So I haven’t been writing, and I have a very good reason (that is actually a terrible reason): I’ve been working. And while it hasn’t been that long since I’ve started working, I’ve felt creatively exhausted and so I haven’t felt compelled to blog. Again, excuses. But don’t you feel this way sometimes? I get all of the articles that have “X Ways To Stay Creative.” I get it now.

Anyway, it was brought to my attention that I’m the hippie dippie girl at work and recently, someone told me that I was brainwashed in Austin.

“HMMMMMMMM,” I thought to myself.

I didn’t think very long, because it’s true. Austin, Texas brainwashed me, and even though I no longer live there, the Austin state of mind has stayed.

• Is it bike-able?
• Music (aka SXSW) is ingrained in my music search.
• Coffee should obvious be roasted by Cuveé. I have coffee issues.
• Food should be local. “Where’s the closest farmers market to me?” is a question/mission I’ve given myself to answer.
• It’s been a hard adjustment to the “no sneaker” rule. Woof.
• Beer? Bring it on, but is it Austin Beer Works? Live Oak?
• In football, there’s only one team: the longhorns. And no matter how they do, I will still root for my team.
• Last, but not least: will I ever find anything comparable to Town Lake? (My answer is no.)

So frequently, my coworker friend calls me a “weirdo,” and while it’s a part of her “Name Repertoire,” I’ve been notoriously called “weird” before I knew what that word meant. It must be a sign that since the dawn of “being called weird,” I have been drinking the Kool-Aid that Austin, Texas stirs and serves. You know what? I’m completely okay with it.