overheard

This seemed very Berkeley to me. Overheard at lunch at a little Chinese food place on Telegraph Avenue:

"I don't know why they would send the sarcophagus to her."

Austin Fine Arts Festival entry - April 15, 2007

Austin Fine Arts Festival entry - April 15, 2007
Originally uploaded by pamplemousse2007.

Had a great time today at the Austin Fine Arts Festival - click on this photo to see a few more. The weather could not have been more perfect.

There are also some photos in this set of homes in neighborhoods I looked at with a realtor yesterday. Sara Warner (the realtor) was such a perfect tour guide and I feel really lucky I was referred to her. She had a stellar sense of humor. I asked her what kind of dog she had (after she confessed to being 'obsessed' with her dog) and she said "Texas Black Dog, you know, all black with a little white spot on the chest." And sure enough, when we stopped for tacos later on, there was another Texas Black dog there too.

Molds, conquered!

Tejas is pretty groovy so far. The weather has been wacky - hot and muggy and then suddenly the loudest thunderstorms I've ever heard (even in Lassen County it wasn't that loud!) This photo is not mine - see here for source.

I was feeling super run down all week and mentioned it to an Austin office mate. She suggested I get these drops to put under the tongue that help in a homeopathic way with allergies to molds. I tried them last night and already am feeling a million times better. Thank god I ran into her.

I also loved the Hilltoppers meeting I went to last night. Such nice people, very cute guys (not that this should sway me) and in the right age bracket for moi.

I'll have more info later today after I view some houses with the realtor gal. Should be groovy.

Front door of new "Domain" Convio office building

Front door of new "Domain" Convio office building
Originally uploaded by pamplemousse2007.

Got to visit the offices that the Austin folks will be moving into later this month - much is still under construction for us, but you can see what a fun space it's going to be.

It's dangerously close to some great shopping at a brand new luxury mall called "the Domain."

Click on this photo to go to Flickr for a few more photos from today.

spring in Austin!

April is a truly lovely time to be in Austin. There was a little rain the first night I arrived (Monday) but all clear now and not humid, hurrah!

Checked out the local favorite, Magnolia Cafe on South Congress for dinner Monday night. It was just as funky and comfortable as Mama's Royal Cafe in Mill Valley, and great variety of people, albeit all anglo. I had this amazing and delicious acorn squash crusted with spiced pecan mix served with zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli and spinach in a killer curry sauce. Man, was that good!!

I drove around the Bouldin neighborhood, which was extremely appealing, older with big trees, bungalows, funkiness. Someone I met that night referred to it as "the people's republic of Bouldin" which echoes Berkeley a great deal.

The folks at the Austin office couldn't be more welcoming too. It'll be great to be here for the two weeks to really figure things out!

The wildflowers are out! There is a wonderful legacy of Lady Bird Johnson's efforts to beautify Texas highways popping up joyfully in every direction.

Something that might tickle Nicole or Porter - my hotel is DIRECTLY across from the hugest Sheplers store I have ever seen. The hotel had another good omen - when I walked up to the front door, I noticed a hawk circling just overhead and calling out beautifully. Maybe he likes the pigeons that are hanging out in the parking lot?

Cat paintings

april-cat-6
Originally uploaded by pamplemousse2007.

Saturday I did more of these 6" x 6" cat paintings. It's fun to not be working on commission and just go crazy, not worry about whether it's a perfect representation of a particular cat.

Click on this one painting to see more of the series.

Super smiley India

Super smiley India
Originally uploaded by pamplemousse2007.

Got to borrow Porter's wonderful (UBER wonderful) dog, India, to take a vigorous walkies on Sunday. It could not have been more beautiful weather and we loved the views. (India actually does seem to check out the view, which cracks me up.)