San Antonio / Austin

[III]

JComp, Captshady, and I are talking about getting together for a drink or movie before too long. Anyone else in the San Antonio / San Marcus / Austin area interested in joining us?

[Williebee]

Watcha doin Saturday Night?

I'll be there from the 28th - 2nd for the NECC (Educating and Computing Conference)

Durty Nelly's?

[Soccer Mom]

I was there...um...yesterday. Back up in Fort Worth again. I need to holler at you people next time the Soccer Clan invades SA.

[maestrowork]

Don't go there. I've heard the methane level is super high.

[Soccer Mom]

Don't go there. I've heard the methane level is super high.

All them bean burritos?

[Captshady]

I have odd evenings because of child cusody things. I'm free SOME evenings. I'm free this Saturday and I work downtown if anyone has any ideas for lunch or something.

[III]

I have a wedding Saturday evening but it should be done by 8:00 and I could probably use an excuse to cut out on the reception. I usually avoid the Riverwalk but I could make an exception in this case. Durty Nellie's is fun. We could always do the Quarry - J. Alexander's if we wanted something quieter with easy parking.

[Captshady]

I have a wedding Saturday evening but it should be done by 8:00 and I could probably use an excuse to cut out on the reception. I usually avoid the Riverwalk but I could make an exception in this case. Durty Nellie's is fun. We could always do the Quarry - J. Alexander's if we wanted something quieter with easy parking.

I'm with ya on that one! Durty Nellie's on a saturday night? The noise level will only allow for us to sit and stare at each other, and trust me ... I'm not that good looking!

[Jcomp]

I've only been to Durty Nellie's once. Fun, but yeah, a bit raucous for an initial meet & greet. I might have a performance on Saturday night. Not sure yet. I think it may have been cancelled. Gosh I'm out of the loop of my own life... anyhow, I'll be back with confirmation...

[Williebee]

Somewhere else works for me. I just picked Durty Nelly's because it's walking distance from the hotel (Westin on the Riverwalk.)

[Jcomp]

I'm sure we can think of somewhere.

Oh, and I verified my gig was cancelled, so I'm good to go...

[III]

Williebee, do you have a car? If not, we could choose a Riverwalk location. If you do, I'd say let's avoid downtown.

If you have a car, I'd recommend the Quarry on 281 about 10 mins from downtown. There are several good restaurants with bars there. Otherwise, Alamo Cafe on I10 might be okay. I'd say Fox & Hound at DeZevala & 10 but it gets crowded on Saturday nights. Any other suggestions?

[Maryn]

Mi Tiera?

Maryn, who still misses Texas

[III]

Mi Tiera?

Maryn, who still misses Texas

Can you send us a life-sized cardboard cutout for Saturday night with a white board on the bottom that says "Maryn - " and we can fill in the quotes of what you would say?

[Williebee]

Sorry guys, I'm on foot for this one. I think I

Oh Maryn -- PLEASE DO. We PROMISE to be nice to it.... :)

My flight lands around 3:30. taxi to the hotel, yadda, yadda, I should be free after 6.

[III]

We could meet at the Caliza Grille (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/dining/index.html?propertyID=1167&iATANumber=) in the Westin Hotel and either hang out there or venture out. Here's a list of restaurant / bars (http://www.riverwalkguide.com/nightlife.asp) on the Riverwalk. Personally I wouldn't mind the hotel bar.

[Captshady]

I don't mind giving anyone a ride.

[Williebee]

Works for me.

[Captshady]

Okay, good ... once the time/place is set, I'll PM you my cell info, and we'll line up the pick up time.

[Williebee]

The hotel bar is ok by me. It shouldn't be nuts until the next night. (Thousands of teacher geeks descending on the convention center.)

[III]

So let's plan on meeting at the bar in the Westin between 8:30 and 9:00 and we can hang out there for a while and venture out later if we want to. I'll probably only be able to hang out an hour or two. I'll PM you guys my cell.

I'm trying to think of anyplace downtown that has shuffleboard . . .

[Williebee]

cool.

[Jcomp]

Coolness...

[III]

Tonight! Anyone have a digital camera? I just have our videocamera or I could bororow my daughter's pink one . . .

[AnnieColleen]

Wish I could...I already had plans for tonight, though.

Y'all have fun. :)

[Maryn]

Can you send us a life-sized cardboard cutout for Saturday night with a white board on the bottom that says "Maryn - " and we can fill in the quotes of what you would say?
I'm on it. It should be waiting at the bar. Please place a frozen margarita in its hand. The smile on its face should form naturally.

Man, I wish I was there. Several people in my area have joined AW, posted four times, and disappeared. I want to meet real people!

Maryn, who still remembers Austin and SA very, very fondly

[Williebee]

Ok, so an hour or two turned into later, the next morning.
A few of us managed to gather on the Riverwalk near the Westin in San Antonio.

There may have been imbibing involved. Here's the only picture that came out:

http://www.ifoundaknife.com/images/awsanantonio.jpg

The tall guy is Jcomp. III is on the left. (And we learned last night, first, why "III", and that there is a "IV" in the household.
I'm the guy that's left.

We never found out what happened to CaptShady (Dude? You ok?)

Maryn, we had the cutout of you. Sorry it wasn't in the picture, but it got picked up by a passing airman. He was cute, if that counts for anything.

A couple hours of conversation turned into several hours. It was a good time.

I'd recommend travelling a thousand miles to hang out with these guys.

[Captshady]

MAN!!!!! I can't believe I missed it!!! My sister's house alarm kept going off, and she's on vacation in NC, so I had to stay there. I figured I'd call when I got there to let you know I couldn't make it, but I couldn't get their computer to hook up to the net to get your (III) number.

I'm so sorry guys, I REALLY liked the idea of the get together, and don't like the fact that I said I'd be there, and was a no show.

[III]

Yeah, it was a great time. I could have hung out all night if I didn't have to wake up this morning. Sorry we missed ya, Captshady. We tried calling the number you gave us but it was disconnected. Compton and I talked about watching a UFC fight or catching a movie sometime so we'll keep you in the loop. And AnnieColleen too!

We also learned why "WillieBee" is at once a noble and hedonistic username. We even spent quite a bit of time discussing writing. Good, laid back conversation all around - just what I was in the mood for. Can't wait to do it again (and next time I'll bring a camera with a good flash :D).

[Captshady]

I'm game for all of that, I'll check my PM's to see if I gave the wrong number or something.

[Maryn]

I'm so glad the guy my cardboard cutout left with was cute. I hope he doesn't consider me shallow.

Isn't it terrific to hook up with other writers, people who actually get it? My critique group has grown teeny-tiny, so I can't wait to meet up with a larger number of writing people in October, when the House of Love has its gathering this year. (We accept strays--anybody traveling?)

Maryn, glad you all had a good time

[maestrowork]

I was the guy in the back drinking III's beer.

[MarkEsq]

Anyone in (or near Austin) fancy a get-together?

[Maryn]

My cardboard cut-out is ready. Name the place and date!

Some days I get homesick for Austin, even though we only lived there six years. I suspect I'm more homesick for Austin as it was then... (It did take me over ten years to lose "y'all," although I have no Texas accent.)

Seriously, this is one of the regional get-togethers I'd so like to attend. Please send the private jet for me.

Maryn, hoping that's not too much to ask

[III]

Attention San Antonio: Batten down the hatches cuz we've got Joe270 (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/member.php?u=12627) coming to town in a week or so. For anyone not terrified by this prospect, we'll be posting get-together plans (this means you, Compton, Shady, and Mark). Keep an eye on this thread.

Jay, hoping Maryn can make it too.