Cheating a bit here on Week 12 and letting it spill over into Sunday of Week 13. It has to do with me being out of town last Sunday and going out of town tomorrow, effectively making this week a Monday through Sunday affair. And really, the choice is arbitrary, determined by the weekly layout of my planner that tells me the number of the week we are on. Plus, it was St. Patrick’s Day, which ended up stretching into St. Patrick’s Week… 

I’ve been beating myself up for consuming more than I create these past few weeks, but South-by will do that to a person. It’s a lot to take in. I had some deeper themes I wanted to tease out–mainly, one about SXSW being March Madness for customer service: a lot of hotshots come on strong, but only true champions make it to the by end. I had some really terrible customer service today at a touristy spot, so it looks like little league is starting patio season already.

Alright, so I got back early enough on Monday to hit up Neighbourhood Coffee on 6ht Street (closed for St. Patrick’s Day overflow from Dead Rabbit next door, though Apple Maps failed to mention that) and a quick audible in favor of Texas French Bread’s courtyard and cereal milk latte. Next it was on to Little Deli for the Reuben, which has become something of a St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

I did track down some Guinness Zero at HEB, along with a fine selection of Kerrygold cheeses. I ended up at the Alamo Mystery Machine, a new feature that mimics the Mystery Movie Monday at Cinemark. You pay a discounted price for a ticket to an as-yet-unreleased movie (probably coming out on Friday and perhaps not getting the buzz the studio wants). I used to go to this all the time at Great Hills, and the time I missed Owen Wilson in Paint was one of my biggest regrets. This week, it was Eephus, named for a type of curveball that moves so slowly you’re not sure anything is happening, which was the perfect metaphor for an indie about a beer-league field in 1990s Massachusetts. It was sweet, dedicated to a friend of the game, and I’m glad I went, although I won’t be ordering the pickle popcorn again.

I took off work Tuesday to recover from SXSW and ended up on an extremely long urban hike. I followed a suggested route, which I hated, and went rogue on the way back, wandering around Bull Creek but ducking out before my phone died so I still knew where I was…yet could not use my bus pass. I tried to hit up Wally’s Burgers, which I’ve wanted to try (plus I started really craving a burger around Mile Eleven) but it was closed due to power outage…the one time I have ever tried to go. I came home, found some hamburger in my freezer, baked a Guinness cake, and capitulated into an order of McDonald’s fries later that night.

The Equinox happened and we moved into the new astrological year with Aries Season. I got some huge news on Thursday that I’m still processing, then met some friends for coffee at Flight Path to discuss White Lotus and Gwen Stefani. I went back out of town on Friday for the traditional Spring Spa Day.

Saturday was the Mozart’s Lake Effect Glow 10k for the Sunrise Series. Since this was only the second time I have run all year, I allowed myself to stop and walk at 5k, so I got to stroll through Tarrytown at a leisurely pace and gawp at the houses. Of course it was not worth waiting in line for coffee, so I drove home in a weirdly misguided direction and stayed in my hood for the rest of the day. However, I saw on Instagram that Mozart’s was offering a Galway Girl Latte as a March special, and with the Mundy gig tonight, it seemed appropriate to head back. And since I was going to be there anyway, and Lake Austin Calm has opened for the season…

I went paddleboarding for the first time this year. I was disappointed from the jump (not the latte, though; she was delicious) and though it wasn’t my worst paddleboard session it definitely wasn’t the best. More of a filler session than anything. So when I deboarded and got the fuck out of Oyster Landing, I swung by Poke Poke on Hancock, where I’ve been meaning to go for a year, and got reacquainted with a less touristy part of Austin.

Really, no one goes to Mozart’s on the weekend except tourists, and I have to laugh at myself…and laugh again every time I read the name of this restaurant. I know how to count to fifteen in Spanish, I do, but it’s just so hilarious to me that I read it in English every time.

Sunday night was Mundy night at Kelly’s Irish pub, which was full of actual Irish people. Alejandro Escovedo might have been in attendance as well? I’m really not sure at this point. But lightning flickered throughout the set, and as soon as the music stopped, the skies opened up with rain and hail.