I am an RPCV: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
Are you? If yes, have you heard about the HOTPCA? Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association. Join it, live it, love it. Even if you are simply interested in Peace Corps, or you are a family member or friend of a volunteer, you are more than welcome to join in. The more the merrier!
We do local volunteer projects, book club, ethnic dinners, Peace Corps Happy Hour, coffee talks, potlucks, and more. Lot's of good fun with some of the coolest people in town. Check out the website, contact a leader, show up at an event, just do it!
Bev
RPCV Kazakhstan Group 2
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The W Hotel lounge
For me, an avid Thriftanista, this was a once in a lifetime kinda thing.
I will probably Never go back, because the drinks at the W hotel, Austin TX. are $12.00 or so!! But I pretended I was made of money for the night, and just let loose and spent spent spent! My cocktail of choice was the Caipirinha. It's Brazilian and it is SOOOOO tasty. It kicks the Mojito's butt!
The atmosphere is cool and chic at the W. The center room of the bar was Red. Red walls, red ceiling, red lighting. This was the our spot; big cushy benches in a center square, with tables along the sides. OK design for conversation, but the music was a tad loud, and not that great. This was a Friday night. The other rooms were way beige; one had a roaring fire in the fireplace. Too hot.
The bathroom area was cool. A hallway of individual bathrooms. I felt dumb because I got my hands all soaped up, then I could not figure out how to turn the water on. So I had to call for help, and a nice bathroom lady came and showed me how the water turns on automatically. Blush.
The best part was the company. It happened to be the night the place was chock full of gay men. SWEET! It was a GQB night! Guerilla Queer Bar is a monthly event where a message goes out, a place and time is announced, and surprise!--Your bar is now a fun place! Hurray!
I chatted and laughed, chatted and laughed, took pictures of my friends, then laughed and chatted. Then, like Cinderella, I had to be whisked away to pick up the kids from "Parents Night Out". They won't keep them all night, you know.
In summary, go to the W with a sugar daddy and his wallet, and you will be a happy girl or guy!
I will probably Never go back, because the drinks at the W hotel, Austin TX. are $12.00 or so!! But I pretended I was made of money for the night, and just let loose and spent spent spent! My cocktail of choice was the Caipirinha. It's Brazilian and it is SOOOOO tasty. It kicks the Mojito's butt!
The atmosphere is cool and chic at the W. The center room of the bar was Red. Red walls, red ceiling, red lighting. This was the our spot; big cushy benches in a center square, with tables along the sides. OK design for conversation, but the music was a tad loud, and not that great. This was a Friday night. The other rooms were way beige; one had a roaring fire in the fireplace. Too hot.
The bathroom area was cool. A hallway of individual bathrooms. I felt dumb because I got my hands all soaped up, then I could not figure out how to turn the water on. So I had to call for help, and a nice bathroom lady came and showed me how the water turns on automatically. Blush.
The best part was the company. It happened to be the night the place was chock full of gay men. SWEET! It was a GQB night! Guerilla Queer Bar is a monthly event where a message goes out, a place and time is announced, and surprise!--Your bar is now a fun place! Hurray!
I chatted and laughed, chatted and laughed, took pictures of my friends, then laughed and chatted. Then, like Cinderella, I had to be whisked away to pick up the kids from "Parents Night Out". They won't keep them all night, you know.
In summary, go to the W with a sugar daddy and his wallet, and you will be a happy girl or guy!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Austin Chinese School
Wave of the future?
If your kid has any inclination towards learning to speak Chinese, Austin Chinese School is for you. It is a non-profit, volunteer run school, that has classes on Sundays (2pm-4pm) at Murchison Middle School on Far West at Hart Lane. (The teachers are paid, though, of course.)
My little kids go to the CSL class, which is for learners of Chinese as a Second Language. This is for kids whose parents don't speak Chinese at home. As a parent, I get to sit in on the class! (Yea! Free Language class for me!)
Mandarin is taught, using pinyin, the English alphabet used to spell Chinese sounds. We are also learning the Chinese characters for a few words, like the numbers one to ten. Very cool to have two completely different ways to write the same words!
I'm glad they started early, because my kids don't have any difficulty making the sounds. I, on the other hand, feel very strange making Chinese sounds, with all their tonal ups and downs. That's because I am old and my brain is getting stiff and inflexible. Ha! Maybe my brain is getting arthritis.
There websiteis:
http://www.austinchineseschool.org/
Oh, they also offer extra-curricular classes, like origami, chinese knot-making, tai chi, etc.
Eduction is one thing you will never regret. Right On!!!
If your kid has any inclination towards learning to speak Chinese, Austin Chinese School is for you. It is a non-profit, volunteer run school, that has classes on Sundays (2pm-4pm) at Murchison Middle School on Far West at Hart Lane. (The teachers are paid, though, of course.)
My little kids go to the CSL class, which is for learners of Chinese as a Second Language. This is for kids whose parents don't speak Chinese at home. As a parent, I get to sit in on the class! (Yea! Free Language class for me!)
Mandarin is taught, using pinyin, the English alphabet used to spell Chinese sounds. We are also learning the Chinese characters for a few words, like the numbers one to ten. Very cool to have two completely different ways to write the same words!
I'm glad they started early, because my kids don't have any difficulty making the sounds. I, on the other hand, feel very strange making Chinese sounds, with all their tonal ups and downs. That's because I am old and my brain is getting stiff and inflexible. Ha! Maybe my brain is getting arthritis.
There websiteis:
http://www.austinchineseschool.org/
Oh, they also offer extra-curricular classes, like origami, chinese knot-making, tai chi, etc.
Eduction is one thing you will never regret. Right On!!!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A Girl Walks Into A Bar...
I went out to a bar!
It seems like it's been years! I met some cool friends, who each have very interesting careers, at a joint called Liberty on East 6th St. Very fun group, chatting about traveling to all sorts of exotic locales, preserving antiquities, helping refugees, doctoral theses, and Washington DC's awful "Taxation Without Representation" situation.
Liberty is in one of those old buildings that have been snapped up for a bargain, and now are being used to entertain the new "gentrified" neighborhood. As you step in, it resembles your typical dive bar. A pool table, a juke box, and a bar. Oh, and a few tables and chairs, which are key for this next part: Outside, in the big back yard, is an awesome food trailer that sells Asian street food and they will bring it in to your table!
The trailer is called East Side King, and sells unusual treats like beet homefries and fried brussels sprout salad. Really! AND they were so good! Really crispy fried Thai chicken, too. I heard the place is owned by Uchi--a very chic, very expensive place that I will probably never afford. (Although they did tell me that Happy Hours are cheap there.)
I need to do this more often!
It seems like it's been years! I met some cool friends, who each have very interesting careers, at a joint called Liberty on East 6th St. Very fun group, chatting about traveling to all sorts of exotic locales, preserving antiquities, helping refugees, doctoral theses, and Washington DC's awful "Taxation Without Representation" situation.
Liberty is in one of those old buildings that have been snapped up for a bargain, and now are being used to entertain the new "gentrified" neighborhood. As you step in, it resembles your typical dive bar. A pool table, a juke box, and a bar. Oh, and a few tables and chairs, which are key for this next part: Outside, in the big back yard, is an awesome food trailer that sells Asian street food and they will bring it in to your table!
The trailer is called East Side King, and sells unusual treats like beet homefries and fried brussels sprout salad. Really! AND they were so good! Really crispy fried Thai chicken, too. I heard the place is owned by Uchi--a very chic, very expensive place that I will probably never afford. (Although they did tell me that Happy Hours are cheap there.)
I need to do this more often!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Natural Bridge Caverns
Stalactites stick Tight to the ceiling...Stalagmites Might reach the ceiling.
During the Thanksgiving Holidays, my fam took a fieldtrip down the highway to Natural Bridge Caverns. This was a fun day trip for kids; not too long, not too serious, just right. It's 70 miles south of Austin, in between New Braunfels and San Antonio.
We were greeted by a trio of giant dinosaur statues that you can climb onto and the friendly parking attendant will take pictures for you. Sweet! You can also "mine" for gold and minerals, eat snack bar food, and shop in their pretty cool gift shop.
The cave is tres jolie, interesting, and has a neat history, and you'll never believe this: they came up with cute names for the different cave formations and rooms. (Ha, just kidding--I think that part is universal.) However, it IS different from any cave I've ever entered, in the world, in one way: It's HOT. A hot cave? What the? Yes. It was 70 degrees F. with 99% humidity. So we did NOT need the jackets we brought.
Next door is the Natural Bridge Caverns Wild Animal Park. You could do both in one day, but I think one is enough. I have driven through the Wild Animal park and it is fun, but beware of the ostriches!!
During the Thanksgiving Holidays, my fam took a fieldtrip down the highway to Natural Bridge Caverns. This was a fun day trip for kids; not too long, not too serious, just right. It's 70 miles south of Austin, in between New Braunfels and San Antonio.
We were greeted by a trio of giant dinosaur statues that you can climb onto and the friendly parking attendant will take pictures for you. Sweet! You can also "mine" for gold and minerals, eat snack bar food, and shop in their pretty cool gift shop.
The cave is tres jolie, interesting, and has a neat history, and you'll never believe this: they came up with cute names for the different cave formations and rooms. (Ha, just kidding--I think that part is universal.) However, it IS different from any cave I've ever entered, in the world, in one way: It's HOT. A hot cave? What the? Yes. It was 70 degrees F. with 99% humidity. So we did NOT need the jackets we brought.
Next door is the Natural Bridge Caverns Wild Animal Park. You could do both in one day, but I think one is enough. I have driven through the Wild Animal park and it is fun, but beware of the ostriches!!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Horseback Riding near Dripping Springs, TX
Hubby and I had a Fantastic Date Day yesterday!
I bought a Groupon deal last week for two Horseback lessons at Bel Canto Farms. So, for only $48 we each took a lesson together. LOVE the Groupon! Bel Canto is about 30 minutes from Austin when the traffic is light. A beautiful drive through the countryside to Mt. Gainor, just south of Dripping Springs.
Lisa was our instructor, and even though we can barely handle a posting trot, she gave us compliments anyway. Good for our self esteem. Oh--I forgot to mention, this place is a Hunter/Jumper riding establishment; thus the posting. I really prefer the English style to the Western, so I was thrilled. Those Western saddles are like sitting on a big fat elephant. Not comfortable.
Hubby is tall, so he got to ride a tall chestnut horse named Archie, and I, being quite short, got an Appaloosa Pony named blue. He had one blue eye! Yes...a little freaky lookin'. We got to brush them, clean hooves, (if we wanted to), put the saddles and bridles on and do it all in reverse when we finished. I really enjoyed that part. We spent about an hour in the ring, practicing walk, trot, and canter, at our own pace. And PERFECT weather!!
The owner, Suzanne Warmack, is an animal rescuer too. There were lots of dogs, cats and even cute little puppies to visit with, in addition to the variety of horses, from ponies all the way up to draft horses. Really nice. I hope to go back sometime soon.
On our way back to town, we stopped at the Austin Pizza Garden. We have seen this place and heard great things, but for some reason it has taken years for the timing to work out for us to actually eat there. It is in an old stone building on 290 West, and it's interior also had that heritage feel. Nice. We were perplexed that they did not have outdoor seating, since "garden" is in the name of the place! But anyway, the pizza was yummy: small 8 inch individual pizzas with a very crispy thin crust. Nice lunch specials, so not expensive at all. Chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Yum.
Then back to reality in time for school to let out!
I bought a Groupon deal last week for two Horseback lessons at Bel Canto Farms. So, for only $48 we each took a lesson together. LOVE the Groupon! Bel Canto is about 30 minutes from Austin when the traffic is light. A beautiful drive through the countryside to Mt. Gainor, just south of Dripping Springs.
Lisa was our instructor, and even though we can barely handle a posting trot, she gave us compliments anyway. Good for our self esteem. Oh--I forgot to mention, this place is a Hunter/Jumper riding establishment; thus the posting. I really prefer the English style to the Western, so I was thrilled. Those Western saddles are like sitting on a big fat elephant. Not comfortable.
Hubby is tall, so he got to ride a tall chestnut horse named Archie, and I, being quite short, got an Appaloosa Pony named blue. He had one blue eye! Yes...a little freaky lookin'. We got to brush them, clean hooves, (if we wanted to), put the saddles and bridles on and do it all in reverse when we finished. I really enjoyed that part. We spent about an hour in the ring, practicing walk, trot, and canter, at our own pace. And PERFECT weather!!
The owner, Suzanne Warmack, is an animal rescuer too. There were lots of dogs, cats and even cute little puppies to visit with, in addition to the variety of horses, from ponies all the way up to draft horses. Really nice. I hope to go back sometime soon.
On our way back to town, we stopped at the Austin Pizza Garden. We have seen this place and heard great things, but for some reason it has taken years for the timing to work out for us to actually eat there. It is in an old stone building on 290 West, and it's interior also had that heritage feel. Nice. We were perplexed that they did not have outdoor seating, since "garden" is in the name of the place! But anyway, the pizza was yummy: small 8 inch individual pizzas with a very crispy thin crust. Nice lunch specials, so not expensive at all. Chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Yum.
Then back to reality in time for school to let out!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Fish
Hey! Check out these cute Fish at the bottom of this page! You can feed them by clicking on their pond. I think that is SO cute! We lived in Malaysia last year, and we saw a koi pond every time we turned around. That place is krawlin' with koi!
Must be in an Asian mood this week: last night I checked out Chen's Noodle House in NW Austin. It's a tiny, counter service place that only has about twelve things on the menu, but the food we had was all yummy. Very authentic. My favorite thing was the green onion pancakes. I could go back for more today...and tomorrow. Warning: If you order a bowl of wanton soup, it is enough for at least four people. Trust me.
Must be in an Asian mood this week: last night I checked out Chen's Noodle House in NW Austin. It's a tiny, counter service place that only has about twelve things on the menu, but the food we had was all yummy. Very authentic. My favorite thing was the green onion pancakes. I could go back for more today...and tomorrow. Warning: If you order a bowl of wanton soup, it is enough for at least four people. Trust me.
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