Far Away Austin
There is something about the anticipation about seeing old friends that is both exciting and comforting. We’re in Austin, TX this week and there are 8 of us (4 adults, 4 kids between the ages of 8-12). The criteria for picking Austin was that it’s a rough halfway point for us being from Washington state and New Jersey, and we wanted to see the hype about this city and experience some good food and music.
What are we eating?
3 of us in the group of 8 don’t eat meat, but overall the greater challenge is all the kids are hard to please. While carbs are always a winner (bagels, cereal and pizza), we try to get creative with protein and anything with brighter colors. There’s a simultaneous desire to go out and explore taco trucks, BBQ and anything new and novel for the parents while the younger set is happy to get the grilled cheese and burgers while we set out endless platters of fruits and veggies in the house for grazing whenever possible.
Where we’re staying.
We’re at an AirBnb on the outskirts of Austin. We had a neighbor of the owner approach us before we even entered the property, asking if we were staying at the “hotel”. He was upset that he bought his house over 20 years ago and has watched people come and go and be disrespectful in what he thought would remain a quiet cul-de-sac. We just wanted a private place with a pool for the kids, no intention of being noisy. Currently evaluating my feelings about short-term rentals in general.
What do the locals think -
About all the new development? A local professional musician that moved here 10 years ago is dismayed that she has trouble competing with big acts that come through now. The land around the highway used to be farmland, now it’s strip malls. A guy at the art store grew up in Austin, been here all his life, and just doesn’t like what the tech moguls are bringing to his hometown.
A friend that picked us up for some BBQ and a drive to the airport told us that a “techbro from Seattle” had just bought some land near him on the far western outskirts of Austin. The newcomer had purchased about 40 acres and was going to “create bungalow NFTs”. That’s a new one!
What I’m Working On:
Rosehip Studio - Edible Data for Food Lovers.
I’m taking the next two months to work on an problem I’ve observed for over a couple years now in regard to food preferences. I’m on a mission to make it easier to cook and share information about what people can and can’t (or will and won’t?) eat, whether it’s due to health, religious or just personal reasons
Everyone I know, and every family I know, has custom issues with how to enjoy meals while keeping things healthy.
What I’m Reading:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying this book. It’s really about how your brain works in regard to using intuition and initial impressions versus in-depth pondering. One of the best lessons? Reading about how finance professionals aren’t all that much better at picking stocks than me just sitting on the couch with a dart and a piece of paper taped to the wall with stock tickers printed out.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
A beautiful book focused on observations and details from artifical intelligence’s unique perspective. Lots of details that will lead you to question what truly makes someone an individual. Gorgeously written.