"Austin City Limits" or "I got a fucking cold and barely went to the festival"

Ummmmm yea. The Austin trip was fun except for the fact that I got a cold which means I couldn't stand the heat which means I missed a bunch of bands which sucks for me.

Thursday we flew direct to Austin from New York because flights in Houston were cancelled or some junk because of hurricane Rita. The plane was full of hip 20 somethings going down to the festival. It was a really exciting flight actually. The ice bucket on the serving cart fell out and ice flew down the aisle. The hot guy sitting in the row in front of me picked up a piece of ice and tried to give it to me. When I rejected it, he threw it down and refused to talk to me the rest of the flight. Until he decided that the guy in the row in front of him looked like Ben Gibbard and he asked to see my Spin magazine and then tried to tell me that Ben Gibbard was on the plane. Little did he know that I was listening to his conversation. Then he hated me again.

My brother and his hair picked us up and took us to his dorm. His room is really nice. It's an old building and the rooms have that "we've been lived in since the '50s" look and feel to them. We left him and went to Natalie's who was putting us up for the weekend. And her casita was nice too. Two-story. Real big. We then went "cruisin'" on the drag and ate at Kerby Lane which is open 24 hours and is where are all the UT kids go.

Friday morning, Juan (my brother) called me, said "hey I'm hungry. Come pick me up. We'll go to Juan In A Million. I have class at 1:00." Now, if we were in San Antonio, I would have said something like "no get your own food" but this was an entirely different situation: i had the car and didn't know where to go to eat. So yes. Juan In A Million. Little Mexican restaurant on Cesar Chavez. It's owned by a guy named Juan (not my brother, duh) and he stands at the door and shakes the hand of every person that comes in. Little hole in the wall Mexican places...gotta love 'em.

There weren't really any bands I wanted to see on Friday except for Lyle Lovett. I kind of wanted to see Spoon. Maggie wanted to see Mates of State. But we were really tired/lazy to go. But we went to Lyle Lovett. We made it pretty close to the front side of the stage. He was good and I was having fun up until about a 1/2 hour had gone by when I felt like I was going to pass out. Realizing that I hadn't had anything to eat since the morning I went to get food. I came back and he was still talking from when I left. So we left. He was good and all but 1) he was doing more talking than playing & 2) i was feeling sick.

Saturday I woke up miserable. I had a head cold. I got all emotional for reasons I can't explain. It could have been the fact that my parents were coming to see me. They came. They took Juan's car to get fixed and then they took me, Maggie, and Natalie out to breakfast at Magnolia Cafe. I felt like a little kid who wanted her mommy. And I did. When I'm sick, I like her to take care of me. And she did. For the few hours she was there. They got me my drugs and we rested at Natalie's. After about an hour, I felt ok to go to the festival. I wanted to see Death Cab for Cutie and maybe check out some other bands. We got there for Built to Spill, made it up to the front, and the heat took over my body and I felt like I was going to pass out again. So I went and sat in the shade while they played. Before Death Cab, Maggie and I went to get fruit which I thought revitalized me. Death Cab came on and I lasted maybe 2 or 3 songs before I had to sit down again. Pathetic. I left early with Natalie and basically rested and watched Sex in the City and then fell asleep.

Sunday was the big day. Everyone was playing Sunday. I wanted to see Tristan Prettyman, Rilo Kiley, Jason Mraz, and Coldplay. I missed Tristan. I missed Rilo. Then I somehow had this moment of "I can't miss Jason. We're going now." We got there about 15 minutes into Jason's set. I rushed across the park to see him at his stage, got there, felt like I was going to pass out, went to get water and sat in front of the giant fan at the cooling station and just listened for about 3 songs. Went back to the water place, bought a bottle and they sprayed me with water which actually cooled me down long enough for me to push my way near the front to watch the rest of Jason's set. I love him. He was signing afterwards and I felt ok to wait in line. But after waiting for awhile, they came and told us that he cancelled the signing because he was suffering from the heat. I felt his pain. And I felt sorry for him. And it made me feel like we had a connection. We are really white geeks who are bothered by extreme heat. We're perfect for each other.

But aside from everything it wasn't so bad. It gave me a break from school and made me get real behind at the same time. And I got to see Natalie who I think I'm a little bit in love with and meet her roommates who I think I fell a little bit in love with. And I got to see my mommy and papi who I love like always. It was just a big ole love fest.

It's almost here!!!!

Picture this: Sept. 23-25. Austin, TX. Sleeping on the floor of Natalie's casita. Waking up 3 days in a row to travel to Zilker Park so I can walk around in the hot Texas heat to see the likes of Coldplay, Wilco, Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Spoon, Death Cab for Cutie, Jason Mraz, Rilo Kiley, Tristan Prettyman, and so much more. Seeing my parents. Seeing my brother. Possibly running into people I haven't seen in forever and having to make awkward conversation. Finding time to drive around Austin and explore the city I wish I lived in. Leaving happy and fulfilled yet sad and wishing it wasn't over. ----- I can't wait!!!!!

Happy 21st Birthday Joe!!

I would like to take this blog entry to wish Joe a very, very Happy 21st Birthday (again)!!!! Tonight was a lot of fun. Many a person gathered at Odessa to ring in this incredibly special occasion. I really loved seeing all of my friends. I'm going to repeat this again and again: I'm so happy to be back here with them.


Byron kissing my head (again)


My $2 Monday night movie at Cantor partner in crime, Jonah


The lovely Maggie


Everyone get your camera ready!!!


Blaire, Maggie, Jimmy, Me


Byron wanting his fries & being comforted by Joe & Dani


Me and Joe, the Birthday boy! Yay! Yay! Yay!


Byron and his fries.

Last night was so much fuuuuuuuuuuuun!

Last night I went out with Maggie, Mike, and Nick. I arrived at the boys' house to a jam session. I provided some bad drumming while the others sang and played to Sufjan. I think Mike's dead on Bob Dylan impression was the highlight of it all.

We then made our way to a party hosted by Maggie and Mike's friend Rob. Maggie got yelled at by Rob's roommate. And the pictures are just self-explanatory. All of the 4 of us with the exception of the one of Andy. Lots of fun.

We got back to the house at about 1:30 or something and while Mike slept on the couch, Maggie, Nick, and I listened to middle school dance songs and sang and it was awesome. I think Nick is my hero.

I needed a bed to sleep in and being that Mike was on the couch, I figured I could sleep in his bed. However, Sam Pipp was sleeping on the futon in Mike's room so I waited a while to go in for the fear of walking in on him naked or something. Once I was sure he was asleep, I went in and awkwardly, nervously, and stiffly slept in Mike's bed. I woke up at around 8 and just lied there for about an hour figuring that no one else was awake. Maggie walked in at around 9 to get me out of bed and a confused Sam sat up and looked at Maggie and then saw me jumping out of Mike's bed. I suppose it was a very weird sight for him to see. I couldn't stop laughing on the subway ride home. I can only imagine what was going through his mind.

OMG Schooooooooool!

Last night as an end to my summer, I went to The SKINnY to see Joe dj and see everyone whom I haven't seen since May and some that I have. Joe played some really great tunes. It was really nice to see everyone and I had fun. I haven't set up this computer so I can upload pics yet, but you can go here and click on "Labor Day @ The SKINnY" to see pics from last night. Nick has some great pics too. I was also walked home by 5 strapping young men last night. I felt safe and loved.

Today was first day of school! OMGOMGOMGOMG. I felt like a freshman. Really I did. But Sam Pipp is in my Metropolitan Studies class so it's nice to have that familiar face. All my classes are going to take a lot of hard work and studying so I apologize in advance not only to everyone but to myself as well if I decline many a fun function this semester.

When I went to my Calculus class, I was sure that it was going to be completely full of freshmen and maybe a couple of sophomores. But then I felt a tap on my shoulder. And it was Rocco! That kid is so nice. And he's a music business kid and I'm really glad I have a class with him. And then the class started and I realized that I took Pre-Calculus 2 years ago and I felt really old and unaware of what was going on. But I like math so I think I'll be fine.

Anyways, I think this semester will be ok. I'm glad I decided to stay afterall.

So I'm actually excited about school starting tomorrow. But I guess when you had the summer I had, you'd be excited to do just about anything that didn't involve sitting at home all day. I'm taking freshmen classes which makes me feel little and nervous and blah blah blah. That's what I get for changing majors halfway through my college career. I'm never going to leave this damn place, am I...

This first week back has been nice. I saw Nick, Mike, Justin, & Byron's house in Brooklyn. I like it. It's really nice and bigger than I expected. And not as far as I thought it was. The world's just full of surprises!!!!!

I saw Our Lady Peace on Thursday and it was really good. I didn't really know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. I think the audience was one of the best ones I've ever been in. I was probably the only one not singing and that was only because I didn't know the words to any of the songs. But I danced and I suppose that's just as good.

Last night I went to Water Street to see Lisa and Jay. They're so nice. I was very excited to see them last night. Jay's room setup is just awesome. His light-up guitar wall clock is beautiful. And he has The Adventures of Pete and Pete on DVD. I haven't see that show in so long. It's messed up man. And it's great. I also met the most conservative person I've ever known...and I'm from Texas.

And on a closing note: There's a Ben & Jerry's underneath my building. This will be the death of me.