Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? I’m a rockstar at mind-mapping. Definitely need to add that to the résumé. Now I have to find the time to sit down and actually do the redesign. The idea is that by posting this, I have to hold myself accountable to it. We’ll see how well it works.

Found on a pleasant evening dog-walk.

It is either a Wavyleaf thistle or a Texas thistle — still investigating the subtle differences between Cirsium undulatum and Cirsium texanum. Any botanists want to chime in? Both are plumed thistles, I believe.

I tried to mostly stay away from just taking pictures of wacky people, so I focused on wacky animals and their people instead. And Abbie’s very popular painted belly.

I think I was overall glad to not be drinking at this event. There are many ways to experience Eeyore’s Birthday, and I found it very interesting as a sober person. Times sure change. I have to accept that I’m just not as hip as I think I am, or was.

Nothing like classic weekend Americana in Texas Hill Country. Best unexpected zebra detail: fuzzy ears

I just hope they aren’t for selling zebra meat.

It’s fondue time.

This is all for a big project, of course. No way I am just taking time away from job applications to stop and shoot the flowers. Round 1 wasn’t bad for a first attempt. I did manage to capture this happy little guy frolicking among the bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis).

And this guy on a Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella). I was going for pictures of just flowers, but I’ll take the happy accidents also.

I tried to keep my head down just for flowers, but I slipped up a few times. Worth it to see this white-eyed vireo.

Only a bit of movie commentary/review. I’m using a variety of rating systems as suits my whim. If I’ve forgotten anything from the list, then I definitely fell asleep during it. That is true for some of the shorts below as well, but I still remembered seeing the title and credits.

I really loved all of the documentary features. That was probably my favorite category from the bunch.

Documentary Shorts:

After — beautiful about the small moments behind the scenes at Auschwitz

Contents of C______’s Box, in no particular order — it was short, and a bit bizarre in a harmless way

Endless Day — thumbs down. About insomnia, but I think I still fell asleep

Flutter — ***** but I’m a sucker for stories about butterflies and the people who love them

I Kill — very interesting, but you can’t mind a bit of realistic butchery.

Introducing: Bobby — kind of a downer

The Knife Maker — I wanted to like this one, but I fell asleep.

KRS ONE: Brooklyn to the Bronx — ****, very good.

Magnetic Reconnection — soothing, hypnotic, beautiful… yep, I fell asleep

The Other Dave — good subject for a short; interesting to spend a few minutes with this guy and his family.

Recollections — ***** very beautiful and touching story of people recovering and restoring pictures from the Japanese tsumani.

The Roper — I fell asleep, so no comment.

SLOMO — wacky, interesting guy and he was there for the showing.

The Village — ****, wonderful.

Vladimir Putin In Deep Concentration — not bad, and it wasn’t too long.

Documentary Features:

The Crash Reel — amazing and heartbreaking, but with a happy ending

SPOILER: the guy survives, and here he is, with his brother, at the screening:

The Network — ***** maybe my favorite. Makes me want to move somewhere and do something important.

The Great Hip Hop Hoax — **** crazy, amazing story, and the 2 main players were there for the first showing!

The two main guys had not spoken in like 10 years until a few months ago. Amazing story.

Brothers Hypnotic — ***** This one should be playing on PBS sometime soon. Find it and watch it.

And the director had a great story about how he was in law school and heard the guys playing on the street, and the next day he showed up with a video camera to start filming them. Another new personal hero.

Getting Back to Abnormal — **** Which superlative shall we use again… let’s say wonderful, because it’s true.

I Am Divine — ***** Who doesn’t love Divine, and this told the story so beautifully.

Unhung Hero — the only meh from the documentary feature category. It was just ok. Seemed a bit forced and felt like it turned into just a self-publicity vehicle.

Narrative Shorts:

THE AUDITION — cute

Black Metal — *****very, very good

Boneshaker — I’m embarrassed to say I fell asleep a little bit. I was fighting hard to stay awake.

Indoor — ***** very, very touching story

Kelly — meh

LaDonna — one of the most egregious cases of “description DOES NOT prepare you properly”

Natives — *** good enough

Necronomica — ***** funny and poignant and kind of beautiful

#PostModem — probably the worst thing I saw

Sequin Raze — ***** fantastic, very high quality

The Slaughter — **** very good

Social Butterfly — pretty good

Top Floor — **** also pretty great, maybe even pushing 4.5 stars

Narrative Features:

Cheap Thrills — what a way to end Day 1!

Drinking Buddies — **** Very funny and I really appreciated the choices the characters made

I Give It A Year — billed as not-your-typical romantic comedy, but that is exactly what it was. meh.

Reality Show — **** so, so funny and horrible, but I don’t think I had to cover my eyes for any moments like 4 of the 6 other narrative features

Snap — pretty good psychological thriller, 3.5 stars…

V/H/S/2 — you have to like the horror genre, but if you do and know what these guys are all about, then this was fantastic. lots of zombies this time around. Perhaps I would even call it a trope.

I saw no music. I met no interactive people. The main drag was a little overwhelming for me just walking around. I decided to just really focus on the film festival. One evening I had one drink with a couple of people in a jazz club away from the main craziness. Maybe I can do the music and interactive portions in subsequent years. This guy was either making music with some steampunk-violin machine, or making beer. I couldn’t see well enough:

I don’t know though, some of the silliness that was around because of the music includes a multi-storied fake Doritos’ vending machine (with a stage or something below it):