Recap: Summer 2K9

Four years ago I started dreaming about living in Austin someday. Considering I lived/schooled in San Marcos for two, one could surmise that this would be an easy task, just a hop, skip, and 20 minute drive away. It wasn't. Two years in, just when the opportunity arose to make the move, another opportunity arose: Admittance into on of the top musical theatre programs in the country. Being an intensely career-minded person since the age of 5, the latter choice won out, and being so excited that my tears smudged the type on the congratulatory letter before I could read anything beyond the first paragraph, I shortly thereafter found myself singing showtunes in the middle of the cornfields of Indiana. Two years of high kicking it next to scarecrows and cornfed girlymen (who I love dearly!) though, I found my way back. For 2 and a half months Austin residency, true Austin residency in the 78704, was mine, and I loved every minute of it...well in hindsight at least. SO, in memoriam of a dream long dreamed and finally come true, I thought a summer recap would be appropriate. The lights please, Alfred...

First things first, I got a job as an assistant at a Passport Distribution Center. Sadly I had to turn it down for what turned out to be a hellish alternative.

Getting a job, take two landed me at Trudy's (I dunno...Mexican Cantina?). Trendy, previously knew some of my co-workers, good food. What's not to like? EVERYTHING. As it turns out I really am anti-communisim. Sorry, Lucille Ball.

Since I wasn't working much at my actual job, I decided to take on "getting hot" as a part-time gig and got a membership at 24 hour fitness. After moving clubs twice, upgrading once, and then cancelling it all, I seemed to get "oh god not him again" stares from the staff as I walked in everyday, but I loved the gym and will miss it upon return to the north. I failed to gain a "rack" but my calves finally match my gymnastics-made thunder thighs. Success 2.0

With two part-time jobs in place and the temperature regulary exceeding 100, I settled on sno-cones as my summer treat of choice and joined forces with one Miss Samantha Watson on our "2009 Sno-Cone Stand Tour of Austin" It's amazing how many free sno-cones you can get when you tell people you're writing an article about them for The Chronicle. Molly's on S Lamar was deemed best AND all their profits go to charity. Win.

Jobs, hobbies, new and old friends in place, the next place to turn was "romance". Prior to my ATX arrival, the Virgin Mary and I were competing for this rolling year's longest dry spell. I refused to win and set out on a passionate mission to make sure that didn't happen. I unbuttoned that top button and said "no more being shy, it's time to get slutty!" Then with a frightening determination I manuevered my way through the social networks and wound up on 3 dates. Each was fun in it's own way and left me glad to have met them, but each also left me going home a proper lady. Epic fail. Fortunately that wasn't all she wrote and as summer comes to and end I can say, Mary won. Poor old bitch.

Of no less import, but in order to keep this from competing with the 7th Harry Potter book in length, other events of note are as follows:

• Went to a Studio 54 party with my best friend wearing a cross and coke vile. Blast.
• Went with Michael to a Jay Brannan concert(who I previously knew nothing about) and found a new non-musical theatre artist to enjoy. Always welcomed!
• Saw "Love, Janis" at Zach Theatre. Blown Away.
• Took my shirt off on the dance floor for the fist time ever. Trash.
• Had to have my truck towed from West Lake to N Lamar after it broke down on a lunch adventure with Michael. Emmmmmbarrassing.
• Went swimming in a rooftop pool with some girls from high school and woke up the next morning in one of their beds with my shirt missing three buttons and no underwear...which I later found in the apartment complex's elevator. WTF.
• Went to the Zilker musical "The Music Man" and had the most incredible Bourbon Freezes.
• Dogsat for one of the prettiest dogs I've ever seen, a chocolate Shar Pei named Lola. Miss her.
• Floated the river numerous times with some of the best people I know. Incredible.
• Saw "Legally Blonde" with my mother and later had dreams about being in the tour.
• Went on a whirlwind trip to San Antonio and had my first Whataburger Taquito.
• Danced at Ballet Austin.
• Went to Barton Springs for the first (and second) time ever.
• Ran Town Lake (that's right I REFUSE to call it LadyBird Lake) multiple times and was stunned everytime by the beauty of the city.
• LIVED WITH MY BEST FRIEND.

There's more, but those are several (more than you wanted to read I'm sure) of the highlights. It really was a summer of dreams, and i'm definitely sad it had to come to an end. I caught up with old friends, rekindled friendships that had gone stale, met some absolutely brilliant people and in general just had a blast. I'll remember it and the people who made it special for always! :)