It’s been quite a couple of weeks here. First, Lauren was in New York for work, leaving me and Hound to fend for ourselves for five nights. The day Lauren returned home, we welcomed in Mom and Dad for a five-night stay! For the Glanzers, it was their third trip to Austin to visit us, after trips in February 2012 and December 2012.
Sunday Lauren prepared a big brunch while Baxter and I showed the Glanzers our jogging route through the park. In the afternoon we ventured out to the new Whole Foods where we sampled some beers from the 40+ on tap in the store. That night we hung out at home and watched Dallas Buyers Club.
Monday Lauren went to work in the morning, and I took Mom and Dad out to Hamilton Pool, a thirty mile drive out into the country. Hard to believe we have such a cool piece of nature right in our own backyard here! It was pretty frigid water but I hopped in for a brief moment, and later we hiked a couple miles out to the Pedernales River.
We returned to Austin and Lauren joined us for the afternoon where we had lunch at popular burger joint Hopdoddy. That evening we invited our friends the Megos over for some home-cooked fajitas for dinner.
Tuesday was a very busy day. The morning began with a trip downtown to Zilker Botanical Gardens, though there was little to see in February with nothing in bloom. After that we wandered around downtown and Mom, Dad, and Baxter got to see the famed Willie Nelson statue at the ACL Moody Theater. We picked up Lauren from work and headed over to the John Mueller BBQ truck. Then it was off to the new Top Golf at the Domain for two free hours of friendly golf competition. I injured many body parts swinging for the fences.
That evening we grabbed dinner at nearby Tex-Mex favorite Chuy’s. After dinner, the girls retired to bed while Dad joined me at the Common Interest where I hosted the weekly karaoke league.
Wednesday, Lauren was at work for the full day, and I was low on non-food-drink-related activities, so off we went to the Alamo Drafthouse to see a matinee showing of Best Picture nominee The Wolf of Wall Street. Practically alone in the theater, it was a little bit awkward the three of us sitting and watching three hours of repetitive graphic sex scenes. That night we headed down south for some southern home cookin’ at Red’s Porch. And then on Thursday we met Lauren for lunch near her office at a food truck court before taking Ma and Pa back to the airport.
I think it’s safe to say a good time was had by all in the 70-degree weather. This picture pretty much sums it all up!
Just when you thought things would simmer down a little, I welcomed old friend Andrew Kartak into Austin mere hours after departing the airport. We went over to local bar Little Woodrow’s to catch the NASCAR action. Andrew and I downed a few brews when I was alerted by Lauren that I had left the house without closing various doors.
In other news, happy birthday to Elizabeth Burke, who notified me that this blog and other websites are about her only window to the world right now, what with tiny tot twins and mountains of snow! Here’s a legendary picture from the time Casey, Luke, Patrick, and I went to visit Liz and her college friends at Creighton University in Omaha in September 2002. Hard to believe that was almost 12 years ago!
Ryan Glanzer Blog 
We had a wonderful time, as always. Many thanks for all the hospitality!
Boy, that was one tough hammock! We had a good time with you guys. We will return!!!!!