Monthly Archives: September 2006

A few days ago, we ate a barbeque dinner with Greg’s dad and discussed the pains of fire ants, spicy foods, and scorpions. While we drove home from dinner, Greg spotted something crawling across the road.

“We just passed a tarantula!” Greg said.

“It must have been really big if you could spot it while going 60 miles an hour,” I said.

“It was big!” Greg said.

“You have tarantulas down here, too?” Greg’s dad asked.

After we dropped Greg’s dad off at his hotel, we came home and took Abe for a walk. We debated whether Greg’s family would visit for Thanksgiving. Greg said, “I don’t think we’re doing a very good job of getting people to like Texas.”

No, Greg, I don’t think we are.

Greg’s dad is in Austin for work this week, so he came to our house for dinner last night. He’s been to Texas before, but this was the first time he had been to our place. He hasn’t given us his opinion of Austin, but he’s dropping hints about it.

We asked him where his hotel is. He told us it was just off of Highway 183.

“What is the crossroad?” Greg asked.

“It starts with an ‘s,’” Dave said.

“Spicewood Springs?” Greg offered.

“No, it’s something like Snakepit Lane,” Dave said.

“Yeah, there’s no Snakepit Lane here,” Greg said.

Dave continued to fumble for the name, but couldn’t think of it. Clearly he’s enjoying himself here, staying on Snakepit Lane … or Scorpion Drive … or Cactus Crossing. He’s going to return to Illinois with warm, fuzzy memories of this place.

After our tae kwon do class today, I showered and then dressed while Greg took a shower. Greg and I were planning to go shopping, so I grabbed a book and headed downstairs while I waited for him to get ready. A few minutes later, I heard Greg walking down the stairs.

“Oh no,” he said.

“What?” I asked, looking up.

Greg held his arms out at his sides, indicating that I should inspect his clothing. A brown T-shirt and khaki shorts. I looked down at my own clothes. A brown T-shirt and khaki capri pants. I thought it was cute, but Greg raced back upstairs to change.