Preparing for the Return

Pictures, tell stories, but stories of that moment. A picture can't seemingly change its tune, when the folks inside choose to. That being said, Life is pushing on, and the stories are evolving.

I am T-minus a week and then I am heading north. A house opens up on the 10th, and I shall be there shortly after to plop part of my life down, and then maybe hit up some pick up frisbee--My buddies Jordan and Kristen put me in touch with a guy named Gary. Gary sent me to the website Austin Ultimate. There are

leagues and pick-up games going all the time. I found a M/F game, that I kid you not,

is less than four blocks from my house!

I feel solid excitement for this summer, and for the year ahead. Sure I have felt sad/stressed about leaving, but the journey must push on. And this time, I am moving without commitment--life is opening and opening, and it feels good.

Watching World Cup has been a blast. The Mexico gam

es have been crazy here, and the U.S. pulled out a hell of a win yesterday against Algeria, scoring a goal in overtime.

I dropped my truck off at Toyota yesterday for an oil change and

suspension diagno

stics/repair. It feels good to have the money to take care of the thin

gs you love--I love my truck! It has been a key element to this adventur

e. The folks at Toyota are super nice and professional--and they detail your car for free--so I will have a sweet wagon for the 10 adventure nor

th. Below is my map, with options for the border crossing. Check out the larger map for my notes and information:

View The Road to Austin in a larger map

The New Pad in Austin

This is the video, shot by the great Beast, known as Gorlick. I think this place is going to workout nicely!

End of the Year and New Things

Well, two things:

1) I just finished this painting...man I really had to work it and rework it. The proportions were all wrong, and I was using these new POSCA paint pens. I am not totally satisfied, and I feel like I may give it away for free--I do not feel like I am really at the stage for charging strangers for paintings. It was a meditation in patience to finish this.

2) This is a video my buddies, Mauricio and Pablo, made for me. They showed it at the ASF end of the the year party, thrown by Mikey Henny. It was a great bash complete with foosball, keg, and live band. We had a roast for all those departing teachers. I roasted my mentor Siri Berman. It felt really good to make my peers laugh so hard. I feel like I really captured the essence of why we all have so much respect for the great Berman. Anywho, when it was my turn to be roasted, my buddies through this up on the projector:

Also, we have a place in Austin!
View Larger MapIt is a great old 1920's house that is being restored. It is at the upper end of what I wanted to pay, but it is worth it! It has a great front porch and yard, hardwood floors, black and white tile in the kitchen, and a big back yard, already decked out with raised bed planters, which are brimming with tomatoes. It is in the heart of Hyde Park, and is walking distance to farmer's markets, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks, and more. Having now lived in La Condesa, the center of my social world (i.e. friends, food, dogs, and parks), I realize that a little extra money for location, is definitely worth it. Marissa shot a video of the place, which I will try and post soon.

NOTE: The picture of the map above can be manipulated:

• If you zoom out one click, The map is showing directions from my soon to be house (Point A: 4504 Avenue C) to a great natural dog park (Point B: Red Bud Isle--read below for more information). The park is 5.4 miles (about 15 mins by car) from my house.
• If you would like to see my house, please check out the street view from Google--the new pad is on the left--cute, huh?

Red Bud Isle: This is why this place is going to rock! A kick but outdoor spot, in the city, which permits dogs off leash--what a freakin' great idea! Hello California!!!

I am both excited and sad for to leave DF. It has been a blast, and I really feel like I have made some amazing relationships here. I know that I will be back next year, to visit now/old places, and to see good peoples. I am really feeling connected to those that are around me. It is funny how that happens at the end of the year. However, I need to head to Austin and follow this curiosity of life.

Ahoy, to the journey we are all traveling on.

Smelly Kuhn - Get Back (Reprise).mov

A little video to wrap up the year. Produced, edited, and spawned by the incomparable Pablo Zeta of Zeta Factory aka Zeta Studios.