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All About Carnaval

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Everyone finished getting ready at KD’s after we spent the afternoon shopping and hanging out at the house. I learned about 8 valuable life lessons from my good friend DM, who gave me more insight than I’ve recieved on anything in quite some time, and made me realize how lucky I am to have friends like that. KD had a fridge a little too fully stocked for MK, if you ask me, who was caught in the middle of the kitchen announcing how he wasn’t driving and then almost falling over. I (if you can even even EVEN believe it) loaded up the car and took 6 of us (MK in the trunk, you wish we took a picture) and drove over to Carnaval. We made our way to the bar that had previously only been beer but was liquor too, again, too much for MK, who, per his Carnaval dreams, immediately entered a conga line and was missing until much, much, later.

carnaval.jpg
We danced, we partied, we got to see our friend perform, albeit from a vantage that got most of us spilled on a little too much. We ran in to the second car load up by the stage and danced for hours. MK took turns taking the women through the conga line and keeping us safe from the creepy creepertons.

I again ended up driving (still sober!) home, and making everyone dinner so that they wouldn’t be sick in the morning. We were all in bed by 4am. 🙂

Unknown's avatar

Playing With The Big Boys Now

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Thanks to some guidance from my good friend over at

Simply Missional and Blogger’s Pub,

somegosoftly is now the proud parent of somegosoftly.com.

I don’t know if you know this, but it’s kind of a big deal. Fine, no it’s not.

Same great blog, shorter link to bookmark and add to your blogroll.

blog humor

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Broad Spectrum

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Try to find two more different things to do in a day. I’m four for four or something.

This morning I went to a friends baby shower at a ritzy country club.

This afternoon I will be putting on the semi scandalous can-can costume that I have for Carnaval. I’m not really certain how to even try to describe Carnaval to you. In my terms, Carnaval means going over to KD’s, in a hilarious costume, when it’s pretty cold out, and drinking enough to warm you up. You then make your way to the Palmer Events Center, where there are something like 3000 other highly costumed people dancing and drinking and partying to Brazilian drums and samba music. Then the husband gets lost in a conga line and you find him again at 2am when the lights turn on. For those of you that haven’t ever been, here’s a pretty average costume:

cnvl
www.only-zuul.com

It’s the most fascinating see and be seen event that I’ve ever been to in Austin. Despite my reluctance to get ready all day, getting there was one of the most fun things I’ve done in this city. We were terrible and hardly took any pictures last year, but I promise that I’ll get some for you, I know how badly you all want to see my head covered in feathers.

Unknown's avatar

Body Flow

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Two things that I never would have done, in two days.

After that whole banjo band experience, I was ready to try more new things. This morning I went to some sort of yoga/pilates/stretchy workout thing called Body Flow. I wasn’t sure what to think at all, but judging by how sore I am now, I think that counts as a real workout, and that’s definitely something that I could do every day.

It’s strange to be running and working out and pushing it as hard as I am and to see how I need to do some stretching and breathing for a good balance. I thought that it might be a joke, but I really felt great all day after taking that time to just be and check up on my body.

Highly recommended. However, if you’re balance impaired, as I am, be ready to stumble, you will.

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Yonder Mountain String Band

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La Zona Rosa was the first place that I went to, in Austin, to see a concert, by myself. I saw Sunny Day Real Estate, and learned that I am a little co dependent. I can’t even remember how many shows I’ve seen there since, but certainly none were quite like Yonder Mountain String Band.

yonder mountain string band
www.dking-gallery.com

kas21.JPG

The concert was a blast, the company even better. It was the perfect end to a great night that started out at Maudie’s for dinner, a place I had seriously been missing while I was gone. This is something that I wouldn’t have done on my own. I was invited out by a girlfriend of mine, though, and decided, why not? So off we went. And I had a great time. We danced, drank, saw old friends, made new ones.

I never thought I’d find myself saying this, but that guy sure could play a mean banjo.

Unknown's avatar

We Didn’t Get Scared, Or; Austin Vs. Boston

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Austin got guerrilla marketed too, and we didn’t waste $500,000 on the bomb squad. Maybe that’s why I moved here from New England. Are we smarter? Or better fans of Adult Swim?

adult swim bomb
www.boston.com

I’m just wondering, does this look like a BOMB to you???

Makes me want to go buy a Lite Brite.

In case you live under a rock, here’s the story. I have a feeling we’ll be looking back and laughing at this one. A lot.

Unknown's avatar

Aftermath

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Some of last night, I had predicted: a full house, people in costume, a funny little intro. Smiles and anticipation.

And then…well, you had to be 30+ for some of it. They were just music videos. And you just watched. Or sang, if you knew the words. I hadn’t known maybe the first 5 songs until they got into the typical stuff, the Journey and “Sweet Child of Mine”. It was a little less thrilling than I expected. I also thought it was just power ballads, but it was all crappy love jams. Which was fun sometimes, like “Eternal Flame”. Come on, that’s classic.

I think either not everyone was drunk enough, or maybe, they also were hoping it was a little more interactive. I’d say 50% loved it, 50% would skip it next time around.

The videos were hilarious, and, just for you, here’s a picture of us brandishing our lighters during the encore, which was, of course, “November Rain”.

80spb.gif

Unknown's avatar

Total Eclipse Of The…

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Alamo Drafthouse has been one of the best things in Austin to me, always. I have been to movies, Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation, and Mr. Sinus Theatre. I have seen that thing where they get everyone drunk and have them make a movie. I have been to events that sell out weeks in advance.

But nothing, nothing has me prepared for this evening. Having friends that are (deal with it) older than me, and that remember EVERY song of the 80s, I can see why we are all going to the 80s power ballads sing along downtown tonight. I’m not sure anyone even plans to get up and actually do any singing, which is kind of part of the fun. I also mentioned that I’d be willing to go in costume, as I figured this would be de rigueur, only to be laughed at.

I’m not sure about all this. I’ve heard that sometimes the karaoke works, sometimes it doesn’t. We’ll see. Considering I’m not planning to participate – I don’t think I know any of the songs by heart, only bits and pieces, I will content myself with the photographing – is that allowed? – and note taking to provide you all with a detailed commentary.

stuck in the 80s
www.tampabay.com

Unknown's avatar

Marketing Secrets Revealed By Lotion

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MK and I have a favorite argument at about 1:30am. I’ll be spaced out on the couch watching an infomercial, for some big thing that you sit in or on or by, or just light and put on the counter, that makes you skinny. I will say something like, “I need that. That looks serious. Or, maybe I could invent something like that but smaller and get rich.”

MK launches into a TIRADE. It doesn’t matter that I was half asleep and not serious, the fact that my thoughts escaped my lips gives him permission.

HE is the expert on the fact that if ANYTHING, EVER, worked, than we would all know about it and everyone in the world would have one. Like a broom. Well, does everyone have a broom? Um, like a toilet. Everyone would use some version of that thing that worked. So none of it is any good, or we’d know about it. We’re Americans. With computers.

Last night, I thought about this as I watched the one for the ab blaster chair or whatever it was called. Right before I could pick up the phone MK kicked me out to make him dinner. At the store, I saw that Jergens tanning lotion.

This is my rebuttal to MK: I can’t tell you how many people I had to tell about this stuff. I bought it for snippy for her birthday. I heard about it from a friend. But I have never ever ever seen any testimony otherwise that it is perfect, which it is. No blogs, no Us Weekly reports, no CBS Evening News Headlines.

So, like always, wife:1, MK:0. And, come on over and try some Leptotrimspamax with me whenever.

*Jergens in no way endorses somegosoftly *

Unknown's avatar

Missing: Social Skills

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Running in to people that you knew from a former life is depressing. Makes you realize what you lose.

So, I knew a lot of people when I had a job. Now that I don’t even leave the house unless we’re out of milk, of course I see someone I know at the grocery store.

Old me: Hey, good to see you, how’s the world treating you? Good, good. You know, I’m swamped, yeah. (more pleasant friendly small talk). Sure, let’s do lunch next week! Take Care!

What I just did: Um, oh! Hey! Um, been a while, yeah. So… (awkward pause) I saw this person that you know a while ago. Oh, I thought you knew them, never mind. Lunch? Well, it’s not like I have anything better to do.

chimp

That last sentence right there was the killer. Oh, and I said it word for word. Sealed the deal of me realizing that I have LOST the ability to be nice to acquaintances now that I barely see more than two people on a regular basis. Who says that? Color me embarrassed.