Sunday, June 25, 2000Went to my first rave this weekend... quite amusing! Took three miserable hours for us to wait in line before we got inside. I went directly from the company beach party and arrived sunburned and dehydrated... not the best way to be when you have to wait in a huge mega line for hours in the Texas summer heat. I was just exhausted. However, I did get to meet some nice new friends (notably Ben and Bo) and quite enjoyed the people watching. Everyone was pretty personable despite the wait, and people were pretty cool about sharing my first rave experience with me. If I saw someone doing a drug I didn't recognize, they were pretty open about what it was, how it worked, what made it neat, etc. (Guess if I ever quit my job, undercover cop could be a good option! People open up to me often times... I can't explain it). Back to the rave... I kinda felt bad for a lot of the crowd. Anyone who arrived with a buzz lost if after the long wait. Anyone on drugs definitely didn't get their money's worth with the waiting. And for the unfortunate folks that heard nature's call, restrooms would have to wait till we made it inside as well. Ah well.Once inside, it was much fun and very enjoyable. I think it was called Funtastic and it was held at a pretty novel location... the Funplex... complete with ferris wheel, bumper cars, roller rink, mini golf, etc. The jungle room and house rooms were my favorites. The roller rink with lights and screens was pretty funky, but it was so hot inside and so crowded with people sitting on the floor, we didn't stay long. I think the waiting exhausted most of the crowd, so once inside, many people just copped a squat wherever they could, including in the middle of the many dance floors. On the main floor downstairs, we saw Bismarke spinning. Very cool! Quite a rapper... he was mixing lots of the old school stuff and crowd definitely approved. Very happening. Minigolf course was memorable too... smoke machines had smoke everywhere, giving the castles, windmills, and rivers quite an unreal effect. People were lounging all over the course, smoking and partying - like the ultimate testament to mini golf gone wrong (...or maybe just today's youth gone wrong?). :) Actually, I can’t make comments on the kids there. It was a very well behaved crowd, to an extent better than normal dance clubs where sleazy men surround you and people just go to get sex. I danced lots, enjoyed the crowd, kept seeing folks we'd met in line... very fun. A good experience, even if it started miserably. Thanks go out to Beal and Josh for joining me in the festivities!
Friday, June 23, 2000In exciting news tonight, Scott's rolling off his cushy Austin project and heading out to San Francisco for a few months! I've got no details, dates, project info, etc, but it sounds like a fun move none the less! I think he'll be quite content in California... he's such a laid back, outdoorsy kind of guy. He'll fit right in with his frisbee down on the shore. Maybe he'll need friends to come and visit? :) I volunteer!
Shaft... quite a fun way to spend a few hours. Beach party... another fun way I anticipate spending some good hours. Tomorrow Greg is coming to town and we're going to the company beach party in Surf Side. (Hush your comments... don't even start!). Charles, Greg, John and I are carpooling there and back. John's aquired exciting news in the last 24 hrs apparently, and so we'll have fun stuff to talk about on the way down. On the way back, I plan to sleep. Lots! When we get back, Greg, John, Laura B and I are all heading to a rave at the FunPlex. Wohoo! Roller skating and club kids all in one happy hut... what more could you want, besides maybe a nap first? Cheers!
Went to the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards last night at the downtown Hyatt Regency.... very snazzy black tie gala! Felt quite honored to be a guest there supporting the CEO of my company who was a finalist in the E-Services category. Got gussied up in my little black dress and went to mingle, support John, and enjoy a very lovely dinner. Did you know that here in Houston, we have more start up companies that an other city in the whole country? Yep... 20% more than even the next closest contender (Los Angeles). I never really thought much of it, but I guess maybe it's something in the water. I know I've always wanted to start my own business (about three of my own businesses actually). And I know most of my friends want to do the same. Last month Ajit left to start his own firm with 9 other coworkers, Greg just left his company last week to start his own deal, Chris left his job last December to do his startup in Austin. Never though much of it, just seemed natural. And from the awards gala last night, I guess it's very natural in this part of the nation. Finally a statistic the city can be proud of... #1 in entrepreneurs! (That's definitely better than our other claims to fame... #1 in smog, #1 in overweight men, and Texas as a state is #1 in executions). More encouragement to go out and start my own business one of these days. Now if I could just find the capital to get me going... :)
Wednesday, June 21, 2000Angel of the Day Award goes out to Dorothy who writes "the only mike I know that you'd know is Dean, but why would he be writing to your work? *shrug* N-e-way."It must be him! I met Mike freshman year of college as a friend of a friend's in Rocky Horror. He didn't do Rocky, but he was a fan of the parties (he quite enjoyed beer... which explains why it was a Guinness postcard). I hadn't seen him in a year or two (hence the "old friend" greeting), but ran into him at Antones in May when I last saw the Spankers play. (Explains why he knew I was working too hard). It was at the club and I didn't have paper with to give him my number, so I just gave him my business card from work (as cheesy as it is). And I do remember him saying he'd be heading to England for a few weeks before returning to Austin to continue on with more graduate school. (Explains why I couldn't think of recent summer undergrads... he's in the middle of his graduate degree).
Yeah!!!! Thank you Dorothy... you rock! And thanks Mike for the card! We'll have to get together when you get home! :)
Mystery of the Day: So yesterday I had something fun happen... got a random Guiness postcard from Dublin from someone named Michael. What makes it fun is that I have no idea who Michael is, where I might know him from, why he'd send it to my work address instead of my home address, etc. If you have ideas on Michael, on the postcard, or want to send me random postcards on your own,do share! If it helps solve the mystery, the post card read:My old friend Laura,
I greet you in haiku verse
from distant Ireland
Dublin is crowded
panhandlers keep bugging me
but I'm having fun
My trip nears its end
Cardiff next, then to London
then finally home.
Hehehe. Hope you enjoyed this
small part of my epic poem written in
haikus to commemorate my trip.
Seriously though, hope you're enjoying
the weather (it sucks here) and not
working too hard.
Take care,
Michael
Tuesday, June 20, 2000Am always thinking about what to do with my vacation time. Want to plan a trip somewhere... but not sure where, when, or with who. Not all of my friends get lots of time off work, and it's a pretty sizable commitment to get plane tickets and fly across the world somewhere. I have been searching for inspiration and think I found some great ideas. So, at this point, I just need to figure out if I'm safe to go alone or if anyone else is interested in travling with me. Debated putting up a personal for a travel partner... don't know how safe that would be though. Any ideas? Any suggestions? Any possible travel partners? Let me know!SWF seeking travel partner. Must have 3+ weeks of vacation and be willing to take
time off. Must be energetic and should genuinely enjoy experiencing new places
and new cultures. Need someone who likes getting the most out of the day...
and night! Must prove they're stable, considerate, adverterous, able to laugh,
and willing/able to spend the money needed to travel comfortably on a budget
(extravagant folks need not apply). People person a plus.
Just stumbled up an amazing young lady on the web... reminded me a lot of myself... only from her page she seems *gasp* even more mature than me! She's 17 and has been through so much... and seemly stronger for all of it. My applause go out to her this evening! Wow...In other news, Mitch is apparently alive. :) Got a note from him today, so that's a good thing. Miss him sometimes. I know there are people who continue to tell me "even if I don't always return your emails, that doesn't mean I don't care." Hmm... hard for me to interpret it another way sometimes, but I try to have faith. Luckily, eventually, my faith wins and all is well. Anyway, was glad Mitch mailed me... even if it was just to tell me he and Matt have a new address.
Final thought of the day... my thanks! Special thanks today go out to...
Charles - for always listening...
Jim - for taking the time to care...
Sam - proving flattery really does do wonders...
Suzan, Ajit, Matt, and John - for all your support. :)
Monday, June 19, 2000Been thinking about the Bonfire ruling lately... I think I'm almost content with the ruling. I'm glad to see it will continue. And I must say, I am especially glad to see many steps taken to ensure it will be as safe as possible in the future. I think giving it two years to rest will allow people time to heal, as well as time to explore ways to improve the process. I know the boys want it to continue, as do most of the friends, family, former students, and survivors. However, it's scary to think of the problems that have always existed, the injuries annually, the possible injuries. When I found out my brother was at stack the night it fell, I was horrified. I was watching all of the news (I was in London at the time), and was grateful with each name released to the press that my brother's wasn't one of them. I don't know... I understand it's tradition, and that there is teamwork, and the boys learn leadership and organization.... But, call me selfish, I don't like the idea that my brother could have been the one killed. I don't like his friends dying in the accident. I don't like anyone's family or friends to have to go through that. I'll concede that the victims would've wanted it to go on, but am a strong supporter of the safety measures planned.
Sunday, June 18, 2000Okay, so I realize doing this web journal is just like my middle school journals... so and so is cute, I did such and such this weekend, geez I really get frustrated by blank. Not a bad thing, but I dunno. Guess I'm always torn... how much is appropriate for online? There's strangers, freaks and weirdoes, etc. How do I know who reads my page anymore? The net's huge now and it's a different crowd than the one that used to visit back five years ago when I started this page. Learned my lesson about saying too much, but at the same time, doesn't seem right to limit it to just "This weekend I did something..."That said, this weekend Ivy and I went to Guy Forsyth's show at Billy Blues. Got the chance to chat with Guy a while before he took the stage... such a nice man. Scruffy and endearing... and an amazing musician. :) Saturday the group went to Buvy's housewarming party... he just bought a beautiful brand spanking new condo downtown... quite nice! Was kinda fun... Suzan and I dressed up in our new clothes... I put on my pink backless top, pink lipstick, and pink toe nail polish. Was too fun! Afterwards went dancing at Club Some (after hours) and had an amusing time there too. First time for me hanging with some of the coworkers in a non work setting. Some seemed surprised to see me dressed up in something other than work attire. Others seemed kinda hesitant at the club to admit some things... I tried to explain when we're out of the 8-5 scene, it's okay to be whoever... One shouldn't have to worry about the ramifications of one's personal life affecting their professional life when it's outside work. Don't know if it sank in or if everyone else agrees with this, but it's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it.
Had lots of long talks all weekend... funny stuff, musings and contemplations, amazing realizations, etc... Was all good! More on that next time... I know this already is looking long. Your thoughts?
Sunday, June 11, 2000Last night after dinner with Charles at IHOP, Ivy and I went dancing at Polly Esthers. I'm a huge cheesy music fan, so it's a good place to go dancing. I tend to hang out in the 70s room, though the 80s room has lots of classics as well. If only it weren't such a sleazy, middle aged crowd. ;) Ivy and I did meet some lovely off duty police officer men who tried to pick us up. When I go out, I'm not there to get dates or sex or even free drinks (though I won't refuse on the drinks), I'm there so I can dance. Scott and Todd (HPD) were pretty amusing and a good time was had by all. Oh, and for a little bit of excitement, on the drive home we saw a guy, um..., pleasuring his girlfriend in the back seat of a cab. Kinda odd when you're in traffic on the strip that people cruise. Guess if he had to get it, might as well do it right there. Poor taxi driver didn't know what to do and looked quite alarmed. Ah well... to each his own. Anyhow, glad Ivy and I are getting to spend more time together. Much fun! We're planning to do it again next week or sometime soon!
Weekend ended on a lovely note... went to the Alley theatre and saw Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing. Was a mastermind! Fun play, good cast, and oh, the intelligence! It was the last play on our season ticket subscription, and I couldn't have picked a better play to end the year on. :) Yeah Alley!
Saturday, June 10, 2000Work's been kind of harsh lately... long hours, way too much going on, way too much to think about. Happily though, outside of work, what little life I have I quite enjoy. Had lunch with Andy yesterday... he's finally done with his first two year IBM project and is making the rounds seeing friends. Was good to see him. Last night when I left the office went right to the Arial Theatre with Suzan to see the Violent Femmes in concert. Much fun!! Was curious to see if they were only going to promote their new album. Happily, they played a lot of their hits from the 80s that all of us love and adore. Crowd was definitely excited and energetic to be there. They also mixed in a handful of new songs from their new album they just released, Freak Magnet. Quite cool too. As headliners, they played for just under an hour. (Had two opening bands before them that we missed). Wasn't super long, but definitely fun for an evening. Today, I'm going to leave work and go dancing with Ivy. Wish I wasn't so tired. :)
Wednesday, June 07, 2000Somehow in the last few months as my sleep time has gotten smaller and more disrupted, I've woken a few times and known I had dreams. Only about three times before (in 23 years) had I remembered dreams. Odd. Now that I hit the snooze button and go back to sleep, I think it triggers something that lets me dream and almost remember it. Kinda fun. Odd dreams though, very odd. Not slow motion or psychedelic or anything with talking animals... They're realistic with people I know and faces I recognize… only I have to remember they didn't really happen.
- A few weeks ago Robert, my coworker, went to Monterrey to run a marathon. He saw Clint Eastwood at Pebble Beach on the golf course and a few days later I had a dream that I was invited to Clint's birthday party (he was the father of another coworker Paul who I've never actually met or worked with). I went to the party because Paul invited me, but I only went because I knew Tom Cruise was going to be there. However, in the dream I forgot my camera, ran to the resort gift shop to buy a new one, and missed the entire party. Odd...
- This morning's dream was weird. I was in Joel's (another coworker) house (though I don't know why). It didn't seem small to me, which I remarked aloud as I wandered through the place. (Guess he supposedly claimed it was small?). Dunno. Anyhow, got to the bedroom, thought I saw something move, did a double take, and this small Asian woman was in lingerie hiding behind the bed. Guess she was his roomie or girlfriend or something? Strange as I've met Joel's girlfriend and it wasn't her and she's not even Asian. Anyhow, she thought I was a robber or something, and I think I scared her. Felt really bad when I woke up, guilt ridden for walking in on this woman in a dream. Weird.
What's all of this mean? Best I can figure it means I spend too much damn time at work! Geez... that and I need to sleep more. Speaking of which, it's 10:20pm and I should go home now. Time to start running errands, do laundry, and go to bed! G'night!
Tuesday, June 06, 2000Email to the other Laura: Had a good weekend. Saturday our Guide Family road trip for work ended up being only 5 people... me, graphics cool guy Fred, new guy Brett, graphics girl Kristen, and our People Director Jim. You know how every boy and girl we know has a crush on Fred? Well, I got to know him better so that was cool, lots of stories of Costa Rica and Boy Scouts. Odd. :) Anyhow, was neat to hear. Somehow, when I consider someone cool, I find myself thinking they're like a rock star... always confident, outgoing, wild, exciting, ready to try new things, etc. Freddie, the sweetie that he is, is scared/not up for a lot of things... scuba over deep water, sky diving maybe, can't remember others. Kristen, who I think is so beautiful, is self conscious about her body. Anyhow, makes people more real when I hear stuff like that. Was fun bonding with the whole team... Fred's energetic and silly, Kristen's quite a cool lady, Jim's always the storyteller, and Brett's quiet and a very nice guy. In the morning we went horseback riding in Seguin (Fred and I had the two trouble maker horses... his wanted to eat everything, mine refused to stay in line and keep up with the rest of the group). Was fun, though alas, it made my butt hurt for the next two days. Afterwards we went tubing and brought the beer cooler and lots of water guns. Had a lovely water fight the whole way. Again, was fun. Water was low on the Guadalupe, but warm and relaxing. At the end of the day, my parents drove up to take me back to Austin for the remainder of the weekend. They actually ended up eating dinner with my team, got to meet my coworkers for the first time, got to watch Fred ice himself the whole time (he got sunburned), etc. Amused me. Anyhow, that was most of it. Good, relaxing day outdoors.In Round Rock that evening, I got to see the tail end of Free Energy, the concert event my friend Tony organized. Was awesome... I am so proud of him! Glad I got to see it, even if only for the last band. On the home front, Dad's out of the hospital but still resting and keeping his leg elevated. Mom's well and we spent all day Sunday cleaning house. Such fun, preparing for a garage sale next weekend. Then to cap the weekend, Charles and I saw Katherine perform in Carmina Burana... This performance was definitely opera, not musical, but I'm good with either and enjoyed the show quite a bit. Both the singers and the orchestra were very good. Am now back in Houston, working long hours, and otherwise surviving. :) Suzan and I went to the Astro's yesterday and once again, I'm waiting till the weekend for more diversions. :) Think I'll be working longer hours for a while... Take care!
-Laura :)
Friday, June 02, 2000If only every week could be a 4-day week! This one rocked! Last night I saw a show downtown at Jones Hall... ART starring Judd Hirsch (you probably remember him from Taxi and tons of other TV and movies). Was really funny... three men fighting for a solid hour and a half. Quite entertaining! Even better than the free tickets to the show (thanks Karen!), I got to see Suzan, Charles, and Ivy... who I haven't seen in forever! We're going to have to see hang out with Ivy more often... I miss her!Am looking forward to the weekend... Tonight I'm going to get together with Matt, John, and the other Laura and we're going to form a band! Crazy, I know! Sure, we don't have much (any?) skill or experience, but that's okay. We've got creativity and I have faith we'll be able to make at least a few tracks. Josh has offered to attempt a logo and Greg mentioned he might be able to mix them for us. (If he writes me back, we'll see). Tomorrow I'm going horse back riding and tubing with coworkers. Afterwards, I plan to go to RR to visit Mom and Dad. Hopefully Dad will be out of the hospital by then... he injured himself last weekend with a chainsaw (eeeek!) and has been in the hospital for the past week. Keep him in your thoughts. :) Also this weekend is Tony's premiere concert event at Old Settlers. We'll see if I get time to stop by. And for the finale of the weekend, Katherine is preforming in the famous opera Carmina Burana at Bass Concert Hall Sunday night. I've got my tickets and will be proud to see her show! Yeah Kat!
Thursday, June 01, 2000I recently experienced an unplanned mini-reunion of high school friends. I was never really fond of RR while I was there, but now that I’ve been out five years, I can appreciate what I got out of HS. Nope, not the stellar education, the intense school pride, or the openness and understanding (please!)… I appreciate the other students who survived it along side me. I think our mutual distaste for RR might just have strengthened the bond as now I’m graduated from college, have been working for a year, and still find myself appreciating the friends from home. Corey and Heather started dating in HS and two weeks ago at their wedding, it was great seeing old friends from my TAG classes… like Lester, Ben, Pat and his girlfriend Mary, and Will and his girlfriend Jackie. I think that group contains some of the brightest, most diverse, and most creative minds I know. Later that night I went to a graduation party for Thomas and saw another group of RR classmates… like Bryan (whose strength and with made him my savior in student government) and Tony (whose passion was evident in his alternative thinking and love for music). In or out of work, one of my best friends is Charles, who’s been a mentor to me through high school, college, and beyond. There are others from RR that were awesome and I regret not keeping in touch with more. Anyone know what happened to or where to reach Laura Douglas, Jenny Mosteller, David Smith, Binky, Lisa Sigler, Johna Schutz, and the rest of the crowd? Do share! Miss y’all…
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