Gatorade, Crackers, and little kids who want to kick my. . .

I've been in this area of texas for several days and I've got a little time to quickly update. I'm settling in well. I've met a couple of guys that I live with that are pretty cool and we've started playing music together on the weekends. It's been pretty sweet. That alone may convince me to stay longer than what I had planned (Aside from Austin and these little hole in the wall towns that consist of one or two buildings but happen to be the liveliest places on the earth on Sunday afternoons. All sorts of musicians come to these towns in the middle of nowhere, play their music, chill with the laid back country folk, and enjoy a Sunday barbeque. This is the only way I want to think of Texas. I won't tell you what kind of folks are notorious for showing up at these barbeques but it sounds pretty sweet.)

As for other business, the work here seems pretty fun. Last week was nuts just because there were so many orientation classes to go to. I didn't dig that and then we had to go work in the homes. It wasn't work though, it was just observing what goes on. That's what I'm doing this week but I'm also starting to adapt so these little buggers better be careful who they're threatening and throwing ketchup at, am I wrong? Actually I'm a pushover so the Heinz will continue to fly I'm sure.

So that's it. I'm not tired of gatorade and crackers yet but I'm getting there. Thank goodness for Oreos I suppose.

Go back to work. James.

And I resolve. . .

Austin, Texas: Oh my goodness!

James

South X Southwest and the Madness that is March

Dear World,

If you are looking for organizations or things like that to donate money to in the future, make it the libraries, and YMCA's out there so bums like me can check my email for free and get some excercise and a shower for free because i'm too cheap to pay for necessities like that. That's just me though. I'm in Kerrville, TX right now. there's not a whole lot to say about kerrville at this point. there's a small but sweet burger place that i found and i found a place where i could get a tb test so i can actually get a job. that's kerrville in a sentence. I was in San Antonio a few hours ago watching the NCAA tourney and planning on fleeing this area of the world when i was told to come here. I was close to not taking this job but i finally found a place that would entertain my requests. I guess monday morning, I start work but that's not important today. Tomorrow, I'm going to Austin, TX which apparantly is misplaced in this world due to it being a mecca for new music. South X Southwest is this weekend and I'm supposed to take part. So tomorrow and Saturday, I'm gonna chill with some good people I've met and discover new music and new other things, Lord willing. Pretty great. I'll let you know how it goes. For the time being, consider the bands Mogwai and Josh Ritter, who will both be there and let me know how you feel. and if you aren't interested in the music then definitely consider the whole Library/Y opportunities to give.

As for anything else:
-I haven't eaten this good since like 2005 (I've finally acquired a taste for the onion)
-I'm reading this book called A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson and it's officially blown my mind. First of all, thinking about how big the universe is as nuts as the eccentric scientists who have dedicated their lives to discovering things like that but I love them for it. And Second, Albert Einstein is the man to say the least even if he did waste the second half of his life.
-Frisbee in the dark among cactus plants isn't as bad as it sounds. It's not as fun as it sounds either.
-Happy St. Paddy's Day.

That's enough. Come fix my dying truck and never settle.

James

Natchez Trace me.

First of all, I wasn't interested in stopping after all the driving but now that I have, it's not so bad. Bandera, TX is nice. I don't know what kind of elevation it is but it's hilly and there are ranches everywhere. I need a cowboy hat. I'm here to take a job as a house parent for abused and neglected teens but that won't happen until next week sometime so I have days to wander around wondering about my vehicle and when I see my first rattlesnake. It should be great. To keep things brief, I'll approach these highlights like one of my friends would...

Good Vibes:
-hanging out with a friend at the Blind Lemon in Cincinatti and discovering a Micro Brew called Anchor Steam
-Driving through Mississippi using the Natchez Trace (you can't go over 50 mph on this road and you won't see a car for miles) to the tunes of Sigur Ros...there's really no other way to pass through Mississippi
-living with a couple who are not hippies but who definitely live in a hippie-esque house with their dog Joe who doesn't have any toes on one foot. their place is amazing and so is their toeless dog.
-experiencing hail for the first time during Texas' first rain storm in a long time under a roof covered in steel.
-fried rice

Bad Vibes:
-not knowing a thing about maintaining a vehicle but driving hundreds of miles anyway
-having to wear shoes in this warm weather to avoid the scorpions, cactus, and snakes
-the phone bill that my mom is gonna get for all my roaming. yeah, that probably won't be good.
-Not getting what I hoped with my first purchase of a Stevie Ray Vaughn record.

Enjoy your day and listen to the birds.
james

Bound to happen...

Giving this a go to celebrate a transition and avoid mass emails. I won't do all of my resolving here but I'll at least make an effort to update what's happening from time to time. I can't promise I'll be nice or appropriate but I'll avoid boring and dry at all costs. I hope it's worth the time for both of us. That's all.