Thelma & Louise

I have been in Texas nearly a week, I arrived with mom around 5 pm on the 25th. Mom and I were "Thelma and Louise" as she dubbed us on our cross country jaunt. The ride was exceptionally pleasant although the weeks leading up to the trip were some cause for concern. A lot has happened since I arrived to Texas, the first landmark mom and I were able to stumble across was the mall...go figure. I introduced mom to Panda Express which she seemed to enjoy, though I hardly doubt she'll venture back seeing as how dad will never go since there's no meat and potato option on the menu.

Clif my internship coordinator met me for the first time on Tuesday the 26th and took mom and I to a little hole in the wall restaurant called "Juan and a Million" after it's owner who was given the title of best handshake in Austin and after seeing Clif's interaction unfold before my own eyes, I figured it best not to "try my hand at it." Mom and I's date with Clif was a blast, he couldn't seem to steer clear of insulting mom. After he snuck the first few in, much to mom's suprise, he was off to the races for the rest of our time together. I know that mom felt more atr ease about leaving me in Texas after she had met him. After we returned to our hotel we decided to ventur over to meet Ryan Rush and his wife Lana who were going to show us around downtown. While mom and I were waiting to see Ryan we had the pleasure of getting to know his very colorful secretary, Mary pretty well. Ryan called us in but only after mom and I had cracked a few jokes with his secretary. Just for the record Ryan and his familyhave been a huge blessing to me. Ryan was instrumental in finding me a place to live among several other things.

Ryan's wife arrived at the church and he, Lana, mom and I headed for downtown Austin. He took me by the station which didn't look like much to shout about but at its early inception was not only the station headquarters but also housed Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson who owned the station at the time. Ryan and Lana were telling us the ins and outs of Austin and explaining that Austin is a little weird hence their slogan "Keep Austin Weird" but nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to see. Ahead of us Ryan pointed out an old man on the street wearing what appeared to be a very short denim skirt, as we were driving by he turned his back to us revealing his bare bum. Mom about died as did Ryan and Lana, I just laughed and knew that a little part of me had fallen in love with the city already. Mom looked back on that later that night and decided to name the "cheeky" old man "Denim Diaper Dan" rather appropriately. Lana asked us as we continued driving if we had been to a mall which mother and I quickly answered yes. We told her which one we went to and she assured us that there was a way better mall, so mom and I decided to check it out later that night but I knew we were a little out of our league when I found a pair of Jellies (plastic shoes popular in the 80's for those of you unaware) priced at 98 dollars when I had just bought some for 5 dollars at Wal-Mart the week before, needless to say we did a lot of window shopping that night.

Wednesday was our free day and mom and I saved that as our day to lay out. I think we both underestimated that Texas sun. Mom's face was red and I ended up with a nice blister under my left eye. Thursday came and I was a little stiff from the day before's sun. It was also the day that mom flew out which meant our whirlwind adventure was coming to a close. While I was getting ready before we left for the airport I noticed mom feverishly jotting things down on the LaQuinta notepad, not thinking much of it I went back to fixing my hair. I then checked on here a few minutes later and she was crying, she was writing a goodbye not to me...oh dear. We left for the airport and made it with plenty of time to spare so we grabed a bit to eat and decided to people watch, but before I go on any further I can't forget to mention a couple blunders these country mice had. As soon as we got into the airport mom tried to go up the escalator that was clearly coming down, and then we managed to get on the right escalator when I noticed two younger guys behind usand one was looking inconspiculously at my rear or so I thought. I turned back around only to hear him say, "Um...you're bleeding" while pointing to the back of my thigh, and low and behold I had taken a huge chunk of my skin off while shaving. Well now that I'm completely mortified it's time to send mom off. We enjoyed our lunch consisting of a huge slice of Chicago style pizza and the hardest pretzel I have ever eaten. After we finished mom pulled something out of her purse. It was what I like to call ther LaQuinta Laundry List as it had a laundry list, 9 pages to be exact of do's and don'ts during my time here. When I came to the last page and I looked up, mom was crying.

It was time for mom to go through the checkpoints and we said our goodbyes, I waited till I could see her waving no longer and I proceeded to leave the airport, it was then that I began to tear up a little, partly because mom was leaving, but mostely because in thos first few minutes without her I couldn't even figure out where the escalator was so I could leave. I finally found my way out and proceeded to head back to the Rush's until my home for the summer became available. The Dillard's, the family I am staying with who are also amazing, were in Hawaii, so I wouldn't be able to move in till Friday. Ryan's middle daughter Reagan had graciously given me her room for the night that turned into two because Steve Dillard had broken all his ribs on the right side while surfing in Hawaii, he's 52, and has since declared his days of being invincible are over. In the mean time Ryan and Lana let me stay another night in their home.

My internship meeting was on that Friday the 29th, I met the other interns for our department, 3 girls, 4 including msyelf and one guy. We also met the guys already in the sports department. I returned to Ryan and Lana's after a few friendly honks on the highway and got ready for a night out on the town with Ryan, Lana, Riley and Reagan, his two oldest. We ate at an upper scale grocery store called Whole Foods, and everyone back home should forgive me because I tasted my first organic hamburger, which was surprisingly good considering it was made of cardboard. Then we al went to see Night at the Musemn 2 in IMAX which was a treat, then we capped off an exciting eveneing with dessert at Mozart's a little cafe on the lake. I'm not sure what the cake I got was called but it should have been named death bye chocolate as there were 5 different kinds of chocolate in it.

When we got back to the Rush's I decided it was time for me to turn in for the night seeing as how Saturdayu would be an early one, Lana had asked me to go walking with her and Ryan and the girls on the trail downtown, and I accepted. I woke up got around and we were off. We walked three miles around the lake trying to spot the worst dressed out that day, we had a few leading canidates. After we ere done walking we headed to Magnolia Cafe an artsy little restaurant near the water. When we had finished we headed back home. En route to the house, Carla Dillard called and said she was ready for me to move in. When we got back I packed up all my belongings and followed Ryan over to my palace, a some 7,000 square foot house with a pool and hot tub to boot. I arrived at the Dillard's and was greeted by Ms. Carla herself a lively, energeting woman in her early 50's "my new mommy" as she calls herself. I know I'm going to love it here, I thought to myself. She, Ryan, and I proceeded to unload my car and load my new room.

Ryan left and Carla and I began talking and getting to know one another and then she informed me she had a bridal shower to attend so while off at the shower I unloaded my things and explored the deck attached to my room. Carla returned and told me her parents and brother were coming for supper so she and I began preparing the food. We had a smorgasbord of hamburgers on the gril and every fruit and kind of pickle you could imagine. Carla's parents and brother are great! I also met Steve at summer, Carla's husband. Even in his condition (9 broken ribs) he didn't fail to dazzle me with his humor. I also met Carla's middle child, Callie and her youngest Dan, both very nice. Callie just graduated college, and Dan will be a junior in college this coming year. As the night went on Carla and I watched the Cavs lose miserably to the Magic while Steve watched University of Texas pull out a W afte 25 innings in the tournament. I headed to bed anxious for my first Sunday at Bannockburn Baptist.