Austin and New York

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No better place to begin my pre-trip festivities than in my two favorite cities surrounded by some of my favorite people. Of course I had to eat Tex-Mex 3 times a day in Austin not knowing when I was to come across it again ... at least in an edible form of what I call Tex Mex.

After a few days of catching up with old friends in Texas it was onwards to New York city, catching up with a friend and making several new ones. St. Patrick's Day is kind of a big deal in NYC, almost a 2 week event. Saturday we went to a St. Patrick's pre-party at some sort of commercial zoned shipping pier in lower Manhattan ... it looked very much like the Navy Pier in Chicago. The next day we were awoken to bagpipes as Brooklyn was having their St. Patrick's Day parade in Prospect Park right in front of Kristin's appartment. Then Tuesday as I was trying to navigate around the crowds of the big St. Patrick's Day parade in Manhattan as I was trying to get to the airport (on the way to Ireland, wherelse?).

Didn't really do too much touristy stuff in NYC, other than I took one day to walk around the Village. One unexpected thing happened to me as I was sitting in a park waiting for my friend Kristin to get off work. I was sitting on a parkbench reading and I looked up from the book long enough to notice a small group of spectators had gathered around me, looking up in the trees. There was some large falcon, hawk or eagle directly above me sitting on a branch. I didn't know New York City had falcons, and evidently neither did most of the locals as everyone stopped to gawk. The falcon had cornered a squirrel on a tree branch for an afternoon snack. The clever squirrel would scurry to the underside of the branch every time the falcon tried to pounce on it with its talons. A group of about 50 of us stood enthralled onlooking to see if the squirrel would get away. Finally after a 15 minute game of cat and mouse the squirrel managed to survived another day by scamping off when the falcon was distracted by another squirrel in the distance. Who knew New York was the place for wildlife watching? But I guess that's New York, a city of falcons and squirrels. Filthy rich blue-bloods and dirt poor immigrants. Bernie Madoff and Bernie the Cab Driver trying to co-exist. A city that may be a little harsh, but always fascinating to look at.

Thanks to Kade/Hollye and Kristin for providing me a place to stay and hosting me. Special thanks to Kristin to introducing me to the best pizza and chinese food in my life. I'm currently in Ireland having a great time, and I'll write an update on it after I leave on Wednesday to Scotland.

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Comments

[Mom]

Tres Amigos
Found your blog and pictures. Funny you should post the Tres Amigos picture as your first entry. Last night Dad made me pickup the Exercise room and in a box of old picture frames was the picture of you three guys in your tuxedos at the High School Prom. In those days you all had more hair on your head and they had less on their face. But non-the-less, some nice looking guys as the girls would all attest. Keep us posted and have a good time.