Three Years and One Sold Home

Three years ago today I signed papers making the home at 2601 N Locust in Denton, TX MY home.

Two weeks ago I signed papers making the home at 2601 N Locust in Denton, TX NOT my home.

I had moved out two weeks before signing the papers, and was at my new job in Austin when a mobile-notary from the title office came to my office. It was a bit strange, but I was already removed from it as my home since it had been opened up to strangers for showings and an open house.

But now it was official.

When it officially became mine, my friend Stephanie was with me and we had tacos afterward. It was super hard to concentrate on work the rest of the day.

When it officially became not mine, I was at work with coworkers I don't really know yet. None of them know me or the joy I felt in buying that house. I went back to work to my desk, then made a quick trip to the bathroom to shed a couple of tears. I texted some friends back in Denton, to have a small and fleeting connection to something familiar.

The first month of this change to Austin has been tough. Just because change is tough in general. Many, many emotions were felt, including some very intense feelings about a haircut I had paid a lot of money for. Things have finally settled into a groove, though, and I am meeting people and getting to know my coworkers.

I will also love that home on Locust Street. I painted and hung shelves and weatherized my pipes and had friends over. It was full of love, from friends, family and my cats.

State of Denton

Today the City hosted its first-ever State of the City event. It was held at the Civic Center with all departments having a table to showcase what they do. Having done a lot of events, this really wasn't a big deal to me. I gathered up all my regular event items - tablecloth, safety tips, bike lights, bike pins - and didn't get too concerned about it.

During the event, a video was shown that highlighted the five areas of the strategic plan. Between interviews with staff and council were snippets of people proclaiming why they loved Denton. My favorite: I love Denton because it's home."

I spent the evening chatting with co-workers and citizens. Afterward a co-worker invited several of us over to his home to have an after party, if you will. We chatted and laughed and I kept thinking about that man who said, "I love Denton because it's home."

I don't know how I ended up in Denton, with amazing friends and co-workers and people in my life, but I'm sure glad I did. I love Denton because it's home.

I Love Denton (obviously)

I just really love Denton. The last two nights I got together with different groups of friends for different reasons. It was great. I loved talking with them. I loved being with them. I loved walking around the Square afterward with the trees lit up.

I've been here just two years and I can't imagine being anywhere else. I can't believe the amazing people I get to call my friends.

Women's March on Denton

The weather was overcast but warm for a fantastic turnout on the Square for the Women's Rally. I hit it up with my friend Jessica (dressed as Rosie) and we proudly marched with other women, men, friends and children. Everyone was kind, peaceful, inviting, friendly. My favorite moment was when the entire crowd was silent and we all held up the peace sign. I don't think I've ever felt more connected and part of a community before.

 

Folks, no one is protesting the results of the election (however, it has been proven that Russia interfered). We know who the new President is. The point of the rally was to show that we will hold him accountable. And we are a force. This was not an anti-Trump rally, even if there were a lot of signs directed at him and his ugly comments about women. This was a march to celebrate women, our voices, our power, our strengths. To show our love and partnership with LGBTQ, disabled, minorities, veterans, and everyone else who feels marginalized. To show that we will not stand for what that man has propagated throughout his campaign. So while not an anti-Trump rally, it is in direct relation to him. If any one else had won this would not be the reaction.

The sign game was spectacular! 

Adventures in Bicycling

I ride my bike. Sometimes cool/interesting things happen when I do that. Here's what happened today.

     I was riding down Welch on my way to Eagle to film a spot for DTV. A large white truck started passing me and I could hear the driver say something to me. I couldn't make it out though, so I don't know if it was something nice or something mean. When he passed and his bumper was in view, there was a sticker: Hillary for Prison. I'm guessing he wasn't yelling pleasantries at me.

     As I turned onto Hickory, making my way back to City Hall, there was a person on a bike in front of me. I like when people in their cars can see multiple people at once using a bike lane (or even just riding). We got to the intersection with Carroll Blvd and there was a car in our (green and obviously a) bike lane.

Piesgiving

One of the best things about being a homeowner is being able to have friends over for get togethers. My loft in Topeka was pretty spacious, so entertaining there wasn't really an issue. My place in Denton, though, was quite small, meaning get-togethers would have to be limited to one or two people.

Yesterday I invited friends over for Piesgiving. Everyone had to bring a pie to the event, then we'd all just eat pie together. It was fantastic! Everyone brought a pie! Most were the traditional dessert pies, but there was also a chicken pot pie as well as two pizza pies.

My living room isn't terribly large. I didn't quite have enough seats for everyone, so some were standing. But everyone was talking and laughing and having a good time. It made me so happy to have my home full of so many fantastic people. They help make Denton home.

Also, Biscuit was quite the hit. It's no an exaggeration when I say everyone loved her.

Denton Stream Clean

Denton is serious about cleaning trash. Every March the City participates in the Great American Cleanup, an event where volunteers cleanup the roadways all across the city. In November, there is Stream Clean, where volunteers go out to the city's creeks and stream beds and clean up all the trash (and other items) that accumulate there.

My friend Suzi put together a group of friends to participate in Stream Clean this year (as a City employee, I was also wrangled into being a Site Captain). Along with a group of middle schoolers and UNT students, we cleaned up the stream bed of Pecan Creek. It had rained earlier in the week, so there was a lot of trash for us to pick up. We found multiple traffic cones, several sleeping bags/blankets, lots of plastic bottles and aluminum cans, tires, a bike, and even part of a shopping cart. 

It felt quite rewarding to see the area at the end of the cleanup, with all the trash and crap that was once in the stream now piled up into a truck. 

Pants with a barcode.....an escaped convict now living it up in Mexico with Andy and Red?

All the volunteers!

Some kid lost their bike. 

Half a shopping cart...

Carrying the trash back to the truck. 

The cleanup group at Pecan Creek and Woodrow.

Goonies On the Square

Denton is quite possibly perfect. And Tuesday was one of those perfect days. I went from my early kickball game (we lost) straight to the Square, where my friend Suzi was saving a place for me for that night's movie presentation - The Goonies. The weather was perfect. The movie was perfect. The people were perfect.

 I love outside movies. 

Since moving from downtown, I haven't spent much time there. I used to go for random walks around the Square (generally with an ice cream in my hand from Beth Marie's). It was my neighborhood and I always felt comfortable in the shadow of the Courthouse. As I walked up to it from Oak Street, I was in awe of the lights on the trees and the towering Courthouse. I have missed it.

Kickball: Season Three

A couple nights ago was the first kickball game of the new season. We had a few players depart this season which meant a shake-up in some field assignments. I say assignments like there is a coach and all that. There's not.  And the team generally decides collectively who goes where. Obviously I'm usually in the outfield because the infield takes much more skill. Also, when I started playing all the positions were pretty much set.

This season, though, I'm the catcher. And I love it. It doesn't require much more skill than standing out in the outfield (this is a recreational kickball in Denton, not the MLB despite what some teams think) but I like it so much more. I'm more aware of what's going on in the game as the catcher. And since I'm standing next to the umpire I always know what inning we're in and what the score is. It's awesome.

My mom played on a softball league with her work when we lived in Pocatello. I used to love to go to her games and watch all the radio disc jockeys play. My mom was the catcher. I'm following in my mom's footsteps.

I'm Not Joe or Max

This morning I woke to the sound of someone yelling outside my building. It started at about 6 a.m. and continued for a good 45 minutes. He'd yell out, "Joe!" then he'd yell out, "Max!" then he'd mutter to himself that this was "f*ckn' crazy". Yeah, I'd have to agree. He'd wait a little while, then do the whole thing again. And again. And again. At one point he asked if they could just open the door.

I thought about opening the door for him. However, I thought that if he didn't have a key to the outside building he likely didn't have a key to the apartment either. I didn't want him inside the building making a ruckus outside someone's door in the hallway.

Turns out, though, that someone did let him in. Which allowed him to come knocking on my door. I was in the shower when I first heard the knocking. When I got out I heard the knocking a couple times. When the knocking got louder and more insistent, I went to my door and checked the peephole that it was him. Yep.

So through the door I asked who it was. "Austin." Sorry dude, I have no idea who you are and I am not Joe or Max." He quietly apologized and left. But he didn't leave leave, because he was back to yelling for Joe and Max when I left for work.

Living downtown is awesome for lots of reasons. But it also sucks for lots of reasons.

Wednesday Night Music

The night is getting late, and I should be going to bed. I have to get up early to catch a train to catch a plane. I'm heading to the Pacific Northwest to visit my fabulous friend Kate, along with my other fabulous friends Janae and Jessica who are still in Kansas. We are going to have a most excellent extended weekend.

But first I need to go to sleep. Tonight, though, is Wednesday. And every Wednesday night Harvest House has a "house" band that plays. Every. Wednesday. Night. It's loud enough that I can hear the music perfectly even with my windows closed.

I have sort of gotten used to this. I know that every Wednesday night I will have to attempt to fall asleep to the sound of jazz music. This is actually one of the reasons I decided to buy a home. While I love being downtown and close to work and tacos and ice cream, I also really want a place where I don't have to listen to music all the time.

So eventually I will fall asleep, and get a few hours before I have to be up to walk to the train station.

The Great American Cleanup

Saturday morning I got up "early" to spend the morning picking up trash along a busy road in Denton with my coworkers. It was part of the Great American Cleanup, a yearly event in Denton orchestrated by Keep Denton Beautiful. It's a pretty cool concept - get community members to take an active part in keeping their community clean. People form groups and volunteer, then are assigned a street or area in the city to clean up. We are given a bag for trash and a bag for recyclables. Then y'all go out and pick up trash!

I have some pretty great coworkers and was glad to spend the morning with them.

 Afterward everyone brings back their trash and there's a party at the Civic Center with food and various organizations providing information and free giveaways. I was there for work as the "Bike Czar" to provide bike lights and coloring pages for kids. I always enjoy when I get to go out and interact with the community. Denton  is pretty darn awesome.

 

A Year in Denton

You guys, I've been in Denton a whole year. A year to the day. Where does the time go?

It's amazing how fast a place you had never heard of until you applied for a job there can become home. How fast you can love the place you live and all the people in it. Sometimes I feel like I got so incredibly lucky to end up here that I just can't believe it.

I have been lucky that each time I've moved to a different state a family member has helped me. My mom and sister helped me move to NYC. My sister helped me move back to SLC. My mom and niece, Ivy, helped me move to Topeka. And my dad and amazing bosom friend, Janae, helped me move to Denton. Each time my helpers boarded a plane and left me alone in my new city I cried or was sad.

Except in Denton. Perhaps it was because I'm an old pro at this now and moving and living away from family and friends is easier to deal with. Maybe I'm just meant to be in Denton.

Here's a few photos of Denton landmarks - the sign at the train station, the famous Campus Theater at sunset, the landmark Morrison's Corn Kits, the Courthouse on Flag Day, and the shoe shop off the Square.

2015 Recap

 You know what happened in 2015? A lot of things, naturally, but for me 2015 can be summed up by three awesome events:

1. Moved to Denton, Texas
2. The Royals won the World Series
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 Of course there were other exciting/non-exciting things to happen in 2015. There were a couple road trips to discover my new state.There was the North Texas State Fair and the Texas State Fair. There was Bike Month and Pedestrian Safety Week. There were trips to Kansas and visits from family and friends. There were lots of movies. There was ice days and heat. There was a trip to Portland and lots of bike riding.

There were long days and work and busy days at work. There wre days at the Community Market and community bike rides. There were Netflix-binges and catching up on old show on Amazon Prime.

There were moments of sadness and moments of joy. There were bad choices made and good choices made. There was struggle and questioning and second-guessing. There was exquisite moments of happiness and excitement and surety.

It was a pretty great year, and if 2016 wants to be the same it better bring its A-game.

My First Brush With Denton

This weekend last year I arrived in Denton for my second interview with the City for their position of Bike/Ped Coordinator. I left Topeka on a drizzly and overcast day after our Planning Department holiday lunch get together. I got to Denton mid-evening and stayed at a hotel off of I-35 and University. I had dinner at Brahm's, then prepped for my interview the next day.
                           My interview outfit

 Since the interview was in the afternoon I had some time to check out Denton. I drove to the Square and spent some time at Recycled Books. I had made appointments to check out some apartments so I'd be ready if/when I was offered the job. I'm actually living in the first apartment I looked at, but at the time it was really discouraging. Nothing was wrong with the apartments, exactly, except when I compared it to my present. My apartment in Topeka was pretty spectacular. It was large. It had wood floors and exposed brick. It was spacious with plenty of storage and room for my bike. I loved that apartment. The options in Denton were smaller and more expensive.

I got frustrated and discouraged. And then it snowballed. I voxered my friend Kate and actually cried. I was sad about leaving not just my awesome apartment, but my awesome friends, too.There may have also been some lingering emotions about an ended relationship, as well.

I found my way to the library so I could compose myself prior to my interview. I reviewed my responses. I looked over the info about the Hickory Grand Street Project. I reapplied my red lipstick.

The interview went great (I'm an excellent interviewer). Afterward I felt much better about everything.

That was Friday. Monday morning Mark (my boss) called to offer me the job. And I love Denton. Yes, my apartment is small and has no storage and is very close to a loud music venue (the link is for a music fest, and those happen quite frequently as well). Yes, I miss my friends in Kansas. But Denton is pretty darn fantastic.

Denton Is the Best

It's fall here in north Texas. I know the calendar says it is December 10, but it certainly doesn't feel like that. It has been perfect, amazing, magnificent fall weather all week long - temps in the 70s, sun shining, no humidity. The other day I had an eye appointment after work. I left my office around 5:15, made the short walk to the office on the Square, made a stop at Rusty Taco on my short walk home, and basked in the gloriousness of it all.

Not just the weather, and the pink sky from the setting sun, but the fact that I walked to all my destinations. I love this little town of mine (it's not really "little", we have 113,000 people....). I love that I live two blocks from work and right off the Square, where I can walk to get tacos, or check out a music act, or experience the latest festival, or people watch, or buy ice cream, or go to an optometrist, or get a good burger, or even get a hot dog at 3 a.m.

It's perfect and I love it.

Denton Holiday Lighting Festival

Friday night was the Denton Lighting Festival, a yearly tradition to celebrate the start of the holiday season with the lighting up of the tree on the Square. But this being Denton, we don't just light up the tree and call it done. We have live music all night long. And funnel cake and corn dogs. And Wassail Weekend. It's magical and awesome.

My coworker and I decided to hit it up together, each of us experiencing it for the first time. We were excited for the wassail. It's like a chili cook-off, but with wassail. A list of all the businesses participating in Wassail Weekend is provided, and signs that say "Wassail Station" in a stop sign are posted on their doors. Everyone goes around and gets tiny samples from each place, eventually voting on their favorite one. Some were citrus-y, a couple too cinnamon-y, and one that was my favorite.

After getting some sustenance from the Parks booth, it was time to enjoy the live music. This is one of the things I love about Denton - music is always a part of everything. And we have some pretty darn good musicians from Denton (some are even Grammy winners). I love the atmosphere of these music events - everyone is just happy. Couples dancing, kids dancing, nearly everyone clapping or moving their body in some way to the music. It's joy and happiness and contentment and I love it.

My co-worker asked if I sometimes felt like I lived in the world of "Gilmore Girls." Yes. Sometimes I do.

Talking To Strangers

Tonight I needed to follow up on some things for work. Those things involved checking on some sidewalk issues downtown. I live downtown, so it's rather convenient for me to check stuff out. And since the last time I went out it was 3pm and I nearly melted, I welcomed the opportunity to wait until the sun was going down to walk around downtown.

So there I was, walking around downtown with my clipboard, stopping at intersections and the middle of the sidewalk to make a note. I'm sure people thought I was a weirdo (or maybe not; who knows what strangers think).

I also take random photos of things that I think would be useful to have. Like when bike racks are being used. Tonight I was doing that when the owners of the bikes I was taking a photo of appeared. It was a bit awkward. I explained that I work for the City and like to have photos of the bike racks being used, since I am working on installing more bike racks. They looked a little dubious, so I had to assure them that there was nothing wrong with their bikes being parked there. We then talked for a bit about their routes to the Square and such.

I was finishing up my tour when I stopped to make a note on my clipboard. A gentleman passing by stopped to ask if I needed help. I assured him I was fine. Then he started asking me all these questions: What are you doing, where's your id, stuff like that? I tried to stay calm - I really do work for the City! He then laughed, saying he was just teasing me because I looked like a nice person. Then I actually said, "I am a nice person." He offered to buy me a drink and sit with him and his daughter. I declined because, even though it's been less hot than last week, I was still fairly sweaty from my walking.

Denton is just full of such nice people. I love that my job allows me to interact with them. Most of the time... :)