Austin Wedding Fun Time

August 18th, 2009 | Filed under Blog, Family, Friends, Photos, Travel

So, I’ve finally regrouped and started to come out of the coma that always follows a vacation. For those that don’t know we spent a very relaxing weekend at two very close friend’s wedding. It was a fantastic time of catching up with old friends, making some noise downtown and watching two dear friends tie the knot. Now, by making noise I mean we got the “band” (Tom Tinker & the Whisky Boys) back together for one night on Friday. After about 15 minutes of rehearsal we banged out some of our greatest hits for a crowd of friends and family. It was a blast and reminded me how effortless and fun making music with Grady, Dan and Matt was. We all kind of had that moment where we realized that we could have actually been a Rock ‘n Roll band…but life and college and jobs and everything else got in the way. I know I don’t have any regrets as a I love my career and the direction life has taken me…but I definitely miss making music 3 to 4 nights a week with my friends. There’s just something about being on stage with your friends…but enough whimsy.

Teressa and I spent most of our down time split between the fantastic Stephen F. Austin Hotel and checking out the historical and political sites of Austin…including the gorgeous State Capital and the LBJ presidential library and musuem. The latter being a very moving museum and display of his Presidential archive and artifacts. Both Teressa and I found ourselves wiping away tears while reading a passage from one of Johnson’s State of the Union speeches. As much as the country loved Kennedy, it was really clear that Johnson was the president who brought home the promises of JFK, including equal rights, the American dream (via his Great Society) and most of all the space program. I have to say that I really walked away with a much greater respect for the man. It also reminded me that we HAVE to stop by the Eisenhower museum in Abilene sometime. I’ve driven past it every time I visit my parent’s and have always been in too big of a hurry to stop. That changes next time.

All and all it was a fantastic and beautiful wedding, and Teressa looked like a million bucks on my arm. Also, it was really nice to take a vacation. We haven’t left town for a trip in over a year and it was really refreshing to spend 4 days with my lady…but it made going back to the ol’ grind more than a little tough. My only complaint was that we couldn’t seem to find any of the local flair that people equate with Austin. Everyone we talked to said Austin was like a big Lawrence, and in the sense that there is a College, lots of bars and restaurants they were spot on. But we couldn’t seem to find any kind of local, quirky shops that we’ve come to love about downtown Lawrence. Oh, well…maybe next time!?

Oh and Matt & Libby, thanks again for the sunglasses…I’ve never felt like such a hipster!