Day One in Austin, TX

Howdy Y'All...Arrived in the beautiful sparkling airport in Austin, Texas
after an uneventful flight (remind me to tell you about the wicked flight attendant who was most rude to Willie - I mean all he wanted was a diet coke, but she wouldn't get it for him 'cause she was helping someone else who was barfing in the aisle...I mean wouldn't you agree Willie should have his diet coke first?) ANYWAY.. we quickly met up with the beautiful Katherine, and very fit mother Kim at baggage claim, and off we went to explore. Ladies you will not believe this, but Kim handed me a completely typed informational itinerary on Texas fun facts, and what she had planned for the next 3 days. I in turn showed her my BINDER. So alike...even to the point that with the GPS on, we got lost several times!

First stop was lunch at a diner called Counter Cafe "Local Food & Global Love". It was across the street from UT Austin, one of the country's largest public universities with over 50,000 students (distinguished alum Bob Sacks graduated from the law school a few years back..) We had a huge hamburger with a side of sweet potato fries, and off we went for a tour of the State Capitol building. This building is the largest of any statehouse in the country, and taller than the U.S. capitol building in Washington D.C. The tour guide was so interesting that I found myself looking at the door hinges which were quite beautiful...have included a photo!

Afterwards we drove to our wonderful resort Hyatt Regency Lost Pines (google it - you'll want to join us) where we jumped into the pool with a lazy river and floated into the sunset. We met 2 fellow travelers,
one who is a physical therapist (I immediately asked her about my sore shoulder) and the other a Texas police officer (good to have in the vicinity at any time of day). Off to bed early, we look forward to a busy day tomorrow...we have lots of things planned (just check the BINDER).

Of note: Texas is the largest producer of wool in the whole of United States, and in Texas it is illegal to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. It is also illegal to put graffiti on someone else's cow - I KNEW I loved Texas!!!

So long y'all for now...

Day Two in Austin, TX

Howdy everyone: Another beautiful day in Austin...it's hot but there's a nice breeze and the sun is shining. After a great breakfast at the HUGE Texas sized breakfast buffett (please note I ordered an egg-white omlett with veggies, perhaps due to the "sort-of guilt" I felt over last night's multiple offerings of hot off the fire S'Mores...) we jumped in the car to do a little local sight-seeing.

On the day's agenda we had planned on going to the world famous Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, but alas due to the lack of rain we were told the gardens were brown-brown-brown...but to please come back in the spring. So we drove 6 miles (only getting lost 2 times) to Historic Downtown Bastrop whose Main Street is lined with buildings dating from just after the Civil War. We ladies went antiquing, and Willie zeroed in on an ice cream shop nearby to hang out in. Located front & center in Bastrop is a hopping salon called "Cindy's Gone Hog Wild"which features live music, karaoke, and Texas Hold 'Em. Hmmm...maybe tonight?

We returned to Hyatt Lost Pines for an afternoon of lazy tubing down the swimming pool's winding river, and chatting with the floaters-by. People from all over come to this resort - we logged in Denmark, Arkansas, Redondo Beach-CA, and Iowa.

Tomorrow, Labor Day weekend, the lady at the front desk whispered to Kim that 350 guests will be checking in! The pool will be packed! Tonight Willie and Katherine were scheduled for a rafting ride on the "right in our backyard" Colorado River, but alas the river is flat as can be and they were short 1 person. So we are heading back to Bastrop where we've been told there's a movie complex, putt putt golf, an arcade, and some Texas BBQ. There is also a Pizza Hut in town, but the ever-industrious Willie Simon already arranged delivery from there today for his lunch (the rest of us had salads and veggie burritos at the cafe). For sure we will be at the S'Mores firepit at 7pm. Stay tuned!!

Did you know:
* Some celebs born & raised in Austin TX include Lance Armstrong, Matthew McConaughey, Andy Roddick, and Sandra Bullock
* The movies Spy Kids, Dazed and Confused, and Miss Congeniality were filmed in Austin..
* Whole Foods was founded and is based in Austin.
* Austin is the only major Texas city that has NO ordinance against women appearing topless in public.
* Austin is the largest city in the U.S. without a franchise in a major professional sports league- thus the people in this city are crazy about the UT Longhorn football team

Breaking News!!!

Turns out the arcade in Bastrop had a BOWLING alley, so like bees to honey we zoomed over there. Willie was high score both games with 134, but I was close behind due to my spare and spectacular strike in the last frame. Willie has a special bowling technique (perfected years ago at the Pico Bowling League with the two 90 year old instructors) that seems to work for him - it's a grab the ball from the rack and in the same movement toss it down the lane with great speed and a huge bump.. literally it does not land upon the lane until 1/3 of the way down... but I must admit he is quite accurate and his scores prove it!

Katherine was not far behind us as she seems to be a star athlete at any sport she touches (Did I tell you she was one of only two female tennis players selected to represent Texas in the Special Olympics Nationals in 2010 - and by the way she qualified in golf too...) Kim, on the other hand...well, let's just say I was firmly told "A Texas lady does not reveal her bowling scores". As an aside, the young preacher in the lane next to us had a 211 game - 6 strikes in a row (Willie pointed out in bowling lingo that's a "double turkey")

Sticking successfully to my goal of dieting yet eating healthy, I had popcorn, Texas Root Beer, and hot-off-the-fire S'Mores for dinner last night. I heard Willie munching on peanut M&M's at 3:00am but of course I did not ask for a few as that is most definately NOT on my healthy diet.

Day Three in Austin, TX

Hey Y'all... It's a slightly overcast day today which is a big relief as it's still hot but there's a nice breeze and no sun beating down on us.

After we enjoyed a delightful meal at the breakfast buffett we headed out for horseback riding. Obviously Katherine & Kim were a tad more adept at this than Willie and I, but we city folk were able to keep up. I have attached a photo of me on the horse for Lulu's enjoyment in particular.

Afterwards I investigated the Hyatt spa, and then we all did a bit more tubing down the lazy river until it was time for rock climbing and zip lining. Willie made it all the way to the top of the rock climbing wall, with Katherine close behind. Kim (with a little help from the college student in charge) figured out how to video them on their zip line rides, so we'll see if that makes it on the blog (a challenge for Tony at the office!!!). Can't write any more as we are off to a boat ride under a bridge where we will see thousands and thousands of... well I'll let you know later!

OK back from our excursion, and I will now reveal where we were heading...albiet unsuccessfully. We had planned on a dinner river boat ride where we would eat fajitas and cruise under the Ann W. Richards Congress Bridge, which houses the world's largest urban population of Mexican Free-tailed Bats. Starting in February, up to 1.5 million bats take up residence inside the bridge's expansion & contraction zones, as well as in long horizontal grooves running the length of the bridge's underside, an environment ideal for raising their young. Every evening around sunset the bats emerge in search of food (insects)...this event is a popular one with locals AND tourists, with more than 100,000 viewers a year! PS - the bats migrate to Mexico each winter.

SO this is what we had PLANNED, but alas the skies in Austin had turned dark and it looked like rain...there was thunder and lots of spectacular zig-zaggy lightening, sometimes 4 or 5 at a time! So the hotel cancelled the boat ride (note: it never did rain). But the good news is we were pointed to a great Mexican Restaurant -GUERO'S. I have determined that I could never live in Texas - the food here is just toooooo good.

Tomorrow Willie heads west to Los Angeles, and I head east to Boston to meet up with Lulu to help her settle into Boston College for her Sophomore year. The journey continues!

Did you know:
* Texas is the second largest state of the US (Alaska is 1st, with California 3rd) and is also the second largest in population (California is first at nearly 37 million while Texas has 23 million)
* Austin is known as "Silicon Valley of the south" because of large number of tech companies located there (19 year old Michael Dell launched the now Fortune 500 company Dell Computers from his dorm room at UT)
* The official slogan of Austin is "The Live Music Capital of the World" and the unofficial slogan is "Keep Austin Wierd".

Day Four - Boston, Mass

Hello everyone - No more "y'all" but now it's "Where did I paaaaak the car?" Willie headed back to LA and I to bright & sunny Boston to meet Lulu. Lulu had a bit of misfortune at the LAX airport in that she accidentally packed in her carry-on her favorite lotions & make-up, and well...you know they don't allow those through security and thus they were tossed in the trash RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER EYES!(and then as I'm sure she passed through, they were taken out and divided amongst the various security workers...Federic Fekai creams, etc. etc.)

ANYWAY I told her life goes on and if that's the worst thing that happens to you, then you are a lucky girl. A new pair of sunglasses purchased at Faneuill Hall seemed to put a smile on her face...

After a delightful dinner at nearby Houston's, we have now retired at the lovely Marriott in Newton where I am doing some laundry, and mentally preparing for tomorrow at 10:00am when we will report to Walsh Hall at Boston College for a day of unpacking, organizing, and decorating her 4-girl dorm (her roommate has apparently already set up her end of the room in pink & green...)

I'm told her roommate's parents are taking us all out to dinner - hope it's not sushi. Until then...

Day Five - Boston College shopping day

Good morning friends & family:
Waking up to 70 degrees and clear skies, it's a beautiful day - rather chilly actually! Such a difference from last year at this time when we were moving Lulu into her dorm room in 95 degrees and humidity.

I'm staying at a big Marriott on the outskirts of Newton, and my room faces the Charles River where a boat house is located right next door. Early this morning the crew teams of various colleges zipped by - if only I had been outside with my camera. It's a magical sight!

Not much to report today as I spent 90% of my time in Bed Bath & Beyond. One of the workers there saw Lulu and I at 11am, and then again at 4pm, and he said as he passed us by "Still here huh? Yeah, it's a big store.."

We arrived at 11am and bought all the bedding, mirrors, hangers, etc. etc., and then went back to the dorm to begin work. Her roommates had already set up their rooms days before so they were out & about at the gym or getting their lattes. Really nice girls - we've got Lulu from LA, Claire from Rye NY, Brooke from Bermuda, and Allison from Darien CT.

We returned to Bed & Bath at 4pm to exchange some of our purchases, and buy a lot more hangers...well anyway I will fast forward to dinner that evening at Toscano (days later I will still be thinking about the artichoke risotto) in Beacon Hill with the roommates and a few of the parents. The restaurant was on Chestnut Street which is an area I need to explore more - lots of charming little shops, brick row houses with tiny garden alcoves and window boxes bursting with flowers, winding streets made of river stones. Right around the corner is the Massachusetts State House with the very dramatic and striking Golden Dome. Thank God for valet parking!! ...I don't know where anyone parks over there.

Following dinner I drove back to BC the roommates & one of the dad's (who is a very successful real estate guy from the midwest.. but upon arrival at Logan airport got to the Hertz Gold member counter where the fella looked at his driver's license and said "Hey this is expired...you can't rent a car") He and his daughter have spent a small fortune taking taxis all over Boston for the past 4 days!!!! Everyone was having such a good time chat-chat-chatting that no one (including me) noticed until it was too late that I had turned the car LEFT onto the "T" train tracks instead of staying on Comm Ave... It was only when I went over the curb and a large screeching was heard from the approaching train that I realized I needed to steer myself in the opposite direction.

Once I corrected this minor mistake (which I'm sure MANY people have made before pluuzzz...) and quieted down the girls in the backseat, I overheard the Dad say "At least it wasn't all 4 wheels on the track". I am sure my exceptional driving skills will be shared with others way into the evening...

And speaking of that, after a full day of shopping and organizing and laying down carpets and assembling a vaccum cleaner (where was Griffy when I needed him?) the girls had plans to party on through the night --- oh to be young. I, on the other hand, returned to my hotel room just in time for Mad Men...only to discover that the TV at the Marriott did not have AMC ....luckily I've Tivo'd it at home. Tomorrow to Maine!