my 250th post, or my Texas story.

Yep.. my 250th. i want to talk about Austin. My home. My home town. This place that after five years, I still love exploring.

When I was 11 year's old, the Texas Chamber of Commerce was running a national tv campaign. I remember it. It was BIG. Big sprawling pictures of Dallas, of San Antonio, of the Alamo, of Houston, big cars, cowboys, yadda, yadda. At the very end of the commercial, it gave a 800 number to call to get a free visitors guide. So I called. I guess I should probably point out that I was 11 years old and defintally wasn't allowed to order anything on the phone. Didn't matter- I was entranced. I ordered this thing and then, like most eleven year olds, forgot about it. It showed up 6-8 weeks later, and my mom could not, for the life of her figure out why the state of Texas was sending her daughter a travel book. Needless to say, I am sure I probably got my ass kicked for ordering something on the phone. Didn't matter- I was hooked.

Flash forward to 1996- I was working on Mackinac Island, Grand Hotel to be specific. I met a few people from Texas. Turns out they ended up being my best friends. At the end of the summer, as all summer kids do, we promised to keep in touch and be best friends forever. Well, as luck would have it, we did. 1997, we all ended up on the Island again- Caren and Budda would regale me with stories of their days at Texas Tech and growing up in Texas. I was fascinated. 1998- we all moved to Detroit together, and in 1999, Caren couldnt take any more of the Michigan winters. Cant say I blamed her. At this point, I think I was working as a Marking Bitch for Whole Foods- you know those nutty granola people that charge crazy prices for organic foods. Anyways, I was working for them, and had the opportunity to go to their Plano Store. Yep, Plano. In the suburbs of Dallas. My dreams were finally coming true- I was getting to go to TEXAS!! WHOOO HOO. Internet, I kid you not, within 23 minutes of being in this state, despite the fact that I was in Plano (and for those of you who don't know Plano, think big ole plastic boobs, big blonde hair, and big rich husbands), I was in love with Texas. My friend Caren and I decided to road trip for the rest of my long weekend. We hopped in her Saturn, blasted some tunes and headed down IH 35. My fate was sealed. Texas was in my lungs, my heart and in my soul. The minute I got to Austin, I knew I had to live here. I mean, it was BEAUTIFUL. It was warm in January. People were friendly. They said "y'all". It was like going to another planet. I tasted chicken fried something and kind of liked it. It was a life changing experience. We decided to go to San Antonio that weekend. I needed to see the basement of the Alamo (watch Pee-Wee's Big Adventure if you don't get that reference)- It was so cool. We drove back to Dallas, listening to Willie, Dixie Chicks, and other random music. I was sold. I needed to move here. Course there were a few problems. I had a very serious live in boyfriend that wasnt at all interested in moving away from Michigan, and I had a very serious job in Michigan. Didn't matter- I was going to find a way.
Flash forward to July of 2000. Life has a weird way of handing you the things you need when you need them the most. Said serious boyfriend and I were KAPUT. Big time. Won't go into the details, but lets just say, he is still in Michigan, and as George Straight says "his ex is now livin in Texas", the job gave me an out, and I took it. I called my friend Caren and told her I was coming down for a vacation. That was in July 2000. I'm still here. I came to Texas on Southwest Airlines. I had two suitcases and a purse. I now have a fully furnished home, a car, more friends than I can wrap my arms around and a love for a city that I will never quite get tired of.
Austin is amazing. There is something here for everyone- if you are a student- check out University of Texas. If you are into politics, you are smack in the capital. If you like music, Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World. We have music every where. There are concerts at grocery stores for cripes sake. The possibilities are endless. There are lakes, there are golf courses, there are more resturants per capita than anywhere else in the country. Its just amazing.

All that being said, I am now faced with a terrific opportunity that might have me leaving my precious city. Its absolutly overwhelming. I love it here. I love heading to South Congress and seeing the funky stores, and having a delicious dinner at 7. I love having a vodka/7 at my favorite dive bar Mugshots. I love spending way more money than I should at the Arbouretum. I love spending a Sunday afternoon with my friends out on the boat at Lake Travis. I know change is good, but this one is a big change.

So bear with me internet, as I weigh all the options and all the decisions, because I love this town, despite my bitching about the never ending heat, and the kind of high cost of living. I love this great place where we have Cowboys and Politicans drinking margaritas at Guerros Taco Bar, this awesome town that has opened its door to so many, including me at my time of change.