What's My Age Again

Hard to think it was only yesterday that I was a young pup in California, now as I approach the 30 year mark I feel like that I have come so far. I am extremely content here in Austin, TX (minus the no surf thing), and feel that for the most part I have found a balance that I haven't had in many years. As I turn 30 I approach the 5 year anniversary of my mom's death, and know that she would be proud of me (and like my beard). She is the whole reason I started writing and "blogging" and communicating out loud (even if I'm the only one reading it), and I wanted to say thanks to you Mom for that. Cheers to being old(er), and may we all Live Happily Ever Now. Here are some pics taken by my lovely wife from this last weekend at Lustre Pearl, they also had Victoria beer on draft at Bar 96!

Birthday Beach Cleanup

For my 30th birthday (getting old) I will be in Port A with my lovely wife, and my birthday also happens to fall on the GLO's adopt a beach cleanup. This is awesome, and I couldn't think of a better way to ring in my 30's then to be helping preserve our coast. I have been a member of surfrider since I was a teenager, and am excited that many fellow members from the Surfrider's Central Texas Chapter will be attending the clean up as well. The Central Texas Chapter have adopted a mile of the beach on Mustang Island, and will be cleaning that adopted section for this clean up. Let's pray for surf, and happy birthday to me!

Here is more information about the clean up and how you can help:

AUSTIN —

The 25 th annual Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup will take place Saturday, April 30th at 30 sites along the Texas coast. "Bring the family and let's go clean the beach," said Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. "The Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup is a great time for a great cause, and has been since 1986." The Adopt-A-Beach Program is one of the most successful all-volunteer efforts in the nation. In the past 25 years, 406,000 Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up more than 7,900 tons of trash from the Texas Gulf Coast. And thanks to a generous $50,000 donation by Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC, Adopt-A-Beach will celebrate its 25 th anniversary by reaching out to even more beach lovers.

Volunteers may register on-line for the Spring Cleanup at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or at one of the 29 check-in sites beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30 th . Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.

The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine! Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org . There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort. Statewide coastal cleanups are held every spring and fall.

To learn how you can participate, or for additional information on the Adopt-A-Beach Program, please visit www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST. Those interested may also become a fan of the program at www.facebook.com/texasadoptabeach where event details and results will also be posted.

Cold War Kids Review - Stubb's Austin

The Gospel: CWK 

Having seen Cold War Kids twice before in Austin (Emos and Auditorium Shores), I was very excited to see them for a third time. The set started on a warm Austin night, with a duo of new songs "Royal Blue" and "Finally" from their new album Mine is Yours. The old piano was upgraded to a modern keyboard, and the show sounded cleaner than ever.

The crowd was dancing uncontrollably to "Audience" and "Louder Than Ever", and it seemed as if Willett was preaching to a school of Austin hipsters who were reading him loud and clear. Granted their gospel does have a religious like undertone (I couldn't stop doing a Jazz Hands type move myself). At one point Willett saw a bunch of people "not being good to each other" in the pit, and said "if you don't be good to each other, you will have to come sit up here with me". It kind of felt like we were in high school again (Willett used to be a high school English teacher when he started the band). They closed out the set (as per the norm) with St. John, and so closed the sermon on a warm sticky night under the Texas stars at Stubb's BBQ. On a side note, the bouncers at Stubb's were awesome in a way that is hard to explain, but they did a great job and were enjoying the show as well! Never have met such a friendly do good bouncer staff.  Cheers to Cold War Kids! Live Happily Ever Now!

"Royal Blue"



"Louder Than Ever"