Wolverine display in downtown Austin, TX
So I spent this past Thursday through Saturday at my third onsite interview in a series of five down in Austin, TX. Landing the job would prompt some huge changes in my life, climate being one of the most basic since I've spend my entire life in the Great Lakes region, and most of that north of the 45th parallel. With that thought in mind I made it a priority to spend my free time out and about in Austin.
I found myself wandering down Congress Street on Friday night, and when I made it down to the Patagonia store near Congress & W 3rd and lo and behold I saw the following display in the window:
I think it's great that Patagonia has taken up the wolverine's plight, and it's just priceless that they would set up such a display in the heart of Longhorn country. Any non-believers in the area are welcome to head on down and confirm this for themselves!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^
A link to an article about a guy who studies wolverines at their site for those interested. Gotta love his description of wolverines.
"exceptionally strong and amazingly fearless. Can you think of any other 20- to 40-pound animal willing to try driving grizzlies off carcasses? I’d rank wolverines among the toughest mammals in the world."
Definitely a cool thing to see, thanks.
BEVO !!!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
Austin is a great city to live in and the girls, do I need to say anymore!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^
we got another dallas wolverine here! just moved down here not too long ago
Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick! The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?
But if any of your primatives so much as touches my sister, BOOM!
...or I touch your sister???
I drool at just the thought of UT girls.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
Austin is a pretty cool town. Just make sure you can handle the weather. I was in Dallas, but had to leave for a place with more natural beauty.
...I tried to stroll a couple miles in downtown Austin wearing jeans and a dark blue polo shirt yesterday, didn't find it as bad as I thought I would. I felt warm and I did have a bit of perspiration, but I didn't feel like I would keel over at any point.
I'm really hoping I get an offer from the firm I interviewed with down there because I am looking for a major change of scene in all areas of my life. I'm also big on music and trying to learn guitar, and it goes without saying that Austin's a choice location for that.
"The Wolverine is a tremendous character…. a personality of unmeasured force, courage, and achievement so enveloped in a mist of legend, superstition, idolatry, fear, and hatred, that one scarcely knows how to begin or what to accept as fact. Picture a Weasel—and most of us can do that, for we have met that little demon of destruction, that small atom of insensate courage, that symbol of slaughter, sleeplessness, and tireless, incredible activity—picture that scrap of demoniac fury, multiply that mite some fifty times, and you have the likeness of a Wolverine."
--Ernest Thompson Seton, 1953
Is brutal 104 today and the rest of the week as well. That why we like to come up for the first game its nice and cool and we get away from the heat for a week.
and my car said 107 yesterday at around 2:30, can't wait to get back up to Michigan on the 30th.
Come join our Austin U of M Alumni kickball team.
...I am so there!
Michigan as well as Austin, The city of Austin has increadible music, art/culture, food, outdoor life, and plenty of family activities. You are not too far from San Antonio and Houston for a day trip. If you want some really small town atmosphere just travel down 290 and there a variety of small towns that await. The thing that I really missed was huge trees, and a cool breeze in the summer.
One warning be really careful driving when there are heavy rains in the area touould submerge your car in some places. The traffic can be awful, but for as far as quality of life I'd rate Austin on par with Ann Arbor. Texans can be really over the top when it comes the greatness of their state but, for the most part you will find that Austinites are a little less so. Much of the hill country reminds me of parts of Northern California.
The traffic can be awful, but for as far as quality of life I'd rate Austin on par with Ann Arbor. Texans can be really over the top when it comes the greatness of their state but, for the most part you will find that Austinites are a little less so.
Definitely agree about the traffic, and parking downtown looks rough as well. The merges on and off the Mopac were uh...interesting...especially in a compact rental car. I actually wound up parking behind the Capitol on Friday night because everything closer to 6th was parked up.
As far as the people everyone I encountered was very friendly and down to Earth. I got a bit of good-natured ribbing for being a Yankee during my interview, but that's expected. Overall, I definitely got the sense that the media's portrayal of the typical Texan is on the cartoonish side.
and take in some music, especially if Asleep at the Wheel has a gig. Love me that Texas swing.
http://scurvybrother.blogspot.com/
I made a place where I could put my pics and stuff and it might give you some ideas for some day trips and such. I moved to Austin last Sept, if I enjoyed my job I'd be a little more gung-ho about the place but I try to make the most out of it.
Went downtown and biked along the river this evening, if you don't have a mountain bike you should get one when you get here. Biking is free and drinks are pretty cheap on 6th street.
I try to stay away from I35 as much as I can. It's hard to do in some cases though.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 AM ^
...own a 2009 Cannondale F4 with Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes, so I think I'm set for a mountain bike.
I agree about I35, toll roads in general tend to suck.
Sorry to hear about your job. My current situation sounds exactly like what you're enduring, and that's one of the reasons I'm stoked about the chance to move to Austin.
August 1st, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
There's a bunch of us down here in Austin I guess. Not surprising considering how much this city is blowing up, people from all over are moving down here.
Music scene is great, bar scene is great (even off 6th street, there's plenty of good bar scenes), food is great although there's limited range (I miss good Italian food), chicks are hot (but there are hot chicks in every major city in my opinion, this is an overrated aspect of the city), and so is the weather. Tons of stuff to do outside, and nobody works too hard. I strongly endorse Austin, the rest of Texas . . . not so much.
See Y'ALL at Plucker's on S. Lamar in the fall.