Well, I've been in Austin for about 4 weeks now. Crazy how time flies! So far I've managed to find my way around town, and explore the epicness that is Downtown. But I've realized one major setback Austin has. Public Parking is almost a joke.
In Downtown Waco, there are more spaces than people know what to do with! I mean, being an Antiocher, we hang out a lot in the downtown regions...because that's our city that we love and the people we love live in the heart of it. With the good, the bad, and the ugly. Every city has its homeless population. I thought Waco had a big number of homeless people (which it does) but Austin's on a different level.
Every day I come back from work (and even going to work) I see the same people out on the streets, signs held out as banners, screaming more need than what they profess with just a simple sign. Its horrible. Like an RSS feeder drive-by. What they need is a friend, and attention to them, not just people slipping them a few cents, or avoiding eye contact, or whatever.
Yeah, our pastor at Hope In The City today spoke on James; in the passages he read, it talked about being "doers of the word, not merely hearers" so as to not deceive ourselves. People all the time tell me that the people on the streets are cons, are lazy, and/or just want to live that way. I am learning not to depend on what others say, because that's deceiving too. I've got to read the Truth for myself.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27
But I digress. I'm still working out how I feel about this issue, but for now I will move on to other things.
FOR INSTANCE!
Awesome things about Austin:
Whole Foods
Half-Price Books
Actual Lakes
LIVE MUSIC!
Healthy food... so many farmers markets, etc...
Downtown shopping
Congress ave.
Lomography store http://www.lomography.com/
Things I miss from Waco:
Katie's Custard
Antioch
The Fast food strip
Baylor Campus
Lion's Park
Hole In the Roof
Spice
Barnes and Noble
Common Grounds
So, I guess the things about living in Waco versus my new life in Austin are mainly due to city layout and what's available. But being with people is what matters to me the most. Back home in Waco, I feel like I get my batteries recharged, but in Austin (living on my own) I feel alive, like Im really becoming an adult.
The best thing about being in Austin right now is literally my internship and the coworkers I spend my time with. Sam, Hilary, Sarah, Timothy, Katie, Jim, Tim, Thomas, David, Leah, Mariano, and soon Nathan. People who make me smile and come alive. I love spending time with them!
Here are some best-moment memories. If you haven't noticed, Im a pretty sentimental gal. These are in no particular order of fun-ness, or whatever. I just post as I go along.
1. Bestsellers Society Launch Party-- had so much fun going to Walmart at a moments notice. Timothy drove and we got everything we needed for the party in like 20 minutes. Had fun talking with Hilary downstairs as we waited to escort guests
2. The Avengers-- as a last-minute change of heart, I decided to go even though I was tired and had planned to do something else that evening. But I got to go to Whole Foods with Sam for some smoothies and then we saw the most epic movie of all time! I enjoyed their commentary. Maybe I spazzed out a bit too...
3. Going to concerts with Sam. Dude, she picks the best gigs to see! And she's so cool, I admire her a lot.
4. Hope Groups with Hilary rock! They are one of the biggest hi-lights of my week. She led worship this one time... I love how she sings!
5. Word Camp. Or wait... Im not sure what it was called, actually. But anyways, I learned a little bit...but being with the company made it fun. I enjoyed networking and talking to people. Like this one guy went to India as a pilot and was invited to a wedding. An Indian wedding.
6. Snow Cones! Kerby Lane! P. Terry's! Whole Foods! Bah, all of these places ROCK and I will miss them when I go to Waco. I mean, they still have snow cones, but not like the ones here!
7. Hanging out at an art exhibit with Sarah! We met the artist and typed on his typewriter (which turned out to be an ordeal. The keys get so...stuck) and ate at Hickory Street for some gluten-free goodness!
That's the sum of my adventures, thus far.
Maybe you enjoyed it, maybe you didn't. But these stories are mainly to remind me in the years to come that I had a rather enjoyable summer of 2012. Life rocks.
Peace, Love, and Rockets,
Diana
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