Life in Austin

Things I love about Austin:

1. The weather. We have recently bid spring (85 degrees) goodbye and have greeted summer (99 degrees). While I do feel that 99 is too hot for things like hiking and running, I think it's excellent for swimming, tanning and reading outside. I much prefer the latter activities anyway, so 99 is fine by me!

2. The skyline. Austin has a really trendy feel to it and the skyline seems trendy to me too. It's nice to hang out down town like we did today. I felt pretty trendy laying in the grass at Zilker park reading a book about Zimbabwe (which is really good in a really horrible sort of way). We even gave people directions twice. That's right, we're basically locals.

3. The hill country. We live right on the edge of the really pretty part of "hill country." The other day I went on a field trip and we drove out past some really pretty parts! Visiting some wineries and state parks in the hill country is on our to do list for the summer.

Apartment living

It's weird to live in an apartment complex. It's kind of awkward, socially. We recognize the same people, and we are always friendly and they are friendly back, but anything beyond a "Hey, how are you?" is crossing the unspoken boundaries.

The exception to this is at the pool. Anyone can be friends at the pool! Although the time I'm most aware of the fact that I live in Texas is when I visit the pool. Stereotypical, beer drinking, beer bellied, tattooed, loud TEXANS. I've seen two tattoos that have been particularly...mmm, redneck. First, in giant letters across the back: TEXAS (with Austin and Houston written smaller below). Second, in giant letters across his chest: WHITE TRASH. I only wish I was making this up. Let's just say the pool is best in small doses.

Speaking of the joys of apartment living, I'm pretty sure my upstairs neighbors are going to come through the ceiling one of these days. Like maybe any minute.