Austin, TX is Heaven on Earth

Among several memorable events that occurred last week that might be fun to share (including photos AND audio of John Logsdon's very entertaining karaoke rendition of Suffragette City [click here for his blog]) was my first real visit to Austin, TX. I had driven through once before, but this time got to go down, hang out, and soak it all in for a couple of days. It is just as fantastic as you have heard-- a total paradise for a music lover like myself, to the point that it is probably a good thing I don't live there or I would likely get fired from my job. Glancing through the Weekly Scene equivalent, there are probably ~300 shows per week-- several of which are bands I know and love, and many others by bands I might grow to love if I had the chance to hear them play. Those of you who know how much I love optimizing, and how much I love live music, might be able to predict how much the idea of SxSW hurt my brain, but I am definitely looking forward to occasional trips for special shows. Just another reason to come visit....

The Republic of Texas

Texas 1895

After exploring Texas via kayak last week, I headed west by land with 2 of the 3 members of Jude the Innocent (see earlier post) to see what exactly the republic consists of, other than the sprawling Metroplex where I spend most of my time. The history of the state is actually fascinating, up to and including the controversial annexation in the 1840's and the legendary persistence of the right to (and constant threat of) secession. I have yet to find a good book to read about all this, but I'm on the lookout-- any recommendations? I recently saw No Country for Old Men as a bit of a primer for what lay in store once I got the chance to venture west and, minus the serial killer, it bore out pretty well. The landscape is very dry-- scrubby oaks, cactus, and some juniper; a bit of topography, but mostly very flat; oil derricks and windmills; many small towns that don't seem to have much reason for existing, at least not anymore. It was very interesting to me and made me feel much more like I was IN Texas than I ever feel while nestled here in the biology department. Among the representatives of the Texas herpetofauna that I got to see was the western diamondback rattlesnake (picture forthcoming) which, unlike many things, is just about as menacing as it sounds.

Another Pleasant Surprise

Texas has proved me wrong again! When I thought about moving here, it never occurred to me that there might be a possibility of paddling in this area.... but the other day I saw a lady in a parking lot with kayaks in her car. Whitewater kayaks, no less. I was surprised and, of course, introduced myself and asked if I could go with her some time (even though I have no gear or boat here). She said yes, had an extra boat and most of the required accoutrements... shortly thereafter I was on a river paddling to my heart's content! Turns out, there is a group here called the North Texas River Runners, a fair amount of recreational and competitive boating in the state (no real whitewater near here, unfortunately-- but some other areas of Texas appear to have plenty), and some very friendly folks willing to share paddling gear. Tonight I am going to a rolling session at a pool in nearby Grand Prairie to see if there is any chance I still have a hand roll-- keep your fingers crossed!

Friendly neighbor(s)

As you may have gleaned, Clement (my neighbor, right) and I spend a fair amount of time BBQing and hanging out on the patio between his house and mine. Most nights, our after dinner chatting is interrupted at some point by a visit from the opossum who lives in the attic of the big house, who emerges nightly for a foraging adventure. He comes across the roof, down the tree (pictured, left), and then scurries off into the darkness. His name is Jeremy-Pierre (that is what my parents wanted to name me if I had been a boy-- just another reason to thank heavens I am a girl). JP (as we like to call him) puts up with a lot from his curious non-marsupial neighbors (= us) during his nightly descent-- for instance, this photoshoot which was stressful enough to make his nose moist. We (= Clement), in turn, put up with what sounds like furniture movers in the attic when he is feeling frisky upstairs. In reality, of course, I have to put up with nothing and simply reap all the benefits of communal living and a wildlife safari, while enjoying my very own slice of heaven, warm and cozy, independent and animal-free, in the trailer.

Flashback to 1999

I am looking forward to a talk tonight being given by Richard Wrangham-- esteemed primatologist, author of numerous books, Harvard professor, etc. (pictured below, also with Daphne Onderdonk). When I saw the sign posted, I couldn't help but think back to my field season in 1999 when I worked in Kibale National Forest in Uganda, which just happens to be one of Wrangham's field sites as well. It was a stupendous summer. Western Uganda is gorgeous, the forest we worked in was beautiful and full of amazing wildlife, and the people I worked with were a blast (one of whom I lost track of-- Matt Becker, where are you?)
Not long into the summer, 4 people were killed in the park by rebels involved in the conflict in neighboring Rwanda. The threat to us was not significant, but all researchers in the park evacuated for about a week, and while hanging out at another field site, we really got to know each other well. When it was time to go back to Kibale, I promised one of them, Tammy, who was stationed by herself at Ngogo, that if she ever came to see us at the main station at Kanyuwara, I would throw a party for her. A few short weeks later, we got word through the almost-literal grapevine that Tammy was on her way. Armed with a guest list of about 12 world-class geeks, a transistor radio, a bag of balloons, and a few crates of beer, I fulfilled my promise to Tammy by throwing an impromptu shindig, the main entertainment at which was the temporary fulfillment of my summer-long desire to have a butt implants.
Post Addendum:
I went to the talk, and afterwards went up to him with a copy of the picture in hand.
Me: "Hi Dr. Wrangham, I am certain you don't remember me, but we met one night at a party at Kibale in Uganda about 10 years ago."
RW: " I KNEW I recognized you from somewhere!"
He graciously signed the picture-- HAPPY MEMORIES! Richard Wrangham
I'm such a groupie.
(Thanks for digging up the picture Amy!)

Home Improvement

This weekend was spent upgrading the trailer. There were two main projects: making my bed big enough to sleep in while fully extended and preparing the trailer for the heat of summer which, here in Texas, arrives about mid-March. The first endeavor was a great success! Clement helped me construct a pine box to semi-extend the reoriented bed, on his birthday no less, at about 9 pm no less, when I decided I had to go to Lowe's to get raw materials and address the problem. Clement, being from France, had never been to Lowe's, so I figured it was practically my duty as an American to take him there on a Saturday night to get supplies for a rash, DIY project-- it is our heritage afterall! A few hours later (I won't say how many), my new bed (AND shoe storage area) was complete!

Happy birthday to me!

The second project was not a complete success, as of yet. I need to order another space blanket to fully prepare the trailer (for summer, not for space travel-- although I like the idea). More on that next weekend!

Peking Duck

Last night, my new officemate Cheng took Assie (my labmate) and I out for dinner. Cheng is from Beijing, and arrived in Texas about a week ago to start a post-doc with my boss #1, Ellen. His trip here was his first time in a plane and his first time outside of China, and he was eager to find and share authentic cuisine from his homeland with us. Qi (pronounced chEE), a chinese grad student in my boss #2's lab, suggested we go to King Chinese BBQ (pictured). Among other things, we got duck-- which I hadn't eaten since I was in Vancouver on my 28th birthday several years ago. At the place we were last night, we got Peking duck, which actually means you get three dishes all made from the same individual. First, the roasted skin (served over non-pork pork rind like puffs, which you eat with a sweet sauce between pieces of delicious, steamed dough, like a little sandwich). Second, the minced duck meat, which you eat wrapped in lettuce leaves, and third, duck soup made with the carcass. All three, delicious.... and so efficient! You all know how I love efficiency. It was funny-- on the way to the restaurant, I asked Qi how he decided where we should go given that there are chinese restaurants all over the place in Arlington. He corrected me-- "No, no, there are really only two." A-ha, now I get it... two where you can get Peking duck.

The Heartless Bastards

Friday night I went into Ft. Worth to see a great band-- The Heartless Bastards. Ft. Worth is the most cowboy-esque city I have ever been to and has an entirely different feel than its behemoth neighbor, Dallas. Ft. Worth is so cowboy-y that even men going out on dates to non-country-western-style bars wear cowboy hats. Most of the stores have western fonts to their signs and double swinging doors like in Dodge City. Thus, it was only natural that the HB played a venue called the Longhorn Saloon, which opened in 1919 (it's the oldest drinking establishment still in business in the city and is located near the stockyards were cattle are still run twice daily). I probably should have ordered a whiskey, but I did not want to miss one second of the show, which was amazing.
Here is a picture of the lead singer, Erika (whose voice is like a tornado picking up speed) singing Into the Open, where she plays keyboards and guitar at the same time.