Clouds Clouds Go Away, Come Back Some Other Day

I remember waking up this morning sweating to death under the covers and tossing them off to get some fresh cool air on my body. As I laid there, it seemed like an eternity, I contemplated what time it might be and if I could lay there a bit longer before the alarm clock buzzer went off. As I rolled over and peered over at the alarm clock with my fuzzy eyes, I noticed it was 6:00 am and no alarm was set. This should have told me the tone of the day. I laid my head back down on the pillow, closed my eyes and pretended to look at the ceiling through my eye lids. UGH I thought, I have to get up. I had missed my 30 minutes of snoozing which is needed for a good morning start on a work day so as I rolled out of bed, put on my leopard printed slippers, I shuffled to the bathroom, still half asleep. I needed a hot, very hot shower. 

My morning routine is pretty much the same everyday, shower, put stuff on face, check twitter, check email, tweet important things for work, find clothes to wear, dry hair, go to office. Pretty easy. I decided to wear a cashmere sweater I bought last year, one of the few pairs of black pants that still fit (I have lost a few pounds recently and refuse to buy new pants.), boots and a scarf. As I get ready to leave, I remember I need to open the curtains for my very spoiled cat. She likes to look out the window and annoy the neighborhood dogs with her lazy and blessed life inside. As I opened the curtains I realize all the windows have condensation on them and I reach out to touch the window and it is warm. Great I think, now I need to change, I will surely sweat to death in this sweater. I peruse through my wardrobe and don't find a thing to go with black pants. How can that be?! I have an entire closet full of tops, one whole row is devoted to black and white tops, seems impossible that I could look in and find nothing to wear. And it isn't so much that I have nothing to wear but more that I had thought it out and decided what I was GOING to wear and the weather was not cooperating so now I had to change my mind, hard to do. 

I decided to leave on the tank, pants and boots and settled on a Target sweater with a scarf from 1993 wrapped around my waist. These things seem to balance out the Tiffany rings, bracelet and Pucci perfume. Finally dressed and ready for work. 

I walk out the door and immediately appreciate my clothing choice change. It was humid like a rain forest, the air just sort of stuck to you. This gives one so much appreciation for air conditioning, which I turned on in the car and ran the entire 5 miles to work. I know, don't hate me....I have a short drive. 

But even in that short drive I managed to find more than a few annoyed drivers testing their horns and impatient people that decided today was the day to whip in between cars. And even when I went out for lunch people still seemed to be in an annoyed state, or maybe today was horn testing day and I missed the memo. Either way, I say relax people! 

The clouds and wetness in the air seem to be moving on, hopefully this weekend will be beautiful, maybe I will ride my bike or go for a run. I think I need it, the clouds seem to have moved on in the sky but they have returned to my head. Bike, Run, Yoga...any would be good to clear the fog from my brain.

Consistent Yoga Makes for Better Classes

I went to Bikram Yoga yesterday, it was the first time I had been in 7 days and boy did I feel it! They say you should go at least three times a week and not have larges gaps of time between sessions or it is like starting over each time. Although my body still remembered the postures and the flexibility was still partially there, I could really tell it had been some time since my last session.

Class started off well but by Triangle I was beat. For some reason my arms felt extremely fatiqued so even holding them paralle for a second was too much. I suppose I could chalk it up to too much ACL Fest in Austin.  Pretty much all I did all weekend was walk around 15 acres at Zilker Park. But that would be too easy of an excuse. It is more likely that not exercising for 6 days played a bigger part. (I had gone to the gym one of the days.)

And I know this, consistent exercise is best.... but sometimes knowing what is best is not always enough. So my goal for the rest of the week is to work out at least 3-4 more times, Saturday looks to be the busiest day with regular yoga class and then advanced.

ACL Fest - Will 2009 be Known as the Mud Year?

I survived ACL fest! Saturday was full of rain and Sunday was full of mud, both were an experience!

On Saturday my dad and I went ahead and staked our area under the big tree near the BMI stage. While we were setting up the chairs my dad sat in his and it promptly fell apart. This to most people might seem like am alarming situation where you might be concerned about the safety of the person. Not me, I sat there and just laughed, so did my dad. After using his handy nail clipper/multi use tool to fix the chair, we went back out to meet up with my mom and family friend, Warren.

On the way out we saw a huge happy face on the ground, the exit security guy had gathered the grass clippings and made a smiley face. It was so cute I took a picture of it.

We enjoyed a drink at Chuy's before going to an Austin Monthly, VIP Hospitality Lounge at the Barton Place Sales office where we learned about the condo's for sale and saw some great interior design elements. It was a nice retreat from the rain, we didn't stay long though, and we had music to listen to! We donned our yellow ponchos and headed towards the entrance. I would have thought yellow ponchos with Mickey Mouse would be easy to spot in a crowd but as it turns out, there were lots of people with yellow ponchos with Mickey on them! It's a good thing we mostly stuck together or we might have ended up with the wrong group of people!


We saw Alberta Cross, whoever was on the Raveonettes stage - they weren't that great, Cotton Jones and Papa Mali.

Cotton Jones

Alberta Cross

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears

B-52's

Sunday was pretty much a mud fest from the start. When we got to the entrance they had rerouted everyone to a single line to reduce the amount of traffic on the already worn grass and they had moved the entrance lines to the side, we suspected because the other entrances were worn down and muddy.  After we got in, our suspicions were confirmed, it was indeed muddy! Wow was it muddy. The worst spot early in the day, an maybe all day was around the food area. Every step was met mud coming up over the shoe and in my case, flipflops! Mud oozed between my toes and seeped into the tiniest places between the sequins of my shoes.  And joy, the City had used compost and waste to help kick start the grass so the entire place smelled like a barn and cow manure. NICE!

Even so, we stayed until almost 4:00 pm and as we left, more people were still streaming in. The mud didn't seem to faze too many people. One kid next to us was covered in mud like he has been rolling around in it. Other people we saw went to a different extreme and wrapped their shoes with plastic baggies. Whatever way works right? As long as you have fun. 

ACL Fest is never boring that's for sure. Whether there is a dust cloud, mud or scorching heat, you can always count on good music, great people watching and long lasting memories.

My Fitflops after Sunday! :( A good scrubbing got most of the mud off.

ACL Fest Shells Out Some Awesome Music

Austin weather holds out, first day of ACL Fest is a success.

As I sit under the big tree we always use as a haven, waiting for Kings of Leon to start, I can't help but reflect on the day. It started with great music at a local restaurant, Threadgills, breakfast at Austin Java and finished at one of the best outdoor concerts ever, ACL Fest.

Threadgills and local radio station, KGSR, held early morning "sampler" music sets spotlightinging several ACL Fest singers and bands. Donations of $5 got you in, a breakfast taco and coffee, what a deal! Today's performance donations went to HAAM, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

We saw performances by The Greencards, Tom Snider, The Walkman and Mediski, Martin & Wood. My favorite had to be the Greencards. I saw them several years ago and loved them. Tom Snider was very funny, would recommend him if he is playing a gig near you.

After Threadgills, we decided to grab a parking spot close to the festival and walk to grab a bite to eat at Austin Java. I had a yummy breakfast burrito, my second of the morning in case you were counting.

We made the short walk to the festival and waited for the gates to open. As we heard the Starwars theme, the indicator the doors are open, I saw people rushing down to the Livestrong stage and to our tree haven. It was an funny sight for sure. By the time we got in the tree where we sit was almost full and the music hadn't even started!

There was good music like Nelo, The Greencards and Reckless Kelly and not so great music like Bassnectar or pretty much anything else on the Dell stage. One exception is Sound and the Jury, they were on the Dell stage early and were great to watch and had good music.

Its good to have a haven to sit and relax. As sit here and I look around and see people hurrying to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kings of Leon and I'm pleased I feel totally content in my chair listening to the music from afar, under the tree. What a beautiful way to end the day.