Don't quote me on this but Joan Crawford or another screen siren from yesteryear reportedly told the studio executives not to consider messing with her in any form or fashion with the classic phrase, "Boys, this isn't my first time at the rodeo." Last Friday night was probably my first time at the rodeo, definitely for the Austin Rodeo.
(This post and related posts at... lobuzone.blogspot.com/)
Got out of work an hour early and made it down to the Hike and Bike trail around Town Lake. How many years since I've been returning to this spot? Too many to count. The water adds an organizing theme, a place to walk around, a neutral zone, commercial free, a very elemental thing water and hard to improve on it. So you follow the banks of the river in an oval-shaped journey, park over by Zach theater, change out of work clothes and into shorts and a whole amalgam of stresses leave your body. Put the silly straw cowboy hat on your head though the blustery windy and setting sun late hour makes it neither practical nor needed. The people watching is great, lots of groups of friends, often in groups of two, conversation makes the walk go faster. Get to Mopac pedestrian bridge and some athletically inclined 12 year old girl is zipping along burning five times my calories and with a great ease of balance as she accelerates past me. One Hispanic guy has a smooth, effortless stride, seems to lack effort because he repeats the same stride with clock-like precision and his little dog seems in similarly good shape. After a mile or two I finally relax enough to lift my gaze across to the other side. Notice some of the limbs poking through the water. Hey's it's getting late. Don't think I can make it all the way to South 1st today. Graffiti in public restroom-- "There's nothing crazier than an Austin cop." Interesting and the words of a homeless person and somebody who has much more contact with police than the average citizen. Get back in my car and head north up Lamar Boulevard. The trail has done its therapy.
(This post and related posts at... lobuzone.blogspot.com/)
I attended the most recent happening in the Northcross neighbors versus Wal-Mart battle on a breezy Saturday morning. The organizers called RG4N (Responsible Growth for Northcross) made red the color of this effort. Red is the color of stop and you can get red-eyed with anger. Many people featured red shirts, caps, gloves, etc.. One bearded guy hoisted the flag of Texas. We were somewhat connected via unfurled red ribbons of paper and many held sign asking that the Wal-Mart project be stopped in its tracks. Favorite sign of the day-- "Wal-Mart not Weird"
