hee-haw! welcome to AUSTIN!

Got in to Austin last night, arriving by the last rays of day...after spending a typically delicious night in the BIG EASY...had not planned to make New Orleans a stop on my cross-country agenda, but after realizing that Atlanta to Austin was a 2-day drive, it seemed a no-brainer to ditch the trip-tik through the top of the state (Texas) and instead just head back down to the gulf from Atlanta, availing myself of the generous offer of my friends' French Quarter locale for resting and refreshing...

and now to recap the music of previous miles...

Engelwood to Atlanta...

Vienna Tang-Warm Strangers
Joni Mitchell-Blue
James Taylor-Mud Slide Slim
Judi Collins-Wildflowers
The Police-Reggatta de Blanc
Frank Sinatra-in the Wee Small Hours

Atlanta to New Orleans

Frank Sinatra(again)
Tribalistas
Steve Winwood-Chronicles
Lisa Ono-Compilation by a friend
Andy Summers/John Etheridge-Invisible Threads
The Best of 2005-(according to my friend Roger)
Music from the original series "Weeds"

NO to Austin

Earl Klugh-Heart String
Elton John(1970)
Roy Orbison-Mystery Girl
The Roches-Speak
Keb' Mo'(1994)
Rickie Lee Jones-The Magazine

Finishing this post now, this morning, a Monday morning, January 24th, after many more hundreds of miles, currently having an interesting experience here at the Biltmore Inn & Suites in Phoenix...(related in name only to the Biltmore Biltmore)...waiting this morning for someone to come in & look at my tub to see if bathing/plugging the drain doable...no blankets extra last night, phone not figured out 'til this morning...blah-blah-blah (wherever you go, there YOU are...) hah-hah-hah...

Atlanta an AMAZING experience (and what a charming city, even in freezing winter temps) with ball-of-fire Celeste leading her first laughter yoga group...twenty people who'd never met before coming together last Tuesday night and whole-heartedly laughing almost to the point of exhaustion (Celeste learning her lesson on that one!)...such a resounding success for her first foray into creating a Laughter Yoga group...two delicious meals in her delightful company, processing the experience, before moving on to:

...Austin, an astounding revelation for it's unexpected evolution (an again, FREEZING clime, literally 20's at night, ice scraped kindly off Grace's windshield upon departure)...hadn't seen such a hippie (in the best ways of being human-friendly) town in ages, and in TEXAS! Who knew? PACKED yoga class Friday afternoon...SO good to stretch and breathe after all the miles...delightful sojourn in Alyssa & Craig's welcoming home (had not seen them since their Northern California wedding two years ago), hanging with the new-ish cats Frank & Fred (named after the grandfathers), re-uniting with sweet Hortie/Hortensia, loving Australian shepherd that she is...wonderful mid-afternoon walk with her & Alyssa in Peace Canyon along the Shoal Creek...and oh, yes the YUMMY breakfast tacos, and a introduction to the miga (look it up if you're curious...)

And finally, to do a little housekeeping/catching up on the framework...

Souvenir from Atlanta: a fleur-de-lis mirror a gift from Celeste upon admiring...from New Orleans a pack of box matches from a divine dinner at Galatoire's...from Austin lots of dog and cat hair on my re-united pea-coat...

And road angels...Celeste definitely for all her many gifts of her energy and courage...two in New Orleans, Elmo for his kind care in ensconcing me so gently in my overnight home, & Sean for his loving service at Galatoire's, and in Austin, once again my friends Craig & Alyssa for their warm hospitality...

Having a grand time on the Road...more later on Las Cruces & Phoenix once I have another chance to catch up...waiting for a call this morning (or I will call again) from Beautitudes where I am hoping to move with Joy in Motion with their seniors in house...

Joy in abundance from your road-tripper...

Christina
xox