What time is it?

Time for a new camera!

Thanks to Too, this year for Christmas I was blessed with a brand new camera. Now, if you ever thought to yourself “Morgan takes really crappy pictures” I feel your pain and I would like to place the majority of the blame on my Kodak Easy Share (don’t laugh) 2.0MP that I got for free the Christmas of 2003 (It came with my Dell computer – again from Mom and Too).

Now I am the proud owner of a Canon Power Shot 7.1MP and it is a mighty fine camera! Wow. The photos are amazingly clear and crisp. The colors are spectacular. So why, you ask, if I have had it since Christmas, did I not take it to Memphis? And why haven’t you seen any of the fruits from this new camera? Well, when you get a fancy new camera with all the bells and whistles, you also have to take some quality time to figure out how to work the bugger. Thanks to the debilitating snow storm in Austin, today is the day. I have been snapping a few photos here and there – take a look at what this baby can do:

Sarge's first Christmas.Picking up everyone for our first New Year in Austin. Jax and French...Then Erica (unfortunatly Micah had to work).
The New Year Party at the Driskil.

Amazing short of the old tin ceiling.

Party girl...
Post party Mr. and Ms. Quad.
Sarge was sad I was going to Memphis with out him.
Oh, I wanted to take him along!
Stay tuned for many more to come!

NCMR 2007: Memphis., TN

I just got back from the National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis. It was my second time going and this year was even better than the last. It is amazing to me what 30 people can do when they put their minds to it, here is a picture of the Free Press team on Beale Street after the conference is over (I think). All I can say is way to go them, it was a huge success!

Here are just some of the highlights…If you click on the links most of them go to YouTube pages of them speaking. If you don’t want to watch all of them, I understand, but if you have time (like 30 min), and you want to know what this movement is all about, watch Bill Moyers’ opening speech. It was tremendous.

Friday night my colleagues from all over the globe went out to dinner at the world-famous Rendezvous Ribs. We were served by Percy, he has been working there since 1970 and he has had the pleasure of serving four presidents and one Japanese Prime Minister. Percy gave us a tour of the whole restaurant, even the kitchen. I brought back some BBQ sauce and rub for Ian and we made BBQ chicken last night. It was wonderful!

Danny Glover was our MC on Friday night.

And then Dennis Kucinich a suprise guest.

The we saw Rev. Al Green's Gospel Choir …

and the North Mississippi Allstars/Burnside Exploration. (I don’t have photos, but also there was Davey D from Hard Knock Radio and Amy Goodman from Democracy Now!) The Allstars invited up FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein up to join them on the harmonica.

On Saturday night Consumers Union held a reception with the Austin Lounge Lizards. And, there he is again, Commissioner Adelstein is rocking out with the Lizards!

Then we headed down to see Geena Davis (founder of See Jane). Sorry, no pic yet.

and the The Bar-Kays (remnants from Otis Redding’s band). That’s quite the outfit!

Let’s see it again up close. Wow.

After that we headed down to Beale Street and were given special treatment at BB Kings. Here’s the view from the VIP box.

Overall it was a wonderful trip and I met tons of wonderful new people!

The mississippi delta was shining like a national guitar

I am headed to Memphis for the third National Confrence on Media Reform. If you are coming by any chance stop by and say "hi." I am facilitating the 5:15-6:30 SW Regional Breakout Session on Friday. Or come on over to CU's reception on Saturday night and hear the Austin Lounge Lizards play. I am sure that it will be a blast and come next Monday when I get back to Austin I will have tons of new and exciting photos.

I am really going to try to get over to the Peabody to see the ducks. They are awesome!

Here are some photos from when Ian and I went to Memphis in July. WE were so tired from the trip that we slowly walked Beale St once and called it a night.

Jealous Ian? Feeling Green?

The secret’s out...since my mug’s in the Hutch Leader.

Last year Mom and I started our own tradition of bring Christmas cheer to the town square. This year we had more help (Kay from the paper, Dennis from the Chamber and mom) but they voted and I still had the best knees (and health insurance). So up I went for my yearly pose with the Hutchinson Brothers.

Here’s me and the big green guys!

Home Buying One-Oh-My-Goodness-One

As you may know (from talking to us or from reading this phlog) Ian and I are in process of buying our first home. People say "what an exciting time" or "that's fantastic it is such a rewarding adventure" but what they don’t tell you is the amount of stress that comes from buying your first home. And for that reason, you may be hearing a lot about the process from me over the next 60-90 days.

We moved here with the intent of buying and we have been working toward that goal ever since we crossed the TX border. First, we explored the area to decide where we wanted to focus. Then, we bought a few books for first time homebuyers ("The Virgin Homebuyer" and "100 Question Every First-Time Homebuyer Should Ask"). After that, we signed up for Informal Courses at the University of TX.

Come mid-November we took some time off from the process to enjoy the holidays with the goal of kicking the process in to high-gear on January 1. As soon as we came back from vacation, we started talking to a lender. And we set up interviews with real estate agents.

On Thursday, we met with two agents they were wonderful, but one had something the other didn’t: she specialized in the area where we want to buy (and she had been selling real estate for more than 20 years in Austin, where she was born and raised). The other, although referred from our friends was wonderful, but had only been here for 6 years and didn’t specialize in any particular area. We had one agent left to interview on Saturday – she was a total dud. She had only been in the biz for 2 years and she was fairly negative from the start. So today we called them all back, thanked them politely for their time and went with the one with 20 years experience who specializes in 78704.

Now, on to the nerve wrecking process of "shopping our lender." Thank God that we have a friend here in town that is a mortgage specialist. She has offered to sit down with us and help us know what the heck to do. I have to tell you (I am sure it is no surprise) the most nerve wrecking part is the mortgage part. The part where you sign away your soul to the bank. Thankfully you get a home out of it.

This afternoon we drove by a few places that are on the market in our price range I our area. Before you get to attached to any of these places (Mom) they may not be right for us, we haven't seen the insides, all we did to day was drive by to check out the neighborhoods around them.

Here are the pictures:

I like this one it is on a corner lot, it has a "studio out back" for storage, it is on a corner lot and it is in an awesome neighborhood. However, when we drove by the sign said "contract pending" (which of course it didn't say on AustinHomeSearch.com).

This one is also in a good area, very very close to Zilker Park, and although it is in the middle of the city, it is really quite there.
This one has a tree going thru the porch roof, a large back yar, right off Congress Ave, and about 12 blocks from the railroad tracks. However it looks like it does NOT have central air and this is Texas.
This one is one block from the railroad tracks (very loud) but looks like a real find. If only there weren't track, oh-wait, that might be why it is going for so cheap.
This one also doesn't have central air, it os over by Zilker and it looks like it is falling down.
Ok, that's it for now, there will be many many more in the coming weeks. If you have any advice, leave us a comment, right now we could really use some advice.

Fascinating

I know and love a lot of artists, creative people and in general funky people. Comes with the territory of being my mother’s daughter. I like to think that over the last 14 years I have picked up some (a little?) creativity and I can spot special art. So when I come across real finds I want to share them. Today was one of those days, this is awesome. Just go and click play, they guy is amazing and the process is memorizing.

Enjoy.

On the subject of "winter white"

Now I am not one to “declare” any Miss Manner’s rules and put an absolute NO on white after Labor Day, but there are things you wear on New Years Eve – and there are things you don’t. The woman in question was on the arm of a fella walking out of the restaurant we had just enjoyed dinner at. Thing is, she was wearing tight fitting white pants, a green tank, and a stark white blazer. And according to French (I wasn’t looking) she had what appeared to be an embroidered clover shape on the inseam. A serious offense. Here is a fashion rule I think we can all agree on: No clad playing symbols of any kind stuck to your nether region. Period. Before or after Labor Day.

The moral of my story is, you can in fact wear whites in the winter. They are called "Winter Whites." Here are a few choice, mind you tasteful ideas…

Rosemary Clooney's famous dress in White Christmas

A modern option currently available at Ann Taylor - I'm talking to you clover girl.

A furry possibility...this certanily should not be worn in the summer.

And really folks, sleves or no sleves this one should be avoided!

Ze Frank’s New Year Resolutions

He does it right!

Man he cracks me up!

Pollo Verde with Guacamole

A spicy dinner from the Minnesotan, this dish is a hit at our house. And on the Super Birthday Bowl menu of 2007.

Pollo Verde

Make the tomitillo sauce by pureeing canned tomitillos, ¾ large onion, one jalapeno, ½ bunch of cilantro in food processor.

Pour over boneless, skinless chicken thighs in skillet (when making for a large crowd you can briefly brown the chicken thighs and put in crock pot – great for serving up to 30 people! Trust me, I've done it!) Place skillet covered on medium heat for about 35-40 minutes. Stir carefully off and on to avoid sticking. The chicken will almost shred itself.Serve with Mexican rice, tortillas and guacamole. Now for the guacamole.

Dice onions. Seen here in a Donna and Wally Wold bowl (that's the beauty of having a mother whose a potter good pottery from many different potters).

Add in jalapenos (and since these aren't Northern Virginis jalapenos, I recommend taking out the seeds - yowzer!)

Add in fresh avacados. If you are not serving it right away store with pits in the bowl, this will keep the avacado fresh longer. Add salt, pepper and powered garlic (I have tried fresh but I think that powder spreads the flavor better in guacamole). Dice up tomatoes and add them juice, seeds adn all! The moisture will make your guacamole the perfect consistancy. Transfer to Clay Coyote bowl and serve!

Fun photos from a fun night...

I would write about the lovely evening we had at the Castle Hill Café, but Jax did that. So instead here are a few choice shots from Jax’s camera (as soon as my new camera’s cord arrives I will share my fun photos).

So cheers...

...to a new year a new city!

...to random guy's flashing hats!...to kisses!and more kisses!
to "French-made" hats! to scary longhorns on the wall!Happy New Year...cheers to you!

Sarge Says...

Happy New Year...Now, get this stupid hat off me.

A little from column A, a little from column B

Got a post last night, I can only gather it is from my Aunt Mary. (Dad’s only sister, the youngest of five.)

She commented on how much Josh and I look like my dad. I guess I always thought I looked more like mom. But, you can be the judge.

Here is me and Dad…

Here is me and mom…

I guess I look a lot like the both of them.
(No one in this family can blame the postman.)

Christmas Jello

In my family we have a tradition of having Nana’s Christmas Jello as the “salad” (life’s short eat dessert first) to celebrate our holiday. The jello takes 3 days to make. The first layer is lime jello with crushed pineapple. The second layer is whipped lemon jello with cream cheese and whipped cream. And the top layer (unless there is an unfortunate floating incident*) is strawberry jello with real strawberries in it. All together it is amazing!

Each of us have different ways of eating it. Mom likes to get a little from each layer, I like it for breakfast and crazy Aunt Susan doesn’t eat the green. Too always goes on about it, picking on the littlest things because he knows it goats mom. And my bet is Aunt J hasn’t made it in years. It is a family tradition. The holidays are full of them. Like Mom squinting at the tree saying it is the “best ever.” Like the cats waiting for the Washington Wirt’s gift of extra potent 'nip. And the sad goodbye each year as they drop me off at the airport. I am sure as we keep going there will be new traditions (I may take a while to adjust) but as long as we don’t get rid of the old ones I should be ok. No matter what: we won’t get rid of Nana’s Christmas Jello.

(*Note this photos was of the 2005 jello. 2006 jello experienced an unfortunate floating incident and will remain only a memory...as it doesn't photograph quite as nice, mind you it tastes just fine.)