.I. Jane.

See, I told you Baby Grant was adorable.

A few of my cousins and us went out to Sixth Street, which is nationally infamous, but especially for Halloween. Luckily it was a little tamer being a Wednesday and we could keep our group together fairly well (even after a few drinks) as we wound our way through the crowds. I wish we had spent more time people watching and less time bar hopping, but oh well.

Cousin Kate (dressed as a witch but lost her hat within 30 minutes of arriving downtown, haha), Baby Grant (was an astronaut), me, Jamie, Cousin-in-law Brooke (Corpse Bride)!

Brooke trying on the Mario Head... and Paul, Kate's husband (who went as a "hippie," haha)

I spent most of Thursday recovering from Wednesday (we were out til 2:30am, blergh... my recovery consisted mostly of reorganizing my Pinterest boards... I am ashamed), and in the evening we had a delicious dinner of steak and roasted veggies to celebrate my cousin Alex's birthday! Uncle Grant is really good at making steak... yum! It was a lot of fun, I am so glad we are able to get to know my cousins because they are awesome. =)

Friday we went out shooting (which I did not enjoy) and then we got real Texas BBQ. BBQ in California means grilled meat. BBQ in Texas means, very specifically, smoked brisket or ribs, and it is DELICIOUS. Don't you ever use to term "BBQ" around me unless you mean smoked brisket or I will give you a very dirty look. I didn't much care for shooting, at least not in an indoor range (I might try again if the shooting is happening outdoors)... it was loud and intimidating and guns are freaking POWERFUL... I do not ever want to get shot. Nor do I ever want to shoot anything. =P Unless maybe they are trying to kill me, in which case I'm very glad I kind of know how to shoot a handgun.

Today Uncle Grant and Aunt Jyl took us on a little driving tour of Austin, which was very nice. We saw the UT campus and the Capitol building, and Lake Travis. Then we went grocery shopping in a fancy store (SO MUCH WINE AND CHEESE! If I could only shop one place the rest of my life, let it be there) to get stuff for dinner that Jamie and I are making tonight! We are doing a repeat because it was so good in Redding: Homestyle Mac N Cheese with beer bread, sausage, asparagus and homemade pumpkin pie for dessert!

It was a whirlwind week... I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow morning already! We had a lot of fun in Austin, and (I sound like a broken record) I wish we could stay longer... We barely scratched the surface of this city and I'm sad to leave even MORE awesome relatives. =(

Onward to Nashville!

Surfing and the Alamo

Wow, ok, where to start?? I am falling way behind here...

We had a great rest of our stay in Redding, I got another comic page done, we got to pick out some new pipes made by our Uncle Mike (and Jamie got to test his out), and we enjoyed lots of time together! =) We even got to see my parents again before Christmas (we stayed overnight in Paradise to shave an hour or so off of our trip to Arizona).

Before the sun we rose to begin our journey out of California. Back down the 5 for the third and final time of the year, and into the desert we went. I drove some and am still improving! It's been days since I last stalled out and I am proud of it. ;) We stopped in Mesa (Phoenix area) to spend some time with a friend and sleep on his floor. We also got to watch "Cabin in the Woods," because we have not seen nearly enough horror films this Halloween season, and if you see that one, you've seen 'em all. Literally.

We do listen to Dead Man's Bones quite a bit, which we save for October every year. Here is a sample to get you into the holiday spirit. Halloween is tomorrow, guys! =D

So after Arizona we drove all the way to Carlsbad, NM, where we CouchSurfed for the first time ever! Our hostess was lovely. Very nice, good conversationalist, very welcoming. She also had two sport horses, two dogs, and two cats. So I was very at home. After we stayed the night and said our goodbyes and thank yous in the morning, we took a little detour over to the Carlsbad Caverns, which neither of us had ever experienced. It felt like Minecraft, only real life. I just knew a Creeper would come popping out to thwart my diamond-seeking endeavors at every turn. And then I got over the Minecraft-Creeper feeling and felt like I was delving into Moria. I even spotted a Balrog:

See that Balrog there? Somebody put out his fire... Gandalf??

Temple of the Sun

Jamie is so amazed by the caverns! And I'm wearing my glasses so I don't trip in the dark because I have terrible night vision! We are the coolest kids.

Jamie was so impressed that he has given up his dreams of getting a PhD in mathematics and has decided he wants to be a Carlsbad Caverns Park Ranger instead.

I didn't take many pictures because the lighting was TERRIBLE. What gives. Don't they know I have to scrapbook this someday? Anyway, we were both really glad we got to see the caves for a little bit and I think we both want to go back and spend more than an hour because we didn't get to see everything and kind of had to rush.

Anyway, once we were back in daylight (IT BURNS, PRECIOUS!) we trundled on over to Austin, TX! Did you know that the average speed limit on Texas highways is 80 miles per hour? Neither did our car, because it would start to shake if we got much above 75. Still, the speed limit in Texas actually seems to mean "limit," (unlike California, where the speed limit actually means to add five miles).

We spent our first day in Austin enjoying the company of our gracious hosts, my Great Uncle Grant and Aunt Jyl! They showed us to Zilker park where we enjoyed a good jog. There were tons of people out, I've never seen a more busy trail! It was a good thing though, didn't feel crowded to me, and it helped keep me motivated. Then Jamie and I spent the afternoon catching up on stuff & studying (which is super boring). But the BEST PART was when Grant & Jyl took us and my second cousin-in-law Brooke to THE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE, which was AMAAAZING. Jamie wants to live there.

Seriously, Chico wishes it was Austin. The El Rey and The Pageant are only shadows of what could be (no offense guys, you will always have special places in our hearts). The Alamo is dinner and a movie all in one. Jamie and I split a Grand Royale with Cheese (burger) and fries, and we got an election-season themed honey brew and a Rogue Dead Guy Ale. Grant & Jyl also ordered chips & queso to share (OK, I'm not sure if all of Texas does nacho cheese the way it oughta be, or just the Alamo, but that stuff was like cheese dip heaven). Californians, be excited, because the Alamo is coming to San Francisco. They also have one in Denver, CO... which means Ryan, you must go check it out sometime! Oh yeah, and we also went to the theatre to see "Cloud Atlas" (which is pretty much just the extended version of the trailer, which is ok with me because I liked the trailer. Jamie is still deciding. I think he's posting about it on ye olde facebook).

Which brings us here, to All Hallow's Eve Eve. I think because we have waited until the day of to pick out costumes that I will go as G.I. Jane and Jamie will go as Fidel Castro. But a lot could change between now and tomorrow night, mostly depending on what treasures we find in tomorrow's thrift adventure. ;)

Expect an exclusive "Halloween In Austin Report" on Thursday or Friday!