19…..

I ran the Austin Marathon this past Sunday. Over the years the local marathon has gone from the Motorola Marathon to the Freescale Marathon to the Livestrong Marathon and now it's back to the Freescale Marathon.  I've done other marathons around the country and the Austin one is pretty challenging.  Austin is hillier than you would think. It's still one of my favorites since the route covers most of the city.
It was my 9th Austin Marathon and my 19th overall.  It wasn't my fastest but the good news is that it wasn't my slowest.  My goal is to run at least one Austin Marathon every year until February, 2018.  I'll be 60 then.  After that, I guess we'll see if there will be any more in my future.  giggle...

nuts - the curtains survived......

My realtor in C'ville called me last Monday to talk about the house.  Another realtor had shown the house that weekend and reported that an animal had gotten into the master bedroom.  My realtor went out to the house and was trying to explain it to me.  I lost track of how many times he said "I've never seen anything like it."  He talked about the floor grate and the molding all over the floor.  Then he told me about the basketball size hole in the roof.  I told him it sounded like the house was hit by lightning.  When he sent the pictures, it kind of confirmed it.  It looks like the bolt came through the roof, traveled down the metal strip in the wall and jumped over to the AC duct.  He reported that there is plaster dust all over the bedroom.  I hired an engineer to go out and look at the house and I'm waiting on the report.

The fun thought is that the master bed is about 4 feet away from that metal strip.  That would have left a ringing in my ears.

The sad thought is that it destroyed my roof and bedroom walls but those ugly satiny curtains are still standing.  Sigh.

finally....

I was gone from Texas for only 2 years so I thought that getting my drivers license reinstated was going to be easy.  There's a Texas DMV location near my work so I went there in February during lunch.  I had my passport, TN drivers license and proof of insurance.  They told me I needed to prove that all of my cars were registered in Texas.  After searching the usual filing spots and making a trip to the safe deposit box, I had the necessary proof.  I went to a DMV location near my house and endured an hour long wait.  When my number was called, I laid all of my papers on the desk.  Passport, car titles, proof of insurance and recent utility bill to prove my residence.  The clerk looked at the pile and said "May I see your social security card?"  Who carries their social security card with them?  I have my original card in the safe deposit box.  I think I got it when I was in the 5th grade.  My little cursive signature is still legible and each letter resembles the way it was on the strip above the school blackboard.  I did some research and found that a W2 (tax) form would suffice.  Six months after my return, I try for the 3rd time.  I take my number at the DMV and I finally have success.  I look like a POW in my license photo but that's just a reflection of the pain I endured to get the darn thing.  giggle.

you know you're in austin when....

I live close to Barton Springs and a favorite activity after a run is to wade into the water to cool down.  The water is about 68 degrees year round since it is spring fed.  It takes your breath away but it feels great on a hot humid morning.
After a run last week, I decided to visit the "springs" for the first time since I had returned to Austin.  It was about 6:30am, it's just starting to get light and there aren't very many people at the pool.  I walked down to a secluded section, take off my running shoes and shirt and start my walk toward the middle of the pool.  I'm gasping for air by the time the water is above my waist.  I lower myself down, go under water and come back up into the heat.  I start the trek out of the pool.  This is the extent of my routine at Barton Springs.
While I'm drying myself off, a big athletic guy approaches me.  Since the water is so cold, early morning swimmers will do laps and they will wear wet suits to keep themselves warm.  He was struggling to get his suit on when I got there and he was still trying to get into it when I was done.  He had decided it wasn't a one man job.  "Hey man - can you help me zip up my wet suit?"
Only in Austin.

independence day....

One of my favorite things about Austin are the neighborhood 4th of July parades.  I don't even know if they have a big parade down Congress Avenue but if they do, I prefer the smaller events. 
I live in the Barton Hills area of Austin and our parade runs along Barton Hills Dr.  Everyone that wants to be in the parade meets at a neighborhood store parking lot and then follows the fire truck to the elementary school.  There is always a grand marshall (elderly resident) that rides in a convertible and waves to the spectators.  The majority of the parade is made up of kids riding bikes that have been decorated in red, white and blue streamers.  There are always a couple of floats (truck pulling a trailer) with kids throwing candy to the crowd.
The route is just down the hill from me.  I take a mug of coffee, walk down the hill, sit on a curb and collect as much candy as I can and watch the parade go by.  I'm already looking forward to next year.

i walk the line....

I've been back in Central Texas for about 5 weeks and I've finally had some downtime at work.  Even though I had kept a house here, I have a few formalities to take care of before I'm considered a Texan again.  All of them will involve lines. I transferred car insurance to my old Austin insurance agent.  I had to sign on the line at the bottom of the form. I got my car inspected today (there's no inspection requirement in TN) and I was 3rd in line. On Monday, I'll stand in line to register my car in Texas.  After I get the car registered, I get to go to the DMV to get a Texas drivers license.  Line, line everywhere a line.  Lines on my face.  Who's line is it anyway?  giggle

not in middle tennessee anymore....

I moved from Austin around December 18, 2010 and began work in middle Tennessee.  It was culture shock at first but I quickly settled in.  I loved the job and I was learning new things.  I also grew to like Tennessee - especially Nashville.  I was 40 miles away and I visited almost every weekend.  Nashville reminded me of Austin but with parking spots.
The industry that I was in took a big turn down and it looked like layoffs were coming.  I was able to find a job in Austin so I am back.
I had been gone for 2 years and had only come back to visit twice.  I drove back and here a few impressions...
   - I was about 30 minutes inside the Texas state line and I saw a Shiner beer truck.  I knew I was home.
   - I think every mile between Dallas and Austin on I35 had some road work going on.  yikes
   - I literally didn't recognize the Austin skyline.  Was the Austonian there when I left?
   - I experienced sensory overload when I hit Georgetown (40 miles north of Austin).  It was noon, the interstate was full and everyone was going 80 mph.
   - I saw two runners on Riverside.  That's half of what I saw in 2 years in Tennessee!
It's good to be home....