Hot Stuff

Ashley here. I want to start this one off by stating the obvious. It’s really really hot out there.  Not just kind of hot. It’s over-100-everyday-Texas-summer-hot. Regardless, this past week I have spent a lot of my non-working time outside. So I’ve been sporting an eternal beaded mustache and sweating through shirts. And yes, I tend to wear more than one shirt at a time and I realize it may seem pretty ridiculous, but I like layers. I'm trying to stop.

Monday 100°-- I went hiking in the Greenbelt, which I found to be a great way to trick myself into working out. I think my favorite part was when my friend Brett and I were on a small path and were approached by a running group coming from the opposite direction. The leader yelled “WALKERS! WALKERS!” and we stepped off the trail so the group of them could pass in single file. I found it pretty hilarious. I don’t really think it was absolutely necessary for him to call me out for going for a recreational walk through the woods. But who knows, maybe it was the adrenaline from dodging branches and avoiding sprained ankles that made him do it.

Thursday 105°-- I braved the heat again to play some sand volleyball with friends. As this was the day of Michael Jackson’s death, there was a boom box playing the best of Michael Jackson, naturally. I don’t know if it was as much of game as it was a retrospect of MJ’s life and tribute dance party for some. Following the game there was a gathering at a friend’s apartment to listen to Off The Wall and Thriller on vinyl.

Saturday 102°-- My friends Brett, Molly, Patrick, and I took an incredibly scenic drive to Blanco. After living in Dallas and Fort Worth it still amazes me how green and hilly everything is here. In Blanco, we visited the Real Ale Brewery for their 13th anniversary. We set up camp in the best shade we could find and listened to music, ate food, drank beer, and took a tour of the brewery all for a whopping $0. Afterward, we went to the Blanco River and swam, talked to friendly strangers, and made friends with a dog named Lenny. To finish it off we turned at the one stoplight in the town and ate some delicious bar-b-que. On the way home, we found a fireworks stand on the side of the highway and stopped. Austinites really love their fireworks and know a lot about them. I, however, had no idea what was going on but was glad to be there.

That was the cliffs notes version but you get the idea. There was also great food, movies, and company this week. Join us next week as Patty recaps us on her cruise. This is Ashley, and it’s all happening in the heat.

Daddy's Girls

So, this past week started off fairly well. I was super excited to receive my first paycheck, even though half of it went to my Discover card bill, and Ashley finished up a logo design for our personal trainer friend, McHugh Body Design.

Wednesday, we were cordially invited to “chill” at Barton Springs with Wolfman and Thundersticks, (aka Todd and Drew). The boys spent a lot of time in the freezing water, I soaked in the sun, and Ash read a book in the shade. If you’ve never been, it’s a great place to people watch. There’s lots of earthy people showing off their tattoos, classical guitar skills, and summer bods – good and bad. We especially enjoyed the view of a middle-aged man with a pregnant woman’s stance, wearing nothing more than a speedo-like spanky.

Friday, The Soldier Thread played the St. Vincent after-party at The Mohawk, a venue downtown. Ash and Brett saw Annie Clark packing up her equipment as they were leaving around 1:30 a.m. and got to tell her “good show!” If you’ve never heard of her stuff, here’s a music video of her latest single, “Actor Out of Work.”

Ashley here. My cousin Brandon came in from California for a conference of some sort and stayed at the apartment. He had never been to Austin and the only other time he was in Texas was in the womb. We went hiking at the Greenbelt, swimming at Barton Springs, filled our bellies with barbeque at The Salt Lick, and went down to 6th street for the rest of the night. It was really good to see him.

In light of today being the recognized day to celebrate daddies across the nation, we’d like to mention that we love ours very much. And though we grew out of being carried around everywhere long ago, we’ll never grow out of being daddy’s girls.

This is Patty and Ashley and it's all still happening.

The ISH

First off, so sorry it’s been too long since we’ve updated you on what all is happening over here, so this one will be stuffed with news, but we’ll try to keep it short and sweet.

“Hover Cat” -- Exhibit A:

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Patty’s Jamaican pen pal, Sygia (Sih-gee-uh), came to visit for a couple weeks. She had her first Mexican food dish, her first peach, went to her first concert, saw the capital and experienced the bats fly over the Congress Bridge. It was pretty interesting to hear how different our culture is from hers. We also learned a new Jamaican slang term. Where we would use the word “shit” to describe something awesome, (example: “This movie is the shit.”), she would say it is the “ISH.” We may include this in future entries, so keeping a log of vocab words might be a good idea.

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The Soldier Thread had a few shows over the past week or so in which they performed their first cover song. “Videotape” by Radiohead. Click here to watch the video.

Funny story though…at Stubb’s, where Ashley was the “merch girl,” she apparently caught someone’s eye. We know so because the very next morning, someone found and sent us this link.

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And long story short...Patty got in a fight with a lawn chair and ended up in a thorny bush…

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Ash’s new desk finally came in. Isn’t it cute?

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Ash has been a busy bee lately, running around Austin doing Austiny things like going to crazy Co-Op parties with naked people, attending free jazz concerts, supporting local pubs, and tubing. Patty has been sitting at home working mostly, being productive around the apartment and learning how to cook. So far, she's made ceviche, ooey gooey butter cake (it's a secret recipe), banana bread, biscuits, sausage gravy, and chicken soup. Mother would be proud.

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We think that's about all we have for you. Oh yeah! We also made a new mutual friend. Meet Ray Garza.

This is Patty and Ashley and it's all happening (in third person).

The Third Wheel

Hi. My name is Rilo. People call me “hover-cat” and I’m not sure why. But I have to introduce myself because I live with two self-centered bitches that didn’t even think to include me, even though I live here too. I’ve put on a little weight, but this is the most current picture of me.

Ashley is mine and I just adopted Patty. They both make these long-ass lists and leave me at the house all alone for hours at a time. Like today, they left to go work out, and then to run “errands,” whatever that means. The only good thing about this is that they usually come back with some bags full of stuff that I like to crawl into once they’ve been emptied.

Anyway, I think I’m supposed to tell you what I did today. First I starred out the window at a cat that looked just like me. It was making all the same movements as me and it was pretty creepy. Then I got up on the counter tops and snooped around. I’m not aloud to do this when the girls are home. I ate a leaf off Patty’s bamboo plant, and lost a twisty tie under the fridge. Patty and Ashley finally got home around 4 p.m. That’s when I hid in the closet until they freaked out looking for me. Ashley helped me find the lost twisty tie under the fridge. I knew I kept her around for a reason.

I’ve been pretty content since Ashley and I moved here. It’s a whole new place to explore, and I’m meeting a lot of new people. But I never leave the house, and Patty and Ashley are always in their own little world, making me the third wheel. But I'm compensated by an abundance of head-scratching and a brand new lap to lounge in...

This is Rilo, and I'm constantly being told, "It's all happening."