austin, day 1
I get a very strong Bakersfield vibe here. Not a "this is a dangerous hick town desperately to be avoided" vibe, but a feeling that I get whenever I'm in a place that uses a lot of old corrugated metal and neon for its signage. Chipped paint and Tex-Mex arcana.
We're staying at (apparently) the famous Austin Motel, with its phallic sign.
Everything looks slightly run down, but not in any sort of theatening way -- in a way that communicates age and well-worn paths, as if everybody's a little more relaxed about making repairs.
"Keep Austin Weird" T-shirts everywhere.
Tattoed baristas and ice cream jockeys (at Amy's, natch), saying "y'all". I'm still unused to everybody saying it here.
Great used bookstores. A bridge full of bats, that we'll experience sometime this week.
How could Linklater not make Slacker here? Every single person here is an eccentric. Every person worthy of being committed to film. Headshops and music clubs to be explored.
A crappy election that we left behind. Anybody want to come live in TX? At least it's a more close-knit community of liberals here. Jesus. Constitutional amendments to ensure that Arnie can run for prez if he wants to? Good lord. Nevertheless, as Mer says, "we knew it was going to happen."
Anyway, we can't think about all that here. We have to stuff our faces, because we're off the Atkins wagon. Big time.
The Magnolia Cafe, that stays open 24 hrs. The Salt Lick, today. Where I plan to shove food down my gullet and buy a T-shirt. BBQ sauce for my dad's birthday.
This place is growing on me... I'll have to investigate the job situation. (Probably pretty depressing.)