NYC ! !

For Mom

Eric came up to Washington this weekend with instructions from Mom that we get some pictures together. So, we did!

At Eastern Market for some breakfast fruit and people watching.

At the biergarten on H Street. Of course we forgot to take one while we were out back in the actual garden, mais c'est la vie. For that matter we also forgot to document our trips to the Capitol, Library of Congress and Chinatown. Sorry.

On the Metro escalator!

In Old Town, Alexandria on our way to a going away party for one of my coworkers. He and his wife are moving to New Jersey for the winter where they will be off-season inn keepers on the Shore.

This was after we finally lost at table-top shuffle board. It was a sad moment. We had pretty much dominated everyone in the bar, and then lost by one in a come-from-behind victory for my buddy Rick and his wife.

Greetings From Texas!

Actually, I'm not in Texas anymore. I got back Saturday -- but am ready to go back as soon as possible! So much good food, good music, creative energy, neon and heat! I could have done without that last item, but otherwise it was a fantastic trip.

And, contrary to what these pictures might imply, real work was done! We had a really great conference on affordable workforce housing, and I learned a lot about the special problems faced by the South-Central US.

We stopped by the Texas Capitol after dinner Wednesday night at Stubb's Barbecue. It was beautiful, and, in contast to Indiana's, well-kept! We were surprised to be let in after 10:00pm, and also to find that Texas elected its first female governor in 1925.

Thursday evening, one of our presenters, Francie, took us out to the Broken Spoke, one of the classic honky tonks on the edge of town. We had so much fun drinking Long Star longnecks (the national beer of Texas) and learning the two-step! Though I felt pretty under-dressed without a pair of boots.

Friday night I walked out to Austin's own Miracle Mile -- a strip of highway lined by small cantinas and more than a few party stores. I had an excellent dinner, but no pinatas.

This is Barton Springs. It's a natural spring that the WPA built into a "real" city pool by damming it at one end and providing some additional deck areas. It was gorgeous, and just about the exact temperature of Lake Michigan. Felt like home.

South Congress Avenue is the "cool" district. I didn't have the cupcakes, but I did have "The South's Best Buttermilk Pie" according to Souther Living Magazine. And an ice cream float with homemade orange soda. And tried on a lot of boots at Allen's.

Look Closely

Yes, it is true. Eric proposed to Jill this am and she said yes. We will pass along other info as it is available. (I couldn't get a good picture of the ring, it's too sparkly)

Happy Birthday Kelli Jo

Another trip... another birthday....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER JED!

Someone is Having a Birthday Today

Who, me?

Anyone heard of Porcini's in Louisville? That's where David had a piece of birthday cake last night. It really was a quaint little spot, and all the news coverage lately is certainly not hurting its business!