Austin in December is far different from the other times I’ve been here. For one, it snowed! We’re not talking snow surviving touching the ground, but definitely white flakes falling through the air.
I’ve been staying in the corporate flat which is situated about three blocks from the office, and this time I’ve had a Simon shaped flatmate. With two bedrooms and two bathrooms it works out well.
Work’s been productive and I’ve been employing a ‘come to work an hour later and work late’ method. I wish I could do this in London, it’s improved my mood immensely.
My focus this trip has been to work on a distributed jabber setup, something which necessitated emailing the list. No response as yet though.
On Wednesday a few of the ops and IT went to the Highball. The first time I’ve bowled with no computerised scoring. I came second, I didn’t quite break the century barrier, but it was a better attempt than my previous three visits to a lane.
Friday was the event of the year: the RGM Holiday Party. Held at the Driskill Hotel, we had ice sculptures, food, drink and speeches.
I suited up for the event, and Emma got a beautiful black dress which was complimented with some silver earrings. After staying for the food and mingling a little, we headed back to the flat shortly after 10pm. Simon stumbled in sometime around 2am.
Last night’s meal is definitely worthy of separate mention: I headed to Fogo de Chao with Simon and we ate meat. A lot of meat.
When you arrive, you’re given a disk, one side red, one side green. When it’s green side up, the waiters come to your table and carve off more meat, all different kinds, and as much as you can eat. Rinse, repeat.
We had chicken, chicken in bacon, four cuts of beef, lamb, ribs, sausages. I could barely walk out of the restaurant. Very good price too, I definitely recommend visiting.
Emma and I have also been spending a lot of time together. After meeting up at the airport last Sunday, she came back to the flat and has pretty much stayed since. The weather hasn’t permitted wandering around outside much, but we’ve spent a lot of time talking about everything from music to geek stuff, life plans to our crazy families.
And speaking of crazy families, I’ll be meeting her parents on Wednesday. I’d better brush up on my list of unacceptable-conversation-topics-when-you-first-meet-someone’s-parents before then. I may be some time.