austin - in retrospect July 24, 2007
Summer is never complete without a trip down I-35 to good ole Austin, Texas. Since graduating high-school in 2005, a weekend in Austin with my Dallas buddies has been a summer staple.
The average Texas capital trip usually consists of a caravan of cars heading from Dallas to Austin; six, seven and sometimes even eight Greenhill (my highschool) grads travel down with hopes of tasty tex-mex and good fun.
This most recent trip, unlike most, was a smaller, more manageable group, consisting of three others besides myself. My usual host, Josh Ernst, who I previously wrote about in “jet-setting Joshua” played the part of the gracious host, which he continually does so damn well. However this trip, his promises and predictions of a great time were finally achieved.
Although my trips to Austin are usually enjoyable, it is not the city that makes the get-togethers great, it is the people. I love seeing old friends and making new ones too; however the females that frat parties usually provide are not the type that “will make my weekend.”
This short stint in Longhorn nation did contain a night of foam at the perfectly coined “cool, Jewish frat,” ZBT, however, the crazy party was far from being the best part of the weekend.
I would have to say that the small group played a key part in making this Austin weekend my favorite …ever. Our meals and down time tended to be the most fun of all: whether it was sipping Mexican Martini’s at the best frigin Tex-Mex place ever, Trudy’s, or the four of us trying to take an afternoon siesta to get ready for Saturday night; when we were together, we were having fun.
Even though what Austin had to offer did not make the weekend, there were certain “Austin specific” aspects of it that were integral parts:
First, I really enjoyed spending time with two of my other good high-school buddies, Rob and Colby, who are both residing in Austin for the summer. These enjoyable guys never seem to lose their luster. Although they both contain touches of Texas frat tradition that I am not accustomed to, these guys always help me realize that the average Jewish guy is a much better man than me. Whether I am trying to pick up women with Rob, or making fun of Colby trying to do the same, a good time is always obtainable as long as these guys are in the picture. Their friends are good guys too… as expected.
Second, instead of sticking to the plan and going to the Saturday day-time party entitled “Fiji Island,” Mickey, Josh, Sam and I headed down to the Barton Creek Greenbelt . In our new-found appreciation of nature, my friends and I truly enjoyed buying some three dollar inner-tubes and giving floating down the river an honest chance. Although our 36″ tubes, were not properly equipped to handle the rushing rapids (due to all the rain) they served us well for the two hundred feet we floated.
Along with going with the tide, watching Josh struggle with the muddy river bank was quite a sight to see. I think he slipped five times and fell three; some quality entertainment.
Anyways, yes, Austin was great. Being joined by only three other people probably made the experience as nice as it was; our ability to agree on activities quickly helped us have a nice itinerary; and the heaping amount of alcohol that Trudy’s puts in their Mexican Martini’s (I was talking to any and every woman after only one) and that Rob, Colby and the rest of ZBT provided us with Friday night helped us avoid what could have been a disastrous day of drinking at Fiji Island on Saturday.
All in all, the way I do Austin is changed forever. I will no longer go hoping to enjoy the fun but always regrettable times I have at the Frat parties. I will now venture down south seeking outdoor adventures with the right amount of company.
-pk
