July 30, 2008

I know it has been 3 weeks since I left, but here is a post I wrote a while back and never got around to putting up:

How I spent my last six days in Austin

Tuesday July 1st - 6 days to go: Dinner at Woodland. Their corn fritters are so amazing.

Wednesday July 2nd - 5 days to go: M. makes dinner, pasta with pancetta. Lots of frenetic activity getting ready for the packers, which it turns out I really didn't have to do so much of. They really do pack all your stuff pretty much as-is. I just had to see it to believe it.

Thursday July 3rd - 4 days to go: Packers and movers came. Take-out lunch from P. Terry's. Late dinner at El Sol y la Luna (chile con queso and vegetarian enchiladas). It was also First Thursday, which I usually avoid, and for good reason - it looks like the warehouse district people have taken it over. From this point on, both sleeping on Thermarests with sleeping bags, living out of a suitcase.

Friday July 4th - 3 days to go: Breakfast at Cafe Mundi. Scrubbed the bathtub and shower for a long time. Shopped down S. Congress - Creatures, had a Turbo at Jo's, Parts and Labor (picked up a "baby grand" onesie for Caleb), and Maya. I never ever go into Maya, but I thought what the hell, it's the last time. Ended up buying a grey pencil skirt and awesome black top with funky elbow sleeves (have since been trying to find stores that carry "Whish" brand clothing, to no avail). Realized on the walk home that I had white Bon Ami powder on the back of my arm from scrubbing the tub! A late dinner at Artz Rib House, my favorite bbq. A fun little old-timey Texas combo was playing, which was perfect. Baby back ribs, coleslaw, potato salad, dill pickle, and Guinness in a can.

Saturday July 5th - 2 days to go: Breakfast at Cafe Mundi again. Ran a million errands picking up an extra cat carrier (Stella and Pepe have gained so much weight in 6 years that they both don't fit in the same carrier anymore - it's a tight squeeze), soft-sided cooler, biodegradable litterboxes, extra cat litter; looked high and low for a freaking tire pressure gauge and SOS scouring pads at Target. They have a whole wall full of "Swiffer" products and no SOS pads. WTF? Lots of cleaning and throwing away of stuff. Refused a gift bottle of wine proferred by the raging a-hole developer building the houses next door - I waved him off while not breaking my stride and said, "That doesn't even begin to cover it." It felt sooo good. He was so rude to my Graebel driver. Not to mention the last year and a half of shit he put us through. Late afternoon lunch at Enoteca; broke down and went to Croft Originals to get one of those vintage-looking "Austin" tee-shirts they have in their window. Ruffles and Kraft french onion dip for dinner while sitting on the floor watching The Closer on my laptop (thanks Reluctant Texan!). Apparently the gas station diet has begun already.

Sunday July 6th - 1 day to go: My last brunch at Enoteca. Had a nice talk with Rob at the bar. We ordered the assorted breads, a yellow tomato gazpacho with chilled shrimp (lovely), and I had my usual spinach and roasted tomato benedict with brown butter hollandaise. M. had his Spec and potatoes. And we both had lots of coffee. Sweeping and mopping of floors, more throwing away of stuff. Promising myself that in my next house, I really will dust.

Monday, July 7th - Dropped Frankie off at Watson's, breakfast at Galaxy Cafe, dropped M.'s car off at his new place, picked up the cats, closed down the Travis Heights apartment, and off we went to Little Rock!

Now I am almost caught up with blogging.