Good Thing Becky's Not Reading This

It’s true, I tell you. Lip gloss is just another legal but addictive substance that is sanctioned by industry that would otherwise be banned if not for lobbyists.

Please don't spoil it for me

Due to rumors that the whole Harry Potter 7 has been released on the internet, I’ve decided to go into lock down. Until I finish the new book (most likely some time on Monday, depending on when it arrives Saturday), I will not be reading my RSS feeds, surfing, visiting the porch, watching/listening to any kind of news programs or checking my non-work email. If you would like to reach me during this time, you should call me.

This may sound drastic, but I really like surprises and I have been tingly with anticipation for months. I re-read all 6 books, I watched the movies, I washed my fabulous “I solemly swear I am up to no good” t-shirt. Yep, I’m a fan and I’m protecting my rights to experience the book the way it was intended. Those of you who already know how it ends (ahem, Brian) better not ruin it for me or I’ll be super mad.

Rainy 4th BBQ and the Kwik-E-Mart

Here’s a couple pics from the last week.

We went over to the Palmer-Mitchells for a 4th BBQ and it rained almost all day (like it has for several weeks here in Central Texas) so I had to stand over the grill with an umbrella to make sure the coals got started.

    
Sandy and I drove to the big D this weekend to pick up a piece of furniture. While we were there we just had to stop at the Kwik-e-Mart on Northwest Highway. (Actually it wasn’t that impressive or fun. I get the idea the Chicago KeM is a bit more hardcore.)

Blue Dye Soda and the Six Dollar Candy Bar

In a complete deflation of the standards and goals of the gourmet soda fans of Austin, Central Market has started carrying Thomas Kemper Soda. Although they define themselves as “batch brewed” these generic tasting sodas are unimpressive and Pyramid Breweries commits the cardinal sin of soda: they use corn syrup instead of cane sugar. Their sodas are even visually unappealing. Check the head on this grape soda. The dye separates and floats to the top. Blech.

Another attempt at specialty food items gone awry is this Chinita Nibs chocolate bar that Central Market sells for $6. Buried somewhere under the nutmeg is probably some fine dark chocolate, but I can’t taste it.

Last Week At The Alamo

Here’s a few pictures of our last week at the original location of the Alamo Drafthouse.

      
Our last sing-along at the Drafthouse was the Ultimate Mix Tape Sing Along. Owen and Henri selected their favorite songs from previous sing-alongs (Journey, Love Bites, Ladies of the 80s, R Kelly, Prince, Wierd Al, Pop Rap, Beastie Boys, etc.) and the crowd was typically racous and fun. The finale was Purple Rain and Becky ended up covered in it.

        
Our very last night at the Alamo included custom yellow hard hats and Earthquake actually caused a tile over Harry’s head to shake loose. Lucky for him a pipe stopped it from dropping on his head. Susan Tyrell Q&A’d the film Night Warnings as the final feature the Drafthouse would ever show, and she is a hoot and a half. Funny and joyful with an almost visible joie de vivre she shared as much with us as Bo Svenson did at BNAT one year, but Susan was much more entertaining and friendly. I would love to see her come back and discuss some of her other films. At the end of the night Becky and I got down on the theater floor and unbolted our chairs to take them home. They were nasty dirty but once I clean them up and secure them to a movable palate they will make a touching addition to our living room.

Having a close relationship with a business is a strange thing. Sure, we have our favorite restaurants and are comfortable walking around the nearby grocery store in our pajamas, but our affair with the Drafthouse is more intimate. We often assault the staff members in public because we recognize them but can’t remember from where we know them. We schedule our calendar around the Drafthouse calendar. By even conservative estimates I spent 80 hours at a Drafthouse event last year, half of which happened Downtown. Combined Becky and I accumulate over 120 hours in theater seats with a glass and plate of food in front of us. Any relationship this personal is tricky, and one as oddball as this makes you ponder if you’ve gotten too close and are risking getting hurt. While they are in transition I have anxiety that our friendship won’t be the same after they move, but I have faith that Tim and Karrie (and Karen and Henri and Josh and Kier-La and all the other beautiful friendly employees of the Alamo Drafthouse) know how important they are to us and will work as hard as we do to make sure our commitment lasts.