So so so much of everything

Don't stop. Can't stop. It seems there is something going on that I/we are supposed to be doing every night of the week. It's exhausting. (who am I kidding, I'm always like this).

Had a great weekend...not even sure why. We did stuff and things and it was fun. I went and saw Dance With The One - a really great film my friend Gabe is in. It was fantastic. Last night was the Fast Folks Ladies Ride, which was great per usual. I skipped the fun at Dirty Bill's to go home and relax. The Red Daughters and Sam just got to town last night, or this morning (5am) and I know we'll be going out tonight and tomorrow night like whoa. Right now I need a nap.

Here's a couple pics of Jenn, Rachel and I at a show at the Mohawk last week. We caught all of Octopus Project, and if you haven't heard them you should. I had never heard them live, and didn't know they use a theremin in their music, I'd always just thought it was some sort of synth. If you haven't seen one played, they're really quite incredible. Not much to look at on its own, but really cool when hands that aren't touching a thing make that noise.

added bonus. look at this adorable puppy. ZOMG.

If you live in Minneapolis & have a soul you need to do this:

I be you know someone who has had cancer. Maybe you've had it. Maybe, like me, your grandmother, great aunt, grandfather, co-worker, and high school friend have had some form of cancer.

Breast. Liver. Bladder. Skin. Prostate. Thyroid. Kidney. Colon. Lung. Leukemia.
Pancreatic. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Brain Tumor. Cervical. Rectal. Ovarian.

I have lost family members to cancer, and I've had family members survive cancer. The best thing any of us can do is offer love, support, and money. Research is needed to improve treatments and find cures.

I know none of us has much of it...but maybe think of it this way:
A night out at the Triple Rock might cost $20. (Chicken fingers ($7), 3 PBRs ($6), and one shot of whiskey ($3) + tip on it all). Skip that. One week in the next month or two skip it. Then take that $20 and go to the Red Stag on Monday, July 26th for By Your Side (a benefit for breast cancer). Donate that $20 to Team Damian so they can walk in the Susan G Komen Walk for the Cure.

I've never walked, but last year I went with Janessa and met Louisa to cheer on the walkers. Within a few minutes I think we all had tears in our eyes. Like I said, we have all been touched by this. Let's keep trying to make a difference. Really wish I could be there guys...you'll get my donation on the website...

That's What I Call Hawt...Vol. 8

My parents (Dad especially) are HUGE fans of scoffing and saying, "Wow, this global warming sure is serious" in the dead of winter, or on a chilly spring day, or on a particularily cool summer afternoon. It's their funny republican humor shining through...so to them I say:

YES, IT IS SERIOUS...I'M MELTING IN TEXAS (and apparently it's pretty warm up north too).

South View Regional Video
Hot temperatures and high humidity levels grip the southern Plains, Texas, the lower Mississippi Valley, Alabama and western Tennessee.
Temperatures should soar well into the 90s with a few areas topping the 100-degree mark.
Combine the heat with the high humidity and it could feel like it is 100 to 115 during the hottest part of the day.

Uchi Coma

James and I had our 1 year anniversary this past weekend. We had dinner at Uchi, which is an absolutely amazing Japanese restaurant here in Austin (in a renovated house). Every bite was incredible, really really superb. It was a really fantastic night, and I just want to throw it out there...I'm really lucky.

Our coursed dinner:

uchi shot quail egg yolk and sea urchin, submerged in sparkling wine
spider roll softshell crab, flying fish roe, english cucumber and white soybean paper

hamachi and unagi sashimi
hotate tamago diver scallop٠bottarga gremolata٠seabeans٠golden raisin٠uni٠smoked ikura
maguro sashimi and goat cheese with cracked pepper, fuji apple and pumpkin seed oil
shag roll tempura fried bond roll (avocado, sundried tomato, white soybean paper) with salmon and squid ink sumiso sauce

We had a drink at the bar while we waited for our table, and James saw the bartender prepare an uchi shot. I had read about it on the online menu and knew what it consisted of. The bartender said it was made to combine 3 powerful aphrodisiacs...James promptly ordered a round. First you sip the bubbly down, then let the sea urchin flesh into your mouth, then the yolk of the quail egg...you then promptly bite the yolk to fully release the flavor. This made me fully want to release vomit...James loved it. When I think back to it I really knew I wouldn't love this. The flavors were truly delightful, but my textured-based pallete just couldn't handle that combo.

Once we were at our table we ordered a spider roll. Maybe an odd thing to start with, normally I'd course from lighter to heavier; but we both love this roll so much we didn't wait. Next up was a few pieces of sashimi - some lovely hamachi and unagi. For those of you who are a bit freaked by the thought of eel...DON'T BE...insane goodness.

Uchi does a nightly menu to accompany their regular menu, and we decided to order the hotate tomago (diver scallops) from it. James had only had scallops once before, and he wasn't in love with the flavor of these; but I thought they were heavenly. They were served with golden raisins and a golden raisin reduction which was fantastic. Also, there were sea beans which I was really curious about. Turns out they're like the top stem of asparagus but really salty. Next up was the maguro sashimi. ZOMG. Imagine raw fish tasting like the most buttery piece of filet you've ever eaten. Now imagine that with pieces of green apple and melt-in-your-mouth awesome goat cheese. This dish was so simple, and so amazing. I think we both nearly cried we were so happy.

Finally...for the fat kid special we finished with the shag roll. This is seriously as fat kid as sushi can get - take a roll with avocado and salmon, then dip it in tempura and fry it. Drizzle squid ink sauce on the platter and be sure to get as much of that as possible onto the roll. Devour.

Shag roll ^^^

Everything about that meal - really that night - was incredible. If you come to Austin we must go there. Bring some loot, cause fish ain't cheap.

Stuff and Things

4th of July was pretty good. Maybe not great, but good. I'm sorry Austin, but you pale in comparison to last year...

Too much awesomeness in NYC with too many good friends means no 4th of July is ever going to be that good again.
Instead of watching Jenny & Connor in the park we bbq'd at Nick's house. The food was fantastic. Nick & James seriously grilled up some of the best meats EVER. It was awesome. We made our way back to the apartment, crew in tow, and watched the fireworks from the balcony. Most people took a dip in the pool after, and then we all watched Total Recal. All in all, a great day.

World Cup Fever was at an all time high this past weekend. Viva Espana...

After a week of not drinking I went a bit nuts yesterday. Something about drinking from noon to 9pm really makes you feel like shit, so I'm going to go ahead and spend the next week not drinking (again). It helps me save money, and not feel like shit, so I'm going to go ahead and run with it.

That's right ^^^ no lager for me.

Ticket Home

Has been delayed again.

Got offered a job to dog/house sit next week that pays $300. SCORE. That was quite literally going to be my ticket home.

Car wouldn't start today, guess who gets to buy a new alternator?!?!

Sigh.

Why Didn't I Ask?!?!

Ya know what I really hate?
Shitty lemonade.

I hate it so much that I frequently ask the waiter or waitress, "What kind of lemonade do you have, is it like Country Time; or fresh?"

Today I went to lunch and ordered lemonade. I went with a bunch of coworkers (their choice) and ended up at Weirdo's...home of all things BMX, Wakeboarding, and Beach Volleyball...and pretty good Cobb salads. I ordered a lemonade, paused, and let it go. Sometimes I feel rude asking, like it's an insult - and I should just assume that no business owner with any level of concern for their customer would EVER stock country time lemonade.

I was wrong to trust in their judgement.

Such a bummer.

*Side note: Best lemonade I've ever had is the lavender lemonade at Cissi's market when Joe & Lauren were in Austin (that cute little restaurant/c-store on s. congress) Too bad that place just closed.