A Very Strange Animal

There is rarely a day that goes by when I'm not slightly baffled or bemused by Texan culture. Texas might be part of the United States but culturally, I can't imagine anything being more different from New York, except perhaps rural Wyoming. In Austin, the vast majority of stereotypical Texan culture is often more discrete. Visitors are thrown off the scent by all of the "Keep Austin Weird" bumper stickers and the hippies visiting independent stores.

I suppose the bus ride was similar to any other I've had in the States. No one stared, pointed, or started talking about me in not so subtle tones.

On the other hand, strangers didn't strike up conversations with me either. (Notice the shorts! It's 93 degrees here.)

Then there are scenes like this one--where giant animal trophies hang on the walls above juke boxes and oblivious bar goers. Not a single person I was with commented on the animals until I pointed them out. Which warranted a shrug, as if to say, 'And? What's so special about that?'

Hello. I'm a giant deer head, here to ogle you while you imbibe malt beverages.

Sorry for the crap quality, my iPhone camera doesn't work so well in low light (and no I don't have the latest version with the flash). My mother likes to point out that I did buy myself a very nice Canon 2 years ago for my birthday. Oh well .

Spaz update: Two days ago I found a pair of earrings that I lost 6 months ago and have been pining for ever since. Turns out, they were in the change pocket of a pair of pants that were too big on me in Korea. (A few months of Texas living and all of my clothes fit again.) When I went to put them on, I felt the strange lump and VOILA! My favorite earrings ever appeared in my hands. I've been wearing them non stop ever since.  Where is the spaz you ask? This morning I went to straighten out the slightly bent post (no doubt a result of living in my pants pocket) and broke it off instead. All I could think was 'absolutely typical.' Hopefully they can be repaired since they are the only earrings I own that I can't afford to replace.

Now to add to my ever growing list of professionals to find in Austin: a jeweler that I trust. Oh well.