BBQ Capitol of Texas

Just 30 minutes south of Austin, BBQ Heaven waits. Don’t believe us, the TX State Legislature anointed Lockhart the “BBQ Capitol of Texas”

Black's

Smitty's was closed, but we will have to go back and try it another time.

Going Batty

Ian and I spent the day volunteering at the Bat Fest 2006. All proceeds went to benefit the Bat Conservation International. We were there to answer questions about the bats (when we didn’t know the answer we just made stuff up). The most common questions were (1) what time do the bats come out, (2) where is the best place to see them, and (3) where does all the bat poop (or guano) go? All in all, it was a fun day!

Here is one of the Mexican Free Tailed Bat. Over 1.5 million of these little guys live under the Congress Ave Bridge, home to the largest urban bat colony in the world.

This guy was really into it!

The city shut down the Congress Ave bridge for two days.

Austin AAA Baseball

Tonight we went to see the Round Rock Express play the Memphis Redbirds in the last home game of the season, before the Express go in to the payoffs.

The Dell Diamond is a nice park and there is no such thing as a bad seat.

$20 + 2 Quarts of Hot Sauce

Anyone can enter, few will win, and everyone’s tongues will burn! The Austin Hot Sauce Festival was Sunday. I volunteered at the entrance gate collecting the two canned goods it cost to enter. All proceeds went to the TX Capitol Area Food Bank. It was a HOT, yet fun day!

Where we want to buy

As some of you know, we are trying to buy our first home. The plan (so far) is to move in to a new home in May 07. We have been narrowing down the neighborhood possibilities. Here is the map of where we live now and where we want to live. For the next 8 months, this is going to be a reoccurring theme on the phlog, since it is a huge thing for us.

Any wisdom is welcome!

(Click on photo to make it bigger.)

Keep Austin Weird 5K

My coworker Mari and I participated in our first ever 5K race. We, along with 6,000 other Austinites, started at Auditorium Shores and went around Town Lake. Even though it was HOT (it was 100+ degrees outside at 7PM) and we were on pavement, it was fun. And finishing felt wonderful!

You can see why they call Austin the “Most Fit City in the Nation.”

Sarge and Bob

Sharing the love. Sharing the beer? No!

Our commute...

Here is the outside of the apartment.

Austin skyline as we cross the Congress Bridge. This is our commute every morning.

The Capitol building is just a two blocks from my office. The TX Capitol is the only one taller than the one in DC. Also, the TX state flag is the only one that can be flown at the same height as the US flag (something about TX being a country before it was a state).

My new office. It was built in the 1800s. The neighborhood surrounding the Capitol is full of beautiful old homes just like this; they are all lawyers, lobbyists, government office and public interest groups. The court house is also just down the street.

Dear Jeff, Sarge misses you!

Come visit!

It ain't easy being Sarge

Downtown Austin

BIG cross

Central Virginia - these and mega churches were everywhere!

#1 Reason to visit Darwin, MN

The largest ball of twine.

(by one man)

Pictures from the new apartment…

Two of my favories Cape memories

My first "clam bake" back in 2004.

My first toe dip in the Nantucket Sound.

Cape Cod Canal in June

Sarge dipped his toes in the ocean outside Chatham, but we didn’t have the camera. So we stopped at the canal to get a few shots.

Sleepy Sarge

Thank you Auntie Chanelle!

By request, Sarge ready to fish the Texas bass....

Good one of my mom with me and Sarge

Sarge, dressed for success

Preparing for his big trip to the Cape.



Tasting his Easter Ears.