Folks.. I apologize.. Myspace blogs were down last night.. I had to post this in the morning…

 

Oh man am I sleepy.. We got in so late last night. Found our nice hotel and fell asleep. Here’s a bad picture of flying in that came out pretty cool.

Note the name of the resturaunt behind the hotel.

I’ve fallen asleep twice while sitting down ready to start blogging. . I’ll do my best to get through it. We got in very late night and did not get enough sleep. I still managed to have a really nice and productive day, though. I began today with a short run around some of the roads and paths behind the hotel. I had forgotten what it felt like  to run in this moist Texas  heat. It was really quite beautiful. The Grackles were out making their normal racket..  which reminds me of growing up on Houston. There it was a comforting familiarity to it.     After a quick  breakfast, I headed out to work and Diane began her planned day of just relaxing away from house and yard work

   I spent my day in meetings in building 45  It was actually nice  being at so many meetings in person after all the phone meetings I do in Burlington.   This is my first trip to Austin since Sam’s passing. Many. folks came up to me here to tell me how sorry they were and to hug me. As always., the love an concern folks show us  really lifts  me up.

Here are my good firends Sybil (Slayergrll.. she posts to my myspace) and Peggy.

I finished up around 6:30 and drove aback to the hotel to pick up Diane. It was soooo nice to have her there at the hotel when I got home. I can’t tell you how many times a year I come back to a dark and empty hotel room somewhere n the world.

    Diane told me about her lazy day.. which sounded  very peaceful…she’d also talked to both boys.. Gabe was still having a good time in Oregon.. and Max was doing fine at home.. I miss them both so much..   Around 7 we headed out to meet my friend Leon and co. for dinner.    Leon was taking the managers who reported to him here in Austin for dinner. The restaurant.. was called “Mood and Food”  . Diane and I did the ‘we’re trying to be vegan’ dance with the menu and found something with no meat, eggs or dairy.. Once again.. I’ve been a vegetarian for years with no problem.. but trying to avoid eggs and dairy in our culture is really tough.  One interest side note about the restaurant. was that the room was filled with color changing lights  (I that kept cycling our food between shades of red . white, green and blue… I managed to take most of my bites during the white cycles.  Conversation at dinner was good… it was good getting to know these folks better. 

   AT about 8:30 we excused ourselves and headed over to my friend Jim and his wife Mary. Jim and Mary’s house looks our over Lake Austin… which was really beautiful tonight. Amazingly, the night was quite cool.. I think it’s cooler here tonight than back in Vermont. We sat out on Jim and Mary’s porch and listened to the rain.. t couldn’t have been nicer. One cool bonus for the evening is that Mary and I went to the same High School in Houston (Memorial High)// Mary is a couple of years younger than I am, but we still new many of the same folks. There are very few folks I know who I can reminisce  with about those days.. it was fun. 

    Now were back at the hotel and I keep falling asleep.. I just nodded off for the third time while tying. Time to post this and get to sleep. More from Austin tomorrow !  Goodnight folks.. goodnight Sam !

-me

A story from texas wouldn’t be complete with out a picture of the state mascott !