Happy birthday, to me.

YaY!
I love my birthday!

Dale got me a video ipod so that I can fit in with the cool kids on campus.
No more lugging the giant portable cd player around for me.

I doubt I will be able to properly celebrate my b-day tonight as I have class until 8:00. Sucks. This weekend, I will be crazy busy with school work so I can’t really “do it up” on Friday or Saturday either. I might be able to go out Thursday night.

The Lions are playing at Trophys. I might go out there….

No matter what, tonight, I will be drinking wine from this:


Ah, yes. The birthday cup! I made it last year and only use it when celebrating my b-day.

Cheers, queers.

My Austin

A little more than 6 years ago Dale, Lee, and I decided to move to Austin. It started out as my idea. I had always wanted to live here. We would all talk about the possibilities of moving to this city, almost as if it were unreachable dream. Dale, Lee, and I had met in Lubbock when we were all about 19 to 21 years old. We forged a fast bond, one that was as strong as steel. If Dale and I were to leave Lubbock, then Lee just had to come with us. We could see no other way.
Dale graduated from Texas Tech and won over the hiring forces at National Instrument here in Austin. I was ready to leave the day that he got his job offer. Lee needed a little convincing. After a few weekend trips to Austin, the deal was sealed and LeeAngelo Angel of Death Martinez-Palomos was in. We packed up a giant u-haul and waved goodbye to Lubbock.
The three of us moved into a house until we could seek other arrangements. We were around each other constantly. Dale was the only one with a job when we first arrived. Lee and I both got jobs, and both lost those jobs. The stress got to us, and we began to take it out on each other. I have never loved and hated someone so much as I did Lee. There for a while, the only time we were civil with each other was during our daily oprah watching ritual. Lee would emerge from his room, enter mine, sit on the bed with me and we would watch our program. Once the show ended, Lee would be back in his room and I would stay in mine.
Our problem with each other had to do with the problems we had with ourselves. Have you ever noticed that the things you can’t stand about someone are precisely the things you do not like about yourself? It is easier to take your frustrations out on someone who mirrors your mistakes and let downs than it is to simply look at yourself and say “Something is not right here…and I need to fix it”.
The friendship Lee and I shared became fractured. Hell, it was damn near a clean break. We moved into different houses, a move that could not have come sooner….or so I though. Dale and Lee moved into a house with Josh, Cody, and Chris. I would go to that house to visit Dale, and Lee and I would ignore each other. It was very cold between the two of us. I thought I would be happy to be rid of him, but I was wrong.
One night, at Dale and Lee’s house, a group of us were playing pool in their garage. Everyone left the room, at some point, except for Lee and myself. The tension was thick as we tried to ignore each other. This time, however, something was different. I was finding myself tired of playing this game…and so was Lee. Almost at the same time, we began to tell each other how sorry we were for hurting one another. We made up, and I had my friend back. I was thrilled. For months to come, neither Lee nor I would let an encountering slip by where we were not informing the other about our appreciation for our friendship. We knew we had both been stupid, and we could not believe the time we lost because of it.
The years went by and our group of friends continued on strong. Lee would always host us for the SXSW event, allowing a group of us to stay at his house for a week. The memories that were created during this time are more precious to me than I could ever describe. Memories of disc golf, going out, hanging out, exploring the city, and just l-i-v-i-n-g were created through our shared experiences.

Lee is a huge part of the Austin that Dale and I know. Since we have lived here, he is the one person who has been through it all with us and now he is leaving.
Lee is moving back to Lubbock to finish school. He hopes to bust his ass for two years at Texas Tech so that he can return to Austin, his city….our city. Moving to Lubbock is the smartest move he can make. One can not always travel the easy road if he is trying to reach success. Lee will be able to stay with his folks, thus alleviating his work load and allowing him to achieve his academic goal. I know it is for the best, and I am happy that he made the right choice. Still, I am just so damn depressed about it. I don’t want to imagine Lee not being in this city. It does not feel right. Austin will not be the same. I will not be the same.
“True friendship is when two friends can walk in opposite directions, yet remain side by side.” –unknown

news

Yesterday, I got some news day that made me sad. I choked up. Oddly enough, the same news made me happy.
I’ll tell ya’ll about it in my next post.
I need some time to think about it so that I can properly do it justice.

I believe

1. I believe that Signature Red by Llano is a damn good wine. By itself, or with food,it pleases the palate and tingles the toes. That is a sign of good wine, the toe tingling.
2. I believe that writing with a pencil slows you down because soon, the led becomes dull. Who wants to write with a dull pencil? It’s just annoying. Get yourself a quality ink pen. I like the ones that have the ink that has the “gel like” consistency.
3. I believe that if you are going to try something for the first time, you should do it whole heartedly. Otherwise, you are just setting yourself up to not like it.
4. I believe that the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a necessity for your cleaning toolbox. If you don’t have a cleaning toolbox, then you probably don’t care about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
5. I believe that you should never ask a man if he got his hair cut. Asking a man if he got a haircut usually elicits the response of “I got them all cut”.If you are asking this question, chances are you know that he got his hair cut. Cut to the chase and tell him that you like his haircut. If you don’t like his haircut, just refrain from commenting on it all together.
6. I believe that you should always ask a woman if she got a haircut if it looks like she did. When doing so, remember to smile when you ask the question as to convey the message that you like it (even if you don't). After she rambles on for 15 minutes about where she went for the cut, who her stylist is, if he is gay or not, how she considered highlights, and how much it cost her, tell her that she looks great and that you love it.
7. I believe that a bubble bath is a magical pool of healing powers, which is why I take about 4-5 a week.
8. I believe that all women should stop asking men if what they are wearing makes them look fat. I am guilty of this, and have given it up for lent (haha). If you are asking this question, you probably already think that said outfit does make you look fat. Instead of asking about it, simply walk into the room where your man friend is waiting and see if you get any kind of reaction such as “wow, you look great!”. If your man friend neglects to comment on your carefully chosen outfit, go change into something else….preferably something that shoes off your cans.
9. I believe that I am have finished my glass of wine and will now be going into the kitchen to pour myself another glass.
10. I believe that I miss my friends. I am sorry that I have not had a lot of time to devote to you. Fucking school!

“I had enough Lone star to last me the whole fu**ing night!”

LONE STAR, the official sponsor of the Webb, Martinez-Palomos, Harmon SXSW Experience.


This delectable delight carried our asses through several days of music and mayhem.


The boy’s did reserve the dark nectar of Guinness for St. Patrick’s day.


But other than that, we tried to stick with the national beer of Texas.


Danny strayed from this chosen brew, picking up a red stripe I believe, and it left a bad taste in his mouth.


I had to poke him in the eyes to reset his taste buds.

What, you didn’t know that’s how it works?

Watch as Lee enjoys a Lone star while watching a local Austin band (the lions).


A closer look:


This fella sipped on his beerie goodness as he hung out with Sarah…and you know that is good:

(looks like I had a few too many Lone star beers.)

Hey, Josh Johnson stopped by to partake in the Lone star enjoyment:


Ignore my cleavage and notice the lone star:

(it’s a cute pic, no?)

Be warned, however, that drinking too much Lone star may cause you to pass the “f” out. Your friends won’t care…they will just play their music loudly like you are still rocking out.


And then this will happen:

J3, I experienced Wolfmother

“If you want to be rocked so hard your teeth shatter and you vomit limited edition Black Sabbath vinyl, then Wolfmother are the band for you.” –NME

Danny, Dale, and I popped into our local Waterloo records for this band’s mini showcase. It was a short performance, but a memorable one. Dale was completely won over by Andrew Stockdale’s effortless ear bending vocals.


After their performance, I decided to meet the trio that is Wolfmother.



They were really nice and were well equipment with a great sense of humor. They told me that they would be playing that night at the Beauty bar which was, as the band informed me, so named either for me of for themselves (aw, shucks). We chatted for a bit, and then I was on my way to join Danny and Dale next door for some hamburgers. Before I could make it two steps away from the band, I was nabbed by a man with a video camera who asked if I would like to say something on camera about Wolfmother. IF chosen, my comments would be part of a Wolfmother documentary/press video thing-a –ma-jiggy. I spat a few word’s about the band, mentioning that “a friend” had just turned me onto the band quite recently. That friend is you J3.

(we did not make it to their evening performance as Danny was keen on seeing some hip hop. That worked out fine though, cause 2 Mex put on a show like it was the last thing he had to do on the planet earth…more on that in another post).

There are much more SXSW stories to tell, but I think I may save that job for Dale. He should be writing the SXSW chronicles soon, before all of the experiences evaporate from his mind.
Next year, J3, you gotsta make it down to Austin for the festival. Danny, Dale, Lee and myself just won’t take no for an answer.

“I fell down in the desert baby, yeah
I had nothing but a peice of paper, oh yeah,
I had to write something down,
And I found myself alone, then I let go of everything,
Into another dimension” - Wolfmother

The J3 Ski Extravaganza

My buddy Jeff put together a ski trip that took us to Wolf creek in Colorado and Red River in NM.
Here is a picture of our host:

Yea, it was that cold.


First things first, here is a picture of the participants.

From left to right: Mahan, Rory, J3ph, Tim, Cody, myself, and Dale
They all chose the snow board as a means to get down the mountain with the exception of J3ph and myself.

Second things second,
I know you all want to know how I did on my first ever skiing experience. The proof is in the pictures, kids:





I must say, I was surprised that I took to the sport so quickly. I spent more time on my feet than on my ass.
When I did fall, I just got right back up (as quickly as I could) and tried again.

There are plenty of stories to tell. For now, I just wanted you guys to know that I did not break any bones.
Also, you should know that I am a bad ass.

Here is a quick pic of Dale doing the snow boarding thing:

ROCK!

Dale makes lists

These are the lists that Dale made to help us prepare and pack for our skiing trip.

My favorite is “Sports Panties”.

HAHAHAH!

We are leaving Austin tonight. We are gonna drive to Dallas and then fly out to Amarillo. Tomorrow, we are driving from Amarillo to Colorado.

Yea-frickin-Ha!

Hopefully, I will have some good pics and stories for this here blog.

HAPPY SPRING BREAK, RACHEL!


Don’t you like reading other peoples list’s?