To get to Austin from Phoenix you have to take Interstate Cruel Mistress

[Signe]

Don't buy cowboy boots.  They look stupid on men.

[MahrinSkel]

They're also not really practical even for riding a horse.  Not only do you frequently have to get *off* the horse to totter around on your man-heels, but a working Western saddle has stirrups plenty large enough for size-12 steeltoe work boots.

--Dave

[Salamok]

They're also not really practical even for riding a horse.  Not only do you frequently have to get *off* the horse to totter around on your man-heels, but a working Western saddle has stirrups plenty large enough for size-12 steeltoe work boots.

--Dave

having a heel helps though...

I wouldn't consider it critically necessary but then again I only go riding when the wife forces me to.

[stray]

Don't buy cowboy boots.  They look stupid on men.

Watch this movie. Ray Liotta is awesome.

[Mrbloodworth]

I don't trust anywhere with no trees.

[MahrinSkel]

having a heel helps though...

I wouldn't consider it critically necessary but then again I only go riding when the wife forces me to.

Well, the actual reason they're built the way they are is so they slide *out* the stirrups easily, so you don't get your foot caught in the stirrup if you fall and get dragged by the horse.  But that's not an issue with a good saddle, anyway.  Or a good horse.  Anyway, nobody wears their snakeskin/crocskin $1000 fashion statement on an actual horse, or even in the vicinity of one if they have any sense.  Bunch of fucking posers, most of them have never even been on a horse.

--Dave

[Grand Design]

I mean, that city was the birthplace of Psychedelic music (Roky Erickson), not country.

Just to emphasize.  Grab some of his CDs if you can.  I don't think he still plays professionally, but if you see him around Austin, check him out. 

[stray]

Everyone's at least heard his best song (You're Gonna Miss Me). High Fidelity kicks off with it, and there were those Dell commercials that jammed it awhile back.

He still plays. And if you bring him a sixpack at his house, he'll even chat with you (then again, who wouldn't?).

[Merusk]

They're also not really practical even for riding a horse.  Not only do you frequently have to get *off* the horse to totter around on your man-heels, but a working Western saddle has stirrups plenty large enough for size-12 steeltoe work boots.

--Dave

having a heel helps though...

I wouldn't consider it critically necessary but then again I only go riding when the wife forces me to.

My workboots have a heel. What kind of crazy ass "work boots" are you buying that don't?  Of course, Work boots have the added feature of lugs just in front of the heel at the ball/ toe region, making the whole "Sliding your foot back out so the horse doesn't drag you" thing mildly impossible, I imagine.

[Dtrain]

Texas is so incredibly flat too. In central Texas around Midland there's a place where there are some mountains, but even those are flat on top (mesas.)

[Soln]

I drove end of last July 1800 km one way in CDN to move my girlfriend to a new job.  Then back (+). Then I got a job in WA 10 weeks later.  So I went back (+) up and brought her back to our house (+).  So, ~1800km x 4 in <10 weeks.  Total that shit up.

The first time I drove back I did ~1800km in 20 hrs.  Never again.  The woods are way too dark at 3am when no one is about.

That's why I've been away.  Partly.  Moving sucks.

[Trippy]

Only possible exception may be Cali...there's shit to do even in the deserts there.

Cali has plenty of hicks.  The entire 'Inland Empire' is pretty much nothing but shit kickers.

When I was in college Freshman year there was a group of us going around introducing ourselves, saying where we were from, etc. One girl from California didn't want to say where she was from, for some reason, and another California guy (from Sacramento) said, "what are you from Bakersfield or something?" and she *was*!

Edit: in

[MahrinSkel]

My workboots have a heel. What kind of crazy ass "work boots" are you buying that don't?  Of course, Work boots have the added feature of lugs just in front of the heel at the ball/ toe region, making the whole "Sliding your foot back out so the horse doesn't drag you" thing mildly impossible, I imagine.

The workboots I wore the summer I spent on a small ranch had lugs on the heel, but not the ball of the foot (if you didn't want to pay somebody to sole them that way, you took them off with a grinding wheel or sander, leaving some under the toes so you didn't lose all your traction).  This was common practice in that part of Montana, I can't speak to how it's done in other parts of "cow country".  Cowboy boots aren't good for dismounted work anywhere, but especially not in an area that can get snow 9 months out of the year.

--Dave

[Selby]

Houston is just packed and dirty as fuck. Something that can almost put Jersey to shame.

I must admit, that is probably the best description of Houston I have ever heard.  The other half wanted me to move there to be closer to her family.  I said not only no, but fuck no.  She talks about moving back... she can go without me.

[Big Gulp]

Bunch of fucking posers, most of them have never even been on a horse.

That makes good sense.  Horses are filthy, evil creatures who are not to be trusted.

[Salamok]

Texas is so incredibly flat too. In central Texas around Midland there's a place where there are some mountains, but even those are flat on top (mesas.)

Austin isn't flat though ;) 

[Sir T]

Theres a reason they call a section of Texas "hill country"

[stray]

On a completely big (and dorky) sidenote, Robert E Howard based Cimmeria on the Texas Hill Country (where he grew up).

Ahem, so... Perhaps that can make it more exciting for you. Just imagine Subotai and Conan running around in that shithole. Maybe it'll make the trip cooler. 

[Lantyssa]

My workboots have a heel. What kind of crazy ass "work boots" are you buying that don't?  Of course, Work boots have the added feature of lugs just in front of the heel at the ball/ toe region, making the whole "Sliding your foot back out so the horse doesn't drag you" thing mildly impossible, I imagine.

My work boots have a heel, too!  Which corner are you on, hon?

Houston is just packed and dirty as fuck. Something that can almost put Jersey to shame.

I must admit, that is probably the best description of Houston I have ever heard.  The other half wanted me to move there to be closer to her family.  I said not only no, but fuck no.  She talks about moving back... she can go without me.

Are you people just visting the industrial areas and wards?  We have as many nice neighborhoods as bad ones.

[stray]

There are "Keep Austin Weird" t-shirts.

There are "Keep San Antonio Lame" t-shirts.

..and there are "Keep Houston Gangsta" t-shirts.

[Morat20]

having a heel helps though...

I wouldn't consider it critically necessary but then again I only go riding when the wife forces me to.

Well, the actual reason they're built the way they are is so they slide *out* the stirrups easily, so you don't get your foot caught in the stirrup if you fall and get dragged by the horse.  But that's not an issue with a good saddle, anyway.  Or a good horse.  Anyway, nobody wears their snakeskin/crocskin $1000 fashion statement on an actual horse, or even in the vicinity of one if they have any sense.  Bunch of fucking posers, most of them have never even been on a horse.

--Dave

I'm going to second both parts of that.

First, from experience (both mine, my wife's, and especially my father-in-law's, who used to amuse himself doing rodeo-esque sports) you REALLY, REALLY don't want your foot caught in the stirrup if you fall. Proper cowboy boots are pretty good for long-term riding (if you sit correctly -- something I have never gotten the knack of, to be honest) and sensible footwear for someone who works primarily off the back of a horse.

If you're getting off the horse to walk around a lot, there are probably better choices -- assuming they pass the critical "don't hang up in the stirrup" test.

But you can easily tell the difference between "Check out my boots" boots and real ones. The real ones have rather specific wear patterns and are well broken in. They are not shiny, colorful, or made of expensive materials. They're rugged leather that's been cared for but has actually been used to protect your freakin' feet.

Although if we're going to rag on the expensive boots, do bear in mind that SOME people actually dance in the bloody things -- which means they're effectively dress boots. You don't go work in the yard in your dancing shoes either. :)

[caladein]

When I was in college Freshman year there was a group of us going around introducing ourselves, saying where we were from, etc. One girl from California didn't want to say where she was from, for some reason, and another California guy (from Sacramento) said, "what are you from Bakersfield or something?" and she *was*!

Edit: in

Pot, kettle, black.

[Trippy]

When I was in college Freshman year there was a group of us going around introducing ourselves, saying where we were from, etc. One girl from California didn't want to say where she was from, for some reason, and another California guy (from Sacramento) said, "what are you from Bakersfield or something?" and she *was*!

Edit: in

Pot, kettle, black.

I don't get it.

[caladein]

Sacramento, despite being the state capital, is hick country-lite.  So, a guy from Sacramento saying, "What are you from, Bakersfield or something?" is the the pot calling the kettle black in regards to middle-of-nowhere-hickville (or, more generally, a place that you don't want to explicitly say you're from).

I'm the same way though, I always say I'm from Los Angeles if anyone that doesn't know the area asks.  Partly because it's easier that way, but also because South Gate is pretty .

Of course, there's the not-so-slight chance I've fallen into a sarchasm, but oh well.

[Trippy]

Sacramento, despite being the state capital, is hick country-lite.  So, a guy from Sacramento saying, "What are you from, Bakersfield or something?" is the the pot calling the kettle black in regards to middle-of-nowhere-hickville (or, more generally, a place that you don't want to explicitly say you're from).

I'm the same way though, I always say I'm from Los Angeles if anyone that doesn't know the area asks.  Partly because it's easier that way, but also because South Gate is pretty .

Of course, there's the not-so-slight chance I've fallen into a sarchasm, but oh well.

Yes Sacramento is hick country-lite which makes it even more amusing since even they can look down on Bakersfield people.

[Selby]

Are you people just visting the industrial areas and wards?  We have as many nice neighborhoods as bad ones.

They are all the same!  ;-)  Actually I have to visit Pearland\Friendswood on the rare chance I go back anymore.  It's... decent.  Pretty crowded and traffic stinks (I'm from California, if *I* say traffic is bad it is ;-) ).  It's awfully close to Pasa-get-down-dena and all of their wonderful refineries and smells though.  Then there is the area near Hobby with all of the ladies of the night on Telephone road (grandmother-in-law lived down there so we got to visit every other day or so, the other half's aunt regularly "conducted business" there too).

Downtown had some pretty neat areas - Montrose had charm and character, UofH was nice (but not AROUND it), Rice, etc.  But... the wards and industrial areas are all along the freeways and when you have to drive through some special places only to get stuck in traffic on the freeway, you watch the scenery.  I honestly haven't been back there in almost 3 years (more because of the M-in-law than any outright hate for Houston, but it doesn't help itself out).

[Lantyssa]

Greenspoint was nice until Allison.  Then it turned into Gunspoint.  So that could be thought of either way.

I live at the edge of the Montrose and Museum districts.  Those are nice as you say.  I was in the Med Center previously, next to West U, Bellaire, and Rice which are ritzy.  UH is trying to develop the surrounding land.  Eastwood is restoring itself, and the edges of downtown are so different you wouldn't recognize them now.  Pearland is turning into the next Clear Lake.

There is a lot of revitalization going on in the inner city.  It might be the one positive of having the nation's worst public transportation system.

[Morat20]

Greenspoint was nice until Allison.  Then it turned into Gunspoint.  So that could be thought of either way.

I live at the edge of the Montrose and Museum districts.  Those are nice as you say.  I was in the Med Center previously, next to West U, Bellaire, and Rice which are ritzy.  UH is trying to develop the surrounding land.  Eastwood is restoring itself, and the edges of downtown are so different you wouldn't recognize them now.  Pearland is turning into the next Clear Lake.

There is a lot of revitalization going on in the inner city.  It might be the one positive of having the nation's worst public transportation system.

Once Tom Delay got the boot, Houston actually got federal funds for something more than "busses". All the arguing over rail line placement is pretty stupid, but it's just haggling over details. The general map is the same -- and it's going to be nice once it's up and running.

Compared to a real transit network, it'll suck, but I'll be thrilled to take rail from Clear Lake to the Theater district. I hate driving downtown.

[schild]

Yea Maggie Mays on 6th. its nice to be in austin.

[Signe]

There's already pics of Schildy in his new digs:

[Trippy]

Wow schild has lost a ton of weight!

Edit: he needs a shave, though.

[Signe]

He should take up smoking cigars.   It would suit him.  Don't you think so?

[Trippy]

I'm about as rabidly anti-smoking as you can get so I would say no.

[NiX]

What if he started smoking something that wasn't bad for your health?

[Signe]

When Righ and I talk about Schildy, we call him Mr. Whiskers.