We had a blizzard this week. It was gigantic and it was threatening. We were snowed in.
We had massive drifts of snow triggering harsh reactions.
Today, it is 60F +/- and winter is over for the year.
But, it was Hell on wheels whilst it lasted.
But, hey, what Hell do I really snow anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car — brrrrrr!
Old news already here in the People’s Republic of Austin, but maybe you haven’t heard: Elon Musk has picked Austin By God Texas for the next Gigafactory at which to build the new Tesla Truck.
Hook ’em, Tesla!
Elon had NOT been smoking anything when he made the announcement and he thanked Tulsa, Oklahoma for making a pitch to keep the Austin pitch real.
We are approaching 15% unemployment in the country, maybe 20% on the horizon before the economy gets lit again. Call it the Temporary COVID19 Unemployment Wave.
Not going to last forever. There are therapeutics on the horizon, a vaccine. Life will return, but there will be some lean days until it does.
You may have to relocate to find a new job? Start thinking about that now.
It is, unfortunately, real. If you are one of those who is without a job, take a second, take a deep breath, and, then, whisper — “Hey, maybe I need to move home.”
No, I don’t mean you should move in with the parental units. No, I mean it is time for you to make a decision, chart a new course, to pick the spot where life is waiting for you, and you are going to thrive.
Flick a booger in the COVID19 eyes and get yours. It is time to move home, y’all.
So, I’m overhearing a conversation between two hip Millennials (ages 23-38 in 2019) at the brand new Counter Cafe — shout out to the best blueberry pancakes in ATX, trip worthy — at the end of 29th Street close to Guadalupe (The Drag).
I’m having a late breakfast with a pal, also addicted to the blueberry pancakes. Like you could resist these babies? No way.
Pancakes so big, you cut and fold them. Spicy sausage patty. You cut the sweetness with an Arnold Palmer and you know you are living the High Life in Austin By God Texas. And, you are grateful. Counter Cafe — 3 locations in the ATX.
So, M #1 says, “I moved out of my Mom’s home.”
“No way,” says M #2.
Texas has no personal income tax (one of only seven States to have this provision) and it is likely to stay that way based upon the results of Proposition Four on the recent Texas ballot.
Proposition Four, which erects an almost impossible hurdle to the enactment of a state income tax, was adopted by a 74% to 26% margin. [We have had a lot of Californians move to Texas, but 26% in favor of an income tax?] It is worth noting that a total of $3,000 was spent to support the passage of Prop 4.
What is really interesting is to see the opposition to Prop 4: The Austin American Statesman (the local mast of the Texas Communist Party), the Austin Chronicle (the mouthpiece of the Austin Socialist Party, founded in 1981, a year after I moved to ATX, by Louis Black one of the founders of SXSW), the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, the Dallas Morning News, the Eagle, the Houston Chronicle, the Longview News-Journal, the San Antonio Express-News, and the Waco Tribute-Herald.
The actual vote was 1,467,994 in favor of Prop 4 and 504,848 against — this in a state with 16MM registered voters shows how tenuous the electorate’s grasp is on things.
So, I’m having an adult beverage with a pal and I order a Pickle Juice Martini, a lovely concoction made with vodka and pickle juice. My pal looks at me, says, “What?”
“Yes, I adore a pickle juice and vodka drink. It doesn’t have to be a martini. It can be in a whiskey glass with cracked ice or a single large round ice cube.” I dig a single large ice cube.
He looks for the lobotomy scars and says, “Nobody drinks pickle juice.” He is a confident, accomplished person whose opinion I usually respect, but this time he has wandered off the reservation. I tell him so.
Tito’s vodka is handmade in Austin By God Texas. I like mine in a whiskey glass with a sliver of dill pickle, but that’s just me.
[Three ounces Tito’s, one ounce pickle juice, one half ounce dry vermouth, shaken with cracked ice, strained into a chilled martini glass. Same approach but in a whiskey glass over ice with a few pickle chunks or spears. Your choice. Choose wisely.]
OK, so you are probably getting tired of your Big Red Car touting Austin, but allow me one more bit of apple polishing, may I?
Austin By God Texas has been identified as THE MOST DESIRABLE CITY for a tech pro to work in the United States.
Plus, you can swim at Barton Springs and swim laps in its 65F water temp, 1/8th mile length. Ahh, Austin!
Surprised?
It comes as no surprise to Austinites that US News & World Report has picked Austin By God Texas as the “best place in the galaxy to live” for the third year in a row.
Don’t take my word for it. Here it is.
USNWR graded cities based on coolness, the handsomeness and beauty of its citizens, their wisdom and charm and just all around goodness. Austin won. Again. And again.
Meanwhile Austin is seeing low unemployment of the 2.2% variety. Jobs are plentiful, but the work force is stretched tight which means wages are headed upward.
Still, when you get down to it, Austin is just a typical college town with a level of live music and hipness that boggles the mind. Plus, we have Whole Foods.
Did I mention 66F Barton Springs? Yes, we have good swimming next to downtown. Cold water. Refreshing like a Big Gulp.
So, if you live in Chicago or New York or California — I’m leaving a welcome packet for you at the airport. Come on down.
But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car. 2.2% unemployment and Barton Springs — this is you, babe. Trust me.
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