67 Degrees with a 40% Chance of Rain

Weekend on the Water

2009-07-06T18:02:00.002-05:00

Tim and Drew from the Mizzou days joined us for jour July 4th festivities this weekend, and it's safe to say no one was disappointed. Not only did we get a last minute invite to our friend Jimmy's lakehouse in the resort community of Horseshoe Bay, we reaped the benefits of Jimmy's years of culinary training in five-star restaurants. (The best baby back ribs ever.)

We came back to Austin to spend more time on the lake. Our friends Keith and Virginia happen to live in a lakeside pad that looks like it came straight out of MTV's Cribs. Took Keith's new pontoon boat on Lake Austin to watch the fireworks show amphibiously.

Some highlights:

-The endless effort to top each other with "that's what she said" responses

-Experimenting with numerous margaritas to find the perfect one

-The drunken midnight boat ride out to a dam, only to get stuck in a buoy and rescue ourselves

-Getting pulled over by boat cops but avoiding a ticket thanks to our foreknowledge of one of the officer's crush on Keith's friend Natalie

-Baby Sydney, the 17 month old who came with us to Horseshoe Bay

-All the awesome dogs... Saidee, Theo, Oscar

-Homemade biscuits and gravy

-Not really remembering details due to the aforementioned margarita experimentation

The Kind of Day That Makes A Gal Miss SC

2009-06-24T13:55:00.006-05:00

What a bombshell.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who became the butt of jokes for "disappearing" for five days, returned to the Palmetto State yesterday only to get caught lying about his whereabouts (hiking in Appalachia was the first explanation). The scrutiny forced him to admit he was actually in Argentina, cheating on his wife with a woman who lives there that he met eight years ago. You cannot make this stuff up.

But the personal adventures of SC leaders has kept things interesting for years. It was just three years ago when then-South Carolina Treasurer, Thomas Ravenel, who had a fondness for the the phrase "that's just how I roll", was federally indicted on charges of dealing cocaine and forced to resign. That's how he rolled.

Before that, we had Lt. Governor Andre Bauer and his racy antics. I say "racy" literally -- Bachelor Bauer, who's known around SC as a sometimes-freewheelin' ladies man, got caught speeding in his Beemer at more than 100 m.p.h but avoided any official reprimands by using the state radio installed in his state vehicle to talk troopers into letting him go. Shortly thereafter, he accidentally crashed his single engine plane into the woods of Upstate South Carolina.

The interesting twist in all of this is that the beneficiary of the Sanford scandal may just BE Andre Bauer. He's actually the one who South Carolinians would most expect to be having an illicit affair with an Argentinian woman.

Houston, We Have a Problem

2009-06-22T20:40:00.002-05:00

Mr. Stiles's employer asked him to return to Houston after the legislative session ended. Neither of us thought that was very cool, especially considering it wouldn't have been much skin off their hides to let him stay in the paper's Austin bureau.

After dating for nearly four years separated by long car drives or thousand mile flights, we finally got a chance in January to share the same zip code. Then, Stiles' bosses wanted him back.

He went back today, as requested. But in a twist, he resigned. His four years at The Chronicle have allowed him to shine as a reporter, break stories that made people's lives better, and expose issues that allowed readers to better know their community. It's the mark of the man I love. But because we love each other, it's way past time for us to live our lives without the separation of time and distance.

After his final two weeks is over, we will begin an exciting journey together as journalists. But as they teach you in television, you gotta save some of the story for next time.

Brotherly Love

2009-06-08T20:11:00.006-05:00

Just returned from a weekend jaunt to Philadelphia, home of the most historic room in the most historic square mile in America. (That's what our tour guide at Independence Hall told us, anyway.)

Six years after graduating from college, I went to visit my senior year roommate, Fiscus. We were joined by my matchmaker and BFF Sudeep, who has been generally disapproving of my ways since the day I met him.

We ate and drank our way around Philly, winding up at a place called Jim's for cheesesteaks. (My other New England friends sent suggestions ranging from Pat's to some random place in New Jersey, so next time we'll hit up a different locale.)

I really wanted to try a duck salad at a place called Standard Tap, but was talked out of it by, of course, my disapproving friend mentioned above.

Drinking may be my only disappointment - the alcoholic drinks lacked enough of that familiar taste of... alcohol. In the randomly sampled bars we tried, anyway. I suspect there is a reason Austin is consistently-ranked as the hardest drinking city in America... the bartenders generous pourers.

Since Stiles did not come, I was charged with finding him a Benjamin Franklin bobblehead doll. I failed. Sorry. Freedom isn't free. (I have no idea what that means, it just sounds nice.)

The Things You Do for Love

2009-05-21T11:06:00.002-05:00

The mayor of San Angelo, Texas resigned abruptly, not "to spend more time with family", as they often say, but "to spend more time with his lover in Mexico".

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The mayor of a West Texas city abruptly resigned Wednesday, picking love over his love of office.

J.W. Lown told the San Angelo Standard-Times in a telephone interview from Mexico that he was involved in a relationship with someone who does not have legal status in the United States.

"I don't want to give his name," Lown, 32, told the newspaper.

He said the man attended Angelo State University and their relationship started earlier this year.

Lown said he didn't want to take the oath of office knowing he was "aiding and assisting" someone who is not a U.S. citizen.

"We had to do the right thing and come to Mexico and wait in line for a visa," Lown said.

Wet 'n Wild

2009-05-17T00:22:00.003-05:00

There's a line in the first Harry Potter book that I love, something about Ron, Harry and Hermione's first fight against a monster together. I can't find my copy of the book, but it said something like "there's nothing like fighting a snaggle-toothed monster to make you friends for life."

I inadvertently discovered a parallel. There's nothing like... embarking on a late-morning run only for the sky to turn and start pouring, rejecting a friend's offer to drive you to a dry spot to instead continue running through what becomes a drenching sideways rain for miles and miles, jumping and darting around street puddles, accelerating despite an added weight from all the water sloshing in your shoes, becoming so wet you can't get any wetter, making it four miles of a five mile misery run only to have a speeding bus splash you with a wave of water fast and heavy enough to temporarily blind you, nearly getting hit by a car and finally, finally making it to dryness... to make you friends for life.

"This must be what waterboarding feels like," said my friend Reeve. He, Brandi and I will at least have this bonding experience to remember forever. And it's instructional. It's the last time I'll ever try to outrun a storm system.

Boo Flu

2009-05-01T09:44:00.007-05:00

How useful for me to contract the hybrid/swine flu this week! It allows me to give a special "insider's perspective" of it all. (If you're going to get ill, get the "it" illness, right?)

I think I got the bug somewhere around the time I was stuck in a small room with Joe Biden. I followed him closely with a boom mic as he toured a domestic violence call center in Austin on Tuesday. He didn't take any questions. Two days later, I remembered why it's best not to let Biden answer questions.

As hysteria over the swine/hybrid flu reached into a new stratosphere, Biden, in his off-the-kuffness, accidentally told Americans to stop using mass transit.

When this all started Tuesday, I decided I'd beat it with a mojito and additional consumption of iceberg lettuce. Wrong. By Wednesday, my symptoms were exacerbated a migraine, only the third one of my life. Kept trying to work, writing about the killer flu while suffering from it at the same time.

Coworkers insisted I go home on Thursday since snot was getting all over the workstations and it sounded like my lungs might explode from my chest every time I coughed.

Of course, all my dreams of being a swine flu patient came crashing down this morning. The doctor said I have bronchitis.

Recipe for Becoming My Nemesis

2009-04-22T22:17:00.003-05:00

I've recently discovered that all the people I can't stand have certain character traits in common. So I thought this through and narrowed it down to two main issues I have with people, in general.

1.) People who take themselves too seriously
2.) People who have an over-inflated sense of self

Combine the two traits into one person, and you basically have created my nemesis. I don't currently have one set nemesis (like I did back in 2003), but I have a couple of options.

Now, I know "taking yourself too seriously" and "over-inflated sense of self" can be fairly subjective. But people who don't suck can generally agree on the levels of those traits at which tools become intolerable.

Euro Trip: Observations on The Journey So Far

2009-04-05T12:51:00.003-05:00

- Arrived at the Amsterdam airport but promptly got in a car for a trip to Belgium. Was sitting in a cafe in Nivelles, outside Brussels, where nothing, NOTHING was in English. Except of course, for the song over the radio, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

- Other songs heard in Belgium: Hanson's "Mmmm Bop" in French.

- Waterloo was pretty cool. Nothing's there but a huge mound built in memory of a Dutch dude who got injured in the battle. I almost got injured climbing the gazillion steps to the top of the manmade hill.

-The dogs are ugly here. Seriously. Some really unfortunate mixed breeds.

-I learned at dinner the other night that the Dutch don't know what it means to "go Dutch". I guess I won't be making that joke now that I'm back in Holland.

-Needed to go to the ladies room today and wandered into a coffee shop... yeah, wrong kind of coffee shop.

SXSW 2009: The Highlights and Lone Star Lights

2009-03-22T16:00:00.002-05:00

Overheard at SXSW: "I can't believe they make Lone Star Light."
That's right, folks. If Lone Star wasn't quite cheap and watered down enough for your tastes, enter Lone Star Light.

Overdone at SXSW: Men in skinny jeans. Most of the jeans were black denim. Seriously, a LOT of skinny black jeans. I'm not even sure I like them on skinny women, but on skinny men, I definitely (or is it defiantly?) vote no.

Over There: Solange Knowles, younger sister of some woman named Beyonce, performed at the Perez Hilton "One Night in Austin" party inside an old Safeway building. She's a C-list entertainer, to be sure, but interestingly (or embarrassingly) it was actually the second time I've seen Solange live. She opened for Ja Rule in 2003, a concert I also (embarrassingly) attended.

Now Showing: I never take full advantage of SXSW Music because it comes AFTER SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive, and by the time music rolls around I'm already worn out from darting from one documentary to another. This year, my favorite docs were a.)Winnebago Man (a film about the angry Winnebago salesman you've seen on YouTube a million times; b.)We Live in Public (about a visionary that was too far ahead of his time and also a sociopath and c.)Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (which made me laugh and cry).

Overloaded: SXSW can be surprisingly inexpensive because free booze parties are everywhere. We were enjoying the day party thrown by Do512, Sweet Leaf Tea and Savvy Vodka yesterday when someone handed me a big loaf of ciabatta bread. So, uh, bread is free too. Keep Austin Weird.

Last Published February 23rd?

2009-03-14T21:29:00.002-05:00

The session onslaught hit me like an avalanche, and as I mentioned earlier, social networking's also kicking my ass. And good god it's already March. Let's see... what have you missed...

*On Chinese New Year, I wore red for good luck but did not get a chance to eat dumplings and fish, which both represent prosperity or longevity or both.

We came home to find my house ransacked -- mattresses flipped over, cabinets open, clothes everywhere (well, that may have already been the case). Teen burglars broke in, took my computer, camera and other small electronics and get this -- they took a huge bottle of Jose Cuervo and DRANK HALF A BOTTLE OF BACARDI AT MY HOUSE, leaving half the empty bottle in my garage.

Oh, they helped themselves to two Red Bulls, too. And accidentally left an oversized T-shirt in the living room. From this evidence I can conclude they were likely just high school kids who played hooky that day and decided to get drunk and take off their clothes at SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, a house they entered illegally.

*Celebrated a three-way birthday and resolved to put the unpleasantness of late January behind me. Things have gone swimmingly with Mr. Stiles moving in, mainly because he takes care of the stuff I'm usually too lazy to do, like put away the dishes and wipe off the counters.

*It's SXSW time in Austin! BJ Novak (aka Ryan from The Office) is in town but I didn't get to see him. However, Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame did cut in front of us in line, and there's an entire documentary about the viral hit on YouTube, Winnebago Man. Mizzou prof and friend Jen Reeves is in town for the interactive part of SXSW, and we've hit my fave cheesy enchiladas and my fave local band, so times are good.

Someone may have broken into my house and helped themselves to my booze, but I love, love LOVE Austin.

Tweet You, Tweet You Very Much

2009-02-23T21:36:00.002-06:00

I think twitter is ruining my blogging. Not just 67 Degrees, but even Political Junkie is taking the hit. Let's face it, almost everything I blog about can actually be summed up in 140 characters or less, making the blog post itself totally irrelevant.

Or maybe there is still much, much to write and I'm just lazy. This seems like the best explanation. I think I get overloaded by social media these days - Facebook, Twitter, this blog, my other blog, my personal journal, my google products...

For nostalgia's sake, I took out my trusty old day planner, an arcane piece of equipment in which I used to handwrite my schedule and to-do list. It seems like a relic - yet refreshingly simple. Sure, there's no search function or email reminders of my friend's birthdays, but there's something about the way things were that makes me feel not relieved but overwhelmed about all these tools we invented to simplify our lives.

Perhaps I'm just getting old.

Proving Resolutions in the House Aren't Hard to Get...

2009-02-17T13:29:00.001-06:00

It's my 27th birthday, my friend April's 32nd birthday, and my friend John's 53rd birthday. We get HR 489 by the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas... in our honor.

The resolution.

OMG OMG OMG

2009-02-09T22:08:00.002-06:00

I think I just experienced the best night of my life. Most of the cast of Office Space, (aka The Best Movie of All Time) came back to Austin (where TBMOAT was filmed) for a 10th anniversary screening, complete with a red carpet and a post screening Q and A. OMG OMG OMG. Here's a slideshow of the event. As 67 Degrees readers know, I believe there is an Office Space quote for every situation in life. Now I got to come face-to-face with actors who played The Bobs, Bill Lumbergh, Michael Bolton and Samir. And more. Check it out!

That Explains It

2009-01-26T18:04:00.001-06:00

So, Happy Chinese New Year, friends! Wishing you a new year full of prosperity and good luck. It is the year of the ox, and while looking up the character traits of people born in the year of the ox, I looked up my year -- dog. Check out what it says about dog people:

"People born in this year tend to be difficult, upset and shocked more often than the other signs."

Difficult, upset and shocked? I think they meant OUTRAGED.

Crazy Lying Secret Agent Man

2009-01-18T19:28:00.002-06:00

67 Degrees blogging will be light for the next five months, as I dive into the 140 day Texas legislative session (which only happens every other year, so my schedule is clear for 2010). If you're into Texas politics, I recommend Political Junkie, (of course).

Meanwhile, I'm OUTRAGED, just OUTRAGED, by this guy in my weekly half marathon training group. He claims he's a secret service agent and runs with his stupid earpiece on. AND he pretends to talk on it. When pressed for who he protects, he says Barack Obama AND Texas Governor Rick Perry. And, on occassion, an Austin-area congressman. Loser. Not. Possible. The governor has protection, but it AIN'T FROM THE FEDS.

He ran with us last Saturday, with his stupid earpiece. And coincidentally, the governor, who he claims to protect, ran right by us on the trail. WITHOUT THE FAKE SECRET SERVICE MAN. Didn't seem to recognize him either.

He ran with us again yesterday. With the inauguration in two days, he claims he will be protecting Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday. Why is he in Austin, someone asked. "Oh, I'm just taking a break," he says. And apparently he flies Southwest to cover the president. Yep.

We've gotta expose that guy. I'm getting his plates next time.

Self-Awareness

2009-01-08T10:10:00.003-06:00

CBS news reporter Mark Knoller interviewed Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday. From the White House transcript:

Knoller: “You must know that there are people who just don’t disagree with you, they hate you.”

Cheney: “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

2008: Well, At Least You Were Memorable

2008-12-23T19:42:00.001-06:00

We saw some serious juxtaposition in '08 -- great hope and hopelessness at once. The nation patted itself on the back for electing Barack Obama and found great joy in the superhuman Michael Phelps. But the hopelessness over the financial meltdown and its consequences makes America seem like a dystopia, sometimes. My daily obsession with the march to November 4 -- "bitter", "real America" and "sniper fire" included -- made the year seem like it was over faster than you can say "You Betcha".

But Britney's back, bitches, at least for now. Which means we can all hope 2009 is our Michael Phelps year.

The 67 Degrees tradition, my year in rewind:

A Big Scoop: Thanks to my relentless sourcework (aka daily begging), the Obama folks made me the only TV reporter in Texas to get a face-to-face one-on-one interview with the man who would become president. Due to security concerns (and perhaps a subtle message about what they thought of me), the interview happened in a bathroom.

Personal Fad: This is an easy one, 67 Degrees readers. Being OUTRAGED, of course!

Random Celebrity Meet and Greets: Brad the Bachelor, Lance Armstrong (without pants), Kate Walsh, Kevin Nealon and let's not forget The Rev. Jesse J@ckson, who then proceeded to ask me back to his hotel.

Great '08 Distractions: Watching Mad Men and then promptly reading Alan Sepinwall's review of the episode as soon as it popped up online... Checking Nate Silver's genius polling site, fivethirtyeight.com... GTalk... the woman who peed all over herself at the Willie concert.

Recurring Theme: Marriage, babies. A lot of people in my orbit seem to be getting married or popping out babies or both. Meanwhile, I still feel like a kid who doesn't know what to be when I grow up. (And as a wedding-related bonus, my man Stiles' longtime live-in ex-girlfriend Lynda got married on reality TV.)

Noteworthy Discoveries: Friday night carbo-loading, Mob Wars, Mad Men on demand, long lost diaries from my youth, Stuff White People Like

Disappointments: The shrinking capitol press corps, my shrinking retirement fund. The Governor's Mansion getting torched by an arsonist. Not getting a photo with Newsweek's Richard Wolffe when I had the chance.

Happy Places: In the fall, going back to both my alma mater and my mom's home island fed my soul. In a twist of great fate, mom's scary tumor was benign, and the whole family had a great time finding humor in the hospital and the situation.

Most OUTRAGE-inducing people of 2008: Mark Penn. "Mainstream Media" bashers. Heidi Montag.

Biggest Victory: Nine dudes, one of them a sports reporter, let me into their Fantasy Football league as the "token chick". As it turns out, my early (and perhaps fated) decision to pick up DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers launched me into the Fantasy Superbowl.

Previously in this series...
2007: Rewind
2006: The Best of Times, The Weirdest of Times
2005: A Jack Look Back
2004: More Year in Review

When The Lights Went Out

2008-12-22T12:39:00.003-06:00

Seriously, Aust!n Light Guy. You hurt me.

We drove to your house and parked a big black Suburban. Instead of leaving on all your yard decor that's set to music you're broadcasting at a low frequency that can be picked up on our car radio... Instead of, as tradition dictates, coming out to dance for us draped head to toe in Christmas lights, you SHUT OFF ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS the moment we pulled up. That hurt, man. Still not over it.

I'm going to have to say it. OUTRAGE!

An Andre Bauer Christmas

2008-12-16T21:36:00.002-06:00

Longtime readers of 67 Degrees know I am fascinated by South Carolina Lt. Gov Andre Bauer, who seems to flirt with all kinds of trouble... but never seems to pay any political price for it. He's like the Powder of politics. (Remember THAT horrible movie?)

Now, Andre Bauer is selling all kinds of "Carolina-themed" Christmas gifts on this site. Your purchase of a gift is also a donation to Bauer's political kitty! At first I wasn't sure if it was a joke. But no, it turns out it's legit. Check it out.

Liveblogging the Lunch Date Going on in the Booth Behind Me

2008-12-14T15:03:00.019-06:00

3:06pm This is clearly a first date. The woman gave her rundown, she has a little kid, her first job was at Super Cuts. "So I got to see the haircutting industry. The low end of the haircutting industry."

3:07pm: The Christmas music is too loud for me to properly eavesdrop on the man who's talking - he's a mumbler. I think he's in some sort of advertising or techy job. Awkward laughing about how the woman doesn't really know how to use a computer.

3:08pm: I got up to throw something away so I could get a look at the guy. He is pretty skinny/nerdy looking, I still haven't seen the woman's face.

3:09pm: The instrumental version of Feliz Navidad playing overhead is totally distracting me. The woman is apparently in some sort of design program at a local college or university.

She only has one final left.

3:10pm: The dude isn't doing a lot of talking. But he did ask a question to keep her going.

3:11pm: "Let's not forget the Americans with Disabilities Act," she says. "That gets incorporated into every space." (I believe she is in some sort of architecture program.)

3:13pm: Awkward. "If I were in a wheelchair, I'd appreciate it," says the woman. Awkward giggling.

3:14pm: To get out of a short lull in conversation, the man asks more about her designs. She has started in on an art project focused on a woman standing in front of a fireplace. "It was an upholstered fireplace," she says. "I was in awe of the stupidity." He laughs uncomfortably. Mainly he just sits there not saying anything.

3:15pm: He asks where she goes to school. She says it's Texas State in San Marcos. It's an interior design program. "I like it a lot," she says. "I feel like school's never going to end, but that's how I think everybody feels."

3:18pm: She went to Europe last summer. He is the only one asking questions, meaning she's the only one doing any talking. Which is fine for my purposes since it's easier to hear her.

3:20pm: Okay finally we find out where the dude is from. Tyler, Texas. The farthest he's traveled is Canada. He doesn't have an accent. She uses his answer to start talking about how she was born in Arkansas and lived there until she was ten.

3:23pm: His dad is from Michigan. "There's nothing really up there, and my family is unemployed right now." What a date downer. More awkward giggling. He talks about how he wants to be financially secure, she says that's an excellent goal. I think I hate this date.

3:25pm: He went to college at Baylor, which is incidentally in Waco, home of my first post-college job and the quite possibly the insertion point if God were to give the earth an enema.

3:28pm: Oh, something in common. Both have two siblings.

3:32pm: I've been waiting for this conversation to actually scratch the surface, with deeper talk of family or an actual story or two. But nothing. Now they are talking about how they would find it impossible to have roommates.

3:35pm: Now I'm getting distracted by an acoustic guitar version of "Sleigh Ride". Would love to sing along... "Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling yoo hoo..."

3:36pm: This date has been going on for thirty minutes but it feels more like an hour. I think I will abandon this date because it's not half as interesting as the elevator Christmas music playing in this Panera Bread. She's still doing the giggling all the time. He dressed up as a pirate for Halloween. I can't tell if they will be happy together, or if they will ever see each other again. Didn't anyone send them this NY Times story about how no one dates anymore? The model is hook up first, decide if you want to date later.

Empty Wall

2008-12-14T10:54:00.004-06:00

I still have this huge empty wall in my living room that I've been thinking about for the past year. Should I get two or three large pieces of art to fill it? Wall shelves with random stuff on them? Yuppie it up with some Pottery Barn looking pieces?

Ultimately I decided to keep with my theme of displaying as much original art as possible by the people that I know and love. I am getting on it this holiday season, with the help of some great photographer friends.

Channing, who shot some stills for my quixotic attempt at documentary-making in college, is now a successful freelance photog in Boston. So he kindly contributed these pieces, which I love. (Note the hot dog. How awesome is that? I love me some hot dogs!!!)

That hot dog is going to tie the whole room together, if you ask me.

OK Channing, I'll Do Your Exercise

2008-12-03T21:13:00.002-06:00

My homie Channing in Boston tagged me for one of those blogger exercises where you reflect and share a little more about yourself and then tag other bloggers to pay it forward. (Here's the last one I did, in 2005, when I admitted to "dreaming about" Barack Obama. Yikes.)

This time, this is what I have to do:

- List six things that I do for joy
- Pass the award on to 6 more creative bloggers
- Link back to the person who gave me the award
- Link to the people I am passing it on to

1. Experiential escapades, or thinking about an experiential escapade
Hijinks, or being a harmless misfit. This usually includes making fun of situations or strangers without them knowing it. Like the time we put fresh shit in a bag, wrapped it in a gift bag (with tissue) and left it on my downstairs neighbor's door after he let his alarm go off all weekend.

Or the time my fellow misfit blogger friend JL and I made a video poking fun of my poor working conditions in South Carolina.

Or the numerous discussions Stiles and I have had about whether we should try to make meth, since there are so many news stories about how "easy" it is and you can just get instructions online. (We haven't done it and won't since this could lead to serious trouble and that's not something that brings me joy.)

2.) Family Time
The four members of my nuclear family are now spread out on three different continents. Three of us -- Mom, Roger and me are all kind of restless explorer-types and my Dad's retired so he's moving around the planet with mom. Her next diplomatic post is The Hague, The Netherlands. Home of the International Criminal Court.

When I grew up we all ate dinner together every night, so it's strange that we can't spend some holidays together. But precisely because we're so distanced from each other, the three or four times a year we get to be together brings me both great joy and calm.

3.) Eat Fast Food
This includes my number one favorite, chili dog (see below). People give me so much crap for this, but fast food brings me joy and it is cheap. And if you don't like it, don't eat it. I will.

My regulars: the Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell, the Beef 'n Cheddar at Arby's (don't forget the curly fries), the Snack Pack at Culver's (butterburger w/cheese, crinkle cut fries and a drink for just $3.99), anything from Chik-Fil-A, queso from Taco Cabana, the Original Chicken Sandwich from Burger King, the #10 Filet 'O Fish at McDonald's, Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and Biggie Fries at Wendy's, and the Pizza Hut lunch buffet, which I have loved since childhood.

4.) Nurture My Relationships
This kind of goes with Number 2. Because I can't be with family, in my twenties my friends have become a second family. I like to go to bars where we can hear each other talk, spend long lunches catching up, and enjoy keeping in touch with close friends who are far using modern technology. (A lot of time is spent on gtalk.)

Of course by "relationship" I count Mr. Stiles. We like to go to the "eat food, watch movie" place, aka Alamo Drafthouse. We also do a lot of sushi dinners, brunches and random trips to Target. And experiential escapades, of course.

5.) Travel
It pains me that because of the industry I work in, I can't get away very often and don't make enough cheddar to travel as I'd like. But my mom always told us that she'd spend any amount of money to allow us to travel because being in different places, different parts of the world give you an invaluable education. So I grew up flying around with my fam and love it. These past few years I've gotten to wander through emerging Asia since Mom was working in Taiwan. The one international trip with friends (if we don't count the Bahamas or Mexico) was after high school. Seven of us wandered around Europe together for a month; the older I get the more grateful I am for that trip.

6.) Run Outside
I don't consider myself a runner. I've run a marathon once and am currently training for a half in January, but I'm not one of those people who has to do it regularly or needs it to clear my head. I just enjoy being outside and talking to whoever's running beside me as we hit one trail or another. I've always bonded quickly with other people I run with, which is a joyful consequence of the exercise part. I don't have a favorite race or distance, but one thing I remember while running in college: I once discovered a trail near our duplex in which numerous rabbit couples were humping like... jackrabbits, all afternoon. I'll never forget it.

OK so that's that. Now I tag six of my blogger friends to reflect on what brings them joy:

Michelle
Jayna
Big Poppa
Erica
Sappy Chick
Hasser

Mystery Meat of Love

2008-12-03T21:07:00.001-06:00

An email from my friend Jake:

"When we gonna go out for a hotdog lunch? I think you're the only person I've met that shares my deep and abiding love for them..."

Even better with chili and cheese!

Maybe Next Year

2008-12-02T10:46:00.002-06:00

It's getting to be that time to think about the pluses and minuses of the year that was. Stiles realized that we never went to the Alamo Drafthouse (a chain of specialty movie theatres in town) to watch the Air Sex competitions. Air Sex is exactly what you think it is. The rules:

Time: Contestants have a maximum of 2 minutes to perform an air sex routine. This can include all phases of an air sex encounter: meeting, seduction, foreplay and intercourse, or you can simply cut to the chase.

Music: Competitors must perform to music, you can either bring a CD of your performance track with you, or you can choose from our selection of air sex music. You may also include an audio prelude to your performance, maximum of 30 seconds.

Other Rules: Unlike air guitar, there are not many other rules. Props are allowed, teams are allowed, talking is allowed. The only important rule is that all sexual climaxes must be simulated, not real.