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Two autoparts stores and a trek up Lamar solved the problem of the non-funcitonal blinker. Alan had to take apart the underbelly of the dash and then the steering column and we still don't really know what was broken. But it works now and that is the important part.

Traffic southbound was awful, the combination of holiday drivers and the UT game turning IH35 into a long snakey parking lot. It's not fun to drive with a hangover, I will say. But we did have such a grand time staying up drinking port and wine and scotch while watching a not so great costume movie.

Many hours after we left the house, we arrived in Canyon Lake. Cate's new fellow made us a fantabulous meal, complete with garnishes! Baked fresh caught salmon with lemons and butter, asparagus, and tiny new potatos, along with baguettes and olive oil chock full of garlic and herby goodness. He prepared cherries jubilee for dessert, and I ate two bowls.

There were many bottles of tasty wine consumed, and we relaxed out in the hot tub. You can see real stars outside, a pleasant change from the purple glowing sky of inner Austin.

sunday

I think in all the years since I moved out of my mother's house I only took my laundry home once or twice. When I moved into my first home I scored a washer & dryer of my own for an absurdly low price, and they lasted me from 1999 to 2003. They saved me god knows how many dollars and the hassle of going to a laundromat.

One of the things I want most when we move is a place with hookups, or even a built washer/dryer set. I miss the freedom of leaving my clothes in the dryer for days at a time.

I brought my laundry to Cate's house, saving the six dollars and several hours it would have taken me to get them clean and somewhat dry in the complex's laundry room. I won't go into the myriad problems, hassles and annoyances present there. Let's just say that loud kids aren't the worst problem.

I'd forgotten that real washers have different settings for different fabrics, and I want to weep with relief each time I load it up.

I finally found the appropriate coat pattern (something akin to what Trinity wears in the Matrix films) and we'll put together two weeks from now. Think her coat, but in green panne velvet with brocade trim. It shall be glorious.

Sean made fabulous french toast from the leftover baguettes and we at delicious mild grapefruits for breakfast. I have eaten so much this weekend, and it was all so good.

home again

We spent the afternoon in the pool, which was entertaining. I think I avoided getting a sunburn and just browned fairly evenly. Might have swallowed a bit too much chlorinated water along the way, as I felt a little queasy on the way home. Cate & the boys were driving into Austin, so we all ate dinner at our favorite taqueria. Mmm delicious gordita and torta. I am so full.

I talk about food an awful lot.

One of the first things I saw on the news at home was footage of the funerals in Beslan. The raw, unrehearsed and uncontrolled grief was stunning. You never see it like that in America, or on the news. The victims' families are always so controlled, or retiring in their grief.

It was pointed out to me this weekend that John Kerry has an odd resemblence to Andrew Jackson.