Lynne and I serendipitously (read: accidentally!) ended up on the famous San Antonio River Walk on a perfect spring-like Friday evening. We were headed to a bistro for dinner, so we were looking for a “reasonably priced” place to park in the downtown area. We parked the car and walked through a doorway to exit the lot, only to stumble onto this: Continue reading
I am reminded over and over that when one must work 9 to 5, five out of seven days a week, one must make the most of the two remaining days as best they can, come rain or shine. I am reminded of this over and over, because the vast majority of my friends and family no longer work 9 to 5. 😉 So with the first of my two days off having turned cold and rainy Continue reading
It’s perfect spring weather on our first full day in San Antonio. It is finally warm enough to open up the skylight, with nothing but a screen door between my virtual office and the cacophony of birds in the old pecan trees outside. It is 4:00pm, and I sitting at my desk, sleepily downloading excel reports to the chirping of the birdsong outside, when the “ding” of my iphone signals an incoming email. Continue reading
With my good friend and blogger buddy Lynne now retired and me pretending to be, we needed something a little more fitting with the “Austerity Plan” than the absurd going rate of $40 per night in downtown San Antonio. As the first major city along the I-35 corridor from South Texas, clearly, San Antonio has the “snowbird set” over a barrel, Continue reading
Texas bragging rights can get downright annoying sometimes, especially for someone who has spent as many years living outside the state as inside. Always with the “Bigger and Better in Texas” theme. Do other states have everything in the shape of their state from tombstones to tortilla chips? Continue reading
When I was in Austin for my two week escape from the driveway, I went to dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant. I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the edible art being created as I sample the small plates that come up one by one, while sipping $3 sake until my gums are comfortably numb. The place is always packed, so it is always a crap shoot whether you will be seated next to Continue reading
Old man winter’s back in town! Looks innocent enough, right? Just a sheer, subtle layer of shimmering slickness. Not to worry, right? 
Too bad I was driving and couldn’t grab a photo of the rear end of some guy’s car dangling overhead in thin air, high off the edge of the overpass Continue reading
It is time for me to leave Austin and return to the driveway. I have had a great time here, and I am sad to leave. But as Tracey Chapman would sing, “Leave tonight or live and die this way.” Continue reading
I’ve been having an amicable discussion with my older (retired!) brother Don about whether or not I have the will to adhere to the kind of budget that will be required should I decide to retire soon. Continue reading
It was a cold, blustery day yesterday in Austin. Down to the low 40’s with a stiff 20 mph north wind. I was determined not to let the weather ruin one of my only two weekend days, so I put on my fleece pants, three layers of shirts/coats, fleece gloves and hat, and walked for almost five hours. Continue reading