Braden and I went to Austin over the weekend. The main purpose was to catch the UT-Kansas game. If you keep up with college football at all, you know that it was pretty much a shut out. We had the greatest time. 50 yard line tickets and a parking pass - sweet deal.
We left right after school on Friday and got to Austin around 7:00 and checked into our motel - the Studio 6. I am a big Priceline and Orbitz junkie, so I felt like I got a pretty good deal. The motel was fine.
We ate at
Threadgill's, a home cooking restaurant where they have live music on the weekends. They tout the fact that Janis Joplin got her start there. It is quite an experience, to say the least. They actually have a wireless internet connection, so we surfed Austin area theaters to see what movies were out. We decided to catch
"Zathura", which is a great family film. I highly recommend it.
Saturday we went to the
University Co-op to buy UT-related stuff. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was doing some major mouth breathing as I walked around the store, checking out the latest Longhorn paraphernalia. Before the game we hung out with some old friends that I have not seen in many years. We had a great time catching up. It was hard to believe that it has been so many years since I had seen them.
The game was great to experience with Braden. He knows most of the players by name and position, which amazes me. He was so into it. He sang "The Eyes of Texas and "Texas Fight" just like one of the students. He was so into it. After the game we hung out with my friends again and left to come home about 8:00 pm. We stopped at the Heitmiller Family Steakhouse in Elm Mott, just north of Austin. Good value and huge portions.
Time between a father and son is really special. Braden said over and over again how great it was that it was just him and me on this trip. It really made me feel good that he enjoyed our time together as much as I did. Braden is already talking about the next trip we can take together. I look forward to it, too.
Be good.
