Attractive Tales from Grand Cities, a Social Memoir

As a youth growing up, my first rock concert to attend was for the band "Better than Ezra". It took place at a now defunct, yet legendary live venue, Liberty Lunch. At the time I was an underage teenager. Right before the band was set to play, and the lights brightened, an older dude passed me a free beer to drink. In my excitement, I took a couple chugs, and while chugging, a Liberty Lunch bouncer saw my "X" stamped hands and escorted me out of the venue entirely. I was kicked out. I recall being outside and hearing the music, and being totally dejected and bummed. A couple of my friends were also standing outside, and Barbara B. was kind enough to BRIGHTEN our evening. Since we were already downtown, she invited myself and a few other kids to the state of Texas's Governors Mansion. Since her mother and father were the 1st family of Texas, this was allowed. They actually really lived at the Governor's Mansion. It was a wonderful invite, and bright spot ...

This will be dedicated to the athletic achievements, highs, lows and in between in the sports career of me, your author and aspiring literary leader. As a child and youth I gravitated and enjoyed hanging out at WAYA. What was W.A.Y.A.? The West Austin Youth Association. WAYA was a youth athletic compound with multiple indoor gyms, baseball fields, pool tables, offices, sports camps, activities, counselors and more. It was a jock kid's Disneyland . Early on for some reason, I became really fond of playing basketball. Traditional real hoops basketball. I played all the time, pick up games after school, team youth leagues, summer camps, etc. It was a year round joy. Like anything you practice and get paid guidance on, I became a top tier "baller". How good? As a child, one of the best. At the Rodney Page basketball camp, I often recall leaving on the final day with usually between 3 to 7 trophies. Each for a different basketball category. Most of the trophies I actual...

Here is the definition on Gentrification directly quoted from Wikipedia " Gentrification is the buying and renovating of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by wealthier individuals, which in effect increases property values and displaces low-income families and small businesses.[1] This is a common and widespread controversial topic in urban planning.[2] It refers to shifts in an urban community lifestyle and an increasing share of wealthier residents and/or businesses and increasing property value" I personally, am very PRO Gentrification . The only neighborhood I have met, encountered and actually lived in, that should NOT be gentrified is Harlem in Northern Manhattan. Harlem should just always be Harlem. God Bless 125th street and the Apollo Theater. The Chelsea neighborhood used to be known as a strictly male dominated gay only neighborhood, but the gay community actually cleaned it up and greatly enhanced the overall ambiance of the neighborhoo...

The burden, gift and torch of the handsome man is a real entity. Just like our Kindergarten teacher told us, "every single person is unique and special in their own way". Personally, I just happen to be a "really really good looking" Zoolander. Hopefully the sequel, model-themed movie is as humorous as the original. Moving forward, each person in this world has there own unique gifts. Some fellow humans are science smart, doctor intelligent, accounting wizards, athletic specimens, or overtly kind and generous. This human natural gift diversity is what makes life special. Personally for me, being tall, fun, athletic, easy going, and capable, has placed me in the top tier of physical handsomeness for the past 15 years . Let us rewind to my yesteryear personal age of 16. I was 6'1 inches tall as a sophomore in high school, and already on the varsity basketball team. My facial complexion was a disaster. My facial acne, pimples and zits were unstoppable. I...

ACL, is an acronym for the "Austin City Limits" Music Festival. I attended the full day and evening events this year again, for perhaps the millionth time. I can recall attending the festival since its inception, a decade or two ago. We truly local Austin folk, know our city and times. This year's spectacle was just that. Also, this year was the first year I had to "overpay" for the wristband ticket. Face value on the 3 day wristband for entry was originally $250. My last minute, procrastinator self, forced me to pay $300, literally on the black market. It all worked out, and I was granted access to enjoy. So how did it go? Was it different? My city of Austin continues to grow heavily in popularity. Outsiders, visitors and new people eat it up! Zilker Park is a formidable worthy location and setting. The downtown skyline hi-rise views, coupled with the expansive grassy knolls and trees, create an ideal music festival vibe. Plus, once the day's music...

For our purposes today, flakes does not mean hair dandruff. This is not a shampoo promotion article. No, flakes and floozies are people whom verbally or in writing commit to an action, event or future gathering, yet bail and FLAKE out . Thus a no show. Floozies are people, whom rsvp to an event, and floozie with a non appearance. Floozies are girls whom give your their phone number, show keen desire to eventually go out on a real date, yet never actually do. Think for a moment, I would strongly bet, every single person knows a flake or a floozie. Unfortunately I myself am sometimes guilty of floozy and flaky behavior. For example, this morning as an uncle, my younger's brother 2nd child had a birthday today. To my credit, this baby's birthday social did carry a 10:30 AM Sunday morning start time. In the lifestyle of a wanna-be single bachelor like myself, Sunday mornings after an eventful Saturday night of liquor shots, cocktails, bars, and girls chasing is required hu...

So after a long, hot, lengthy, awful summer of working in Austin, Texas, I finally closed an intermediary land real estate transaction in Buda, Texas. Thus I earned a sizable commission. Money time! I decided to fly and go on vacation to San Diego, California. Did I know anyone there previously? Nope. I just felt like it was a city, I needed to be a part of and witness. So I booked the damm trip blindly. None of my previous shitty friends in Austin, TX whom had actually resided in San Diego would give me any first hand advice. Zero. Those people, whom you now know who you are, are currently on my bad santa list. Moving forward. I landed in San Diego, and immediately purchased a rent-a-car for 3 days. Loser idea. Travel tip, driving around doe eyed in a brand new city, you don't know is neither fun nor safe. The idea of relying on google maps while driving, is walking a tightrope towards a potential car wreck. Driving should be done, wide awake & with your eyes on the r...