Escape to Texas Mountains

Working from home is overall pretty great, but there's nothing to do after the end of the work day. All planned and thought-about summer vacations have been cancelled. The one hobby I have is going to a movie theater, and they have all been closed since March. I stay indoors except to get groceries, get takeout, or replenish cat food and litter. 

It all makes me feel even more stir-crazy to get out of dodge. Even though it was just six weeks ago that I roadtripped to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the absence of everything else in my life exacerbates my need to GET OUT. The need and desire to feel and experience something beyond the four walls of my apartment, but also being safe and not risking infection of myself or possibly others. It is indeed a strange time. 

So on a whim I booked a room at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park for Sunday night. I did this Friday night. Because there are no rules during a pandemic (other than actual rules like physical distancing, wearing a mask, etc.). 

Mountains aren't prevalent in Texas. At least that's how I feel as someone that grew up in Idaho and Utah in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. And I always miss them, in an abstract way since I'm not an avid hiker or anything. So finding these mountains, just a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Austin felt like finding gold. 

All I wanted to do was escape my apartment and clear my head with pretty views, sunsets and sunrises, and some stars. I got all of that in spades. I spent the day sitting on a rock overlooking a valley. I watched birds (even though I know nothing about birds), listened to the wind, saw some deer foraging for food, and watched the mountain slowly be enveloped by shade as the sun set. 

Then everything was swathed in the magical glow of magic hour, and suddenly everything was evocative, beautiful, transcendent. Trees and cactus and rocks were beautiful masterpieces of elegance and purity. Then the star came out, and I spent at least an hour gawking at the majesty of the Milky Way and nighttime sky. 

I got up very early in the morning to catch the sunrise. Everything looked gorgeous, and I spent the morning hiking around the area and taking pictures of cactus. I even ran across a group of wild pigs. Check out all my photos here. 

I then headed out to Marfa, because it seemed like if I was already out this far in west Texas I might as well hit up Marfa and see the famous Prada art installation. But what I'll always remember is the amazing fried chicken sandwich I had at The Water Stop (and the very pricey pillow I bought at a gift shop). 

These plants were everywhere, and they definitely gave a feeling of an other-worldly place. Aliens, maybe? ;)

Callin' Baton Rouge

After my day-trip on my birthday to the Hill Country of Texas, I thought about planning another road trip for Memorial Day (since my trip to San Diego with my Kansas friends as part 3 of our "Four Corners of America" was cancelled). I convinced myself out of it, though, and didn't plan anything.

But then I woke up early Saturday morning (thanks to my cats) and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to make the most of being up so early (and thought about another weekend at home after another week of being at home) and decided I'd head to Baton Rouge, a six and a half hour drive from Austin. I booked a hotel, fed my cats, and then headed out with no plans. (Check out a google photo album for photos.)

It started raining right as I got to Baton Rouge. Not ideal, but not terrible. I drove by my hotel, but didn't want to unload in the rain so I just drove towards a tall building. Turns out it was the State Capitol. What kind of State Capitol looks like this, instead of columns and domes? I knew right then I loved Baton Rouge.

I spent my time just walking around, mostly at the riverfront. "Patriotic" music was playing from several speakers and it was kind of nice, but also kind of annoying as I sat there for awhile and heard the same songs over and over. 

I watched the clouds and the barges, and just contemplated. 

Baton Rouge has an amazing Downtown Greenway that I took a walk down as the sun was going down. The median of North Street is full of trees, a bike path, and a walk path and it was lovely. Then I walked through the historic Beauregard Town during the fleeting magic hour. Everything was bathed in a glow of purple and pink, and I could smell rain and flowers as I walked along old streets and admired old homes. Through one window I could see a person watching Casablanca. It was magical and lovely.

The next morning I decided to make my way to New Orleans, specifically I wanted to drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. I had sent some photos to my friend Kate, and she mentioned that Louisiana was home to one of the longest bridges in the world! I took the longer (and on my opinion more scenic) route to New Orleans just to cross this bridge. I paid five bucks and it was well worth it! The bridge spans Lake Pontchartrain and is 24 miles long. One site I read said that at one point on the bridge a person can't see any land; that's not true, as almost from the beginning one can see the skyline of New Orleans. Whatever. It was amazing. I rolled my windows, let the wind blow my hair, and sang along to the radio as I marveled at the bridge, the clouds, the water, and the fete of engineering it was to build the bridge. 

I spent a couple hours in New Orleans, since I had come all this way to cross a bridge and was now there. Due to Covid response measures, lots of things were still closed. The famed Bourbon Street was not teeming with people (I actually ended up driving down it on accident when I first entered the city). Lots of people weren't wearing masks. Some places were open, but most places were still closed. So not the best introduction to a city. I hung out at Jackson Square, and did some walking in the French Quarter, but was hot and sweaty so decided to leave. Major shout out to the random restaurant I found next to a post office drop box in downtown that let me use their bathroom even though I wasn't a customer - I was dying and my bladder would not have made it much longer. 

On the way back I stopped in Baton Rouge for lunch. I really like Baton Rouge, more so than New Orleans. I often wonder what touristy places like Bourbon Street were like before they became touristy places, full of terrible souvenir shops and restaurants that catered to tourists. What was it like when it was a place people just went to, or stumbled upon. 

I had started playing Garth Brooks when I left New Orleans, hoping the song "Callin' Baton Rouge" would start playing at just the right moment. After stopping for lunch, I was making my way to the freeway and, in a perfect moment of kismet, it started playing just as I got on the on-ramp and crossed over the bridge spanning the Mississippi River. 

Quarantine TV Watching

UPDATED
When everything's closed and you aren't supposed to leave, what else is there to do than catch up on new and old tv shows. This is what I've been watching the past couple months.

Girls
I already watched Girls a couple years ago out of curiosity. This time I watched it because of Adam Driver specifically. His character, Adam Sackler, and Hannah have such an interesting relationship and when they break up I am reduced to a mess of tears because it feels so real.

Angel
I started this rewatch when I got to season 4 of my Buffy rewatch. I had a newfound appreciation for season 2, but it's still my least favorite. Season 3 is my favorite with the epic story of Darla and Angel having a baby, even if we are supposed to believe Angel and Cordelia are in romantic love. Season 4 is grand in scale, and is for the most part good but Cordelia truly was terrible. Season 5 is overall fun, with some great episodes and arcs. I hadn't seen the finale since it originally aired and I was reminded how good it is.

Tiger King
A train wreck where everyone is a villain and no one wins.

Fleabag
I had heard about the "hot priest" and was tempted to skip to season 2 just to see if it was as good as it was made to be. But, since season 1 is only six 30-minute episodes I stuck with it. Glad I did because I ended up enjoying season 1 and it really made a lot of the character motivations clear from earlier in the season and is pivotal to understand season 2. The hot priest storyline definitely delivered. So. Damn. Heartbreaking.

Succession
Dang. So good. This was one of the shows offered for free from HBO Max when quarantine started. Season 1 was so amazing, and season 2 I almost gave up on after the first episode. I kept with it, though, at the urging of my coworker and I'm glad I did because it was amazing. I mean, that ending. Also, everyone is super terrible and it's hard to pick who I dislike the most; sometimes it's Tom, most of the time it's Logan, and occasionally it's Logan.

Single Parents
I randomly started watching this when I saw a commercial for an upcoming episode. It's simple fun, and there were a lot of times when the kids made me laugh out loud.

Killing Eve (adding this after I originally posted because I forgot about it)
I get most of my t.v. recommendations from my coworker (she recommended I stick with Fleabag and Succession), and she has been urging me to watch Killing Eve more than anything. I started it one Saturday when, like most other Saturdays during quarantine, there wasn't anything else to do. Most of season I really liked, but the ending didn't really do it for me. I unenthusiasticly started season 2 but didn't get past the first episode. I love that it's female-written and stars two females (both took home awards for their roles!) but I'm just not into it.

One Tree Hill
I just had a hankering for a teen drama and this is on Hulu. I watched the first season when it aired way back in 2003, but knew random things about what was happening over the years due to my general interest in pop culture. The first season is pretty classic, and was the last time before a long span of truly terrible hairdos and wardrobe choices for Lucas. The show started embracing the crazy at one point, but dang if I wasn't fully invested in the star-crossed relationship of Lucas and Peyton. Season 5 stretched the limits of what was believable in the quest of the writers to keep them apart one last time, but it eventually paid off. The show, in my opinion, went on much too long; I'll probably stop my rewatch at season 6.

What's next???? Who knows....

Quarantine Update

Today is Day 30 of Working From Home and Day 40 of Stay Home Order.

This break down is more for me than anything.

The week of March 9 was a busy week for work projects. I had a huge item on the Council agenda that I had been working on since December and was at City Hall on Tuesday and Thursday. The item was postponed for two weeks, and we had a game plan in place.

But then everything changed Thursday. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. Tom Hanks test positive. Trump had a crazy press conference. Austin had their first two positive cases. I worked from home that Friday - Friday the 13th no less - and Austin ISD cancelled classes.

I had gone grocery shopping earlier in the week and was pretty well stocked, but needed litter and cat food and decided I might as well get some groceries as well. When I went on Monday, the craziness hadn't hit Austin yet and everything was still stocked up well. Friday, though, was a madhouse. Empty shelves where there should be pasta, sauce, toilet paper, hand soap, vegetables. It was wild and a stark contrast from just a few days earlier.

That weekend was supposed to be the first weekend of SXSW, but it had been cancelled the week before. People were wanting to support local businesses in light of that. I had already bought a ticket to see Dazed and Confused at the Alamo Ritz Saturday afternoon. I wanted to do my part to support my favorite theater, but was torn about going out (we didn't have stay at home orders yet). I went to the viewing, and it was such a weird experience. The theater is on 6th Street, and on any normal Saturday, especially the one before St. Patrick's Day, it is crowded with people. While not completely dead, it had more people than I was expecting.

I got home after the show and immediately cancelled my ticket for Sunday to see Portrait of a Lady on Fire. That was the last time I went out for something that wasn't exercise or a trip to the grocery store.

All Sunday night my coworker and I were texting, wondering when the City Manager or our director would issue work from home direction. We were planning to start working from home anyway, but wanted leadership from our leaders. The email came late Sunday night.

I went into the office on Tuesday to get one of my monitors and a laptop to make working easier.

Stay Home-Work Safe Orders were issued, initially through the end of March, then extended to April 13, and now to May 8.

This is the sixth week of quarantine. Day 30 of work from home. Day 40 of staying home. Time doesn't really mean much, though. I looked at photos from that first week and I can barely remember it. Everything is muddled in my memory. I learned quickly that I needed to follow somewhat of a schedule - exercise, shower, put on mascara. And it worked pretty well for a good number of weeks.

Last week was rough though. I got out of a schedule. Didn't wash my hair for several days. Felt unmotivated during work hours. I know that staying home is important and I want to do my part to keep others safe.

But it's hard. Not always, but some days. Even with my cats as coworkers.

Oscar Sunday 2020

One of my favorite days of the year - Oscar Sunday! This year there are 9 Best Picture nominees. Since I have been blogging way less, I'll summarize my thoughts on each of them below. I also want to say that it is a crime that the Academy has overlooked female filmmakers and people of color. It is truly ridiculous in 2020 to still be focusing so much on stories of white men, told my white men.

1917 When this won the Golden Globe I was pretty surprised, since it hadn't even been released wide yet in America. I was ever-so-slightly against this film, just because I feel over war films in this moment of time. However, I went to see one random Wednesday night and was completely blown away. Some say the "one-shot" is a gimmick that isn't necessary, but I believe it is wholly necessary. I feel and see exactly what the characters see, and I was constantly wondering how they would get out of a scenario (and how the director, Sam Mendes, would get his camera out of it too!).

Ford v. Ferrari This is another one that I wasn't jazzed about seeing, but once it got a Best Pic nom I saw it last week. It is a perfectly find, competent film with performances from the always great and committed Christian Bale and Matt Damon, but it's a movie about two behemoth car corporations having a whose-dick-is-bigger contest while sticking it to the people that actually race and take care of the cars (also, I found the character played by Josh Lucas to be waaaaaay over the top and unbelievable). I have no idea how this film got a Best Pic nomination.

The Irishman Was able to see this in the theater when the Alamo Drafthouse was having a Crime Films of Martin Scorsese  theme in October. I did not care for this film.

Jojo Rabbit I was unsure about seeing this one, but since I'm an Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass holder I figured why not. I'm so glad I did because I loved it! Jojo is a great character to see the world through, and his slow understanding of the world through learning and death is beautiful. Taika Waititi is the real deal.

The Joker The only one I haven't seen, because I have no desire to and a Best Pic nom didn't change that. But I like Joaquin Phoenix generally.

Little Women I adored this film so much that I saw it a second time a few days after my first viewing. I live for the scene of Jo and Laurie's confrontation because it just feels so real. Even with this new and great take on Amy, I still don't buy that Laurie is in love with her and marries her - he just wants to join the March family. Saoirse Ronan is quite possibly my favorite actress (she's been nominated for FOUR Academy Awards and she's only 25!).

Marriage Story A brutal and honest portrayal of divorce and how it causes generally normal, sane, decent people to act like monsters. Great performances all around (I love seeing Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and as divorcing dad Charlie).

Once Upon a Time.....In Hollywood  I'm not a Tarantino fan in general, so I only saw this because it is a Best Pic nominee. I found it to be self-indulgent and weirdly (though not for Tarantino) violent and bloody at the end.

Parasite Lindsay and I saw this when we were in NYC for her birthday in October. I had heard great things about it, but didn't really know what it was about or the plot; I honestly thought it was a horror/psychological scary movie and I asked Lindsay a couple time during the first thirty or so minutes "When does it scary? Is this when it gets scary?" It doesn't every really get scary in the horror sense. It's a brilliant movie and I want it to win all the awards (not just the supremely dumb and anglo-centric-worldview category Best International Feature Film award).

Live Action Shorts All of them told such interesting, unique stories that I'd be happy if any of them won except The Neighbor's Window, which means it will probably win. It's white, affluent people living in Brooklyn learning a pretty easy lesson by watching their neighbors through their window (what kind of people never close a curtain or blind?!).

Animated Shorts Just saw these today! I loved Kitbull, an adorable story about the friendship between a kitten and a pitbull that made me tear up. Also really liked the submission from the Czech Repulic, Dcera (Daughter) for its simple story and amazing camera work with stop motion.

Thoughts on supposed snubs I saw Hustlers and didn't think it was anything special or groundbreaking or revelatory. I was put off by the franticness of Uncut Gems (although read a great piece about how the film is set up as game of basketball and I thought that was really cool). The Farewell was pretty great and was definitely snubbed.

Norway Musings

I spent Christmas in Oslo. I had thought about traveling abroad over Christmas ever since my friend Jessica had planned a trip to Estonia over Thanksgiving. I can't remember why or how I settled on Oslo, but I'm so glad I did because I loved it.

When I started reading blogs and such about what to do in Oslo, lots of people stated that Oslo was an ugly, boring city that should be skipped. Especially at Christmastime because Norwegians take their Christmas seriously and everything would be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Second Christmas Day (Boxing Day), and maybe even more.

Everything WAS closed while I was there. I arrived the evening of Christmas Eve and, while people did start coming out Christmas Day night and on the 26th, lots of stores and such were closed until the 27th (some even closed all the way until the new year!). It wasn't until the morning of the 27th that it seemed like people were out going to work; the garbage trucks were out!

Regardless, I had a great time. What I enjoy about experiencing new cities is just walking and getting a feel for it. I like trying to get a sense of what it is like for the people who live there. How do they get to work? Where do they grocery shop? How do they meet up with friends? 

Most everyone in Norway speaks English. I asked a girl at a travel shop about this, and she said that most Norwegians learn english while in elementary school; while Norwegian is their language, she said it's not super useful when traveling abroad because no one else speaks it! Everyone was helpful and kind, but they aren't overtly kind - they'll keep to their business but are quick to be helpful when needed. 

Merry Christmas in Norwegian is God Jul. It's a wonderful time to be in Norway! Christmas is important, but Norway is kind of secular so there didn't seem to be over-concern about keeping the religious part of Christmas intact. Their decorations are understated, and lights are very important since it's dark a big chunk of the time. The biggest decoration is lighted stars in the window - they were EVERYWHERE and I was obsessed. The standard was yellow/white lights, with nary a multi-colored string in sight. It all makes for a lovely aesthetic.

Everyone keeps their window blinds open. This was especially noticeable in Tromso as we took a fjord tour. Our guide explained that since Norway lacks density, the windows are left open and lights on for anyone that would be out in the woods and needed help. This seemed to translate to Oslo as well, and I am a big fan of the custom. I think I'd fit right in in Norway. As I look out at the apartment windows across from me all of the blinds are closed. I bought a lighted start that I put in my window that is shining bright for all to see. 

Since Oslo is so far north, the sun doesn't shine much in the winter. It rose around 9:30 in the morning, but it never rose above the horizon before setting in almost the same place around 4:00 p.m. It'd be completely dark by five, which really messed with my internal clock!

The biggest negative of Norway is that they do not have Dr. Pepper. Coke and Pepsi, a smattering of Mt. Dew and an orange drink called Solo are what's available. While I would love to live there, I'd have to think long and hard about not having Dr. Pepper (which I don't even drink that often, but it's my go-to when I have a headache and it's really the only carbonated drink I drink).

I'd go back in a heartbeat, and would really love to see it during summer and rent a car to drive along the coast. I'm hoping to post separately about specific things I did while there, so stay tuned. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

After seeing The Rise of Skywalker just before Christmas, I was positively giddy to see it again in Oslo as my Christmas Day Movie tradition. I enjoyed it more the second time around! The third time I saw it at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin, which has fantastic themed pre-show content. Here are my random thoughts on it...

After spending the entire previous movie with our supposed trio apart and in their own story lines, Rise of Skywalker wastes no time bringing the trio together on a mission. I never really bought into them as a group of close friends to begin with, so this start kind of annoyed me. Rey and Finn get close during The Force Awakens, along with Finn and Poe (Finn kind of just clings on to the first people he meets; yes, he is my least favorite character). In The Last Jedi, they aren't together at all. Rey is experiencing A LOT of things, and Finn and Poe are each on their own adventures.

So to have Rise of Skywalker start so deeply in solidifying how close this trio is is a bit weird. But whatever. Their journey to find the Sith Wayfinder is still good. Rey is clearly going through something that neither Finn nor Poe understands; Finn annoyingly thinks he knows her, while Poe wisely knows he doesn't.

For me, the strongest part of the prequel trilogy has been the Rey/Kylo Ren connection and I really enjoyed the outcome of that. Not that Rey is a Palpatine, which is just so ridiculous, but I wonder how else they would have made their connection through the force without making her a Skywalker. Because I enjoy the conclusion, I am willing to forgive Rey being a Palpatine.

Kylo Ren has always been very conflicted, which makes for a good character. He claims to be evil, and he does seem so when he ruthlessly kills his own father. But he also seemed so conflicted. Why he worships Vader is a bit unclear, since he killed the Emperor to save his son before dying. Does Ben/Kylo just conveniently forget this part? Vader/Anakin KILLED the Emperor himself to save his son, so Kylo even listening to the Emperor is strange. Dude needs to learn some family history.

Also, where the eff is Anakin. Surely he could return as a force ghost and give his only grandson some guidance, since this is all his fault basically. My guess is Hayden Christensen declined to be a part of it (I have heard he has become a bit reclusive because the fame from Star Wars was too much....). And also Anakin would likely be force-projected as his older self, right?  Whatever, I think Anakin needed to have a presence.

Rise of Skywalker had just the right amount of world-building, especially with the Kijimi sequence. I love Keri Russell, so that likely played a part in it as well. It built on Poe's background, which I liked. I was excited about Poe as a character, but I felt like he never really developed until now. His humor was finally nailed in this film and I loved the whole bit on Kijimi about "You were a spicerunner? You were a stormtrooper? You were a scavenger? I can do this all day!".

I am very curious as to why Ben disappeared when he died like Obi-Wan and Yoda. What has become of him?! Him and Rey clearly have some unfinished discussions.....

I'm already thinking about when I will see it next!

Star Wars Musings

I have now seen Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker three times. By choice. In three different movie theaters, in two states and two countries. This is remarkable, at least to me, because I had given up hope on ever really enjoying a new Star Wars film again.

Being born in 1983, I discovered Star Wars as most kids born in the 80s did - through watchings on television. For Christmas one year (in the 90s) Santa brought the Anderson family the VHS boxed set of the trilogy and it was the best Christmas ever. I remember once telling my mom, in all my pre-teen earnestness, that my only wish was to go back in time and experience Star Wars for the first time on the big screen.

My wish sort of came true when the films were re-released in 1997 as the Special Editions. I remember my excitement still now about seeing them on the big screen. Then everything really changed when three brand new prequels were announced. Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005, and that was really the last time I remember really enjoying a Star Wars film.

Perhaps as I've gotten older I've just become much more difficult to please (this is likely very true). I can be a tough critic. I've changed over the years, and I began to wonder if I just wasn't a Star Wars fan anymore. Or a true Star Wars fan. Whatever that means.

The Force Awakens was exciting in that it brought new Star Wars into my life, but the film didn't quite do it for me. I read a tweet that I wish I could still find that summed it up like this: the new trilogy erases the happy ending of Return of the Jedi and for that I will never forgive it. I was displeased that the new trilogy decided to tell, at least in The Force Awakens, a very similar story to the original: a band of rebels fighting against an empire. We have the Rebellion, the First Order, Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren as Darth Vader-lite. It all felt like a story that had been tread before, and I wanted something different out of the new trilogy.

The Last Jedi never clicked for me. It did try to tell a broader story within the Star Wars universe, but I didn't care for it. It didn't feel like a Star Wars movie to me, and the only parts I liked about it were the Rey/Kylo Ren mind-melding and their fight in the throne room. Coupled with my disappointment in Rogue One and Solo and I was pretty sure Star Wars and I just weren't compatible anymore.

I dutifully made plans to see Rise of Skywalker with my best friend Lindsay in Pocatello to continue the tradition. We had come so far, I certainly wasn't going to end everything now. Seeing it with Lindsay is always the best, because we have shared our love of Star Wars since becoming friends in 8th grade. Sadly our theater audience was kind of lame and didn't react near enough to the movie. I think I reacted plenty for everyone.

I walked out of the theater mostly liking it (even with the truly terrible twist of Rey's parentage), and it was the first time since Revenge of the Sith that I wanted to see a Star Wars movie again in the theater.