A Trip to UT in Austin

I know.  A trip to University of Texas in Austin, TX for someone in my family is like a trip into enemy territory, but since it is the headquarters of the TEACH program, I do venture down there from time to time. In an effort to minimize the stress this causes sweet little Bestie I refrain from talking about my trips and just say I will be gone on business.  If I even mention the word "Texas" in the house I get to hear about how we (Arkansas Razorbacks) were cheated in the Big Shootout of 1969.  Bestie and one of his friends recently went to see a documentary about the Big Shootout.  Now Bestie is even more rabid when discussing the states that start with the letter "T".  I know some of you find that hard to believe, but he CAN be pretty vocal when it comes to his feelings about sports.  For those of you that don't know, orange is not allowed in our house.  No orange clothing, no orange decorations, I even have to beg to get orange juice.  The pumpkins on our porch at Halloween are white.  That is how crazy Bestie can be - pity me!

Amazingly, there is a lot of orange in Austin. It made me wish I had packed more red - and next time I will.

Notice how the street signs are orange AND have a longhorn on them.

Every other time I have traveled to Austin I have stayed at the conference hotel, but last minute travel arrangements this time made it impossible for me to get a room there, so I decided to try a local Bed and Breakfast I had heard about - The Star of Texas Inn.

It appears to be leaning because it is - but don't all the best old houses or maybe that is just the way they build them in Texas.  Who really knows?

Leaning or not, the front porch was terrific.

I was in the guest house just behind the main house and even had my own front porch which will be wonderful in a month but was pretty hot on this lovely, hot as hell day in Texas.

The room was decorated with antique furniture and interesting art pieces - some more interesting than art.  I hope this picture was created by the children of the owners.

The room featured a soft robe, lovely soaps and lotions, free wine, and best of all - a fan!  As women of a certain age know, it is imperative to sleep with a fan in order to maintain a comfortable temperature!

Once on the UT campus (a short two blocks from the B&B) I use the UT Tower to find my way.  The landmark is great to use to find something because the tower is visible from almost everywhere on campus.  I noted where the Tower was when I left the B&B and was able to find my meeting room easily.  I won't tell Bestie, but the campus really is beautiful.  Unlike many fast growing campuses, UT did not get rid of all the trees as they built new classroom and research facilities.  They also severely limit the parking on campus and place most parking lots and parking decks around the perimeter in an effort to increase safety of students as they move from class to class.  This is something that was also done at UA and UALR, but UA  still lets scooters go through campus.  UT does not so you see hundreds of students on bikes zooming around.

 

So, will I tell Bestie that I do enjoy visiting Austin?  No.  Will I ask him to go with me to Austin sometime?  No.  What do you think I am?  Crazy?  Bestie going to Austin might lead to another Tower Shooting incident.  I know he could only take so much orange, so many drawings of longhorns, so many times of hearing "Hook'em Horns!" and he might just lose what little sanity still lurks in his consciousness. His true love of the Razorbacks and vehement hate of all things Texas is just another facet of what makes me love him.  What you may call insane, I find endearing.  It is another eccentricity that makes Bestie MY Bestie.