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I slept a long eleven hours through the night.

I dreamed about Sarah and myself, how we had this job that was part Law & Order and part Buffy, criminal investigation with more than a few unusual things. Sarah lived in this big old house that had belonged to her grandmother, with wooden shutters and heavy blue tile counters in the kitchen. She was getting married, and even though it was June the weather was rather unseasonably cold. We joked about how everyone would just have to freeze, because it was going to be outside under the trees. She had this shimmering champagne colored dress, and a very long veil.

The entire dream was remarkably linear. And I remember there was so much beautiful, delicious fruit in the house. The kind of fruit I ate in the Czech Republic, gorgeous little strawberries and blueberries.

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The only problem with waking up this early is that Alan isn't awake, and the internet hasn't woken up either. I get bored very fast. So maybe I should go run errands or something. Maybe I'll go to the mall. I don't even know what time the mall opens! But I need nice clothes for interviews.

adventures in the mall

So I found my way to Barton Creek Mall. I always forget how far down it is, across the river. It's a much nicer mall than the one near our home, which is the ghetto fabulous mall in town. I had forgotten how spoiled I was living up north with a mall not overrun with loudly squawing teenagers in baggy pants throwing gang signs at each and their girlfriends in Daisy Dukes and tube tops. I'm sure those show up at Barton Creek, but for the most part it is full of yuppies. The yuppies are least quieter on average.

I now have colorful clothes, which would no doubt make my grandmother extremely happy. Green linen pants, blue pants, blue and green shirts, some black pants and an super cheap pair grey green jeans. I'm reasonably pleased. I still hate trying on clothes. Why must it be so uncomfortably warm in dressing rooms? I would rather it be frigid that tropical. At least then I wouldn't worry about sweating on clothes I have no intention of buying.

I also grabbed a large frozen coffee beverage, and managed to spill half of it on myself in the car. Go me.

Though it took me out of the way a bit, I drove home on 360. It's the most beautiful road in Austin, I think. It rolls up and down through the hills, in places right through spots where they dynamited out some limestone. At one point there's a gap in the hills and you can see straight to downtown. There's a wildlife and nature preserve, and you get to cross over the river at the big reddish iron bridge.



It's where all the cyclists like to ride, where Lance Armstrong trained. A shame that in my time they have built so many houses out there. I remember it being much emptier as a child. Today I drove past a boggling house, and I may have to find my way out to it and take surreptitious pictures. It's golden yellow, and looks like a two story Italian villa. There are walls of glass easily 15-20 feet tall across the back. It's perched precariously on the steep side of a hill. I wonder who lives there.

day trips

We went down to Cafe Magnolia to meet Cate for lunch. It occured to me that it's been exactly a year since I took Alan down there to meet Cate for the first time, and a year since we became engaged. Strange how fast time goes, and how it feels like this was always meant to be my life.

Afterwards, we wandered down to Half Price. I picked up fluffy summer reading - a giant chocolate cookbook, a Pearl S Buck novel and Lost Souls by Poppy Z Brite. I've never actually read it, so I had better do so before my goth credentials expire. I'm actually more interested in her recent books, but I figured I might as well read this one. I happen to really, really enjoy Buck's novels for some reason I've never understood. I think it's all the detail. The cookbook will provided numerous chocolate goodness. I almost bought a twenty pound one, but it was too heavy to carry!

We stopped off at our favorite neighborhood liquor store. It's been two months since we went, I'm sure they thought we were dead. This time we were very good, and only bought one bottle. (Albeit a giant bottle of vodka.) We also got Hawaiian Punch, so we'll have fruity vodka beverages later.

It's been a good day. I'm pleased.