Inner Mission

I quit my job, I cut my hair. I sold my place because I don't care.

[flb1977]

Cancun and Isla De Mujeres, Mexico!! Easy fun for summer 2019. #gaplyfe

[minipacifica]

Hi! So, um, i know this may seem annoying and if it is you can just disregard this ask, but could you make a lockscreen edit from the song "lower your expectations" by bo burnham? More specifically "we all deserve love, even on the days when we arent our best"? Thank you so so much!!!!!!!

of course !! thank you for requesting :))

(ps: please don’t ever think that you’re annoying :’] im p sure youre a nice person irl + checked your blog out and its fantastic keep it up ^^)

[flb1977]

Ok

[flb1977]

Colorado! 40th birthday snowmobiling and beer.

[flb1977]

New Mexico drive to Colorado! Friends and fun for our 40ths. To old times!

[flb1977]

7 Miles High

When I tell Austin people we moved to the burbs they're like "no way, that's still downtown!" I grew up 7 miles out in delco PA, and here are some other places that are 7 miles out:

Giants Stadium in East Rutherford NJ

Glendale, CA

Wrigleyville, IL

7 Mile Road in Michigan (duh)

Just as land deals long ago were based on how far you could walk or ride in a day, I would say a city is defined by walking for an hour in each direction (4 miles tops). Thanks for blowing smoke and trying to ease the pain but just let me wallow in my loss, thanks.

[flb1977]

End of a great trip! Back in Texas at Balmorhea swimming hole- much more of a summer place but sunset, sunrise, big sky and warm howling wind were a pretty beautiful way to wind it down.

[flb1977]

Saguaro NP. Not the biggest park but so cool to look at.

[flb1977]

Sedona, AZ on Thanksgiving Day. Not sure if all the magical new age vibes of this place really sunk in this time, but had a lot of fun rinsing off in a resort and relaxing.

[flb1977]

More Grand Canyon!

[flb1977]

Grand Canyon

[flb1977]

Gila Cliff Dwellings, NM.

[flb1977]

Are You Ready For the Country?

Sad, scary breakfast chatter overheard in a hunters cafe in rural USA. These poor people got swindled so bad. Kudos to the strategists who played on their very valid concerns... and a prayer for what happens to them next under a big city huckster's corporate takeover.

[flb1977]

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the west tip of Texas! Wish we could have stayed longer but got a nice little peek and our first night of sleeping on true cold.

[flb1977]

Texas Hill Country

First night, quick drive out of the city in the dark to Fredericksburg under the stars! A little scarier and sadder out in the country since the election (even had to stop at a late night wal-mart, a watercolor illustration of our nation’s sorrow and frustration that has led us here). Found this gorgeous wine bar on a Swiss cabins BnB, full of older folks rocking out. Hit it up if you ever need a quirky Fredericksburg meal! Excited to be rolling out.

[flb1977]

Election Reaction

16-year-old-me would have predicted this and believed this. It's America, the guy with the money (or sometimes the gun) wins. 16-year-old-me would have also said eff the president along with eff the police and eff all those suckers working a job, raising a kid, waving their little plastic flags at the 4th of July parade. Our culture rewards power and simplicity, and we the sheeple are pretty visibly fertilizer for a tiny cadre of puppeteers.

Middle aged me got softened by the audacity of hope, gained perspective inside and outside the country, amassed a diverse set of friends and witnessed the healing power of love. So the shock and loss of innocence is understandable, if misguided.

16-year-old-me knew all that crap on TV isn't real life. Most importantly, eff all that noise.

[flb1977]

Mosquitos

Having been bit a lot by mosquitos in our new backyard and shed every day for the past two weeks has caused me to reflect on my philosophy of life. I sometimes use the phrase "mosquito" in the professional services world to describe small requests and distractions, that can agitate and distract despite their seemingly diminutive scope. 

I've been bit so much that I believe my histamine system has gone into overdrive and the sum of discomfort is greater than the parts. I then realized, this is how I view life. Individual challenges and setbacks should be manageable in isolation, but collectively and cumulatively, they eventually drive us into a state of madness. You can thwart one or two, here and there, but in the end they destroy you.

[flb1977]

Back in Austin and starting to get back into its quirky groove. Marched in the Pride parade with the SXSW volunteer crew. One thing I'll say for this city is you can still have a Saturday night where you go to three, unrelated, each-awesome-in-their-own-way events or parties. Going to this parade on and off for 10 years as laws and norms have changed has almost a "we told you so" gloat to it now :) Austin's inclusive spirit sustains it and sets it up well for the future. Used to be the only place Texans who felt different or alienated could move to be free, but you feel that all changing as Austin still looks ahead.