Tex-Rex

I officially have my first visitor, which really makes me feel like I've finally moved away. Even though I've only been living here myself for a few months I find myself bring my friend Rex to all my old haunts...like the grocery store and the gym. Really those are the only two places I frequent, neither of which are good for entertaining guests. I try my damnedest to be a gracious host. His first night here we went down town Austin and watched Esther's Follies. I think it's a pretty good introduction to Austin. It's a quirky comedy show and they also do some magic. Unfortunately they were sold out again so we had to get random seats, which meant we weren't seated near each other. So Rex's first couple hours in Texas were spent with the Johnson family. We also went out for pizza that night. Rex is a vegetarian which makes it that much harder for me to share some of the places I enjoy as most of the places I like serve only BBQ. There is nothing wrong with it but being vegetarian and visiting Texas is a lot like going to Hawaii but not liking the beach. Luckily Austin is rather liberal and has plenty of places that he can eat at...I'm just not sure I want to eat there. I did bring him to the grocery store where I'm almost certain they have food other than meat.

On Saturday night I had some people coming over for a "party" so we needed something to do during the day. He mentioned that he might buy some new clothes. I figured we'd go to the outlet mall in San Marcos which isn't far from my house. I'm not big on shopping or outlet malls, but this is a huge outlet mall and they have a lot of "designer" stores. Rex also arrived in Texas with only a backpack and a jacket...he's staying for 9 days and I think he only brought 3 shirts. So I figured he might buy something. He didn't but it did waste most of the morning. I also bought some much needed sunglasses. We then stopped at a gift shop a mile from my house were he did buy a shot glass, so the day was not lost. We then spent the rest of the day playing some video games and watching TV until the other people arrived.

Sunday we got up and went for a hike with my brother Darren and his two dogs. It was a cold cloudy day and Austin isn't very pretty in the winter. Most of the trees have lost their leaves and the only color is brown. To make things worse we have been in a drought for a couple years and the creek we walked around is completely dried up. So really we just looked at rocks and leafless trees for a couple hours. Afterwards we went out to eat and then watched the Vikings at my brothers house.

Monday I had to work and I took Rex to the Gym. My called the gym and they said they don't allow guests as they are not insured. I then went online to see if there were any offers on there we could use and we found a 7 day free pass. So I took him to the gym and they told us they don't use 7 day free passes that instead they give you the first month free off a membership. Eventually they just let him stay. It just goes to show that if you don't take "no" for an answer people usually give in. After the workout I took Rex to do one of the things on his list. I asked him to make a list of things he wants to do. Unfortunately Rex is strange and came up with an odd list. Here it is:

See live Music
Go to a Barn Dance
Go to a Cowboy Boot Store
Shoot Guns
Frisbee Golf
Tennis
Play Video Games

So I took him to South Congress Avenue which is a growing hipster part of town. Basically if you want to over pay huge amounts of cash for used strange items this is where you go. They also have a lot of little specialty shops and what not. We went to a cowboy boot store where Rex bought another shot glass and a belt buckle. I also learned that if you want to buy cowboy boots from this store be prepared to pay at least $300. I also learned that a "good" cowboy boot will cost at least $1000. Which is another reason you will never find me in a pair of cowboy boots.

Today I don't know what we are going to do. I think we will go play Frisbee Golf and may be some tennis tonight.

Tune in next time for more adventures of Tex-Rex....