Pulling Yourself Together

I never really know what to say after an extended blog hiatus. Some people are bad with goodbyes; I'm not great with hellos. Should I apologize? Attempt to defend my time away? Pretend like it never happened? I don't even have the great Blogger downtime of 2011 to blame. I was relieved when that happened. "Good," I thought to myself, "Now I really do have a decent excuse for not posting today." And I have thought about it every day, that's the thing. I've opened up a new post, looked at the blank page, and clicked away.

Remember when I moved to Austin and talked about how I was adjusting to the move? I think that's the best way to describe my MIA-ness. To a certain extent I have adjusted. I have a job, I've participated in some classic Austin activities (just bought my tickets for Austin City Limits!), and made friends. That last part is my favorite. I don't think I've been this social since one hectic, golden summer at college. I went down south to visit my folks over Easter and when I flew back into Austin, it had the feel of coming home. It's still new, still rough-around-the-edges, but my city and I? We have an understanding now.

Except, seriously, why didn't you guys tell me it was going to be hot here in the summer? (Kidding. I knew about that. Theoretically.) It's May 22nd and the only thing on my grocery list is popsicles. The GRE went well, thanks for your well-wishes! Applications are due at the end of the summer, so that's my new project. And I think I'm going to start watching Friday Night Lights now that my shows are over for the season. Next fall I'm most looking forward to Smash and The New Girl.

Oh! I promised you a baby alligator! Here you are...

This is Bordeaux at the tender age of eight months. He was super sweet and his underbelly felt like satin. I wanted to take him home, but I was all, "This means you would have a BABY ALLIGATOR in your house. Bad idea jeans, G."

So here we are again. I'll get my act together and be back sooner rather than later.

Incidentals from the last two months...
-I went to Houston twice. The first time was for the Houston Teen Book Con. Good times plus I got to meet the adorable Stephanie Perkins. She was everything I hoped she would be and then some. I love when blog friends turn into IRL friends. If you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet, please do so now.

-The second trip to Houston was to see my beloved Wilco in concert. No words for how amazing it turned out to be. Worth every second and every penny.

-I went camping for the first time. Our tent blew over while I was asleep inside. My poor, lily-white Utah legs got roasted. I don't think I'm a camper, much less a happy one.

-Do you do the Words With Friends thing? I'm...wait for it...gretchenalice. Play if you dare.

-I posted a list over at BDH of the summer movies I'm most excited to watch. Read it here!

Gilding The Lily

I had this friend that would say, "Moderation in all things, including moderation." Sometimes you just have to bask in being excessive. Not all the time, but every once in a while, y'know? If you're ever in Austin and the mood strikes, may I recommend Gourdough's?

One of my Canadians road-tripped through the US last month and when he stopped in Austin, we ate extreme amounts of bbq and followed up with doughnuts from Gourdough's. Excessive, like I said. So worth it. Unfortunately, I didn't snag any of my own pictures because a) I forgot my camera and b) it was night. Let your imagination run wild!

Their slogan is "Big. Fat. Doughnuts." I love truth in advertising; it's terribly refreshing. A doughnut will run you $4.25--ice cream's an extra buck and so is meat. "Wait just a sec," I can hear you interjecting, "Meat? With my doughnut?" You have your choice of fried chicken or bacon. Um...because why not? I didn't have the pleasure of trying out a meaty doughnut--see above re: extreme amounts of bbq--but next time a bacon and maple doughnut (dubbed the Flying Pig) shall be mine...

Adam the Canadian tried the Miss Shortcake (cream cheese frosting with fresh strawberries) and I tried the Son of a Peach (frosting, peach pie filling, and cake topping). We agreed the Miss Shortcake was THE BEST because the strawberries cut through the diabetes. On the other hand, putting cake topping on a doughnut is practically criminal it's so delicious. Other untried offerings include "Mama's Cake" with yellow cake batter filling and chocolate fudge icing, the "Funky Monkey" with grilled bananas, cream cheese icing, and brown sugar, and the "Baby Rattler" with fudge icing, fudge oreos, and a rattlesnake gummy. Again, why not? For a good time, check out their remarkably well-designed full pdf menu.

 Photo via Austin 360 

Doesn't it look a like a marvelous doughnut spaceship from the future?

Moral of the story: If you visit me in Austin, I will make sure that you are well-fed.

Gourdough's is located at 1219 S. Lamar Blvd. (Website | Twitter | Facebook)