Fun weekend!

Just got back from a weekend in Austin! It was really fun, but I'm really stressed. First, the fun.

I picked Liz up at her place around 2:30, and we followed the directions that my GPS gave us and took 290. It turns out that this is not the fastest way (you should take 10 to 71). It may be the shortest way and seem like the fastest way, but it isn't. And it's REALLY BORING. I made Liz bust out Roadtrip Bingo, which we were unable to win (we were playing blackout) because there aren't really that many silos in central Texas.

Traffic was great until we hit 35 in Austin. I stayed on the feeder road, partly because it was moving more quickly than the freeway, and partly because there was no way I would be able to merge with the stationary cars on the freeway. We got to the hotel FINALLY, met up with my sister, checked in, and headed out to meet Suzanne and Brady at the restaurant.

If you haven't eaten at the Moonshine Grill in Austin, you're seriously missing out. Because we ate early, like the senior citizens we are (except for Judy), we managed to catch the last 10 minutes of happy hour -- half-price appetizers and $4 specialty drinks. We ordered deep-fried asparagus (amazing), spinach and artichoke fondue (delicious), and "corn dog shrimp" (love!), and everyone but Judy ordered a Ruby Slipper Martini. Mmmmm... Ruby Slipper Martini. Here's why the Ruby Slipper Martini is so good: 1) it's pink like a Cosmopolitan, so it's got the silly girl factor, but 2) it's NOT SWEET. It's vodka and grapefruit juice with some champagne for fizz, and it all works together like alchemy.

Then the serious negotiations began. Judy got a delicious spinach salad while the rest of us ate like it was our last meal on earth. Brady ordered a flat-iron steak, while Liz, Suzanne, and I decided to split the trout and the flat-iron steak among the three of us. Fabulous choices, and a fabulous decision, because then we had room left to do the the peanut butter mousse pie and red velvet cake justice.

We laughed and laughed and laughed the whole time, and I wish I could remember what was so funny, but I think it was just eating outside in perfect spring weather, delicious cocktails and wine, amazing food, and the best company ever. It was relaxed and relaxing, and the next time I go to Austin, I'm definitely going back to the Moonshine.

The next day, we drove out to Pedernales Falls State Park. We did a short hike that started with a sharp decline and then an excursion in fording the river -- really fun and very refreshing. This was followed by a sharp incline (not so fun) and a loop where we saw some trees that hurt my eyes: the leaves (needles?) were a vivid, spring green, and the bark was a silvery-blue, and the contrast was jarring. Anyone know what kind of tree this is?

After our little, sweaty (warm weather, occasional breezes, sweat happens) hike, we headed over to the falls. This was my favorite part of the day. They've created a lookout so you can enjoy the amazing views, but the Park Service has also built some steps down to the falls. There hasn't been much rain in Texas the past few weeks, so we didn't have to worry about flash floods, and so we took advantage. Because the river was so low, there were so many places to do some really fun rock scrambling. I think I've figured out that the reason I like the Billy Goat Trail so much is the rock scrambles. I'm not fast at scrambling, but I think I'm better than mediocre, and I scrambled and frolicked on the boulders and came away feeling refreshed.

We went to a winery afterward, dirty and stinky, but the people there didn't care. They must be used to it. I wasn't blown away by most of the wines I tasted, but they had a lovely, light, not-too-sweet dessert wine, and I bought myself a bottle, along with an olive tray. Brady, Suzanne, Liz, and I each bought a glass of wine, and we supplemented the grape juice with cheddar cheese, summer sausage, crackers, and some scrumptious artichoke and garlic dip, all of which we attacked with gusto (and a sad, tiny, plastic knife).

Suzanne, Brady, and Liz continued onto more wineries, and I went back to the hotel to get a little work done. That's where the stress started. I got a little bit of work done on my BlackBerry, but I didn't take my computer with me -- seemed like that would ruin the point of the weekend away.

Sunday, we went to the Whole Foods Flagship in Austin. This is another "must-visit" if you're ever in Austin. I went to get some freshly ground, chocoloate-almond butter and left with much, much more. After a light snack, we headed out to Daryl Howard's 2008 spring party at her ranch. Daryl is a wonderful artist who does most of her work in woodblock prints. Liz had introduced all of us to her at the Bayou City Art Festival over the years. Liz's family owns a lot of Daryl's work, and Liz has several pieces as well. I bought a triptych that I love last year, and today, Brady and Suzanne saw something that grabbed them (the first ever print of "Yellow Tree"), so they grabbed it!

I spent most of today feeling really stressed. I've over-committed myself at work this week with a trip to Atlanta, which means a lot of late nights between now and Wednesday. I had hoped that by coming home a little early I'd be able to get some work done, but after checking my e-mail and my calendar for tomorrow, I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have an early start tomorrow, which means I'm not going to be able to get what I want to done tonight.

I still think I made the right decision by not taking my laptop, and it was nice to see Judy doing so well and to spend quality time with good friends, but holy moly, sometimes taking some time off to get away from the stress and to relax turns into more stress and a bigger need for a vacation.