Week 8:... and Amy

1. Are you coming back for SXSW? (Or any other visits. Come this Saturday and co-teach a self defense class with me?)
Alas, I won't be back for SXSW, nor can I co-teach with you, though I would love to.  I will be back the last two weeks in May, however, with the exception of a weekend I'll be in Natchitoches for my 20-year high school reunion.  Anybody who wants to offer me a place to stay, let me know.

2. What's the last movie you watched?
Les Miserables, at the Alamo South Lamar, right before I left and they closed for remodeling.  I saw it with Kevin, who was not particularly impressed.  I thought that Russell Crowe did not have the vocal chops for Javert, which was dissapointing; "Stars" is my favorite song in Les Mis.  Whatserface, Cossette's mother, was phenomenal, though, and Jean Valjean was also quite good.  Really, Javert was the only disappointment.  Also, I realized that I've only ever actually seen the musical from the nosebleed seats, and as a result I did not entirely understand the plot, though I listened to the soundtrack incessantly in my youth.

3. Did you do anything to observe Valentine's Day? (the cats must have gotten you something, right?!?)
The cats are ungrateful wretches.  I did nothing in particular for Valentine's Day, though I did go to Valley Women's, as I recall.  One day, I'd like to have a valentine on Valentine's Day.  It's a goal.

4. If you could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be? (and don't say Austin because that's lame even though we want you to come visit)
See, the challenge with this question is that I only know what a place is really like if I've been there, but if I could go anywhere in the world for a week, I'd want to go somewhere new.  So, if I could go anywhere (excepting Austin) that I've been before, I think it would probably be Germany -- somewhere in Bavaria.  Or maybe San Francisco.  If I could go anywhere I haven't been, maybe India?  [I realize India is huge, so that's an imprecise answer. But I don't know enough about it to be more precise.]

5. Is there anything you would like to ask us? (that can be the "us" that live in my house or the larger "us" of our circle)
Wow, this is surprisingly hard.  Mostly I want to know how everyone is doing.  How's the new job (Mel), how's the old job, how is teaching going this semester (Jess), how are the kids (both of you + the kids), how is G's spanish coming along, does N still ask about me, how's Scott doing, how's the dojo, how much do you miss me, how crushed will you be if I don't move back to Austin, what wine should I buy, will you come up here and drink it with me...

Week 8: Questions

Theme of the week is parentheticals (mostly): 

1. Are you coming back for SXSW? (Or any other visits. Come this Saturday and co-teach a self defense class with me?)

2. What's the last movie you watched?

3. Did you do anything to observe Valentine's Day? (the cats must have gotten you something, right?!?)

4. If you could go anywhere in the world for one week, where would it be? (and don't say Austin because that's lame even though we want you to come visit)

5. Is there anything you would like to ask us? (that can be the "us" that live in my house or the larger "us" of our circle)

Week 7: ...and Amy

ACK! Missed my deadline for posting this week. So now you have only 3 hours and 3 minutes to respond   =)

I think I missed that deadline.  :-/

1. Is there still snow up there? (if yes: How is it affecting your life?)
Yes!  It's not severely affecting my life, though.  Mainly it means I shouldn't bike (but I did, once.  It was mildly treacherous), and that I should be careful either about where I walk or what shoes I wear.  The morning I biked, I did not fall off the bike.  However, I did fall before getting on the bike.  But I was fine.  For more on falling, read on.

2. How was your trip to Boston yesterday?
It was super-fun!  The purpose of the trip was to go two-stepping with H at the Gays for Patsy dance. I got to follow all night, except for one dance with H wherein I almost broke her.  I'm very out of practice (and also I was never a very good lead), but it was a good night. I stayed the night, which was the plan; then I stayed an extra day & night, which was not the plan. However, it meant that we got to go ice-skating!  I was all confident about it beforehand, telling H that we could go fast, and also that I had done it before.  Which I still think I have.  I distinctly remember thinking it was like a cross between roller skating and snow skiing.  But I don't remember when; also it was just once (and probably years ago), and it turns out that means that I can not go fast.  I did go, though.  Mostly.  I mean, I mostly went horizontal and occasionally vertical, which is to say that I fell several times.  Three, I think.  I have an impressive bruise on one of my legs that I'm quite proud of.  The falling wasn't so bad -- the worst part of it was that I don't know how to stand up on ice skates without holding on to something.  So I had to scoot or crawl from wherever I was to the edge of the pond to stand up.  Those were not my most dignified moments.

3. Now that you're doing more in your internship, what has been your biggest "ah-ha" moment? (and now you'll also be ready to complete that question on your UT field evaluation)
I still haven't really had an ah-ha moment, so to speak.  At least, not in the "flash of insight" way.  Two things of note, though.  First, it amazes me to see people building their lives starting from so little.  So many of the clients where I'm interning are starting from a place where they have no job, no place to live, no network of family & friends, no money...nothing.  Public assistance here is slightly more accessible, but only slightly.  And of course, there's always significant trauma (I  mean, being in that situation is traumatizing in itself, but before that).  It's heartbreaking, and humbling.

The second is about the group I'm running, and the clients' willingness to come in and get to work on really hard, uncomfortable emotional work almost immediately.  Speaking of humbling...

4. Are you doing any martial arts training (on your own or with others)? [Jess says you have already talked to her about this but I don't think I know the answer.]
I'm training at VWMA once or twice a week, which means I'm starting to learn some Modern Arnis, and a little bit of Shorin-Ryu.  I've trained in Seido by myself exactly once, though I've intended to do it more.  I have many strengths; training by myself is not one of them.  And I've been to Honbu once, for a kata class.  Hoping to get back there in March for at least one class.

5. What food/restaurant from Austin do you miss the most?
I miss the Alamo Drafthouse, which is only kind of food/restaurant.  I also miss Magnolia, even though I hardly ever went there.  I ordered in from Austin's Pizza a lot, so I guess I miss that.  Oh, and Shady Grove.  This question makes me realize that I don't go out to eat all that often, though. I miss my people, and I miss my bike routes.  I miss the possibility of going to Magnolia, or Justine's.  I miss Sun Dragon.  

Week 7: Questions

ACK! Missed my deadline for posting this week. So now you have only 3 hours and 3 minutes to respond   =)

1. Is there still snow up there? (if yes: How is it affecting your life?)

2. How was your trip to Boston yesterday?

3. Now that you're doing more in your internship, what has been your biggest "ah-ha" moment? (and now you'll also be ready to complete that question on your UT field evaluation)

4. Are you doing any martial arts training (on your own or with others)? [Jess says you have already talked to her about this but I don't think I know the answer.]

5. What food/restaurant from Austin do you miss the most?

Week 6: ...and Amy

1. How much do you miss Jess?
So much.  Loads.  Completely.  I stay awake at nights, crying and writing in my journal about how much.  I rend and tear my garments. And then I shiver, because it's cold up here.

Ok, so maybe I exaggerate.  But: a lot.

2. Have you managed to order wine by yourself yet? [If so: what kind? and was it any good?]
I have not yet been that brave.  I can move across the country by myself (with two neurotic cats, no less), I can bike in -6 degree weather.  But order wine without Jess?  Just who do you think I am?  

That said, I did have a rum & coke.  During its preparation, I bemoaned the lack of Jess, and thought about how much more delicious a JessDrink(tm) would be.

3. At this point, how likely do you think you are to move back to Austin?
I can only answer this by reciting my PhD news.  First of all, I've been accepted to UT!  Woot!  I've also been: denied by Berkeley (boo, but I wasn't a good fit), wait-listed by UIC, and thus far ignored by U of Chicago and Northwestern.  So...I don't know much.  I will say that winter agrees with me.  Quite a bit.

I can also that this would make me more likely to move back:
http://kutnews.org/post/map-could-austin-be-high-speed-rail-city-future?

4. How are your finances and have you done your taxes yet?
My finances are pathetic.  My knowledge of my finances is advanced enough to know that my finances are pathetic.  I'm currently trying to get some more money for the spring, and I've looked into (but not pursued very hard) doing some contract work for my old employer.  

I've done my taxes!  I needed to in order to get my FAFSA  in (they say you can do the FAFSA without doing your taxes, but then they turn around and ask you all the same questions the IRS does, so one  might as well).

5. Have you guessed who the guest blogger is?
Hi, Jess!  I do miss you loads.  Call me maybe.

Week 6: Questions

This week's questions posed by a special guest blogger:

1. How much do you miss Jess?

2. Have you managed to order wine by yourself yet? [If so: what kind? and was it any good?]

3. At this point, how likely do you think you are to move back to Austin?

4. How are your finances and have you done your taxes yet?

5. Have you guessed who the guest blogger is?

Week 5: ...and Amy

1. How was your trip to New York last weekend? 

It was amazing!  Just what I needed.  I saw the show, which was great as always.  Afterwards, I loitered and thus made several for-the-night friends, one of whom bought me a shot.  He was from Connecticut but went to Tulane, so he had some Louisiana cred.  He was also, as I recall, wearing a Mardi Gras flag as well as a Saints jersey (or maybe it was the reverse).  The other dude I met was wearing red zebra striped leggings and a red top hat and was very concerned with finding the merch table, which never materialized.  Fred, the frontman, did materialize, at which point red-zebra dude complained to him about the lack of a merch table.  I do not think that Fred found him especially endearing.

The woman friend-for-the-night I met was from Newtown.  She hadn't lost one of her own children, but she had friends who had.  She cried on my shoulder a little bit, and also told me that during the show was the first time she had felt joy since the shooting.  Powerful, yo.  She also thanked me for letting her cry to me, because she felt like it meant she wouldn't cry when meeting/talking to Fred.  I was just happy to be able to help a little.

I got to meet Fred, and I told him the line I had been thinking about all night, to wit, "Three weeks ago I left everything and everyone I knew and loved in Austin, Texas and moved to Massachusetts.  Two days after I got there, my grandfather died, so last week I flew back to Monroe to attend his memorial service..."  Fred interrupted, "Monroe, Louisiana?"  I affirmed this, and continued, "but tonight, I'm at a Cowboy Mouth show, and it's all going to be ok."  Fred hugged me!  And then he took a picture with me.  This is it.  Note that my smile is very broad.

That's me on the left.

The next day I went to Honbu, where I had to help  lead warm-ups (I really should have been prepared for that) and Nidaime welcomed me -- he taught the kata class I took.  I was also going to take an endurance class, but I decided that was ambitious of me, so I took my leave.  All of the Honbu karateka were confused that I was from Texas but only there for the one day.  And then I spent the afternoon with my friend Jim from high school.  He was an awesome kid, and he's become an awesome adult.

 2. I'm in Houston right now, are you jealous? 
No.  That's where the devil lives, didn't you know?

 3. Have you gone to any of those MeetUps that I signed you up for? 
Not yet.  But I did sign up for one next Friday!

 4. Have you started hearing from PhD programs yet? 
Yes, actually.  I've been wait-listed by UIC.  I also heard from UT that the faculty committee is currently reviewing my application (and, as an aside, that the PhD Coordinator has not yet needed my help with her computer, but she still misses me).

 5. When can we make a time to Skype? (I'm in Houston then Charleston until Sunday night so after that.)
I'm going down to part-time starting next week, so anytime that isn't Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays work for me!