Night Walking

Over the past few months, I've shown you some of my neighborhood, but it's always been during the day. What about nighttime? One of the beauties of living at the Nuthaus is that the nightlife is plentiful. We live close enough to the famous 6th Street that we can walk there and enjoy all it has to offer without having to deal with traffic. But last night, I just walked around our general area to give you an idea of what's going on in the West Campus area at night.

Of course, there are the requisite bars and chains and restaurants, but you know what those look like. Except, I did take a photo of one chain that is near and dear to my heart.

Tiff's already has the Christmas lights up!

This is the ghost of an old dry-cleaning/steam laundry operation, I think. They still do dry-cleaning and alterations and laundry, but they must have a more compact facility in which to do it.

 This next one isn't decorated for Christmas. This is always what the courtyard looks like.

It's the Inn at Pearl Street, and their courtyard is so beautiful and so tranquil. Even though this is just off of Martin Luther King, Jr., they have a number of fountains softly babbling and sometimes, quiet music playing. It drowns out all of the traffic sounds.

Meanwhile, across the street from the Inn, someone was having a fancy party.

The food smelled awesome, the guests were all talking (ignoring the emcee), and while I tried to get the next picture, I got to listen to a sweet jazz singer performing "Summertime."

Austin is growing, so there is always construction.

Another place to stay, Hotel Ella.

This is Rio Grande, one of my favorite streets to bike. It has dedicated bike lanes going each way.

Some of the student residences already have their Christmas lights up, too!

The Rancho Rio Eatery on 26th and Rio Grande.

This next one is on Guadalupe, NOT at the Rancho Rio Eatery, and not a restaurant at all!

Mmmkay... so, were they having problems with people touching/erasing it?

And then there's this guy waiting for me.

Home, sweet home!

The LBJ Presidential Library Gets Personal, A Confession

Today, Team Dave's walked to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, and I should be telling you about what an educational experience it was, which I will tell you. It was just educational in a way that I hadn't anticipated.

First of all, please allow me to set the stage: It's fall! Thank God! Yesterday was the first day we've been able to open the doors and windows for a good portion of the morning, and last night, James and I got out to take a walk and to enjoy the tailgating craziness of the UT home game.

When I had suggested that we take a walk, I was thinking of the houses around here, and a little later at night. But James wanted to check out the action near campus, and I was game. I hadn't prepared to go down there, and I wasn't dressed for a party. I had on a pair of old capris and a sleeveless sweater.

Go... um... cow thingies?

There is a uniform for the games. It, of course, includes UT orange, either as a T-shirt or jersey, or just the color itself. Most girls wore either a fitted UT shirt with short jean shorts or short orange dresses. And, God help me, as I walked behind those strikingly-similarly-dressed young women: mid-back length razor-cuts, orange dresses, orange fake tan, cowboy boots, radiating youth and vitality and a self-possessed nonchalance about their own attractiveness, I felt... well, lots of things. Frumpy. Old. Drab. Invisible.

And you wouldn't like me when I'm invisible.

Let me make this clear: My husband is amazing to me. He lets me know that he loves me and desires me, and he is better to me than I have a right to be treated, much better than any way I could ever have dreamed being cherished by a man ever. I'm sorry to tell you that; I know he resents my ruining his reputation this way. But I want everyone to understand that this is all inside of my head.

My response to all of this is very competitive. So this morning, when I got up, I dressed for church knowing that we would be walking to the LBJ Library. And I included in my wardrobe choice some beautiful black heels I've had for years. They're very comfortable. I knew that my feet might be a bit tender on the walk home, but it would be worth it. I felt cute. I felt put together. I felt like I could hold my own against those up-and-comers for my husband's attention.

So we walked. A good mile. And my feet were already tender.

But, dang, I looked cute.

Today is Austin Museum Day, when there are dozens of museums offering free admission. Maybe next year, we'll go to the Central Fire Station, which is only open on San Jacincto day in April and today. I've wanted to visit the Presidential Library ever since we moved to the Nuthaus in April, so this was an opportune day. Absolutely gorgeous.

One item detailed in Johnson's "Legacy of Liberty" was "Gun Control." The museum gave the impression that LBJ was a very compassionate, caring man. However, there were many items he enacted as part of the "Great Society" that the Libertarian in me cringed against. I loved how committed he was to racial equality. I loved how seriously he took ending the Vietnam war, seriously enough not to run for President for a second full term. 

Daphne wanted us to see the electronic table on the 4th floor, in which we could interact with many of the programs Johnson had started or strengthened. One of the entries was about the Arts. There was a question we could answer that asked, paraphrasing, "Government funds scientific projects at a rate of 3-to-1 compared to its funding of the arts. Do you think that this is an acceptable ratio?" In the study of logic, this is what we call a "loaded question." 

But I digress.

The Library is interesting and beautiful in a cool, stark manner. "Unadorned" is how the library's website describes the angular building with no real decoration. It is massive in size, inside and out.

The most interesting thing I noticed and subsequently learned was about the Oval Office.

It is difficult to see in this picture, but above the taller door, there is what looks like bunch of sticks bundled together. I knew that wasn't a random addition, so I came home and researched it. That's called "fasces," which, in Latin, means "bundle." Originating in early Rome, it was a bundle of bound wooden rods, sometimes with an ax-head protruding from it, symbolizing a magistrate's power and jurisdiction. The many rods symbolize strength through unity: one rod might be easily broken.These do not contain an ax blade, perhaps because in Roman times, the ax was removed when a fasces entered a city, symbolizing the rights of citizens against arbitrary government power. Now you know.

The video and artifacts on family life in the White House was interesting, especially to someone as entrenched in domesticity as I am. 

Lady Bird's office; much more cheery than her husband's.

Check out the view from her office window!

The LBJ Library is opened from 9-5 every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, and they used not to charge admission, but realized that to keep things shiny, they needed to. 12 and under, active military, UT students and staff, and Friends of LBJ Library are free; adults are $8; seniors $5; and students $3.

Might I suggest the $45 family membership? It includes admission to all thirteen Presidential libraries (before you get too excited, Richard Nixon has two; and Gerald Ford's library is located in a different town than his museum... that's free info, people)! For us Texans, we have three!

Then, it was time to walk back home.

Notice that I'm carrying my shows? I was in a great deal of owie at this point.

We got down past the stadium before I started feeling a tendon in my right foot telling me to stop. I looked and had blistered and opened both my big toe and the ball of my right foot, and raised a blister on the pad of my left foot. More than sore or tender, I was damaging my foot.

So James, who was already running late to an event, walked nearly a mile back home, got the car, and came back for me and Daphne, who was keeping me company. Not only this, he'd brought me cushiony shoes and had brought Daphne a jug of cold water.

I was humbled to the point of humiliation. I was so worried about looking pretty -- not my personal best, but better than anyone else in this town, which is something I really can't hope to accomplish -- so my husband's eye would stay on me, but I already have this man who is willing to love and serve me graciously, even when I'm being a complete idiot.

On the ride home, I apologized to Daphne and to James. I would have loved to walk across campus together. It's really pretty this time of year. 

See? I got to enjoy this beautiful view for 20 minutes or so while James walked home to retrieve my chariot.

"Next time, young lady, wear some sensible shoes!!"

Texas Governor's Mansion Tour

This morning, Daphne and I walked 11 blocks from The Nuthaus to The Governor's Mansion. They're practically clones, wouldn't you say?

No? Well, no. Not exactly. The Texas Governor's Mansion has been home to 40 of Texas' governors, and apparently was not gated until an arsonist set fire to the mansion a couple of years ago. It is right across the street from the Capitol, and the upper floor is where the private residence is for the first family of Texas. Thus, the tour only includes what the docent called "the grounds" (the front lawn) and the bottom floor.

6 Ionic columns and deep wrap-around porches. The home has been continually occupied since 1856, after it had been built for the princely sum of $14,500, and designed in the Greek Revival style by Abner Cook.

As was the style for most bigger homes of that day, the bottom floor was 4 rooms separated by a long hall down the middle.

The first room to the left of the entry is the library.

Umm. Books? Oh well. I guess you bring your own. Anyhoo... The couch is one of the very few items in the house that are original to the governor's mansion. For the longest time, the house itself was unfurnished, and governors had to bring their own furniture, silverware, and plates.

After the Friends of the Governor's Mansion was developed in the late 70s, 19th-Century furniture was permanently added and stays with the home regardless of the occupants. At some point, also, one of the First Ladies of Texas brought and left fancy place settings and silverware, so that has become a tradition. Each governor's family has engraved silverware and china that they leave with the house.

Don't know whether this is an old mirror or just a replica, but I liked it.

The parlor, the first room to the right of the entry. At one point in the home's history, the plaster molding was added to the ceiling to make it more impressive-looking.

The front windows and writing desk in the parlor. The morning sun was unadulterated.

A pair of these mirrors flank the front door.

I don't remember what this room is called, but I'll call it a sitting room, since there are so many places to sit. I believe that the docent indicated that permanent, adequate air conditioning wasn't added until fairly recently, and maybe even since the fire a couple of years ago.

One cannot simply walk upstairs in the Texas Governor's Mansion. Like, seriously. There was a State Trooper standing at the bottom of the stairwell just to make sure no one tried to dart up there. I don't think anyone was home, anyway. Daphne said she wouldn't like living on the top floor of a home where people were constantly downstairs during the day. I think it'd be cool to mess with tours and get tourists in trouble. Just a little bit of trouble.

This is the formal dining room. The table is out for cleaning. I'm thinking, in the meantime, roller disco.

The rug in the back hallway.

This is the family's dining room. It's supposed to be informal. I covet the writing desk here, too, but can't imagine where I'd put it in my own home.

This rug is very cool. It's on the floor of the conservatory, to which I just referred to as the informal family dining room because that's what the docent called it, but that's not what it says online. Speaking of which, if you ask about this sweet six flags rug, the docent will not be able to tell you anything about it. It's not even in the guidebook to which they can refer in a bind (it's actually a binder, so I kind of just made a pun, but you'd have had to be there to get that; trust me when I say that I'm dead clever).

Unfortunately, there's no cool history to the rug. Apparently, according to page 3 of this newsletter, it was just added after the fire. I'd still like to know who made it. I might want a little one for our own dining room, if we ever decide to spend what we'd spend on a used car for a rug.

Here's a wide shot of the family dining room/conservatory. The rug's detail all but disappears at a distance.

Methinks they have a pool, but we weren't allowed to go back there. There were dogs, too. They wanted to come inside.

The Texas flag on the other side of the porch, as we were kindly escorted from the premises.

Would you get a load of this great tree? It's huge! Look at the tiny people waiting for the next tour.

I'm guessing that they release the hounds to the front yard after visiting hours.

On the way home, we again passed the Capitol, which I cannot do without snapping a picture.

IF YOU GO:

1) You have to sign up at least a week in advance so they can run a background check. Go here for information about dates, times, and whom to e-mail a reservation request.

2) The paperwork you will get says that you are to be there for check-in fifteen minutes before your tour. It's five minutes. If you get there 15 minutes early, they will act like you're getting on their nerves, and turn you away.

3) The paperwork tells you this, but I'll ultra-tell you: You can't take a bag. Not a purse. Nothing. I kind of tested this by toting a passport wallet thing, but I didn't have a pocket, and you have to present your ID, plus I needed my keys. Be aware that if you do this, the security guys will eye you suspiciously. Just look at them and dare them to give you any guff about it. Yes, I said "guff."

4) As long as you're in the area, you might as well visit Texas Chili Parlor (and stop in to Lone Star Legacies to giggle at how much money people will pay for stuff that has "Texas" on it).