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February 22, 2000
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the Dallas part of Austin I can drive to the house my parents will occupy in about fifteen minutes. I spent the day driving them to and fro, around in circles in an area that surely must look familiar to them. From their house in Mesquite you can find every known franchise operating in the state of Texas within about a mile. Don't dispute this. I've won bets. OK, maybe this part of Austin isn't that bad. We do have the Arboreturm and Saks and that's sort of, well, more sophisticated. And there are actually some good restaurants (well, two or three) among the hundreds. The Randall's and the HEB echo a little Central Market for techo-kids unwilling to venture to real Austin. And there's even Whole Foods, Amy's, Thundercloud and Kerbey Lane Cafe. Kyoto actually has a sushi chef. I'm betting there isn't a sushi restaurant within twenty miles of Mesquite. Add Kerbey Lane to my list of 'employers of slackers.' Today on 183 there was a waiter with hair to his waist and another one who would have been bald except for the ducktail. The hostess wore these hot pink brocade pants that almost zipped up the back to hide her red thong panties. Two other waitresses wore shorts and knit tops and looked straight out of the trailer park. The enchiladas were good, though. And my parents really enjoyed their BLTs. A sign at the front adverstised for every single possible restaurant position. You can't blame them for not being choosy. The help, of couse, can move on to Amy's, Whole Foods, Wheatsville, Thundercloud, Whole Earth and probably others I'm forgetting. Places where piercing and tattoos are, if not required, certainly a guarantee of a second interview. I just feel Austin has more soul, I really do. Dinner at Eastside Cafe with SuRu and the parents was quite pleasant. They send us to the store where wine is served (or beer) while you wait for tables. It's not unpleasant looking at candles, soap, seeds and geegaws while waiting. The food is excellent (smoked salmon ravioli with a lemony cream sauce and squash with an ancho sauce, the great jalapeno cornbread muffins and the salad with Feta dressing). We vow to visit more often. I love Austin, I really do. I like work. It's just that it keeps me from other things I think I will like more. My parents like the house. Dad navigated around with his compass and new (well almost...last year's from Sam's) Mapsco. He goes home armed with map and phone book and yellow pages. Also, blueprints of his new home and pictures of it being built. Slept like a baby after a short night the night before. A pattern? |
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"Not houses finely roofed or the stones of walls well-builded, nay nor canals and dockyards, make the city, but men able to use the opportunity." Alcaeus, Rhodian Oration |
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Austinite creative front yard
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