I passed my story around a little bit this past week and so far people like it. The thing is that I don’t really trust the opinions of people whom I know and can talk to face to face. But at the same time some of these people have been critical of other things that I have done so I think it balances out.

There is also another matter at hand, I keep setting arbitrary dates in my head and then not making any progress toward actually getting something done. So right here, right now I am going out on the limb and saying that I need to have a completed story, ready to be edited by the fifteenth of August. And I need to actually try and do this by that date. I have a lot of the early edits done and I can hold off on them while I finish getting stuff onto the page.

A lot of the little details have been rapidly evolving. Names has been a big thing because once they’re out there, they’re final. So I settled on Madeleine and Wendy as the names fro the main characters. The other two, the supporting roles, I had a harder time with. It seems that Trey and Beatrix are going to be the names, though.

I also think I need to start doing short prompts. I have a book with some in it and I wrote down some of the ones that interest me most. So I can get back into the swing of writing characters…especially those from my novel (the one I’ve been neglecting since March). I need to get back to those characters because they were the ones I had in my head for over decade and it seems like there might actually be a chance for them to see the light of day now.

Combine sweet threads with live music and what do you get? Weirdcity, a new Austin-lifestyle brand and brainchild of local Austinite, Anderson Price. The original idea for Weirdcity sprung from Anderson’s love of music as well as his desire to give back to his hometown musicians. “I was inspired to create a product that spoke to Austinite’s unique sense of style as well as their common desire to support their community”, said Anderson, “and what better way to support our community than by supporting the artists who have built Austin into the cultural center it has become.”

What hopes to be the first of many products in the line, Weirdcity’s “Austin Polo” is made with 100% Pima cotton and enhanced with custom-made, authentic pearl shell buttons and a subtle yolk style stitching reminiscent of western shirts of yesteryear. Tagged with a small-embroidered Armadillo logo and a guitar pick hang tag, Weirdcity shirts appeal to everyone from the frat boy to the cowboy. The Austin Polo is currently available in three stitching/fabric color combinations, burnt orange on white, blue on white, and baby blue on slate blue. Sizes range from S-XL.

Most importantly, Weirdcity has partnered with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (“HAAM”) by committing to donate a fixed amount of money for every shirt sold. That donation will translate into a variety of services such as a month of pharmacy costs, a vaccination, an acupuncture visit, or a box of blood sugar lancets, depending on demand.

Weirdcity’s Austin Polo is currently for sale via Kickstarter, an online funding platform for creative projects. Kickstarter’s unique platform and fervent fan base allows Weirdcity not only to launch its first product but also immediately begin supporting HAAM as a result of the site’s scale. Following the success of the initial Kickstarter launch, Weirdcity plans to expand to various local retailers throughout Austin.

“By starting a Kickstarter page we wanted to fuel a fire on a grassroots level to not only build, but also to attract a group of active supporters” says Price. “We invite friends, family and the city to be our first true supporters before we hit the stores. From our Facebook fan base to our growing base of loyal fans, we are primed to achieve success in the coming months and beyond.”

Price, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s school of business, spent a number of years in the banking and consulting worlds, before discovering his social entrepreneurial side. Similar to TOMs Shoes, he wanted to not only start a brand that fit well and looked good, but that also was part of a larger good. Upon completing his Masters in businesses at UT, Price had his first brush at business success with the creation of Fliptogs - flip-flops sold in a vending machine on Sixth Street.

Help Weirdcity in its efforts to benefit HAAM today through the Kickstarter campaign at http://kck.st/weirdcity!

Weirdcity
www.weirdcity.com
www.facebook.com/weirdcity

Health Alliance For Austin Musicians
www.myhaam.org
www.facebook.com/myhaam

For just $.99, the LocalEats app provides a list of nothing but the best local restaurants, each being hand-picked by the editors based on ratings from magazines, fellow foodie sites, top food bloggers and most importantly—in my opinion—from locals.

If you’re an adventurous foodie like me, I’m always on the look out for that hidden gem or totally unique dining experience. This app provides a curated list of the T0p 100 picks in each city along with a number of local favorites. You can also filter restaurants by cuisine, neighborhood, price range and hours.

You are invited if…You:

Always had….something, but don’t  really know what “it” is or how to develop it

Had abilities as a child, but have lost them as an adult and would like to get them back

Always wanted to visit a psychic, but felt silly, unsure or afraid

Are just curious about what it really means to be psychic

Want to meet and talk with others to better understand and enhance your own sensibilities

The TPSC is an open group that meets at different restaurants to share a meal and conversation.  Each event has a different topic of discussion and all are encouraged to participate at his or her own comfort level.  Attendance numbers are kept small so everyone has a chance to join the discussion.  Because this is the first open meeting I ask that anyone attending check out the post

http://ifyoucouldseewhatihear.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/calling-all-clairs-whats-your-psychic-combo-meal/ so you can think a little about your own gifts before the dinner.  If you are in AUSTIN and looking to have a very different Tuesday night dinner, please join us!

Reservations are a $10 donation per person.  (Does not include drinks or cost of meal)

Reservations are required to assure a seat, space is limited.  We will be meeting in a Private Room.

For the July 31st dinner at ASIA CAFE please make reservation below

There’s no secret that I have a hankerin’ for the different, the bizarre, the off-the-beaten-path and certainly the humorous and entertaining. Well, that said, I stumbled upon another experience this past weekend in South Austin that pretty much wraps’em all up in one big ass celebration of life – Sunday Hippie Church at Maria’s Taco X-Press on South Lamar, one of my favorite joints in all of ATX.

Countless local compadres of mine had been imploring me to get to Maria’s on a Sunday for the longest and what I witnessed was nothing short of brilliant. Despite sounding cliché, Sunday Hippie Church is really a “Keep Austin Weird” take on Gospel Brunch. Laid back atmosphere, standard at Maria’s, in a perfect outdoor patio setting, mixed with a rotating group of local musicians performing spiritual classics, “jam band” favorites and feel good dance-alongs. The whole place was havin’ a great time. All ages. All backgrounds. All walks of life. Pure Austin.

All of this goin’ on while the excellent staff at Maria’s is dishin’ out their infamous breakfast tacos and migas, pourin’ ice cold beers and margaritas and makin’ sure that every Hippie Church congregant is filled with the Gospel According to Maria. So, if you’re in the need of a lil’ churchin’, I’d throw on your dancin’ shoes, head on down to 78704 and get ready to experience yet another gem here in Austin.

Maria’s Taco X-Press
2529 South Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
www.tacoxpress.com

He loves going outside and we have not yet come to terms with his natural animal need to be outside or overcome our fear that he will get hit by a car or eaten by deer (not really a fear but this would be the most likely wild animal he would encounter near our house so I’m listing it). He’s also more than happy exploring on the leash and totally fine with new places and people. Plus PetSmart has air conditioning, which makes it a much more pleasant place to walk anything in the middle of a Sunday afternoon in Texas. Therefore, Chris and I were the weirdos walking our cat.

At least now I can say I’ve done my part. Someone did actually take a picture of us and I’m hoping it’s posted somewhere with #keepaustinweird   Also this may not be repeated any time soon since though Oliver loves the leash and exploring PetSmart…he HATES the car, even a 6 minute ride in it, and kind of freaked out there and back. Gonna have to find a better variation to work on continuing the weird…

Only in Austin is this considered normal. There was a sign similar to this but involving beer a few minutes away.

El mural “Art on the side” patrocinado por el canal HGTV

Durante el pasado festival South by Southwest (comúnmente referido como SXSW) llevado a cabo el pasado marzo en Austin, el canal HGTV organizó y patrocinó el proyecto “Art on the side”, el cual consistió en ‘tomar prestada’ una vieja pared en la esquina de las calles 4th y Guadalupe (donde este canal montó un estudio temporal para grabar varios de sus programas)  y convertirla en un gran lienzo de ladrillo, donde todo mundo podía expresar sus ideas, previo la firma de un  waiver.

Acá pudimos captar parte de este colorido mural urbano en un despejado día, con la peculiar torre Frost, edificio que alberga las oficinas del banco del mismo nombre, construido en el año 2003.
Un buen contraste entre estos dos elementos del centro de la capital de Texas, ¿no?

More than anything I want it to read in a fun, interesting way. From what April told me there’s only a few minor issues here and there, which is what I was had hoped for (I think that it’s the best any author can hope for, everyone makes mistakes).  

I sent the first part of the book to her alone, so the changes I am making to the narrative now effect mostly the later parts. For all she knows the things that I change will have always been this way and since that will be the case we can see how coherent the changes are in action. I will be keeping a few copies of the original write ups without the changes around just in case they fail miserably and need to be dialed back to how they were.

In other news, the big novel (the actual big book I’ve had planned for years now that still, as of yet, has no name) has had a small revision made. It’s basically about to get a whole lot more interesting and all because of a conversation with my best friend. I forget how important bouncing ideas off others can be…

Starting to make friends again has changed that and while I have a desire to write, I don’t think that I have the same drive I used to. I need to get that back, once I get the ball rolling it seems like I have a hard time coming to a stop. Hopefully this week I can binge out on writing like the old days.

Found @ whitehotphotoblog.com

Leslie Cochran, an iconic Austinite who personified the face of Austin’s “weird” movement, passed away March 8th, 2012. The city commemorated his passing in a public parade to 6th street, and his family celebrated his burial privately. Leslie’s passing was believed to be the result of brain damage since 2009.
I personally got the chance to talk to Leslie, completely spontaneously, and talk to him about his life. During February of 2012, I was walking down South Congress to Fran’s Hamburgers, feeling particularly well after a fresh haircut at Bird’s Barbershop. An older, bald man wearing a cheeta print jacket graciously approached me in line and mentioned “If you got me a large Jalapeno cheeseburger, that’d be fine.”

I had no idea who he was, or why he particularly approached me instead of someone else. Either way, I agreed, on one condition: that he sit with me, eat, and let me ask him questions.

I had absolutely no idea of what Leslie might look like, as I moved to Austin summer of 2010 and had not yet seen him before. My plan was to ask this (presumably homeless) man what homeless individuals actually NEED. My heart strings get pulled everytime I pull up along side an intersection along the access road of a highway, It’s facing a person with genuine need asking for help. I feel a call to give these people a hand, but instead of money, would bundle: a notepad, water bottle, protine bar, bandaid, and pen, all together and hand a bundle to homeless people instead. I wanted to ask questions about what things I should include in the gift, or if any of it could be better.

This man agreed, and when we sat down, I noticed hospital bands on his wrists, and I could clearly read “Albert Leslie Cochran.” I cleared my throat, and asked him if he was THE leslie, as I very much suspected he was. He admitted he was, and when I pointed out how easy it would have been to get a hamburger had he only mentioned his name, he replied “I’m not going to do that.”

I opened my journal, which I keep with me, took out my pen, and realized how lucky I was to stumble upon an interview I had always wanted to get. All of these questions and answers were recorded and this is a transcription of the factual event.

Nathan: “Leslie, I’m against repeatedly giving cash to the homeless, because it can go to bad things. Instead, I bundle up water bottles, protein bar, a bandage, and a pad of paper and a pencil. Is there anything really important I should include?

Leslie: “Yeah, a lottery ticket. if the lottery is between $80-100 million dollars.”

Nathan: “That seems like something a little trivial, is there anything you could really use daily?

Leslie: “You know this idea you have in your head? Keep it there, I don’t know.”

At this point, I decided to scrap asking him about that endeavor and just started looking into his life.

Nathan: Tell me a little about yourself
Leslie: I left home at 16 and went to Florida State University, I got a scholarship there. I busted my ass for an A. I majored in Mass Communications, and thats why I went into the Navy. I was a anti-warfare underwater technician. I would fix submarines, and I did that for 9 months. Then, I went into the navy reserve in the 1970′s and I was in the special services. I think a lot about what I did, on record, I was “nobody” ( meaning: I wasn’t considered there on paper). I moved to Austin on January 24th 1996.

Nathan: How would you describe Austin?
Leslie: I love Austin, they (the citizens) have been good to me.

Nathan: what do you think Austin needs?
Leslie: A new police department, the police have a lot of good men and women, but arent doing the job, they are crucifying homeless people as criminals.

Nathan: What’s your favorite restaurant?
Leslie: Casino de carmino, they have great hamburgers. I also love bolder creek coffee house, even though i’m not allowed in. I’m not allowed in the best restaurants. Frans too.

Nathan: *Between bites of hamburger* Do you want some ketchup with the cheeseburger?
Leslie: I hate ketchup. I grew up during the great depression and my family put ketchup on everything so we would have more to eat. I hate it, i can’t eat it. I like mustard.

Nathan: I’m still tripping that you’re really Leslie Cochran. Why don’t you choose to use your celebrity status to make plans and do something?
Leslie: Let me tell you something. You make plans, they get fucked up. Besides, Austin is becoming like North Houston, and it makes me want to puke. I mean, a few places like El camino are cool, but most organizations that try to improve this place wind up helping themselves and getting lost in transition when they get bigger.
Nathan: Okay, I guess I can see that. Let me ask you this, I know there is a stigma people have that homeless people are addicts, how do you feel about that?
Leslie: Homeless people are life addicts, not drug addicts.

Leslie: Do you have a cigarette?
Nathan: No man, sorry.

Nathan: what kind of cigarettes do you smoke?
Leslie: American Spirit Blues, the others have chemicals.

It was at this point we had finished our hamburgers, and at the time I had run out of things to think of to ask. We got up, he held the door open for a lady and picked up the trash someone had left out. Then we both walked out. I said “maybe I’ll see you around South Congress again”, but by that time he had already skipped ahead of me and was walking across the street, and I never saw his face turn around to respond.

May you be in peace and good tidings, Leslie. We certainly miss you.

- Nathan Boone

The title I decided on, if you couldn’t tell already from what’s right above this post, is Keep Austin Safe. If I can, I’m probably going to have the word ‘Weird’ appear with a strikeout line through it. All of this fits the basic flavor of the e-book.

As far as the work on the project is coming, I’ve had some critiques lately that I’m taking into consideration. One thing I don’t like about critiques is when they judge something before they’ve even read one word. Someone spoke of there being a prologue before even getting the chance to see it and there’s no way they could have known any of what it would imply. Other times it seems that the reader is only partially paying attention because they question little nitpicky things that are explained right in the text.

I am going to keep at it though, I have a lot of work I plan to do on this tonight and hopefully I get things to a position where I can finish up the last act of the book and start really editing it soon.

The thing that I wanted to address in this post was more about the stupidity that often times follows guns into fantasy. If you’ve ever seen the role playing rules in a game for guns then you know exactly what I’m talking about. They’re almost never desirable in any way, expensive, hard to use and too costly to make effective for the person using them unless they specialize in only that. In books and movies there is this problem of guns being so mundane. All of these magical artifacts and weapons will be running around and no one seems to think to combine magic and firearms. This same problem extends back to role playing games too.

The prime example from that area of interest is the gun rules in Pathfinder. A normal revolver pistol costs more than a minor magic item, does less damage than a long sword and decreases in damage after you’ve moved twenty feet from the target. Couple with that the fact that a character has to be specially trained to use them (even though the same thing isn’t the case with crossbows and longbows, which are much harder to use in real life than any gun—in the case of a crossbow you’ve got to be pretty strong just to load some of them). Then to top it all off the gun has a chance of misfire where it injures the user and anyone standing near them.

While guns are cool, who want’s do deal with all of that when in game you could just use a bow and do more damage? It’s purely a flavor thing.

Frequently we’ll see things in fantasy about people deflecting bullets with swords multiple times or someone with a sword being equal match for someone with a gun. Let me tell you right now, if you had some hardened, gun trained hero and a sword wielder fifty feet apart there’s no reason that sword user should ever get anywhere near the person with the gun unless they’re blind.

One of the stupidest arguments I think I ever got into with someone about writing came from a man named Jeremy. I don’t mind saying his name because he should be embarrassed. He whined about how my characters in a modern day fantasy story were using a gun to fight demons. What else would a regular person use against something faster and stronger than them? You mean you want me to Rule of Cool something that makes no logical sense? People aren’t going to let themselves get killed trying to fight something that has a strength advantage over them with a melee weapon because you think ‘guns are for pussies’ as he said.

What I don’t understand is where all of this comes from. The idea that one weapon that clearly replaced another is somehow not better than it is just stupid. I don’t think there’s any sense to it besides the silly idea of honor that people sometimes like to tote or in some cases they’re victims of too much anime. Whatever the issue, I’m not going to sacrifice logic for what other people think is cool.

Still I want to do this e-book right. The title I have been eyeing Keep Austin Weird is a phrase coined by Red Wassenich. I looked up his contact information and website. There was a picture and frankly the guy looks like a cross between Mr. Feeny (from Boy Meets World) and Indiana Jones’s father—which automatically catapults him into the realm of the epic. On top of that he has a hand in publishing himself. I knew right away I was destined to e-mail him about this matter.

So here I am taking baby steps, trying to be professional and asking for permission to use someone else’s brainchild and slogan. Wish me luck.

All I can say is that Austin and the rest of Texas is heaven!  At least from my inventory this is what I have concluded.

I bought a ton of Texas memorabilia, such as a ‘Keep Austin Weird’ t-shirt!

I wore my ‘Keep Austin Weird’ t-shirt a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and as I was walking down the streets of downtown Lexington a young gentleman sitting on the passenger side of a black Ford 250 truck passed by and said, “Keep Austin Queer”.

My reaction should have been nothing short off shear utter anger, but my southern girl charm must of kicked in, because I thought, “Bless his heart…he ain’t never been to Texas.”

If that guy had been to Texas he would have never have said what he obnoxiously and ignorantly yelled from his rolled down truck window.

Texas is heaven people.  At least Austin, Texas is heaven!  Take my word for it!

Keep Austin Weird, y’all!!!

They’re not my ideal beta-reader. I’m stealing the phrase from Stephen King’s On Writing, though he used ideal reader. What I basically want is a person who knows either nothing at all about the story or who knows the bare minimum. Anyone who’s interested in reading and giving feedback would be greatly appreciated, though I’m kind of wary about letting this thing out on the internet so you might be met with some skepticism if I don’t know you personally.

To my friends elsewhere, in other countries or parts of the US: I would be happy to share my work with you when I am done if you’re so inclined to read it. As it gets closer to competition and once it gets completed I will be looking for people more aggressively.

Anyone have a good strategy for finding someone?

Kindle Link

Nook/iPhone/iPad Link

PDF

But for an active, social 20-something, it’s the perfect destination for a quick, last-minute solo trip. Yep, as in deciding to go somewhere by yourself – tomorrow. And there’s plenty to do here over a short period of time that’s mostly free.

Getting (and Staying) There 

You can search for last-minute airfare and usually get a decent price. For lodging, take a gamble on Hotwire like I did, and you might get lucky and end up at the Holiday Inn Austin – Town Lake Hotel.

Clean and reasonably priced, this hotel is situated at the head of a popular running trail on Lady Bird Lake and is a free shuttle ride or a $5 cab ride to/from downtown.

What to Do in a Nutshell

Since you have two days, pack in as diverse an experience as possible. I’m talking running, bar-hopping, and bat-watching with a little bit of government, history, and lots and lots of walking.

With more than 50,000 University of Texas students nearby, there is plenty of late-night fun to be had, too – just head to Sixth Street.

For the Party Girl (or Guy)

Paradise Café is my pick, as suggested by the group of Texas natives who were kind enough to adopt me into their group when I went solo. In the vicinity of Sixth and Trinity, this 30-year-old bar features an upstairs New Orleans-style outdoor patio that looks onto partygoers in the street (which is closed off to cars at night).

For the really active types or day-drinkers, don’t miss out on the Pubcrawler, a self-propelled party on wheels. Trust me, you’ve got to see it for yourself.

For the Old-school Hipsters

If dancing on a stage to loud, crazy music or peddling around with other drunkies isn’t your thing, perhaps listening to some old-school hip-hop while playing board games is.

A local Austinite who scooped me ice cream at the must-have Amy’s Ice Creams highly recommended Kung Fu Saloon, just off Sixth Street on Rio Grande, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Here, you can play old-school video games like Mortal Kombat III and Ms. Pac-Man, or partake in a game of chess or Giant Jenga, all while listening to a live DJ and enjoying the full bar, which includes 24 beers on tap and a specialty Sake Bomb menu.

For the Outdoorsy Type

The Lady Bird Lake/Town Lake trail is one of the most popular trails in Austin, so expect lots of people. The trail head is right behind your hotel if you stay in the Holiday Inn Town Lake, and it’s a pleasant, mostly flat walk (or run or bike ride).

On a really hot day, you’ll want to follow the signs to Barton Springs, a natural spring-fed pool that remains 68 degrees year-round and, at 900 feet long, is the largest natural pool in the United States in an urban setting.

And what great outdoorsman (or woman) doesn’t like a healthy snack after all that activity? Head down Sixth Street to the very first Whole Foods Market – just try not to get lost in there, because this flagship store is the largest of them all!

For the Animal Lover (Um, Sort of)

The largest urban bat colony in North America lives under the Congress Avenue bridge, where throngs of people (mainly tourists, but locals too) flock just before sundown each evening to watch 1.5 million bats emerge from under the bridge and fly into the dusk.

Stand on the side of the Lady Bird Lake running trail, or rent a paddle board or kayak and post up in the water to enjoy the view.

For the History Buffs

Founded in 1853, UT is one of the nation’s largest universities and is home to Bevo the Texas longhorn, and also a famous tragedy. In 1966, student Charles Whitman opened fire atop the UT Tower, a 307-foot-tall building on the campus, killing 14 people and wounding dozens more.

Despite its haunting tale, though, the UT Tower, which was originally built through an organization created under the New Deal, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Today, it’s home to offices, libraries, classrooms, and the bells that sound across campus.

As seen from the UT campus, the State Capitol also offers its share of history and photo opps. According to the State Preservation Board, the Texas State Capitol is an extraordinary example of late 19th-century public architecture and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its significant contribution to American history.

For the Artist

There’s not much about Austin that isn’t artsy. From hand-crafted keepsakes and live music to, well, just some really weird stuff, there’s a whole gamut of artistic options in this city. Near UT on the weekends, there are a smattering of crafty vendors selling their handmade bracelets and accessories – perfect souvenirs that won’t cost you much.

The Museum of the Weird is in the same building as Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts on Sixth Street and is open daily for a $5 admission fee. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more traditional, check out the Austin Museum of Art on Congress Avenue, which exhibits 20th-century and contemporary art, as well as hands-on public education programs.

And since you’ll inevitably be spending a lot of time in the Sixth Street area, do pop into as many of the shops as you can, where you’ll find unique T-shirts and music paraphernalia galore.

Overall

If you’re only in Austin for two days, stay as close to Sixth Street as possible, keep your smartphone handy for GPS walking directions, and don’t be afraid to mingle with the locals!

This story was also published in:

• San Diego Reader
• TripLark