Memorial Day weekends are usually spent in Austin. This is a weekend that always involves water since it traditionally is used to welcome summer with open arms. Even though technically summer in Texas begins in February.
Where do you go for water based activities in Texas that don’t involve the Gulf Coast? Well, Austin, if you have any sense. All my Memorial Day weekends are spent in the ATX, minus the one hiccup last year that meant I was in Madrid, and – well, not celebrating on water. I’ll never make that mistake again.
I won’t bore you with the same old, same old that are my usual Austin weekends. You know, those horrendous details of killer concerts, barbeque for days, floating the river or being on a boat with my flippy floppies.
The one thing that did make this special was that Saturday was Marissa’s birthday. She lives here.
Marissa and I met as first time waitresses back in 2007. She had just moved from Seattle and was trying to make a buck and figure things out. I had just landed a sweet magazine internship and needed a job that gave me flexibility to be in the office.
We sucked at waitressing.
One time, Marissa ran a credit card for a table’s tab, and when she went to collect her tip, the asshole had written “be a better waitress” on the tip line.
Here’s MY tip for you douche bag: stop sucking at life
But I digress. The dining and tipping culture of America the beautiful is for another heated post…
Anywho, one night at work I was standing in the kitchen, waiting on a chicken sandwich. I was stressed and frazzled, probably due to some high school kids telling me to pick the tentacles out of their fried calamari since they only like the rings. (true story)
Finally, in a moment of exasperation I exclaim “Where is the chicken sandwich? How long does it take to make a sandwich?” And one of the restaurant managers pushed a plate in front of me that had been sitting on the line in front of my face. It was one of two plates on the line. I felt like a dumb, and grabbed the dish. Marissa walks by and says “good thing you’re pretty,” and I turn to see her saunter off, confidently balancing 2 chicken parmesans on her head. And I knew, from that moment on, we would be friends for life.
For her birthday we spent the day at a friend’s house who lives by Lake Travis. Pool and drinking and barbequeing and that dance video game I love so much. I think someone was making shots. We had a cake with candles. Like a true birthday!
Cheers to you on your special day, love!
check out those cheeks
oh, that? just the view of lake travis from the pool. no big.
Erin's Guide to Living 
We would love to post the top picture for toemail’s 2nd birthday if you do not mind? http://toemail.wordpress.com
I don’t mind – thanks for asking! Can you grab it from the site or do I need to email it to you?
Can grab it from site, thanks! Will let you know when it’s posted.
This was seriously the BEST birthday I have had in 12-14 years, no lie! The Universe smiled the day we finally got to connect as it had this planned for a LONG time. I love you!
it was such a happy weekend 🙂
It’s posted now. Thanks so much, we really appreciate it!
no problem! thanks for the shout out!!! 🙂