the one where I hate majic 95.5

So, shout out to my fellow Road Warrior for obtaining some rental upgrade coupons for me! I decided this trip was the ideal time to use one, since I had to drive all over the state of texas for 8 days. As soon as I heard the word "Yaris" out of the agent's mouth at the airport, I pulled that bad boy out. And then, after she gave me the upgraded car, she asked how often I traveled. When I told her, she handed the coupon back to me. "You sound like you need this." OH YES. BEATING THE SYSTEM WITH A LITTLE HONESTY, and a touch of pity. I totally deserved it after waiting in line for 30 minutes because a cute but awkward little Japanese businessman who spoke pretty much no English was trying to rent a car and then was unhappy with the rate they were offering him.

BUT THEN IT CAME BACK TO BITE ME. I settled in to my fancy little car, with a fancy little dashboard on which I couldn't figure out how to do anything. Somewhere around the exit to my parents' house I finally realized that I wasn't just an idiot, but that in fact the stupid radio barely worked at all. So, I am in the live music capital of the world, and yet, the only stations I can pick up are Mix 94.7 and Majic 95.5. And there is not even a way to manually tune to a station. SERIOUSLY? Depending on time I am totally going to stop on my way to San Antonio and try and swap that baby out. I have way too far to drive to deal with easy listening the whole way. Maybe they'll upgrade me again, and I'll slowly work my way up to a full-size SUV by next week.

SO ANYWAY, a few brief days in Texas and I already

A) have an awkward v-neck sunburn
B) got to fly kites at the nation's oldest kite festival
C) have eaten almost all of my meals outside JUST BECAUSE I CAN
D) planned a Rodeo Austin adventure (NOTE: I ALMOST DECIDED TO GO SEE ZZTOP AT THE HOUSTON RODEO INSTEAD, BUT DECIDED I COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO THAT ALONE)
D) Had a catch-up session with one of the stars of my senior film, and learned about some good local drama and also that nothing ever really changes here, in a good way
E) have done  most of my work outside, on my parents' deck, in SHORTS.


The hipsters are slowly starting to increase in number due to SXSW starting next week. I'm missing almost all of the festival, but plan to at least schedule some solid people-watching.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: the south is amazing.