We were in Dallas this weekend.

This was the first time that either of us had been there. Of course, we’ve been through the airport many times as it seems like a hub to everywhere, but we’ve only seen it from the air.

We went to an 80s dance and it was great fun. There was a large group of us, and it was a very fun road trip!

I’m sure I’ll have more pictures on here next visit, but wanted to do a quick update to let you know we’re back.

The first picture though is of my Dad’s truck. He had an accident last week. He was rear ended and pushed across the lanes of incoming traffic. He was very fortunate and it could have been much worse. This is someone’s yard though, who received my dad’s truck through their hedge and nearly into their house. He’s recovering well and has some back-pain and his vertigo is bad, but he’s home and not in the hospital – and resting.

These are the shoes of Princess Lala, aka Steve. Steve has more shoes than Imelda Marcos and these were his pink striped converse-style sneakers. At the dance, we all wore pink carnations so that folks would know our group was from Austin. Thanks Stewart (it was his idea). Of course, Miss Lala couldn’t have a pin running through her blouse. So, he came up with the unique idea of wearing one on each shoe like cheerleader poms. Great fun.

And Sunday, I was so wiped out I just laid on the couch. All day. No, really. All day. We didn’t get home from Dallas until like 3am (It’s a 3 hour drive to Austin) and we were tired. Here’s a snapshot of Uno – doing all he does these days – sleeping with me on the couch. It was gray and a little drizzilly outside so it was the perfect day to wrap up with the comforter and Uno and watch Oprah.

Hope your weekend was as fulfilling and relaxing!

Well, we weren’t surprised to learn that Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Or, that most of those transplants come from California. You can’t spit your skoal out around here without hitting a Californian.

Of course, I hope all these Californians only add to the diversity and flavor of Texas otherwise, it may just turn into another version of California – with home prices to boot.

But for now, prices remain purdy darn low thank goodness. Here’s some examples.

http://austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=451686&or=1&cp=1

http://austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=454384&or=1&cp=2#

http://austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=473655&or=1&cp=3#

So home prices are still reasonable by California standards. I’m just glad we moved when we did. I don’t know if they will hold out if everyone keeps coming.

Hope you’re doing well! We’ll hope to see you soon.

Well… who knew? The whole voting thing in Texas is different than California. It’s like a Texas Two-step. There’s the voting and the caucus, and they are the same day, which essentially means you vote – twice.

I know.

First you go down and stand for an hour and a half in a line. The only good thing about this is gives you a chance to catch up on your cell phone calls but of course with one finger in an ear, because everyone else is catching up too. Or, you can spend a minute to get acquainted with of your neighbors. That’s nice.

Voting was a new experience. Here they caucus and vote on the same day with the delegates that your candidate gets being divided up between vote cast in the voting booth, and vote cast at the caucus. So, if you want your vote to ‘really’ count – you need to attend both.

I have the sniffles. That’s ok, I’ll just go down to the H.E.B. and get me some cold medicine – not so fast.

You may be asking what does smog have to do with cold medicine!?
Well, I’ll tell you. You can’t buy cold medicine with out a Texas Drivers License. Yes, I’m over 18 (barely). And yes, I have a drivers license. BUT – I don’t have a Texas Drivers License. So, stuffed up head? – too bad.

And, I couldn’t get my drivers license until I had a registration on my truck. And, I couldn’t get my registration on my truck until I had my smog – and once you have that, and you go to two different offices (one for registration, one for drivers licenses – see?) THEN you can buy cold medicine.Sigh.

We got a new car, one that will get better gas mileage than that truck! So, now we have the truck smogged it can get covered and go in the garage until someday when gas is less than a month’s salary per gallon and drive it again.

There’s a picture here too of Rob sitting on the back porch. We (insert royal version here) cleaned up the backyard of leaves and now Rob loves sitting out there under the trees and watching the (grey) skies. Also here, a picture of Uno who at 17 years old, this week – still doesn’t like the vacuum. You’d think he’d have gotten used to it by now! 🙂

Also a picture here of roommate Johnny and I at the movies. He works nights so – like a vampire we never see him in the daylight. I thought I’d snap a picture to prove he’s a day-walker and not a creature soley of the night.